Go Green

If you’re worried how big your carbon footprint makes then ‘go green’ in Cornwall and walk tall knowing that you’re doing your bit to help save the planet whilst having a great holiday, too.

Friday Night: Really the greenest way to travel is on foot, but you’ll be forgiven if you take the train down to Cornwall and you’ll definitely have fewer blisters.  Twelve trains a day leave from London’s Paddington station and you can get off at all points running down the middle of the county. A very scenic branch line runs to the bustling resort of Newquay and a few days at an eco friendly guest house like the Green Tourism Gold Award winning Whipsiderry Hotel near Porth Beach will up the ante on your green credentials.

Saturday Morning: Set yourself up for day at the funky Archie Brown’s Cafe with some organic free range eggs on toast and a breakfast smoothie then spend a few hours at Newquay Zoo. Home to some of the world’s most endangered species like the Siberian Lynx and Pied Tamarins; the zoo is a also a gold medal winner in the Europe-wide Green Tourism Business Scheme initiative.

Saturday Afternoon: Catch the 1pm train from Newquay and travel across open moor and into a thickly wooded landscape stopping off at the village of Luxulyan, slap bang in the middle of a lush valley setting. Stroll around the ancient village, discover all about the fascinating tin mining heritage and walk across the huge viaduct that once carried trains and water to the mines in the area.

Saturday Evening: Back to Newquay and join the suntanned and relaxed crowd at the chilled out Café Irie in Fore Street for dinner and choose from a menu sourced from local producers.

Sunday Morning. Feel like a true hero with a few hours on a survival skills course in the wilderness just outside Newquay with Greenleisure who run environmentally friendly pursuits all over the county. Learn about fire and water collection, get a taste of some wild foods and pick up the basics of navigation including map and compass work

Sunday Afternoon: As Europe’s surf centre you can’t really stay in Newquay without hitting the waves yourself so get down to the stunningly scenic Mawgan Porth Beach with the King Surf School. Supporters of Surfers Against Sewage and using only recyclable surfboards, they’ll teach you how to master the art in a two-hour lesson.

Sunday Evening: Keep it local and free by following the heritage trail marked by slate discs around Newquay. Discover the Huer’s hut, once used for spotting shoals of herring, wander around the sub-tropical Trenance Gardens and take in the fantastic views up and down the coastline.

Monday Morning: Take one of the frequent buses from the centre of Newquay to Wadebridge and hire a bike to Padstow. The 10-mile round trip on the Camel Trail is an easy going route that follows an old disused railway line through leafy countryside.

Monday Afternoon: Back in Wadebridge check out Sands Shop at Foundry Court where you’ll find Fairtrade products including jewellery clothing and bags, plus ethical clothing brands from local companies Finisterre and Celtic Sheepskin.

Monday Evening: Take the night train back up the line and sleep in the knowledge that you managed to reduce your Cornish carbon footprint in size from fairly clodhopping to something a little more petite.