Search
SEStran Press Releases
News Archive

SEStran applauds success of 2011 Scottish Borders Walking Festival

Date: 14th September 2011

SEStran applauds success of 2011 Scottish Borders Walking Festival

Hundreds turn out to participate in event’s 17th year

 

The 2011 Scottish Borders Walking Festival has exceeded all expectations, with every place on the week-long events 21 organised walks filled.

 

Local participants made up 39% of the participants with 61 % made up of people from other areas – including walkers from as far afield as Holland; Luxembourg; Hungary; Finland and Norway.

 

This is the first year in which SEStran has supported the festival, as part of its commitment to promoting sustainable forms of transportation; including walking, for public health and to reduce traffic congestion and car dependency.

 

SEStran Chair Russell Imrie said:

“The organisers of this year’s festival in Hawick can congratulate themselves on running a superb and extremely successful event”.

“All the places on the walks were filled - and could in many cases have been filled several times over. It is just a pity that everyone who wanted to take part could not be accommodated”.

“SEStran is proud to have offered support for the walking festival, in partnership with Borders Council and Scottish Natural Heritage. Walking is the most natural activity there is, and an ideal mode of transport for shorter journeys, as well as a fun way to stay in shape”.

“We look forward to next year’s event in Eyemouth, where participants will be able to experience a different perspective on the beautiful environment of the Borders.”

Festival Organiser Andrew Farquhar added:

“It was wonderful that so many people managed to attend this year to discover Teviotdale and Liddesdale and experience at first hand it's beauty and tranquillity with rolling hills and stunning scenery”.  

 

“There was a real buzz all week and clearly people returned home greatly impressed by what they had experienced and the friendly atmosphere that prevailed throughout”. 

 

“ Indeed many have indicated that they intend to come back again and see the parts they did not have the opportunity to see on this visit”. 

 

Andrew Panter of Scottish Natural Heritage said:

“Once again the Scottish Borders Walking Festival has been a huge success. We look forward to an equally successful event in 2012”.

END

For further information, please visit the SEStran website at : www.sestran.org.uk,

the Scottish Borders Walking Festival website at http://www.borderswalking.com 

or contact:

Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk

ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife.