Outer Hebrides 7 day tour, Scotland

Planet

When selecting accommodation and excursions for our tours, we always prioritize their environmental impact. Here are some examples of how we ensure sustainable and responsible tourism on our tours.

To begin with, our small group tours help reduce carbon emissions. Since transport emissions during the tour are shared among the group, each individual's carbon footprint is lowered. We also encourage clients to explore on foot, reducing transport emissions further.

Our tours feature wildlife, and we ensure that our tour guides take care not to disturb the animals or negatively affect the natural environment. For example, when we encounter ponies during the tour, we encourage clients to simply observe and appreciate their beauty without disturbing them.

Our accommodations are carefully chosen to be locally owned and operated, and they use the freshest local ingredients in their menus. By sourcing food locally, they minimize their carbon footprint and support the local community. Some examples of local delicacies include Stornoway black pudding, Uist lobsters, and coffee from a Glasgow roaster.

In addition to supporting local businesses, our Harris Hotel is also family-owned and operated. They provide organic seaweed toiletries that are locally sourced from the Hebridean islands and certified by the Soil Association Organic. Their restaurant serves local food with vegan options, local food includes smoked salmon and mussels.

Overall, we strive to make our tours environmentally sustainable and socially responsible while providing our clients with an unforgettable travel experience.

We are corporate members of the John Muir Trust, an organisation committed to protecting the wild land of the Scottish highlands and islands.

People

At our company, we value creating a positive impact on the local economy by employing local guides and building long-term relationships with suppliers who share our values for sustainable tourism. We prioritize supporting the communities we visit and giving back to the areas that are close to our hearts.

During our tour, we visit local museums like the Kildonan museum, which archives and preserves the history of the area. The Blackhouse Arnol is another example of preserving local culture, a fully furnished traditional thatched house where Gaelic speaking staff are on hand to share the local way of life. The Lews castle museum is also a great place to learn about the unique history and culture of the Outer Hebrides, with a strong emphasis on Gaelic, a cultural language that is important to the local identity.

We always stive to make our accommodations are locally owned, and we aim to find suppliers that benefit the local economy. For example, Harris Tweed is employs local weaver that provides jobs and supports the community. Their materials are also locally sourced, which helps to reduce their carbon footprint.

We also support local businesses like the Harris distillery, which revives a 170-year-old tradition of distilling in the village of Tarbert. The Sugar Kelp seaweed used in their gin is hand-gathered sustainably from the local sea lochs, and every step of production is done with local hands. The distillery aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for young locals and support the fragile island economy.

Overall, we strive to create mutually beneficial relationships with the local community and suppliers while preserving the unique culture and heritage of the places we visit.