We’re all trying to be more eco friendly these days. Shopping local, skipping plastic bottles and choosing zero waste options where we can. But when it comes to taking our annual vacation those green intentions can quickly go out the window.
It’s not that we don’t try, but with so many cheap and cheerful foreign holidays on offer it’s tough to say no. Even the good old British staycation can be fraught with environmental challenges thanks to long car journeys, portable BBQs and camping convenience foods. In fact, staycationers have even hit the headlines for causing destruction to beauty sites around the UK. Among the chaos caused in 2020 was a 140 acre heathland fire on Surrey’s Chobham Common, nesting terns disturbed by kite flying on the Holkham Estate in Norfolk and an increase in ‘fly camping’ on Dartmoor .
However, a thoughtful and responsible staycation can actually be good for the environment and help us to learn more about the importance of caring for the natural world close to home.
Here are some of our top tips for eco-friendly breaks right here in the UK.
The best way to travel sustainably in the UK
• Use public transport: cars not only contribute to emissions, they cause havoc in local communities. From increased traffic to inconsiderate parking, tourists’ cars can be a real issue for rural areas. Whether holidaying locally or overseas, embrace the slow travel trend and take a train whenever possible
• Support local businesses: spending your holiday money with small businesses is a great way to lessen your impact on rural communities. Consider buying food from farm shops instead of supermarkets and picking up souvenirs made by local artisans
• Do your research: when holidaying in areas of natural beauty be sure to know what restrictions affect you. Check whether beaches are dog friendly, where natural habitats might be unwittingly disturbed and whether BBQs and campfires are ok. Brushing up on your countryside code is also a must
• Minimise waste: tourists create a lot of waste in communities that can’t always support the clean-up. Choose foods with minimal packaging and opt for reusable coffee mugs and water bottles. Consider taking non-perishable waste home with you
• Seek out eco-tourism initiatives: volunteer breaks allow you to enjoy the beauty of the countryside or coast while also giving something back. Try volunteering with YHA, beach cleaning days with the Marine Conservation Society or get in touch with the RSPB about residential and short term projects
• Stay with YHA: we’re committed to reducing our impact on nature in both large and small ways with improvements being made all the time. These include reducing housekeeping chemical consumption by 43%, reducing travel mileage and cutting water consumption
Our top five UK eco getaways
Staying close to home doesn’t have to be boring. Whether it’s an adventurous family holiday or a relaxing break for two, these are our favourite spots for sustainable vacations.
1. Suffolk coast
Easy to reach by train from London, Suffolk is home to miles of beautiful seaside, with the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB particularly suitable for eco-explorers. Southwold and Aldeburgh are popular coastal spots with lots of independent shops, pubs and restaurants to explore, while inland Bury St. Edmund and Ipswich make for interesting days out.
Aspiring to become the UK’s greenest county, Suffolk supports numerous green initiatives, including the rewilding of Carlton Marshes, while several farm shops can be found throughout the county, helping you to enjoy the best of locally grown organic produce. We recommend Friday Street Farm with its restaurant, butchery, deli and kid-friendly pick your own experience.
Located on the outskirts of the Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, YHA Blaxhall is equally dedicated to the local environment. Home to a community recycling scheme and with a garden designed for biodiversity, a stay here means supporting sustainability in the community. Bring a bike (secure storage is available) or your walking boots and enjoy easy going exploration of the mainly flat landscape around you.
2. Lake District
The Lake District is an obvious choice for a sustainable holiday. Home to the modern conservation movement, this UNESCO World Heritage area has a reliable network of buses and trains to help you get around without a car, as well as mile upon mile of walking and cycling trails.
In addition to all of the opportunities you’ll find here to get back to nature, there are numerous local attractions that have been given green tourism awards, including Ullswater Steamers and the Newlands Adventure Centre, where you can sample adventurous activities including paddleboarding, archery and ghyll scrambling. You won’t need to look far for locally sourced food either with restaurants like Blue Smoke on the Bay and The Waterhead Inn both recommended for sustainable dining.
When it comes to eco accommodation in the Lakes you’ll be spoiled for choice. However the YHA leads the way when it comes to affordable climate-friendly stays. Powered by a biomass boiler and solar panels, YHA Eskdale has taken practical steps to significantly reduce its environmental impact. Further into the wilds, YHA Black Sail is remote and traffic-free, accessible only by foot. Located close to several of the area’s most spectacular climbs, it’s the perfect base for a back-to-basics eco getaway.
3. The National Forest
The first large-scale forest to be created in more than 1000 years, the National Forest is all too often overlooked by UK holidaymakers. Situated slap-bang in the middle of England, the forest is located within shooting distance of Derby, Birmingham and Leicester. This means you’re in easy reach of rail and bus links as well as having plenty of options for nightlife and rainy day activities close by.
A real community effort, the National Forest has restored wildlife habitats in an area once scarred by coal mining. And with 80% of the forest accessible to the public it provides a much-needed green space for locals and for holidaymakers, who will enjoy walking and cycling (there’s a great mountain biking blue trail there) as well as access to a variety of interesting and unique sights. These include Ashby de la Zouch and its castle, tumbledown Calke Abbey and the award-winning indoor-outdoor family adventure park, Conkers.
Designed to blend seamlessly with its green, natural surroundings, YHA National Forest is an eco-friendly hostel where water usage is reduced and solar power is harnessed for your electricity. The on-site café and restaurant serves up organic wines and local ales as well as dishes made using locally sourced ingredients.
4. Cornwall
A train into Penzance, Newquay, St. Ives or Truro might be a lengthy undertaking, however a holiday in Cornwall is good for your soul and your green credentials. Not only is there plenty to do locally without a car – many major sights are connected by the South West Coast Path, making Cornwall a dream walking holiday destination – there’s also a wealth of local food and drink to discover.
As well as relaxing on Blue Flag beaches and sipping on locally brewed organic ales and ciders, Cornwall holidaymakers can also lend a hand with a wide variety of volunteering initiatives that do good while you have fun. These include Seasearch diving surveys, which can be undertaken while enjoying your own dive or as part of an organised event. Or for something completely out of the ordinary, Looe’s Monkey Sanctuary offers short term volunteer placements, running for as little as two weeks.
An affordable choice compared to other campsites in the area, YHA Penzance provides glamping in pre-pitched, furnished bell tents and landpods as well as pitch-up camping for those who prefer to DIY. Close to bus stops and Penzance train station, this hostel is ideal for eco-travellers who prefer to leave the car at home.
5. Surrey Hills
With high speed rail links to London, you can be in the Surrey Hills in less than an hour yet feel like you’re in a completely different world. Green hills, pretty ponds and picture postcard villages make this part of Surrey perfect for eco adventurers who want to cycle or hike in uninterrupted nature, with special spots such as Box Hill, Silent Pool and Leith Hill rewarding explorers for their efforts.
The many rural enterprises that exist in the Surrey Hills make it easy to give back to the community when searching for that must-have souvenir. It also means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking your way around the countryside. From Dorking Brewery beers to Norbury Park Farm Cheese, the Denbies Wine Estate and Iain Spigs rare breed pork products there are few places where eating local is so easy when self-catering. You’ll also enjoy spectacular locally sourced and seasonal foods when dining out at Surrey Hills gastropubs like The Drummond at Albury.
With no Wi-Fi and no TV, the eco-friendly YHA Tanner’s Hatch Surrey Hills is a dream for those seeking sustainable solace in Surrey. This private hire-only hostel is accessible by foot and has cycle storage too, meaning that you can really get away from it all while still having access to all corners of this sublime countryside without leaving a mark.
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