New eco glampsite opens in Wye Valley

Fans of vintage caravans, campfires, wild swimming and stunning views should get themselves over to the Wye Valley as a new glamping site opens this month.

Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans is a boutique campsite set in a pretty wildflower meadow with views of the Black Mountains. Guests can choose one of four vintage caravans – quaintly named Gertie, Elsie, Darcy and Gloria (“the girls”!) – that date from the 1930s to 1960s. Each caravan has been lovingly restored and fitted with period details such as vintage crockery and fabrics.

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Owners Jo Pilkington and Sacha Morley met through their children’s school and found they both shared a love of the great outdoors, vintage style and simple, natural pleasures such as camping under starlight, wild swimming and toasting mashmallows over an open fire.

Food

On arrival, guests are greeted with a scrumptious homemade cream tea, but after dark the main draw becomes the communal campfire where campers can come together to cook. If that’s not your thing (or if the weather gets the better of you!), you can order up homemade meals to enjoy back at your caravan.

Facilities

The ‘shower block’ is made entirely from upcycled materials and is located in a pretty copse nearby with hot water on demand. The whole campsite uses an eco-composting system, and guests are offered organic products free of charge.

Things to do

The glampsite is a tranquil getaway from town and city life so great for family adventures, yoga or writing retreats. Tennis courts are nearby and a wealth of activities including swimming, walking, pony trekking, climbing and canoeing in the Forest of Dean which owners Jo and Sacha are more than happy to help organise for you.

This season you can also join two foraging weekends – May 10-11 and October 11-12 – with “the Carluccio of the Wye Valley” (so says the Guardian) Raoul Van Den Broucke. Raoul will take glampers on a foraging walk to look for wild delicacies which will then be cooked over the campfire back at the site.

The 2014 season runs from April 11 to the end of October.

For booking and further information, visit www.maddogsandvintagevans.co.uk

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Urban Food Fest London returns with ‘V Corner’

We’re excited to hear that last summer’s street food ‘hit’, the Urban Food Fest in Shoreditch, East London, is back for another season of fine foodie treats from Saturday 12 April. And alongside the usual plethora of organic, local, free-range, handmade and natural street food and drinks on offer, Urban Food Fest has now added ‘V Corner’ – a whole area dedicated to vegetarian, vegan and (very) raw gourmet delights!

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Promising to offer more than the token ‘salad in a pitta’, ‘V Corner’ will serve up a mouth-watering range of vegetarian, vegan and raw food delights that may turn even the most committed carnivore – think vegan sweet potato maki sushi, veggie wild mushroom burgers, veggie tofu hotdogs, raw mezze, egg-free chocolate fudge sponge, and dairy-free apple crumble pie.

Each week, the night food market (located in an unused car-park space near Shoreditch High Street station – but don’t let that put you off, it adds to that urban east London vibe!) will be filled with 15 different food trucks and stalls selling a selection of gourmet street food dishes, many created exclusively for Urban Food Fest, alongside fab cocktails, craft beers and imaginative soft drinks.

Chow down on Chinese jian bing crepes, pulled pork burgers, sliders, Austrian specknoedel, mac ‘n’ cheese, gourmet salads, Mexican tacos, Portuguese desserts, fresh gyoza, Spanish tapas, cupcakes and much (much!) more… Live music and entertainment accompanies the feasting, as well as a theme – 12 April is ‘Where’s Wally’ with free cocktails for the best fancy dress.

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Visitor info: Free entry; 5pm ’til midnight every Saturday from 12 April to 21st June 2014

Location: Euro Car Parks, 162-175 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU

For more information visit www.urbanfoodfest.com

Sponsored video: How to enjoy the great outdoors in Austria

There’s more to Austria than skiing in the Alps. During spring and summer, the fresh air and natural open spaces make this country a great destination for nature lovers and fans of the great outdoors. It’s also a country that is well-ahead of the curve in terms of offering sustainable, eco-friendly options for tourists. Here are Goodtrippers’ tips on enjoying Austria the natural way this summer…

The great outdoors of Austria
The great outdoors of Austria

Go hiking – Think of Austria and thoughts of mountainous Alpine landscapes are never far away. But there’s more to enjoy than your own ‘Sound of Music’ moment (can you resist running up that grassy hillside?) – there are dozens of mountain trails to suit novices and experienced hikers. Visit the region of Bartholomäberg for beautiful flora and fauna, and stunning panoramic views.

