The Scottish Borders is one of Scotland's leading cycling destinations, with the town of Peebles and its surrounding area boasting some of the best scenery. Recent improvements in Peebles are now making active journeys easier for visitors and locals alike.
A new crossing has created a safe, accessible link for people walking, wheeling and cycling in and out of Peebles. Credits: Scottish Borders Council.
Through funding from the Scottish Government, Sustrans is working in partnership with Scottish Borders Council to connect communities, businesses and key services like never before.
2024 saw the completion of two projects in Peebles, which have created convenient and accessible active travel links in the town.
This is now enabling more local people and visitors to make healthy, sustainable choices for their everyday journeys.
When we make active travel safe, we save lives
The first of the two projects created a new toucan crossing over the A72, at the entrance to Peebles Hydro.
This is a key section of the busy trunk road that brings traffic in and out of the town.
The new crossing has made this area safer for all road users, and made walking, wheeling and cycling more accessible.
Looking beyond this to improve connectivity across the town, the project also created a new path linking into Whitestone Park.
This connects the existing Tweed Valley Railway Path to the Tweedside Riverside walks, making it easier for people to explore Peebles and the surrounding countryside.
The benefits these improvements will bring for the town were echoed by Councillor Jenny Linehan, Executive Member for Environment and Transport:
“We’re really pleased we’ve been able to provide this safe link to the many existing and new paths in the area and look forward to seeing the anticipated increase in visitors to the area.”
The new section of the River Tweed Trail from Priorsford Bridge to Gytes Leisure Centre was tested out by local Councillors. Credits: Scottish Borders Council.
Connecting people and place
Another project has created a new section of path between Priorsford Bridge and Gytes Leisure Centre.
This new link connects the upgraded path at Whitestone Park and the new toucan crossing over the A72, with Peebles town centre.
The route takes walkers and cyclists away from the busy trunk road, instead passing along the River Tweed and through the park.
This provides locals and visitors with a safer and more pleasant route to walk, wheel or cycle in and out of the town centre.
With this new link, there is now a completely traffic-free route from the centre of Peebles out to the Glentress Mountain Biking Hub.
This will become part of a proposed future rerouting of the National Cycle Network Route 1.
Sustrans is working to improve the National Cycle Network across Scotland, to make it easier for more people to walk, wheel and cycle for their everyday journeys.
Emilia Hanna, Head of Programme for the National Cycle Network at Sustrans Scotland, said of the improvements in Peebles:
“We hope that this will give residents and visitors to the area confidence to travel actively, which is good for our health, the planet and saves money”.
The two recent projects in Peebles are keeping up the momentum for local active travel improvements, following on from the 2023 opening of the off-road, shared-use Eddleston Water Path.
Partners celebrate the completion of the new active travel improvements in Peebles, which form part of the 113-mile River Tweed Trail, due to launch in 2028. Credits: Scottish Borders Council.
Working in partnership
Both projects were funded by the Scottish Government and designed and delivered through a partnership between the Scottish Borders Council and Sustrans.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“The Scottish Government continues to make significant investments in active travel with over £155 million already allocated this year.
“This is helping to build a more active nation, where more people choose to walk, wheel and cycle for shorter everyday journeys.
“Through the Budget for 2025-26, we intend to invest over £188 million to help people leave their cars at home and to choose healthier and greener transport options.”
These upgrades also form part of the 113-mile River Tweed Trail, due to launch in 2028.
The Trail, which is being developed and led by Destination Tweed, will start in Moffat, passing the source of the River Tweed before finishing in Berwick-upon-Tweed where the river meets the sea.
Luke Fisher, Destination Tweed Project Director, added:
“The River Tweed Trail is the centrepiece of the Destination Tweed project, which is creating an exciting new tourism asset that can be enjoyed by visitors and local people alike.
“It is also delivering a host of economic, environmental, cultural, educational and community benefits”.
