Local women set up new venture to boost tourism
TWO local women have set up a new tourism venture in a bid to encourage visitors to stay in Caithness longer than one night.
Isobel Mackay, of Thurso, and Angela Williamson, of Dunnet, hope their new tour company will help boost the local tourism revenue.
After spending 30 years away from Caithness working as a human resources professional, Isobel returned to the county last year and started an Airbnb in a room at her house at Freswick Gardens, overlooking Thurso beach.
She said: "I am passionate about the county – I love being home. I think when you go away and come back you appreciate what you have got."
Isobel explained that she decided to take out some of her own guests one day on a tour which included Ham harbour, and found that the visitors were "amazed" by it all. One woman was in tears because of the beauty.
The aim is to get people to stay more than one night in Caithness.
The impromptu tour spurred Isobel to phone her pal Angela, who used to run a B&B in Thurso, and together they decided to organise tours. They are both also members of Thurso Community Development Trust.
They launched their bespoke Caithness tour company Above and Beyond at the beginning of March.
"The aim is to get people to stay more than one night in Caithness," Isobel said.
Recently they took two American Mackay visitors on a specially prepared tour of the Mackay Country which included visits to Bettyhill and Tongue and a drive through Strathnaver to Helmsdale.
The women from San Francisco were told about the tours after a chance meeting on the train journey from Inverness to Thurso.
"They were absolutely blown away," Isobel said.
"We have had so much good feedback. We are promoting it through as many different avenues as we can. We want to put Caithness on the tourism map."
Through Isobel's HR work she also became a life coach and has an interest in mindfulness and uses this technique in some of the unique tours.
She said: "The theme of all our tours is to get people to be in the now, enjoy the peace and the calm of our county, and breathe. Caithness is full of big skies and so peaceful. Standing on the shores of Loch More is just unique."
At the moment the company offers three key tours: A Road Less Travelled, taking in Westerdale and Loch More; A View from the Edge, visiting Brough, Ham harbour and Dunnet Head; and Coasts and Cairns, covering Camster Cairns, Whaligoe Steps and Lybster.
However, they can personalise tours for visitors and/or local groups for up to six people or arrange tours for larger groups by hiring a minibus.
Isobel added: "Our aim is to build a successful relationship with local hotels and B&Bs, as well as other tourist agencies and local businesses. We also aim to bring trade to small local craft businesses and coffee shops, restaurants and any business offering a service to tourists."
They are already working with Inspired by Caithness, jeweller Lindsey Gallacher, Braeside Retreats, Sibmister, and Dunnet Bay Escapes, as well as being in conversation with other businesses and Thurso Community Development Trust in a bid to raise the profile of the county.
During the summer evening tours will be on offer to embrace the "wonderful sunsets and skies" of Caithness.
In addition they hope to encourage companies to invest in their people and let them enjoy the many natural attractions the county has to offer, as well as get local people out and about.
