ICYMI: Joy for Highlands at Scottish Rural Awards
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ALREADY acclaimed as the world's best driving route, the North Coast 500 has added to its accolades with a prestigious award for developing tourism in the north Highlands.
The 516-mile long coastal driving route was awarded first place in the rural tourism category at the Scottish Rural Awards, beating Scotland's busiest cruise ship destination, the Port of Cromarty Firth at Invergodon, into second place.
Judges praised the NC500 for extending the tourist season in the north Highlands, adding that the independent company North Coast 500 Ltd had created “a piece of marketing genius, so much so other areas are copying it”.
Tom Campbell, managing director of the North Coast 500, said: “We’re delighted to have won the rural tourism category at the Scottish Rural Awards. Since launching the North Coast 500 in 2015, it has been our vision to develop tourism in a proactive way in order to benefit the whole of the north Highlands. We’re thrilled to see this has been recognised by the judging team.”
Over the past four years, the North Coast 500 has been hailed as probably the number one road trip in the world by Condé Nast Traveler and Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson, and one of the top reasons for people to travel to Scotland.
The route has been credited with boosting business by 20 to 25 per cent each year, extending the season from six to 10 months, and boosting the economy in excess of an additional £10 million.
The NC500 was not Highland tourism's only winner at the Scottish Rural Awards, which were held in Edinburgh.
Fort Augustus firm Cruise Loch Ness was named rural enterprise and innovation winner, just one week after picking up the best attraction trophy at the national Scottish Thistle tourism awards, beating Spean Bridge based Highland Soap Company into second place.
The judges commented: "They have managed to elevate a boat trip to be something really exciting. Very good for attracting international guests, most of all it's good fun."
The NC500 also contributed to the judges' decision to award the rural hospitality title to the Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland, commenting that it was an outstanding entrant this year, which had embraced the opportunities presented by the NC500 and "stepped up to the mark."
Dingwall's community funded GlenWyvis Distillery was the winner of the artisan drink category for its GoodWill gin. However, with profits set to be reinvested into the the community through a grants scheme, the award organisers commented: GoodWill Gin is more than just a delicious gin: this small batch spirit will make a real difference to the town in which it's made."
The Shieling Project in Struy was one of two runners-up in the education category with judges commenting that they loved the lasting impact of the project's lessons in traditional rural skills, with their emphasis on self-reliance.
