The street by street route has now been announced and showcases what Dumfries and Galloway has to offer including stunning scenery, culture, famous landmarks, heritage and hundreds of years of tradition. It also gives the people in Dumfries and Galloway the chance to come out and line the streets, showing their support for over 100 batonbearers who have the honour of carrying the baton, nominated in recognition of their contributions to local sport, community and youth work.
The day will start in Langholm with the newly elected Cornet having the honour of carrying the baton on horseback from the Langholm Monument. Its next stop is Gretna where it starts at the Famous Old Blacksmith’s shop where the baton will travel by horse and carriage carrying a couple to be married that day. The Baton will stop in at Eastriggs Primary School, the village famously named the Commonwealth Village with its links with the First World War.
The Baton then travels through Dumfries stopping at the Council Headquarters where it will be greeted by a cultural performance and stopping again at Burns Statue where it will be joined by the Guid Nychburris officials on horseback. In Castle Douglas the baton will travel by boat over Carlingwark Loch before moving to Kirkcudbright where it will be entertained at the harbour by a mini Scottish festival.
The Baton then passes through Newton Stewart before finishing its journey in Stranraer where a programme of cultural events will welcome the baton at Castle Square before completing its journey at Agnew Park where an End of Day Celebration has been planned to celebrate its passage through Dumfries and Galloway.
From festivals to sports days to decorating the high street, people will be able mark the baton’s arrival in all sorts of creative and inspiring ways. A wide programme of events have been organised and supported by community organisations to coincide with the day. There are choirs performing as part of the big sing relay, bands and music playing at various locations and sport and dance festivals as part of the Games for Scotland programme celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay.
Full street by street details and route maps for each town will be available at www.dumgal.gov.uk/batonrelay from Noon on Wednesday 14 May. As well as this, our Council is preparing activity maps for each town to detail the sports and cultural activities taking place in each town on the day the Baton travels through the region. These will be available at Council leisure facilities, libraries and customer service centres in the next few days…so keep your eyes open for the easy to read guide detailing exactly what’s happening in your area!
People can also book designated parking and viewing areas for people with disabilities in six of the eight locations and view all the available public transport going to and from the Queen’s Baton Relay route on the 19 June.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is encouraging people to come out and join in the celebrations giving people the chance to be part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Council Leader, Councillor Ronnie Nicholson said “Thursday 19 June will be a special day for Dumfries and Galloway and for the batonbearers nominated for their contribution to life in their local community and I would encourage everyone to come out and offer their encouragement”.
He added “There is a wide programme of events and activities planned along the Queen’s Baton Relay route and we are grateful of the support from local organisations from Langholm to Stranraer and everywhere in between. I am also heartened by the support offered from local people with nearly 400 stewards coming forward to ensure a safe passage for the baton”.
