Explore Inverness start of the tourist Season Newsletter 2013

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Good luck to us all in the 2009 Tourist Season. In the year of

The Homecoming

Explore Inverness

Tourism

2012 by all accounts was a much tougher year for the Scottish tourism industry, many tourism businesses across Scotland told us “gone are the days of opening the doors and visitors flocking in”.

The factors that most people mentioned was the poor weather and the Olympics having a nega-tive effect. I al-ways remember what businesses in and around St Andrews and East Fife say about the year the Open is played at St An-drews. I am told that the year after the Open is when they see the benefits, while the year of the Open is a tougher year.

So hopefully the feel good effect from the Olym-

pics will be felt this year as there was so much positive coverage.

Indications’ - speaking to one or two busi-nesses, attractions and accommodation providers is that their forward bookings are looking good. So fingers crossed for 2013.

What makes Explore Inverness different?

“It is more than just a brochure!”

We promote Inverness us-ing four different forms of communications:-

1. Printed Explore Guides— the style is not graffiti ad-verting but short pieces of information supported by maps. (Graffiti advertising, is where the advertiser buys a space in a publica-tion and do what ever they want with the space, col-ours fonts, size etc). I al-ways say when you read a newspaper how often do you read the adverts, but you will read the editorial. We aim to make our publi-cation a good guide to the area, so visitors get the most out of their stay.

Inside this issue:

Explore Inverness Start of the Season Newsletter A chance to update ourselves ready for the new season. Thank you to all the businesses for contributed articles.

Beauly, Dingwall, Loch Ness and the Black Isle

March 2013

Explore Scotland Ltd 01796 473335 The newsletter • Gives you the latest Inverness

tourist business news

• Written by the businesses themselves

Inverness Newsletter 2013

Article page

Explore Scotland 1

Explore Scotland 2

New Era 3

Highland Souvenirs 3

The Waterfront 4

Major Events 5

The Castle Gallery 6

The Dores Inn 7

Culloden Battlefield 7

Cawdor Castle 8

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Explore Scotland

Page 2 Explore Inverness Tourism Newsletter 2013

2. Explore Inverness web site — is one of a network of 11 web sites across Scotland working together.

We are pleased to report that www.Explore-Inverness.com has a high profile when you carry out searches in Google:-

• 5th “Inverness Scotland”;

• 2nd “Inverness Restaurants;

• 2nd “Inverness cafes”

• 4th “Inverness bars”

• 2nd “Inverness shops”;

• 3rd “Inverness shopping”;

• 4th “Inverness attractions”;

• 3rd “Inverness loch ness”

• etc

3. Start of the Season News — we invite busi-nesses to tell us all their news for the new season. Visitors want to know what is hap-pening across the whole area, so please read the articles and let them know.

4. Social Media — I read somewhere recently that mar-

keting is 40% social media (Facebook, Twit-ter, You Tube etc), 40% web site content and 20% search en-gine optimisation. Well, we are active in all three Social Media categories mentioned here, promoting Inverness and the highlands.

YOU Tube – we have one or two videos that are specifically focused on Inver-ness and the Highlands:-

• Meet the two galleries at River-side Gallery

• Meet the chef at Cinnamon Res-taurant

• Hear about Caledonian Collect-ables and the great deal offer

• Want to know more about Kilts

hear from Chisholms of Inver-ness

• Dores Inn and the Store House

• And more …

Your Comments and Feed back is VERY important to us – Please would you give us your comments on anything we do. Our objective is to produce an infor-mative and useful tourist guide promot-ing Inverness, supported by tourism businesses.

If you think we can do anything better or differently to make life easier for you and your visitors, please pop an e-mail to [email protected] and let us have your views.

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New Era Solar-Powered Boat – 10th Year Anniversary.

It may come as a surprise that a unique s o l a r -p o w e r e d boat has been ply-ing the w a t e r s a r o u n d Inverness since July 2003. In r e c e n t years the “New Era” has been available for sight-seeing trips from North Kessock during the summer months May – September. The quiet running of the boat makes for

a calm and inspiring experience. Dol-phins are the obvious attraction and we encounter them on many of the trips. But there is much more: Spend at least

some time looking up from the water at the majestic panorama of mountains in the west under ever-changing light. Look east and see the K e s s o c k Bridge with d i f f e r e n t eyes as

the amazing piece of en-gineering it is. On the north shore we see the white cottages of pictur-esque Charleston and North Kessock against the backdrop of forest-clad Ord Hill.

