by Jessica Knowles

Little White Alice might only be celebrating its first birthday this March but there’s no doubt it’s made quite an impact on the UK eco-holiday scene. It won the Gold Award for Sustainable Tourism in Cornwall and was listed top of the Guardian Green Travel List last year.

I stayed in early October and was lucky to get some really beautiful weather, which showed off the stunning surroundings in all their glory. This corner of Cornwall is all wide horizons and striking wilderness, but the collection of buildings that make up Little White Alice manage to sit seamlessly within it. Helped, no doubt, by the huge granite boulders that have been used to landscape the communal areas and the sensitive design of the new cottages, built in a combination of the latest timber framing, cedar cladding and granite salvaged from the original farm buildings.

This balance of ancient majesty and modern technology can be seen throughout the Little White Alice development. The wood-burning hot tub and freshwater swimming pool, filtered by reed beds, are a delight and the neighbouring fire pit is the perfect cosy spot for an evening tipple. Each of the six cottages has a wood-burning stove, ground source heating, solar thermal panels for hot water, high levels of insulation – mainly recycled newspaper – and triple-glazed windows. No luxury has been spared inside either and having co-owner Rosie’s lovely artwork dotted around gives each cottage a unique character. 

The 6kW wind turbine is expected to be up and running by March, followed by a solar PV array to make up any shortfall. Already self-sufficient in water – an on-site borehole and UV filtering system provides all their drinking water and reed beds (different to those serving the swimming pool I might add!) filter the sewage – owners Rosie and Simon plan to be self-sufficient in energy soon too. A two-acre wood – where guests can plant a tree to offset their journey – should make them self-sufficient in wood and the maturing raised beds; while home-reared chickens and pigs will go some way to keeping hungry guests well fed in local produce. The rest they source from the Cornish Food Market.

In short, the time I spent at Little White Alice was hugely relaxing, made all the more so because I was safe in the knowledge that someone else had made the right environmental choices for me. And I didn’t need the car once, thanks to the fantastic local pub just a short walk across the moor. Perfection.

Don’t forget….If you're a Good Energy customer and like what you’ve read quote GOODENERGY when you email enquires@littlewhitealice.co.uk and get 10% off all holidays booked and taken between now and the end of May 2012.