Colin Smyth MSP for the South of Scotland has today (6th July) welcomed the Coastal Communities Fund investment in Dumfries and Galloway.

£300,000 has been awarded towards 64 miles of coastal paths at the Rhins of Galloway in south west Scotland.

In total £4.3 million from the National Lottery fund was awarded to coastal projects across the UK.

Dundee’s Discovery Point, coastal paths at the Rhins of Galloway and whale watching projects in the Hebrides were the three projects in Scotland that received grants.

Colin Smyth MSP said:

“This is great news for the local community. The Rhins is one of Scotland’s most beautiful coastal landscapes and walking in the area is unquestionably one of the biggest potential tourist hot spots our region has, which is one of the reasons I’ll be spending my summer holiday there this year. This grant from the national lottery will go some way to helping achieve that potential and if further funding bids are successful then the ambition of a major pathway around the coast of the Rhins will become a reality. I know from my previous role as Chair of the Council’s Economy and Environment Committee that a lot of work took place by the council to secure land agreements so hopefully we will see early progress with this really exciting develop