Scottish hotels topped the list of the UK's Top 50 Green Hotels with 34 hotels in Scotland (out of a total of 50 British hotels) winning gold awards. The awards are part of an initiative by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (www.green-business.co.uk) to recognise independent hotels that have demonstrated a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and promoting sustainable tourism.

Green Tourism Business Scheme director Andrea Nicholas said: "This is more than just a list, it's a sign of the future as more people are demanding that hotels have to be environmentally aware. Our assessors visited every hotel on the list and verified their claims to be green."

Although Club La Costa resort Duchally Country Estate wasn't on the gold list, it did win a silver award for "very good environmental practices." The hotel has been working closely with Perth and Kinross Council for several years by recycling paper, glass and cardboard. Various sectors of the hotel are involved – from the kitchen to housekeeping. Cooking oils are collected for bio-diesel production and textiles donated to charities, while tent cards and signage advise guests how they can participate in Duchally's green initiatives. The resort even has its own recycling point.

Low energy lighting, cycle hire, cultivation of native trees and wild Scottish flowers in the grounds are other initiatives, but one of the most popular is the excellent local wine served at Duchally's award-winning restaurant.

Duchally General Manager Graeme MacDonald said: "We're delighted with this silver award and we hope it will inspire other businesses to do the same. Now we're going for gold."

Cornish hotels also featured strongly in the top 50. Hustyns, Club La Costa's exclusive country retreat near Wadebridge, has its own organic fruit and vegetable garden so that guests are served the freshest possible produce along with local beef and recently caught fish off Cornwall's wild coastline.