Helicopter Takes Off with Tourism Trophy
A unique Stirlingshire holiday home has picked up a top regional tourism award from Visit Scotland.
Article Source: Stirling PR
Last Updated: 19 November 2018 15:32
A unique Stirlingshire holiday home has picked up a top regional tourism award from Visit Scotland.
Helicopter Glamping at Mains Farm Wigwams, Thornhill won the Innovation in Tourism category at the Thistle Awards – the tourism industry’s answer to the ‘Oscars’ – held at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh (15 November).
Owner Louise Cross said: “We’re honoured to have landed this award for Innovation in Tourism. Our business has really taken off since launching Helicopter Glamping last year. So much so that we’ve had to expand our team to keep up with customer demand. By creating a unique experience, we’ve attracted visitors to rural Scotland from all over the world. We’ve even had guests from as far afield as Australia! We’re delighted be recognised for all our hard work restoring the helicopter to her former glory and transforming her interior into something very special. We can’t wait to get cracking on our next glamping project, a Scottish Twin Pioneer plane!”
As featured on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, Helicopter Glamping is one of Scotland’s most unusual places to stay.
The retired Royal Navy Sea King was purchased at a MOD auction in 2016 and converted into a holiday home by Louise and her husband Martyn Steedman.
The helicopter offers a unique experience for tourists with a quirky bed in the tail and a spectacular cockpit seating area with panoramic views of the stunning Stirlingshire countryside.
Since being launched in March 2017 the 17m long Sea King has become a visitor attraction in its own right and has given the rural economy a huge boost, attracting visitors from as far afield as Australia.
The spectacular transformation even won the seal of approval of the Royal Navy, who flew two Sea Kings into Thornhill to pay their old helicopter a visit.
Image: Pictured L-R are:
Fiona Richmond (award presenter and Vice Chair Scotland Food & Drink), Lesley Wilkinson (Stirling PR), Alan Burke, Martyn Steedman, Louise Cross (all Mains Farm Wigwams) and Jennifer Reoch (host and former Miss Scotland).
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