Search Term

• Blog
• Home & Garden
• Food
• Travel
  • The Basics
  • Green transport
  • UK holidays
  • European holidays
  • World travel
  • Archive
• Lifestyle & family
• Money
• Competitions & Quizzes

1. Whitelee holiday cottages, Otterburn, Northumberland

Set in the heart of one of the last remaining areas of wilderness on the Northumberland Scottish border, these farm-based cottages are a nature lover’s paradise. You can spot barn owls, badgers, foxes and pheasants. And for 24 hour viewing purposes infra-red lights have been installed to allow guests to enjoy the animals’ nocturnal activities.

Best of all, these cottages enable you to enjoy all this nature safe in the knowledge that you’re not harming it. The owners have planted thousands of broadleaved native trees, created wildlife ponds and installed nest and bat roosting boxes.

Electricity is generated by photovoltaic panels, hot water is supplied through solar panels and a wind generator, and one of the three cottages has been converted from oil to a geothermal system. Plans for the future include developments of wildlife walks and the creation of a reed bed to deal with all sewage.

For more information: Whitelee holiday cottages

2. YHA Langdon Beck, Teesdale, North Pennines

This award winning “green beacon” hostel is located in the North Pennines area of outstanding natural beauty and is one of the highest youth hostels in England. So if you appreciate a green environment then Langdon Beck may well be for you, boasting spectacular views as well as some impressive eco credentials.

A wind turbine and photovoltaic panels generate more than 60 per cent of the hostel's power, and the water is heated from solar panels. Insulation is sourced from sheep’s wool and recycled newspapers, rainwater is harvested from the roof, and all waste is recycled. Overall the hostel has achieved a 75 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and a 50 percent cut in energy consumptions.

The youth hostel has a self-catering kitchen, and meals are also available alongside a range of local real ales and organic wines. It can accommodate up to thirty one people in rooms for two, three, four, five and seven people. Local attractions include the 70ft High Force waterfall, reputed to be England’s highest unbroken fall of water. For added green points Langdon Beck also runs nature watching and conservation weekends.

From £11.95 per night per person.
For more information: YHA Langdon Beck

3. Aislabeck eco lodges, Swaledale, Richmond

These 10 Ecobuild lodges run by Natural Retreats are situated on the forested slopes of a plummeting valley in Swalesdale, surrounded by 52 acres of mixed woodland and ancient meadow. The ethos here is definitely green but not at the expense of comfort. And although the lodges include widescreen TVs, DVD players and modern kitchens you can ease your green conscience with Aislabecks eco credentials.

The lodges are all built with timber from sustainable woodlands and feature living plant-based roofs, insulation is made from recycled paper, and there is on-site spring water for drinking and a natural reed bed system for the disposal of sewage. The lodges’ windows face south to maximise solar heat gain and the lodges source electricity from Good energy so it is 100 per cent renewable. Natural Retreats also donates a percentage of its profits into protecting the natural habitat, and has the support of English Nature and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for its plans to create a wildlife area.

From £325 a weekend for a double room.
For more information: Natural Retreats

4. Boot & Shoe Cottage, County Durham

The Boot & Shoe Cottage is not the sort of place that has composting toilets, but it is run with a positive eco-friendly outlook. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tees at an ancient river crossing from Yorkshire into Durham. The 300 year old building is rich in history and ideally located in the heart of the British country side for keen walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers. The dining room features a wood burning stove and the rest of the interior is simple and fresh.

All guests receive a welcome hamper including home-made baking, butter and milk. A vegetable box scheme and eco-friendly cleaning products are used. They also provide recycling facilities and compost bins, ideas for “leave the car at home” days, as well as information on local products, farmers markets and walks.

From £175 for a three-night break.
For more information: Boot & Shoe Cottage

5. Battlesteads Country Inn & Restaurant, Wark on Tyne, Hexham, Northumberland

Dating back to 1747, the Battlesteads Country Inn may well be historic but that hasn’t stopped it moving with the times and introducing a new ‘green’ policy to minimise its environmental impact. Its biomass boiler is supplied with fuel from a local forest situated less than 5 miles away and the whole property has been reinsulated. Water butts are used to collect rainwater for gardening and all suitable waste is composted.

70 per cent of the food is sourced locally, and the restaurant also serves home grown and organic groceries alongside Fairtrade products. Located in the small village of Wark on Tyne this cosy inn is family run and features 17 en-suite rooms.

From £180 a weekend for a double room.

For more information: Battlesteads Country Inn

© BBC Magazines Ltd. BBC Worldwide Ltd.

The BBC Green word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Ltd.

BBC Magazines is owned by the BBC and our profits are returned to the BBC for the benefit of the licence-fee payer.