Scotland's Hidden Treasure Launches Campaign To Bring Visitors To Peebles

A Scottish Borders town has launched an ambitious campaign to promote its hidden treasures to potential visitors. Peebles is situated just 23 miles from Edinburgh and 40 miles from Glasgow but only a trickle of visitors to Scotland’s two largest cities make the short detour to the historic town.

Now Peebles Traders Association has secured £70,000 funding to launch the Peebles – A Hidden Treasure initiative which is aimed at grabbing a slice of the multi-million pound visitor trade from their city slicker neighbours.

The fighting fund will be used to promote the year round attractions Peebles has to offer and highlight the variety of high quality independent retail outlets, inns, hotels and restaurants the ancient royal burgh has on its doorstep.

Sponsorship from local traders and grants from Scottish Borders Council and the Peebles Common Good Fund have made up the bulk of the funding, with VisitScotland contributing a healthy £30,000 from their Challenge Fund.

Bob Corsie, chairman of the Peebles Traders Association, explained: “Peebles is not just one of the Border’s hidden treasures it ranks as one of Scotland’s most bountiful but unknown visitor destinations.

“It is frustrating that many international visitors ‘do’ Edinburgh and Glasgow and then scoot off to the Highlands and islands when beautiful and bustling Peebles is right under their nose.

“We want to tap in to that market but also need to increase the number of visitors we receive from around Scotland and our focus will be to tell folk about all the hidden treasures they are missing out on.”

In 2005, a study by the New Economics Foundation ranked Peebles as the best town in Scotland, and second in the UK for its ranger range of independent shops and 'home town identity as opposed to the ubiquitous ‘cloned towns’.

Mr Corsie added: “In the last few years there has been a major upsurge in the number of high quality retailers setting up shop in Peebles and we just feel it’s time to shout a bit louder about the wealth of options available to visitors.

“The natural beauty and rich heritage of Peebles and the surrounding district combined with first class shopping facilities means there is a melting pot of riches awaiting visitors and we are keen to share our treasures with them.”

A specially designed town guide, with a 50,000 print run, is being prepared to welcome visitors, a new branding and marketing exercise is underway and traders have pledged to work together to shrug off the cloak of obscurity hovering over the town.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Peebles Trader’s Association by Stephen Rafferty Media. For further information please contact 00 44 7980 598764