Trips depend on calm weather and timings vary with the tides. However, solar power does not mean that the sun must be shin-ing for the boat to work; a fair amount of energy is stored. Why not try a midsummer-twilight cruise? Or why not discover that there is something uniquely at-mospheric about gliding over still water in the pouring rain under a roof of solar panels?

A solar boat is for more than just sunny days. This year will see the New Era’s 10th birthday, and special events

New Era Cruises

Page 3 March 2013

Highland Souvenirs We are a small, local family run souve-nir and gift shop. We constantly strive to offer our visitors a unique shopping experience and can safely state that we offer the best service and the most competitively priced gifts and souvenirs than anyone else with in the city. We are prepared to offer our cus-tomers the further assurance of giving them the twice the differ-ence if they see the same item at a lower price anywhere else.

We would be happy to help fur-nish your breakfast rooms with the latest Scottish related coasters, aprons, table mats etc at a 15% discount on pro-

duction of your relevant busi-

ness card. Just pop in and we will do it at the till.

This year we have employed fluent Ger-man, Italian and French speakers and I extend to all readers the opportunity to contact Josef at the shop if you feel you might need a translator, even to the

extent of working out if your customers want their eggs boiled or scrambled. Just pick up the phone.

In addition to the usual credit card facilities, we are the only retailer in Inverness accepting euro notes and coins for pur-chases, even giving change in euros!!

We are located opposite Costa coffee on Inglis street and we trade from 9am till 10pm, 7 days a week.

I hope we all have a busy season ahead, good luck to Inver-ness,

Martin.

1 5 I n g l i s Street, IV1 1HN

T e l : - 0 1 4 6 3 713 475.

“We are opposite Costa coffee on Inglis

Street. Open 9am till 10pm, 7 days

a week.”

“Dolphins are the obvious

attraction and we

encounter them on

many of the trips.”

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The Waterfront Restaurant & Bar

We were forced to close our doors in December 2011 after a devastating fire broke out in our kitchen. But after tasteful refurbishment and a stunning new menu, we reopened on 17th March 2012 and have had a good year, with tremendous support from our local Guest Houses and Bed & Breakfasts. Our reopen-ing came as welcome news to all residents and visitors in the Highland capital especially our oldest customer, Ernie, who visits us almost every day along with the river ducks that regularly cross the road to say hello.

Our historic building is steeped in the traditions and folklore of the past.

When the public house first opened its doors over a hundred years ago, it was called “Friars Shott” after the Domini-can friars who cast their fishing nets across the river from the bank in front

of the bar. Pulling in the nets was such a big social occasion that it was de-clared an annual local holi-day and all the community would come out to help.

These days our legendary pub is also known for its warm welcome and good food and has been de-scribed as “a gem of a find” on Trip Advisor. Award-winning chef Roslyn

McIntosh has added delicious original dishes to the menu including traditional Scottish favourites, steaks, grills, vege-tarian options and an extensive sea-food selection along with a mouth-watering medley of desserts to finish. For diners not familiar with traditional Scottish food, the Highland tapas for two is the perfect sharing platter. It gives our customers the chance to sam-ple a collection of customary nibbles.

All meals are made from the finest local produce and cooked to order, and every dish on our menu is reasonably priced.

We welcome children and offer the little ones their own selection of favourite dishes. We also keep them entertained with some colouring sheets & crayons.

It is not just the décor and the menu that got a new look after the fire; the bar also has a fresh selection of drinks on offer, which includes real ales, malt whiskies and speciality coffees and liqueurs. A new addition to our drinks list is a Whisky Flight, which is made up of three malts from different regions of Scotland.

Evening entertainment is provided every Thursday night with a traditional Scottish folk session performed by Kenny Jamieson (Lead singer Schiehal-lion). There is also entertainment one Saturday a month in July, August and September with local Scottish Ceilidh band Schiehallion.

The Waterfront is always offering some-thing new so if you don’t visit you will miss something good.

Lunch is served Monday to Friday from 12noon to 2pm (Saturday 12noon to 5pm & Sunday 12.30 to 5pm) and din-ner is served every day from 5pm. To make a reservation telephone The Wa-terfront on 01463 233870. Booking is advisable for evening meals.

