Suidhe Viewpoint
Find out what responsible travel means to Scotland and how you can plan and enjoy a responsible trip.
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Campsite at Braewick
Sustainable tourism is holidaying in an eco, green and environmentally friendly way.
Responsible tourism is considering the wider impact your trip could have on the country you're visiting, and the world.
Your choice to travel responsibly can help:
Consider visiting during less popular times of year and discover places off the beaten track.
River Garry
Scotland is home to many iconic and famous landmarks and locations, which are really popular. If you want to visit them, consider travelling in quieter months in spring, autumn and winter. The weather is more changeable, but we still get plenty of sunshine and there are lots of outdoor activities that benefit from wind, rain or snow!
Canisp, Cul Mor and Cul Beag seen from Stac Pollaidh
If you are travelling during summer, why not consider visiting some lesser-known places this time? We've got plenty of ideas for places off the beaten track which will still give you an amazing experience.
Fraserburgh Beach
© Discover Fraserburgh / Damian Shields
There are many benefits to staying longer - you can take your time, savour the experiences, and be more flexible with your plans. You can choose to come back again on a quieter day or have that extra travel time to go further.
Borders Railway
Scotland's public transport options are great for travelling sustainably around the country. There are electric cars, frequent train services, buses, coaches and a wide network of cycle and footpaths.
Snuggle into an eco-friendly glamping pod, or enjoy the outdoors with a camping break - there are lots of sustainable accommodation options in Scotland.
Here are just some of Scotland’s wonderful eco-friendly hotels and what they’re doing to ensure a sustainable stay for their guests.
Make the environment happy and choose from a range of eco-friendly places to stay in Scotland.
Scotland is an environmental haven that you can visit and enjoy all year round.
Crafty Distillery, Newton Stewart
Find out about eco-friendly businesses in Scotland. We've got some great examples of how businesses are sustainable, and all you need to know about the Green Tourism business scheme.
Conic Hill
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
You can help give back to local communities by shopping and supporting local. This allows small businesses to flourish by keeping money in the local community, but also gives you the chance to learn more about local people and cultures.
You should always be respectful of the landscapes and communities you visit. We ask everyone to tread lightly and consider how their behaviour impacts each other and Scotland.
You can explore most of Scotland's outdoor land as long as you behave responsibly. This is known as access rights and is unique to Scotland.
Although our scenery is stunning, Scotland's outdoors can be wild and rural. It's important to be prepared with the correct clothing and equipment.
If you want to make a bigger contribution, you can choose to dedicate your holiday to looking after Scotland and learning more about responsibility.
Wild swimmers at Arbirlot Falls
© VisitScotland / Kate Abbey
Try a conservation or volunteering holiday where you can learn all about Scotland's landscapes, what you can do to help restore and protect them, and give back to communities in the process, all through eco-friendly tourism activities.
