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      Low Carbon Travel

      Choose Responsible Adventure

      Travel allows us to visit beautiful wild places and connect with different cultures around the world. It also has the power to make a positive or negative impact, depending on our choices. Now, more than ever before, there is a desire to travel sustainably, to engage in low carbon travel, and in doing so, to protect the communities, destinations and landscapes we love.

      At times this can feel challenging – balancing the need for adventure with our desire to minimalise our environmental impact. And yet, opting for low carbon travel is possible. As travellers, we can travel more sustainably by making well-informed choices, flying less, staying longer, and making our journeys count once we arrive. Travelling with Wilderness Scotland means choosing to travel with a company fully committed to world-class sustainable travel.

      Travel Without Compromise

      We believe it is possible to travel responsibly without compromise. Our itineraries are designed to minimalise their carbon footprint, support local communities and protect the wild places we visit. We manage this while also delivering world-class holidays with our guests staying in lovely, independent accommodations and being accompanied by experienced and highly qualified outdoor guides. With a 98% client satisfaction rate, you can read our reviews here.

      Research shows that our consumer markets’ daily average carbon footprint is 30KgCO₂e. With none of our lowest carbon tours going above 20KgCO₂e a day, embarking on a wilderness adventure means you have a lower carbon impact whilst travelling with Wilderness Scotland than in your day-to-day life.

      View Our Trips

      Lowest Carbon Impact Holidays

      Responsible tourism - Bloodstone Hill, a day trip from Knoydart by small boat.

      Walking – The Knoydart Peninsula

      Duration: 8 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 13kg
      Region: West Highlands including Knoydart
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      The Knoydart Peninsula is our flagship walking tour and the epitome of low carbon travel. After a boat transfer, you’re settled into this isolated corner of wilderness unconnected from Britain’s road network for eight days. Daily exploration will be from the cosy bunkhouse that will be your base, or you’ll make short trips across the water to the surrounding islands. A known treat on this holiday is the high standard of food, all prepared fresh and from locally sourced ingredients.

      View Trip Details

      Responsible tourism - Two people foraging on Mull's coast

      Walking – Mull & Iona in Winter

      Duration: 5 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 13.7kg
      Region: Inner Hebrides including Skye
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      Discover the southwest of the Isle of Mull on this five-day walking holiday. Venturing out each day from a cosy island guest house, visit the remarkable Iona Abbey, a short boat transfer across the water, as well as the cliffs, coasts, and caves of Mull, all while keeping your eyes peeled for the local wildlife. Driving distances each day are short, with a focus on exploring on foot. All meals are prepared at your guesthouse, including packed lunches, and are sourced as freshly and locally as possible.

      View Trip Details

      Responsible tourism - Sea kayaks lined up on a beach on Loch Maree

      Sea Kayaking – The Introduction Course

      Duration: 5 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 15.7kg
      Region: North West Highlands
      Accommodation:       Basic

      Difficulty:

      Based from a cosy Highland bunkhouse, our Introduction to Sea Kayaking Course is a great low carbon holiday for people wanting to try out kayaking and immerse themselves in the Scottish Highlands. Paddling in nearby lochs under the expert tutelage of two guides, you’ll learn the kayaking basics as well as more about the local flora, fauna and history. Most meals are prepared at the bunkhouse, with some opportunities to visit local restaurants and cafes.

      View Trip Details

      Responsible tourism - kayaks waiting by a beach.

      Sea Kayaking – The Atlantic Coast

      Duration: 6 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 18kg
      Region: West Highlands including Knoydart
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      Explore the stunning beauty of the Atlantic Coast on this low carbon sea kayaking adventure. During the day, explore beautiful sea lochs, spot majestic wildlife, and paddle your way past ancient castles. At night, relax and unwind in comfortable accommodation while enjoying delicious food and excellent company.

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      Low carbon travel - a road cyclist coming round a corner in a lush green setting

      Road Cycling – Scotland’s National Parks

      Duration: 7 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 16.9kg
      Region: Perthshire and Southern Highlands
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      Cycling between Scotland’s two national parks is a delight, with this seven-day trip offering beautiful landscapes, smooth and quiet roads, charming villages, and plentiful cafes and pubs. Motorised transport has been reduced to short transfers with a focus on exploring Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms National Parks by bike on various circular and point-to-point routes. This trip includes plenty of opportunities to shop and eat locally, with a stop at a Highland chocolatier and time to explore the small villages we pass.

      View Trip Details

      Low carbon travel - A line of cyclists go down the road past fields and houses

      E-bike – The Outer Hebrides

      Duration: 7 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 17.1kg
      Region: Outer Hebrides and St Kilda
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      Pedal your way through five beautiful islands in the Outer Hebrides on this low carbon, E-bike trip. You’ll experience highlights such as ancient standing stones, a local distillery, and a traditional weaver. All while winding along quiet, single path roads that give you breathtaking views of the open moorland and the powerful Atlantic Ocean. And all with cosy, hand-picked accommodation.

