Discover the North Highlands of ScotlandA useful map leaflet for the North Highlands of Scotland that describes all the area has to offer:- Dramatic coastlines Beautiful landscapes Amazing wildlife Fascinating history Magical experiences
9th Caithness and Sutherland Walking Festival programme announcedThe programme for the 9th Caithness and Sutherland Walking Festival taking place 19-27 May 2012 has been launched. You can read the full programme here.
Royal Approval for Scottish Food at London EventA week of events showcasing the best of Scotland’s food and drink culminated on Friday with a visit from HRH The Duke of Rothesay. London’s prestigious Royal Automobile Club (RAC) served delicacies produced by suppliers from the North Highlands all last week, prepared by Executive Chef Philip Corrick. More information…
Brora Golf Club makes it for valueBrora Golf Club is celebrating after gaining a top ten place in National Club Golfer magazine’s review of 100 best value-for-money golf courses charging a visitor’s green fee of under £50. More information here
Hospitality industry faces staff shortages Highlands and Islands firms in warning over workersUpmarket hospitality businesses in the Highlands and Islands are warning that a lack of interest from young Scots and a diminishing immigrant workforce is leading to serious staff shortages. More here
Fine Dining in LochinverLochinver is fast becoming the Fine Dining destination in the Highlands. Read more about it here
London Olympics 2012 – who will be the winners?Interesting features about the impact of this year’s some Olympice here:- Olympics will drive 12% of Brits overseas Olympics will NOT bring more visitors to UK
Latest Highland Tourism Research statisticsVisitScotland Visitor Information January – October 2011 and Occupancy rates for the Highlands Highland Tourism – Volume, Value, Occupancy and Visits to November 2011
Mey Selections Luxury Christmas Hampers now available to orderMey Selections is offering great savings on its selection of Luxury Hampers this Christmas – The Sweet Taste of Caithness, Savoury Temptations, Mey Favourites with 10% discount on orders of 5 hampers or more and 15% discount on orders of 10 or more. Hampers will be available at/can be collected from: Mey Market; November 8th [...]
Young Highland Chef of the Year announcedThe winner of the Young Highland Chef of the Year was announced at the final cook-off in Dornoch yesterday. The prestigious competition was judged by a panel of A-list chefs led by culinary legend, Albert Roux OBE and including Andrew Fairlie, Steven Doherty, Derek Johnstone, Glen Watson, Brian Maule and last year’s winner Fiona Murray [...]
Pulteney single malt named as world’s best whiskyA 21-year-old single malt whisky distilled in one of the most remote places in Scotland has won the coveted title of ” World Whisky of the Year”. The title has been mentioned in the 2012 edition of writer Jim Murray’s guidebook “Whisky Bible”. Murray said that during his search for the top-ranked whisky, conducted 1,200 [...]
Tourism Intelligence Scotland UpdatesTo view the latest Ear to the Ground newsletters click on the link below:- Ear to the Ground – 2 December 2011 Ear to the Ground – November 2011 Ear to the Ground – October 2011
Making Things Happen for Tourism in Caithness & Sutherland – VisitScotland Chairman’s Industry Event – Mackays Hotel in Wick – 9.00am – 3.00pm on Friday 11 NovemberTourism businesses across Caithness and Sutherland are invited to a partnership industry event with Visit Scotland to discuss how to make things happen for tourism in Caithness & Sutherland on Friday 11 November 2011. The VisitScotland Chairman’s Industry event will include the Federation of Small Businesses, the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, North Highland Tourism and colleagues from [...]
Shortlist for Highlands and Islands Food and Drink AwardsThe shortlist for the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards has been announced and includes:- Applecross Inn, Applecross, Strathcarron, Ross-shire Crannag Bistro, Bonar Bridge, Sutherland Creelers of Skye, Broadford, Skye Summer Isles Hotel, Achiltibuie, Ross-shire The Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, Oban, Argyll. The Awards Dinner and Ceremony will take place on Friday 21 October 2011 [...]
Dornoch Firth Golf Pass shortlisted for Tourism AwardThe Dornoch Firth Golf Pass which North Highland Tourism were instrumental in launching has been shortlisted for ‘The Best in Working Together for Tourism’ category for this year’s Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards. The Golf pass was created between four clubs Brora, Golspie, Tain and Royal Dornoch and with assistance from Highland Council Ward Discretionary Fund, the VisitScotland Growth Fund [...]
Wick Flower Baskets presented with the VisitScotland Award for TourismWick Flower Baskets competing with 65 others from across Scotland won the VisitScotland Award for Tourism, and also went home with a Silver medal certificate in the Small Town category from the Keep Scotland Beautiful’s prestigious Beautiful Scotland award ceremony in the Pavilion, Rothesay on the Isle of Bute on 12th September. The award was presented by [...]
