A TOUR operator and transport provider that was established in 1972 has been recognised as one of the top 10 percent of attractions worldwide.

Mountain Goat, a tour operator and transport provider based in Windermere which includes private transport, transfers, guided sightseeing tours, and holidays of the National Parks of Northern England, Wales, and Scotland has been recognised by TripAdvisor as Traveller's Choice 2022, which means they are in the top 10 percent of attractions worldwide.

The business which was established in 1972 was originally set up under the name ‘ The Lake District Mini Bus company’ and was set up to serve the people of Windermere to get to Glenridding from there the business expanded to schedule day tours and in the very early days, a customer said to the team ‘your busses travel over passes like a mountain goat’ so the business took the name change.

In Cumbria: A company bus from 1976, the tour operator was established in 1972A company bus from 1976, the tour operator was established in 1972

Group sales and marketing manager, Asia Connor who has worked for the company for four and half years said she and the team are delighted with the achievement.

She said: “We are delighted to be recognised as TripAdviosr Traveller’s Choice 2022, this accolade is a representation of all the hard work from our team and driver guides. We are thrilled to be awarded this badge in our ‘golden year’ along with being a finalist for Cumbria Tourism’s experience of the year, as well as achieving a 96 per cent rating on our VisitEngland quality assurance rating.

“The last two years were obviously very difficult for everyone but it’s great to now be out on the other side, and things are starting to pick up again in the lake district and the north of England so we are on the better side of covid now.

In Cumbria: Tony Scott, one of Mountain Goats driver-guideTony Scott, one of Mountain Goats driver-guide

“We are constantly looking for new ideas, we are still in the recovery stage of covid, but in the next year or so we are hoping to get back on our feet and pick more business and seeing the demand from the international market and then beyond that up to ten years, it is very exciting times, we will see what happens in the world and where it takes us.”