In the last few years, the UK and the EU have passed numerous laws regarding the future of petrol and diesel vehicles – attempting to ban the sale of them by 2030 and 2035. Trends are surging towards more conscious modes of transport, and a resurgence in use and interest in train travel across Europe. Whilst the UK currently has a slower uptake for train travel than other countries in Europe, the Mintel Travel Report found that 75% of UK travellers say they intend to minimise their environmental impact when travelling, which suggests that the appetite for more sustainable travel could be on the rise.

We’ve had more enquiries than ever asking about sustainable transport, and with many of our guests travelling from London, Bristol and Manchester (often without a car), demand for clear visibility on places that are accessible by public transport is growing. So, how can you capitalise on that growth?

Getting there:

• Provide clear information about local transport on your listing, as well as in your welcome information/welcome guide. In particular, info about train stations, buses, taxis and EV charging points can be particularly helpful (including distances from them to your space)
• Try out the experience of getting there! Test your local bus or taxi – find out if it’s easy and straightforward to use.
• Consider whether guests are able to walk from the train station – is there an easy route they can take? Perhaps create a route that’s scenic or feels like an adventure.
• Regarding taxis, make friends with your local taxi-driver and be sure to have a back-up in case they’re otherwise engaged at the time.
• Let us know about all of the above. Make sure you fill out our survey with this information but feel free to email owners@canopyandstars.co.uk with anything relevant to your listing. You should also include travel advice in any post-booking emails you send to guests.

What you can provide

• Share information for guests that can help them to make the right choices on taxis and the local transportation as local transport might work very differently to their local area.
• The more you’re able to provide will inevitably reduce what your guests need to bring to the space. If you’re able to, add things to your space like wellies, binoculars and maps.

Things to do

• Explain what there is to do without vehicles nearby and maybe provide bikes to hire onsite, as well as bike storage for anyone bringing their own. You could also make that local travel part of the adventure. For example, at Hellvelyn Hut in Cumbria you can walk to Derwent water, take a boat across the lake, walk over Catbells (the local mountain) grab dinner in Keswick, then take a bus or taxi back to your hut.

Thinking about food

• Provide ‘the essentials’ – which usually includes things like salt, pepper, cooking oil and milk. You could also provide a welcome hamper on arrival. Be clear about what is and isn’t provided, as those arriving by public transport can’t just nip out and go shopping.
• Some spaces also have honesty shops, if you live on a farm – you could offer your selection of meat. Or if you have a distillery, a craft business etc, you may offer something comparable. You could also provide meals to purchase, either bought in or homemade.
• When considering the nearby shops, and venues like pubs, your guests may be travelling there late, or during winter whilst it’s dark, and you’ll need to consider whether access is dangerous – do they have to walk down any country lanes with sharp turns/no pavements etc.
• You will also need to think about whether local supermarkets are able to deliver to the space – and/or whether you’re able to accept a delivery ahead of their arrival.

EV Friendly

• Do you have an EV charging point or a portable charging cable? Do you mind guests plugging into your domestic house supply with their own cable? Are there local EV charging points nearby?
• Create travel itineraries to activities, restaurants or local spots that have an EV charging point available – encourage guests to use recharge breaks as an opportunity to explore the area by foot.
• Check the charging points are working properly before arrival, and warn guests to do their own research before they arrive. If you don’t have an EV charging point, and it’s something that you want to add, you can get funding to do so – which can be complex, but we can help.
• Read more on this subject on this recent article and watch the webinar from EV charging company EVC.

Picking guests up from the station

We always ask in our proof forms whether you’d be happy or able to pick up guests from the station. It can make a big difference for some guests who are only able to travel by train to your space, this can save the guest a lot of hassle.

When it comes to the legal ramifications of this, you can research more here, or speak to a solicitor.

The best first step to encourage your guests to travel more sustainably is to fill in our survey, so we can update your listing with as much information as possible.

If you have any questions or queries about sustainable travel, you can get in contact with Tessa on tessa.holmes@sawdays.co.uk.