Press release -

Ring of Breadalbane Explorer launches for 2013 season

The popular ‘hop on, hop off’ Ring of Breadalbane Explorer bus has just launched for the 2013 season (29 June) and will run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday until 20 October 2013.

The award winning* bus, which is now in its second season, takes passengers through the stunning Breadalbane area of the Highlands, passing by beautiful towns and villages and stopping at key visitor attractions along the route.

Running both clockwise and anticlockwise on a scheduled timetable, the bus offers visitors the means to have a perfect day out by stopping at popular tourist attractions such as Highland Safaris, Auchingarrach Wildlife Centre, Dewar’s World of Whisky, the Birks Cinema and The Scottish Crannog Centre.

The inspiration and driving force behind the service, the Breadalbane Tourism Co-operative, has been recognised for its innovation and is in the running for a Visit Scotland Thistle Award, having already won the Partnership in Tourism Award at the North East and Tayside regional finals.

The service allows space for bikes, buggies and well behaved dogs for no extra cost, meaning that part of the route can be undertaken by bike for cycling enthusiasts to experience more remote destinations in the area.

Thomas McGonigle of the Breadalbane Tourism Co-operative commented: “We are delighted that the second season of the Ring of Breadalbane Explorer is underway, opening up this beautiful area of the Highlands for those who don’t want to or can’t drive. We have developed a range of itineraries, ‘Day Trips Made Easy’ which will help visitors to decide upon their perfect day out. With an enormous amount of activities to get involved with from each bus stop, visitors will be hard pushed to know what to choose!”

Richard Pinn, VisitScotland Regional Director said: “The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer is a great example of businesses in the local community coming together to provide an excellent service that highlights and showcases the local area. This year we are celebrating the Year of Natural Scotland and what better place to see Scotland at its natural best than in the Highland Perthshire.

“It’s particularly pleasing given the recent Thistle Award win the group received, the grand final will take place in November and I wish them all the best for not only that but for the rest of this holiday season.”

So whether you’re a busy mum looking for ways to entertain the children during the summer holidays, a visitor to the area or a local looking for some car free fun, the Ring of Breadlabane Explorer offers something for everyone, whatever the Scottish weather brings!

For more information visit www.breadalbane.org/ring-of-breadalbane-explorer, join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/breadalbaneexplorer or follow us on Twitter @RingBreadalbane

ENDS

*Regional winner of Scottish Thistle Awards 2013.

Notes to editors:

  • A hop on, hop off day pass for adults is £12, whilst under 18s is £6. Under 6s can use the service for free and visitors can benefit from a family ticket which enables one accompanied child to go for free per full fare adult ticket.
  • The ‘Day Trips Made Easy’ suggestions can be downloaded for free from www.breadalbane.org.

For more information please contact Emma Davies, Katrina Muir or Lesley Alexander at Smarts on 0141 222 2040 or email emma.davies@smarts.co.uk

Topics

  • Tourism

Categories

  • corporate communications

Regions

  • Scotland

Notes to Editors:

  • Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
  • VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland. 
  • The organisation has three key roles:
  1. To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
  2. To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
  3. To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
  • VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
  • The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
  • 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com 
  • The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy. 
  • According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
  • For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/ 
  • Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
  • For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
  • For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
  • For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx

Contacts

Chelsea Charles

Press contact Scotland’s Themed Years Communications & Engagement Manager Contact for media enquiries on: Scotland’s Themed Years (i.e. 2018 Year of Young People; 2020 Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters; 2022 Year of Scotland's Stories) 0131 472 2067

Carrie MacWilliam

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - National Contact for media enquiries on: Travel media (Scotland); Year of Young People; UK Marketing; Dundee; Fife; Angus; Perthshire 0131 472 2052

Amelia Whittaker

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - Regional Contact for media enquiries on: South Region; Edinburgh and Lothians; Food and Drink; Scottish Thistle Awards 01750 723806