An upsurge in the popularity of sustainable stays in Northern Ireland means there is now a wide range of low-impact and environmentally friendly accommodation options to choose from. Not only that, you can also revel in a host of eco-friendly activities and savour fabulous locally sourced food – everything the responsible traveller would want in a trip or a tour.
Here is a selection of sustainable properties that offer giant adventures, while looking after planet Earth.
The Salthouse
A stunning example of luxury sustainable accommodation, The Salthouse hotel and spa is a carbon-neutral eco resort overlooking the seaside town of Ballycastle on the famous Causeway Coastal Route in County Antrim. There are 24 bedrooms in the hotel and six three-bedroomed eco lodges in the grounds, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean all around. All rooms benefit from ‘smart’ building management technology, there are no single use plastics and the hotel even has its own borehole for water. With electric car chargers on site, wind turbines, solar panels and more, it’s the perfect away-from-it-all eco haven.
Killeavy Castle Estate
Luxury and sustainability also go hand-in-hand at this estate in County Armagh, renowned for its eco-friendly credentials and the owners’ passion for the environment. From saving water to zero plastic, sustainable practices are at the heart of the four-star 45-bedroom hotel, plus self-catering gate lodge. Guests can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the estate’s working farm and restored walled garden, which supply the superb restaurant with fresh seasonal produce. Amazing experiences are to be found close to the castle or on site, including woodland and mountain walks, electric biking, golf and distillery tours, and even forest bathing.
Ballylagan Organic Guest House
This sustainability champion is green, serene and loaded with pure organic goodness. The restored farmhouse has been around since the 1800s, but now generates its own electricity, uses organic towels, bedlinen and toiletries, environmentally friendly cleaning materials and there is no single use plastic to be seen. An adjacent lake is stocked with brown trout, and there is pony riding, two walking trails and lots of animals to see. The spacious rooms are complemented by the onsite tea shop and organic farm shop selling the most delicious and nutritious home-grown produce.