Sunday 28 December 2008

SCOTTISH PILGRIM WAY WALK OFFERS TOURISM BOOST.

SCOTTISH PILGRIM WAY WALK OFFERS TOURISM BOOST.


CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED FOR NEW PUBLIC WALK WAY.

A leading MSP has revealed Scotland could make millions from religious and walking tourists with a new path linking Iona to St Andrews.

Roseanna Cunningham says the route would include wonderful scenery on
Iona and Mull and east through Argyll, Stirlingshire, Perthshire and Fife and she is seeking support from the Scottish Government and local councils to get the route ready during for the Year of Homecoming celebrations and give a tourism boost to many small communities.

Roseanna Cunningham has set up a campaign for a "Pilgrim Way" between
Iona and St Andrews. The Pilgrim Way, which has received the backing of leading Scottish mountaineer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish, would add to Scotland's internationally renowned West Highland and Southern Upland Ways. Ms Cunningham said:

"Walking is an increasingly popular holiday past time and the more opportunities we have to encourage people to come and take their walking holiday in Scotland or to holiday at home the better. "

The Pilgrim Way would offer all walkers a fantastic route across
Scotland. The campaign is gathering momentum, and I am delighted that it has received the backing of one of Scotland's leading mountaineers and broadcasters Cameron McNeish. "St Andrews was a massive medieval pilgrimage centre and everyone in Scotland knows the iconic significance of Iona.

I think it would be
an excellent idea to link the two locations with a new addition to Scotland's public footpaths. "Going from the historically significant islands of Iona and Mull down through Highland Stirlingshire and into Perthshire following the routes St Columba's monks would have followed as they fanned out across Scotland through some of our best countryside would be a huge attraction for walkers.

"Linking historical events and sights through some of the best of Scotland, a Pilgrim Way would have absolutely everything you could possibly want. "Having walked the Great Glen way it became clear that small villages and B & Bs benefited significantly from being on the route. "The Pilgrim Way offers an excellent opportunity to support business, build tourism and promote Scotland's wonderful countryside. "I'm very hopeful that we'll get a properly supported way marked that goes from Iona to St Andrews."

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