THE former owner of a Peebles nursery school has been reborn as an award-winning glamping pod operator.

And on Tuesday Margot Smolenska gave Scottish Government business minister Richard Lochhead a tour of Tweed Valley Pods, near Innerleithen.

Mr Lochhead visited to learn about her use of cash from the South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund.

Ms Smolenska, from Innerleithen, who previously owned 1st Nursery and runs the pod facility with her husband Erik, received a £10,700 investment to upgrade the bike wash, introduce heated lockers for cyclists to dry their clothing overnight, a tool station, and a coin-fed washing machine and tumble-drier.

She said: “The grant has had a very positive impact on our business and the facilities we offer.

“We’ve had great feedback, all leaving five-star reviews, with many of them commenting on how much they appreciated the provision for cyclists.

“People are booking longer stays in the knowledge they can wash and dry their muddy kit, their bikes and, importantly, store them securely.”

The company was named 2023 Scottish Mountain Biking Accommodation Provider of the Year by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland.

Speaking to Mr Lochhead as they walked round the site, Ms Smolenska said: “We recognised the need for them. Land at Glenormiston was coming up for sale and we jumped on it.

“Planning took a while but a year-and-half ago we opened and we have found it has grown and grown.

“We have four pods, fully en-suite with showers, Wi-Fi and television, and we used local builders and suppliers as far as possible.

“The pods are named after our favourite mountain biking trails in the area.”

Ms Smolenska added: “There is electric heating and the pods are really warm.

“We were amazed to get January and February bookings and people are coming all-year round.”

The fund was offered by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), and is supported by the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership.

The partnership – made up of local and national organisations representing thousands of people across the region – has a 10-year strategy.

It aims to capitalise on the south of Scotland hosting events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to create further economic, social and environmental benefits for local people.

Mr Lochhead said: “The fund is clearly already having a positive impact on a range of organisations, as was highlighted during my visit to Tweed Valley Pods, where I was pleased to congratulate them on their recent award and to see the positive impact of their funding.”

“Scotland’s tourism sector is an encouraging example of how businesses can lean into innovation, driving local environmental benefits, all while creating jobs and boosting the economy.”

Russel Griggs OBE, chair of SOSE, said: “The aim of the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership is to create one of the leading cycling destinations in the world.”