The Douglas Valley Community-Led Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism Project is a multi-stage 10-15-year plan, led by the council in partnership with the Douglas Valley Advisory Group (DVAG). 

Within that, the Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism (ORAT) feasibility study** is the first to be progressed by DVAG as part of the Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Included in this first phase are:

• Douglasdale Community Woodland Hub – workshop building, temporary visitor facilities and car parking
• Active travel connection from Poneil to Douglasdale Community Woodland
• Local visitor infrastructure enhancement in and around Coalburn 
• Online map of recreational walking and cycling routes

The wider project centres around the Hagshaw Energy Cluster, and will provide health and well-being, and economic benefits for the communities of Coalburn, Douglas, Glenbuck, Glespin, Lesmahagow, Muirkirk, Rigside and Douglas Water.

Famous for protected habitats, significant geology and a unique window into Scottish history, the area also features restored former opencast mining areas at Mainshill and Spireslack.

Split into 26 key developments, the project is anticipated to be largely delivered by local community organisations using regional and national grant funding sources matched with community benefit funds, such as the council-administered Renewable Energy Fund.

Projections suggest the project could generate visitor numbers of 100,000 a year within 15 years, worth £2.6m to the South Lanarkshire economy, including the creation of local jobs.

This first phase update was delivered to members of the Community and Enterprise Resources Committee at its most recent meeting, where the three main aims were also laid out:

• To create a network of recreational and community hubs and associated access points 
• To increase the number and type of recreational activities on offer in the area, along new strategic recreational walking and cycling routes, a bike skills track and a mountain bike trail centre
• To create active travel routes between settlements and Douglasdale Community Woodland, including those already completed between NCN74 Auldton - Coalburn – Douglas

Alison Brown, Head of Enterprise and Sustainable Development, said: “This is a significant community-centred project that seeks to open up the Douglas Valley as a hub for national tourism and recreation.

“Not only is the council working closely with community groups and funders, but we have also sought to ensure that, in the creation of this plan, as many local voices as possible have been heard.

“In fact, comprehensive consultation has played a key role in shaping proposals, and we are grateful to everyone who took part in our community workshops, online surveys, landowner and stakeholder consultations and a variety of presentations.

“There is genuine enthusiasm, and an excitement, for the tourism, economic and recreational benefits this project can bring, and we plan to continue to build on that as we seek to promote and utilise the unique natural resources this area has to offer.”

**The study was delivered by LUC in association with Armour Construction Consultants, Biggar Economics, Blyth & Blyth and O’Donnell Brown Architects.