Responsible Tourism
Villages in Decline
All over Europe, rural populations are dwindling at an alarming rate as inhabitants reluctantly leave the rural villages that they love, to find work in the cities. Many villages have become completely abandoned, but for others it is not too late. We stay in charming traditional villages in remote rural regions of Europe where traditional ways of life are still being led. We hope that by bringing low-impact sustainable tourism to these regions we can help reverse this decline and bring new life and prospects to these wonderful places. We work with family-run enterprises to develop small-scale appropriate tourism for the region, supporting traditional lifestyles and contributing to the upkeep of the village. Our Upland Managers live as integral members of the community, and collect regular feedback from service providers and local inhabitants on what we are doing right, and how we can further benefit the regions.
Supporting Local Communities
We contribute to the local economy by purchasing meals, accommodation, services and local & organic produce, including obtaining many fresh ingredients for our packed-lunches from the gardens of neighbouring villagers. We hope that our regular custom at the tiny family-run local shop can help ensure that it stays open for the village's other 89 inhabitants, and that our visits to the family-run restaurants in the region bring valuable mid-week business to them. Local ways of life can be experienced first hand on your holiday, by joining with villagers to make pasta, or learn how ricotta is made, or visit a schnapps still and sample a glass or two! The Upland Handbook that we provide includes tips to enhance visitors’ understanding of the local community, such as an introduction to the village and villagers, and greetings and other expressions in the local language, as well as responsible travel tips specific to the region visited.
Local Environment
Walking is the form of travel with the lowest environmental impact, and we strive to ensure that we leave no mark on the landscapes that we love. Our Upland Managers recycle and collect and dispose of any litter found along our trails. We donate a percentage of our profits to local projects, and are currently involved in the repair of a number of mountain footpaths which will facilitate access to several areas of natural beauty and historical importance.
Publications and Stationery
Our brochures and Handbooks are printed on recycled paper bleached in a chlorine free process and produced at ISO14001 certified mills. Our maps are now printed on fully-recyclable waterproof paper. We work closely with The Carbon Neutral Company to offset the carbon emissions caused by all aspects of our operations. Through them we ensure that our brochure production and distribution is carbon neutral, and we operate a company wide energy-saving and recycling policy.
Hire Car Carbon Emissions
We understand that true flexibility and independence can often only be achieved with a car. Rest assured that the car hire element of your holiday is carbon neutral too; trees will be planted to offset any related carbon emissions - at no extra cost to you - and we pay a sum of money to the Carbon Neutral Company to do this, that has been calculated to be about double the average mileage covered on an Upland Escape, so in fact your hire car is carbon positive. All our holidays are designed to minimize driving, by choosing destinations 1-2 hours from the airport. As many walks as possible leave from the door of your accommodation, and in the evening there is always a non-driving dining option available. We recommend fuel-efficient vehicles, most people find that the mileage incurred on their holiday is less than if they were back at home.
Train Travel and Flying
All our destinations across mainland Europe can be reached comfortably by train from the UK within 24 hours – and sometimes within a day! Travelling by train instead of air reduces your carbon emissions by up to 85%, and we can help you plan your journey, and book your train tickets for you. If you do choose to fly, we can also help you ensure that your flight is carbon neutral, for around £4 per person for a return short-haul flight (we will confirm the exact figure appropriate to you, at time of booking). Let us know if you would like us to add this sum to your booking, and we will pass it on in full to The Carbon Neutral Company. You will receive a certificate confirming your donation. Alternatively, you may wish to arrange this yourself by clicking here: The Carbon Neutral Company. Train travel can be carbon-offset in the same way.
If you would like to receive a full copy of our Sustainable Tourism Policy, please do ask.
