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OUR REGION, A RENOWNED CYCLING TOURISM DESTINATION, BOASTING STUNNING TERRAIN WITH SOME OF THE BEST ROAD, GRAVEL AND Mountain Biking IN THE WORLD. ATTRACTING INVESTMEnT OPPORTUNITIES FROM ALL SECTORS.
The world class destination for the cycling industry
The South of Scotland is the perfect destination for the cycling industry.
The Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders is the mountain bike capital of the UK with a hugely exciting pipeline of investment and developments including £19m investment into the world’s first Mountain Bike Innovation Centre.
The Mountain Bike Innovation Centre will provide cycling-focused businesses with a university-backed research and development facility, including access to a fully instrumented Trail Laboratory, to encourage long-term business growth while promoting new opportunities.
It will provide both public facing and modern office spaces with high-speed digital connectivity. Away from design and R&D opportunities the region offers affordable locations for manufacturing and assembly with warehouse and commercial space located nearby.
Work is underway to refresh the trails at both Glentress Forest and the wider 7Stanes trail centres in the region, with these sites supporting world class events including the 2023 UCI World Championships.
The additional creation of Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast cycle route, means the South of Scotland is the perfect destination for the cycling industry.
With over £94 million of public sector funding commitments to cycling related projects across the region the area is an outstanding location for private sector investors keen to be part of our journey to a make the Tweed Valley the Mountain Bike Capital of Europe for both riding bikes and for the industry.
SCOTLAND’S ONLY UCI BIKE REGION
In August 2023 South of Scotland officially joined a prestigious list of world-leading cycling destinations after being awarded a UCI Bike Region label.
The South is the first region in Scotland to claim the international title, which recognises a city or region’s commitment to cycling for all.
The title – which is held by just 26 cities and regions across the globe acknowledges locations who invest in developing community cycling and related infrastructure and programmes.
The award was presented to the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership following its submission to the UCI which highlighted its ground-breaking ten-year strategy, which was launched last year. The strategy aims to ensure cycling becomes the most popular choice for shorter, everyday journeys by 2032 and has a ten point priority plan with funding of £94million drawn up.
The world class destination for the cycling industry
The Tweed Valley in Peebles and Innerleithen attracts an estimated 400,000 visitorsper annum. Combined with five additional 7stanes trail centres located across Dumfries and Galloway we reach just over 650,000 visits per annum. The attraction of world class events will continue to promote the destination with these figures estimated to increase year on year.
WE ARE LEADING THE WAY TO A HAPPIER COMMUNITY
We are seeing a shift with younger, higher skilled workers relocating to the South of Scotland.
With a change in priorities and a clearer understanding that there is a need for Research and Development in the cycling sector. With one of the main priorities looking at the supply challenges faced and changes to shipping and manufacturing.
The South of Scotland is the place to bring your business, a place where wellbeing is valued. A place where the quality of life is a key priority to allow for a healthy work life balance and many employees are now prioritising.
