Inverness Taxis boss helps families get on their e-bikes

A city taxi firm owner is diversifying to help families enjoy a carbon neutral Highland adventure.

Gavin Johnston, owner of Inverness Taxis, has already been encouraging adventurers to tour the area in a more environmentally friendly way by hiring out e-bikes through his Tartan Adventures subsidiary.

Now he is ensuring all the family can enjoy the trip by offering the option of adding trailers so that even the youngest can enjoy the fun.

"It enables us to cater for a whole ranges of needs, so we have added kiddie trailers and seats so they can have a family day out as opposed to just couples going out," Mr Johnston explained.

"The trailers will take two kiddies under the age of six and there are car seats for older children that will take up to the age of five so you can quite easily do something with the family and takes trip to Dochgarroch or around the canal or even out to Dores because there is the cycle path out to Dores which we recommend to most people, which is nice and safe. There are loads of little loops and trails which can be done, but most people have Googlemaps and they can sort themselves out.

"We have also added an adventure pack. We give them two little trailers to tow behind the bike and all the equipment they need for an overnight stay at a loch or somewhere like that, so they can have a tent and all the cooking utensils they need. We give them a spare battery for the bike as well, so they can pop in a spare battery and come back even when they have gone out of range."

Mr Johnston added that the response so far had been encouraging.

"We've had a lot of interest and quite a few bookings and we haven't spent any money on advertising," he said.

"We are just getting ourselves organised with staff and training so we know what we are doing and just breaking into it gently this year so we can be fully prepped for next year. There has been a massive uptake of e-bikes and they are difficult to get."

Although some locals have rented e-bikes, the great majority of Tartan Adventures customers have been visitors. However, Mr Johnston is offering other items to help explore the Highland outdoors which might appeal to both residents and non-residents.

"We have added paddleboards as well," he said. "Again we are trying to tick the boxes for what people are wanting to do."

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