MSP wants North East 250 to include area of ‘incredible scenery’

Call for south Aberdeenshire to be included in new tourist trail

A north-east MSP has called for south Aberdeenshire to be included in a new sightseeing route.

SNP Mairi Gougeon wants the creators of the new North East 250 tourism trail to reroute it to include the area.

Guy Macpherson-grant, designer of the route, hopes that tourists will use it as a springboard to explore elsewhere, rather than doggedly sticking to it.

Plans for the North East 250 route were unveiled last week as it bids to build on the success of the North Coast 500 route in the Highlands.

Statistics from the North Coast 500 showed earlier this year the Highland road has generated £9 million for the Scottish tourism industry and brought in 29,000 new visitors to the area.

While there are plans to reinvigorate tourism in the North East, Mrs Gougeon believes South Aberdeenshire towns such as Stonehaven and the villages on the A92 coastal road have been omitted.

The MSP for Angus North and Mearns said: “There is no doubt the North Coast 500 route has proved a huge success to tourism in the

“

The A92 coastal road from Montrose to Stonehaven has some of the most incredible scenery you will find anywhere in the country

Highlands and provided a template for similar routes to showcase the stunning scenery in Scotland.

“It has brought an estimated £9 million boost to the tourism industry, attracted 29,000 more visitors to the area and seen an increase in trade of up to 20% at local accommodation providers.

“The North East 250 has the potential to do the same for the North East but, sadly, I feel there have been some startling omissions from this route.

“The A92 coastal road from Montrose to Stonehaven has some of the most incredible scenery you will find anywhere in the country with a wealth of historic towns and villages that exemplify the beauty of the north east of Scotland.

“North East 250 is a fantastic initiative which I wholeheartedly welcome, but I think we will be really missing a trick if South Aberdeenshire fails to be included.”

A spokeswoman for Guy Macpherson-grant said: “The North East 250 is a circular route that will take visitors on a journey through Speyside, Royal Deeside, the Cairngorms, along the Moray Coast, east coast and Aberdeen that encompasses everything for which Scotland is famous – castles, wildlife, coastal villages, stunning beaches, golf courses, mountains, forests.

“Although it has been designed as a route, we hope and expect that visitors will explore even more of the area while they are here and would therefore make a point of going to see attractions such as Dunnottar Castle.

“We have already had businesses sign up that are not on the route because they can see the potential of North East 250.”

smilne@thecourier.co.uk

Mairi Gougeon says the North East 250 route has the potential to increase tourism.