End of the road for Prestige coach tours

PRESTIGE Tours, the coach travel operator that runs sightseeing trips throughout Scotland, has gone into liquidation.

The company, based in Barrhead, had been in operation for 17 years prior to running into financial difficulties. It specialised in single and multi-day excursions to destinations such as Loch Ness, Oban, the Isle of Skye and John O'Groats, and also offered customised and corporate travel packages.

An employee answering Prestige's phones on Friday confirmed that the business had gone into liquidation but declined to answer further questions. A recorded message picked up later confirmed that Scottish Tours – the company's trading name within Scotland – had ceased trading as of midnight on Thursday.

"We regret that there are no facilities at our departure points to provide you with either a refund or alternative travel facilities," the message said.

"If you have made a reservation on one of our sightseeing tours directly with us, then we would recommend calling your credit card company for further information on obtaining a refund."

The latest accounts filed with Companies House show that during the year to December 2008, Prestige Tours made a pre-tax profit of 9,700 on turnover of 1.55 million. Its debts at the close of 2008 stood at 259,000.