Destination Tweed: River Tweed Trail Opportunity for Self-Catering Operators

Destination Tweed – River Tweed Trail

Destination Tweed will celebrate and share the nature, history and stories of the River Tweed, one of the UK’s most highly designated and inspirational river corridors.

Find out more: https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/destination-tweed/

The River Tweed Trail is a 113 mile walking trail and facilitated 108 mile cycling route from Moffat, past the source of the river, through Tweedsmuir, Peebles, Innerleithen, Walkerburn, Galashiels, Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream and on to Berwick-upon-Tweed where the river meets the sea. The multi-faceted initiative will see an investment of around £25 million in the area. The route will be completed by 2027.

The Route

Visitors might walk or cycle the entire route from end to end taking varying amounts of time to complete at their own pace. For walking that might be between six and 11 days and for cycling three to five days. Some visitors might just want to do part of it and pick a section that appeals to them. Themed itinerary options reflecting what there is to experience along the trail will also be developed.

Self-catering Providers – the opportunity

Visitors undertaking the full trail will likely opt for single-night stays with accommodation providers, although some visitors will choose to break the route and linger longer. In some parts of the route there is little in the way of serviced accommodation, or opportunities to eat out and self-catering will be the main accommodation option.

• Providers may wish to consider accepting single-night stays, if not already doing so
• Providers may wish to consider offering packed-lunches, supper or breakfast packs in locations where eating out, or shopping, options are limited
• Providers will be encouraged to have suitable facilities for drying wet outdoor clothes and boots, and have lockable storage for bikes with e-bike charging facilities
• Some may want to assist visitors by picking them up from the trail or assisting them with transferring baggage to their next overnight location

If you do offer any of the above services or facilities we encourage you to clearly include details on your website and in your marketing. The River Tweed Trail may not fully open until 2027, but there are still plenty of walkers and cyclists using existing routes in the region who can make use of your facilities and services.

Visitor Experiences

The SSDA is committed to ensure the delivery of the best possible River Tweed Trail visitor experience and will undertake the role of tourism business engagement along the route. We are looking to work with businesses and communities to ensure opportunities along the route are maximised.

We also want to work with those who are interested in developing new visitor experiences and services such as transport and baggage services, food and drink experiences (luxury picnics, packed lunches), storytelling, wellness, wildlife and activities.

We are keen to hear from you if you have a gem of an idea and need support to develop it or are interested in finding out more about the River Tweed Trail, please contact Neen Kelly – Destination Tweed Tourism Business Engagement Officer.