Visitors to the Loch Lomond area are being asked to consider their impact on one of Scotland’s most popular tourist spots.

VisitScotland has launched a new national campaign with STV ‘I love it so I look after it’ featuring Leigh Hamilton, ranger team leader from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park (LLTNP).

The six-week campaign is running from the middle of July through August and will feature adverts, sponsorship bumpers as well as supporting social media activity.

The advertisements feature contributors from tourism businesses, as well as locals and visitors championing responsible tourism practices, with visitors and businesses featured in the video encouraging day-trippers to seek out Scotland’s beautiful locations, but to leave no trace of their presence – preserving the beauty for others to enjoy next.

The full-length adverts will appear alongside popular STV programmes such as James Martin’s Islands to Highlands, This Morning, Cooking with the Stars, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

The TV campaign comes as Scotland moves into level 0, and people across the UK look to holiday at home, exploring all that Scotland has to offer amid remaining COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Kenny Auld, head of visitor services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “We are already in the midst of a very busy visitor season and that is welcome news for the tourism businesses within the National Park, who have had a particularly tough year.

“National Park Rangers are on the ground engaging with visitors and providing information on how they can enjoy their visit while respecting the environment, communities and wildlife here in the National Park. Our top tip is to plan ahead so that your trip can be as enjoyable as possible and to make it easy to leave no trace of your visit.

“Check the live car park updates on our website, bring a bag so you can take your litter away and think about where your nearest toilets will be.

"The National Park is a special place and we all have a part to play in keeping it that way.”

David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland regional director, said: “Even before the pandemic we have been changing the way we view tourism and events, considering the welfare of communities as much as we value the needs of the visitor. We have an opportunity to reset our plans for growth based on a more responsible future where a growing number of visitors want to give back to those communities.

"To maintain our stunning landscapes, we must ensure we protect, respect and enjoy LLTNP responsibly by asking people to leave no physical trace of their visit.

Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it. Tourism makes Scotland richer, economically and socially, and without it Scotland would be a much poorer place.”