Award-winning monster-spotting business Cruise Loch Ness is offered for sale
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One of the most successful tour businesses on Loch Ness is being sold by the family which launched it over half a century ago.
Cruise Loch Ness, which is based in Fort Augustus, is being advertised for sale by estate agents Savills, which is inviting offers for a 100 per cent shareholding in the five-star rated tour company.
Cruise Loch Ness has been owned by the Mackenzie family since its inception in May 1968 when it began offering visitor cruises on Loch Ness with an ex RNLI lifeboat carrying only 12 passengers.
The business now provides a fleet of four high specification vessels including the flagship vessel The Spirit of Loch Ness, which can accommodate up to 210 passengers and The Legend of Loch Ness with a maximum capacity of 108 passengers. Two Rigid Inflatable Boats (Ribs) provide a more exhilarating experience carrying a maximum of 12 passengers each.
The business has won multiple awards over the years including being named the national winner of the 2019 best visitor attraction in Scotland at the Scottish Thistle Awards and in the same year beat over 2000 applicants to be named UK small business of the year at the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) annual awards in London.
Attracting tourists from around the world who are drawn to the23-mile long loch by the legend of its famed monster, Cruise Loch Ness is one of the key attractions in the Fort Augustus area.
Its bespoke designed pontoons provide accessible boarding to its vessels on the Caledonia Canal, enabling s many people as possible to enjoy the thrill of a Nessie-spotting trip for themselves.
The sale also includes what Savills describes as a rare opportunity to purchase residential property in the area, by way of first refusal to the purchaser of the business, for a detached five/six bedroom owner’s accommodation.
The house is located approximately one mile from Fort Augustus and is set in approximately 0.71 acres (0.29 hectares) of private land and gardens with an additional 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares) of owner-occupied croft land.
Richard Prestwich, director in the leisure and trade related team at Savills, says: “This is an extremely rare opportunity and the first time this business has been taken to the market. The highly reputable, award-winning visitor attraction is in a world-renowned location and has strong credentials with a proven track record. It is recognised as one of the leading tourist attractions in Scotland and we expect significant interest.”
