Green Traveller

Love the photo of an idyllic swimming spot in Spain that's on the cover of the latest issue of our online magazine The Green Traveller. Wild swimming is very much part of village life in the wild and sparsely populated region of Extremadura to the south-west of Madrid. Each summer across the region, selected rivers are dammed using boards between metal beams set into the riverbed to restrict the flow downstream and create large deep pools for people of all ages to gather to chat, swim and relax. Read more about this beautiful region in GINNY LIGHT's article that's accompanied by a selection of beautiful photos (including the cover shot) by Barcelona-based photographer Christopher Willan taken during the media trip that the three of us went on this summer (with thanks to Jesús Ruiz for all his help in organising this trip). Also in the magazine is a lovely feature – and my embedded video – on community-based conservation in Belize by travel writer Meera Dattani (with thanks to Panos Papadopoulos and Natalie Wilson for all their help setting up this trip), an article sustainable comms guru Nicola Forsyth and I wrote about our trip to Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwest France, in collaboration with Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine (thanks to Marine Teste at AtoutFrance United Kingdom - Ireland and Paola Deleris for all their help with this collaboration and setting up the trip), and an article by Rhiannon Batten on how (and why) she took our 11 year-old son overland to Corfu for a traditional Mediterranean holiday without flying (with thanks to Chris Wright for his help with our stay on the island). I've also written and produced a video about a trip I went on with my family by train to the Haute Alpes for an action-packed multi-activity holidays in this lesser-known mountainous region of France, organised by the pioneering Sally Guillaume of Undiscovered Mountains France. In this issue, we've included a section on places in Britain I've recently stayed at that are going the extra mile to reduce the impact of guests' stay on the environment: Magnolia House, Rye, East Sussex, 42 Acres, Somerset, and Brook Meadow, Leicestershire (with thanks to Anthea Yabsley for setting up my visit). Rebecca Miles has also written a 'Postcard from Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve' in Estonia and Diana Jarvis's latest responsible photography feature 'Get the picture' is on the Farne Islands. Do keep an eye out for the flight-free and positive impact icons throughout the magazine that distinguish between those trips that can be reached overland with those that can bring genuine benefits to destinations through nature conservation, local community empowerment and humanitarian aid. With huge thanks to designer Claire Gates and editor Rebecca Miles for helping to put together this inspiring issue. https://lnkd.in/ePZD5vry

Fantástico artículo de Richard Hammond de Green Traveller en el que comparte su experiencia y las maravillas de viajar en tren por #España - el precioso vídeo que ha creado lo demuestra. Contamos con una gran infraestructura a la que sacar gran partido en la descarbonización del #turismo.

I've published an article on how Spain is embracing the rail renaissance given the ‘open access’ liberalisation of the European rail network. There's no doubt that increased competition among rail operators (especially on high profile routes throughout Europe) has led to improved services and reduced ticket costs. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Spain on the high-speed line between Barcelona and Madrid, which is now served by four operators. Single tickets for the 2.5 hour, 386 mile journey can be snapped up for as little as €7. The success of these services has led to increased competition on other high-speed lines in Spain, for instance, OUIGO has since expanded to include Madrid–Valencia and Madrid–Alicante. These operators are also capitalising on Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network – with over 3,400km of track, it’s the longest network of high-speed lines in Europe (and second only to China in the world), with AVE trains (Alta Velocidad Española) linking all the major cities, including Barcelona, Granada, Madrid, Murcia, Malaga, Seville, Valencia and Zaragoza, as well as connecting with France's high-speed network connecting Lyon and Marseille with Barcelona, via Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan, and Girona. The article is part of a sustainable travel series featured in our new Green Traveller's Guide to Spain, which aims to showcase the best of the country’s year-round low impact experiences, encouraging visitors to use the country's extensive rail network and travel in a slower more meaningful way, stay longer and make the most of locally run adventure activities. The guide includes feature articles illustrated by our own professionally taken photos and video, which we've produced with the support of the Spanish Tourist Office in London. With thanks to visionaries Manuel Butler Halter, Ph.D. and Jesús Ruiz. Here's the article: https://lnkd.in/e3mbF4_3

Congrats to Richard Hammond and the Green Traveller team on the Autumn 2024 edition of Green Traveller magazine. Great to have been a part of this latest edition and see my words so beautifully illustrated with Christopher Willan's stunning photography. https://lnkd.in/eiiSawbY

