MORE INFORMATION

Yes, has achieved gold standard in the Green Tourism Business scheme since 2003.

Enviroment

No naturally recurring materials. Non toxic paints used (colony of Pippastrelle bats in the loft and suspect a second colony)

The rooms

Guests bring in their own towels - no laundry, but bed duvet covers and sheets washed once a month at the lodge. Guests are expected to bring own sleeping bags. “I can’t run a tumble drier - it would outrageous.”

Use eco-cover cleaning agents for floor cleaning and washing-up, no shampoo or soap provided.

Energy

Insulation - all sheep wool and double cladded with pine. Yes, low energy lighting. Yes, two solar panels on building housing manager’s room and the loos to provide light and fans. Wind turbine generates 2.5kw, can be stored for four days - back-up generator used six days in first nine months of 2008

Reducing waste

Composting bins for fruit and veg, otherwise take everything away. Yes, has a reed bed sewerage system, plus composting toilets - raked weekly, wood shavings added, aerated, cleaned out once a year. No outlet at all.

Conserving water

No showers - have asked for depresser heads for sinks. No need for rainwater harvesting system

Grey water recycling - pumped in from lake, filtered, UV, 2 75 gallon tanks in loft, used for washing up, sinks and central heating pumped out through grease, gravel, sand, bilge and reed beds back to loch. “We take it from the loch and put it back in. But we are wasting electricity - for every litre we use, I am pumping two litres,” says Nick.

Carbon offsetting

Zero footprint according to GTBS

Conservation

A protected SSSI area. Nick has planted 40 trees (see above). “When a tree comes down, we keep it on site and turn it into an enviroment for birds, weasels and beetles using the rotting wood.”

Guests are provided with maps and information about native species and are asked for feedback - a guest spotted a young cormorant yesterday, he says. “I am not against signs - letting people know where they are.”

Food

Space provided in cupboards for spare food - rice/pasta/noodles sort of thing. Otherwise, guests bring their own food

Activities and transport

Bikes available from the lodge - will be brought down to YHA. Same for riding

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