In 2000 Peter Irvine was given the Thistle award for his personal contribution to tourism in Scotland and in 2002 gained another Thistle award for the Glasgow Art Fair.

This eastern tip of north Scotland, part of the famous North Coast 500 driving route, is an untouched and beautiful part of Scotland, just waiting to be discovered.Take the wee ferry to the Isle of Gighafrom Tayinloan, which takes just 20 minutes and spend a day wandering across the tiny island. The next village along, Port Wemyss, has views of the uninhabited island of Orsay and the Rhinns of Islay lighthouse, built in 1825 by the Stevenson lighthouse builders.

There are plenty ofbeautiful places to visit in every region, but why notslow down your travelsand experience all that Scotland has to offer? Enjoy a relaxing break away and delve into the manyslow travel experiencesthat allow you to explore at your own pace. Raasayis the isle on everyone’s wish list at the moment with its recent award from Conde Nast Travelleras one of the ‘Best Islands to Visit’.From museums and art galleries to urban beaches and open-top tour buses, the city offers lots of inspiration for your next trip. Did you know it’s also a UNESCO City of Design ? Things to do:The new driving route, The Coig , is made up of five unique routes stretching from Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae to Inverclyde, Renfrewshire andBute. The reality of Jura, though, is far from dystopian, though the rainfall can be wearing. Warm your insides on a tasting trip to the Isle of Jura Distillery, which relies on the abundant water supply for its well-regarded single malt. If whisky isn’t your poison, head instead to the Lussa Gin Distillery; while you’re here, you can walk to the northern tip of Jura to view the " Scottish Maelstrom" – a surging whirlpool that becomes a boiling cauldron during flooding spring tides. Commune with birdlife on Unst, Shetland