Jacobite Discovery Plans Go On Show

Jacobite Cruises is holding a public exhibition and drop-in session to inform people of its plans for the Jacobite Discovery Project on Tuesday 13 April from 2.30pm until 8pm at the Craigmonie Room, Glenurquhart High School, Drumnadrochit.  

The Jacobite Discovery Project is the local company’s plans to build a new £2.5 million tourism facility complete with a new harbour, car park, reception, and visitor facilities on the edge of Loch Ness.

Community members and anyone interested in viewing the plans and learning more about the proposal are welcome to attend.

Representatives from Jacobite Cruises, planning consultants G H Johnston Building Consultants Ltd, traffic and engineering consultants Millard Consulting, and recently appointed architects Cameron Webster, will be available on the day.

Rod Michie, Director at Jacobite, said: “The community have been very much involved in developing and shaping the proposed project, both during the design meetings and on our website www.jacobitediscovery.co.uk . What started as a blank canvas is developing into an exciting reality.

“We have worked with a group of 12 stakeholders to shape the plans and their thoughts and suggestions helped us develop a design brief. We are confident Cameron Webster’s designs will be well-received.

“We are encouraging everyone interested in the project to come to the drop in day and see the plans and have their questions answered.”

Jacobite Cruises intends to submit a planning application within the next two months.

 

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Architect Appointed to Build Loch Ness Tourism Facility

Jacobite Cruises has appointed Glasgow-based Cameron Webster Architects to build the £2.3 million Jacobite Discovery project after a four-way design competition.

The Jacobite Discovery Project is the cruise company’s proposal to build a visitor centre with space for visitor facilities, a reception, harbour and car park at Brackla, on the shores of Loch Ness.

Cameron Webster’s design, which uses Caithness stone and local timber to build the visitor facility, was the favourite among the six-strong selection panel, stakeholders and those members of the public who shared their views on the project’s website – www.jacobitediscovery.co.uk.

Rod Michie, Director at Jacobite, said: “The four designs were presented to a group of 20 stakeholders at a meeting earlier this month. We’re extremely pleased the stakeholders, including members of the community council, tourism representatives and other loch-based bodies, shared the same view as those of us on the selection panel.

“We developed the design brief after meetings with the same group and while all four designs were excellent, Cameron Webster’s use of natural products and light best met our requirements to build an iconic visitor centre that is sympathetic to its’ surroundings.”

Cameron Webster is now preparing detailed designs which will be available for the public to view at a drop in session in Drumnadrochit later this month (March). Jacobite Cruises then hopes to submit a planning application to The Highland Council in April.

The partners of Cameron Webster have experience of building award-winning tourism facilities, including Mount Stewart Visitor Centre in Bute and the Roche Court Galleries in Salisbury.

Robin Webster said: “We are delighted to be working on such an exciting project at what is arguably one of the world’s best known natural landmarks. This is the first time we’ve ever been involved in a design competition that’s open to the public so being selected is even more rewarding.

“This visitor centre will not only enhance the experience for Jacobite’s customers, with a minor detour it will be a wonderful resting place for walkers on the Great Glen Way. A small slipway will also make it the perfect stop for those on the Caledonian Canal Canoe Trail.

“Our approach to the design of this exciting project is to develop the topography of the site. People focus on the loch but the geographical formation that created it and the burn that feed it are important in understanding what Loch Ness is about.

“Our design exploits the natural biodiversity and blends with the quality of the woodland and burn. We have focused on the best use of natural light. The sail roof opens to sunlight and gives people sitting in the café and terrace views of the woodland above as well as Loch in front.”

Inverness-based GH Johnston is leading the planning consultancy work and Millard Consulting has been commissioned to advise on the engineering, environmental, transport and servicing aspects of the proposal. They will also co-ordinate health and safety and site investigation services.

 

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Cruise Company Invites Opinion on Proposed Loch Development

Local tourism business Jacobite Cruises has launched a website to encourage people to get involved in the design of the Jacobite Discover Project, its planned tourism facility on land on the edge of Loch Ness.

The company, which offers five star Loch Ness, is consulting interested people and organisations about building a new harbour, car park, reception, and visitor facilities at the site.

The website – www.jacobitediscovery.co.uk – gives a brief description of the project and offers users the opportunity to comment.

The site also includes a report on a first stakeholder workshop, held on board the Jacobite Legend last month.

Jacobite Cruises is starting with a blank canvas and inviting interested organisations to get involved and help enhance the region’s tourism offer.

Rod Michie, Director at Jacobite, said: “Jacobite Cruises welcomes over 100,000 customers for a tour on Loch Ness each year. The business continues to grow and, in order to continue improving our customer experience, we need to expand our facilities.

And we want do it in a way that is sustainable and sympathetic to its breathtaking surroundings.

“Because Loch Ness is a iconic destination we expect lots of people to have an opinion as to what they want to see. We are therefore working hard to give them the opportunity to let us know.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders and would wish to invite the wider community to participate through the website. A full public consultation will follow once our ideas develop.

