Monday 3rd February 2014 – for immediate release
McLeod seeks support for “St Ninian’s Ways” to Whithorn
SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Dr Aileen McLeod is seeking a debate at
Holyrood on a proposal to create “St Ninian’s Ways”, a network of routes all leading
to Whithorn, reflecting the long history of religious pilgrimage associated with St
Ninian and highlighting Whithorn’s historical significance as the first Christian site in
Scotland – the cradle of Scottish Christianity.
Historian and heritage tourism consultant James Brown proposes that the “St
Ninian’s Ways” should be candidates to become a European Cultural Route, giving
them comparable international recognition and status, for example, as the pilgrim
routes to Santiago de Compostella.
Dr McLeod said:
“Whithorn has immense historical and cultural significance for Scotland, but this is
nowhere near as widely known and recognised as it should be. As the first Christian
site in Scotland it can truly lay claim to the status of the Cradle of Scottish
Christianity and was a place of pilgrimage for 16 centuries.
“By establishing the St Ninian’s Ways, with Whithorn as their destination, and
seeking European Cultural Route status for them, I hope that we can boost
Whithorn’s profile as an important historical site, not only for Scotland, but for the
development of Christianity in western Europe.
“I hope therefore that we can have a debate in Parliament to bring this idea wider
exposure and gather cross-party support for its further development. Whithorn’s
significance to Scottish and European history deserves to be more widely known.”
James Brown commented,
“There are 26 Cultural Routes recognised by the Council of Europe bringing
economic, cultural and educational benefits to the countries involved. Only three
touch lightly upon Scotland but now we have the opportunity to have the first
European Cultural Route focussed not only on the UK, but with Scotland with
Scotland at its centre.”
Ends.
Contact:
Rob Davidson: 07963 685 773
Notes to Editors:
The text of Dr McLeod’s motion is below:
Motion S4M-08831: Aileen McLeod, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date
Lodged: 23/01/2014
The St Ninian Ways, a Proposed European Cultural Route
That the Parliament recognises what it considers the significance of Whithorn as an
important historical and archaeological site in the establishment and development of
Christianity in Scotland; considers that Whithorn has a strong association with St
Ninian, leading to the burgh’s status as a major centre of pilgrimage over 16
centuries of Scottish history; notes that Paisley Abbey and Crossraguel Abbey are
already part of the Cluniac European Cultural Route, and considers that the creation
of The St Ninian Ways as a new European Cultural Route with Whithorn as its
destination would stimulate economic regeneration along the routes and help to
increase the profile of Whithorn as a site of major significance both to Scottish
history and to the development of Christianity in western Europe.

European Cultural Routes website:
http://www.culture-routes.lu/php/fo_index.php?lng=en

Scotland has two members of the European Federation of Cluniac Sites. They
are Paisley Abbey (Church of Scotland) and Crossraguel Abbey (Historic
Scotland). These two historic sites are on the ancient Glasgow to Whithorn
pilgrimage route.

European Federation of Cluniac Sites website:
http://www.sitesclunisiens.org/index.php?newlang=french

Historic Scotland contact is Adrian Cox - e-mail:
Adrian.Cox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The St Ninian Ways is an initiative by heritage tourism consultants, Cormack
Brown, based in Ayr. Their contact details are:
James Brown - e-mail:james@cormackbrown.com
Website: www.cormackbrown.com
Tel: 01292 610 790
Mobile: 07914 787 567