A new interactive app for visitors has been launched to encourage tourism in Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Scotland Starts Here is a free app that helps visitors explore the region, learn its myths, legends and songs, and find the right itineraries for great experiences.

Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group (MBTAG) developed the app to aid tourists in the discovery of one of Scotland’s richest regions in terms of historic towns, castles, rivers, and green spaces.

Jemma Reid, MBTAG Project Manager, said: “Whether you are walking, cycling, driving, on a horse or even in an electric car, our app can help you choose great places to eat, visit and explore.”

Ms Reid believes the Borders should be a “destination of choice”, and she added that the app is also “a great tool for local businesses to promote themselves as it really is a ‘one stop digital shop’ for anyone who is visiting the area to shape and plan their stay.”

Scotland Starts Here has features like interactive routes, maps, itineraries of what do depending on preferred method of transport and interests, and it’s equipped with audio telling stories of the area’s myths, legends and songs.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, said: “The new MBTAG Scotland Starts Here app is one of a number of exciting projects being taken forward this year to promote the Scottish Borders as a destination to stay in and explore.

“I would encourage visitors as well as local people to try out the app to find out more about our wonderful corner of Scotland.”

MBTAG brings together the wide range of businesses from the Midlothian and Scottish Borders tourism sector with the aim to create new products and experiences.

The Scotland Starts Here app is free to use and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play store. MBTAG also provided a toolkit to understand the app here: www.mbtag.uk/mbtag_toolkit/scotland-starts-here-tourism-app.