Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 15 on 18/7/2004.

This article is 49 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.

Going green to keep it clean

The remote island of Orkney is leading the way when it comes to conserving the landscape for future generations. Graham Holliday reports

You recycle your empties, you’ve dabbled in organic apples and you ease your conscience with recycled toilet paper occasionally, and that’s as far as it goes. But now you can take a holiday with a conscience – by visiting Orkney.

The British based ‘Green tourism business scheme’, launched in 1998, allows tourists to make informed decisions about where to stay and what to do to make a good holiday a greener one too. The scheme encourages hotels, B&Bs and tourist attractions to run themselves in a more environmentally friendly manner.

The Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, scream wild isolation at every turn and yet boast more members of the green tourism scheme than any other part of Britain. An easily identifiable green plaque in a window or on a wall denotes membership, which makes plotting an environmentally friendly path across the 70 island archipelago painless.

Keith and Kathy Bichan have been operating their unique boat tours out of the small port of Orphir, which overlooks Scapa Flow, since 1997. On a daily basis, Keith chucks the cash equivalent of a top of the range BMW 5 Series overboard only to watch it sink into the depths.

The £40,000 submersible camera, known as the ‘Roving Eye’, is attached to the boat by an umbilical cord and skipper Keith steers it through the depths via the onboard Playstation-like controller.

“It’s normally used in the oil and gas exploration industry,” explains Kathy. “We’re the only place in the world where it is used f.....

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By Graham Holiday

Section : Scottish Trends

Page number : 58