April 22 is Earth Day, a timely reminder that the planet still needs looking after by all of us. But the great thing is the days of drystone walling, sleeping on a board and weaving your own yoghurt are long gone, and you don't have to have a miserable time to have a sustainable holiday. There are tons of places to stay all over the UK where you can enjoy – even indulge – yourself, and still be kind to the environment. Here are a few of our favourites.
The Original Hut Company
Only an hour's drive from London, these lovingly decorated shepherds' huts have their own wood-burning stoves and eco-loos, there's loads of wildlife to spot, and they run foraging courses to ensure your supper is as locally sourced as possible.
The Hideaway
Get thoroughly away from it all at this beautiful farmland glampsite, with no electricity – just barbecue or camping stove cooking – candles and lanterns and hot showerds powered by a biomass boiler. Off-grid bliss.
Bivouac
Remember when people used to talk about Gucci socialism? Well, this is the eco-holiday equivalent, a chic bolthole in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales where you can sleep in a selection of wool-insulated timber shacks, yurts or 12-bed bunkhouse. They've thought of everything you might need for a luxurious, guilt-free stay, and even provide their own range of eco-friendly toiletries.
The Green House Hotel
Living up to its name in every way, this place aspires to be as green as it is stylish and comfortable, with organic toiletries, stylish wooden furniture from sustainable sources, solar-heated water, and much of the electricity generated on site – they even have their own beehives on the roof.
East View Farm Cottages
So peaceful and rural, it's hard to believe you're only a dozen miles from Norwich, and these two beautiful holiday cottages are kind to the environment too, with lots of energy-saving initiatives, including their own wind turbine in the garden, which provides much of the cottages' power.
Karma Farm
An impressive carbon-neutral, ‘earth-sheltered’ farmhouse with a turf roof and ultra-high-tech insulation. There's also a tipi and yurt, plus solar-powered showers and electricity generated on site.
Tom's Eco Lodge
Perfect, luxury, ready-erected canvas lodges-cum-tents which offer you the chance to experience the joys of eco-camping without the hassle. The lodges come complete with spacious dining rooms, cosy beds (including bunk beds and alcoves for the kids), hot showers and a flushing loo.
