Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Dec 4

Walk your way into the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

We all have many pairs of shoes – but are we thinking about their eco impact? We buy Fairtrade clothes, eco friendly materials, organic cottons and the like – but what about our footwear?

Do you own any shoes that you could call eco friendly shoes?

Probably not. But now there are some on the market that you could buy – and they are by a well-known footwear specialist!

Timberland Shoes:
This outdoor shoe and boot specialist – with a high street name – have come up with the perfect eco friendly shoe and boot which could possibly be a first for mainstream footwear.

And it’s not only the shoe that is eco friendly – the box is too!

Plus – the sole of these shoes is totally natural and reusable – something that isn’t always the case in other eco friendly footwear (where the ‘upper’ is usually holding all the eco credentials!).

Yes – leather is technically ‘natural’ in all leather shoes – but with artificial and damaging dyes, glues and solvents used – they aren’t so good for recycling!

The sole of these shoes is a solid mass of natural latex rather than multiple layers or man-made materials glued together, and is filled with a spongy layer made of coconut husks to act as a natural shock absorber!

And as all 3 component parts are minimally treated – they will all decompose naturally into the environment if they are not recycled into new products.

Their Afterlife:
Not only are they great ecological shoes in the first place – but they have a very eco friendly after life too.

They have been designed to be taken apart into their basic parts very easily so that the individual bits can be used again if possible – for example to make new shoes!

By grating down the latex sole – new soles can be created and the leather can be reused for other products.

The coconut husks are also used for creating their unique ‘shoe-box’ unit that is a sturdy carrier for the shoes – as well as totally biodegradable if left in the right conditions. Being made of 60% husk and 40% latex – these boxes can be used for plant or vegetable trays which when planted out into the ground will naturally break down allowing the produce to root into the soil naturally.

Yes, the traditional cardboard will sort of do the same thing – but cardboard involves cutting down the whole tree – whereas both coconut husk and latex can be harvested while leaving the tree itself still alive and well!

Conclusion:
Well, you can now feel totally at ‘eco ease’ when buying and wearing shoes like this – not only will you eco adventure itself be eco friendly – but your shoes will have had virtually no impact on the environment at all!

Oh, and one last thing – by using the design of their shoes to it’s full potential – you can have shoes and boots in the same package!

Imagine the traditional loafer design with the threaded edge around the opening – now imagine ‘sewing’ on a high top that will instantly transform your shoes into a pair of boots! 

2 eco pairs for the price of 1!

For this new range, Timberland have joined forced with Po Zu – a well established ecological footwear specialist with a whole range of indoor, outdoor and convertible shoes, slippers, sandals and boots!

posted by Catherine on Nov 26

Should you use your waste cardboard and string for kids art sessions?

You often see people giving their kids all the waste packaging from their home to then glue together into ‘only a mother could love’ monsters, castles and flowers, covering them in glitter and ribbon along the way.

But this highlights a serious conflict between the 3 eco R’s.

There is also the enjoyment of your kids to consider, as they no doubt enjoy creating all sorts of things from nothing – and of course spending time with their parents and friends as a part of that.

But should their eco adventures be less wasteful?

ReUse:
Lets kick off with the reusing aspect of this.  Yes, it’s great that out of used boxes, birthday cards, toys, clothes and all – kids can create something that they like and want to give to their parents.

Rather than just throwing them out – your kids can have a go at creating something truly unique.  Maybe making a dress for your teddy out of an old T-shirt would be 1 of the better choices for a creative session, but it is more likely to end up just making a total mess of your dining table, with bits of paper, string, cloth and various pom-poms all over the place and a nasty looking piece of ‘art’ that you will leave on the fridge for a few weeks.

Recycle:
Now, how can you recycle all that perfectly recyclable paper, plastic, string and clothing when it’s all covered in glue, ink, ribbon and glitter?

You can’t.  You will have to throw it all away instead.

Unfortunately once you have added glue and glitter to paper and cardboard etc, you can no longer recycle them – and I doubt they would go down too well in the compost heap either?

They will have become landfill goods.

photo credit: nicksarebi

Reduce:
If you are trying to buy products with less packaging in the first place, then why would you be trying to save enough packaging to make creative monsters?

And why would you be keeping hold of loads of clutter in the home waiting for a creative day.  Why would you have too many old clothes or plastic bottles sitting around.

