Walking route ‘a big step’

THE l aunch of a new walking route in Fife has been hailed as a huge step for tourism in the region.

VisitScotland’s regional leadership director C a r o l i n e Wa r b u r t o n believes the Fife Pilgrim Way, which was formally launched earlier this month, will become one of the “jewels in the crown” of Scotland’s t ourism offering, sitting alongside well-established walks that attract thousands of people to the country’s towns, hills and glens.

The claim comes as a new study suggests the Fife Pilgrim Way could create dozens of new jobs and boost the economy by up to £3 million a year by 2023.

The 64-mile route, which can begin at either Culross or North Queensferry, crosses inland through the heart of Fife and follows the paths taken by travellers to St Andrews, one of the most renowned pilgrimage destinations in Europe for more than 400 years.

Describing it as an “exciting new p r o p o s i t i o n ”, M s Warburton said: “Offering a peaceful outdoor escape where visitors can immerse themselves in natural heritage, it also encourages sustainable tourism through excellent bus and rail links.”

A new study for the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust concluded the route could support the creation of more than 70 j obs, while estimates suggest it could attract 140,000 users annually, rising to 200,000 after f our years. DUNDEE Summer Streets Festival drew in thou- sands to the centre of the city with two days of music and games as well as the star attraction, a 55m long inflatable dome.

The Luminarium attracted huge queues, with some visitors reporting waits of more than three hours to get in.

Booked tickets had sold out on Friday morning and those without time slots had been advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Ian Carstairs waited for more than three hours with his children. DUNDEE Science Centre is rocketing in popularity with its space exhibits.

And officials reckon fans will flock to a host of other shows following on from one of their most successful family events.

The science centre was the venue for the launch of Slime Factory magazine, with more than 170 parents and kids turning up.

Now commercial and events manager Sam Walker is aiming for the skies with the latest batch of science exhibits

She said: “We have the Mars Odyssey on at the moment which is proving very popular and last week we ran a special event to mark the launch of Apollo 11.

“Next up is Medieval Mechanics which we also expect to be popular with parents as well as children.

“We try to work alongside different universities to get more of an adult audience.

“We held Medical Marvels last year and the technical side is definitely more for adults, while it’s hands-on exhibitions which are popular with kids.”

The Slime Factory launch event was held in conjunction with DC