UK’s 50 top ‘green’ hotels identified

UK hotels deemed to be at the forefront of sustainable tourism have been identified.

A range of independently owned and corporate properties share the honours in the first register of its kind.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme has handed out gold awards to those companies which have demonstrated a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and promoting sustainable tourism.

The list was compiled by a team of independent assessors who individually verified each establishment’s green credentials before granting them the highest possible grading, according to the organisation.

They had to achieve a minimum standard from more than 120 separate measures ranging from best management practice and energy saving to buying local produce and caring for wildlife and the landscape.

Green Tourism Business Scheme director Andrea Nicholas said: “This is more than just a list it is a sign of the future as more people are demanding that hotels have to be environmentally aware.

“Our assessors visited every hotel on the list and verified their claims to be green.

“We are delighted that so many places want to win the highest accolade – a Gold Award, many others have achieved Bronze or Silver. These hotels are pioneering the way.”

The Green Tourism Business Scheme was founded in partnership with VisitScotland ten years ago and has more than 1,400 members across the UK.

Britain’s 50 ‘Greenest’ Hotels:

Ambassador Hotel, Brighton., East Sussex.

Apex City Hotel, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, Dundee, Angus.

Apex European Hotel, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Apex International Hotel, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Argyll Hotel, Isle of Iona, Argyll.

Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall.

Blueseas Hotel, Penzance, Cornwall.

Budock Vean Hotel, Falmouth, Cornwall.

Careys Manor Hotel & Senspa, Brockenhurst, Hampshire.

Castle Campbell Hotel, Dollar, Clackmannanshire.

Cleaton House, Westray, Orkney.

Crown and Cushion Hotel, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth, Devon.

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, Melrose, Roxburghshire.

Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland St Andrews, Fife.

Glazebrook House Hotel, Ivybridge, Devon.

Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire.

Greenbanks Country Hotel, Wendling, Norfolk.

Herrislea House, Tingwall, Shetland.

Hilton Colyumbridge Hotel, Aviemore, Inversness-shire.

Isles of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre, Fort William, Inverness-shire.

Jurys Inn, Glasgow, Glasgow, Strathclyde.

Kings Manor Hotel, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Langass Lodge, Locheport, Isle of North Uist.

Loch Torridon Hotel, Achnasheen, Ross-shire.

New Hall, St Andrews, Fife.

New Lanark Mill Hotel, Lanark, Lanarkshire.

Park Hotel, Thurso, Caithness.

Paskins Town House, Brighton, East Sussex.

Pennyghael Hotel, Pennyghael, Isle of Mull.

Pool House Hotel, Poolewe, Ross-shire

Primrose Valley Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall.

Radison SAS Glasgow, Glasgow, Renfrewshire.

Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Rufflets Country House & Garden Restaurant, St Andrews, Fife.

Station Hotel, Dumfries, Dumfriesh

Stein Inn Waternish, Isle of Skye

Strattons Hotel, Swafham, Norfolk.

Sunny Brae Hotel, Nairn, Inverness-shire.

Tables Hotel, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye.

The Ballachulish Hotel, Fort William, Inverness-shire

The Bonham, Edinburgh, Midlothian

The Foveran Hotel, Kirkwall, Orkney

The Howard, Edinburgh, Midlothian

The Silverdale Hotel, Brighton, East Sussex.

The White Horse Inn, Chichester, West Sussex.

The Winnock Hotel (Drymen), Loch Lomond, Stirlingshire.

Willowburn Hotel, Oban, Argyll.

by Phil Davies