Get on your bike – Austria is well-equipped for those on two wheels with a huge choice of clearly-marked routes for easy cycle rides to more challenging mountain bike outings. Many hotels and lodges welcome cyclists and even offer cycle sheds or full service repairs if you come unstuck. And if you’re not so confident in your fitness levels, try an E-Bike – available for hire across Austria these modified battery-powered bikes make light work of uphill rides!

Visit the National Parks – This is where you can really breathe in that unpolluted, fresh Austrian air! Kalkalpern National Park is home to Austria’s largest uninterrupted forest and is home to canyons, waterfalls and lakes. Hohe Tauern National Park contains over 100 peaks of over 3,000m high where you can hike and go gold panning. Gesäuse National Park is the natural habitat of 90 species of breeding birds, marmots, chamois and deer plus around 50 different types of wild orchid. National Park Thayatal offers meadows, cliffs and wooded hillsides that are home to rare animal and plant species including the eagle owl, black stork and coloured iris.

Explore the Danube – One of the world’s most famous rivers winds through Austria and is the scene of many relaxing day trips whether by boat, by bike or on foot. The history of central Europe was born on the banks of the Danube and so you’ll find a fascinating mix of monasteries, castles and palaces in the area. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wachau beside the Danube is a beautiful, pastoral site dotted with medieval villages. A cycling holiday along the Danube Cycle Path in upper Austria will take you from Linz to capital city Vienna.

If that has inspired you, take a look at some of the stunning scenery and outdoor pursuits to enjoy in Austria in this video…

For more information on holidays in Austria, visit http://unr.ly/1gGLEgR

This post is sponsored by Werbung Österreich but all words are Goodtrippers’ own.

3 of the best Cornish cottages for couples

Summer is on the horizon and with it, the draw of the English coastline. Cornwall is a beautiful county for a coastal holiday but if you’re dreading the inevitable crowds that come with peak-time school holiday periods, we’ve found three of the best eco-friendly, self-catering cottages that are perfect for couples wanting a more peaceful retreat…

The Retreat, Boscastle, Cornwall

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This cosy one-bedroom cottage is hidden away down a Cornish country lane so peace and quiet is guaranteed. The sun-trap garden, full of fragrant herbs, offers clear sea views. Full of charm, this luxury cottage boasts eco-friendly architectural features throughout including the stunning carpenter oak, double-height beams in the living room, giving the cottage a light, airy feel. The interiors are stylish with colourful artwork and modern furniture adding a quirky look. You can also order extra luxuries such as hampers for two full of delicious Cornish delicacies, bubbly and pampering goodies.

For more details, including prices and availability, click on The Retreat

The Stud, Tregonatha, Cornwall

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Although this stylish barn conversion can sleep up to five, why would you invite anyone else along when you can book it for just the two of you? Eco-friendly design features are found throughout this luxury home including an eco ground source heat pump to keep you cosy on chillier evenings. Enjoy breakfast in the sun room, on the balcony or within the enclosed, lawned garden. And if you ask in advance, the owner can give you access to the barn’s piano for those who wish to tinkle the ivories. Located in the tranquil village of Tregonatha, The Stud is also within easy access of Padstow and the north and south coasts of Cornwall. (As above, additional food, drink, flowers and pampering treats can be ordered for your stay in advance).

For more details, including prices and availability, click on The Stud

Inglenook, St Agnes, Cornwall

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This cute cottage for two combines traditional style with modern eco living (it’s insulated with sheep’s wool and is run on solar power). Its location is perfect for those who love hiking, diving or surfing as it’s situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with direct access to the South West Coast Path. Guests can relax in the open-vaulted living room or outside in the private walled garden looking out over the ocean. (Inglenook also offers the chance to book additional food, drink, flowers and pampering treats).

For more details, including prices and availability, click on Inglenook

All of these cottages are available exclusively through Unique Home Stays – for more information visit www.uniquehomestays.com or call +44 (0) 1637 881942.

 

A magical stay at The Straw House, Cornwall

If you’re looking for a self-catering getaway this Spring, you’d be hard-pressed to beat a stay at this ‘Hobbit style’ straw bale roundhouse in Cornwall…

What a work of architectural, eco-friendly beauty! The Straw House, new to the rental market this season and with magnificent sea views across St Michael’s Mount in Penzance, offers something a little different to your regular self-catering cottage.

