Edinburgh’s award-winning tour company, Mercat Tours, has once again swept the awards board.

Earlier this year the family business was awarded an exceptional 92% grading from VisitScotland for being a Five Star experience. This was closely followed by a Gold Grading from Green Business Tourism Scheme for exemplifying the highest standards of sustainability in the tourism industry.              

Based in the capital’s Old Town, Mercat Tours is Edinburgh’s original walking tour company, having celebrated its 30-year milestone last year. Founded by local history teacher Des Brogan, he wanted to share his love for the city’s past – an ethos the company continues to put at the heart of all their tours.

Today, the family business operates daily history and ghost tours working with the city’s premium attractions to offer the largest variety, and number, of walking tours in Edinburgh.

This year, Mercat Tours launched Royal Edinburgh Experience, a brand new history tour introducing visitors to Edinburgh’s picturesque Canongate and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Managing Director Kat Brogan says of the awards: “We’re always looking for ways to improve what we do for the visitor, across the whole Mercat Tours experience. From first welcome to final farewell, we have a first class team making sure that we are the best we possibly can be. Our five star award recognises all their passion and hard work in looking after our visitors and our gold grading reinforces our commitment to responsible, sustainable practice.”