A boom in walking tourism is generating more than £1 billion a year for the Scottish economy, research by Visitscotland has found.

Four million trips by visitors from the UK included walking as an activity in 2015, and the popularity of longer walks rose by 18 per cent on the previous year.

The tourism body has created a special film titled A Unique Perspective to celebrate the country’s walking opportunities, including 26 long distance routes that stretch more than 1,700 miles, and 282 Munros.

Walking tourism generates up to £1.26 billion for the Scottish economy, new figures show.

Research by Visitscotland found that in 2015, four million trips by visitors from the UK included walking as an activity.

The popularity of longer walks of more than two miles soared on the previous year, rising 18 per cent to more than two million trips.

Walking visitors to Scotland were most likely to be female, with the largest age groups of walkers those between 55-64 and 45-54.

The research found the majority of walkers were likely to work in managerial, administrative and professional occupations, with only 6 per cent holding semi-skilled or unskilled manual jobs.

Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell emerged as the most popular outdoor attraction, welcoming more than 5.4 million visitors, while Rouken Glen Park in Giffnock increased visitor numbers by 21.5 per cent.

Malcolm Roughead, Visitscotland chief executive, said: “From the West Highland Way and the Cairngorms, to country parks and city-based strolls, Scotland is famous for its stunning scenery and there is no better way to enjoy it than on foot. Scotland is an extremely accessible destination. The Walkers Welcome scheme and the Right to Access policy make it incredibly easy for outdoor enthusiasts to travel around the country.

“The growing interest in health and wellbeing presents a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to promote itself, not only through its inspiring landscapes but also through the health benefits of walking and being outdoors.”

The tourism body has created a special video to celebrate the country’s walking opportunities, including 26 long distance walking routes that stretch over 1,700 miles and 282 Munros – mountains over 3,000ft.

A Unique Perspective – Walking in Scotland was shot in the Cairngorms around Aviemore and includes views of the Green Lochan, Ruthven Barracks, the Highland Folk Museum, Loch Morlich and Loch an Eilein. Highland and Argyll and Bute are the areas with the most businesses participating in the‘ Walkers Welcome’ scheme, the researchers found. Rural areas are more likely to receive tourists who are walking and require specialist drying facilities than more built up areas due to the location of Munros and long popular walking routes such as the West Highland Way.

The report said that growth in the health and wellbeing tourism sector meant walking as part of a holiday looks likely to become more popular this year.

Visitscotland said the walking industry could promote itself not only through its landscapes but also through the health benefits that walking can give.

Scotland could be seen as one of the quietest places in Europe and with the right of access policy for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, getting out for a walk in the countryside can provide advantages to the mind as well as the body.

The growing interest in health and wellbeing presents a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to promote itself (Malcolm Roughead)

Source
Pressreader
Catriona Webster
The Scotsman