Saorsa 1875

Saorsa 1875, Scotland’s first vegan hotel, is now open

Make that the UK’s first 100% vegan hotel. Saorsa 1875, the project of co-founders Jack McLaren-Stewart and his mother Sandra McLaren-Stewart, officially opened on June 15. This boutique hotel in the Scottish Highlands breathes new life into a Victorian gothic baronial house built in 1875 and promises a luxurious stay within its stylish 11 rooms and carefully crafted vegan dishes by chef Luca Sordi.

Every effort was made to ensure that the establishment is truly vegan, with beddings using fabrics such as linen, cotton, and manmade fibers, and a totally plant-based menu, which includes a vegan take on haggis and locally sourced ingredients. Even the toiletries are vegan, showing that the hotel is committed to its goal of ethical luxury. Moreover, Saorsa 1875 runs on green power with the help of Ecotricity.

Another plus: Saorsa 1875 is a pet-friendly establishment, so feel free to take your pets along with you if you’re planning to holiday in the area.

Overall, Saorsa 1875 offers something different but probably overdue for vegans who want more than just a handful of options available to them. And from the looks of the hotel, even non-vegans may find themselves falling in love with its setting and its offerings.

Saorsa 1875
2 East Moulin Road
Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5DW
Contact: info@saorsahotel.com | +44 (0)1796 475217 | FB: Saorsa 1875 | IG: @saorsa1875
www.saorsahotel.com

The Deer Watch Inn

We just love B&Bs here at Green Unlimited, so every now and then, we’ll be posting about some eco-friendly B&Bs around the U.S. and around the world as well. If you know of a great B&B you think we should know about or you own an eco-friendly B&B, we would love it if you could write to us!


Rosemary Azalea room at Deer Watch InnIf you’re thinking about heading up to the Catskills in New York, consider staying at the Deer Watch Inn. The bed and breakfast is located in Greene County (appropriate) and the structure was a cottage in the 18th century, eventually becoming a boarding house and then a private residence.

The inn makes sure to provide guests with a comfortable, safe haven and keeps the environment in mind by using energy-efficient lights and appliances as well as solar panels. Rain barrels and clotheslines are also used to make its operations greener, and the inn has made the switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies. In addition, the rooms are all non-smoking and food includes organically grown produce and herbs from the organic garden within the property.

Thyme in the Country

We just love B&Bs here at Green Unlimited, so every now and then, we’ll be posting about some eco-friendly B&Bs around the U.S. and around the world as well. If you know of a great B&B you think we should know about or you own an eco-friendly B&B, we would love it if you could write to us!


Thyme in the Country I can’t express how much I love B&Bs. They’re often more like cozy, pretty, well-tended homes that are usually a far cry from what your home is like, and when you’re staying in one, you may start wondering why you can’t get your own home to look as nice. Or maybe that’s just me. But you can’t deny that many B&Bs are especially charming and the ones that are in a different location stand out and promise you a relaxing stay.

Take Thyme in the Country in the city of Hudson in Columbia County, New York as an example. Thyme in the Country is actually an 1880s farmhouse and boasts five pastoral acres. The farm is actually a working farm, and the vegetables and fruits that are part of the B&B’s organic breakfasts all come from its one-acre organic garden. They also make sure that pesticides and chemical fertilizers play no part in their farming.

It’s not only the food that makes Thyme in the Country an eco-friendly B&B. They collect rainwater which will be used for their gardens, and 66% of their electricity comes from solar panels. They also compost any food scraps. In addition, recycling plays a major part in the B&B’s operations, with recycled items–from toilet paper and tissues to fixtures and countertops–being used as much as possible. The rooms feature organic mattresses and natural fibers.

These features and the location make Thyme in the Country seem like a great place for a quick weekend getaway, where you can just relax and enjoy your surroundings. You might even want to do more than just eat and sleep here, and actually hang around and be there, without treating it as a stopover or a mere place to sleep.

Cottage Lodge in England

We just love B&Bs here at Green Unlimited, so every now and then, we’ll be posting about some eco-friendly B&Bs around the U.S. and around the world as well. If you know of a great B&B you think we should know about or you own an eco-friendly B&B, we would love it if you could write to us!


Cottage Lodge, Brockenhurst, England

Cottage Lodge in Brockenhurst, England is known for being eco-chic, but that term just makes it seem like it’s being trendy when the B&B is genuinely doing its best to be kinder to the environment. For one thing, its breakfast room features tables made out of a black poplar tree that fell in a nearby school. The bed in the Gillies Holt room came from sustainable sources.

What would really have a lot of environmentalists buzzing, however, is the Standing Hat room. Aside from being incredibly gorgeous, it’s also solar-powered. And for those who are looking to unwind in the room and watch some TV, well, you’re going to have to work to be able to do so. Cottage Lodge has just fitted a bike in the room which will power the TV. It’s definitely a good way to watch some shows rather than just sitting around, plus you’re doing something good at the same time.

Find some eco-friendly B&Bs in Ireland

As much as I like staying in hotels when traveling, a bed-and-breakfast has quickly become my favorite choice in accommodations these days. I love being in a homey setting, sitting down for breakfast, and having a chat with the owners. If you’re heading to Ireland any time soon and are planning to book your stay in a B&B, you might as well stay in an eco-friendly one. B&B Ireland, a website which contains an extensive list of B&Bs; in various parts of Ireland and allows you to make online bookings, has now categorized its B&Bs and included an Eco-Friendly category.

Making resorts greener, one by one

While writing an article about the Philippine Green Building Council, I learned that they have teamed up with the European Union’s Switch Asia program to launch and implement the Zero Carbon Resorts project. It sounds like an excellent project, and it’s currently underway in two El Nido resorts in Palawan, Philippines. Changes are afoot in these resorts, starting with making the switch from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy. Recycling will also be implemented, and as with any new program, training will also be provided for the staff of the resorts so they can fully understand the goals of the project. It’s still in its infancy, so it will be nice to see if it works out and if other resorts can be encouraged to make the same changes. After all, it’s not exactly a good idea to go to a seemingly clean and unspoiled destination and then find out that the resort or hotel where you’re staying is actually polluting the entire place.

B&B London Organic

B&B London Organic

We just love B&Bs here at Green Unlimited, so every now and then, we’ll be posting about some eco-friendly B&Bs around the U.S. and around the world as well. If you know of a great B&B you think we should know about or you own an eco-friendly B&B, we would love it if you could write to us!


>Planning a visit to London anytime soon? Here’s a tip in case you didn’t already know: Lodging in Central London costs an arm and a leg. Here’s another tip: There’s an organic B&B in Ealing in West London called B&B London Organic. The rates are reasonable and the facilities look divine, plus you get a welcome tray of organic biscuits, chocolates, and teas. The food features fresh and natural produce, and you also have vegetarian and vegan menu options if you need it. Don’t forget the linen made from organic cotton, too. And if you’re worried about accessibility to Central London, you’ll be pleased to know that you can hop on either the Central or District Line; Central’s particularly convenient, stopping at Notting Hill Gate, Bond Street, and Oxford Circus.

Photo from the B&B London Organic website