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A sprawling green roof is the heart of this forest home, built by mf+aquitetos

by Linda McCormick

Designed by a Brazilian firm mf+ arquitetos, Casa Spain is a stunning forest retreat that blends natural environmental design with a modern aesthetic to create a spacious family holiday home. Located in Calas de Guisando, near Madrid, the brief for this 1,980sqm house was to be open, light, organic and welcoming. The owners wanted it to blend in with the natural habitat as subtly...

15/03/2019
Design, Featured Articles

Experience ::

Angkor Wat
Featured Articles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Top Ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites, According to Tripadvisor

With 1,073 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it's hard to choose which to visit. Luckily, Tripadvisor has made it easier by choosing the Top Ten World Heritage Sites.

06/04/2018
comments 3
baby gorilla rwanda
Africa, Conservation, Destinations, Featured Articles

Kwita Izina: Where Conservation Meets Sustainable Tourism

Written by Belise Kariza, Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board, this article looks at the annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda - Kwita Izina - and the opportunities...

20/09/2016
comments 3
merri creek community garden
Experience, Featured Articles, Reserves and Parks

Community Gardens: Your Home-Away-From-Home

Longer-term travel often means being away from friends and family for extended periods of time. Sometimes this can come as a much welcome break, but inevitably some home-sickness pangs...

24/03/2016
comments 0

Escape ::

off-grid hotel

Tubakuba :: An Off-Grid Mountain Hotel in Norway

by Linda McCormick

Looking for mountain retreat far from the madding crowd? Then maybe this 150 square-foot cabin in Bergen, Norway will appeal. Located on a steep mountainside on the outskirts of Bergen with a commanding view of the valley below, Tubakuba, or Tuba Cube, is Norway’s only off-grid hotel room.

06/03/2019
comments 0
Destinations, Europe, Featured Articles, Hotels
airbnb woodend

A Weekend in Woodend :: A Rustic Cottage Review and Mini Travel Guide

by Linda McCormick

Woodend in the Macedon Ranges has a quintessential Australian village feel. I visited for the weekend, staying in a beautiful rustic woodland cottage.

21/04/2017
comments 2
Australia, Featured Articles, Holiday Homes, Reviews, Travel Guides

5 Environmental Benefits of Staying in a Log Cabin

by Kacey Mya

The benefits of staying in a cabin go beyond great views. It's a great way to  lessen your environmental impact. From its construction to how it stores and uses energy, a log cabin is ecologically friendly in more ways than one

07/12/2016
Eco Lodges, Escape, Featured Articles

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About Eco Traveller ::

linda mccormick profile pic I’m a freelance journalist and travel writer with a passion for green living and the natural world. Originally from Northern Ireland, my obsession for travel started at a young age and has yet to abate. I’ve been diving with sharks, surf really badly and would like to sail around the Indian Ocean one day. Till then, you’ll find me in the land down under, always planning the next big trip.

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Feast ::

Australia, Conservation, Destinations, Eco Tours, Family Travel, Feast, Featured Articles

7 Reasons to Visit Noosa

On the surface, Noosa seems like any other seaside town, but there is so much more to this captivating region than sun, sea and sand. Conservation and sustainable tourism...

03/12/2015
taste of danforth
Destinations, Feast, Featured Articles, North America

Toronto Goes Greek at Taste of the Danforth

Written by :: William Branch Love Greek culture, food and festivities? Pay a visit to the Taste of the Danforth, Toronto – the biggest Greek street festival in North...

17/07/2015
fiesta gracia
Culinary Travel, Europe, Featured Articles, Spain

Discovering Barcelona’s Gràcia District

I had my first vermouth Cal Pep, a perfect example of an old-fashioned bodega where a little oak barrel at the end of the bar has a spigot ready...

10/04/2015
forrest brewing company tasting
Australia, Destinations, Feast, Featured Articles

Turkeys, Soup, Bike Trails and Beer

Two hours south west of Melbourne is the hinterland hamlet of Forrest. We visit for the day and discover why this little community nestled in the Otway Ranges is...

19/06/2014
chinatown melbourne
Australia, Destinations, Dine, Feast, Featured Articles

Discover Melbourne on a Dumpling Walking Tour

We were sitting in Shanghai Street dumpling house savouring their infamous Xiao Long Bao, which have had a cult following since day one. It was our third restaurant on...