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      Responsible tourism - a group of women wild swimming in the Cairngorms

      Wilderness Retreat – The Scottish Highlands

      Duration: 7 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 17.1kg
      Region: Cairngorms and Central Highlands
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      The wilds of the Cairngorm National Park await you on this unique women’s only wilderness retreat. Based in a bright and airy Highland lodge that sits on an estate focussed on rewilding and specialises in fresh, locally sourced seasonal food, experience the magic of Scotland with like-minded women. Day activities include yoga, wild swimming, navigation skills, hiking and learning about the local flora and fauna, all at the lodge or a short distance away.

      View Trip Details

      respoonsible tourism - 3 people walking the west highland way

      Walking – The West Highland Way

      Duration: 8 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 18.5kg
      Region: West Highlands including Knoydart
      Accommodation:       Classic

      Difficulty:

      This is Scotland’s most iconic long distance trek and our only guided point-to-point walking tour, with the only motorised element being the local luggage transfers. Starting and finishing at a train station, you’re walking 95 miles (152km) across the West Highlands from Milngavie to Fort William. Along the way, you’ll pass through some of Scotland’s most beautiful areas, including Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe.

      View Trip Details

      Private Travel - Low Carbon Adventure

      Hiking amongst flowers on a mountain ridge

      Low Carbon Adventure – Scottish Highlands

      Duration: 5 days
      Daily Carbon Footprint: 13 kg
      Region: Cairngorms and Central Highlands
      Accommodation:       Classic
      Difficulty: At Your Own Pace

      This unique adventure through the majestic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands combines a traditional walking trip with low carbon travel. With all aspects of a wilderness trip, journey amongst the peaks and forests of the Cairngorms National Park armed with the knowledge that your trip is making a minimal negative impact on the environment. From scrumptious sustainable culinary experiences to getting down in the dirt to try your hand at rewilding, wildlife conservation, tree-planting and conservation efforts, this trip offers a glimpse at the future of travelling sustainably. Stay in a variety of accommodations from a rustic mountain bunkhouse to a 4 star hotel – all chosen for their sustainability efforts and travel in a luxury EV, exploring the wild Highlands by e-bike, train and foot.

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      Informed Choice


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      While all our human-powered adventures have, by their very nature, a low carbon footprint, some make less impact than others. By implementing a carbon-labelling scheme in 2021, we have been able to measure the carbon output of each and every trip. This allows our trip designers to see where there is space for improvement and also enables our travellers to make an informed decision when choosing their holiday.

      Learn More About Carbon-Labelling

      Fly Less


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      When considering how to minimalise our independent carbon footprints, one of the first things that springs to mind is to reduce how much we fly. Instead of taking multiple flights annually, it is better to take a single flight and combine destinations once on the ground. Rather than exploring by car – choose to walk, cycle, sail or take public transport. Slow travel is often sustainable travel. Instead of visiting Scotland in the spring and somewhere else in the autumn, why not combine your Scottish holiday with a trip to England, Ireland and Wales too?

      Learn More About Your Carbon FootPrint

      Explore Conscientiously


      Read More »

      Instead of multiple whistle-stop tours, choose to immerse yourself entirely in a destination and stay longer in one place. Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of a region, but you’ll also have the opportunity to support local communities. On a Wilderness holiday, we keep as many elements of our trips as local as possible, working with the best in the business while maintaining a low carbon footprint.

      Learn More About Climate Change

      Sustainability

      Learn more about Wilderness Scotland’s commitment to sustainable tourism.

      Find Out More

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      Explore the Active Travel Club

      Six expert travel companies. One place for all your adventures.

      Become a Member

      Specialists in offering a range of adventure holidays, tours and incredible wilderness experiences. Wilderness Ireland take their clients to the most remote and beautiful regions of Ireland, all while staying at the most welcoming accommodations and delivering outstanding customer service.

      The ultimate collection of European cycling holidays. BSpoke's cycling experts can tailor-make your perfect cycling holiday where you can travel at your own pace or in a group of like-minded individuals. A BSpoke Tour is all about being as restful or as adventurous as you desire.

      Wilderness England creates incredible journeys to the wild and magical outdoor spaces across Yorkshire, the Lake District, Northumberland, the Cotswolds and the Peak District. Providing inspiring active experiences, immerse yourself in the unique landscapes, history, culture and wildlife on a Wilderness England adventure.

      Britain's original ski travel agency and tailor-made ski tour operator, Ski Solutions has been arranging ski holidays for over 30 years across Europe and North America. The Ski Solutions team are all skiing experts, and their wealth of knowledge and passion for the mountains will ensure you experience a truly memorable ski holiday.

      Cycling for Softies is a luxury cycling tour operator providing gourmet cycling adventures in France and Italy. These are leisurely cycling tours winding through vineyards and staying in high end accommodation where the emphasis is as much on the food and wine as the cycling. Welcome to life in the easy lane.

      Wilderness Scotland offers an inspiring range of guided and customised adventure holidays, in the most remote and beautiful regions of Scotland. The Wilderness Scotland team know how to create enriching adventure holidays and know the wild places of Scotland better than anyone.

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