A Green Journey

Arran is a natural and unspoilt place. Despite this, like everywhere else in our precious and amazing world, the island’s lovely coastlines and landscapes can be damaged by what people throw away, sometimes from far away. Tides can reveal the horrifying amount of plastic waste churning about in the world’s oceans, poisoning and choking marine wildlife. Winds blow waste into wild places where it takes many years to disappear.

We believe that it’s really important for tourism to be a force for change for the better, and for that reason we have joined the Green Tourism scheme. This is what it involves:

“Green Tourism awards recognise places to stay and visit that are taking action to support the local area and the wider environment”. It is “a certification programme which offers trustworthy, independent guidance to tourism businesses wishing to operate sustainably. To achieve an accreditation, businesses are graded by a qualified assessor against a rigorous set of criteria which cover a range of areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and social involvement and communication”.

Please help us in our aims to reduce our carbon footprint and to keep Arran special.

7 Years of Investment in Lochranza Campsite and Golf

2010: We created a common room out of an old mobile building to be a refuge for wet campers and added visitor information boards

2011: We changed the golf course from an 18-holes course with 9 greens, back to its traditional 9-holes. We added more electric hook ups on the campsite

2012: We invested in new machines for grounds maintenance. We created a path that leads from the campsite along the edge of the golf course to Newton Road

2013: We replaced the washrooms building with a brand new Wintech building of modular construction. We replaced the boiler. We put a fence up between the campsite and golf course to keep out the local sheep. We invested in three wooden camping pods, added an extra hardstanding area for caravans and were able to employ a seasonal worker thanks to a North Ayrshire Council initiative

2014: We developed a new putting course and employed a full time worker

2015: We built a new chemical disposal point. We created a pitch and putt course

2016: We replaced the old reception building with a new modular building which includes a shower room for the disabled, a laundry, a common room, an office and a drying cupboard. We built an outdoor cooking shelter. We added hardstanding areas for vehicles so that tent areas are car-free. We added another wooden camping pod