You could, I suppose, reduce the need for more practical things by designing new things out of old that actually have a practical use like a clothes peg bag from an old tea-towel.  Making a funny-shaped vegetable id peg out of old bottles, birthday cards out of old cards, or creating a brightly coloured draught excluder out of old socks and stuff.

As then it is helping to prevent you buying something new, rather than creating useless – but pretty – novelty!

It might sound a bit harsh to say kids can’t do these things – but just think about making something useful instead.  It can be just as fun designing something that is actually of use as it is to create something to be thrown away!

posted by Catherine on Nov 19

Rather than investing in gold or oil – why not invest in the planet?

When you have some ‘spare’ money – you tend to run to the bank with the best APR or whatever – planning for your future obviously.

But aren’t you forgetting about what ‘investment’ actually means?

If the money at the end of your pension is all you want to invest in – then I hope you don’t mind giving up a few things along the way; like rainforests, rural communities, biodiversity and everything else that we are trying to save at the moment!

What sort of holiday do you think you will be spending all your savings on when you retire in 30 years if the sea levels have risen, all the coral has died, countries are at war over resources and people in the developing world can’t afford to eat?

The Baddies?
Well, that would be you wouldn’t it?  Big ‘Bad’ businesses still need to go on - I mean we still need oil and coal to run just about everything we own at the moment (just think of everything you need that doesn’t need or run on electricity or petrol/diesel)!  So at the minute they are not baddies through choice – but you are.

You can make a decision to spend your money on green and eco investments and technologies – and by doing so you are helping to make the alternatives the new mainstream.  If people want change then businesses will make changes.

We take care to only buy things that we approve of, and check whether it’s sustainable, fair trade or organic – but we seem to forget this all when we use banks! 

Think Ahead:
By asking your bank or financial advisor where your money will be invested – or actually seeking out an eco investment in the first place – you could actually be making your future a whole lot better.

Like with timber schemes.  By using your ‘spare’ money to grow hectares and hectares of young trees for timber you will not only be making a nice return on your investment – you will also be preserving that woodland and the animals and plants that live there and creating a carbon sink (where the growing trees absorb and store CO2 from the environment).  It will also be creating a sustainable and natural supply of building materials as well as a whole host of employment opportunities.

And of course, if you are using this land for wood production – then you don’t need to raid wood from actual forests.  By growing a variety of soft and hardwoods from scratch – you can divert attention away from illegally logging ancient woodlands and raiding pristine forests.

Kerr-ching!

posted by Catherine on Nov 12

If you take packaging out on a walk with you – it could become litter in a gust of wind!

Looking at the types of litter left strewn across the countryside these days – it’s quite easy to see how it could be avoided.

‘More Litter Bins’ some of you shout out – but you would be wrong.  Well, wrong in the eco sense, as litter bins actually create more litter by being there – as well as a possible fire hazard, foreign body in the natural world, eyesore, potential disease harbourer as well as the huge – and rather unnecessary energy costs involved with creating, locating, emptying and maintaining every litter bin.

Yes, a dog poo bin has all the same energy costs – but you really can’t avoid creating or disposing of dog poo – other than not having a dog in the first place.  Even if you feed you dog premium dry food to reduce the volume of stool created – they will still need to ‘go’ several times a day.

However, human litter outside can be almost totally avoided – and there are easy things you can do to make sure that it is not you and your family creating it!

Reduce The Amount:
Since when did we need to wrap up a sandwich/roll/wrap/pastry in clingfilm or foil?  Not only is it a non-reusable wrapping option, it may well cause your sandwich etc, to get squished!

Depending on where you are storing your lunch – this could be a problem.  Both foil and clingfilm aren’t air-tight – and will result in your food being loosely distributed around your bag!

And why do we now need cheese wrapped up in it’s own little packet instead of just a lump of cheese?

A lot more people are now buying in bulk – so using more lunch boxes is getting quite the trend!  A box of raisins and a box of cucumber slices inside a large lunchbox with your chicken wrap!

The Take Home Effect:
By making your lunch worth more to you – you are also increasing the chances of taking all your litter home.

For example, you aren’t going to throw your lunch boxes away in the countryside are you – whereas if you were left sitting outside with a screwed up piece of foil in your hand with mayo all over it – you aren’t likely to want to put in in your pocket and take it home are you?  Same goes for any left-over food and other packaging.

Food is messy – so what better solution than a sealed in, solid, airtight plastic tub to store it all in until you get to a bin?

