North tour business gains five-star status
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VisitScotland chairman Lord Thurso has praised the owners of a locally 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 after accepting the national tourism body's accreditation outside the Castle of Mey on Friday.
Robert and Sally-Ann moved to Caithness in 2013, having spent many years visiting the area on holiday. They ran 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.
“Our aim is to provide visitors to the North Highlands and North Coast 500 with an unrivalled experience of the whole area,” said Robert, a guide trained and accredited by the Scottish Tourist Guide Association.
“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.”
North Coast Explorer’s bespoke tours allow our visitors a real taste of why the NC500 route has been so successful.
Most guests comment on the fact that they experience sites, often off the beaten track, which they would otherwise have missed and learn more about the area than they would ever do touring on their own.
Lord Thurso said: “I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Robert and Sally-Ann on achieving this five-star tour quality assurance award.
“The North Coast 500 has been a huge success for Scotland’s visitor economy, generating millions of pounds in additional spend as well as showing off the landscapes and attractions across the Highlands. 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 and select businesses that meet and exceed these expectations.
“Quality assurance stars, alongside online reviews, give visitors a balance of objective and subjective views to assist in their decision-making and expectations.”
When detailing their tailored itineraries, Robert and Sally-Ann aim to showcase local businesses as well as the natural beauty. If any local business feels they could work with them, they should get in touch via www.northcoast.scot