We also cater for large group appoint-ments & bus tours. Parking available.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Waterfront.


“70-71

Huntly St

Inverness IV3 5JN

Tel 01463 233870”

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2013 Major Events Programme 29-30 March 2013 Easter Treasure Hunt City Centre - 11am till 4pm, hunt for the eggs in the city centre shops with the help of a sheet of cryptic clues. FREE family fun with Easter bunnies, Face Painting, Ceramic Painting with Crafty Monkey, Bubbles the Clown.

www.InvernessFestivals.com

11 May 2013 Inverness Classic Car Show City Centre - A record number of 83 cars turned out for the 4th Classic Vehicle Show in 2012. Classic Vehicles lined the city centre streets and enter-tainment included stilt walkers, unicy-clists, salsa dancers and musicians. Kids were also able to take part in cir-cus skills and craft making as well as free face painting.


7-9 June Rock Ness - The full schedule will be announced closer to the event. For up to date information please follow RockNess on

www.Rockness.co.uk

9 June 2013 Armed Forces Day – Starts with a parade through Inverness City Centre ending up at the Northern Meeting Park. Check web site for de-tails

w w w . A r m e d F o r c e s D a y . o r g . u k /events.aspx

11-14 July Scottish Open Golf - returns to Castle Stuart where the spectators enjoy great viewing perspectives made possible by the unique topography of this much heralded links course

www.CastleStuartGolf.com

20 July 2013 Inverness Highland Games - Founded in 1822 is one of the most spectacular traditional Gatherings staged in Scotland. Held at the Northen Meeting Park.

www.InvernessHighlandGames.com/

8 September 2013 Kirking of the Coun-cil – The City of Inverness Kirking of the Council is an event rooted in tradition dating back some 400 years. The Kirk-ing involves a morning procession full of colour and pageantry, Highland Council members and officials in bright red robes walk from the Town House to the oldest church in Inverness, The Old High Church, to seek God's blessing on the work of elected members, officials and the life of the city.


10-12 October 2013 Street Theatre Festival City Centre - The city centre is brought to life with three days of mad-ness, mayhem and fun! A packed pro-gramme of entertainment, music and street theatre at the Victorian Market, High Street and Eastgate Shopping Centre every day between 12.30 and 4pm.

www.InvernessBID.co.uk/events

25 -26 October 2013 Halloween Show Ness Islands - One of the biggest fancy dress parties staged in the Scotland. Since the event was first staged in 2009, the Ness Islands children’s show inspires hundreds of families to dress up in order to scare away an annual invasion of ghosts, beasties and un-mentionables. The two hour show fea-tures a dazzling array of effects and performances.


5 November 2013 Fireworks Display - The annual City of Inverness Bonfire and Fireworks Display in Bught Park is one of the most popular events staged in the Highland Capital.


6-10 November 2013 Inverness Film Festival - annual film festival, includes premiere and listings at Eden Court, Inverness.


10 November 2013 Remembrance Day War Memorial - Members of the Inver-ness Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and The Highland Council, staff and unformed youth groups and local MP’s and MSPs. The parade sets off from Huntly Street at 2:20pm and arrives at Cavell Gardens at 2:50pm. A Service of Remembrance takes place at 3pm at the Cenotaph at Cavell Gardens in Inverness.


17 November 2013 Christmas Lights Town House - Fun for all the family as Santa, Arts in Motion and the cast of the Eden Court Pantomime start the 2013 countdown to Christmas with a wonderful show on the steps of Inver-ness Town House.


13 -15 December 2013 Winter Won-derland Whin Park - Santa and his rein-deer friends return for their annual visit to enjoy the illuminations at Whin Park. This event provides toddlers with the perfect opportunity to start their count-down to Christmas.


31 December 2013 Red Hot Highland Fling TNMPark - Scotland's Biggest Free Hogmanay Party, starts at 8.00pm and you don’t need a ticket, just a smile, to get in. Opening the show will be one of the Highlands hottest new bands. Tradi-tionally the top of the bill spot goes to the band in the 10pm slot. Closing the show, on either side of a fireworks dis-play will another top band.