I myself wouldn’t want to carry home a banana skin in my bag or an empty crisp packet in my pocket due to the mess this could cause – but if you haven’t taken a rubbish bag or lunchbox with you to put them in – then I can see why some people would just throw them away.

The Worst Part?
Having seen the results of litter droppers all over the countryside – I have noticed that they seem to share a common trait – they throw it away from them rather than just drop it on the floor.

Now as you can imagine, they do this so that no one can obviously see that the litter is where they just were and so can’t lay the blame on them – but off the path, over a hedge, into a bush and under a tree are the worst places to leave you rubbish.

Not only will it be more difficult there to be picked up by passers-by – but it could quite well go unnoticed by local volunteers and litter-pickers for months or even years. And in that time it is a constant threat to wildlife and the environment.

Whether it is a tin or bottle that could trap a mammal, a string or thread which could get caught around a birds leg or a material that degrades down and release chemicals into the water table!

Box it, bag it or bin it!

posted by Catherine on Nov 2

By paying upfront – you are more likely to take part in local events!

If you get home from a long day at work – the last thing you normally want to do is then pay to go out with a friend to the movies or to eat.

However, what if that meal was already part paid for – or there were lots of other people you know going to see that film?

You might think differently.

Basically, I am trying to get you to think about joining a membership scheme for something local – or national – that you really like or want to get involved in more.

Why?  Because there are too many people out there saying ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to do that’ or ‘I haven’t really got the time to….’ – and this needs to change.

Local Groups:
Say for example you had joined your local cinema or theatre group by paying a small joining fee.  Yes, you will get all the benefits of newsletters and priority booking and seating – but you will also get a discount on viewings.

Hopefully this should be more of an incentive to get out more often in your own town and meet up with friends.

And, if you are out in town with a few friends, then you are more likely to use local services like restaurants, bars and taxis – all great for your community.

And it won’t seem like a drag each time as you will know the seating, the entry times and the best nights to go!

National Groups:
In the same way that local services benefit from your membership – so do more distant organisations.

For example, if you want to help preserve wetlands or historic houses and gardens but there are none in your town, then joining a membership scheme that supports their work directly will help them get things done.

This way, when you do decide to travel further afield on a weekend or day off – you are more likely to be able to go and see the very thing you have been preserving from your own home.

I mean, how can you go and visit a wetland if it is not there anymore due to lack of funding?  And that historic house won’t be open to the public if there isn’t enough money to pay the electricity bill for it!

So, Join Up:
So, if it’s just cheaper cinema tickets you want or a greener countryside – find out who is working in your area and the memberships or offers available – and think about joining.

Most schemes work out at just a few pounds a month – so its not like you will spend a fortune on anything – but it might just liven up your evening or weekends if you got a bit more involved.

posted by Catherine on Oct 22

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Spring is in the air – and you might not ever have to be again!

One of the largest and most comprehensive adventure travel shows is back on the schedule – and gives you plenty of time to start your own research into your next eco adventure!

If you are thinking about a volunteer Gap Year, a few months independent green travel, starting a career in travel writing or just trying something totally different – then the Outdoor Adventure Travel Show 2011 in London is the place you should really be planning for.

Not only are there travel companies galore to visit, but there are also writing and photography seminars, travel clinics and discount clothing and equipment all waiting in 1 place for you.

Who Can You Ask?
If you are thinking about trying something a little bit ‘new’ or stepping out into the wide world for the first time, then you should really get several opinions on locations, projects and transport from experts.

Not just a travel agent – as they tend to sell package deals and flights only – if you want a real eco adventure or to try out some green travel packages, then you need to speak to the people who specialise in that.

In the same way that a car salesman can’t give you the best advice to drive around the world and an estate agent can only give you a few general tips on how to spot an eco home - a high street travel agent can’t really offer green advice based on experience.

You need to weed out the ‘generalists’ and look for the specialists.

The Plan:
Needless to say – if you just turn up to this event on a whim you will still have a great time and gets lots of great information – but you won’t really be gleaming the best of the best.

As the show isn’t until January 2011 – you have 3 months to get researching yourself.  Find out what possible dates are for travel; which countries or regions you are hoping to travel to – and how you plan to get there.

That way you have a rough plan in mind before you come face to face with the experts!  What if there is a great deal on a trip to Asia – but you hadn’t looked into opportunities in that area before – you might go away feeling like you have to start all over again.

What if you had been thinking about travelling from A to B to C – but then find out that you had the seasons all wrong and it will be the rainy season in the tropics - or the dry season when you arrive at fjords or great waterfalls!

