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Plan could turn the Douglas Valley into adventure tourism hotspot

South Lanarkshire Council A bike sitting next to a wooden chair and table, looking over greenspace with wind farms in the background. A red cyclist's helmet is sitting there too. South Lanarkshire Council
The plan will aim to increase recreational activities in the area

A plan to turn the Douglas Valley into an adventure tourism destination has taken a step forwards.

The £14.5m initiative - to be developed over a 10-15 year timespan - will aim to increase recreational activities in the area by creating the likes of a bike skills track and a mountain bike trail centre.

It would also see a network of recreational and community hubs established across the region and active travel routes between settlements and Douglasdale Community Woodland set up.

South Lanarkshire Council hope that the project will be largely delivered by local community organisations using regional and national grants for funding, matched with community benefit funds.

A recent feasibility study was completed regarding the project, which centres around the Hagshaw Energy Cluster of wind farms and renewables projects on the border of South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire.

Work on the first phase could include workshop building, temporary visitor facilities and car parking being established at Douglasdale Community Woodland Hub.

It would also see an active travel connection set up from Poneil to Douglasdale and improving local visitor infrastructure around Coalburn.

South Lanarkshire Council A map showing the proposed Recreation and Adventure Tourism ProjectSouth Lanarkshire Council
The project would be developed over a 10 to 15 year period

The council claim visitor numbers of 100,000 a year could be reached within 15 years, worth £2.6m to the South Lanarkshire economy. This would include the creation of local jobs.

Alison Brown, head of enterprise and sustainable development at the local authority, said: "This is a significant community-centred project that seeks to open up the Douglas Valley as a hub for national tourism and recreation.

"Not only is the council working closely with community groups and funders, but we have also sought to ensure that, in the creation of this plan, as many local voices as possible have been heard.

"There is genuine enthusiasm, and an excitement, for the tourism, economic and recreational benefits this project can bring."