Eco friendly escapes: our most sustainable glamping holidays

Built on sustainable foundations.

The Devon Den is built on a foundation of sustainability. Quite literally, in fact. The materials the cabin were created with are sustainable, and locally sourced timber. Which, of course, is easy to do when you own a company that makes sustainable timber cabins and huts. The resulting space is stunning, with 10ft ceilings, lofty oak arches and a spacious interior.

You’ll be spending your time here breezing in and out of the open-plan cabin, enjoying dipping your toes in the stream, or going to visit the frogs in the pond. You might spend an afternoon in the rocking chair on the veranda with a good book, or head out to the nearby beaches at Bude. Any which way, you’ll be back by the evening to stargaze out by the firepit, or in the wood-fired hot tub with a glass of something worth toasting.

A sanctuary for wildlife.

The Longhouse sits in 320 acres of farmland, which for the last four years the owners Will and Jane, have been slowly restoring and rewilding, with impressive results. More than 70 different bird species have flocked to the area, with sightings of weasels, stoats, and many other mammals. Red squirrels and pine martens are edging onto the western boundaries, and otters meander along the River Irfon below the southern boundary.

The owners at Loftwen Longhouse partner with lots of other locals on various wildlife projects, like a bird feeding station and bird hide set up by local birding enthusiasts. Another local couple keep rare breed Eriskay ponies on the farm and are embarking on a breeding programme to boost their numbers.

When you’re not trying out beer from the micro-brewery at The Neuadd Arms nearby, you might find yourself around the firepit, gazing up at the stars above the Cambrian Mountains, or listening to the birdsong from the bath!

Total self-sufficiency.

There are some big ambitions for Jibinc Treehouse, and that’s to be 100% fossil fuel free! The owners, Gethin and Cheryl use solar panels with a battery system during the Spring and Summer months and are currently over 90% self-sufficient! They use clever systems to run everything, including a heat pump for the hot tub, adding an EV charging point for cars, and will soon be adding two e-bikes so guests can explore the locale!

Not far from the sea, you’ll be hopping over to Llanrhystud Beach, or Aberystwyth to explore the coastline during the day, or even deeper into Wales to Shropshire Hills National Landscape or the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. If you’re more in the mood for R&R, however, it’s easy enough to settle in and enjoy grilling on the firepit, sinking into the hot tub or simply enjoying a bite al fresco at the outdoor dining table.

Adventure by bike.

At The Sheep Shack, the owners, John and Liz have started to rent out e-bikes to visiting guests. The practice is so popular that they’ve started their very own e-bike rental business, as well as a coffee hut, so you can start your day with a coffee and explore the wonderful Devon hills car-free!

The whole Meadow Barn Farm site is a stunning spot on the East Portlemouth coast, and it’s easy to hop over to Salcombe to explore. Gin-lovers will be kept busy by the distillery, taking part in the gin school to craft their very own botanical blend, whilst surfers might prefer the nearby Gara Rock beach to catch some waves. After a long day going wild, return to The Sheep Shack to warm your toes by the wood burner.

Rewilding a Cornish hillside.

It’s rare that going backwards is a good thing – that is of course, until you’re talking about conservation. Found in the Trivellet Valley, Trebus is amongst the hills in an exposed patch of land, overlooking the rolling fields before the sea. The owners are working towards multiple projects with The Woodland Trust, currently planting five acres of mixed woodland. Their goal? To reforest ten hectares of former pastureland. It comes to most of the estate, and they’re applying agroforestry to the area – which is where you deliberately integrate trees and shrubs into your farming system.

Enjoy the views over the Trivellet valley from your loungers by the firepit, or if the weather’s not playing ball, from the bed! With big picture windows, no matter whether it’s rain or shine there’s a spot to kick back and relax.

Engage with nature.

At Furnace Brook, they run a wildlife monitoring programme for the visiting guests – which come in the form of bird guides and collection forms. There are even info posters on various bird species in the fisherman's kitchen. One of the owners, Alastair, is the Chairman and Co-founder of The Carbon Free Group, creating partnerships of designers and innovators to produce 'carbon free' models such as carbon neutral concrete or the lowest embodied energy building in Europe. He now combines these skills so that Furnace Brook embodies these philosophies & demonstrates many models of sustainable living.

You'll see plenty of wildlife on site whilst you lounge on the deck, overlooking the water and the surrounding green space is excellent to explore for some long afternoon walks. You can try a little fishing on The Lodge’s private jetty garden or even head to the coast for a beach day trip, but this is a calming haven where a good chat, a great beer and a nap are never far away if you don’t feel like heading out.

Low food mile feasting.

No, this place isn’t AI generated, it is, in fact, that stunning. This is a foodie spot, through and through. Breakfast here is served with the fruit and veg from the organic garden and is personally selected by local producers, and served in the bright dining room, where you can also have evening meals in the warm company of Berny, Glenn and their impressive Portuguese wine selection. The pair also take every care to maintain their piece of paradise, watering the garden with captured rainfall, carefully selecting eco-friendly toiletries and of course, also have an electric car charging port.

When you’re not fine dining on the ingredients from the gardens, you’ll be busy exploring the hills of the Alentejo, or the nearby surfing beaches. Or you could be simply mooching around the site, enjoying the spa or the pool and feeling very pleased with your choice of stay.

Tour a rewilded farm.

For over 30 years, Joe and Emily have been taking a regenerative and rewilding approach to managing their meadows and woodland, which covers 180 acres. They use nature-friendly regenerative farming – which is rethinking traditional farming techniques to farm in harmony with nature. They are even a certified organic farm by the Soil Association. And even better, you can tour the farm with Joe, who might show you the traditional Hereford Cattle, which provide an additional habitat within the farm’s ecosystem. With low livestock density similar to rewilding projects, the biodiversity levels have significantly increased over the last 10 years at Lower Gockett Farm!

When you’re not kicking back in your lambswool-lined pod of cosiness or even joining Joe for a farm tour, you can indulge your inner woodsman by cooking on the firepit or simply lie back in the hot tub and let modern life drift away on the wind.