Scotland’s East Coast towns have an historic character and enduring beauty all of their own, but today there are fresh initiatives to help promote tourism and inward business investment into the region, says Dominic Ryan
Scotland's East Coast towns are located in that fertile land betwixt the flowing Tay, Forth, Eden and Spey rivers and the wide grey-blue expanse of the North Sea.
"A reuch Scots blanket wi’ a fringe o’ gowd" – a rough blanket with a fringe of gold – was how James V of Scotland described the Kingdom of Fife in particular.
He wasn’t wrong. At the edge of heather-clothed hills and fields of corn, a hundred-mile long coastline is dotted with white beaches, rocky coves and picturesque fishing villages.
Dunfermline, the chief city of Fife, was a royal residence from the time of Queen Margaret in the 11th century until the 16th century. It was the birthplace of Adam Smith and of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
To this day the region remains a rich mix of ports, former coal mining towns and cosmopolitan hubs such as St Andrews.
St Andrews is famous for its ruined cathedral and castle, its ancient university and the game of golf: all of which attract visitors, students and players from all over the world. It is also a major stopping point on the Fife Coastal Path, which meanders northwards 117 miles from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Tay.
Not only does this offer an unrivalled walking experience, it is also an integral part of the Core Path network, which has been designed to help increase access to green spaces and form strong bonds between coastal communities such as Anstruther, Pittenweem and Crail.
Heading north into Angus, we find ourselves in a royal burgh steeped for centuries in Pictish, Celtic, Scandinavian and European influences.
This region has a living culture that embraces and promotes literature and the performing arts.
Historic architecture features strongly too, as can be witnessed in magnificent monuments such as Glamis Castle, best known as the childhood home of the late Queen Mother.
Whether you wander through the countryside and glens or along the coast, towns as diverse as Forfar and Arbroath, Brechin and Montrose, offer their own unique attractions, local delicacies and homegrown crafts.
Finally, we arrive in Moray, a land of pristine beaches, hidden caves and dramatic cliffs, interspersed with fishing villages, many of whose harbours have happily been unchanged for many years – Johnstons of Elgin has been weaving here since 1797. This is a coastline popular with visitors who flock to holiday havens such as Findhorn, Lossiemouth and Cullen.
Despite the enduring beauty and appeal of such places, East Coast towns are often perceived as playing second fiddle to the West Coast in terms of promoted tourism and inward business investment. The truth is, however, these towns play an attractive tune all of their own: all have wonderful assets and unique attractions.
In this edition of Scotland’s Towns, we will find out what they’re doing to stay relevant and prosperous in our fast-paced 21st century Scotland.
In particular, we will look at what town centres can do to harness the power of digital technology to drive growth and improve lives through enhanced user experiences. We will investigate how smart technology can improve everything from healthcare and travel opportunities to tourism and business growth.
Much of this drive for improvement will, inevitably, involve action and input from local people. As Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing, points out in his article on Page 7: "I believe that most of the solutions to towns and town centres rest with the townsfolk themselves – by this I mean the local residents, businesses, community groups, and local community planning partners."
Let’s find out more in this special edition of Scotland’s Towns, as we enter an East Coast world of castles, coasts and countryside . . .
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