Blair Castle has been award a Silver grading in the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Our Environmental Policy is as follows:

Blair Castle is a Grade 1 listed building with a history extending over some 750 years. It is a five star visitor attraction and a venue for weddings, banquets and other events. The castle management recognises that the age, scale and style of the building, coupled with the facilities needed to service the complex and its 150,000 visitors per year, impact significantly on the environment. It aspires to minimise the impact to the maximum practical extent and at the same time to further develop ecologically sound practices on the surrounding estate.

To guide efforts by the castle team a waste review was undertaken by the Business Environment Partnership and a survey by the Carbon Trust.

The castle has launched a simple but realistic programme to minimise waste, safeguard the environment and raise awareness of green issues amongst all staff members.

Measures already in place include:

• Use of low energy lighting to the maximum extent which is compatible with the presentation of one of Scotland’s great historic buildings.
• Methodical recycling of cardboard, glass, cooking oils and tins with the intention of expanding this range as part of a policy of continuous improvement.
• Recycling of all waste from the gardens and grounds by composting material for reuse.
• Heating much of the castle by means of a wood chip boiler, using timber from sustainable crops grown on the estate.
• Encouraging interest in local wildlife and the countryside through an established network of waymarked trails, ranger led walks, publications and other activities.
• Use of organic beef and lamb in the castle restaurant from stock reared on the estate and available to the general public under the “Atholl Glens”label.
• Careful maintenance of established wildlife areas, particularly for red squirrels.
• Recreation and restoration of historic gardens following original planting schemes.
• Compliance with all relevant environmental legislation.
• Annual monitoring of progress and review of environmental performance.