Green Tourism - Gold Award!

We have always strived to live quietly in this beautiful, remote corner of Argyll known as the Secret Coast.  Our goal is that our footprint should be as light as possible. We choose native species to plant in our two acre garden.  We grow much of our own fruit and vegetables.  We make our own compost.  We support local businesses.  We use chemical free products in the house and garden.  We refill. We reuse.

Vegetables, fruit, polytunnel and compost bins

When we decided to start our Bothy business we naturally wanted to run it in the same way. 

We decided there and then to set sustainability goals-

• to provide high-quality holiday accommodation while minimising the impact on the environment

• to run the Bothy as sustainably as possible.

Since then we have added a further goal –

·      To support small local businesses

Wanting to support our wonderful and talented local community we found handmade ceramics, unique textiles and gorgeous, naturally made toiletries and have always used them in the Bothy.

Locally made toiletries, soap dish and vase. Flowers from the garden

The Bothy was built on ground which had originally been overrun with brambles, bracken and Rhododendron Ponticum.  This was all cleared and grasses, native trees and a myriad of wildflowers have thrived as a result. The bird feeders and nesting boxes all encourage wildlife.

Goldfinches, a siskin and a redpoll on the bird feeder

Early last year we started looking for an organisation who would validate how things were being run at the Bothy from the environmental and sustainable angle.  We decided to contact Green Tourism.  They were friendly and approachable and assured us that just because we are a tiny business renting out just one bothy that this would not stand against us.

 Green Tourism assesses each business against various criteria.  These are divided up under the titles, People, Places and Planet.  A lot of evidence needs to be submitted to prove that criteria are being met.

We duly completed and submitted the assessment and were delighted to hear that we had been awarded a bronze rating.

 A good start but the next goal was to get to Silver! 

Red squirrel at the bottom of the bird feeder looking at the nuts!

Over the last year we have –

·      Added our Bronze award logo to our website on every page.

·      Included a section on Green Tourism on the homepage of the website.

·      Added bus and ferry timetables to the guest information folder.

·      Created photo cards of the Bothy - one is hand written for each guest giving them information about local events which they would be welcome to join, wildlife to look out for in the garden, special places to visit nearby etc.

·      Exchanged our supermarket toilet paper for a sustainable, plastic free option.

·      Exchanged our washing up sponges and clothes for reusable ones which can be composted when they reach the end of their lives.

·      Retired our original, shop bought crockery and commissioned a local ceramicist to make crockery which is unique to Loch Riddon Bothy.

·      Applied to Business Energy Scotland to see if they can help reduce our environmental footprint

Welcome card handwritten for each guest

Last month we went through the assessment again with the help of an assessor from Green Tourism.  We duly submitted again and were amazed to be given a gold award!  The areas where we did particularly well were highlighted by Green Tourism-

   ‘Community: Strong commitment to supporting vibrant local communities.

Health & Wellbeing: This is an exceptional result, but not surprising given the standard of your establishment.

Experiences: A good website with lots of information of local area and how to enjoy it in a sustainable and responsible way.

Biodiversity: Excellent commitment to promoting, protecting, and preserving biodiversity on and off site.

Chemicals: Loch Riddon Bothy have shown that they have a great knowledge of products and procedures that are kind to the planet.’

Going forward we would like to improve on our overall score of 80% and will be focusing on the areas highlighted for improvement –

·      water conservation, recovery and reuse.

·      Assess our risk of the impact of climate change on the business

·      Look into installing a basic water meter

·      Look into charities championing sustainability that we can support

Early autumn