Ross-shire whisky makers feel the boomRECENT investment by Ross-shire’s four malt whisky distilleries has ensured they are well placed to make the most of a boom in exports of Scotland’s national dram. In defiance of gloomy forecasts for the global economy, Scotch whisky exports grew strongly in the first six months of 2011. Global shipments reached £1.8 billion between January [...]
Treat in Store for GastronautsGastronauts attending one of the big food events of the year can look forward to having their taste buds tickled by produce from one of Scotland’s most stunning areas. Taste of Ullapool – representing producers from the scenic town on Scotland’s north-west coast – are exhibiting at the Living Food at Cawdor Castle on Saturday [...]
‘Paper Wrappers & Herbarium Sheets’ – new exhibition by Joanne B. Kaar opens at Caithness HorizonsLocal artist Joanne B. Kaar has been working with the curator of Caithness Horizons over the last few years to help document, photograph and digitise the botanical specimens and paper wrappers contained within the Robert Dick Herbarium. Together they selected 60 of the herbarium specimens, which Joanne has printed onto her own handmade papers. All 60 are on display [...]
John O’Groats revamp startsOne of Scotlands most famous but run down tourist attractions is getting a revamp, John O’Groats will see the 6 million redevelopment begin this month. The first phase of the project, which will cost £1.8million, includes the conversion of the derelict John O’Groats Hotel into 19 luxury apartments and the construction of 23 standalone [...]
Holiday sales fall to 10-year lowForeign holidays are increasingly the preserve of the well-off, according to a new heavyweight report which showed that the number of overseas holidays sold last year was less than at any time since 2000. The total spend on leisure travel last year also fell to a five year low of £34bn – £2bn less than [...]
North Highland Initiative backs leading festival for Young PipersScotland’s leading event for young pipers has won backing from the North Highland Initiative. The Iain Dall Young Pipers Festival at Gairloch this September is being sponsored by the Initiative as part of its drive to help promote the North Highlands. The Festival takes place at Gairloch High School Auditorium on Saturday, September [...]
Next year’s local Mod to be held in WickOne of the direct benefits hoped for following Caithness’s successful hosting of the Royal National Mod in October last year, was an increase in the frequency of the Caithness and Sutherland Provincial Mod being hosted in the county. At the Annual General Meeting of the various committees representing the Caithness and Sutherland Mod, held in [...]
The Old Inn at Gairloch makes Sunday Telegraph’s 10 Top Best Seaside Pubs guideThe Old Inn at Gailoch made it into the top 10 Seaside Pubs guide recorded by the Sunday Telegraph in July. The Inn is renowned local seafood and game with own ale brewed on the premises as well as local ales and a fine selection of malt whisky. In Feb 2010 owner Alastair Pearson and [...]
Scotland awarded the 2015 World Orienteering ChampionshipsAt a press conference today the International Orienteering Federation announced that British Orienteering will host the 2015 World Orienteering Championships in Scotland. There was competition to stage the event with Sweden submitting a strong bid; however the strength of the British Orienteering bid won favour with the IOF. The Championships will be based in Inverness [...]
VisitScotland hails success of marketing campaignVisitScotland’s new marketing campaign, fronted by a series of TV ads, has out-performed many of its forerunners. The Surprise Yourself campaign, targeted at the UK and Ireland market, features iconic imagery such as Edinburgh Castle and Eilean Donan Castle as well as more unusual elements of Scottish life, such as Belhaven Fire Festival and a [...]
Ann Widdecombe, novelist and former Conservative MP announces the North West Highlands as her favourite place in the British IslesFavourite place inthe British Isles? The North West Highlands of Scotland. I almost retired there, but decided they would be too remote for the latter part of old age. I love them for the same reason as Dartmoor: the bleakness of the landscape and the fact I can walk around and not see another soul [...]
We have ‘lift-off’ for record rocket bidA group of Scottish amateur rocketeers are planning to create a high-altitude launch pad in a remote part of Sutherland to compete with the best sites in the world. Previously, because of site restrictions, experimental rocket launches in the UK were limited to 24,500 feet, but the new location will allow enthusiasts to fire their [...]
Walkers worth £533m to Highland economyMore than three times the number of tourists come to the Highlands to walk than all those who come to fish, play golf or cycle put together, tourism chiefs have revealed. Walking activities are estimated to be worth £533 million to the Scottish economy and their value is projected to increase – starting with the [...]
Sutherland makes Toronto Sun’s Top 10 fishing destinationsSutherland, Scotland: From a boat or from the shore, fishing is a brilliant way to enjoy Scotland. Even though the outdoor sport isn’t allowed on Sundays at the Kyle of Sutherland, there are six other days of the week to take advantage of the bounty that this majestic landscape has to offer. The area is [...]