Using traditional green-building techniques, the tactile smooth cob walls and natural materials throughout, make this a lovely cosy hideaway (and likened by some to a Hobbit home!). Features include sheepskin rug covered wooden floors and a wood-burning stove for chilly evenings. Outside in the private garden you’ll find vegetable plots, your own fire pit, composting loo, kitchen and wood-fired shower.

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The owners encourage guests to spend time ‘off grid’ enjoying the birdsong, stargazing, building campfires or foraging for herbal remedies. Over summer, bushcraft workshops are also available.

Accommodation

The Straw House sleeps 4 ( 1 x double bed; 2 x sofa beds) so would suit solo travellers, couples or small families (kids will love it!).

Booking

You can stay for a minimum of 3 nights between 4 April and 19 July 2014 with a flexible change over day. During peak summer holiday weeks (19 July – 17 September 2014) minimum stay is 1 week with change over days on Saturdays. Prices start from £83 per night.

For more information, including booking, visit www.holidaylettings.co.uk

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World’s 10 most extraordinary places to stay

Ever wanted to spend the night in a lighthouse in New York state? A treehouse in Laos? Or a cave hotel in Turkey? These are just three of the 10 most extraordinary places to stay in the world – according to travel experts Lonely Planet.

To accompany the launch of their first ever collection of world’s best hotels, Lonely Planet has revealed its top 10 list of unusual accommodation choices. We reported the Lonely Planet ‘eco accommodation’ list last week and now pick out some of the Goodtrippers-friendly options on the ‘extraordinary’ list: here are our picks…

Planet Baobab, Gweta, BotswanaPlanet Baobab, Gweta, Botswana

Second in Lonely Planet’s list, this funky lodge is a must if you’re visiting Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. You can choose to stay in a traditional mud hut (en-suite and adorned with art made with the natural pigments found in the many termite mounds in the area), or a traditional grass hut (en-suite and constructed using the same methods as the original bushmen of Botswana). If you fancy it, camping facilities are also on offer. Walkways wind through the baobabs (which are lit up at night) to a pool and bar-restaurant. Spot meerkats and elephants while you sip your sundowner…

 

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, AustraliaPeppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania, Australia

No. 5 in the Lonely Planet list, this eco-friendly lodge is located on the edge of the spectacular World Heritage site Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Cabins are nestled privately in the bushland, with wallabies bounding past the windows and wombats shuffling amid the trees. Locally sourced game, wine, cheeses and honey permeate the restaurant’s menu, one of Tasmania’s best. The view from the spa is a dense thicket of King Billy pine trees. Guests can choose from couples’ or family cabins, right up to suites with private outdoor tubs and fuel-efficient fireplaces.

 

Free Spirit Spheres, British Columbia, CanadaFree Spirit Spheres, British Columbia, Canada

Treehouses for grown-ups! These fantastic handmade orbs, suspended among the tall trees of west coast rainforest, are kitted out like cosy boat cabins inside (mod cons including iPod docks all present and correct) and are accessed by rope walkways and spiral ladders. You’re encouraged spend time in your swaying sphere to immerse yourself in the local wildlife – the chattering birds and squirrels, now on your eye-level. The site also has showers, a sauna, kitchen and barbecue.

 

Thonga Beach Lodge, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South AfricaThonga Beach Lodge, South Africa

This luxury resort by the beach is environmentally-friendly and remote – it’s one of few such lodges within the 328,000 hectare iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its spacious huts are scattered through dune forest, some with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. Whales frequently pass by, and Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles nest on the nearby beaches. Take a nature trek with a local expert, a deep sea dive, or simply relax in the spa or indulge in the lodge’s fresh seafood and salads.

 

The Gibbon Experience Treehouse, Bokeo Reserve, LaosThe Gibbon Experience Treehouse, Bokeo Reserve, Laos

Completing the Lonely Planet top 10 is this outstanding experience in Laos. Imagine waking to the sonorous call of the endangered black-crested gibbon, stretching in your bed a hundred feet up in the triple canopy, and nursing a coffee on your balcony as you watch the dawn mist crowd in over the jungle valley below. The tree houses, erected by conservation group Animo, are a thing of wonder straddling the giant trunks of strangler fig trees. You have to take a zip wire to ‘fly’ into your night’s accommodation! Dinner is delivered fresh from the nearby campfire, and music is the ambient sound of cicadas as fireflies dance in the night air.

