Five-star rating for north tour business
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VisitScotland chairman Lord Thurso has praised the owners of a north based tour guide business after presenting them with a five-star grading.
Robert and Sally-Ann James, of North Coast Explorer Tours, said they were thrilled to be awarded the national tourism body’s accreditation.
The couple moved to Caithness in 2013, having spent many years visiting the area on holiday.
They have run Mey House luxury rooms and breakfast for five years, establishing it as a five-star gold accommodation provider with VisitScotland.
Seeing the opportunity for providing private tours, they started North Coast Explorer Tours in 2018 for Mey House guests only.
After positive feedback, they extended the offer to anyone visiting the whole North Coast 500 and its interior this year and have become the only five-star accredited tour company headquartered in the north Highlands in their first year of VisitScotland participation.
Robert said: “Our aim is to provide visitors to the North Highlands and North Coast 500 with an unrivalled experience of the whole area.
“We offer bespoke tours focusing on our guests’ interests and capabilities, and can adapt tours to those with mobility restrictions too. This is possible with the use of our dedicated Land Rover and Sky Explorer, our flying camera, which enables you to view cliffs, headlands and hidden ravines as never before.”
Lord Thurso said: “The North Coast 500 has been a huge success for Scotland’s visitor economy, generating millions of pounds in additional spend. North Coast Explorer’s bespoke tours allow our visitors a real taste of why the route has been so successful. Consumers want quality and value-for-money experiences. Star gradings help visitors make informed decisions.”
