The 2017 / 2018 National Winners of the VisitScotland Scottish Thistle Awards were announced at the National Final on 15th March 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The VisitScotland Thistle Awards celebrate excellence in tourism and In celebration of the Scottish Thistle Awards’ 25th anniversary, ten past Silver Thistle winners were also in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Argyll industry colleagues Portavadie picked up the Best Accommodation award and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area celebrated two business wins, with Venachar Lochside picking up the Best Informal Eating Experience, and Loch Earn Tourism Information (LETi) winning the Geotourist Innovation in Tourism award for its highly unique and popular BLiSS Trail.

Balloch-based tour guide and owner John Stevenson of tour company Scotland’s Wild, was nominated in the category of Tourism & Hospitality Hero, which on this occasion was won by Peter Wilson of Cruise Forth, Fife.

The Caledonian MacBrayne Silver Thistle Award was presented to Willie MacLeod.

Read more about the event and see the full list of winners here.