An ambitious Lochaber based outdoor adventure business providing white water rafting and canoeing trips has opened a third centre in Loch Awe near Oban.

Highland Activities has this week begun running grade two and three white water rafting trips on the River Awe for families, holiday makers and anyone looking for a fun introduction to rafting.

The new venture at Loch Awe Holiday Park was developed with assistance from Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards infrastructure and business growth.

Directors Andy Burton and Ian Brown have over 35 years experience of running outdoor activity pursuits between them and have worked together over the last three years to develop their multi activity company.

Highland Activities already has two activity sites at the Great Glen Water Park on Loch Oich and at Ardverikie Estate, Kinlochlaggan, offering the largest range of outdoor activities and adventure sports than anyone else in Scotland. Activities such as quad biking, white water rafting, canyoning, paintballing and waterskiing are currently offered. They are also offering an activity called funyakking at the Loch Awe site which involves running the rapids in a two man inflatable for those looking for a more exciting river experience.

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Fergus Watson, account manager for HIE, said: "Tourism is considered one of Scotland's key industries. Loch Awe provides a popular day out for visitors from a wider catchment area, significantly adding to their overall holiday experience.

"We are working closely with Highland Activities in developing their new site at Loch Awe and we are delighted to have supported them in this expansion. With significant increases in customer volumes over the last three years and the planned expansion of new sites, the company has ambitious plans to grow their business. The investment brings benefits for the business, its staff and the wider community."

Highland Activities plan to develop a further two adventure sport sites in the Highlands over the next two years and increase the number of staff on their books, doubling the six full time staff who are currently employed by the company. A number of team building events and outdoor activity based courses that support teenagers with challenges are run with Highland Activities and their activities are popular with stag and hen parties, families and groups of friends.

Andy Burton, director of Highland Activities, said: "We feel that there is a massive potential for growth in adventure tourism in the Highlands of Scotland and the Oban area is a fantastic holiday destination. We are delighted to offer visitors and local people another fun activity to do in the area and hope that this will compliment other attractions and activity providers and further enhance the visitor experience and be a sustainable proposition in the future"

(GK)