CRIEFF’S GROWING reputation as a four-star tourist town was further enhanced yesterday when a visitor attraction became the third in the area to receive official VisitScotland recognition.

Crieff Ceramics, Pottery Workshop & Gallery, have achieved the rating from VisitScotland only a year after opening.

Owner and founder Len Whatley, who is a third generation potter, and his partner Rhoda Ferguson were delighted to receive the award, making it the third four-star visitor attraction in the area.

The Crieff Visitor Centre and the Drummond Trout Farm and Fishery are the others, while The Famous Grouse Experience has five stars, the Drummond Castle Gardens three stars, and Highland Heathers one star.

Their work is based on contemporary design, inspired by the colours of the Scottish landscape and made in the traditional, hand-thrown way, and the gallery is open seven days throughout the summer.

Visitors to Crieff Ceramics, housed in a converted church at the west end of the High Street, can watch from the gallery as the pair work on the potter’s wheel.

Mr Whatley also shares his 15 years’ experience with clay, as he runs pottery classes which have proved very popular.

He said, “They are great fun as people can be hands-on, spending almost all their time on the potter’s wheel.”

VisitScotland visitor attractions are graded one to five stars, and are assessed on the quality of the product, customer service and visitor facilities specific to the style of the attraction.

Manager of operations for the quality and standards division of VisitScotland, Lorraine Thomson, said at yesterday’s presentation, “Crieff Ceramics have committed themselves to achieving a very high standard which exemplifies the criteria of the VisitScotland visitor attraction scheme.

“VisitScotland works all year round to assess the standard of accommodation and visitor attractions in Scotland.

“This award is an impartial and objective endorsement by VisitScotland of the high quality offered by Crieff Ceramics.”

Ms Thomson said the visitor attraction scheme is just one of many programmes run by VisitScotland that aims to ensure people visiting tourist attractions in Scotland have a memorable experience and that they look forward to returning.

For details of pottery classes at Crieff Ceramics telephone 01764 654416.

MSP Roseanna Cunningham presented Mr Whatley with a VisitScotland plaque to mark their achievement.