 

The full Lonely Planet Top 10 Extraordinary Places to Stay

  1. Mihir Gahr, Rajasthan, India
  2. Planet Baobab, Gweta, Botswana
  3. Prendiparte B&B, Bologna, Italy
  4. Qasr Al Sarab, UAE
  5. Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania, Australia
  6. Free Spirit Spheres, British Columbia, Canada
  7. Taskonak Hotel, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
  8. Thonga Beach Lodge, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
  9. Saugerties Lighthouse, New York state, USA
  10. The Gibbon Experience Treehouse, Bokeo Reserve, Laos

 

You may also be interested in the Lonely Planet’s top 10 eco stays

 

Eco style at Malta’s oldest luxury hotel

(This post is sponsored by Hotel Phoenicia) Guest blogger Nikki Schinas reviews a luxurious eco-friendly stay at Malta’s oldest 5-star hotel.

Amidst the stress of work and winter routine, one could always do with a short relaxing break and escape to a warmer climate. I recently did so and treated myself to a luxurious stay at the 5 Star Hotel Phoenicia in Malta.

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Hotel Phoenicia, the island’s oldest luxury five star hotel is situated at the entrance of a unique UNESCO World Heritage site, Malta’s capital city, Valletta. This 450 year old city is teaming with culture and has a colourful and exciting history to tell. With grand fortifications, baroque architecture, old theatres and magnificent churches, I was never at a loss for what to do.

The hotel proudly welcomes you on entrance to the city and invites you to a comfortable and eco-friendly stay.

Accommodation

The Hotel Phoenicia boasts 128 guest rooms and 8 suites. Each room was designed with a touch of class, contemporary elegance and a sense of history to compliment the magnificent art déco of the building. My room overlooked the breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour which was a wonderful treat to wake up to each morning.

The hotel has incorporated a sophisticated IT system to analyse room temperatures and electricity usage to decrease energy waste.

Food

Not just a magnificent building, Hotel Phoenicia has a large kitchen garden which provides fresh produce for the hotel’s restaurants. Award-winning chefs use the fresh food from the garden to create a range of delicious Mediterranean dishes. Food and beverages are carefully chosen to make certain that the majority of the food served is 100% organic.

Facilities

After waking up to the beautiful view of the Grand Harbour, I’d head down to the Phoenix restaurant for a scrumptious local breakfast. Phoenicia has some beautiful facilities to explore.

A stroll through the 7.5 acre garden, which boasts colour and variety, will lead you to the stunning bastion swimming pool overlooking Valletta’s impressive fortifications. This is the place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city on a sunny day. Treat yourself to a light lunch by the pool and if you’re feeling indulgent try the range of cocktails by the pool bar.

Activities

Although tempted to spend my days relaxing by the Bastion swimming pool, I ambled along the streets of the  capital to get a taste of the Maltese culture. Experiencing the laid back hustle and bustle of life in Valletta gave me a perfect insight into the charming Mediterranean lifestyle and visiting the many museums and churches offered me a healthy dose of culture and history.

Recommended for… Those looking for a luxury, cultural and a relaxing eco-friendly escape

Be aware that… During the Summer months, temperatures have known to rise to 39 degrees, so it’s important to be prepared for the heat.

‘Good’ credentials:

  • The hotel is one of the first 5 star hotels in Malta to be awarded the MTA’s international ECO- certificate
  • The hotel plants its own trees to improve air quality
  • Staff training in eco-housekeeping methods means the hotel saves 150 gallons of water per year
  • Sophisticated IT systems were installed to read energy use and location to decrease energy waste
  • LED lighting was installed everywhere and plugged to intelligent systems to deploy Room Energy Management System

 

This post is sponsored by Hotel Phoenicia. Goodtrippers retains editorial control over all content and only selects sponsored posts that fit the Goodtrippers ethos.

 

 

5 of the world’s best wildlife experiences

Imagine sitting in a safari hide at the crack of dawn, silence all around…then a lioness and her playful cubs come sauntering into view, oblivious to your presence. Or picture snorkelling on a coral reef, dipping your head underwater and seeing a technicolour marine world swimming around you.

