Islay adventure firm makes tourism splash
Islay’s exclusive wildlife experience has received a five-star grading from VisitScotland.
Islay Sea Adventures, based in Port Ellen Marina, was upgraded from a four-star grading by the national tourism organisation’s Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme in recognition of its exceptional visitor experience.
The QA Scheme is a benchmark for quality across the tourism industry and operates across accommodation, visitor attractions and food sectors.
The business becomes the fifth five-star wildlife experience in Argyll and Bute following improvements made to its website and incorporating the use of digital tablets into their wildlife tours.
The boat tours give visitors the chance to see the spectacular range of wildlife offered by the coast and waters of Islay. These include seals, porpoises and an abundance of seabirds, as well as the occasional sighting of a sea eagle.
Four tours are available, including nature watching in a special conservation area and a visit to Corryvrechan, the world’s third largest whirlpool. Fishing tours are also on offer as well as a seafood foraging experience.
As well as its spectacular wildlife offering, Isle of Islay is also known as the whisky island with a remarkable nine distilleries. Visitors can see Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg from the unique viewpoint of the sea when on a tour.
Angus Newman, a skipper for Islay Sea Adventures, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this award from VisitScotland. It is a testament to the hard work of the whole team in the past year to enhance the visitor experience we offer.’
Visit www.islay-sea-adventures.co.uk