Press release -
Enjoy some green living in Scotland
From planning how to travel, to choosing where to stay, more and more of us are considering our carbon footprint, linking our holiday plans with our desire to save the planet.
Whether it’s renewable energy, composting toilets, tree planting or locally sourced food and drink, going green is becoming increasingly important for environmentally conscious travellers.
As Earth Day approaches (22 April), why not bask in the beauty of the Most Beautiful Country in the World* with an eco-friendly stay in Scotland?
Green getaways
Ancient Scots pine trees provide a magical backdrop for your stay at The Old Pine Yurt. Located on the secluded foothills of the spectacular Cairngorms Mountains, with just surrounding nature for company, this is a camping experience like no other. The handcrafted yurt is equipped with all the usual home comforts including a cosy double bed, solar lighting, a wood burning stove and a welcoming dram. Nearby you’ll find the ‘Hut’ with kitchen and toilet facilities as well as an eco-shower.
Surrounded by the stunning scenery of Rannoch Moor, Loch Ossian Youth Hostel is the perfect base for hillwalkers, wildlife watchers and dark sky observers. Powered by locally sourced hydro and solar power, the hostel boasts electric panel heating, composting toilets and even bat-friendly paint. For those conscious of their carbon footprint, the site is also only accessible by rail, foot or bike,
With solar-power, instant hot water showers, green fuel BBQs and patio heaters, every part of the design and build of this glamping accommodation is eco-friendly. The luxury Canvas Cottages can be found in their own secluded wooded knoll, with peaceful surroundings and breath-taking views of the Castle’s Loch.
Boasting jaw-dropping views across the countryside to where the three glens of Craigdarroch, Dalwhat and Castlefairn meet, the green philosophy of Three Glens centres around the ‘Four Rs’ of ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and Recover’ with these values brought to life in everything from the biomass stove and electric vehicle charging, to the oak cladding from wind-felled trees or the wool insulation from sheep on the farm.
Enjoy a dip in the wood-fired hot tub or take bracing outdoor shower at the Lazy Duck Nethy Bridge. This hidden gem in the Cairngorm National Park offers a number of accommodation options including an eco-cabin for two called the Woodman’s Hut. The owners take great care with recycling, composting and on staying you’ll be supplied with lighting and heating methods that help minimise your footprint on the environment.
The Green House in Ettrickbridge is an eco-friendly self-catering retreat in the beautiful Scottish Borders. Built with low carbon principles, and designed to be as energy efficient as possible, this eco-friendly home from home is located on a smallholding farm so you can even try the farm’s own honey from the shop.
Renowned for its commitment to high environmental standards, the Glenuig Inn was the first UK inn to receive a gold Green Tourism award on its first attempt. Set amongst stunning scenery and by the beach on the Sound of Arisaig, the Inn is the perfect place to rest after a day exploring the West of Scotland. Running on 100% renewable energy, offering locally-sourced seasonal menus and using a unique food waste dryer to minimise waste, Glenuig guests can sleep soundly knowing that their stay is having zero impact on the planet.
This award-winning ‘green destination’ can be found amongst the Perthshire Hills. A former farmstead turned luxury hostel, this is the ideal retreat from city life with a range of accommodation options maintained through low-impact initiatives. With a visionto become a model for rural regeneration with a rich natural environment, Comrie Croft encourages its guests to think about their carbon footprint by recycling, using public transport, exploring the area on foot and using locally sourced produce.
Getting out and about
Thanks to the public transport network, cycle paths and walking routes, it is easy to enjoy Scotland’s stunning scenery and rich history while doing your bit to protect the welfare of the planet at the same time. Why not see the sights in the different with a walking tour of Stirling, Dundee, Edinburgh or Glasgow or maybe take a road trip across Scotland in an electric car.
Embark on an eco-friendly adventure
If you want to give something back on your break away why not try a conservation holiday? RSPB Scotland, Trees for Life and the National Trust for Scotland all offer experiences where you can play your part in preserving the country’s natural environment, from tree planting to creating habitat for Scotland’s rare wildlife.
For more eco-escape inspiration or to browse a range of businesses with Green Tourism Awards
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- consumer pr
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
2018 Year of Young People
- The Year of Young People 2018 will be the next of the Scottish Government’s series of themed years, following the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.
- The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally
- Central to YoYP 2018 will be a celebratory events programme that puts young people at the heart of its development and delivery, creating new and valuable experiences for young Scots and the wider public, with links to the inaugural 2018 European Championships.
- Over 200 young people throughout Scotland are currently being recruited to become YoYP 2018 Ambassadors. Ambassadors will ensure that people and organisations in their communities know about what’s happening and will lead on projects and activities to create events and opportunities to celebrate young people.
- The Year of Young People will have six themes which were developed in co-production with young people themselves:
- oParticipation – looking at how young people can influence public services and decisions which affect their lives
- oEducation – creating a stronger role for young people in shaping their learning
- oHealth and Wellbeing – supporting young people to lead healthier, active lives and have opportunities to learn about and improve their mental health and resilience
- oEquality and Discrimination – broadcasting the value of young Scots, challenging negative perceptions of young people, and supporting young people to take leading roles in challenging discrimination in all its forms.
- oEnterprise and regeneration – celebrating young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live
- oCulture – celebrating young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.
- Further information on what’s happening and how people can get involved can be found on the new website www.yoyp2018.scot or @YOYP2018 on Twitter.
