Steamship Sir Walter Scott
I have provided ongoing destination marketing and PR support for Loch Katrine for many years, working closely with the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust and the wider Loch Katrine team to promote one of Scotland’s most historically significant visitor attractions.
Loch Katrine is home to the iconic Steamship Sir Walter Scott, built in 1899 on the River Clyde and sailing on the loch since 1900. Set within The Great Trossachs Forest, it is a destination rich in heritage, landscape and storytelling, widely recognised as the birthplace of Scottish tourism.
My work at Loch Katrine spans marketing strategy, PR, photography, video production, event promotion, interpretation content, website development and grant support. Together, these projects have helped raise national awareness, support fundraising, improve the visitor experience, and strengthen the destination's long-term profile.
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 Birthplace of Scottish Tourism
Loch Katrine holds a unique place in Scotland’s tourism story. Victorian writers and artists were drawn to the landscape. Still, it was Sir Walter Scott’s 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake that transformed the area into a must-see destination, inspiring early visitors to travel north to experience the scenery first-hand.
Initially, visitors explored the loch by rowing boat. Steamships were introduced in 1843, and the tradition has continued for over 180 years. The Steamship Sir Walter Scott remains a living link to that era and is one of Scotland’s most treasured heritage vessels.
Save Our Steamship Appeal
Just before her 120th birthday, the Steamship Sir Walter Scott was forced out of service due to serious boiler damage. I was closely involved in creating, promoting and managing the SOS Save Our Steamship appeal on behalf of the charitable trust that protects the vessel.
This included developing a dedicated appeal website, coordinating PR activity, producing photography and video content, and securing national media coverage. The campaign successfully raised £750,000, enabling the full restoration of the Steamship and her return to service in June 2023.
As part of this wider programme, I also helped secure £130,000 of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland. To coincide with the Steamship’s return, I supported the development of a new multimedia exhibition. I worked with STV on a television commercial for the attraction, using video content I had produced.
Interpretation, Exhibitions and Accessibility
A major part of my work at Loch Katrine has focused on interpretation and storytelling. For the return of the restored Steamship, I curated content for a permanent exhibition that tells the story of steamships on Loch Katrine.
Located along the covered walkway at Trossachs Pier, the exhibition combines interpretation panels, archive material, restoration footage and audio dramatisations that bring the Steamship’s history to life. Visitors can listen to stories about the vessel’s first captains and Queen Victoria’s visit, supported by visual displays and film.
Accessibility was a key consideration. The exhibition includes a tactile braille model of the Steamship with braille interpretation, forming part of a wider programme of inclusive visitor improvements.
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.
Website, Social Media and Destination Content
I have designed and delivered a new website for Loch Katrine, ensuring that the destination’s heritage, visitor offer and practical information are clearly communicated. I also support ongoing social media activity to help maintain a consistent voice and presence throughout the year.
Alongside digital platforms, I oversaw the development of a printed mini guide for the destination. The concertina-fold guide, produced in multiple languages, highlights historical landmarks, wildlife and visitor experiences around the loch and supports international tourism.
Events, PR and Major Milestones
Loch Katrine has a strong tradition of events, and I’ve helped promote and manage a wide range of them, including themed family weekends and historic re-enactments. A notable example was the re-enactment marking the 160th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s 1859 visit to open the Loch Katrine waterworks — infrastructure that still supplies water to much of Central Scotland today.
In 2025, I was heavily involved in marketing and PR for the Steamship Sir Walter Scott’s 125th anniversary celebrations. This milestone included the delivery and promotion of a dedicated Steamboat Festival, designed to celebrate the vessel’s heritage and its continuing role on Loch Katrine.
As part of the anniversary programme, I worked on event marketing, content creation, and PR activities, successfully securing national television, radio, and press coverage. This significantly raised awareness of the Steamship, Loch Katrine and their heritage at a national level, reinforcing the destination’s cultural importance.
A particular highlight was securing high-profile broadcast coverage and interviews that reached large UK audiences, further strengthening Loch Katrine’s reputation as a flagship Scottish heritage attraction.
Steamship Exhibition
Braille Interperation
New Scenic Tower
Tower views over Loch Katrine
Scenic Tower and Visitor Experience Projects
In summer 2024, a new footpath and Scenic Tower opened at Trossachs Pier, offering visitors views that inspired The Lady of the Lake. I supported PR activity around the launch, helping secure widespread coverage across print, online and broadcast media.
These projects complement Loch Katrine’s wider visitor offer, which includes passenger cruises, eco-lodges, cafés, cycle hire and access to walking and cycling routes within the National Nature Reserve.
The Trossachs Trail
The Steamship Sir Walter Scott is also the emblem of Scotland’s first geographical trail, The Trossachs Trail. I supported this project by helping develop its map, printed guide, website and refreshed brown tourist signage along the 40-mile route, linking Loch Katrine to the wider region.
Trossachs Trail Map & Guide
Loch Katrine Website
Ongoing Destination Marketing Support
It has been a privilege to work with the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust and the Loch Katrine team on such a wide range of projects. My role has combined long-term destination marketing, PR, heritage interpretation and event promotion — all grounded in a deep respect for the place, its history and its future.
If you would like to discuss a destination marketing, heritage or tourism project in Scotland, I’d be delighted to have a conversation.
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