Glenmorangie Celebrates Title of ‘The Best of the Best’Over the past five years Glenmorangie has achieved more accolades than any other single malt Scotch whisky at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, the most prestigious international awards body. Glenmorangie whiskies have now won a staggering total of eighteen ‘Gold Best in Class’ medals over the past five years at the International Wine and [...]
Sutherland produce in Amsterdam hamperTwo Sutherland-based companies, Cocoa Mountain and Sutherland Savoury Oatcakes are to represent a piece of Scotland as Inverness Airport launches its inaugural flight on Monday, September 5, to Schiphol, Amsterdam. Airport Manager, Graeme Bell will present a luxury Scottish hamper containing food produce from all over the Highlands to Ivo van der Vlis, Aviation [...]
Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2011The 2011 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards are open for entries! Make 2011 count and don’t miss your chance to enter your business into this year’s awards! The awards are completely free to enter and are open to tourism businesses of all sizes within the Highlands and Islands. Please click on the link for full [...]
Lochinver cafe opens on a mission to deliverA community business is providing an appetising new future for an important building in Lochinver. The relaunch of the Lochinver Mission Building has kicked off with opening of the new Mission Cafe, an enterprise owned and run by the community. The Lochinver Mission Building Project came about as a result of the decision by the [...]
The World to visit WickThe world’s most exclusive cruise ship The World will visit Wick this week. The World, as it’s aptly called, is the largest privately-owned yacht on earth; home to an elite group of multi-millionaires who take up residence on board as it plies its way around the globe, visiting 53 countries in 2011 alone. It is not [...]
New air route to link Inverness and AmsterdamA new service linking a Scottish airport with one of Europe’s busiest airports will be launched later this year, it has been announced. Airline Flybe will fly between Inverness and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from 5 September. The announcement on the new route has been welcomed by MSP Fergus Ewing. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, [...]
Actress Penelope Keith to launch Cromarty to Nigg ferryAn historic ferry service on the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands is to be relaunched on Wednesday 18 May at 12noon. A new, larger vessel, which can carry four cars rather than just two, has been specially built for the short crossing from Cromarty to Nigg. The previous ferry last sailed during the summer [...]
VisitScotland updatesVisitScotland Update – January 2012 VisitScotland Update – December 2011 VisitScotland Update – November 2011 VisitScotland – Highlands – October 2011 update VisitScotland Update – October 2011 VisitScotland Update – September 2011 VisitScotland – Highlands – July 2011 update VisitScotland – Highlands – June 2011 update VisitScotland – Highlands – May 2011 update VisitScotland’s eUpdate [...]
Stock up on Charles Tait’s North Highlands Guide BookWith the exceptional Easter and Bank Holiday weather bringing out visitors to the North Highlands now is your chance to stock up on the North Highlands Guide Book so your visitors can get the best out of their visit. The book is a definitive guide to what to see and do across Caithness, Ross-shire and [...]
North Highland Tourism enjoys busy VisitScotland Expo eventStand sharing with The Old Inn at Gairloch and the Royal Marine at Brora North Highland Tourism had an exceptionally busy show in Aberdeen at VisitScotland Expo, the annual travel trade buyers exhibtion and networking event. Invest Caithness and Ullapool Business and Tourism Association were also in support. Over the two days we held in excess [...]
Royal Wedding Guests Celebrate with Mey Selections Scotch BeefScotch Beef had star billing on the official menu for the Royal Wedding today (Friday 29th April) watched by an estimated two billion well-wishers around the globe. His Royal Highness Prince William and his new bride, Kate Middleton, along with around 650 guests enjoyed Scotch Beef from Mey Selections at the lunch reception hosted by [...]
Ullapool Book Festival programme launchedAt an event on Saturday James Robertson, honorary president of Ullapool Book Festival, announced the programme for the 7th festival that will be held from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th May. The exciting line-up includes such notable writers as poet Don Paterson, awarded the Queen’s medal for Poetry in 2010, Bernard MacLaverty, John Burnside and [...]
Wave North event 9 – 17 AprilThurso gets ready to welcome this year’s O’Neill Surfers and the Scottish Canoe Association Scottish Championships with a series of events staged between 9-17 April. Events in and around Thurso will include live music, surf chillout sessions,surf cafe, pod casting workshop , seafood taster menu, music & Scottish dancing. Full details available from Caithness Horizons, Thurso
Golf Pass Offers Five Top CoursesThe pass marks a joint collaboration between four Dornoch Firth golf clubs Brora, Golspie, Royal Dornoch and Tain and North Highland Tourism to attract golfers into the area. Golfers will have the opportunity to play five of the top traditional links courses in Scotland including the challenge of Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course as well as [...]
World Monument Castle OpensCastle Sinclair Girnigoe, the only castle in Scotland to be listed by the World Monuments Fund on its Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered sites in the World, will open to the public on Sunday 1st August following £700,000 of restoration works. The planning, fundraising and execution of phase one of the works has [...]
