A couple have just taken their first bookings after giving up high powered jobs to help visitors get the most out of a trip to a remote Orkney community.

Graham and Kathy Maben's new tourism venture hits the road early next month when they begin running guided tours in Westray.  For Graham, it means the chance to fulfil a long held dream to return to the island where he spent much of his school days.  He and his wife feel confident that the Outer North isle's wildlife, history and stunning scenery will help ensure the success of their new business, Westraak.

Receiving their first bookings has given them a boost - as has the support they are receiving from Orkney Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Tourist Board and the Westray community.

Orkney Enterprise, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, has provided a funding package worth £4,400 and the use of a business unit in Pierowall that will serve as the base for Westraak.

Development manager Harvey Stevenson said: "This new service should link in well with other quality tourism businesses in Westray.

"The Outer North Isles are recognised as fragile communities and ventures like this, that stimulate tourism by encouraging more people to visit the isles, are seen as a priority by us."

Until earlier this year, Graham was a regional manager with the Littlewoods retail group, while Kathy held a senior managerial position with the Edinburgh-based Quality Scotland Foundation.

Now in their mid 50s, they have swapped their jobs and home near Kelso, in the Borders, for island life and the chance to run their own business.

"I can still remember the day I first arrived in Westray as an 11-year-old and how it broke my heart when I left at 17," Graham said.

"I've always wanted to live here again and now we have the chance to give something back to the community where I enjoyed such a wonderful time in my younger days.

"We always thought we would move to Westray when we retired. But setting up our guided tours business provided the opportunity to bring those plans forward."

The Mabens have invested in a minibus that would normally carry 16 people and adapted it to carry a maximum of eight passengers, so their guests enjoy plenty of room.

They plan a pick-up service from the ferry terminal, airport or their customers' holiday accommodation.  The tours will begin at the Westraak centre with coffee, home bakes and a computer presentation.

"It'll be a good way to whet our guests' appetite for what they'll see on the tour and to pass on safety information," Graham explained.

He'll then run the trips around the island while Kathy concentrates on running the centre and providing a traditional cooked lunch for their customers. 

One thing that won't bother Graham is driving the minibus on Westray's quiet roads.

"In my old life I was doing between 1,000 and 1,500 miles a week," he added. "Once or twice giving up our jobs has felt a bit scary but we both feel strongly that we've made the right decision.  Our new life in Westray will be very different and hopefully a lot less stressful.

"The island has a network of vibrant tourism businesses. They've been wonderfully supportive and we've been caught up in their enthusiasm.  Now we hope our own venture will bring spin-off benefits for those businesses as well."