Responsible Travel

How We Protect the Places You Love

Our vision is to make the world a better place through travel.

We donate, volunteer, and do as much as we can to ensure that the places we love are there for future generations to enjoy. You can read our annual sustainability reports online here.

Here are a few of the things we've been doing to support the people and places with visit.

Here are a few of the charities we’ve helped:

• The Staffin Trust

• Macmillan Cancer Trust

• The Scottish Seabird Centre

• Guide Dogs Scotland

• Moor Trees

• Homestart Glasgow

• Talking Tandems

• And many more...

Environmental Policy

Our commitment

At Rabbie's we are dedicated to delivering a memorable and enriching experience that lasts a lifetime. These same principles apply to how we manage our business in relation to our community and environment.

We recognise there is always more to do, and we continue to review and improve our practices as part of our ongoing sustainability journey.

Below are some of the policies we have in place to achieve these aims.

The scope of this policy

This policy is meant to inform all Rabbie’s employees and customers about our environmental goals. Rabbie’s may amend and update these targets and aims and where applicable, we encourage everyone to take these on to help us travel responsibly.

Guiding principles of the policy

- Alignment with Rabbie’s vision to make the world a better place through travel.

- Alignment with Rabbie’s core values, specifically ‘we care about there’

The Policy

On the road:

• We operate a fleet of Mercedes Benz mini coaches which are Euro VI‑compliant, meet current low‑emission zone (ULEZ and LEZ) requirements across the UK and are designed to be more fuel‑efficient than older vehicle standards.

• By visiting smaller communities and working with locally owned accommodation and businesses, we aim to support local economies as part of our tour planning.

• We have centrally located departure points for our scheduled tours to avoid contributing to local congestion & pollution levels (with easy access to public transport).

• Wherever possible we use locally owned and run accommodation on our extended tours, thereby supporting local employment and communities and enabling you to meet locals.

• We encourage income generation and small business enterprise by supporting local shops and restaurants when you travel on our tours.

• We endeavour to ensure our type and scale of tours is appropriate to local conditions.

• We encourage our staff to use public transport and offer a cycle to work scheme.

• We encourage customers to use public transport to reach us through links on our website to operator’s timetables etc.

• We regularly monitor water run-off compliance and procedures where our buses are washed

• We care about keeping the places we visit clean. We carry litter pickers on our buses so our guides, and customers who wish to join, can pick up litter while out on tour.

In our office

We recycle all paper, cans, glass, plastic, uniforms and re-use where possible.

• Lost property is donated to charities after 1 month.

• We monitor how much energy we use and the waste we generate, and we work to reduce both through measures such as energy‑efficient lighting, recycling, and reduced paper use.

• We use low energy lighting and switching appliances off when not in use.

• We aim to use only Carbon Zero brands and recycled paper and recycle used ink cartridges.  

• We aim to use bio‑degradable low phosphate cleaning products.

• We chose offices in central locations so that staff can easily use public transport, cycle or walk to work.

• We aim to reduce waste in our office with a clear-desk policy and detailed recycling guidelines and campaigns.

• We support charitable organisations when looking for maintenance contracts.

• We support local charities and social enterprises.

• We offer flexible working opportunities.

• Flexible Working can substantially reduce our collective carbon footprint. Remote work eliminates the need for daily commuting, helping to reduce indirect emissions (Scope 3). Additionally, flexible start and finish times empower employees to avoid peak travel hours.

• Lower Energy Consumption: With fewer employees in the office on a regular basis, energy consumption is reduced.

• Resource Efficiency: Flexible working promotes a culture of resource efficiency.

• Minimized Office Waste: Fewer employees in the office translate to reduced office waste.

• We’ve adopted a business travel policy to improve energy efficiency for business travel

• We offer eligible employees a Cycle to Work Scheme.

• We encourage biodiversity at our outdoor sites.

• We operate a Clear Desk Policy to reduce the consumption of paper products

Leave no trace policy:

Our challenge is to aim to leave as little evidence of our visit as possible, so that the next person can enjoy the same experience.

Below is the list of recommended ‘No-Trace’ procedures, please read this list and adhere to these suggestions, they are important, and it is up to all of us to do our part to maintaining the integrity of our beautiful countryside.

• When possible take along a litter bag to carry all refuse.

• Travel quietly. Avoid making loud and excessive noise. Let nature’s sounds prevail.

• Walk single file in the centre of the path and stay on the main trail even if it is wet. Never shortcut.

• Look at and photograph, never pick or collect.

• Never discard cigarette butts, gum or any other litter.

• Walk softly. Don't kick up dirt and stones or trample vegetation.

• Respect any signs, regulations, policies and special concerns for the area that you are visiting.

• Park appropriately – avoid blocking gateways, forest entrances or narrow roads. Remember that farm machinery, local residents and emergency services may need access at all times.

• Respect landowners, land managers and their property. Avoid damaging walls and fences and do not disturb farm animals.

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.

• Observe wild animals and birds from a distance. Avoid disturbing them at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer).

• Never feed wildlife or farm animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health and alters natural behaviors.

• Preserve the past: examine but do not damage archaeological structures, old walls and heritage artefacts.

• Conserve the present: leave rocks, flowers, plants, animals and other natural habitats as you find them.