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The Castle Gallery in Inverness has woken up to the benefits of facebook. After a slow start, we are beginning to get the hang of it thanks to the excel-

lent training sessions organised by In-verness BID and Tuminds. By schedul-ing a set amount of time each week to update our facebook page we are able to keep like-minded people in touch with all the exciting events at the gal-lery. This targeted marketing is free, except for staff time, and must really be getting the goat of the advertising sales people in the newspaper industry who are continually phoning to ask us to

place costly adverts. In these reces-sionary times it is good to get some-thing for (virtually) nothing!

Find us on facebook at castlegalleryin-verness and ‘like’ us to be kept up-to-date with what is happening at one of the most stylish, cultured and pro-active galleries in the High-

lands. As well as mixed exhibi-tions, we organise solo and two person shows by talented profes-sional artists. For 2013 we will be exhibiting pieces by Katrin Moye, Janine Partington, Blandine Anderson, Shazia Mahmood and Katy Spong, encompass-ing ceramics, enamels, sculpture, jewel-lery, original prints and paintings. For more information find us on the web, on facebook and on foot. A free glass of wine and home-made canapés awaits

all those who make it to our exhibition previews – see you there!

The Castle Gallery in Inverness


“The Castle Gallery in Inverness has woken up to the

benefits of facebook. “

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The Dores Inn

The DORES INN, Loch Ness, Inverness, IV2 6TR. Tel 01463 751203

Only 10 minutes from Inverness

Come and enjoy the breathtaking views of Loch Ness at The DORES INN this SPRING;

Whether it be for a walk along the beach, a glass of wine, a pint of one of our real ales or a delicious meal in the pub.

We look forward to welcoming you. Please give one of the team a call if you would like us to book you a table.

Visit our sister restaurant at Foulis

The STOREHOUSE Restaurant & Farm Shop Foulis Ferry, Evanton IV16 9UX

Tel: 01349 830038


Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield a National Trust for Scotland property.

Events coming up at Culloden Bat-tlefield:

Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre is n o w o n F a c e b o o k ! V i s i t www.facebook.com/cullodenbattlefield for up to date news, event information and to leave posts and comments.

This year sees the con-tinuation of the proud tradition of the Annual Commemoration Service which will be held by the Inverness Gaelic Society on Saturday 13th April at 11am (Arrival at 10am is recommended).

This year there will also be three special lectures

held on the anniversary weekend:

Friday 12th April – Why the Jacobite ’45 Matters (Dr Christopher Duffy) Saturday 13th April – Men and Weap-ons of Culloden (Dr. Christopher Duffy) Sunday 14th April – Charlie Meg and Me : A Journey Following the Prince's

Escape After Culloden (Gregor Ewing)

Spaces will be limited for these events so please phone the Centre on 0844 493 2159 to avoid disappointment.

“Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre is now on

Facebook!”

“Visit our Sister Restaurant

and Farm Shop The

Storehouse at Foulis Ferry

Evanton”

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Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle opens its doors from 1 May to 6 Octo-ber to welcome visitors again.

This fairy-tale castle has been the home of the Thanes of Cawdor for over 600 years and is still the family home. Romantically linked by Shakespeare with Macbeth, the castle is a pic-ture perfect example of a Scottish castle with its medieval tower, drawbridge and turrets and contains a superb collection of tapestries, furni-

ture, books and porcelain.

Located near to Inverness and Nairn,

In this, the Year of Natural Scotland, we are promoting our beautiful gardens and our nature trails to visitors.

The gardens are perceived to be amongst the best in S c o t -l a n d

are full of colour and contrast with fascinating con-

temporary sculptures throughout.

The nature trails vary in length from 3/4 of a mile to 5 miles and are way-marked through the Cawdor Big Wood. It is outstanding as an ancient oak wood with rich lichen and diverse ground flora.

There is a programme of events throughout the Summer with highlights including our

• Open Air theatre performances and (still to be confirmed at time of going to press)

• Living Food at Cawdor Castle event on 21 September which showcases the best of Highland food, drink and crafts and is a very popular fun day out for all the family.

We are open every day from 10am to 5.50pm and more details are available on www.cawdorcastle.com


“The Cawdor Big Wood, is

outstanding as an ancient oak wood with rich

lichen and diverse ground

Documents

Explore Inverness start of the tourist Season Newsletter 2013