Monday November 9th 2026
Coldstream Tourism Biz 1 (credit: Simon Laing)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Four hundred jobs will be supported when a river trail passing through a Berwickshire town is completed in less than two years.
That was the upbeat message delivered when business owners and community members from Coldstream, Morpeth and Berwick-upon-Tweed came together to attend a special Destination Tweed workshop to discuss some of the opportunities the forthcoming River Tweed Trail will bring to the area.
The 113-mile route is due for completion in 2028 and will run from Moffat near the source of the Tweed, through the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland and on to Berwick-upon-Tweed where the river meets the sea.
The River Tweed Trail will bring a host of business and community benefits and is expected to support around 400 jobs in cafes, visitor attractions, accommodation providers, craft producers, activity providers and more.
All will benefit from visitors staying longer and engaging more locally. This will help diversify the economy in an area where traditional industries such as agriculture and fishing face growing challenges.
Event attendees at Coldstream Community Centre discussed a variety of business ideas including providing active experiences, short-stay accommodation, drying rooms and local food options.
They were also encouraged to make the most of the area’s distinct heritage, including its history as the site of battles and border skirmishes, its connection with the Coldstream Guards and Coldstream’s former role rivalling Gretna Green as a venue for runaway weddings.
Presentations on business support were given by South of Scotland Enterprise and Business Northumberland and examples of best practice from elsewhere were also discussed.
The event was organised by Destination Tweed Tourism and Business Engagement Officer, Neen Kelly who works within the South of Scotland Destination Alliance.
She said: “It was great to be in a room full of ideas as momentum builds for the arrival of the River Tweed Trail.
“The new route will be a huge asset for accommodation providers, food and drink outlets, attractions and a host of other businesses and we were really pleased to see that many are already considering how they could create new revenue streams ahead of its completion in 2028.”
Any local businesses wishing to discuss potential business opportunities connected to the River Tweed Trail can get in touch by emailing neen@ssdalliance.com
The River Tweed Trail is at the heart of the £25 million Destination Tweed tourism and river restoration project that is balancing access with sustainability and care for the environment.
Tree planting, habitat improvement, pollinator initiatives and invasive species management are all part of the project.
As well as connecting walkers to communities, businesses and attractions along the route, the River Tweed Trail will also cater to cyclists on shared use sections with separate bike spurs signed where necessary.
Tweet Share on Facebook
