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Green Holidays
We really loved Dittiscombe and in particular the sensitive way you have developed the valley.
Fresh air, stunning views, wildlife watching, quality accommodation and food that speaks of the local area – these are the ingredients for a great green holiday in South Devon. We care that these natural assets are preserved for the enjoyment of our visitors, for the quality of life for our family, and for the good health and well being of the local community.
So with a little bit of imagination, some practical solutions, lots of enthusiasm and a willingness to embrace new things, we hope to minimise the impact our business has on our area, and to encourage our visitors and suppliers to join us in taking eco-action. Here are just some of the ways we are trying to do this.
Nature & Wildlife – our specialist subject
We have a rich and varied landscape in our private valley – all maintained and managed for the enjoyment of our guests. There is a nature trail, ponds and a stream, a woodland, meadows and wildflower banks - all on the doorstep of the cottages. And we provide wildlife guides and books so that guests, if they wish, can identify and record the plants and animals that they see.
For more information please click to enlarge the nature map and link to our Nature & Wildlife and Gardens pages.
Car Free Days Out
Walking is a wonderful past-time in South Devon and we are blessed with a spectacular piece of South West Coast Path from which walkers can drop down to coves and beaches, lighthouses, pubs, cafes, and freshwater lakes. Many of the walks are dog-friendly.
Once guests have settled into their cottages we offertwo car-free suggestions: Taking time to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Dittiscombe nature trail, guests can discover the woods, stream-fed ponds and open or shady places with benches, picnic tables and bird-viewing areas along the way; A little further afield but also car-free is the 50-minute walk from a cottage door through leafy lanes and farmyard trails to historic Slapton village with its small shop, two excellent pubs, the freshwater lake and nature reserve and the 3-mile beach of Start Bay. We provide a map and directions for this walk in each cottage.
There are a number of different travel opportunities in the area such as the Round Robin bus, boat and steam train ride around the Totnes and Dartmouth area, as well as non-vehicular transport such as canoeing, cycling, horse-riding, sailing and surfing.
There are further transport links and suggestions on our About the area and Experiences pages.
Energy & Water
We are open all year so our cottages must be kept warm and snug during the winter months for our guests. We therefore use a mixture of heating such as Economy 7 night-storage, woodburners (using some wood sourced from our own woodland), oil and LPG gas central heating. We use rechargeable batteries, low-energy light bulbs, TRVs on the radiators, dimmer switches where possible, dusk-to-dawn and solar lighting outside.
We try to save water by using water butts for watering, planting dry-loving plants, shrubs and hanging baskets, installing dual flush toilets, tap aerators, water-pressure reducers and eco shower heads.
Don’t let Devon go to waste
To reduce the amount of landfill in Devon we ask our guests to help with recycling waste products such as bottles, newspapers and magazines, cans, plastic bottles, Tetrapaks, and kitchen waste which is made into garden compost. We supply biodegradable kitchen waste bags and dog waste bags, and recycled or biodegradable bin liners in the cottages.
Keeping it Clean
We have in excess of 800 visitors annually, wash perhaps 2,000 kilos of laundry and do over 250 changeovers a year!
Amongst other things we use non-phosphate laundry powder, a steam cleaner, micro cloths, and lots of elbow grease!
Buy Local, Eat Local
Over the last few years there has been a great swell of interest in locally produced and organic food and here in South Devon we have an abundance of excellent food producers and suppliers. We supply a Fair Trade welcome pack in each cottage and there are brochures in the cottages which guests can use to find the best sources of local food. About 2 miles from us is Stokeley Farm Shop where guests can pick up local apple juice and cider, meat and fish, fruit, cheese, smoked and dairy foods. Please see our ‘About the Area’ page for more information.
Green Footsteps
Over the course of the year we assess our environmental impact and try to take small steps to find ways of doing things better. This could be simply adding to the list of items we recycle such as offering redundant white goods and furniture to a local charity recycling scheme; installing doormouse hibernation boxes in our hazel wood; or supporting a new local supplier or charity. We take part in the Green Tourism Business Scheme and have been awarded Gold, the highest level achievable. Further information about our participation in the scheme can be found by clicking on the Green Tourism logo and by visiting their website www.green-business.co.uk.
The Feel Good Factor
If you decide to take your holiday at Dittiscombe we hope to make you feel good about what we have to offer and the way we do it. Before your arrival you may wish to look at the responsible visitor charter.
If, after your visit, you feel you have enjoyed your holiday experience please tell others about it and should you have any comments or suggestions please get in touch with us or the agencies we work with - South Hams District Council, Green Tourism Business Scheme and South West Tourism – Feel Good.