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RECENT NEWS AND LATE AVAILABILITY
August 17, 2003
We are now full for August and September.
August 1, 2003
Sorry that we are no longer taking anymore bookings for September 2003.
July 8, 2003
We regret that we're not taking any bookings for Christmas or New Year.
July 4, 2003
The only available dates we have left in August are as follows; The Hayloft (sleeps 2) between & including the 9th and the 29th of August. The Bothy (sleeps up to 4) between & including the 16th and the 21st of August. Please call or e-mail for details.
May 2, 2003
From my friend to the people! Get back to drawing board on tourism – I have just read with interest the article on the VisitScotland website and quite frankly I am astounded that there are people in charge of tourism in Scotland who have so little knowledge of the whisky distilling industry. I have lived and worked in the heart of Speyside, the accepted home for Scotch whisky, all my life. Over the years the industry has been good to my family, friends and our community. In fact, you could say that distilling is the community in Speyside. From where I work at Macallan I can see at least three other distilleries in clear view. The company that I work for owns and runs three sites on Speyside – Macallan, Tamdhu and Glen Rothes. There are, of course, many more – Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Cardhu and The Glen Livet to name but a few weel kent ones. I think I have made my point. Tourism in Speyside started with Glenfiddich in the late 60s/early 70s, and my father (the late Major George Combe) was there almost from the beginning. He must be turning in his grave at the crass stupidity that has been shown by VisitScotland.com. What these people seem unable to grasp is that they are not simply putting out a mis-worded poster or leaflet that will be seen by a few thousand potential tourists. Oh no, the mis-information will be seen by countless millions from the convenience of their monitors across the globe, and it is there in the comfort of their own homes that the opinions will be made as to where to visit in Scotland. I am not saying that you should only go and visit Campbeltown and its distilleries. Go visit and then do the whisky trail in ... Speyside. Then while you are here why not the West Coast as well? What tourism in Scotland needs is people who have a good sound knowledge of what is available in this country to the visitor. Sound business acumen would be an advantage as well. They need to pull all the industries together – hotels, catering, transport, traditional industry, local communities and authorities. Oh aye, and the Scottish government if they could take time out from Follyrood. The problem with VisitScotland.com is, I suspect, ‘Central Belt syndrome’.... the world stops just north of Stirling Castle. Flippant, I know. It also needs people who are above all passionate about their country and what it has to offer visitors. VisitScotland needs to speak to the visitors and locals alike. They need to get their facts correct. They need to build a website that would make Scots want to visit their own country. Above all, what this country needs is one single tourism authority that can listen to what tourists and locals have to say. This country already has a reputation for being as expensive as Switzerland to visit, offering poor value for money. However, in Switzerland the trains are clean (they do not smell of urine) and run on time. Their towns are clean and tidy, their tourist offices open (not just when there is an R in the month), the tourist literature refreshing to read and accurate – and the chocolate is quite good as well. So the message to VisitScotland is go back to wherever you came from and try again. Look at what other tourist offices do for their countries. Eire would be a good idea. Do not simply write off whole parts of the country that you are trying to promote, simply because you cannot be bothered to travel up the A9. – Yours etc, J COMBE
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