Highland Adventure Safaris has won a Gold Award in the national Green Tourism Business Scheme for its eco-friendly Safari Lodge Visitor Centre near Aberfeldy in Scotland and its safaris which take visitors into remote, high mountains to see Perthshire’s magnificent scenery and wildlife including wild deer, golden eagles, ospreys and grouse.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme links into a European network of environmental award schemes.

All applicants are rigorously assessed against 120 measures which include waste management, energy use and transport policies.

Awards are made in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

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.”