Pilgrim route offers tourism boost

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."

Note

According to research for Visit Scotland walking tourism will account
for 22% of UK tourism revenue in Scotland by 2015
1. In 2003 visitors who cited walking as part of their visit
accounted for £953 millionof revenue.

2. 66% of visitors on walking trips included visiting castles or
places of interest.

3. A report for Visit Scotland into the potential of walking
holidays in Scotland can be found at;
http://www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk/fileaccess.aspx?id=16

4. Amongst the locations which could be included are Iona – Abbey
and St Columba's Monastery, Killin with connections to St Finnan,
Dunning in Perthshire where the pictish Dupplin Cross is kept and St Andrews.