Highland Adventure Safaris have won a Gold Award for their eco-friendly Safari Lodge Visitor Centre near Aberfeldy and their safaris that take visitors into remote, high mountains to see Perthshire’s magnificent scenery and its spectacular wildlife like wild deer, golden eagles, ospreys and grouse.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is Scotland’s best known and most prestigious environmental award and links into a European network of environmental award schemes. All applicants are rigorously assessed against 120 measures that include waste management, energy use and transport policies. Awards are made in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

Highland Adventure Safaris is a family run business that was the very first in Scotland to offer Landrover safari experiences. In recent years, the company has expanded into unique corporate entertainment packages and team challenge days geared towards businesses. They have even organised exclusive weddings in the Scottish mountains and have developed an extensive Safari Lodge Visitor Centre in the Upper Tay Valley near Aberfeldy.

Celebrating the Gold Award, Donald Riddell, who runs the company with wife Julie, said,

“The whole ethos of Highland Adventure Safaris is based around environmental responsibility and sustainability. We are passionate about Scotland and do all we can to minimise the footprint that we leave on our natural environment.

We plant trees to offset carbon dioxide produced by our Landrovers. We source local products and fair trade products for our Safari Lodge visitor centre. We are active members of environmental organisations such as the John Muir Trust and Wild Scotland, and we work closely with local schools to deliver education programmes based on the environment.

Our message is that environmental responsibility can be fun. Our customers have great fun seeing magnificent mountains, lochs, plants and wildlife that few others see. But they also leave us with a clear message about what they can do to ensure our countryside and wildlife are still there for future generations to enjoy.

This gold award is a tribute to all our staff who share a common passion of Scotland and a commitment to enthuse people about every aspect of our country.”

The Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award will be presented to Highland Adventure Safaris at a special ceremony at their Safari Lodge Visitor Centre at 1030 on Thursday, 11 May. The presentation will be made by Andrea Nicholas, the Manager of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, who said,

“As we approach World Environment Day on 5 June, it is wonderful to recognise such a clear example of a ground breaking tourism business that acts as a benchmark for environmentally responsible tourism.

Highland Adventure Safaris highlight how Scotland is leading the way in good environmental tourism practice and are an example for other activity operators across Scotland to follow.

What’s more, their safaris and visitor centre are great fun and convey a positive environmental message in a relaxed but effective manner. I’m delighted to present them with this well-deserved Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award.”