Five star coronation for Hollow Mountain
Drax’s Hollow Mountain visitor centre has received a top rating from VisitScotland.
The centre at Cruachan Power Station has been awarded a five-star rating by the tourism rating organisation.
The award means the centre now ranks among the top one per cent of attractions across the country.
Located on the northern shores of Loch Awe in Argyll, Cruachan is an underground pumped storage hydro power station housed within a man-made cavern that is large enough to fit Big Ben on its side.
Built in the 1960s, the iconic power station took six years to construct, with thousands of workers involved in drilling, blasting, and clearing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rock and spoil to make the subterranean world.
To earn its five-star rating, a ’secret shopper’ style visit took place to assess how the visitor centre was performing. The facility earned top marks for the performance of its employees in areas including hospitality and friendliness, service and efficiency, cleanliness in all areas, and appearance.
Sarah Cameron, Drax’s Scotland Community Manager, said: “Everyone at Cruachan is delighted to be recognised among the top one per cent of visitor attractions in Scotland. The power station is such a special and unique place, and it is wonderful to be able to share it with visitors from across Scotland and around the world.
“Tens of thousands of visitors come here each year to see this engineering marvel which is hidden inside a mountain. However, what’s above ground is also well worth a look. The centre has incredible views of Loch Awe, and you can enjoy them with a cup of tea and a homemade scone from our café.”
VisitScotland Regional Director of VisitScotland, David Adams McGilp added: “The Cruachan Visitor Centre team is committed to delivering a world-class experience for their guests.
“We hope this hard-earned five-star rating will encourage even more people to visit this iconic power station and learn about its fascinating history.”
The visitor centre is open from 9.15am to 4.45pm Monday to Friday. Tours must be booked in advance, which can be done online at visitcruachan.co.uk/request-a-tour/ or by calling 01866 962630.
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