Green Tourism Business Scheme gold award www.green-business.co.ukGreen Tourism Business Scheme

Dittiscombe Holiday Cottages joined this scheme in 2005 to help offset the impact that our visitors might have on the environment and local communities, and to find out how to operate the business in a sustainable way. We have to follow good environmental practices including recycling, minimise energy consumption, promote the use of public transport, and source local or environmentally sustainable supplies. Our most recent assessment in September 2009 confirmed our Gold award status (the highest award achievable) and we were commended for our commitment to sustainable tourism.

 

Dittiscombe Holiday Cottages has successfully retained their Gold Award. Their commitment to sustainable tourism is strong. With provision across all aspects of green tourism they set high standards. Information on car free activities includes excursions out from the cottages. Comprehensive details of local events, together with natural and cultural attractions, are provided in-house and on the website. Guests are encouraged to recycle with clear provision of amenities. A nature diary continues to contribute to the Wildlife Wonders survey conducted on the land. The land is managed sensitively with biodiversity and the range of habitats in mind. An excellent example of how tourism may be made more sustainable.

 

Walking the green lane to Slapton for a car-free day out.To find out more about what we are doing at Dittiscombe please visit our Green Holidays page, and for more information about the scheme and a list of other Green Businesses please visit either www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk or www.green-business.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy England

Visit England 4-Star Rating 2012

This scheme provides a set of common quality standards with the aim of making it easy to understand and to give the visitor confidence that establishments meet the standard you expect. A 4 star rating shows excellent standards throughout. Part of the standard is that all critical areas of the property - cleanliness, living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen - must each achieve a grade commensurate with the overall rating. Here is a resume from the 2012 assessment:

‘Dittiscombe Holiday Cottages retain their existing Four Stars, and the properties remain well placed within the rating banding. The cottages continue to offer their guests a very good standard of characterful, comfortable and well equipped self-catering accommodation. As a consequence of a pro-active approach to on-going investment, it is encouraging that quality standards appear to have been consistently maintained since the last assessment. Cleanliness was found to be of a very good standard which indicates that an efficient housekeeping regime is in place.

Dittiscombe Holiday Cottages provide a peaceful and rural location as well as a convenient base from which to explore the local area. Each property has been sympathetically developed, and all the buildings continue to be very well maintained externally. The surrounding grounds and private gardens are well tended and tidily presented to provide a pleasant outlook and an external seating area. Parking is available within close proximity to each cottage. Additional facilities include a communal laundry room as well as a childrens play area and nature trail etc.

All the cottages are equipped with televisions, DVD players, wifi access and new ipod docking stations as well as a collection of books, binoculars, local magazines and a detailed information folder which includes relevant details regarding the Pets Welcome Scheme.


Guests benefit from a well organised and established booking procedure which is managed by the
proprietors. All the guests are personally greeted upon arrival. Welcoming gestures include a tea tray with
tea, coffee, biscuits and a doggy bag.

Elizabeth Fry, Quality inTourism Assessor, November 2011

More information about the rating scheme can be obtained on the Visit England website: www.visitengland.org.