Why a countryside holiday is great for eco-conscious families

The UK’s expansive countryside provides the perfect setting for an eco-conscious retreat. By their very nature, staycations have the potential to be an inherently greener holiday option than traditional trips, by forgoing the polluting plane rides to foreign shores. But choosing the right destination is one of the most important ways to ensure you can enjoy a well-earned break that doesn’t come to the detriment of the world around you. In this post, we’ll explore three reasons why the countryside is the perfect place for your next sustainable staycation.

A natural classroom for the children

The countryside is the perfect place to broaden the minds of your little travel companions and inspire or strengthen a love for the natural world. 

If you’re getting up close and personal with the countryside’s flora and fauna, make sure the children are respectful and enjoy it in a responsible way. Unfortunately, it’s been reported that Britain has lost almost half of its biodiversity since the Industrial Revolution, predominantly due to human interference. But you can play your part in helping to protect the environment whenever you and your children interact with it by keeping a few key things in mind: 

• Keep your distance from wild animals. Getting too close to animals is likely to disturb them and approaching them could be dangerous.
• Adopt a leave no trace policy. Make sure you don’t leave any litter or equipment behind and don’t take home any natural objects you come across. 
• Keep any pets under control. If you’re walking with a dog, ensure they’re on a lead and don't disrupt any other animals they come in contact with. If your dog can’t control themselves in this situation, it’s always best to leave them at home.

Opportunity for eco-friendly activities 

Especially when you’re travelling with young children, it’s important to have an itinerary full of activities to keep them engaged throughout your stay. Fortunately, heading out on an escape to the country can provide endless opportunities to try something new and potentially return home with a new favourite hobby. Better still, many of the traditional exploits that feature on a countryside itinerary have an eco-friendly element to them, helping to align with the theme of your holiday. 

If your family are keen explorers, try to find some of the best walking routes in the area to take on, soaking up the views along the way. Going on a local hike is also one of the best ways to connect with nature in a new area while leaving no trace behind you. For the animal lovers, pack up some binoculars and head on a bird spotting adventure – the countryside is filled with fascinating creatures that will capture your imagination. Finally, look up local businesses offering eco-friendly excursions like kayaking on a local lake or mountain biking across the hills.

Remember, whenever you plan to factor some activities into your itinerary that may require a car journey to access, make sure you familiarise yourself with the nearest local car parks. Not only does this help everything to run smoothly, but driving around in search of somewhere to leave your vehicle will be detrimental to the local air quality.

Sustainable eating 

To truly lean into the sustainability theme, take the principles of eco-friendly travel into meal times. While it takes away some of the spontaneity that can make holidays so memorable, planning your meals in advance is one of the best ways to maintain an eco-friendly diet on holiday, since this will help you to limit any waste and only buy what you need. Getting the kids involved at this stage is a fun way to share the responsibility. Where possible, you can also look to support local farmers and businesses by using their products in your dishes. 

Especially in the most popular countryside spots, you will be able to choose from lots of different private accommodation options. Do your research in advance and be sure to find a cottage or apartment that has a kitchen fitted, so you can stay in control when it comes to eating sustainably. 

Start planning your next sustainable staycation

Whether you want to discover incredible natural landscapes or help to preserve biodiversity through sustainable tourism, a countryside holiday may just be the perfect choice for you. With so many suitable spots up and down the country, where will you take your family first?

This is a guest post by Leo Clarke, Content Producer and Researcher leoclarke.consulting@gmail.com