2025
NATIONAL FINALISTS

Browse the 2025 National Finalists below.

Winners will be announced at The Scottish Thistle Awards National Final on 20th November 2025 at Hilton Glasgow.

CategoryFinalists

Best B&B or Guest House Experience
Ardtorna, Oban
Clint Lodge, Melrose
Derrybeg Bed & Breakfast, Pitlochry
Lys-Na-Greyne, Aboyne


Best Bar or Pub
Ardgour Ales, Fort William
The Craftsman, Aberdeen
Cross Keys Inn, Ettrickbridge
The Grandtully Hotel, Grandtully
The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow

Best Business Event
Scottish Event Campus/92nd Interpol General Assembly, Glasgow
The 36th International Papillomavirus Conference 2024, Edinburgh
The IEC General Meeting, hosted by BSI, Edinburgh


Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative
Aberdeen Restaurants Week, Aberdeen
Sanday Community Craft Hub, Orkney
Solsgirth Home Farm, Dollar
South Ayrshire Council, The International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight, Ayr
Stranraer Oyster Festival, Stranraer


Best Eating Experience
Elements, Glasgow
The Fish Shop, Ballater
Killiecrankie House, Killiecrankie
Ninth Wave Restaurant, Isle of Mull
Wilson's Farm and Kitchen, Kelso


Best Hotel Experience
Cameron House on Loch Lomond, Alexandria
Kildrummy Inn, Alford
The Murray Arms, Gatehouse of Fleet
Murrayshall, Scone, Perth
The Torridon, Annat

Best Luxury Experience

Johnstons of Elgin, Elgin
Knockinaam Lodge, Stranraer
The House of Bruar, Blair Atholl
Trump Turnberry, Girvan


Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience
Bellevue Farm Arran, Farm Tours and Experiences, Isle of Arran
Islay Sea Adventures, Isle of Islay
Mostly Ghostly, Thornhill
Newton Farm Holidays & Tours, Forfar
Tarland Trails, Aboyne


Best Self-Catering or Unique Stay
Big Sky Lodges, Muir of Ord
The Bonnie Barns at Lennox of Lomond, Alexandria
The Bus Stop, Haddington
Galloway Activity Centre TA Loch Ken Eco Bothies, Castle Douglas
Logie Newton Lodges, Huntly


Best Visitor Attraction
Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh
Glen Gairoch Distillery, Oldmeldrum
Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie
The Tall Ship Glenlee, Glasgow
Trimontium Museum, Melrose


Climate Action Award
Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, Aberdeen
Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh
Maynes Coaches, Buckie
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Sustainability Initiative, Ayr
Wigwam Holidays Wigtown, Newton Stewart


Employer of the Year
Auchrannie Resort, Isle of Arran
The Cairndale Hotel & Spa, Dumfries
The Fife Arms, Ballater
The Real Mary King's Close, Edinburgh
The Torridon, Annat

Inclusion Award
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh
DF Concerts & Events - TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow
The Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels


Individual of the Year
Claire Bruce, Glen Tanar Estate
Katrina Reynolds, Allanton Inn
Paul Nixon, The Real Mary King's Close
Roddy MacKay, Eilean Dorcha Festival
Sheila Gilmore, VisitArran

Innovation Award
Glasgow Life Museums Travel Trade and group experiences, Glasgow
HMS Unicorn (The Unicorn Preservation Society), Dundee
Trimontium Museum, Melrose
WildLuing, Oban


Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Inverness
Celtic Connections, Glasgow
Dumfries International Street Food Festival, Dumfries
Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh
Spectra, Scotland's Festival of Light, Aberdeen

Outstanding Sporting Event
The Gralloch, Gatehouse of Fleet
Tour of Britain - Scottish Borders, St Boswells
World Orienteering Championships 2024, Edinburgh


Rising Star Award
Blaine Lyons, TwinPeakes FlyFishing
Grace Robinson, Loch Ness Hub & Travel
Hugh Mackay, Highland Experience Tours
Laura Raeburn, Park Hotel (Crieff Hydro Group)
Mae MacInnes, Mharsanta


Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors








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Scottish Thistle Awards
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Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG
0131 472 2228
info@scottishthistleawards.co.uk


 

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