An island’s famous eagle visitor attraction has gained another feather in its cap.
The Mull Eagle Watch partnership project has just been awarded a gold rating by UK-wide Green Tourism Business Scheme.
The gold star rating is the highest possible within the scheme and acknowledges the “excellent efforts” to boost the positive environmental, conservation and community aspects of the project.
Mull Eagle Watch is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy the spectacular sight of the white tailed eagles.
It is estimated that the magnificent birds of prey bring in over £5million to the local economy through tourism.
Mull Eagle Watch’s Rachel French said: “This is another fantastic feather in our cap and we are thrilled to be awarded gold.
“This is such good news not only for the partnership but also for the whole of Mull. The project is a first class example of how green tourism and the National Forest Estate can be such a benefit to a more remote rural economy.”
Mull Eagle Watch, a partnership run by Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Police Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Mull and Iona Community Trust, is also a 5-star VisitScotland attraction.
Dave Sexton of RSPB Scotland added: “Following on from VisitScotland’s five star rating for the Mull eagle hide as an ‘exceptional wildlife experience’, this new gold award from Green Tourism Business Scheme is the icing on the cake for the rangers who have put in so much work to make the hide the best there is and a tourist attraction Mull and Scotland can be proud of.”
The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the UK’s national certification scheme for sustainable tourism. Businesses are assessed to bronze, silver and gold status against a number of eco-friendly criteria, including energy and water use, waste management and biodiversity.