Giraffes in Africa

Some of travel’s most memorable moments involve witnessing the world’s most incredible wildlife. Sadly, with the endangered species and habitats list growing ever longer, we are all too aware of how precious this wildlife is. Going on a wildlife holiday helps increase our understanding and respect for the natural world, but always remember to use a responsible tour operator for your trips.

Here are some of Goodtrippers’ ‘world’s best’ wildlife experiences:

Cruising the Galapagos Islands – This archipelago has attracted explorers for centuries. Its remote location and unique wildlife inspired naturalist Charles Darwin to write his theory of evolution. A trip today will bring you face-to-face with whales, dolphins, penguins, vast colonies of sea lions and birds, and real rarities such as the Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana and flightless cormorant. Flora includes mangrove, saltbush, cacti and carob trees.

Giant tortoise

Tiger watching in India – These beautiful and majestic big cats used to be found all over Asia in their hundreds of thousands. Today, there are barely over 3,000 left in the wild thanks to the destruction of their natural habitats and the illegal trade in tiger skin. However, a visit to some of India’s National Parks may reveal a rare and unforgettable sighting of species such as the elusive Bengal Tiger.

The ‘Big 5’ African safari – There are several countries, and several National Parks, where you can spot Africa’s ‘Big 5’ (i.e. lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard). South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the most well-known for a traditional safari experience – camping under the stars, exploring the bush and plains by Jeep, and keeping a pair of binoculars (and your wits about you!) at all times. The Big 5 are an awesome sight, but don’t bypass the rest of Africa’s natural wonders – watching a pack of wild dogs at night, bird-watching on a lake at dawn, or getting up-close to insect life are all unforgettable safari experiences. Try other spots including Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Green sea turtle

Diving on New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands – Two-thirds of the Earth is ocean so an underwater experience has to make this list! There are countless top dive sites – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Thailand’s Similan Islands being just two – but I’ve included one you may not have considered (even though the great Jacques Cousteau named it one of his top ten dive sites in the world). As the 11 million year-old landscape is volcanic in origin, the cliffs, caves and tunnels harbour a unique biodiversity making New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands an outstanding Marine Reserve and Nature Reserve.

Spotting orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo – These gentle red-heads are only found in Sumatra and Borneo, albeit in rapidly decreasing numbers as the animals are still hunted and their habitat destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations. Support local efforts to help protect these wonderful creatures by booking a trek through a National Park with a responsible tour operator, or volunteering at a rehabilitation centre. There’s nothing like looking up into the trees and spotting a flash of orange swing high over your head and catching your first glimpse of a wild orangutan!

The world is rich with wildlife experiences and our list barely scratches the surface! If you have a great wildlife experience to share, let us know. (This post by Goodtrippers was originally published on Frontier’s Gap Year Blog)

If that’s inspired you, browse our Amazon Affiliate store for some of the best wildlife books (buying via these links won’t cost you a penny more than using Amazon your regular way, but commission earned by Goodtrippers helps keep our site ticking along thanks to you!).

 





Out of this world! Stargazing at The Varsity Hotel, Cambridge

There is one benefit to winter – the longer nights lend themselves to some ‘out of this world’ experiences such as gazing up at the stars from the rooftop of The Varsity Hotel & Spa in Cambridge.

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The eco-conscious boutique hotel will hold an astronomy masterclass on Tuesday 25th February. Guests will explore the cosmos through telescopes from the hotel’s beautiful rooftop garden and find out more about the mysteries of the stars, planets, moons and galaxies above us. The masterclass will be led by Paul Fellows, Chairman of the esteemed Cambridge Astronomical Society and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The stargazing session is followed by a delicious two-course dinner from Head Chef Angus Martin’s hearty winter menu.

Tickets cost £49 and include a glass of bubbly on arrival, the astronomy masterclass and the two-course meal. Guests should arrive at 6:45pm for a 7pm start. To book call 01223 306030 or visit www.thevarsityhotel.co.uk.

The independently-owned Varsity Hotel & Spa is located in one of the most attractive spots in Cambridge backing onto the River Cam. The top two floors of the hotel are made entirely from glass allowing guests breath-taking views of the surrounding area including St John’s College spires, Midsummer Common and the punts gliding down the river.

The boutique hotel is committed to being eco-friendly (which has also meant the removal of energy-sapping mini bars in the rooms!).

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