The Scottish Outdoor and Leisure Awards announce the nation’s favourite outdoor and leisure businesses.

Returning for a second year, the Scottish Outdoor and Leisure Awards turned to the public to vote for their favourite outdoor and leisure businesses for 2017. The Scottish Outdoor and Leisure Awards were created to showcase and reward outstanding contributions to Scotland’s outdoor and leisure industry; the businesses across the nation displaying unrivalled quality and contributing to Scotland’s reputation as one of the world’s best tourist destinations. Thousands of public nominations were received across 17 categories such as Scotland’s Best Family Holiday Park, Scotland’s Best Glamping, Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction and Scotland’s Best Outdoor Festival. After the success of the inaugural awards, new categories were introduced including Scotland’s Best Brewery/Distillery Tour, Scotland’s Best Motorhome/Campervan Dealership and Scotland’s Best Golf Experience. Over 35,000 votes were received in support of favourites across the country to create a shortlist of 115 finalists. The next step sees each business take stock of their business and provide a submission in support of their win, before an independent judging panel will participate in assessments of the customer facing elements of the business. Finalists are invited to the Gala Final where the accolades will be presented to the best of the best. The Scottish Outdoor & Leisure Awards 2017 Gala Final will take place at the Glasgow Marriott on the 29th October; an evening of gourmet food, sparkling drinks and eclectic entertainment in celebration of the best of Scotland’s outdoor and leisure businesses. Now partnered with businesses such as Red Media, Thistly Cross Cider, Host Unusual and supported by a media partnership with Scots Magazine and the Scottish Caravans and Motorhomes Magazine, the team behind the SOLAwards have seen significant growth on last years’ already successful event. Warren Paul, CEO and Founder of The Scottish Outdoor and Leisure Awards is delighted with the reception in year two, ‘the inaugural awards created firm foundations to develop SOLA into an annual competition and a mainstay event of the industry, now we are seeing new businesses from across the country engage in year two. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the businesses that help to showcase our beautiful country; congratulations and good luck to all our finalists! I look forward to celebrating with you in October’ A full list of Scottish Outdoor and Leisure Awards 2017 finalists can be seen on the website (www.outdoorleisureawards.co.uk) and Gala Final tickets are now on sale!

ENDS

Press Contact/Image Requests Lauren Hinton – Event Manager Paramount Creative 21 Summerlee Street Glasgow G33 4DB

0141 774 5272 [email protected]

2017 Finalists Best Booking Agent • Abbey Ireland and UK • Best Scottish Tours • Glenton Holidays • Highland Explorer Tours • Linlithgow Travel • Little & Large Holiday Houses • Natural Retreats • Spirit Journeys • TS Holiday Lets • WildBute.com Best Brewery/Distillery Tour • Blair Athol Distillery • Dunnet Bay Distillery • Isle of Arran Distillery • Bute Brew Co • The DogWalk

Best Bus Tour • Best Scottish Tours • Glenton Holidays • Haggis Adventures • Highland Experience Tours • Highland Explorer Tours • MacBackpackers • Rabbie’s Tours • Scottish Routes • Timberbush Tours • West Coast Tours

Best Campsite • Aden Caravan and Camping • Blair Castle Caravan Park • Elie Holiday Park at Shell Bay • Loch Ness Shores • Caolasnacon Carvan & Camping • Milton of Fonab Caravan Park • Port Bàn Holiday Park • Resipole Farm Holiday Park • Sauchope Links Holiday Park • Solway View

Best Family Holiday Park • Big Sky Lodges • Drimsynie Estate Holiday Village • Elie Holiday Park at Shell Bay • Hunters Quay Holiday Village • Loch Tay Highland Lodges • Lomond Woods Holiday Park • Milton of Fonab Caravan Park • Mossyard • Port Bàn Holiday Park • Thurston Manor Leisure Park

Best Garden Centre • Kirktown Garden Centre • Pentland Plants • The Tree Shop • Secret Herb Garden • The Mains of Drum • Cardwell Garden Centre • Munro’s Nurseries • Mill Garden Centre • Parkhill Garden Centre • Rouken Glen Garden Centre

Best Glamping • Aden Caravan and Camping • Lomond Woods Holiday Park • Braidhaugh Holiday Park • Down on the Farm • Loch Ness Shores • Loch Tay Highland Lodges • Old Pine Yurt • Resipole Farm Holiday Park • Runach Arainn • Sauchope Links Holiday Park

Best Golf Experience • Boat of Garten Golf Club • Cameron Club • Carnoustie Golf Links • Gleneagles • Murcar Links Golf Club

Best Leisure Resort Hotel • Auchrannie • Crieff Hydro • Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa • Gleneagles • Portavadie Loch Fyne

Best Marina • Ardfern Yacht Centre • Craobh Marina • Kip Marina • Portavadie Loch Fyne • Taymouth Marina

Best Motorhome/Campervan Dealership • BC Motorhomes • Campers Scotland Ltd • Dicksons of Perth • Dyce Caravans • Highland Campervans

Best Motorhome/Campervan Hire Company • BC Motorhomes • Bunk Campers • Go! Explore Scotland • Go North Campers • Highland Campervans • HITS Highland Motorhomes • Motorhome Adventure Scotland • Four Seasons Campers • The Tartan Camper Co. • West Coast VW Camper Hire

Best Newcomer • Gig in the Goil • Go North Campers • Nature Scotland • Wee Adventures • Newton Farm Holidays

Best Outdoor Adventure Experience • Arisaig Sea Kayak Centre • Go Ape Aberfoyle • Highland Fling Bungee • Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre • Nae Limits Adventure • Powerboats Glasgow • Quadmania Scotland • Rolling Haggis • Tighnabruaich Sailing School • Wee Adventures

Best Outdoor Festival • ButeFest • Eaglesham Beer Festival • Enchanted Forest • FyneFest • Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival • Party At The Palace • PKD Festival • Royal Highland Show • Scotland’s Boat Show • Woodland Light Experience

Best Self Catering • Big Sky Lodges • Blue Sky Lodges • Cuil Moss at Ardgour Estate • Torrisdale Castle Estate • East Cambusmoon Holiday Cottages • Elie Holiday Park at Shell Bay • Loch Tay Highland Lodges • Morag’s Lodge • The Highland Club, Fort Augustus • Loch Rannoch Highland Club

Best Visitor Attraction • Aden Country Park • Elie Holiday Park at Shell Bay • Blair Castle • Edinburgh Zoo • Heads of Ayr Farm Park • Highland Wildlife Park • Mull of Galloway Experience • New Lanark World Heritage Site • The Helix • The Real Mary King’s Close