25/02/2014
comments 6

@ecotraveller on Instagram ::

Since leaving #Melbourne I've been craving Aussie style breakfasts. They're hard to find in Bristol, but I'm on a mission to explore all the cafes in the city until my brunch cravings are sated. This yummy brekkie is care of @StWerburghsCityFarm. Poached eggs on sourdough with homemade pesto and dukkah. Bloody good coffee too! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Please, Bristolians, tell me where the best brunch spots are. Seeking cafes with great #organic, local and #sustainable goodies on their menus. Thanks! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #brunch #bristol #bitsofbristol #bristollife #igersbristol #bristolbloggers #bruncheverydamnday #poachedeggs #missingmelbourne #food #foodinbristol #bristolcafes
Surprise! After 8 years, Eco Traveller Guide is having a change of name and direction. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Welcome to Verdemode. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Verdemode will feature articles on sustainable living, ethical business and green design, along side the usual eco travel offerings - yes, I'm as passionate about that as ever. All towards shaping a more sustainable world. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you'd like to read more about why I'm rebranding, click the link in the bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'm excited! Hope you are, too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #rebrand #rebranding #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainablelifestyle #greendesign #innovativedesign #suatainablearchitecture #greentechnology #ecotravel #sustainabletravel #ethicalbusiness #greenbusiness #change #movingon #instagood #refresh #newstart #changeisgood #verdemode
Even on freezing days in #Bristol people happily sail on the river that runs through the city. Well, it's actually a floating harbour locked from the huge tides of the River Avon. I've been checking out Baltic Wharf Sailing Club. Would love to get back into sailing, and introduce the kids to it, but it's a little bit too baltic for me right now. Need to toughen up! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #bristol #visitbristol #balticsailingclub #riveravon #colouredhouses #sailing #rya #waterrat #water #floatingharbour #rivers #colouredhouses #hotwells #bitsofbristol #bristollife #instagood #instagram #igersbristol #lifeonthewater #sailingclub
Icy cobwebs are pretty spectacular. They show off the spider's hard work so well. Shame to get rid of it to be able to see in the car mirror. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #spidersweb #cobweb #nature #icycobweb #ice #spider #dew #chillymornings #natural #designer #instagood #instaice #car #blue
“At Badocks Wood ghostly windmill sails turn and like a rewound film spin through history to remote times when this was burial place for bronze aged warrior. In that landscape wolves prowled and nervy red deer grazed while hogs rooted among trees” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This 3,500 year-old Bronze Age burial mound is found in Badocks Wood, Southmead. A windmill was thought to have once stood on the mound, giving rise to the word windmill appearing in local street names. In 2002, Bristol City Council commissioned the monument as a way of defining the location of the barrow and acknowledging the wood’s history. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #badockswood #southmead #bristol #sculpture #windmill #bronzeage #burialmound #heritagesite #history #bristolhistory #westburyontrym #henleaze #art #woods #igersbristol #outoftown #northbristol #bitsofbristol
So many ice tendrils this week to explore. It never gets old. And it's always lovely to see the excitement and wonder on the kids' faces when they see how many different patterns can be made by nature. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #nature #naturalpatterns #ice #winter #icetendrils #iceferns #winterishere #instagood
It snowed! You can imagine the excitement levels in our house with two little Aussies seeing their first snow just right outside! Off to buy a sledge! #snow #snowday #snowflakes #winter #winterishere #happykids #bristol #bristollife #igersbristol #snowballs
Beautiful little ice shards on the greenery this morning. Well, I say greenery... more like weeds. Still, frost and ice makes anything look pretty, doesn't it? Hoping for our first snow this evening. #ice #frost #greenery #weeds #beautifulweeds #nature #coldmornings #coldsnap #winter #winterishere #bristol #igersbristol
Walking hand-in-hand with your little cousin. So much love and trust without a word said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cousinlove #cousins #walkinthepark #walk #nature #love #trust #stcolumbspark #winter #colddays #warmhearts
I made butter! it's crazy how happy this made me feel. Making butter with your own hands = so easy. Why don't we do it more? This little batch was made whilst standing around watching the kids at Forest School have a better education than any mainstream school can ever give them. Climbing trees, whittling wood, making cubbies, building campfires, learning to take risks and pushing boundaries. And making butter in a jar to spread on fresh campfire bread. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After making this in the forest we started making our own butter at home. All you need is organic milk and a jar with a screw-on lid. Half fill the jar and shake the contents until a ball of yellowy, beautiful butter appears. Use the buttermilk to make your own soda bread after... or get your hubby, who's much more nifty in the kitchen, to do it for you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ps. honesty nugget: the home butter making didn't last long! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Happydays #makingbutter #butter #skills #buttermilk #organic #forest #forestschool #newskills #leaves #bitwet #whocares #imadebutter #igersbristol #fallingleaves #sustainableliving #sustainable #food #verdemode
