Scotland tourism consultants
Urquhart Castle
Visitor Management Planning
Heritage Consultancy
Conkers Visitor Attraction Business Plan

Scotland Tourism Consultants

Planning Solutions Consulting Limited is a specialist consultancy. For over 25 years we have been working across the tourism, heritage, community, environmental and recreation sectors. The projects we work on have a strong focus on carrying out detailed market reviews (ensuring proposals are based on market needs), consultation and engagement (helping to ensure future proposals respond to needs of stakeholders and communities), optioneering (identifying and evaluating future opportunities to develop the offer and generate earned revenue), preparing business plans and financial analysis (identifying the financial viability of future development proposals). This is alongside wider destination development and visitor management planning projects.

Whilst we are based in Hampshire, we have worked on tourism consultancy projects in the Scotland and we are keen to explore other opportunities. Projects include:

3 to 1 Community Interest Company and Scottish Borders Council: Working with Duncan Bryden Associates we carried out a feasibility study on behalf of the 3-to-1 Project CIC in the Scottish Borders which was initially focussed on assessing the opportunity to develop a visitor attraction to inspire behaviour change across the Scottish Borders region in respect of the Climate Emergency.

East Lothian Council: Working with the Council and a range of stakeholders to identify and evaluate opportunities to address issues relating to the tourism experience and managing visitors – leading tothe production of a visitor management and destination management plan.

Falkirk Council and Historic Environment Scotland: Working with Historic Environment Scotland and Falkirk Council we prepared a Strategic Tourism and Infrastructure Development Plan for Blackness.

Forest Holidays: Glentress Forest covers approximately 3,800 acres and we carried out a site assessment and market review to help evaluate the opportunity for high quality self-catering forest lodges.

Historic Environment Scotland: Commissioned to prepare a Support Strategy for Caerlaverock Castle with a focus on improving the visitor experience, identifying opportunities to work with adjoining landowners (including The Caerlaverock Estate, Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetland Trust’s visitor site and Nature Scot) and the local community.

Lochaline Quartz Sand: Working with Duncan Bryden Associates, we were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study to assess the concept of developing a discovery, learning and heritage centre linked to a working mine with a rich history in Lochaline, North West Scotland.

You can find out more about our projects here.

Added value – managing tourism businesses
Alongside our consultancy work our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, has invested in and manages a number of tourism businesses. These include CONKERS a 120-acre woodland visitor attraction, with two visitor centres in the National Forest, Kent Life – a 28 acre heritage farm park in Maidstone and the Cotswold Beach and Country Park along with three branded high ropes experience, a 69-bed hotel on the Isle of Wight and a brewery. PSC brings direct operational experience of running recreation and countryside sites (event spaces, activity experiences, cafes, retail, volunteer programmes, membership schemes and education services) a microbrewery, tourist accommodation and community hubs. This ensures that future planning is based upon real world experience.

Based on this hands-on experience we can identify constraints and success factors, including key risks and liabilities and mitigation strategies. Underlying this we understand the financial drivers (and cost centres) to help deliver long-term sustainable solutions.

Clients from across the UK and Republic of Ireland have said a few words about our work:
“Working with Falkirk Council, Historic Environment Scotland and the local Blackness community, Planning Solutions Consulting with Blue Sail tourism consultancy were appointed to initiate, develop and deliver a Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development (STID) Plan through funding provided by VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The aim of these plans is to inform funding priorities for collaborative projects which focus on improving the visitor experience in rural parts of Scotland that are facing pressure on their infrastructure and communities as a result of intensive visitor numbers. From what could have been a challenging process, the team used their knowledge, experience and personable approach to engage with all stakeholders to create an encouraging environment where issues, ideas and solutions could be collectively considered. Their independent and expert view was valued by all involved, reflected in the concluding report which collated the priorities, set out clear actions and a future direction. More importantly, the team have helped build relationships and create a positive momentum for Blackness.” Gary Treacy, National Investment Plan Team, Historic Environment Scotland 

Please see other testimonials here.

How can we help?
If you have a question about our work or would like to discuss a potential project please don’t hesitate to call or email Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or richard@pslplan.co.uk