Responsible Travel in North Devon

Responsible travel is about minimising your impact on a destination and maximising your connection with people and the environment. It's about making a positive contribution so that you can have the most rewarding and inspiring holiday experiences of your life.

The Responsible traveller seeks relaxation, fulfilment, discovery, and adventure, valuing authenticity. You can have a fuller holiday experience, which not only benefits you but the people and places you visit. Responsible travel suits life's curious adventurers and enthusiasts.

The 5 Aims of Responsible travel are:

To protect the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes
To respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage
To benefit local communities - both economically and socially
To conserve natural resources - from office to destination
To minimise pollution - through noise, waste disposal and congestion

Responsible tips

Here are our hints on how to travel more responsibly:

Transport Options
Could you ride a bike rather than drive? Take a train rather than fly? Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions. Travel by train and public transport where possible, and minimise internal flights.

Offset your Carbon emissions
Look at offsetting your contribution to carbon emissions, so your travels are 'carbon neutral'. Read more about climate care here www.climatecare.org.

Buy local produce
Buying locally made crafts and produce means your money goes directly to the community.

Minimise your impact on fragile places
Take your rubbish home with you if it can't be properly disposed of along the way. Be aware of suggested or legal approach distances and other recommendations for observing wildlife.

Respect local cultures & traditions
Local traditions vary enormously around the world and play a large part in rural communities. By showing respect you will be respected and appreciated yourself!

Weather Report

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere Reserves are places with world-class environments that are designated by the United Nations to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. They are places where conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand.

North Devon is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve because of its blend of special landscapes and wildlife areas, rich cultural heritage and communities that care about it and want to sustain it into the future.

To find out about events, tips, trails and volunteering visit www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk

Ethical living

Climate change
Climate change is a serious environmental threat, and air travel is the fastest growing contributor to the problem.

When it comes to CO2 we all over-indulge, so to prevent the climate from deteriorating faster, we all need to work towards a low-carbon lifestyle.

Here are our hints and links for a lower carbon lifestyle:

Transport
Walk and cycle more: for info on your local walking and cycling routes visit www.sustrans.org

Drive smartly: consider driving at 60 mph rather than 80 mph on the motorway - you may use 25% less fuel.

Join a car club. There are even rural car clubs starting up, like the South Devon based www.moorcar.co.uk

Home power
8% of electricity consumed at home is from items we aren't using - so don't leave the TV and other electrical items on "standby".

Gadgets: You can now buy various items to reduce your energy use.

Kitchen kit: If you are buying new kitchen appliances, make sure they are "A-rated" as they use less energy.

Green electricity: Switch to a renewable electricity tariff - it needn't cost anything extra but shows your commitment to a renewable future.

Green lighting: energy efficient lamps are now available for most types of fitting. For a wide selection online try Efficient Light.

In the home
Give your home some extra layers, and help keep more of that heat you're paying for. The Energy Saving Trust (www.est.org.uk) provides advice on this. You can also install items such as solar water heaters and micro-wind generators, these can provide for much of your home energy needs.

Food
Buy food grown locally wherever possible - this cuts down on the air miles.

Vegetable box schemes: Visit our food producers page for more info >>.

Farmers markets: See our markets page for times >>

Eat organic! Organic food is less reliant on fossil fuels for its production. www.soilassociation.org

(Facts from www.climatecare.org)

Campaign
Join the movement to encourage our government and communities to take action for the climate: www.stopclimatechaos.org