TIC staff to walk new Kintyre Way
Scotland’s fifth long-distance route, The Kintyre Way, opened on 12 August, and a member of VisitScotland staff is aiming to be amongst the first to complete the whole route.
Samantha Balkeen, Customer Services Advisor from Lochgilphead TIC is setting out to complete the new walking route in the first week of September. She’s doing it first and foremost to raise money for charity, but she has other reasons for taking on the challenge.
“It will make my job a lot easier if I can answer detailed questions about the new route!” says Samantha. “The Kintyre Way will attract around 4,000 walking enthusiasts to the area each year, and I think it’s important that they can get advice from someone with direct experience. Plus, I can raise money for a good cause while I’m doing it, so it’ll be very worthwhile.”
The new way-marked route stretches from Tarbert at the north end of the peninsula to Southend in the south. A total of 87 miles long, and with 4 to 7 days worth of walking, the Kintyre Way combines serious hiking with gentle rambles, ensuring that walkers of all levels can enjoy the peninsula’s stunning scenery, coastline, heritage and wildlife.
Earlier this year, Kintyre Marketing Group was awarded £7,600 to promote The Kintyre Way through VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund. The funding supported web-based promotion of the route to couples and families, with the aim of extending the existing market of older walkers.
For information or guidance in creating a successful application to the VisitScotland Challenge Fund, businesses should contact their local Challenge Fund advisor at the nearest VisitScotland office or log on to www.visitscotland.org/challenge_fund
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