Get out of the city and into the rural idyll

A PILOT project aimed at encouraging city dwellers to experience more of Scotland’s vibrant rural tourism sector has been launched this week.

Initially, the Go Rural project will aim to attract Edinburgh residents and city visitors to take rural day trips and short breaks to experience the wide array of rural tourism that is on offer within 90 minutes of the city boundary. The concept will then be replicated from Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Inverness over the next 12 to 18 months

The project, which has already signed up 50 rural tourism businesses, has been backed by a £33,000 grant from VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise has provided a further £5,000. NFU Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates are also backing it.

Speaking at the launch at Craigies Farm Shop on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Nigel Miller, president of NFU Scotland, described it as the perfect way to encourage visitors from cities.

“There is such diversity in rural Scotland’s visitor attractions, as well as specialist farm food producers, all of which make a very compelling case to venture out of the city boundaries for the day or for a longer stay,” he said.