Green Stays for the Eco-Conscious

Looking for the perfect escape but conscious of minimising the impact of your holiday on the environment? There are plenty of excellent green stays in the South of Scotland with environmentally friendly credentials.

From cosy self-catering eco-cottages to campsites harnessing wind energy to a B&B that also takes horses, these eco-friendly accommodation providers show it is easy to have a green stay. Many hold certificates of the Green Tourism scheme awards or are accredited with the UNESCO Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere showing their clear commitment to the environment so you can relax into your holiday knowing these establishments are doing their eco-best.

Faldarroch Farm

Where: Whauphill

Faldarroch Farm provides an ideal get away from it all while allowing guests to ensure their eco-values are being upheld. Its Gold award recognises its super insulation and the underfloor heating run by a wood pellet burner. Here you definitely won’t have to forsake comfort and style. This former 19^th century farmhouse has a Victorian black range and a four-poster bed in the master bedroom. This is a place of tranquility and solitude with no neighbours and located within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. The same owner has two period holiday homes in Whithorn – the Pend and Precinct House if you prefer to be in a quiet village close to a few shops.

Airhouses

Where: Lauder

Opt for a cosy glamping pod with private hot tub, or for a larger group rent one of the beautiful custom-built cottages at Airhouses in Lauder. All set on an organic working hill farm, the owners have taken particular care to work with nature and provide ideal habitats for wildlife – head for the Flight Pond to see who lives there. The farm has acres to explore and information boards about life on the farm along with lots of animals to meet including donkeys, alpacas, goats, ponies, chickens and pigs. And your comfort is at the heart of it all. The properties have complimentary toiletries, dressing gowns, slippers, 4G Wifi and Smart TVs as well as those spacious hot tubs. There is great advice in their motto – Relax. Recharge. Reconnect.

Solway View Camping

Where: Borgue

Solway View Holidays and Balmangan Farm is located in and is a proud supporter of the UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. Among its many commitments to raising awareness of enviornment friendly actions, Solway View campsite is powered by Tina the Turner – its very own 15kw wind turbine! The site sells sell sustainably sourced kiln dried firewood for its fire pits. The business holds a Green Tourism award and is proactive in communicating and engaging with their guests about good environmental practice.

The Whitehouse Countryhouse

Where: St Boswells

If you are looking for an ecofriendly option to accommodate not just you but also your horses, Whitehouse Countryside is the perfect solution. This five-star bed and breakfast at the heart of the Scottish Borders, has stables and multiple equine amenities including knowledgeable owners about local riding trails. The property can also be rented on a self-catering option. It holds a Silver Green Tourism award and operating in a sustainable fashion is an important consideration, with its green policy on its website. A big item for any B&B is the laundry but here there is a firm commitment to environmentally friendly methods. Washing machines are A rated and linens air dried. Non-phosphate cleaning materials are used and sourced from nearby R.P. Adam Ltd. And the buying local ethos extends to the wonderful options on the breakfast menu as well as the soaps in the bathrooms, which are made by John Henry while shower gels & shampoos come from Arran Aromatics.

Kirkennan Estate Holiday Cottages

Where: Palnackie

Since taking on the 74-acre Kirkennan Estate Holiday Cottages in 2013, the owners have been singular in their drive to reduce the estate’s carbon footprint. They have installed solar panels, biomass boiler and an air source heat pump. Old windows have come out, double glazing gone in and open fires have been swapped for more modern efficient stoves. The owners provide an electric car charging point for guests, which can operate from the solar panels. A deciduous forest of 5,000 trees has been planted and now has paths through it for guests to wander and enjoy. Bird and bat boxes provide shelter and surveys of wildlife populations on the estate are regularly carried out. Information is provided on how to holiday without a car even in this rural area and the cottages link up with Solway Tours who will pick up from the house for a fee. Guests at these self-catering cottages are also encouraged to support local businesses with gift voucher incentives.

Reiver’s Hideaway

Where: Melrose

In its first year of operating, Reiver’s Hideaway won Best Green Holiday Home at the European Holiday Home Awards 2021. This stunning log cabin with wood fired hot tub was built using logs from local trees by a local log builder. This kept the carbon footprint of the house to a minimum. The central heating comes from an eco-friendly air source heat pump using electricity from renewable sources only. Firewood for the wood burning stove and hot tub comes from sustainable sources, currently the owners’ woods. The grass turf roof minimises the visual impact on the landscape and helps local wildlife. Dogs are welcome and there are plenty of countryside walks from the doorstep. A second cabin has joined Reiver’s Hideaway at this fabulous green retreat.

Wigwam Holidays Wigtown

Where: Wigtown

This site of ready made wooden pods is tucked away on the Machars peninsula on a small beef and sheep farm. The site is powered by an array of solar panels with batteries storing any excess power. Individual hot tubs are a key selling point and these are now powered by air source heat pumps allowing the site to become 70% self-sufficient in its electricity production. And finally there are EV chargers for electric cars. Eco-measures also include using suppliers nearby where possible and the local butcher offers a breakfast pack delivery service on the weekends for guests who preorder. Wigwam Holidays is located in and accredited by the UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.

The Green House

Where: Selkirk

This is the second incarnation of the The Green House following a fire in the roof space of the first. In carrying out the reconstruction, the owners thought carefully about ensuring they were as eco-conscious as possible, salvaging as much as they could from their first build. Eco-friendly measures include solar PV panels with battery storage, triple glazing and an eco-recycled plastic deck! Indeed this covered deck is a great place to stargaze with insulated mugs, blankets and hot water bottles, which are all provided along with star charts and binoculars. Guests can plan their stay in advance with a digital guidebook showcasing local services, shops and activities and if arriving with an electric car, there is an EV charger on site.

Burnbrae Holidays

Where: Kelso

Burnbrae Holidays is a Silver Green Award winner that will surely strike gold soon. From the informative Environmental policy on its website to its biomass boiler and solar panels for heating and electricity on-site, these self-catering cottages are clearly serious about minimising environmental impact. Purchased electricity comes from a renewable source, rainwater is collected and used and taps have flow limiters so as not to waste this vital resource. There’s an electric car charging point, and the cottages hold Walkers and Cyclists Welcome certifications to encourage eco-activities. More than 1,750 native trees have been planted and the area surrounding is cultivated with wildlife in mind, including the owners’ bee hives.