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Taking an ‘eco-break’ was once synonymous
with a weekend’s hedge-laying or a summer
spent conserving wildlife. How things have
changed: being a green traveller today is
no longer limited to one-off gestures but,
rather, it’s a state of mind. Being green now
infl uences all aspects of our travels: what we
pack, how we reach our destination, where
we stay and the activities we take part in.
Such change has come about thanks to
both a growing understanding of climate
change and the pioneering eff orts of some
travel operators to show the joy of going green. Luxury
camping specialists Feather Down Farms and Fforest, for
example, led the glamping revolution. Digital platforms
such as Under the Thatch and Canopy & Stars have made
booking low-impact rural idylls easier. Adventure operators
such as TYF, Intrepid and Much Better Adventures set the
agenda for sustainable outdoor recreation.
But the increased appetite for travel and the trend for
replacing annual trips with multiple shorter breaks has
seen a rise in carbon-intensive air travel. Meanwhile, key
overland routes have been discontinued
(such as ferry services to Scandinavia and
overnight ‘train hotels’ through France and
Spain), and cuts in local transport services
have severely impacted car-free access to
rural areas. Unscrupulous businesses have
also jumped on the ‘eco’ travel bandwagon,
muddying the waters.
There are, however, signs we’re entering
a golden age of green travel. Many travel
companies are starting to provide tools to
help travellers spot genuinely green from
greenwash (Booking.com and Google, for instance, are
working with not-for-profi t Travalyst to fl ag up eco-
certifi ed hotels in their search results) while the imminent
national rollout of electric car charging, the modernisation
of cross-channel ferry services and the renaissance of rail
means choosing lower-carbon overland travel is becoming
practical and more appealing.
The Green Traveller: Conscious adventure that doesn’t
cost the earth by Richard Hammond is published by
Pavilion, £18.99.
THREE TO TRY: GREEN TRIPS
GO OFF-GRID
Just outside Machynlleth, Wales, Eco Retreats has
five off-grid yurt camps (each has fresh spring
water on tap and wood-fired baths) spread over
50 acres in the Dyfi Forest. There are mountain-
biking trails and walks nearby, including the
route up to Cader Idris in southern Snowdonia.
From £2 75 for two nights for two sharing (up to
two children free). ecoretreats.co.uk
CYCLE SUSTAINABLY
Travel as a foot passenger with your bike on the
ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe then cycle the
Véloroute du Lin between Pourville sur Mer and
Fécamp. This 50-mile route is bookended by
railway stations at Dieppe and Fécamp. Stay just
off-route at Le Clos des Ifs, from € 65 (£60), B&B.
Ferries from € 50 (£42) return per adult including
bike. francevelotourisme.com dfds.com
GO FAR WITHOUT FLYING
Rail and sail to Greece’s Pelion peninsula,
between Athens and Thessaloniki. Take the train
to Bari, on Italy’s heel, then ferry to Igoumenitsa
on mainland Greece to catch the bus across
to Volos, the gateway to the Pelion. There are
three buses a day from Volos to the village of
Tsagkarada where you can stay at Amanita. From
£134, two-night minimum stay. amanita.gr
THE WORD
The green escape
RICHARD HAMMOND, FOUNDER OF THE GREEN TRAVELLER WEBSITE, SHARES
OVER 20 YEARS’ WORTH OF EXPERTISE IN A NEW GUIDEBOOK OUTLYING THE
WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND HOW OF EXPLORING THE WORLD SUSTAINABLY
Fleetwith Pike, Lake
District National Park
JUNE 2022 33
SMART TRAVELLER