If you have your plan already set out in your head, then you can bend and twist that plan once you have discussed a few things.  If you have no plan at all when you arrive then you could be quite overwhelmed – maybe even coming away from the show with 15 years worth of travel ideas rather than the 6-month trip you were hoping for!

The Dates:
Well, the show isn’t until the end of January, so you have plenty of time to get some of your basics together.

Whether it’s toying with a new language, thinking about a route across the globe or worrying about your carbon footprint – start putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and get some sort of structure to your plan.

Check on the Adventure Show website and see what’s on offer and which lectures or workshops might be of use to you in advance and start to give your eco holiday a backbone.  Maybe even set out a budget in advance and plan to buy the things you need at bargain show prices!

posted by Catherine on Oct 20

Skiing can be a great eco holiday choice if you go to the right places!

Obviously, if you have a ski resort close to your home – then it will be a far better eco holiday choice than one in the sun on the other side of the world!

It’s far better to go to a ski center that is only a drive away rather than a flight; such as an Oregon ski trip for those in the States.  Rather than travel all those carbon miles to Europe or Chile – stay home! 

An eco adventure in the snow is also more likely, as there are animals and birds that you might not see if you travel to warmer climates – or travel to other continents even.

The Wildlife:
Some wildlife species that live in colder climates or up at high altitudes don’t get so many visitors and admirers as say dolphins and turtles – but they are equally important for biodiversity and the environment.

By visiting these areas on your vacation – you can be indirectly helping to make sure that they stay there. And this goes for plants and trees too!

There are certain plants and trees in and around ski resorts that are necessary to actually create the ski resort in the first place! Without certain land formations, plant cover and wildlife habits – the snow may lay differently, not settle on mountain sides – or be trampled before you get on the slopes.

And the fresh snow is great for finding animal footsteps!

photo credit: razvan.orendovici

The Resorts:
Some ski resorts do get a bit of bad press about the stresses that they put on the local area – but other smaller or less ‘tourist hotspots’ locations can give you equally great skiing – but without the eco disaster trail!

By searching for local ski centres, as well as discount ski vacations in your area (as new or expanding companies like to offer promotions), you could find a real gem of a resort or location – that is under-crowded!

Also, they may well be only just starting to make their business eco friendly – and you could help them with that! By making suggestions and acting responsibly – you could help shape their policies with regards to their eco activities.

By asking about their waste and recycling facilities, and showing a keen interest in the local landscape and nature – you could infact encourage them to offer certain services in the the future.

I mean if you ask then to show you the local geysers/mountains/forests/wolves/bears/waterfalls/etc are – then they will know that this is an area where they could improve the customer services they offer in an eco sense. And to offer a wildlife service – you need to make sure that the wildlife is there!

Needless to say – if you offer a whale watching tour you want all the whales to be healthy to make a living – so you might make sure that the water isn’t polluted and no new mines or factories open up in the area. The same can go for all wildlife – people keep an eye on them to make sure that they are OK!

The Equipment:
And finally – all that ski equipment you need. Well most great ski resorts – like in Oregon – have plenty of ski shops – crammed full with different equipment.

Whether you want to buy your own eco-label goods when you arrive, or whether you want to hire the larger items (to save the hassle of transporting them to site) – you can.

Obviously there are plenty of other services available at these resorts – and you can be as eco friendly as you want to be while you are there.

Whether you try to eat only the local foods and fresh caught game or whether you plumb for self catering and supply all your own foods is entirely up to you. Heated rooms by flame or by electricity – again – it’s all down to you.

Just remember that a holiday close to home is already more eco friendly than any other holiday – regardless of what environment you are in.

posted by Catherine on Oct 7

Nobody likes paying for a car park – but you aren’t paying for the parking bay!

We seem to get so annoyed about paying a few pounds for a parking space – particularly if we aren’t going to be a long time there – but we should turn this thing on it’s head if we want to be eco about it!

Don’t forget – there is a car park right where you are becasue there is a reason you want to be right where you are – and usually so do a whole load of other people.

It is usually a beauty spot, close to a historic building, the coast, a river, a church, museum, or some other natural or man-made feature which you want to visit.

However, why is that feature still there and so beautiful and clean – and why is that car park there and litter-free?

The Car Park:
Needless to say the car park is there because of the nearby feature – having possibly evolved over time from a grass verge, to a layby, to a proper carpark – and no doubt has been ‘taken over’ by a local group or national company or charity.

