Cyclists of all ages, abilities and fashion styles will descend on the Borders this June for the first ever Tweed Ride – a celebration of the valley and the fabric.

The ride, which takes place on 8 June as part of TweedLove Festival – a Homecoming Scotland 2014 event – will follow a gentle 10-mile route through the scenic Tweed Valley and is designed for all members of the family, no matter their age.

Participants are encouraged to come decked out in tweeds and other period clothing, with old-style bikes more than welcome.

Starting off in Peebles town centre, the ride will follow traffic-free cycle paths and quiet roads, finishing up at Traquair House, where Scotland’s oldest inhabited country house will play host to a mini-festival.   The event will include an array of music and family entertainment, alongside the best local food, drink and craft beer.

The Tweed Ride is part of TweedLove Festival which enters its fifth year in 2014.

Neil Dalgleish, director and founder of TweedLove, spoke of his excitement at the event.  He said: “The Tweed Ride is designed as a celebration of everything that is great about the Tweed Valley, from our fantastic cycling routes and superb food and drink, to the area’s tradition of milling and weaving Tweed.  This new event brings together the best of the Borders in a day that can be enjoyed by the whole family.#

“TweedLove festival is about to enter its fifth year and is going to be bigger and better than ever.  Cyclists of all abilities are welcome at any of the festival’s events and we look forward to catching-up with some old friends, as well as making some new ones”

Entry to the Tweed Ride costs £25 for a family of up to five (two adults and up to three children) or £10 per individual.

Caroline Packman, Homecoming Scotland Director said: “The Year of Homecoming gives us a fantastic opportunity to place the spotlight on our greatest assets, so it is only fitting that TweedLove is part of the packed programme of over six hundred events.  The Scottish Borders offers some of the most stunning cycling terrain in the country, as well as romantic castles, historic abbeys and forest views, so I’m certain locals and visitors taking part in the Tweed Ride will be in for a real treat!”

The Tweed Ride is part of the wider TweedLove festival – Scotland’s biggest celebration of cycling – which takes place from 24 May until 8 June 2014.

To find out more, log-on to www.tweedlove.com 

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For further information please contact: Craig MacLellan craig.maclellan@porternovelli.co.uk