Time to put your Trust in us, say top new team
Tourism bosses are hailing one of their busiest ever summers after plunging cash into their Ayrshire businesses.
National Trust chiefs are launching a fightback as growing competition from sites like Dumfries House prove a carrot for punters.
But now the country’s largest conservation charity says it is reaping the rewards of huge investment of its own.
The Trust’s new Ayrshire and Arran team, headed by general manager Stuart Maxwell, has just completed recruiting a raft of “heritage and business specialists”.
Under their wing are sites such as Culzean Castle, Brodick Castle and The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, as well as Souter Johnnie’s Cottage and the Bachelors’ Club.
Both castle properties at Culzean and Brodick have been the focus of major investment projects.
Maxwell said: “Our newly opened and expanded playpark, The Wild Woodland and Adventure Cove, at Culzean is going down very well with younger visitors.
“We were overrun with pirates for our flagship Pirates of Culzean event and there’s lots of outdoor theatre and rangers’ events too.
“We’ve also enhanced our catering and retail offer and visitors are enjoying our new Aviary Café.
“In the stunning grounds of Brodick Castle, we’ve just opened Isle Be Wild Adventure Playpark – a fantastic play experience, inspired by Arran’s wonderful natural heritage.
“This new addition to the island adds another great reason to make a visit to Arran for families for a short break or a day trip from the mainland.”
Fellow team members include curator Sarah Beattie, who has worked with a broad selection of collections from social history to fine art in both documentation and curatorial roles.
Catering and hospitality manager, Kevin MacGillivary, boasts more than 30 years’ experience in the catering industry and has won prestigious awards including Scottish Chef of the Year and the Scottish Hotel Chef of the Year.
Retail Development Manager, Ashley Connolly, arrives with 25 years of industry experience, while Culzean Castle operations manager, Gareth Clingan, has worked with NTS since 2009 at a string of other sites.
Operations manager, Caroline Smith, heads up the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum having worked in the Ayrshire tourism sector since 2000.
Other roles go to business manager, Andrea Brown, whose CV includes a 13 year stint at the Ayrshire Hospice, and gardens and landscapes manager, Tim Keyworth, who at 22 became the youngest head gardener for the National Trust.