There are lots of eco-friendly ways to enjoy the Emerald Isle. Choose green accommodation and activities that leave no trace. Here are some great ideas.
Gyreum Eco Lodge
Sustainability is at the heart of the Gyreum Eco Lodge in beautiful Yeats Country in County Sligo. Designed to blend into its rural surroundings, it uses geothermal and sunlight heating systems, harvests food from its vegetable gardens and has developed a green wastewater filtration system. The perfect accommodation for eco-travellers, it also hosts courses in eco building, energy and organic horticulture.
The Burren
Ireland’s famous Burren, the remarkable lunar-like karst landscape in County Clare, is a popular eco-destination. One of only three places in Ireland to have UNESCO Geopark status, it offers guided tours of sensitive areas to minimise the negative impact of visitors. With accommodation in abundance, the Burren has a multitude of eco-friendly activities to keep everyone amused.
SOAK Seaweed Baths
A unique all-seaweed spa, SOAK offers relaxing and rejuvenating treatments using its own natural products that relieve aches and pains and leave skin silky soft. The seaweed is harvested by hand along the County Down coastline in a manner that allows the plant to thrive and, once used in the spa, is passed to a local farmer as fertiliser.
Delphi Resort
The first activity centre in Ireland to win the ECO-centre award, this four-star resort in County Mayo offers 20 outdoor activities, a spa and a destination restaurant with a focus on quality produce from Connemara. Set on the stunning Wild Atlantic Way, it’s a complete eco-holiday experience.
Ecotrek Ballybunion
With a ‘leave no trace’ policy, Ecotrek Ballybunion provides a range of walking and cycling adventures through the stunning landscape around the seaside town of Ballybunion in County Kerry. Local historian and founder of Ecotrek, Danny Houlihan, acts as guide, explaining the rich history and culture of the area and showing travellers some wonderful hidden gems.
Orchard Acre Farm
This award-winning eco-tourism farm is set in the beautiful lakelands of County Fermanagh. The farm produces a range of artisan foods as well as offering a year-round programme of farmhouse and modern cookery classes, Irish craft courses and foodie and gardening-related sessions, events and activities. Relax in its eco-barn and get back to nature.
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