Don’t let your staycation become a greycation Says ‘green’ holiday park
Too many people enjoying a staycation are actually experiencing a greycation, lacking in environmental sustainability, according to the green and environmentally friendly, award winning holiday park, The Quiet Site – the ‘green’ holidaymaker’s park of choice.
The family-owned Quiet Site scooped Cumbria Tourism’s ‘Sustainable Tourism’ award this year and believes in trying to maintain the idyllic nature of its glorious location, close to stunning Lake Ullswater and located at tranquil Watermillock.
In contrast, many holiday parks welcoming those enjoying a staycation are not being energy efficient to reduce their impacts and carbon emissions and are either not bothering to operate an environmental policy, or doing very little.
Rather than offering a greycation, The Quiet Site is continuously striving to be as green as possible. As Cumbria’s current green torchbearer, it is not only operating its own green practices, but also quietly encouraging guests to play their part in its green programme.
It offers accommodation in timber-framed Lakeland pods (a snug and more comfortable step up from camping, or a way to ease yourself into camping if you are a newbie) and in two self-catering cottages. It also welcomes campers, caravanners and motorhome owners on its camping and caravanning park and static caravan owners who have year-round access.
An extensive eco-friendly culture has evolved at The Quiet Site, thanks to dedicated investment by its owners. The impressive shower and bathroom block heats its water using solar power, generated by solar panels fitted to the roof, while aerated tap systems reduce water usage. Hot water is always on tap and no luxury is foregone. In fact, fun family time can be had in very large bathrooms that are way bigger than guests may expect.
Nobody really notices that their shower water is recycled back into the toilet block after passing through a reed-bed system. Another quiet revolution has come through the Scandinavian levels of thermal insulation and carbon neutral heating in the building housing The Quiet Bar and games rooms. Perhaps visitors put the warmth down to the roaring log fire in this historic building which dates back to 1648, or are too content supping the site’s own brew, The Quiet Pint.
Recycling is advanced at The Quiet Site, while local produce and even the Lakeland pods have been sourced locally, to cut down on carbon emissions within the supply chain.
Wildlife is encouraged through bird boxes, a wildflower meadow through which guests can walk their dog and a tree-planting programme.
Walking, or using public transport rather than the car, is also encouraged. The site has its own recommended and illustrated walks to download from its website. It also now welcomes the 108 bus service, which links the site to local beauty spots like Pooley Bridge (from where a lake cruise can be enjoyed) and Aira Force (Cumbria’s most spectacular waterfall). The bus also links guests up with Penrith, to where they can travel by train.
Add to this the visitor donation scheme operated on behalf of conservation and tourism organisation, Nurture Lakeland and it’s easy to see why the site holds GTBS gold accreditation, as well as the Sustainable Tourism Award for Cumbria.
Staying at The Quiet Site will not cost an arm and a leg. A Lakeland Pod can be hired for £35-£50 per night. A camping pitch or hard standing with electricity costs from £20 per night (£28-£30 at a peak time and there may be minimum stay requirements).
Ivy Cottage, which sleeps six, and Watermillock Cottage, which sleeps nine, cost between £400 and £1400 per week.
Anyone not wishing their staycation to become a greycation should take a look at The Quiet Site, which opens year round. More details are at thequietsite.co.uk.
