SUSTAINABILITY
Read about our commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon emissions
Turning Commitment into Action
Conservation Residentials
Since 2022 Hillgoers have run conservation residentials on a Not-For-Profit basis with the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate. So far, our teams have planted trees, repaired and removed fences, collected botanicals, fixed sapling protectors, and helped thin plantation woodlands.
In the heart of the Cairngorms, Mar Lodge Estate is one of the most important areas for nature conservation in the British Isles as the largest National Nature Reserve in the UK.
We are proud to support this initiative. You can read more about our residentials here.
Education in the outdoors
As an approved provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expeditions, we work with hundreds of young people each year, helping them build confidence in the outdoors while developing a strong sense of environmental responsibility. Through hands-on experience in wild places, participants learn how thoughtful choices, careful planning, and responsible behaviour can minimise impact and protect the landscapes they explore.
This commitment extends to our accredited Hill and Mountain Skills courses for adults, where sustainability is woven throughout the learning experience. We encourage meaningful conversations about conservation, access, and stewardship, empowering people of all ages to play an active role in protecting and enhancing the environments they enjoy.
Volunteering Days
To help offset our environmental impact we have at least two volunteer days each year where members of the team join up with a local ranger service. We complete activites according to what the ranger service require at the time. These include anything from path and fence maintenance, to tree planting and removing invasive plant species.
If you would like to join a conservation day with Hillgoers, or would like us to help you with one for your organisation, get in touch.
Supporting Biodiversity
We are always looking for new ways to contribute to our conservation work and welcome any new suggestions. We take part in national biodiversity initiatives such as endangered species data collection. In 2025 we helped record Bilberry bumblebees for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
As an outdoor activities provider, we ensure that all of our events inspire responsible outdoor use which conserves natural environments. We always follow leave no trace principles. We love speaking with clients about local history, land use, and habitats. Read more about how to help us protect natural environments while enjoying everything the great outdoors has to offer.
Click here for tips on how to enjoy the outdoors while protecting the environment
What can you do to help?
Reducing and Offsetting Our Carbon Emissions
Reducing Carbon Emissions
We work to reduce our carbon emissions as much as possible. Our office is fully powered by solar panels, and we produce more renewable electricity than we use. As much as possible we use our electric van, powered by our solar panels. We try to offer minibus transport for clients, and employ local freelance guides. This significantly reduces our carbon emissions from road travel.
We record our estimated carbon emissions annually. This helps us to identify the areas where we produce the most carbon, and ways we can improve.
In 2024/25 we produced approximately 2,175kg of carbon from our waste, transport, and use of gas cooking stoves on our expeditions. We are constantly working to reduce this number as much as possible, and offset unavoidable emissions.
Unfortunately, this number does not include carbon emissions from our clients who are travelling to take part in our events. Consider offsetting by donating to our Trees for Life grove, or other reputable offsetting providers.
Offsetting Carbon Emissions
Hillgoers are proud to support Trees for Life to help offset our own carbon footprint. Trees for Life’s vision is of a revitalised wild forest in the Highlands of Scotland, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. They are committed to creating nature-rich landscapes that include and support people. Focusing on Scotland’s spectacular Caledonian forest, Trees for Life fosters biodiversity and encourages natural processes essential to life.
Hillgoers purchased a Trees for Life grove in 2021 and continue to support this every year, with contributions from our events and clients. You can donate to our grove too.