The ´Camino to Rome’ image@freepik
Holidays with a difference
The Camino to Rome
Sophie reports from a four-day walk with her sister, the first 80 km of this famous 1,800 km route:
“We set off from Canterbury Cathedral and walked to Dover in two days, then hopped on the ferry to Calais, from where we headed west to Wissant and then south to Guines. I loved the simplicity of walking 6-8 hours each day on a predetermined route. Nothing to think about or decide, just wake up, make a picnic, pack rucksacks and set off. No point in leaving early, or hurrying, as the end is the end. Not knowing the route was also a pleasure; we didn’t know which bits were going to be hilly, or tough, or windy, or easy. We didn’t expect it all to be a dream, and so in the end we appreciated everything as it came.”
Travel Costs: £90 per person via coach, taxi, ferry, and train. 700 miles return trip (starting from Devon).
Emissions: 57kg CO2 per person (Premium economy flight 264kg CO2 for the same distance)
Electric car to France
Tom, Rachel, Arthur and Monty (not shown in photo) drove from North Devon to Bordeaux by electric car for a two week self-catering holiday. They set off well-loaded with surfboards and bicycles, but what is it really like to go long distance with an E.V?
“The E.V. has a range of 300 + miles, but I expected this to be less given the load weight, and I took some time to plan the recharge stops on the 900-mile journey. We charged in Plymouth before boarding the overnight ferry. The journey through France went smoothly, stopping every two hours or so to top up the EV. All the charging points were found within traditional motorway service stations, and charging times were 30 minutes, perfect to stretch legs and refresh. The holiday park also had four charge points which were free! Driving an EV is like floating on air with no engine noise, and we made regular stops for good French refreshments. I can honestly say it was our happiest family holiday and knowing the journey was low impact made us feel great. “
Travel costs: £840 for a family of four, EV charging, ferry and overnight hotel. 1,800 miles return.
Emissions: 106kg CO2 per person (Premium economy flight 1,087kg CO2)
UK to Italy by train
Claire and Roger trained from England to Italy, stopping at Paris and Lake Constance en route. We asked Claire why she loves trains so much:
“Travelling by train gives me a sense of adventure and I like to soak up new landscapes and sights. My thoughts and imagination are captured by the things out of the window – there’s so much to see, even as a fleeting snapshot. It’s also more relaxed, making the process of getting there so enjoyable. I once read Carbon Savvy saying ‘Your holiday starts when you get OFF the plane, but it begins when you get ON the train.’ For me that’s the difference between flying and taking a train – flying feels stressful for days before the departure, whereas a train trip is something to look forward to.”
Travel costs: £630 for two people by train. 2,500 miles return.
Emissions: 53kg CO2 per person (Premium economy flight 1,504kg CO2)
For planning train travel across the continent or the world, visit: Seat61.com
Tall ship to the Caribbean
Mel and Steve went from the UK to Puerto Rico by train, ferry and tall ship. How was it to cross the Atlantic under sail?
“We sailed with ‘Star Clipper tall ship cruising’ from Lisbon to Barbados, it was a really big adventure and though expensive the accommodation for 16 -20 days was 5 star. We saw thousands more stars than we had ever seen before. We loved spotting whales and dolphins and in the Caribbean, thousands of flying fish. If you’re thinking of doing it, book early with Star Clippers to get the cheapest cabin. The night navigation talks are great, and spend time on deck for the best chance of spotting wildlife.”
Travel costs: £3,741 per person and 36 nights at sea for the voayge both ways. Approx 13,000 miles return.
Emissions: Approx 2,177 kg CO2 per person (Premium economy flight 7,694kg CO2)
UK to Bermuda by sailing yacht
Charlotte hitch-hiked on yachts to Bermuda to visit her grandmother. We asked for her top tips on crewing across the Atlantic:
“My main aim was to travel as sustainably as I could, but by sailing I also had incredible adventures on the way! If you’re thinking of doing it, my top tips: Volunteer as a yacht crew for a few trips locally first; don’t be put off by sea sickness – it wears off after a few days at sea; you’ll need to be very time flexible; read ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Oceans’ by Alison Muir Bennett, and look up yacht passages at crewseekers.net. Actual travel time was roughly 6 weeks travelling there in October/ November, and 4 weeks return in May/ June.”
Travel cost: £10-£15 per day contribution to food and expenses. Approx 12,000 miles (from UK to Bermuda via Gran Canaria and St Lucia, and returning direct via the North Atlantic.)
Emissions: Around 345kg CO2. (Premium economy flight 7,102kg CO2)
