Road route launched to drive tourists to North-east

● 250-mile circle devised round Aberdeenshire

A new driving route round the North-east of Scotland has been launched following the success of the North Coast 500.

The North East 250 circuit includes Deeside, the snowprone Cockbridge-tomintoul road and the coast from Buckie to near Aberdeen.

The 250-mile route has been developed by businessman Guy Macpherson-grant in an effort to attract more tourists to the region.

The North Coast 500 has provided a boost to the local economy but sparked concerns about extra traffic and poor driving.

Mr Macpherson-grant said: “I am excited by the potential of the North East 250 to bring more visitors to our area and experience, what I believe, is the very best that Scotland has to offer. You won’t need to do another road trip.

“We need businesses along the route to really get behind it and help make it the success I know it can be.”

Backers include Chivas Brothers, Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens, Turcan Connell, Walkers, Aberdeen Airport, Speyside Gardens and the Station Hotel in Rothes.

Visitscotland regional direc- tor Jo Robinson said: “This exciting new route is a welcome asset to the North-east and will, we would hope, simulate the success of other similar routes around Scotland.

“This area has arguably the best scenery, landscapes and views in Scotland and we would anticipate the introduction of such a route will bring economic benefit to the area and its tourism businesses through increased visitors.”

Moray Speyside Tourism operations manager Laurie Piper said: “I am confident the North East 250 will contribute to the continued growth and development of the tourism industry.”

The 516-mile North Coast 500 through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness and Inverness-shire, which was launched in 2015, generated £9 million of extra spending in its first year, a Glasgow University study found.

However, the report for Highlands and Islands Enterprise also highlighted problems such as the “accelerated deterioration” of road surfaces and verges, “poor or inexperienceddriverbehaviour”,pressure on car parks in towns, villages and viewing points, and increased speeding.

The route has since been joined by the South West Coastal Route 300 in Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, which takes in Kirkcudbright, Glenluce, Portpatrick, Sanquhar and Girvan.