So, why do you think it is still there today?

Because someone has been looking after it!  Most likely somebody or some group have been keeping it tidy and litter-free, mowing the grass, removing trees or large hedges to keep this space clear for cars. 

They may well have altered the road-side entrance to prevent car damage on high kerbs or to eliminate congestion or to reduce the risk of dangerous parking on the road or near junctions, etc.

Now, don’t you think that they should be paid for their efforts?  They have made sure that you can easily park close to the castle you want to visit; they have helped keep clear land close to the footpath you want to use to get to the beach; they have put up signs to inform you of the local amenities and historic landmarks. 

They may well have made it accessible for wheelchairs and prams for example – or put in raised walkways, sign posts and even something as basic as footpaths.

Sometimes they are only asking for 50p or a £1 for their efforts.  But for some of the larger sites this could be £2 or more for the whole day as there is more to do there.

The Thing You Went To See:
Now, say that these people didn’t bother to create you a nearby parking space.  You would have to park some distance away from that church or castle, or there is nowhere close by to park at all and so you will not be able to visit where ever you are hoping to go without enduring a really long walk or bus ride instead!

And, some of these beauty spots don’t even need to be open to the public at all!  They may well be on private land where the landowners have granted permission for visitors to park there on the premise that they pay a small fee for the privilege to help maintain the gardens/house/landmark etc.

Basically the reason you want to park here is because there is something close by that interests you and makes you drive all the way to the car park in the first place.

So what harm is there is paying for your experience?  If you want this beauty spot to be here every time you come here – then surely someone has got to pay for it to be maintained and staffed as necessary.

You can’t afford to pay for the whole thing yourself – or look after it yourself – so why not pay a small contribution towards a company or charity that can.

That way – everytime you come here – you get to see something beautiful.

It Was Free Before!
I know we seem to have to pay for everything these days – but that is because we now realise the damage we were doing before by NOT doing anything.

Erosion of land by inappropriate or non-existant footpaths; plant damage by over-grazing – or not grazing at all; damage to buildings or structures where no guidelines or safety information were in place; and all manner of things that were ‘fine’ 20 years ago are no longer deemed so.

And installing footpaths, lighting, information, safety wardens, flocks of livestock, car park attendants, information kiosks, litter bins, blah, blah, blah – they cannot possibly be done for free.

So you may well have been ‘coming here for 35 years’ – but now we are improving the site and correcting the damage from people like you who have been using the site for the past 35 years – possibly without a care for the future.

We Are All Individuals!
Now I’m not saying that everyone who goes anywhere is going to deliberately cause damage – but 35 years ago, no-one in their right mind would even think about picking up their dog poop in the countryside!

Infact even today – when people are paying for the honour of parking so close to a natural landscape like a river or steep valley – they still think it is OK to drop litter!

It amazes me that people still drop litter anywhere anyway – let alone drive all the way to a delightful countryside carpark near something amazing to drop it there.

But then I suppose if they brought a ticket – at least they are paying someone to pick it up for them afterwards!

posted by Catherine on Oct 1

Your dad may well have got something right on those old family road trips!

You know the story – waiting for hours while your dad planned out everything, checked the car over and generally (from your side anyway) delayed the whole ‘leaving’ thing.

However, he could actually have been saving you a whole bunch of time and been protecting the environment along the way?

Planning ahead can really make all the difference to a smooth and eco friendly road trip – and avoid unnecessary waste!

So, maybe it’s time to take a leaf out of his book!

The Journey:
Getting yourself a good map of the main roads from your home to the places you hope to visit is the best starting point.

Not only can you see the quickest route between any 2 points on the main roads, but you can also see any beauty spots or trouble spots before you even think about the journey.

Driving during rush hour also needs to be avoided – but not at the cost of country lanes and the associated extra mileage, gear changes and potential hazards.  Maybe plan the time you travel rather than just the route!

photo credit: YayAdrian

Even knowing where the main services are can save resources.  If you know how much fuel you use over a certain distance than plan to find a services in advance.  If you leave it to low and get caught in traffic or have to follow a diversion – you could then have to divert again and stress yourself out looking for a fill-up!

The Vehicle:
Find out your best driving speed in your chosen vehicle to make sure that you reduce the cost of fuel and add stress to your journey by worrying about be overtaken all the time.  By setting yourself a target speed – you can focus on the journey itself rather than the hi-speed politics of the road.

