Local Bus Companies Awarded Enchanted Forest Contract

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, organisers behind Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, has appointed three local bus operators for the 2023 show, From the Deep, reinforcing one of the Trust’s core values of using local suppliers as much as is possible.

The three companies including Auchterarder based Docherty’s Midland Coaches, Pitlochry based Elizabeth Yule Transport, and Bathgate based Harry Ferguson Traveline will be collectively responsible for transporting more than 83,000 visitors to and from The Enchanted Forest event from 5 October to 5 November this year. The buses will depart from the Fisher’s Hotel in the centre of Pitlochry.

Harry Ferguson Traveline will be supplying the event’s accessibility buses this year, which will leave from Blair Athol Distillery on the outskirts of Pitlochry. This service caters for customers who have specific needs, but do not require disabled parking on site which is limited. The buses will not require people to climb stairs to board.

Monique McArdle, event producer of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Much like the event itself, the bus companies who help the event run so smoothly every year by transporting visitors to the forest were badly impacted by the pandemic. So, we’re delighted to be able to offer this contract to three local businesses, one of whom is based in Pitlochry itself, and as a result help to provide sustained employment to local people.”

Ricky Morton, Director, and Transport Manager at Elizabeth Yule Transport said: “As a local business based in Pitlochry, we’re pleased to be working with The Enchanted Forest this year and look forward to taking their visitors to and from the forest in October. It’s one of the country’s major events and we’re proud to have been selected as one of their transport partners, proof that collaborating with local businesses is great for the local economy.”

This appointment follows the publication of an independent economic assessment report commissioned by the Enchanted Forest Community Trust that found the 2022 Enchanted Forest event was responsible for delivering an impressive economic impact of nearly £10 million to Highland Perthshire last Autumn.

Tickets for the 2023 show ‘From the Deep’ are currently on sale, with this year’s oceanic theme set to transform Faskally Wood into an underwater adventure for visitors, taking them from the metaphoric depths of the ocean to the shorelines of Loch Dunmore as they make their way around the forest trail this Autumn. The Enchanted Forest runs from 5 October and to book tickets, or to find out more information, please visit: www.enchantedforest.org.uk.