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Nurture Eden highlights the Pitch-Hiker’s Guide to Eden’s Green Galaxy

31st July 2012 Print

Campers, caravanners and those seeking different ways of sleeping under the stars, while minimising their negative impacts on the environment, can take their planetary guidance from Nurture Eden and its Pitch-Hiker’s Guide to Eden’s Green Galaxy.

Nurture Eden is aiming to make Eden, in east Cumbria, a top class responsible tourism destination and is assembling a cluster group of like-minded, sustainability-focused businesses that wish to be part of its ‘Green Eden’ vision.

Campsites, caravan and motorhome parks and providers of unique al fresco accommodation are already members of Nurture Eden and looking forward to welcoming eco-friendly campers and caravanners this summer and autumn.

The Waterside House Campsite on the northern shore of Ullswater is just one mile from Pooley Bridge at the top end of beautiful Lake Ullswater. It is an ideal base for those wishing to park up the car and partake in some of the wonderful outdoor activities available including mountain biking, walking, sailing, fishing and pony trekking.

The campsite offers electric hook ups, excellent, modern shower and toilet facilities, a fully equipped laundry and hand and hairdryers. It has a children’s adventure area, boat launch and boat storage facility on the lakeshore. On site activities include volleyball and table tennis, while there are also Canadian canoes, rowing boats, sea cycles and mountain bikes for hire. Children can watch sheepdogs at work, see young calves and Swaledale sheep and play around the park.

An active environmental policy covers recycling, the use of aerated water to reduce consumption and low energy lighting. Biodegradable products are used for cleaning and there is an active tree planting policy. A tent for two adults costs from £14-£24 per night while children are charged at between £1.50 and £2.50 per night depending on season and whether the booking covers a Bank Holiday. Other supplements can be paid for additional people, a dog, awnings/gazebos and electricity.

The Waterfoot Caravan Park, also located on Ullswater, is ideal for touring caravan and motorhome holidays and is housed in the grounds of a former Georgian mansion. Consistently awarded 5 stars by the English Tourism Council, the family-orientated site is well laid out, with a mix of hard-standing and lawned areas, to cater for both vehicles and the leisure needs of guests.

The 22-acre site has held a David Bellamy Award for its conservation practices for many years and raises funds through Visitor Giving for conservation projects in the Ullswater Valley, which are managed by Nurture Lakeland. Local wildlife includes red squirrels, red deer and barnacle geese and things to do in the area include visiting the Moor Divock Bronze Age Stone Circle and the beautiful local waterfall, Aira Force.

The site has all mod cons in terms of its toilet and shower facilities and has a bar area and family room within the mansion, which includes a pool and darts area. A caravan pitch costs between £19 and £30.50 with a three-night minimum stay policy operating over Bank Holidays. This covers the charge for all people staying, electricity provision and an awning. A special offer allows someone staying seven nights to only pay for six.

Those looking for something different al fresco can head to The Summer House at Brampton Mill near Appleby, where a unique shepherd’s hut-style accommodation exists in the form of a dwelling built on the chassis of a World War I lorry. This accommodation is much larger than a typical shepherd’s hut and located in an orchard, bordered by the millstream in an idyllic spot.

This comfortable and cosy ‘summerhouse’ is a low impact accommodation heated by a charcoal-burning stove and contains a kitchen/seating area and a double bedroom within the wagon. A small shower room is available within the converted drying room of the former mill. The kitchen has a plumbed-in Victorian stoneware sink, a stove with oven and gas rings and a fridge and electric kettle.

As the Summerhouse it situated just two miles from Appleby, it is very close to the Settle to Carlisle Railway, which can provide a more sustainable way of getting around Eden. There are also wonderful walking and cycling opportunities available from the door and various cycle maps and routes to follow. The Summer House at Brampton Mill costs between £162 and £267 for a two-night stay.

In Shap, on Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast walk and the Westmorland Way, campers can stay at New Ing Lodge, which holds a Green Tourism Silver Award and a Gold CBEN (Cumbria Business Environment Network) grading. Up to 12 people per night can stay in the camping area in New Ing Lodge’s garden, at a rate of £6.50 per person, per night. Campers can use the shower and toilet room in the main building, where dormitory accommodation and other rooms are available on a B&B basis. They can also opt to pay for a delicious full-English breakfast, based on locally sourced produce, or a lighter breakfast treat of cereals, toast and tea and coffee.

A gypsy caravan is also available for hire at New Ing Lodge, this being a handcrafted and hand-painted traditional bow-top wagon bought at Appleby Fair. It houses a cosy pull-out double bed and a queenie stove, plus storage space for clothes. Hire of the wagon costs £54 per night for two people.

Another fabulous gypsy caravan option can be found at Drybeck Farm, Armathwaite, which also has luxury Mongolian-style yurts available for those wishing to truly be immersed in a green lifestyle, while not compromising on luxury. A weekend in a 4-person yurt costs £315 and a full week £555. A weekend in the gypsy caravan (sleeping 2) costs £180 and a full week £350. Mid-week stays are available for both yurts and caravan and a bell tent can be booked alongside the gypsy caravan to accommodate another 4 people.

If you are a pitch-hiker wishing to explore Eden’s galaxy of attractions, do so in a responsible manner and ensure that your footprint does not deprive future generations of Eden’s joys.

Details of all five members, and many more, can be found at agreeneden.org by those wishing to visit a stunning part of England, with as light a tourism impact as possible.