A NEW sign promoting long-distance walking and cycling routes in and around Dunbar has been unveiled.

The board, at Dunbar Railway Station, was officially opened last week by Jennifer Mearns, East Coast Trains’ manager at the station.

That comes just a few days before the official opening of the John Muir Way, which links the town to Helensburgh, to echo the path trodden by Muir on his way to the USA, where he founded National Parks.

Now, it is hoped the sign and long-distance walking routes will help to ensure Dunbar is a hub of outdoor activities, from walking and cycling to surfing and wakeboarding.

Councillor John McMillan, council cabinet spokesman for economic development and tourism, said: “It’s a very exciting time for Dunbar and East Lothian, with the official opening of the coast-to-coast John Muir Way happening on Easter Monday.

“I’m sure many walkers and cyclists will travel to Dunbar by train to start their journey and this new noticeboard gives a great flavour of what else there is here to offer visitors.

“This is a great resource for tourists – and maybe locals will learn something new too!” The station is linked to Edinburgh and hopes to attract people to the soon-to-be-opened path, as well as the possibility of heading into the Lammermuir Hills.

The John Muir Link – the new name for a section of the former John Muir Way – takes walkers from Dunbar to Dunglass and then on to the Southern Upland Way at Cockburnspath.

The John Muir board at the station was funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and Sustaining Dunbar.

Morag Haddow, from Sustaining Dunbar, said: “We are delighted that SNH was able to support our initiative to promote the John Muir Way at the station.”