The term ‘leave no trace’ has been cropping up in conversation more so than ever and for good reason. There’s been a concerted effort recently among advocates of the country to think about the impact we are all leaving on Scotland’s beautiful landscapes. But, do you really understand what it means to leave no trace? The truth is, unless someone has pointed it out to you or you’ve done your own reading, probably not.

Scotland has done nothing but grow in popularity over the years, partly thanks to platforms like Instagram as well as it being the background to world-famous films like James Bond and Harry Potter.

As a photographer myself, I’m guilty of popularising Scotland’s hot spots. This is all well and good but the harsh reality is that we’re doing real damage. The sheer number of visitors is contributing to the erosion of landscapes, littering, vandalism, fires, and disturbance to livestock and wildlife.

Aside from talks to potentially introduce ‘no-go zones’ to certain areas, there’s something you can do to help. The ‘Leave No Trace’ principles were coined to allow you to fully enjoy the wonderful outdoors while protecting those spaces at the same time. You, like me, probably consider yourself a responsible outdoor adventurer but unless there’s a constant conscious effort to follow the principles, there’s almost certainly more you can do.