Greening your travel

Travelling is often an unavoidable expense of life and doing business. We all need to get about whether it’s getting to work, doing the shopping or running your kids’ social lives.

However, there are a number of ways that you can reduce this– and save yourself a bit of cash too.

Always try and optimise your route – plan out your journey so you can take the quickest route and minimise the risk of getting lost and therefore using more fuel than necessary!

Consider the kind of vehicle you drive. Older models are less efficient in terms of fuel consumption so optimise fuel consumption by driving at a sensible speed, checking your tyre pressure, removing any unnecessary weight, changing gear at the correct time, and so on.

If you’re planning to change cars you could consider purchasing a hybrid model, which combine a petrol engine with a battery so are relatively fuel efficient. Electric cars will save you money on fuel, are tax free, and are immune to congestion charges. Charge your Car is available to all owners and drivers of electric vehicles, and members can access any charging points across the UK.

The Plug-in Car Grant offers a grant of 25 per cent towards the cost of an electric or hybrid vehicle, up to a maximum of £5,000 eligible for a range of cars.

Consider if it’s really necessary to drive; could you walk, cycle, take public transport or use the telephone?

If you need to use your car to commute see how the National Car Sharing Scheme to find people who make the same journey as you and are willing to share the costs.

Although this is business-focused, you may also wish to listen in on this radio interview I took part in a little while ago on green business travel.

A trip to Dordogne

It’s been a while since I last posted on here. Suffice to say it was a long and difficult summer involving a name change (no I didn’t get married), a home move and also a lovely trip to the Dordogne.

My review was initially published on the fabulous Daisy Green website, but I could resist posting it here too as a way to get back into the blogging habit.

Here it is:

The Dordogne region of south-west France is said to be one of the most beautiful and popular destinations in the country and it’s not difficult to understand why. Flying into Brive-la-Gaillarde treated me to a scenic feast of green forests, rolling hills, glinting ponds, beautiful villages, and ancient chateaus.

Brive is the central city for the region of Limousin in Southern France and has plenty to offer for everyone. As well as a pleasant array of shops and cafés to while away a few hours in, being medieval it also has plenty of architectural beauty adorned with slate roofs and sandstone facades to admire.

It is also home to the most delightful Denoix House, a family-run distillery founded in 1839. A tour with the charming owner revealed the secrets behind the traditional distillery craft that produces beautiful quality liqueurs using herbs, nuts and other fruits. In particular, their signature liqueur distilled from the local walnuts, is well worth a sample as is their purple mustard, which should be savoured with cold meats and cheese.

The Dordogne is well known to be the gastronomic heart of France. While the town of Brive hosts a market twice a week offering the produce of local smallholdings – everything from fruit, vegetables, honey and preserves. The local land also yields delightful delicacies like truffles, walnuts, chestnuts and wild mushrooms. Our tours through the winding forest flanked lanes in the area it became evident this is serious business for many local foragers.

A short distance south west lies the eighth century village of Collages de Rouge, which is probably the most hauntingly gorgeous villages I have ever had the privilege to visit. Entirely built with red sandstone, the village is entirely unaffected by modern trappings like overhead electric wirings and street lighting. It rightly has the status as one of the most beautiful villages of France.

Local proprietors Brigitte and Pascal Monteil offer the most generous hospitality in the beautiful fifteenth century Jeanne Maison d’ Hote. The quaint and luxurious hotel boasts a Rapunzel-esque tower where my room for the night was located right at the top.

An evening spent under the stars in their charming cottage garden with my exceptional hosts was delightful. Their previous restaurant ownership in Paris shone through both with the exceptional home cooked meal that was placed before me and their charming company and conversation.

The region of Limousin is littered with interesting medieval villages all unique and all offering a rich tapestry of fascinating history.

In the village of Curemonte follow the footsteps of French author Collette who found refuge here during World War II. The village boasts a rather unusual combination of three castles with round and square towers and turrets alongside noble houses and a twelfth century Romanesque church. The region is obviously proud of its links with Collette, who is considered to be France’s best natural writer, and a visit to Les Jardins de Colette reveal more of her interesting life, interests and personality. The attraction, which is situated close to luxury hotel the Château de Castel Novel, where she once lived, includes six unique gardens each centred on an era of her life and each having inspired her books.

Equally fascinating is the village of Aubazine where Coco Chanel spent her teen years living in the village’s abbey after her mother died and her father abandoned the family. It was here she learned sewing skills and, according to local legend, took inspiration from the patterned church windows for the Chanel world-famous brand.

Of course the region is also a haven for outdoor activities. The Gimel-Les-Cascades, a succession of three waterfalls falls created by the River Montane falling down a 450 feet ravine, offers a particularly enjoyable walking route. Even better, a gastronomically-sound wining and dining treat awaits at the charming Hostellerie de la Vallée. Overlooking the waterfalls, this two-star Michelin restaurant specialises in authentic French cuisine, beautiful local wine (I had Mille et Une Pierres 2001), along with breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views.

Equally, the dramatic Dordogne Gorges is a must-see. The morning I visited, the gorges were shrouded with a magical mystical mist but I am assured they offer sweeping scenery of some of France’s most picturesque countryside. Certainly I was privileged to follow the peaceful Vallee de la Dordogne, its edges home to a pleasant scattering of restored water mills and cosy holiday retreats. Les Flots Bleus restaurant, situated by the riverside, offered a stylish venue to enjoy a perfect summer lunch and of course plenty of delicious French wine.

Cycling is also a pursuit enjoyed in this region, its terrain offering something from novices to whizzes alike. Correze Cycling Holidays offers luxurious eco-friendly accommodation, lovely home-cooked meals and expert advice and tours on cycling in the area. Run by Sam and James Parry, who traded busy city life in Britain for living the dream in rural Dordogne in 2008, offer a most welcome stay for guests. Their enthusiasm for France and cycling is infectious and to my delight their pet dogs Henri (see picture below) and Dotty are wonderfully affectionate and entertaining.

Lovely Henri dog was very entertaining and affectionate.

My visit to Dordogne was loaded with scenic and foodie delights and offered welcome relaxing respite from the bustle of everyday life. I can’t wait to return!

Thank you for the kind hospitality of Régine Chassagne of Limousin Tourism.