Opt for an eco-friendly holiday home on your travels
When it comes to eco chic holiday homes we have it covered, from a French home featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs to a cool lodge on the Isle of Wight. Here are some of our favourites from holidaylettings.co.uk
The Groundhouse, Rostrenen, Brittany, France
When this amazing, earth-sheltered house was featured on C4’s Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud rated it in his all-time top five and it’s not hard to see why, as it cleverly blends 21st century eco-living with traditional craftsmanship and building techniques. It’s set in an acre of organic gardens surrounded by mature oak trees and is connected to a further four acres of ancient woodland.
Eco credentials
- Uses elements of earth and sun to warm and cool the house
- Salvaged kitchen
- Lime plastering
- Two ultra efficient wood burners
- Eco-technologies and good design deliver power, hot water and rainwater
- Biodegradable cleaning products
- Most waste is recycled
Sleeps up to six (three bedrooms), from £700 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
Casa dell' Ava, Engadina, Chiavenna, Lombardy, Italy
This charming, 300-year-old stone holiday home is located in a beautiful valley on the Swiss-Italian border that gets 320 days of sunshine a year and is surrounded by dramatic mountain views. It’s a great location, whether you want to hike, ski or just relax, and there are some fantastic local restaurants to dine at as well.
Eco credentials
- Heating and hot water provided by a stove that runs on recycled paper pellets
- All electricity provided from hydroelectric schemes via a local electricity cooperative
- Double glazing throughout to conserve energy
- Shower versus bath, both toilets feature reduced water flush
Sleeps up to six (three bedrooms), from £360 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
Chalet Chocolat, Verchaix nr Samoens, Haute Savoie, France
This gorgeous chalet sits in its own landscaped garden above the village of Verchaix with views to the mountains of the Grand Massif and Mont Blanc. The chocolate box exterior belies contemporary interiors featuring traditional timber, a large stone fireplace, cinema and music systems and a games room. There’s also a fitness area, a hot tub and an outdoor dining area with BBQ.
Eco credentials
- Low allergen environment
- Heat/cool pump air system
- Triple insulation to conserve energy
- Woodburner with stone surround which acts as a generator of radiant heat
Sleeps up to 10 (four bedrooms), from £1,200 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
Quinta Rosmaninho, Vale do Boi, West Algarve, Portugal
The large, stylish rural villa is located near the Parque da Floresta and set in 50 acres of mature pine forest, making it perfect for walks. There are breathtaking views of the nature reserve and sea and it’s just a five minute walk to local amenities including supermarkets, restaurants, bars, fitness and spa facilities, tennis, golf and local beaches.
Eco credentials
- Entirely powered by wind and solar power
- Solar power heated pool
Sleeps up to nine (four bedrooms), from £795 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
Tom's Eco Lodges, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
These five gorgeous eco lodges, which can be booked together or separately, are set in the beautiful surroundings of Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight, the setting of the legendary Isle of Wight Festival of 1970. There’s plenty to discover nearby, including amazing local beaches Compton and Freshwater Bay and the island’s numerous cafes, pubs and farm shops.
Eco credentials
- Sustainably built using natural wood and canvas
- Organic sewage treatment plant that organically breaks down waste and produces clean water
- Solar powered
- Sustainable farm supply of wood for fuel
- Tents built on raised platforms to reduce impact on the land
- Linked to Wight Cycle Hire, so people can holiday without a car if they wish
- Recycling
Each lodge sleeps up to six (three bedrooms), from £455 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
The Gîte at Rigal, Cause-de-Clerans, Lalinde, Dordogne, France
The Manoir de Rigal is an organic farm and the attached self-catering gîte is a restored 18th century farmhouse. The interiors have a contemporary French feel and there’s a huge beamed living and dining room with an imposing ancient fireplace overlooking the patio with BBQ. It’s all very child-friendly with baby and child equipment available on request, plenty of safe outdoor play areas and a fenced swimming pool.
Eco credentials
- Lime plastering and eco paints used throughout
- Water recuperation tanks
- Wood-burning boiler system that uses coppiced wood from the estate
- Wood-burning stove with hot air recuperation system
- Recycled waste
- Pool heated via solar panels
Sleeps up to six (three bedrooms), from £450 per week. Click here for more information or to book now.
Tell us about your favourite eco holiday homes in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst
Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM