Simple ways to make your holiday let more eco-friendly

Keep it upbeat and positive

Make being green a central element to all of visitor information but keep it upbeat by focusing on the positives of your accommodation’s credentials, and your guests’ actions.

If you can, get your guests involved in your efforts. Clear communication is the key here too; make it obvious what can be recycled and where to put it.

If they’re staying for a week, do they know when the recycling collection is made?  Including this information in the welcome folder will encourage guests to do their bit.

Green options for visitors

How to get around and visit our fantastic sites on the west coast is a big consideration for those trying to reduce their carbon footprint, and parking can be an issue at some destinations during peak visitor times.

It’s a good idea to provide guests with up-to-date information on bus and train timetables as this not only reduces car journeys and traffic, but it also makes for more of a fun experience with opportunities for relaxed sight-seeing and maybe even the chance to enjoy a glass of wine with lunch!

For example, it’s a great idea to visit Glenfinnan by train from Fort William, as it is a much more relaxing experience with fabulous views along the ways!

Get on yer bike!

If guests don’t bring their own bike, there are plenty of options for hiring bikes and e-bikes from bike shops around the west coast. As part of the new Hi-bike sustainable travel initiative, Fort William now has a fleet of E-bikes that can be hired by the day or journey. Simply sign up on the app, and you’re all set to jump on a bike at one location and leave it at another. It’s a fantastic way to whizz about town and leave the car at home!

Practical steps you can take today

• Invest in energy-efficient appliances that have a lower carbon footprint and save you money on running costs too.
• Install energy-efficient light bulbs
• Increase your loft insulation and consider cavity-wall insulation to reduce heating costs (don’t forget the basics like stopping any draughts)
• Provide eco-friendly toiletries and cleaning products, refillable options
• Leave out recycling instructions, including which day of the week recycling is collected
• Encourage sustainable travel, by making it easy for people to store bikes safely and provide up-to-date bus and train timetables to make it easier for visitors to plan car-free days out.
• Encourage guests to shop locally by providing details of shops in welcome folder, and signpost where they can purchase environmentally friendly products
• Leave a supply of reusable shopping bags

Thinking ‘environmentally friendly’ at each stage of your visitor’s stay can really help you take small actions that collectively add up to a big difference and make your holiday accommodation a more inviting option for visitors who want to reduce their environmental impact.