Steamship Accolade in special 125th Anniversary Year

The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) has recently launched a new Quality Scheme for Scottish Attractions, Activities, and Experiences, and the Steamship Sir Walter Scott at Loch Katrine is one of the first group of attractions to receive an award.

This month, the team at the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Charitable Trust, who are responsible for the preservation of the historic 125-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott for public enjoyment, celebrated their success in being awarded a prestigious 4-star accolade, which follows on from receiving the prestigious UK Flagship of the Year Award from National Historic Ships UK back in June.

Jillian Schofield, Service Manager for Culture, Events and Tourism at Stirling Council, who is on the ASVA board, presented the award to James Fraser, CEO and Lead Trustee of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust, during her recent visit to the popular Trossachs attraction, where she was joined by many of the area's politicians and local businesses as part of a special Destination National Park Group study visit.

Loch Katrine’s award recognises excellence across the visitor attraction, with praise for the staff and many features of the attraction including the quality of the live cruise commentary on steamship cruises and the overall accessibility of facilities and services, including an innovative sensory exhibition showcasing the Story of Steamships on the loch and the unique all abilities boat, bike and boot visitor experience combining a boat ferry trip with cycling and walking opportunities on the 14 mile lochside traffic free leisure route.

James Fraser acknowledged the achievement as the result of significant investment in recent years in the steamship restoration and shore facility improvements, combined with the dedication and professionalism of the staff team, noting that a busy season of positive feedback from visitors had also reinforced the impact of their efforts.

“This 4-star award is a fantastic recognition of our team’s hard work and commitment to delivering an outstanding visitor experience at Loch Katrine while contributing to the wider appeal of the Trossachs as one of Scotland's top visitor destinations,” said James Fraser.

Jillian Schofield added “ASVA’s vision is World-Class Scottish Attractions, and this new scheme is designed to support the sector in achieving exactly that. Loch Katrine’s award demonstrates how the scheme recognises, supports, and celebrates excellence in Scotland’s visitor experiences”.