Delighted to announce the publication of three new Green Traveller's Guides – all include features, photos and videos that aim to inspire travellers to make more sustainable choices when visiting these destinations: Green Traveller's Guide to Spain showcases the best of the country’s year-round low impact experiences, encouraging visitors to visit by train, stay longer, travel in a slower more meaningful way, and make the most of locally run adventure activities. https://lnkd.in/ekSuwa2z Green Traveller's Guide to Nouvelle-Aquitaine provides a wealth of information to hep travellers discover this beautiful part of France. Bordeaux is just two hours by high-speed train from Paris, there's Biarritz and the Pays Basque, Cognac, Pau and the Pyrenees, the Dordogne Valley, Limoges, and Poitiers, 750 kilometres of fine sandy coastline from Hendaye to La Rochelle, the vast Dune du Pilat, and islands such as Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oléron. https://lnkd.in/e2xr5yND Green Traveller's Guide to Belize: Earlier this year, Richard Hammond returned to Calabash Caye in Belize where he worked as a volunteer on a marine conservation project for Coral Cay Conservation in the 1990s. He said it was heartening to hear from Eldon August, a tourism conservation officer for the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, about how conservation has evolved since his time there and that the reef system is now being protected to promote the 'blue economy'. Richard travelled with the travel journalist Meera Dattani who has written our new Green Traveller's Guide to Belize, including two wonderful features on community based travel - one on nature conservation and another on local food: https://lnkd.in/eKUnjg8b

Read it today! Captivating issue of the new Green Traveller magazine from Richard Hammond featuring Rebecca Miles life-affirming trip to Visit Estonia, exploring and bog swimming in the Korvemaa Nature Reserve with Marilin Pehka #BalticNatureTourismAssociation #Estonia #SustainableTravel #Responsibletravel #ReconnectwithNature #BogMermaids

The Autumn edition of Green Traveller online magazine is out - featuring the eco conscious trip my colleague Richard Hammond and I took to Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwest France. You can read about how we embraced slow travel (by train, bike and kayak and on foot) and sampled many fine wines and restaurants around beautiful Bordeaux and through the delightful Dordogne via the link below. https://lnkd.in/eUgerMcV #sustainabletravel #greentravel #ecotravel #sustainability #conscioustourism #responsibletourism

A huge thank you to Richard Hammond for managing to perfectly encapsulate our beautiful, lesser known part of the French Alps in his article, 'The other side of the mountain' in the latest edition of the Green Traveller Magazine https://lnkd.in/d5PM6m8a Have a read of the article attached for an insight into this area and be inspired! The Alps is not just Mont Blanc and Morzine!!!!! He tested the journey to the Alps by train (the night train option verses the day train option) which is something we are really trying hard to promote to our clients. We know that even though travelling by train is a far more pleasant experience than flying, it is often more expensive, so we offer a 3% discount for people travelling to us by train instead of plane. With his family they tried via ferrata, e-biking, white water rafting, canyoning and also went on two overnight hikes staying in mountain refuges. All in an action packed few days! This was in the May June half term which is a quiet and exceptionally beautiful time to visit this part of the Alps which benefits from a Mediterranean climate with 300 days of sunshine per year. The weather, unique topography and the fact that it is a very long way from being overpopulated, even in peak tourist season, mean there is an immensely rich and diverse flora and fauna to see and experience as you try different activities. We have been operating sustainable adventure and activity holidays in this area for the last 20 years and with our trusted network of local guides, accommodation providers and transporters we can pretty much put together anything you like. Check out our ready made trips and adventures on our website https://lnkd.in/dbWsh6TR or get in touch by message for a tailor made trip! #sustainabletravel #traintravel #alpsbytrain #responsibletravel #familyadventures #adventuretravel #familytravel #sustainabletourism

We were thrilled to be commissioned by Janet Uttley and Rachel McCaffery at VisitEngland to work with Rebecca Armstrong and Jane Connelly of The Travel Foundation to photograph and film this series of 10 case studies showcasing best practice in sustainability. The businesses featured are drawn from across England, from activity providers and holiday parks to museums and stately homes. Subjects range from how to retain staff and stand out from competitors, to attracting new audiences, cutting costs, and building a resilient business. The series is part of Visit England's Best Business case studies featured on its Business Advice Hub that's a tremendous resource for tourism businesses whatever stage you're at on your sustainability journey - see the link in the post below.