HAGGiS Adventures
HAGGiS Adventures, more commonly referred to simply as HAGGiS, is a U.K. guided coach-tour operator in the 18- 35 year old travel market. Their principle operations take travellers to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, although they also offer tours from London to Wales and Cornwall during the peak tourism season (May to October).
Originally called HAGGiS Backpackers, the company was established by three brothers in 1992 and began operating a flexible 'Jump-on Jump-off' Scottish tour network out of Glasgow in 1993, making it the longest running operator for backpackers in the U.K. today.
Company History
In 1991 three Scottish brothers (Alastair, Donald and Neil Campbell) travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand. After being impressed by their experiences with A Tour operator in New Zealand they felt that a similar model could be very successful back home.
The next year they registered the Company Name 'HAGGiS Backpackers Ltd', and attained a DOT (Department Of Transport) license to operate coaches. Alastair completed his PGD (Post Graduate Diploma) in Tourism and left his job as an accountant, Donald also left his job, and Neil left full-time education, all to focus on the tour business.
HAGGiS Backpackers began trading in June 1993 with two yellow 14-seat coaches, purchased ex-rental. The Campbell brothers also opened a small sales office on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street, from which one brother would ‘sell’ (with the help of family and friends) while the other two drove. The initial tour format was 'Jump-on Jump-off' in which backpackers were dropped at various hostels around the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with historical commentary and detailed information on local activities delivered by the Driver Guides on route. In the first year they carried 432 passengers.
The next few years saw the introduction of 'fixed itinerary' tours of varying durations, new premises on Edinburgh's High Street (Royal Mile), London departures, new (larger) Mercedes coaches, greater recruitment (in both Operations and Sales departments), promotion through major travel agencies (including STA Travel and Flight Centre), a bespoke booking system (Tour Management System or ‘TMS’), a new logo and a new website. 1996 was also the year the brothers claim to have celebrated their first pay-cheque since starting the business.
By 1999, HAGGiS was Europe's largest independent traveller's network, carrying around 14,000 passengers. The brothers also began operating tours of Ireland from Dublin under the brand ‘Blarney Bus’ (now Shamrocker Adventures), and the collective trade brand Radical Travel Network was launched to encompass the different U.K. and Ireland operations. Two years later they sold their majority share in the company to The Travel Corporation, a multi-national travel company also responsible for the global 'youth' tour brand Contiki. Alastair continued within HAGGiS as Managing Director, and eventually relinquished his position in 2010. In the interim various tour itineraries were introduced or modified, several industry awards were claimed (see below), and further European brands were added to the collective (including Busabout). In 2006 the company name 'HAGGiS Backpackers Ltd' was changed to 'Radical Travel Group Ltd' when a new Scottish tour-brand Highland Explorer Tours was launched, and 'HAGGiS Adventures' became the new 'Trading As' brand along with the new brand. HAGGiS now carries around 20,000 travellers around the U.K. each year.
Upon Alastair’s departure in 2010, management of the business was handed to a former Guide and marketeer Graeme Ward.
Awards and Nominations
- 2012 TNT Magazine Golden Backpack Awards- 'Favourite Tour Operator in Scotland'
- 2012 TNT Magazine Golden Backpack Awards- 'Favourite Small Tour Operator'
- 2012 Trip Advisor: 5* Certificate of Excellence
- 2011 Investors in People
- 2011 Visit Scotland 5-star award
- 2010 Visit Scotland Green Tourism - Silver
- 2008 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Finalist - Customer Care
- 2008 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Finalist - People Development
- 2007 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Finalist - Customer Care
- 2007 In London Awards: Best European Tour Operator
- 2006 VisitScotland Tourism Business of the Year
- 2005 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Winner - Tourism and the Environment
- 2005 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Winner - Off Peak Success
- 2005 Visit Scotland Thistle Green Tourism - Bronze