A CRUISE operator which operates around Loch Lomond is running a new educational resource to inform their passengers about the history and environment of the area.

Cruise Loch Lomond has worked alongside charity Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to develop the new education pack, aimed particularly at helping student groups become more aware of the loch and the surrounding environment.

The Friends assisted the creation of the resource pack by providing text and editing expertise as part of its ecotourism project, and also contributing £250 through a grant funded as part of the Friends of OUR Park scheme, which sees businesses from all over the park contribute through visitor donations.

Stuart Cordner, of Cruise Loch Lomond added: “We are passionate about promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism in the national park and this resource will definitely help visitors better understand and appreciate the many qualities of our wonderful natural environment and how important it is to cherish and look after it.”

The material will include information on local and Scottish history, geology, clan culture and land use, and will be available for users through in both electronic and paper form.

John Urquhart, vice-chairman of Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, said: “We are delighted to support this venture and see it as an important part of our ecotourism project, which already has come on leaps and bounds since it started at the beginning of 2017. Cruise Loch Lomond have long been big supporters of what we do to help improve Scotland’s first national park and when they came to us with this idea, it was an easy decision to get involved.”