Sustainable Travel: Seeing More, Impacting Less

21st March 2026

South Stack Lighthouse at sunset with stone coastal path steps showing managed access on Anglesey cliffs

The coastal path at South Stack Lighthouse demonstrates how managed access helps protect fragile cliff landscapes while allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery.

🟦 INTRO

Travel is one of the best ways to experience the world — but it also comes with responsibility. As more people explore new places, the impact on landscapes, communities and heritage becomes more important. At Backpacker Tours, we see this as part of a wider shift towards more thoughtful and responsible travel.

Travel with purpose. Explore with care.

It’s about enjoying the experience — while being aware of the impact we leave behind. Across the UK, many of the places we visit are carefully managed to protect landscapes, heritage and local communities.

🟦 A GREENER WAY TO TRAVEL

“Green travel” isn’t just one thing.

It’s about:

  • Respecting the places you visit
  • Supporting local communities
  • Protecting natural environments
  • Being mindful of your impact

It doesn’t mean travelling less — it means travelling better.

🟦 WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL?

Sustainable travel is simply about making more conscious choices when you travel.

That might mean:

  • Choosing smaller group experiences
  • Supporting local businesses
  • Reducing waste where possible
  • Respecting natural and historic sites

Small changes can make a big difference over time.

🟦 WHY IT MATTERS

Many of the places people love to visit are also the most vulnerable. From coastlines to historic landmarks, increasing visitor numbers can put pressure on these environments. Strongly emphasising the importance of ‘sustainable travel’ and mitigation of environmental damage. Travelling more thoughtfully helps protect these places — so they can be enjoyed for years to come.

🟦 SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL IN PRACTICE

Sustainable travel isn’t just an idea — you can see it in action. At places like the South Stack Lighthouse, part of the wider Anglesey Coastal Path, clearly marked paths help protect the landscape while still allowing people to enjoy it. By guiding visitors along managed routes, erosion is reduced and sensitive habitats are better protected.

Places like Anglesey are just one example of the many remarkable islands found around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

From the rugged Scottish isles to the Channel Islands and smaller coastal communities, these destinations offer a unique mix of landscapes, wildlife and local culture — often shaped by their isolation and close connection to the sea.

They also highlight an important aspect of travel: many island environments are more sensitive to change, making thoughtful and well-managed tourism even more important.

👉 We’ll be exploring more of these in future features on the isles of Britain and Ireland.

Experiences that are carefully managed and limited in numbers can help protect important heritage sites while still allowing visitors to enjoy them. For example, access to the inner stone circle at Stonehenge is strictly controlled and only available at certain times.

👉 You can explore upcoming availability in our Stonehenge Inner Circle calendar.

🟦 COASTAL PATHS AND MANAGING IMPACT

Coastal areas are often some of the most beautiful — and also the most fragile.

They combine:

  • Cliff-edge environments
  • Wildlife habitats
  • High visitor numbers

At South Stack, the area is also home to protected seabirds, making careful management even more important. By keeping people to defined paths:

  • Damage to the landscape is reduced
  • Wildlife disturbance is minimised
  • The experience is still fully accessible

It’s a simple idea — but an important one.

🟦 WHAT WE’RE WORKING TOWARDS

At Backpacker Tours, we’re developing a more sustainable approach to the experiences we offer. This includes:

  • Working with responsible partners
  • Highlighting better ways to visit popular places
  • Supporting experiences that respect the environment

This is part of a wider direction across our travel platforms, including Best Value Tours and the broader Tour Surfer network.

Together, we’re working towards a more responsible and sustainable approach to travel.

🟦 LOOKING AHEAD

Sustainable travel is always evolving. We’re continuing to explore:

  • New ways to reduce impact
  • Better ways to experience popular destinations
  • Projects that balance access with conservation

A good example is the King Charles III England Coast Path, which is opening up access to England’s coastline while also helping to manage how people move through these environments. Look out for more news about this from us.

🟦 WHAT’S COMING NEXT

We’ll also be looking at places that are actively making a difference.

This includes the Eden Project — a well-known example of how environments can be restored and reimagined.

🌱 A River with a Past — and a Future

The Thames is also a story of renewal.