Found in our firewood pile - a sleeping butterfly. Its wings were beating slowly and rhythmically, but it seemed oblivious to us. We were going to warm it up by the heater when we realised it might be hibernating. After a bit of research, we discovered butterflies seek out places like cosy woodpiles and sit dormant over the winter. Its back in its winter hotel now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #butterfly #wings #dormant #hibernating #cosy #woodpile #firewood #leaveittonature #nature
Freezing frost and sunshine. The perfect winter's morning. What's the weather doing in your world? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #freezing #frost #trees #sunshine #nature #crispmorning #skies
When we visit Northern Ireland, we've taken to getting the train from the airport rather than hiring a car. It's such a lovely way to travel, especially with kids. Two hours on the train beats 1.5 hours in a car, every time. Even better when you're treated to perfectly still waters and a view like this leaving #Derry. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #traintravel #ditchthecar #visitderry #derry #londonderry #discoverni #northernireland #river #calm #stillwater #riverfoyle #foylebridge #travelwithkids #sustainabletravel #ecotraveller #trainjourneys #causewaycoast #trains
Another beautiful day by the #water and learning more about our new hometown every day. This is Pero’s Bridge, named after Pero Jones, who was born into slavery in the West Indies. In 1795, at the tender age of 12, Pero was bought by the slave plantation owner and sugar merchant John Pinney. He came to Bristol with Pinney when the family moved to the city from Nevis and served as his personal servant for 32 years. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Around 2,100 ships set sail from Bristol on slaving voyages throughout the slave trade, from 1698 to 1807. It’s a dark time in Bristol’s history, but important that it is remembered and slaves like Pero Jones never forgotten. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It was designed by Irish #artist Eilis O’Connell along with #Arup & Partners and opened in 1999. The horn-shaped sculptures act as counterweights for the lifting section of the bridge, which allows tall boats to pass through the floating harbour. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #perosbridge #perojones #neverforget #bristol #slavetrade #floatingharbour #harbor #harbourside #winter #igersbristol
Bristol Harbourside always looks so good. It's easy to spend hours here watching life on the water. The colourful houses look great when the setting sun hits them. Grab a seat at one of the many bars in the area and watch the colours change as the light fades. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #visitbristol #Bristol #harbourside #ferry #colouredhouses #canalboats #barges #water #instagood #igersbristol
Street Feast at @wintervilleldn Clapham Common. #streetfood #winterville #london #multicolor #igerslondon #winterfun #food
Last night I was lucky to have a sneak peek around the lucious new look #Hotelduvin at #AvonGorgeHotel with @travelmassive #Bristol. During renovations of this grand 19th century hotel some wonderful surprises were unearthed, including original stained glass windows no one knew existed. They're now a proud backdrop in reception. Downstairs in Aquam Bibe, the original tiled floor of the Turkish baths is refurbished beautifully and adds real character to this event space. In the 1880s, guests came here to drink curing waters from #Hotwells. We drank other things to cure ails last night! Thanks so much for having us @avongorgehdv. I'll be back to experience the tempting #GoramandVincent menu... and view! #travelmassivebristol #clifton #avongorge #hotelduvin #bristollife #bristolbloggers #igersbristol #aquambibe #visitbristol #visitengland #hotels #refurb #oldandnew #architecture #travel #sustainable #building #travelwriter
They really do embrace good street art and graffiti in and around #Bristol. This colourful #zebra adorns the gates at Wild Place Project, a conservation centre for wildlife. It's a great place for kids to explore... and adults. I saw a pack of wolves for the first time! They really are magnificent beasts. @wildplaceproject #wolves #wild #wildplaceproject #conservation #nature #outdoors #bristol #thingstodowithkidsbristol #explore #travel #travelblogger #ecotraveller #igersbristol #instagood #art #instagram #graffiti #animals
Museum of the Moon at The Guildhall in #Derry is a touring artwork by UK artist #LukeJerram. The internally lit sculpture measures seven metres in diameter and features detailed #NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre represents 5km of the moon’s surface. Had waves of nostalgia walking into this grand hall with the huge organ pipes swathed in multicolor. The last time I was here was for a school singing festival #feis many moons ago! #museumofthemoon #art #moon #sculpture #guildhallderry #artist #artinstallation @lukejerramartist #derrylondonderry #visitderry #discoverni @discoverni #northernireland #travel #ecotraveller #festival #derryhalloween #picoftheday #instagood #instagram #moonsofinstagram #nostalgia
What a spooktacular #Halloween parade and festival @visitderry! I haven't celebrated Halloween in Derry for over 20 years... wow, how it's changed! So much fun. Next time I'll bring warmer clothes! #derryhalloween #derry #visitderry #halloweenfestival #festival #spooky #sparkleddrummers @worldbeatersmusic #skeleton #dayofthedead #discoverni #northernireland #instagood #igers

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