Noss Head aims for award glory
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THE owner of a striking tourist location near Wick has her eyes on the prize at this year's Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
Benedicta (Ben) Makin – owner of the recently refurbished three bedroomed lighthouse keeper’s cottage at Noss Head – is delighted that she and her team of three have reached the finals, with the holiday cottage up for the prestigious Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience prize.
“People love the idea of staying in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage but not everyone knows just how different each Scottish lighthouse is," said Ben. "We give our guests the chance to learn more about the history of our lighthouse, explore the headland, the landscape and the wildlife, and understand a little more about the people who’ve lived and worked here for centuries.”
The cottage has also been granted a Green Tourism Silver Award, and Ben hopes that its superb average reviews (5/5 on Trip Advisor, 5/5 on Airbnb and 9.8/10 on Booking.com) will bring another piece of silverware to the county.
The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards has run for 15 years, and aims to identify, highlight and reward excellence throughout the hospitality industry within the area.
Ben believes that comfort and attention to detail have been the secret to this success, along with her choice to keep things local and sustainable by using trades people and suppliers from the area. She has also been inspired by Noss Head’s maritime history.
“The Stevensons – designers of many of Scotland’s lighthouses – constantly innovated to keep mariners safe, and we’re inspired to do the same," she said.
"We’re constantly trying and testing different things, listening to feedback and making improvements. That’s how we help guests form happy memories that’ll last decades.”
The awards ceremony will be held on November 1.
