Green Hotels And Eco-Friendly Accommodation in Scotland

Scotland's stunning landscapes, natural heritage, wildlife, castles and historic buildings are what makes our country so fantastic to visit; and they need protecting for future generations. Help make your next trip to Scotland more sustainable by choosing environmentally-friendly accommodation and stay in a green hotel or eco hotel.

What Does Green Tourism Mean?

Green, Sustainable Tourism, or Responsible Tourism encourages visitors to Scotland to consider the impact their visit has on the environment. There are lots of ways we can help protect Scotland from the impacts of over-tourism, including considering where and when we visit, choosing sustainable and active ways to travel, and staying in environmentally-friendly accommodation.

Tourism Declares Initiative

VisitScotland are committed to do as much as we can to get Scotland known around the world as a responsible destination. In November 2020, we became the first national tourism organisation to sign up to the Tourism Declares initiative. Working alongside our partners Wild Scotland and Sail Scotland, this initiative aims to help businesses reduce carbon emissions while the industry begins to recover from the effects of COVID-19.

We've been working hard behind the scenes to share with you what businesses are doing to be green from recommending public transport and active travel to sourcing high-quality food and drink in our cafés and restaurants to reduce food miles. We are also carrying this into our long-term plans through our events industry, hosting the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023 and through our Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters activity to encourage everyone to think responsibly when visiting.

Watch this space for more on responsible tourism.

Eco-Friendly Accommodation In Scotland

It is easy to be green in Scotland. Being eco-friendly no longer means getting off the grid and bathing in rainwater - unless you want to that is! Green accommodation in Scotland is easy to find, and options range from cosy cottages, quirky hostels, modern glamping pods, and self-catering eco-lodges, to grand castles and luxury hotels - the choices are endless. Here are just a few of your options.

Types of eco-friendly accommodation

No matter what type of eco-friendly accommodation in Scotland you are looking for, there is a whole array to choose from so you can enjoy your environmentally friendly holidays. From eco-friendly hotels and go green self catering, to eco cottages and green tourism accommodation, what will you choose?

Hostels

Looking for a budget-friendly and social way to see Scotland? Choose an eco hostel. Loch Ossian Youth Hostel on the banks of Loch Ossian has an environmentally-friendly back-to-basics approach to holidays, with sustainable comforts, such as their power source coming from a wind turbine.

Holiday Parks

Got the family, the dog and the kitchen sink with you? Pitch up at an environmentally-friendly holiday park. Seton Sands Holiday Village in Port Seton, East Lothian has adventure trails and a beach onsite. It's got nature at its heart and a Green Tourism award to prove it.

Glamping

Combine a little luxury with traditional camping and you get glamping! Go green and stay in a luxury 5-star glamping eco pod on the estate of Dundas Castle in South Queensferry for an eco-friendly holiday. The pods are completely sustainable with composting toilets, and solar and propane power, whilst still being glamorous.

B&Bs

We love B&B's in Scotland, and at The Dulaig in the Cairngorms National Park you can tuck into eggs for breakfast from their very own flock of chickens, admire an array of wild birds in the garden, and relax in the knowledge that the B&B has a Gold Green Tourism award.

Go Green Self-Catering

If you fancy feeling right at home, book into self-catering accommodation in Scotland. Try the Green House in Ettrickbridge which was built on low carbon principles and designed to be as energy efficient as possible. Located on a smallholding farm, you can even try the farm's own honey from the shop - you don't get more local than that!

Lodges

Lodge holidays in Scotland offer a way to get back to nature. Designed with the environment in mind, the Eco Lodges at the Mains in Croy fuse state-of-the-art green technology and luxury living to ensure that you have a fantastic break without harming the earth.

Castles

Many of Scotland's castles offer the opportunity for you to stay the night. On the Mull of Kintyre, Torrisdale Castle invites all their guests to plant a tree to off-set their carbon emissions - remember to come back and see how it's doing!

Eco Hotels

Looking for luxury without harming the planet? The plush Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow city centre plays its part in being a sustainable eco hotel through its efficient boiler system, recycling initiative and use of local suppliers, to name a few green touches. But whatever your budget, Scotland has plenty of eco hotels to choose from including the Busta House Hotel in Shetland and the Fairmont in St Andrews. 

Cottages

If you're looking for an eco-friendly holiday cottage, Scotland offers many to choose from. Head to The Byre in Aviemore and cosy up next to an authentic wood burning fire, or stay in the Hen Hoose near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders where you'll never be short of organic free range eggs for breakfast.

Conservation Holidays in Scotland

These are holidays with a twist, sure to give you that feel-good factor. Who says holidays can't be productive? Feel good while doing good.

• National Trust for Scotland Thistle Camps
• Trees for Life conservation holidays