Businesses in Skye and Lochalsh were celebrating success this week, as the 2003 Talisker Quality Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Aros Centre in Portree.

Now in its tenth year, the award scheme is sponsored by Diageo, the parent company of Talisker Distillery, in partnership with Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, Highland Council and the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board.  The scheme seeks to recognise those businesses and individuals, who, in the opinion of visitors to the area, have provided a quality experience and outstanding service.
 
This year's awards were presented by the well-known Skye personality Donnie Munro, whilst music at the ceremony was provided by students from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton High School.

The awards are in four categories, Customer Care, Cultural Experience, Food and Drink and Outdoor Experience, whilst two special awards are also made for Overall Excellence, for  businesses which have been outstanding in more than one category.

Sea.fari Adventures were the winners of this year's Customer Care award, whilst the Skye Museum of Island Life collected the award for Cultural Experience. The Food and Drink award was lifted by The Pasta Shed in Armadale, whilst another Sleat business, West Highland Heavy Horses won in the Outdoor Experience category.

The Skye and Lochalsh Studio Trail, which showcased arts and crafts studios in the region throughout the month of May won an award for Overall Excellence, as did Fèis an Eilein, the twelve-day-long festival which this July was as successful as ever, providing superb entertainment to a succession of full-houses in both Sleat and in Kilmuir.

Commendations were awarded to the following organisations; Skye Jewellery; Whitewave: Skye's Outdoor Centre; the Langal Bed and Breakfast, Carbost; the Aros Centre; Dunvegan Castle; Armadale Castle Gardens & the Museum of the Isles; The Three Chimneys; Plockton Inn; the Old Inn, Carbost; Bella Jane Boat Trips; Caledonian MacBrayne; Calum's Seal Trips, Plockton; Trotternish Art Gallery and to the Pier Coffee House in Kyleakin.

Alastair Robertson, Manager of the Talisker Distillery said: "Recognition of an achievement is always very welcome and I am delighted that the Talisker Quality Trust exists to award the pursuit of quality in Skye and Lochalsh.  This year Talisker Quality Award winners have demonstrated that quality is a very important part of a successful business."