Steamship Sir Walter Scott
Here is the story of my ongoing destination marketing support and PR for Loch Katrine, home of the iconic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, which was built in 1899 on the River Clyde.
My ongoing marketing projects include PR, photography, video, events, interpretation content, website development, and grant applications. Loch Katrine is an exciting place to work, a stunning destination rich in heritage, located within The Great Trossachs Forest.
Most recently, I have created a new website for the attraction, maintained social media posting, written interpretation panels for exhibitions, and worked on marketing campaigns for the Steamship’s 125th anniversary (2025) and the new scenic tower.
Interpretation panels for scenic tower at Loch Katrine
The Birthplace of Scottish Tourism
Loch Katrine in the Trossachs is rightly considered the birthplace of Scottish Tourism. The works of Victorian artists and writers first attracted people to this beautiful part of Scotland with their descriptive words and paintings. Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem 'The Lady of the Lake, ’ a blockbuster publication of the day, had the most significant impact, drawing early tourists to see the landscapes he so vividly described.
Steamships on Loch Katrine
Rowing boats took Loch Katrine visitors to see the scenery described so vividly. In 1843, Steamships became a feature of Loch Katrine, a tradition that has continued for over 180 years, with the Sir Walter Scott Steamship introduced in 1900 and still sailing today.
Replacement boilers going into the Steamer
Save our Steamship website
Save our Steamship Appeal
Sadly, Sir Walter Scott Steamship went out of commission just before her 120th birthday due to significant damage to her boilers. However, thanks to the SOS Save our Steamship appeal, £750,000 was secured for the restoration, allowing the much-loved Steamer to resume sailing in June 2023.
I helped create, promote, and manage the appeal for the charitable trust that protects the Steamship. The public could donate through a dedicated appeal website I created. We also secured significant national PR, which helped make the appeal successful.
In June 2022, we secured £130,000 of funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland. Click here to read more. To coincide with the return of the Steamship, we developed a new multimedia exhibition and created (with STV) a television commercial for the attraction using my video content (see below).
The Loch Katrine Destination
Loch Katrine is part of a large National Nature Reserve popular with walkers and cyclists. Passenger cruises by various boats depart regularly from Trossachs Pier, which also has Eco-Lodges for overnight stays, a gift shop, scenic tower, a café, and cycle hire.
National Radio Coverage
Significant PR has been achieved, helping raise the destination's profile. A recent highlight was a 5-minute interview I secured for Loch Katrine's Managing Director, Gordon Allan, who guested on a peak BBC Radio Programme hosted by Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes, reaching an audience of 8 million people.
I have created an extensive bank of photographs and videos of Loch Katrine, and these are widely used online and in brochures, posters, magazine articles, etc.
Special Events
I also helped promote and manage a series of events, including themed family weekends and a re-enactment for the 160th anniversary of Queen Victoria's 1859 visit to open the new waterworks. To this day, Loch Katrine still supplies water for much of West and Central Scotland through the same aqueduct system.
In 2025, there was a year of celebrations for the iconic Steamer’s 125th anniversary, including a Steamboat Festival.
Destination Guidebook
I worked on content and oversaw the development of a new mini guide for the destination, which has been printed in several languages to cater to overseas visitors. The double-sided concertina guide highlights the historical landmarks around the loch and the wildlife likely to be spotted on a walk, a cruise, or a cycle.
Story of Steamships on Loch Katrine Exhibition
For the 2023 return of the newly restored Steamship Sir Walter Scott, I curated exhibition content to tell the story of Steamships on Loch Katrine—the multimedia exhibition is on the covered walkway approach to the Steamer at Trossachs Pier.
Passengers preparing to board the Steamship Sir Walter Scott for a cruise can listen to audio dramatisations that tell the fascinating story of the Steamer's first two captains and the visit of Queen Victoria (click the links below to play the audio). There are also information panels and a short video presentation with restoration footage. For visitors with limited vision, there is a braille model of the Steamship, with braille interpretation, part of a series of improvements for those with accessibility needs.
Steamship Exhibition
Braille Interperation
New Scenic Tower
Tower views over Loch Katrine
Rhoderick Dhu Scenic Tower
A new footpath and Scenic Tower with viewpoints opened in summer 2024, allowing visitors to Trossachs Pier to enjoy the view that inspired Sir Walter Scott to write ‘The Lady of the Lake.’ I worked on the PR to raise awareness of this exciting new addition to the Trossachs landmark and helped secure significant coverage across many titles.
Trossachs Trail
Steamship Sir Walter Scott is the emblem of Scotland's first geographical trail, The Trossachs Trail, another project I have worked on, helping develop a map, guide, website, and refreshed brown signs along the 40-mile trail.
Trossachs Trail Map & Guide
Loch Katrine Website
Destination Marketing Services
It is a pleasure to work for the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust, a charity that preserves the iconic Steamer for the nation. The story of ongoing destination marketing at Loch Katrine for The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust. Projects include PR, photography, video, events, designing, websites, and grant applications. This is an exciting place to work, a destination rich in heritage and nature.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss a marketing project in Scotland.
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