Jacobite Warrior arrives to join the cause
Herald Scotland
15 Oct 2011

A new boat has just arrived on Loch Ness all the way from Brittany.

Known as Les Sept-Iles when she offered cruises from Vannes, she is now the decidedly more Caledonian-sounding Jacobite Warrior. A catamaran capable of 11 knots, she is part of a significant expansion for the world famous Jacobite Cruises.

The vessel arrived as work progresses at the company’s £2.5 million visitor centre on the A82 lochside road at Brackla, nine miles south-west of Inverness. It will provide a new company HQ, new harbour, car park, visitor centre and cafe.

Two of Jacobite’s existing vessels operate from the Clansman Hotel’s harbour near the visitor centre development. But there are also sailings on the Caledonian Canal from Tomnahurich Bridge in Inverness.

So is this the beginning of another new chapter in the story of Jacobite Cruises being penned by Freda Newton since she bought the business in 2002? The former managing director of Scottish Citylink Coaches and Rapsons Coaches has worked to transform what was once a rather sedate operation, almost quadrupling its business through sheer hard work, vision and above all a passionate commitment to Loch Ness itself. Twelve months a year boats are out on the loch – seven days a week.

We’re looking at signage. People come from all over the world to see the loch. We want them to know they have arrived

Her efforts have already been recognised with a VisitScotland five-star quality award, Quality Scotland Best Small Business in 2008 and two VisitScotland Thistle Awards, including one for customer service. In addition, she received the Highland Tourism Ambassador award in 2008 and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship in 2009.

But she says the investment of £750,000 in the purchase and refurbishment of what will be the first catamaran offering trips on the loch, was necessary if the company was to grow.

“When we took over in 2002 we had 35,000 passengers a year and today it is well over 135,000. Ten years ago turnover was £500,000, now it is £1.8m. But in July and August we are at capacity with our current three vessels, so we have no seats on which to put bums.

“The bigger vessel is the first step and the visitor centre the second. The new vessel will be able to carry 250 comfortably. That compares to The Jacobite Spirit with capacity for 90 and the Jacobite Legend which can take 100. So it will be a significant addition.”

The plan is to have the catamaran taking tours from the new visitor centre down the loch to Urquhart Castle. Two of the existing vessels already operate from the Clansman Hotel’s harbour and the Jacobite Queen will continue to offer its three-and-a-half-hour cruise up and down the Caledonian Canal and loch to the castle. But the new centre is on a further horizon, which should be ready for 2014.

Ms Newton sees Jacobite just as one part of a larger whole which has got to be better promoted: the loch itself.

The largest volume of fresh water in the land, it has a truly global profile thanks to Nessie, but she is convinced more needs to be done. She chairs Destination Loch Ness, the group of businesses round the loch who have come together to improve marketing and promotion: “We are looking at better signage. People come from all over the world to see the loch. We want them to know they have arrived.”

She is particularly buoyed by the recent launching of the 28-mile South Loch Ness Trail walking route. At its south-western end it begins at Loch Tarff, four miles outside Fort Augustus and heads north-east to Torbreck on the outskirts of Inverness. It climbs to heights of 1300ft in places and passes the Falls of Foyers, the finest surviving example of a single span General Wade bridge.

There is a plan to link it up with the Great Glen Way providing a circular 70-mile long-distance walking route round Loch Ness.

So is there potential for Jacobite developing that side of the loch? In the past, there have been some who dreamed of trying to replicate the likes of Lake Garda with its ferry boats constantly chugging between all the different communities. That might be a leap too far. But according to Ms Newton, there is potential.

“Developing the south side of the loch is a possibility on a seasonal basis. British Waterways and Destination Loch Ness have organised a structural survey of Foyers Pier to see if we could improve and make the pier safe. There is no doubt the leisure traffic such as all the hired (self-operated) cruisers want places to go and eat, have a drink or get to a shop. So it is a bit of chicken and egg, which comes first, the pier or the facilities?”

But Jacobite is developing new high-value business, working with the luxurious Aldourie Castle which offers a prestigious venue for weddings and receptions of all descriptions.

Guests can either board the Jacobite Queen in Inverness and be taken down to Aldourie Pier on the River Ness near to its entrance into Loch Ness; or they can be taken from Aldourie for a cruise on the loch. “We can do a pre-wedding cruise or a post-wedding breakfast sail.”

And that isn’t a seasonal offer. As most Highland tourist operators prepare to batten down the hatches for winter, Jacobite will keep on sailing every day but Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

“Operating all year makes a commitment to the 20 full-time equivalent staff and ensures continuity. It makes sense all round.”

view from the bridge: Freda Newton has seen award-winning Jacobite Cruises quadruple its business since 2002. Picture: Peter Jolly

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