Once heavily polluted, it is now cleaner, more accessible, and home to returning wildlife.

👉 This connects with wider ideas around sustainable travel:

👉 And with places like the Eden Project, where tourism and environmental awareness come together:

🟦 FINAL THOUGHT

Travel doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Even small changes can help reduce impact — while still enjoying everything that travel has to offer.

👉 For a powerful reminder of why sustainable travel matters, take a look at our Artemis II Moon mission blog—offering a unique perspective on Earth from beyond it.

Mountain landscape in Snowdonia with lake and stream at sunset in North Wales

The landscapes of North Wales, including Snowdonia National Park, highlight the natural beauty and environments that sustainable travel aims to protect.

🌿 Explore More of Wales – From Our Wales Collection

The landscapes around South Stack Lighthouse and the wider North Wales are part of a rich and diverse environment shaped by both nature and history. Exploring regions like this in a more considered way — whether through smaller group journeys, guided experiences or longer itineraries — can offer a deeper connection to the places you visit while supporting more sustainable travel. Here are a few examples from our Wales collection:

🚆 Delightful Visit to Wonderful North Wales by Train from London

A relaxed journey into North Wales, travelling by train to explore historic towns and coastal scenery. Visiting places like Conwy, with its medieval castle and harbour setting, this experience offers a simple and enjoyable way to discover the region at a more considered pace.

🌊 From Manchester – Snowdonia and North Wales Adventure with Chester

This guided journey introduces you to some of North Wales’ most scenic locations, from coastal towns to the landscapes of Snowdonia. With time to explore places like Conwy and Chester, it offers a balanced way to experience the region while enjoying a structured and well-paced itinerary.

🌄 Explore Wales – 5 Day Tour

A small-group adventure through Wales’ coastlines, mountains and historic towns. Travelling with a maximum of 16 people, this tour allows for a more personal and flexible experience, with time to explore at your own pace.

🏞️ 8 Day Adventure of Magnificent Wales

This longer journey gives you time to experience Wales more fully — from the Brecon Beacons to historic sites and valleys. With smaller groups and a relaxed pace, it’s a more immersive way to connect with the landscapes and culture of the region.

🚐 London to Edinburgh Explorer – 8 Day Tour

A small-group journey connecting some of Britain’s most iconic destinations, including coastal landscapes, historic cities and rural regions. Travelling at a steady pace allows for a more enjoyable and less rushed experience across multiple locations.

🌍 19 Day UK and Ireland Tour – Peaks & Pubs

A longer, multi-country journey across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. With a mix of guided travel and free time, this itinerary allows you to explore a wide range of landscapes and cultures while travelling at a more balanced and flexible pace.

Need Help Planning Your Trip?

Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help with your travel plans and any questions you may have. With over 40 years’ experience, we’re always happy to guide you — whether you’re choosing the right tour, planning something specific, or simply looking for advice.

📞 Call us:
+44 (0)20 7170 5878

💬 WhatsApp:
+44 (0)74 1497 1573

📧 Email:
enquiries@backpackertours.co.uk

🌐 Live Chat:
Available on our website at www.backpackertours.co.uk

We’re here to help — so please feel free to get in touch.

This is just the beginning — we’ll continue to explore how travel can become more sustainable, one destination at a time.

Stone steps on Jurassic Coast cliff path showing erosion management and sustainable access at Durdle Door

Managed coastal paths along the Jurassic Coast, such as at Durdle Door, help protect fragile cliffs from erosion while allowing visitors to enjoy the landscape.

Along the Jurassic Coast, paths like this are carefully managed to protect fragile cliff environments from erosion caused by heavy foot traffic. Stone steps, defined routes and reinforced surfaces help concentrate movement into controlled areas, reducing damage to vegetation and geology while still allowing visitors to experience the landscape.

This approach reflects a wider principle of sustainable travel — balancing access with long-term preservation.

These landscapes are not only important for their natural beauty, but also for their history and cultural significance. Along parts of the Jurassic Coast and the wider South West, dramatic cliffs and ancient sites are closely linked with legends and stories that have been passed down over centuries.

👉 We explore some of these connections in our King Arthur blog series, featuring locations across the South West of England.

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