Scottish Borders Council has secured £3,460,000 from Transport Scotland’s Tier 2 Active Travel Infrastructure Funding to design and deliver a package of schemes aimed at making everyday journeys by foot, wheel, cycle and horse safer, more convenient and more attractive.

The investment is intended to improve links between towns and villages while supporting local businesses and the visitor economy.

The successful bid follows a significant effort by the Council's Active Travel and Transport Team and Design Team, with projects aligned to the Council's Active Travel Strategy.

Councillor Jenny Linehan, Executive Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport, said: "This is a significant funding award for the Scottish Borders and reflects the ambition we have to make active travel a realistic and attractive choice for more people.

"These projects will help improve connections between our towns and villages, support healthier and more sustainable everyday journeys and make it easier for residents and visitors to move around the Borders by walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding."

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Construction funding will support the following schemes:

Eddleston Water Bridge to Fotheringham Bridge (River Tweed Trail – Peebles section): continuing the River Tweed Trail by creating a shared-use path from the Tweed Valley Railway Path through Peebles to Haylodge Park, subject to planning.

Lauder to Oxton – remaining phases (4B, 5A and 5C): completing the shared-use path, subject to planning permission, landowner agreements and other required consents.

Lowood Care Village path connection: building a 210‑metre walking and wheeling link from the main access road into the Care Village, providing a direct route from the estate’s main entrance to Tweedbank Train Station.

Drygrange to Leaderfoot Active Travel Corridor: delivering a 1.3‑kilometre shared-use route between Drygrange and the Old Drygrange Bridge at the Leaderfoot Viaduct, completing a key active travel corridor parallel to the A68 trunk road, subject to final consents.

St Abbs to Coldingham Coastal Path: upgrading the existing narrow Berwickshire coastal path to a 2‑metre‑wide walking and wheeling path, subject to necessary consents.

Design funding will advance:

Hawick to Selkirk Active Travel Corridor: continued development and detailed design of a proposed route between the two towns.

Hawick to Denholm Active Travel Corridor: continued development and detailed design of a proposed route linking Hawick and Denholm.

Peebles to Penicuik: a feasibility study into a potential connection from Peebles to the Midlothian boundary, building on existing infrastructure between Peebles, Eddleston and Shiplaw.

Borders Greenway: detailed design for the Chirnside to Reston section, contributing to the longer-term ambition for a route between Tweedbank and Eyemouth.

All project work is expected to be completed by 31 March 2027.