Thousands of trees, hundreds of jobs, millions of pounds for rural communities - How a unique approach to cabin holidays is breathing fresh life into Britain's iconic landscapes

Demand is growing for a new breed of eco-cabin holiday across the UK. Holiday makers are increasingly seeking high quality, sustainable short break accommodation and are favouring providers that genuinely give back to society. Recent findings from Booking.com show that 52% claim that they are likely to favour a destination that can offer a reduced impact on the environment.

Forest Holidays has 571 cabins in nine stunning locations across Britain. It is a partner with the Forestry Commission and has a holiday location in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in Scotland.

Recently opening 11 new cabins in the Park, Forest Holidays Chief Executive Bruce McKendrick explains that the environmental, social and economic benefits to the wider area makes it a natural fit for the National Park:

“The experience of sleeping overnight in a forest in a National Park is magical and for our guests coming to stay at Strathyre is an adventure they'll never forget, but they value more than that.

“We enhance the natural landscape, create habitats for wildlife and inspire guests with our love of the forests. We support rural economies and partner with some incredible local suppliers, attractions, pubs, cafes and restaurants, encouraging our guests to experience the delights on our doorstep. I believe that Forest Holidays proves that it is possible to both succeed as a business and to give something back.”

Officially opening the new forest cabins, Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park commented:

“Eco-tourism is important for the environment and economy of the National Park and we are keen to encourage its growth as an increasingly popular choice with holiday makers. We need accommodation providers and businesses to create innovative, quality, sustainable offerings that help protect the Park's precious wildlife and landscape, whilst attracting tourists to the Park.

“Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is home to a number of rare and protected species of animals and plants, and it's important that businesses in the park take their environmental responsibilities seriously when welcoming visitors. It was good to see a great working relationship deliver such a high quality tourism development and we wish Forest Holidays every success with its new venture.”

Seclusion in the forest is the holiday's unique selling point. Cabins are positioned so as to give guests privacy and to be as unobtrusive as possible in the woodland which remains entirely open to the public.

The contribution of Forest Holidays towards connecting people, nature and local communities was welcomed by Gordon Smith, National Partnerships Manager, Visit Scotland:

“It's great to see Forest Holidays working in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to ensure that they are not only providing a great holiday experience, but also looking after and protecting the environment around them.  The Forest Holidays' cabins have been built to offer people a great opportunity to connect and get close to nature.  Wildlife and nature tourism is a huge draw for visitors to Scotland, both domestically and internationally, with 58 per cent of visitors to Scotland citing the country's scenery and landscapes as their top reason for choosing Scotland as a holiday destination.”

Further information on Forest Holidays

Offering guests the chance to enjoy a peaceful getaway surrounded by picturesque British forests, Forest Holidays are positive experiences in Britain's amazing forests; connecting people, nature and local communities. Forest Holidays is a joint venture, public/private partnership with the Forestry Commission and has a 125-year lease on the land on which sites are based. The cabins are architecturally designed to fit sensitively within the woodland environment with modest central facilities. With nature at the heart of Forest Holidays' ethos, they provide year-round short breaks and holidays in timber cabins set within 9 locations on the Forestry Commission Estate, operating successfully in National Parks and other sensitive locations.

Editors' Notes

• Forest Holidays generates £2 million per year for the Forestry Commission
• Guests spend £16 million per year with local businesses across the UK
• Each Forest Holidays cabin introduces an estimated £30,000 into the local community
• 500 people are employed by Forest Holidays across the UK
• 6% of guests say they will return
• Forest Holidays self-catering cabins have been designed to have minimal impact on the ecological sensitivities and natural balance of the forest's ecosystem, and have been built to the highest environmental standards.

See more: Forest Holidays' About Us website http://aboutus.forestholidays.co.uk

• About Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park:
• Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park was established in 2002
• The National Park attracts 4 million visitors each year (equating to 7 million visitor days)
• The National Park covers 720sq miles
• 50% of Scotland's population live within one hour's drive of the National Park
• Visitor spend in the National Park annually is £153.4million
• For more information visit lochlomond-trossachs.org or see www.facebook.com/lomondtrossachs or www.twitter.com/lomondtrossachs

Contact  Yasmin Sethna - yasmin@voyagerpr.co.uk 

Images available

• Planting to celebrate new cabins opening at Strathyre

Pictured left to right: Bruce McKendrick Chief Executive of Forest Holidays, Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

• Forest Holidays cabin

For press information contact Yasmin Sethna, Voyager PR
yasmin@voyagerpr.co.uk

Editors note: Forest Holidays offers year-round short breaks and holidays in luxury timber and glass cabins. Nature is at the very heart of Forest Holidays' ethos. Forest Holidays is a joint venture, public/private partnership, that originally came into being in May 2006 through a competitive tender process. It is now co-owned by The Forestry Commission and Lloyds Banking Group and currently owns nine cabin sites on Forestry Commission land in some of the most stunning forest locations in Great Britain. The company operates entirely within the Forestry Commission estate, and has a 125-year lease on the land on which the sites are based.

Further information: http://aboutus.forestholidays.co.uk