New walking route to be built through Central Scotland

Published on Friday 12 March 2010 21:57

A NEW long-distance walking route to rival the West Highland Way is to be created through Central Scotland, The Scotsman can reveal.

Aimed at walkers and cyclists, it would wind its way through the middle of the country, joining the east and west coasts.

It could be called the Central Scotland Way and those behind the idea hope it would take in views of some of the most iconic landmarks in the region.

Details of the route are yet to be finalised, but highlights along trail are likely to include the Falkirk Wheel, the New Lanark world heritage site, the Antonine Wall and even the Grangemouth oil refinery.

The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) came up with the idea for the new walking route and is already putting the plan into action.

A team is studying existing paths to work out how they can be joined together into one long trail across the country.

The CSGN is a new network, led by Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, that aims to make the centre of Scotland greener. In particular, it aims to increase woodland cover by 50 per cent.

CSGN chairman Keith Geddes thinks a Central Scotland Way would prove extremely popular.

"The principal benefit would be for people living in the Central Belt, because it would give them an opportunity to get out and about," he said. "It could also be an attraction to tourists coming to Scotland, particularly if it was tied in with our built heritage."

He believes some people would attempt to complete the whole route, which is likely to be at least 120 miles long. Others may just spend a few hours on a section of it, or even just use it to walk or cycle to work.

And he thinks it would bring about an economic boost for areas around the Central Scotland Way, with cafs, B&Bs and shops likely to spring up to cater for demand for food and accommodation.

The West Highland Way, a 96-mile route linking Milngavie, on the northern outskirts of Glasgow, with the foot of Ben Nevis at Fort William, attracts about 50,000 people every year. Many come from overseas, enticed by the challenge of walking the entire route, through stunning mountain scenery.

Mr Geddes believes the Central Scotland Way may have a slightly different focus.

"It's more likely to be used by local people, but I'm quite confident that a significant number of people would come to Scotland just to walk at least some parts of it," he said.

He thinks starting the walk in the John Muir Country Park near Dunbar on the east coast could be one way to encourage tourists to make use of the footpath.

A possible end point for the route could be Dumbarton on the west coast.

Once work has identified the gaps between existing paths, the organisation will bid for funding to pay for the route.

Dave Morris, director of Ramblers Scotland, said it was a good idea "in principle" but said lots of potential problems would need to be ironed out.

If done properly, he believes it could attract even more walkers than the West Highland Way. "The right sort of trail for the Central Belt would be more popular – but more popular with people who live in the Central Belt," he said.

"About four million people live in that area and you would get a huge number of people who would use parts of that trail who would not even think about doing the West Highland Way.

"You would have a completely different market. People come to do the West Highland Way in its entirety in a couple of weeks, but this would attract people and particularly families going out for the day."

However, he emphasised the key factors that were essential to make sure it worked. It had to be easy to access, with plenty of car parks, and well fed by public transport. There should be clear signposts along the way and it should be suitable for walkers, cyclists, buggies, wheelchairs and horseriders, to attract as many people as possible. He also said the organisers would have to work out a way to create the route easily and cheaply, so it would not become a drain on the public purse.

Mr Morris believes organisers should set a deadline of finishing it by the time the Commonwealth Games arrive in Glasgow in 2014, and he urged the CSGN to be strongminded over the use of compulsory purchase orders to make sure that the route can be completed.

"They need to say they will build it, it will be operational by 2014 and anybody who stands in their way will get a compulsory purchase order slapped on them," he said.

"That has been a fundamental stumbling block in the past," Mr Morris added. "Local authorities almost never get round to building the paths they are supposed to because they spend their time tied up with lawyers. If they make the right decisions in terms of location, it could be exceptionally useful in helping people to get out and about and taking exercise."

VisitScotland also backed the idea. A spokeswoman said: "Over five million visitors from the UK, including those from Scotland, get involved in walking every year when in the country and we know it's a real draw for many international tourists.

"It would be great to see another walk like the West Highland Way, which is famous with walkers worldwide.

"This new walk would showcase the centre of Scotland and some of its outstanding landmarks, offering people the flexibility of a short walk or going the long distance."