The Best Eco-Friendly Get Away’s in the UK

For the environmentally conscious traveller, there are eco-friendly hotels, campsites, and cabins to choose from in the United Kingdom. Some stays offer close encounters with nature and an environmentally focused experience in which all visitors participate and learn eco-friendly practices while other resorts offer a more “behind-the-scenes” approach to eco-friendly, without sacrificing any luxuries. From 5-star service to backwoods simplicity, there are eco-friendly vacation options for various styles and budgets.

Norfolk, England, UK by Gerry Balding

Deepdale Backpackers and Camping, Norfolk, England

For the budget conscious eco-adventurer, this camping and backpacking site hosts private rooms, dorm style rooms, a group hostel room, and camping sites. Enjoy the Norfolk Coast cycling and walking trails nearby and take advantage of the water sports centre before having an evening barbeque. Deepdale follows eco-policies of using renewable energies, recycling, promoting walking and cycling, and minimizing the use of chemicals on crops and gardens. It has been awarded the Gold Green Tourism Business Scheme Award.

The Loch Ossian Youth Hostel is an eco-friendly option on the banks of Loch Ossian, with wonderful views. This is the choice for those looking for a rustic, simple accommodation close to nature. The hostel is equipped with a kitchen, but has no fridge and no showers, though there are hot towels available for washing and food may be kept cold in a storage room facing the loch. The hostel is excellent for hikers as it sits at the base of a mountain. Loch Ossian Youth hostel has been awarded the Silver Green Tourism Business Scheme Award.

Eco Cabins at the Centre for Alternative Technology

The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth provides eco-experiences with 18 residential cabins. While this is primarily a school and research centre, educational stays in comfortable cabins are offered for those seeking an ecological education get away. A stay in these cabins provides a well-rounded introduction to sustainability practices, with optional courses from the staff such as “Eco-Footprinting”, modelling solar power, and guided tours of the technologies and ecological features of the site. Cabins features kitchens, showers, carpeted areas and open floor plans.

South Lodge Hotel

For the luxurious eco-experience, South Lodge in Sussex is a beautiful green escape. This hotel has pioneered the way in 5-star eco-friendly resorts by initiating a “green team” to help reduce the carbon footprint of the resort, without sacrificing luxury. Guests are also provided with a “green pack,” which invites guests to take an active role in the environmental effort of the resort. Eco features of the South Lodge Hotel include 100% green energy usage, recycling, and use of local and seasonal foods in the restaurants.

Whether you prefer an eco-experience camping outdoors and cooking your own food under the stars or sleeping in a plush bed and dining in fine restaurants, the United Kingdom has eco-friendly stays suitable for different styles and budgets.

Sarah lives and works in sunny Cornwall, she is a content writer for St Agnes holiday cottages company Cove Cottages. If you are looking for Cornwall cottages to rent by the sea then Cove Cottages could be your perfect holiday partner.

Tags: alternative technology, business scheme, camping sites, close encounters, conscious traveller, ecological education, green tourism, loch ossian, machynlleth, norfolk coast, norfolk england, private rooms, star service, storage room, style rooms, tourism business, vacation options, walking trails, water sports centre

Category: Nature, Travel Tips