Take three: eco holiday cottages

Want to get away, but keen to stay green? Then head to Norfolk, where East View Farm Holiday Cottages (pictured above) has just picked up a gold award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the only nationwide certification for eco-tourism in the UK.

The two cottages, which are set in 10 acres of landscaped grounds, are powered by a wind turbine and are fully set up for recycling, using biodegradable products and compost bins.

Committed to sustainable tourism, owner Jane Pond encourages guests to explore Norfolk by train, bike or on foot and recommends restaurants that source their ingredients locally.

But don't worry - this is no hair shirt holiday home. The one- and three-bedroom cottages are furnished in a contemporary style, with cosy living rooms featuring wood burners, which means visitors can stay in environmentally friendly accommodation without compromising on comfort.

Other eco cottage options include the five-star Stone Barn and Blue Barn, situated on an organic farm in Cardigan Bay, Wales, which are available to rent through Green Cottages. Or head to Sussex to Little Marshfoot, an award-winning eco-building on farmland near Pevensey Levels, which you can rent through Cottages.co.uk.

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