Aberdeenshire Tourism Awards: Gordon Drummond Named Finalist

 

We have some exciting news to share from the forest!

Our founder, Dr. Gordon Drummond, has been named a finalist for Individual of the Year at the 2026 Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards (ACSTA).

The awards ceremony takes place at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday, September 18th, celebrating the incredible people and local businesses that make our corner of Scotland such a special place to visit.

For Gordon, creating Cairngorm Lodges and Cairngorm Bothies has always been about much more than just providing a place to stay. Drawing on his background in engineering, he designed our off-grid retreats to run gently on the land—using renewable energy and low-impact systems to protect the surrounding woodland and local wildlife.

Beyond looking after our guests and caring for the forest, Gordon spends a lot of time championing our local community. As Chair (North East) for Scottish Land & Estates, he regularly speaks up for rural businesses, supports regional suppliers, and works to keep our rural economy thriving.

Reacting to the news, Gordon shared:

“Being shortlisted as an ACSTA finalist is a true privilege, but tourism in Aberdeenshire is built on the shared efforts of so many passionate people and local enterprises. It is an honour to be nominated alongside such outstanding individuals and businesses who are all working tirelessly to strengthen our rural economy, champion sustainability, and showcase the very best of the North East.”

We are so proud to see his hard work and passion for sustainable, community-first tourism recognised on the regional stage.

Wish us luck for September 18th, and thank you as always to all our wonderful guests for being part of our story!