Villagers gear up to welcome two-wheeled tourists

THERE is a bike wash at the garage, bespoke parking outside the shops and an Allen key to adjust your saddle at the hardware store.

Welcome to Scotland's first cycle-friendly village, where businesses have joined a pilot scheme to greet two-wheeled tourists with open arms.

Newcastleton in the Borders may be off the beaten track for car-bound visitors, but every year it plays host to thousands of cyclists following spectacular routes such as the Southern Borders Loop and coast-to-coast Reivers Route.

Now cafes, pubs and shops have joined hotels and guesthouses in signing up to a new VisitScotland "cyclist welcome" scheme.

Accommodation providers are required to offer specific services for cyclists, such as secure bike storage, clothes-drying facilities, late meals and early breakfasts. Other services available to cyclists in the village include free tyre inflation and water refills at garage Border Autos, whose car-wash spray gun is also heavily used for cleaning bikes.

The central Douglas Square has shops, toilets and showers, bars and cafes with outside seating so riders can keep an eye on their cycles, which can be worth thousands of pounds.

Organisers of the scheme say the whole community is now being encouraged to tune into the needs of cyclists, even if it means just pointing riders in the right direction or providing a free map.

A VisitScotland spokeswoman said: "Visitors who enjoy cycling like to be made to feel welcome. They may arrive wet, tired or frustrated by a cycle breakdown. They appreciate having a place to keep their wet clothes, the option to set off early in the morning without missing breakfast, or simply a welcoming cup of tea on arrival. Businesses in the scheme are expected to simply commit to anticipating cyclists' needs."

The agency points out that cyclists are high spenders because they often carry few provisions, with figures showing they benefit the Scottish economy by at least 200 million a year.

Barbara Elborn, who runs self-catering accommodation in Newcastleton and is a member of the village's business forum, said she had become "converted to the cause" by being able to stay open year-round due to the amount of business that cyclists brought in.

Elborn said: "We have a huge amount of bike traffic and there is a great deal of enthusiasm and goodwill among local businesses. Our economy is hugely dependent on the bike leisure market. We recognised the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands."

Cycling Scotland chief executive Ian Aitken described the cyclists welcome programme in the Borders as "a fantastic scheme. It's great to see local businesses are looking to nurture this growing industry by making cyclists feel as welcome as possible.It would be great to see this type of activity replicated across Scotland."