Phil McCreadie on Scottish Borders & Northumberland

Phil McCreadie

Phil McCreadie is the Tourism Business Adviser for the Scottish Borders. He works in the Business Gateway for Scottish Borders Council on a European funded project to assist tourism businesses in the Scottish Borders. He has been in the role since January 2012. Phil lives in Hawick with his wife and three children and has been in Hawick for more than 20 years now. For the past 10 years, before I started in this role, I was self-employed and set up my own businesses and have, in the main, been very happy with what I have achieved in these businesses. Briefly outline what your business/organisation is: Business Gateway exists to help businesses to grow and achieve their full potential. Working with Tourism and food and Drink businesses in the main I am able to help and advise on a wide range of business processes. The aim of my project is to bring more tourists to the Scottish Borders to experience our fantastic region. This is done by working with a number of different projects and businesses to make sure we can continue to provide an excellent tourist experience. How long have you lived/worked/visited in Northumberland or The Scottish Borders?: I was moved to Hawick in 1992 by The Royal Bank of Scotland who I worked for at the time. I have lived and worked here ever since.

Find accommodation in the Scottish Borders

What is it about the county that appeals to you?: I love the countryside. The Scottish Borders has everything you need if you love the outdoors. We have an excellent coastline with great sandy beaches and cliff walks as well as the many hills and long distance paths through the region. There are a large number of golf courses throughout the region which I try and play when I have the time. The world class mountain biking area over towards Innerleithen and Peebles gives you a reason to enjoy the forests which have just been added to by the new Go Ape adventure park.

The Talla Reservoir in the Scottish Borders © Noel Coward

What’s your favourite Scottish Borders beauty spot?: I really would struggle to just name one. There is a single track road that goes up from Talla Reservoir right in the west of the region it continues up a hill and if you stop at the top you can see right across the reservoir to the dam at the end, you could spend hours just sitting looking at the view. The view that you get from the top of the Eildon Hills in the centre of the region lets you see for miles and is a great reward for the climb to the top. I am also lucky enough to travel south down the A7 back to Hawick most days and always enjoy the view from “The Heights” before going down in to Hawick, you really do get a panoramic view that stretches for miles – even after 20 years I still enjoy it. That is three from the top of my head but I know that later when I am driving home I will come across somewhere else and wish I had mentioned it as well.

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