Hart Holidays

23/04/2024

We had a successful trip to Aberdeen last week for the VisitScotland 'Connect 2024', meeting international tour operators and travel agents from Europe, US and elsewhere wanting to book their Clients to Scotland. It is always good to meet existing partners and make new contacts.

The drive to Aberdeen was lovely, taking the opportunity to visit some of our hotel and guest house partners in Fife and Royal Deeside, the Cairn O'Mount road, B974 Fettercairn to Banchory, is a beautiful drive.

30/10/2023

As a member of the Scottish Destination Management Association, we attended a very useful networking event with the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) (“Scotland starts here”) at Barony Castle Hotel near Peebles last week.
An inspiring talk from David Hope-Jones, CEO of the SSDA, among other things talking about the space and freedom of the South of Scotland. A drive from Innerleithen over the hill via Yarrow Feus and Yarrow to the Cross Keys Inn at Ettrickbridge certainly proved that.
Other speakers included Dundreggan Rewilding Centre near Invermoriston, VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and CalMac Ferries.
https://www.facebook.com/SSDAlliance/posts/pfbid0tJnUdx3eX5d1SwrewUYyKoca9Sqj5u48cCuN6VUm435791SEPNpYQfvvTawbps1hl?notif_id=1698486445957805¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic_tagged&ref=notif

http://www.scotland-sdma.org.uk/members/hart-holidays--tour-operator_36

06/06/2023

The government has confirmed a £10 fee for the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa waiver scheme needed for visitors to the UK.
The ETA will be introduced from 15 November 2023, initially to visitors from Qatar.
From 22 February 2024 it will be extended to the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan before a worldwide expansion throughout 2024, which will include travellers from the US and EU countries, except for Ireland.
Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound, said: “The UK already ranks at the bottom for international price competitiveness because of a plethora of taxes and costs such as the high rates of VAT on hospitality, punishingly high Air Passenger Duty and the removal of tax-free shopping.
“Unfortunately, charging visitors a fee to come to the UK will only exacerbate this situation and potentially act as an additional barrier to the growth in international visitation to the UK.”

UK government reveals Electronic Travel Authorisation fee ahead of November rollout

27/10/2022

It's that witchy time of year so of course there is a new map exploring tales of witchcraft to mark Scotland's Year of Stories 2022.

The pdf guide features several locations, such as the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, highlighted for their rich culture of magical folklore, and Orkney's Kirkwall Witchy Walk.

All a good bit of fun but you might find a few ideas of places to haunt or witchy things to do.

https://static.visitscotland.com/pdf/witchcraft-trail.pdf

12/08/2022

A new ten-part BBC series launching on Monday 15 August will offer an exclusive insight into the lives of the younger members of the team at Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline.

Loganair provided all-areas access to camera crews from Mentorn Scotland over several months – filming from as far afield as Shetland and the Outer Hebrides to London Heathrow, as 11 of the airline’s team, ranging from Captain to Aircraft Engineer, balanced their personal lives with the busiest summer at work they’ve faced to date.

The first episode of Sky High Club lines up for take-off on BBC Scotland at 22:00 on Monday 15 August, with a second instalment on Thursday 18 August. BBC Three launches the series nationally from 20:00 on Thursday 18 August with two back-to-back episodes.

A “series drop” of the entire ten episodes will be available through the BBC iPlayer from Monday 15 August.

https://www.ukinbound.org/member-news/loganair-to-star-in-ten-part-bbc-series/

A new ten-part BBC series launching on Monday 15 August will offer an exclusive insight into the lives

23/12/2021

If you're in the mood for some atmospheric night-time images of iconic views of Scotland, with Scottish music to soothe your mind for a few minutes, you could try this mesmerising VisitScotland YouTube video, production by Aerial Frontiers / Eyebolls and Whitespace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMRhcBTTmdo

The music was specially scored for this film by a composer called Jamie Ross.
https://www.jamierosswork.com/portfolio/scotland-at-night

We're looking forward to memorable 2022 holiday adventures in the delightful Scottish islands - basking in the sun and star gazing at night.

Scotland is bursting with incredible things to do, places to see and exciting locations and attractions to visit, but have you experienced Scotland at night?...