Our Responsible Visitor Charter__Ericht Holiday Lodges__

Our Responsible Visitor Charter

We are fortunate to live in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of this amazing country and with our rich heritage and culture complimented by a very warm welcome, we attract visitors from the world over. Our local economy relies on tourism, agriculture and small retail businesses. We have pledged to help protect this for all and by deciding to come and stay, you will be taking the first step in helping us conserve these natural and cultural assets. When you book you will have a chance to make a donation to our local champions "Blair in Bloom". They keep our towns full of colour throughout the season. The second important way that you can help us is by embracing some of our sustainable tourism ideas during your stay:

	Shop locally, we have many locally owned & run shops, bars and restaurants.
	Save energy & water by using our thermostats & switching off taps & lights when not in use.
	Respect our natural beauty, be aware of Scottish Access & enjoy the way marked walks.
	Keep the area beautiful by bagging dog waste and binning litter.
	Give your car a rest. Arrive by public transport or simply walk or use the bus once you are here.
	Support our local community projects by visiting a local show, market or highland gathering.
	Record the wildlife that you see at the lodges or in the local area in our “Wildlife Watch” notebooks.
	Recycle by using our own mini recycling “Centre”
	Let us know where we can improve, we are open to suggestions, just let us know.

We provide the following to help you:

	Bags for life to help you say “no” to another carrier bag.
	Leaflets on local walks, wildlife and nature reserves. Also maps and books from our library on loan.
	Keep our bird feeders full to give the birds and squirrels a boost. And help us record their activity.
	Keep “natural” areas in the garden to help wildlife find a “home”
	A handy tub for sorting your recycling in the lodge
	Local information on our favourite locally run restaurants, information on local shops markets
	Bus timetables for our local services and where to find the “bus stops”
	Dog waste bags in each lodge also available from reception.
	Eco friendly washing up, cleaning productsand Fairtrade refreshment products.
	Offer free Wi-Fi connection (in and around reception) to access “paper free” for unlimited info on weather, events etc

We are committed to reviewing our policy on an ongoing basis and looking for new ways to improve our sustainability and reduce our impact on the environment.

K McClement & A J McClement 9^th May 2018