Thankfully, it\u2019s possible to do your bit for the planet by reducing your emissions and carbon footprint while still visiting the places you love and supporting local communities.<\/p>\n
Sustainable Practices in Alternative Accommodations in Ireland and Northern Ireland<\/h2>\n
Many of Ireland’s alternative accommodations have adopted innovative measures to minimise their environmental footprint:\u200b<\/p>\n
Ard Nahoo, Leitrim, Ireland<\/h2>\n
A Dublin couple turned a derelict cottage on 6ac into a stylish home and eco-tourism destination.\u00a0<\/strong>In 2001, Ard Nahoo opened its doors for the first time in Co Leitrim, setting up as a health farm promoting a healthy and balanced way of life.<\/p>\n \u201cBack then, health farms were about nibbling on lettuce leaves and losing weight,\u201d says owner Noeleen Tyrrell. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t what we wanted to do. We wanted to promote a healthy and balanced life through yoga, therapies, relaxation and the great outdoors. Just spending a few nights away from the bustle of the real world had a restorative power for our guests, as it continues to do today.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/shorturl.at\/88u52<\/a><\/p>\n In 2001, ecotourism wasn\u2019t a term many people were familiar with. But Ard Nahoo was a trailblazer in this area, with Tyrrell serving on many eco-tourism boards and working groups, including the Greenbox and Leitrim Tourism. When the business expanded in 2007, the works included a groundbreaking eco-build, using a sustainable architect who designed environmentally sound eco-cabins and a yoga studio.\u00a0Over the years, Ard Nahoo has evolved from a health farm to a multi-faceted tourism enterprise, offering self-catering breaks in the Eco Cabins, yoga teacher training and retreats.<\/p>\n \u2018It wasn\u2019t pretty, but all we saw was its potential\u2019 \u2013from a cow in the sitting room and holes in the roof to a \u20ac750,000 retreat in Leitrim\u2019<\/em> https:\/\/shorturl.at\/PRtyl<\/a><\/p>\n Back then, there was a lot of work to do. The walls were crumbling, there were holes in the roof, and it had no windows. \u201cThere was 20 years of cow shit on the floor,\u201d<\/em> laughs Brendan. \u201cOn top of that, there had been a fire at some stage. It wasn\u2019t pretty. But all we saw was its potential.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n They were also drawn to the local community of families who had lived there for generations and the area\u2019s high count of musicians, artists and filmmakers. \u201cIt was just perfect,\u201d adds Noeleen. \u201cAnd when we found the cottage, despite its raw state, we felt it had something magical about it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With the help of local craftsmen, they set about developing a two-story, three-bedroom family home. They rebuilt walls, laid down floors, crafted windows, and installed central heating. What makes this property special, however, is that it incorporates parts of the old cottage in its structure and has been designed with a classy boho vibe.<\/p>\n https:\/\/shorturl.at\/PRtyl<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a lot of money, but we selected carefully with what we had, and we had a lot of items made specially for the house. I think that gives it its unique look,\u201d<\/em> says Brendan.<\/p>\n In 2000, the couple began developing an eco-tourism retreat centre at their home. Noeleen has been teaching yoga here for 30 years. In addition to the main house, there\u2019s a versatile timber-built venue comprising an entrance hall and reception area, a large yoga studio and function room, a dining area, a kitchen, a hot tub, a sauna deck, a steam room, showers, a changing room, and two treatment rooms.\u00a0Also on the six-acre site are three wooden eco cabins for guests, which can sleep up to 17 people.\u00a0Our green policy is incredibly important to us, so you can be assured that all of our Eco Cabins are\u2026<\/p>\n https:\/\/fivestar.ie\/self-catering\/Dromahair-Retreat\/<\/a><\/p>\n The original stonework is evident in most of the rooms inside the house. \u201cThe house was covered in plaster when we bought it, so the first thing we did was to chip away at it to expose the original stone,\u201d says Brendan.\u00a0This works well with the wooden doors and polished wooden floors, and single walls painted in bold matte colours like purple or turquoise add vibrancy. There\u2019s a good balance of traditional and modern design throughout.<\/p>\n The Salthouse Hotel is a 24-bedroom luxury eco-hotel with six eco-lodges, a spa, and a bar-restaurant situated on private lands in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, an area famous for its salt pans. The carbon-neutral hotel stands in its own private grounds surrounded by the natural beauty of the coastline to Fairhead and beyond.<\/p>\n Renewable Energy Sources<\/strong>: Establishments like The Salthouse Eco Hotel in County Antrim harness wind and solar power, ensuring a minimal carbon footprint without compromising luxury. \u200bhttps:\/\/carboncopy.eco\/initiatives\/the-salthouse-hotel<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture3.png\")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture5.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Salthouse Eco Hotel in County Antrim, Northern Ireland<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture6.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/epicstays.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture7.png\")
<\/p>\n