Three businesses which attract tourists to enjoy West Dunbartonshire's scenery, history and wildlife are in the running for a major award.

Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomondside, Portnellan Farm at Gartocharn and the Balloch-based Experience Scotland's Wild are in the regional finals of the Scottish Thistle Awards.

The awards, celebrating their 25th anniversary, recognise success, innovation, excellence and best practice in tourism and hospitality.

Cameron House is a five-star stately manor with a range of plush accommodation, a brasserie, a fine-dining restaurant and a bar, leisure and golf facilities.

Portnellan is a small organic farm, owned by the Scott-Park family, which offers accommodation in its Old Farmhouse and "glamping" on the Loch Lomond shoreline. They also organise sea kayak and Canadian canoe safaris.

Meanwhile, John Stevenson, founder of Experience Scotland’s Wild, is up for the Tourism and Hospitality Hero award.

He organises a range small group tours in the national park and elsewhere in Scotland, with the accent on wilderness and adventure.

Andy Roger, resort director at Cameron House, said it was fantastic to be a finalist in the Most Hospitable Hotel category for the region.

He added: "We pride ourselves on giving our guests a warm welcome and our Scottish hospitality is very much an integral part of our five star offering. It really completes the experience when staying at the resort.

"The Thistle Awards, celebrating their 25th anniversary, are an important accolade for the industry and it’s great for our team to receive this recognition."

The hotel has already bagged a number of accolades this year and is finalist in a number of forthcoming awards.

John Scott-Park, who runs Portnellan Farm with wife Freda and son Chris, said: "We are delighted to be shortlisted in the best accommodation category. The Old Farmhouse was previously occupied by our dairyman. But when we stopped doing dairy a plan was made to extend hospitality to guests by renovating the Old Farmhouse.

"This is the first time we have been shortlisted for our accommodation and we are very pleased."

John Stevenson from Experience Scotland’s Wild said it was an honor to be shortlisted.

He added: "There’s so many wonderful people working in tourism and hospitality all over Scotland who do such an amazing job of showcasing our spectacular country. So to be shortlisted in the Tourism and Hospitality Hero category really is a special experience and an honor.

"It really does make it extra special knowing that what I’m doing with Scotland’s Wild is going above and beyond in giving an amazing experience to clients from all over the world."

The awards recognise hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions and individuals who go the extra mile to provide customers with exceptional service.

Rebecca Brooks, chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel, said: “It’s fantastic that in this special anniversary year, we’ve had such an overwhelming response to this year’s competition. These awards aim to find the crème de la crème of Scotland’s tourism industry, to recognise the shining lights who have shown real commitment and dedication to the industry.

“From the sheer volume and calibre of entries, it is clear that this year’s competition will be the fiercest yet and on behalf of the panel I’d like to congratulate all the shortlisted entrants and wish each and every one of them the very best of the luck at the regional finals.”

Winners will be announced at the West Regional Final at Glasgow Science Centre on Thursday October 26.