A luxury self-catering lodge on Royal Deeside and Peterhead Prison Museum have been granted five and four star quality assurance ratings respectively by VisitScotland.
Potarch Lodge, which is owned and run by Ballogie Estate and sits in a picturesque location beside the River Dee, received its award from the national tourism body on its only grading visit.
The former Potarch Hotel was recently renovated, creating self-catering accommodation for up to 14 guests in seven bedrooms.
It opened this year, with Ballogie Estate also creating an award-winning cafe/restaurant on the site.
The lodge is also now part of the VisitScotland Information Partner scheme, which sees the tourism organisation and businesses working together to improve standards within the industry.
Ballogie Estate Enterprises property manager Lewis Gray said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this five-star grading.
“It is a great achievement showcasing the hard work and dedication by all our staff and local contractors who completed this project to such a luxury standard.
“We are confident that our commitment, renovation and redevelopment of Potarch and the surrounding area is beneficial to the local community, and provides a welcome boost to the travel and tourism industry.”
VisitScotland regional director Jo Robinson said: “This a great story of redevelopment and investment in Royal Deeside, particularly in Scotland’s year of innovation, architecture and design.
“Our quality assurance scheme helps businesses to reach their full potential and truly shine.”
Peterhead Prison Museum, which opened in June, also achieved its high rating on its only grading visit.
The former jail – the prison shut in December 2013 – has already welcomed more than 45,000 people, all eager to find out what life was like behind bars.
It now offers visitors the chance to experience life in a cell and solitary confinement, visit the medical rooms and exercise areas and hear grim tales of prison life through the decades.
The museum has also hosted a Jailhouse Rock concert, Halloween tour and Christmas craft market.
Ms Robinson said: “They are providing a fantastic, interesting and unique visitor experience.
“It is a fantastically innovative use of the former prison, giving it a new and sustainable lease of life, whilst also incorporating and embracing the history specific to the building.”