Also, by distributing the weight in and on your vehicle to best suit the car you can reduce friction and drag on the vehicle making your car move more efficiently and safely in adverse weather or high speeds. 

Find out whether a roof rack is better or worse for bikes than a rear-mounted fixture, or whether luggage is better situated inside the car – like an extra person – crammed in the boot, or spread out over the top of the car in an ergonomic rook box.

If you only have a small vehicle and a long journey ahead of you – then hiring larger equipment when you arrive may actually be more eco friendly than carrying the extra weight of your own things for miles only to use them once!

The People:
By making sure that everyone has a part to play in the journey can make the whole thing easier on everyone.

If you plan to avoid sitting in traffic (or know alternative routes incase) and plan and tell everyone about regular toilet breaks and food stops – then there is no need for that ‘emergency’ diversion looking for services.

Make sure that younger travellers have plenty of things to keep them occupied – or travel at night to avoid added problems.  Ideally keep and adult in the back too; not only can they help with any kiddie-related problems without the driver having to take their eyes off the road or pull over – but you can keep the kids apart for the ride – reducing squabbles!

Also, make sure that whatever helps the driver to stay awake (regular stops, loud music, sugary food) is planned in to the journey and everyone is accepting of that need.  That way the driver won’t feel guilty about stopping and risk going that bit too far between breaks or driving faster to make up time!

The End!

posted by Catherine on Sep 25

Rather than plan to drive to a cute English village, or rural retreat - hop on a train!

You might have read my previous article about getting by without a car – it wasn’t a happy ending!  However, I have found a great reason to leave the car at home:

Rail Travel.

Instead of just using the train to get to work along with a few hundred other commuters early in the morning – I used the train to go to Paris for the weekend!

When you take into account the environmental cost of driving myself for miles across the countryside on windy stop-start lanes to an out of the way cottage – it was better to hop on a train which was already going the way I wanted!

To Paris We Went!
Well, lets be honest – the train was leaving the main Ebbsfleet International Station with or without me – so I wasn’t really costing the Earth any more carbon than it was already going to create on its short journey under the Channel!

photo credit: Whiternoise<

I know that a full train uses more electricity than an empty train – but still not as much energy as with everyone driving on their own.  And anyway; if you could ever find those 4 more people to share your car journey to that little secluded hotel for your break to save emissions – then it won’t be a secluded little hotel anymore!  It would be virtually full!

And, this little trip was so fast, that I arrived in France in no longer than it would have taken me to get from home down to the West Country to that hidden village – and it was more comfortable – and there was no traffic to sit in!

I still got to see all the rolling countryside of both the UK and abroad without having to worry about which side of the road I was on or whether there were any speed bumps in the road!  I just enjoyed the ride!

Be Eco Civilised:
So, maybe public transport for my shorter journeys was a complete disaster – but for longer trips it really gets the thumbs up!  I mean, you can hop on a train close to home and get just about anywhere!

Whether you arrive at the Caledonian Sleeper platform at Kings Cross to stay in a highland castle, or depart from the St Pancras Europe platform for a vineyard chateau – you won’t be disappointed.

On the long distance trains you get to buy your tickets in advance and choose your seating – and there is plenty of legroom!  There is no need to stand in the doorways either holding onto a post for dear life – it is like stepping into a hotel to some extent.

You are greeted at the desk or on boarding; your seats are clean, buffet cart is as standard – and sometimes meals are even included.  There are power points onboard, toilets are clean and the windows are huge!

There is no 2 hour check-in and security checks at every turn – and there is no need to stop for petrol or oil checks – and there is no chance at all of getting lost!

All that time and effort saved or reduced compared to other forms of transport only highlights train travel as the most eco friendly long-distance overland travel option.

What Else?
Well, due to the demands of many – there can be a certain commercial aspect surrounding the whole experience – but this doesn’t have to count against it.

For example, taking Ashford International Station as an example, these large commuter areas have started to cater for your every need – including huge shopping centres. Ashford has a huge shopping complex attached to the rail link with food, clothes and all sorts of consumables that shoppers demand in such places.  And you just need to glance at the St Pancras website (stpancras-international.co.uk) to see the terminal facilities you can use while waiting for your train!

And without these large commercial buildings – some eco friendly projects just wouldn’t get the money for their developments.  Without the financial input of large companies paying rent to these places – they just wouldn’t get built!  So go easy on the fast food chain next time you are passing, or buy your book for the journey from inside the station – as it is these companies that are funding your exciting journey!

Bon Voyage!