“We will use their opinions to shape the design. We will then post drawings on the site for comment as the project evolves.”

Just last month Jacobite Cruises won a prestigious Thistle Award for Going the Extra Mile.

Inverness-based GH Johnston is leading the planning consultancy work and Millard Consulting have been commissioned to advise on the engineering, environmental, transport and servicing aspects of the proposal. They will also co-ordinate health and safety and site investigation services.

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Local tourism business announces plans for expansion

Local tourism business Jacobite Cruises has starting talking to the local community and stakeholders about its plans to expand its facilities on land at Brackla on the edge of Loch Ness.

The company, which offers five star Loch Ness cruises to over 100,000 visitors a year, is consulting interested organisations about building a new harbour, car park, reception, and visitor facilities at the site.

The initiative, which will involve a series of workshops, is called the Jacobite Discovery Project.

The company is starting with a black canvas and inviting local businesses, residents and interested organisations to get involved and help enhance the region’s tourism offer

Inverness-based consultancy G H Johnston is leading the planning and design work.

Freda Newton, Director at Jacobite, said: “This is a really exciting development that will really add something to the north of Scotland’s tourism offer.

Over the past five years we have invested heavily into the Jacobite product in order to provide visitors to Loch Ness with a first class experience, and we are very proud of the service and facilities we offer.

“We currently operate from Tomnahurich Bridge and the Clansman Harbour but the lease runs out on the Clansman facility in 2017 meaning we need to plan for the future. The new facility will operate alongside the Clansman Harbour and give us significant additional car park facilities, which we desperately need.

“Loch Ness is an iconic destination recognised around the world. By enhancing our facilities we will improve people’s visitor experience. And we will do it in a way that is sustainable and sympathetic to its breathtaking surroundings.”

Since Jacobite Cruises changed ownership seven years ago the company has seen business increase three-fold. Just last week Freda Rapson won the SCDI Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and last month Jacobite was shortlisted in the Extra Mile category for a Scottish Thistle Awards. The category recognises tourism businesses that exceed customer expectations by making their stay or visit more memorable

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Jacobite Goes Extra Mile to win Scottish Thistle Awards

Inverness-based Jacobite Cruises won its second Scottish Thistle award on Friday (23 October 2009).

The five-star cruise company topped the ‘Extra Mile’ category at the prestigious Scottish Thistle Awards, four years after winning the Thistle Award for People Development.
The ‘Extra Mile’ award recognises companies that exceed customer expectations by making their stay or visit more memorable.

The team picked up the gong at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Midge Ure.

The award comes just weeks after Jacobite’s owner Freda Newton won the SCDI Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship.

Operations Manager John Bellshaw picked up the award: “The Thistle Awards are most prestigious accolades in the Scottish tourism industry and it’s particularly exciting to be recognised for customer service in this industry.

“Jacobite Cruises, as a five star visitor experience, is committed to exceeding customer expectations and over the past few years we’ve introduced a number of initiatives to help us do that. We recently announced our intention to build new harbour and visitor facilities on the shore of Loch Ness. This development, called the Jacobite Discovery Project will allow us to further enhance our customer service over the next two decades. People have an opportunity to get involved with the design of the project on our website – www.jacobitediscovery.co.uk”

VisitScotland’s Regional Director, Scott Armstrong, added: “The Scottish Thistle Awards give us a great opportunity to showcase the very highest quality tourism businesses in the country. Paramount to the success of the tourism industry is quality. This, combined with exceeding visitor expectations, will make sure Scotland is best placed to compete in the global market.”
 
In the last few years Jacobite Cruses has picked up a plethora of awards. As well as the SCDI award the company holds a National Business Award for Tourism, best SME at the Excellence Awards, Hospitality Assured, Highlands and Islands Tourism Business of the Year and of course two Thistle Awards.

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Surfers Recommend Jacobite Cruises

Jacobite Cruises has been voted the number one visitor attraction in Inverness after recommendations from all over the globe.

The company tops the attraction list on popular travel website tripadvisor.com after over 30 customers gave the company an average of 4.5 out of 5

Tourists from America, Finland, Spain, Canada and Australia have written rave reviews on the site over the last few months. Rod Michie, director at Jacobite, is delighted they’ve taken the time: “At Jacobite we have the enviable job of treating thousands of people to their first ever experience of Loch Ness, a world class tourist destination. So we want to make sure they get the best experience possible.

“It’s fantastic to know so many people have taken time to say such great things about us, particularly on trip advisor, which so many people use as a destination guide.”

Jacobite’s customers can choose from a variety of Loch Ness trips, ranging from one hour to six. All three of the company’s  boats have sonar screens, meaning Nessie hunters can keep an eye on the waters below. Over the last few years the company has grown to welcome over 100,000 visitors a year, winning as plethora of awards on the way.