The Scarlet is a super-chic eco-retreat on the south coast of England.

England isn’t known for its good weather, so its beaches can get overlooked by overseas visitors. The south-western county of Cornwall (as in Camilla, Duchess of), however, enjoys a micro-climate, meaning it’s (mostly) mild and sunny thanks to the Gulf Stream that flows past its shores.

The Cornish Coast is also hugely fashionable with Brits, and their chosen escape is The Scarlet. This luxury eco-hotel with spa is located on an isolated clifftop overlo0king the sea; children aren’t allowed, ensuring a peaceful, grown-up ambiance. Owned by three sisters, who conceived and designed it as “the place we would most like to be and want to share,” the hotel is hard to fault on either eco or design grounds.

The Scarlet has a solar-heated indoor pool, natural outdoor pool (supplied by rainwater, using a reed bed filtration system); an air-tight timber-framed building, reducing heat loss; a green roof planted with sea thrift (a native plant) to aid insulation; a biomass boiler using wood chips; natural ventilation; grey and rainwater harvesting; and even an electric car-charging point.

The decor is a perfect expression of funky chic – no cold, minimalist tones here; colorful prints complement rich colors, with wood floors and soft, curvy shapes (round tables and seats) adding to the warm feel; all 37 guest rooms, which come in five sizes, have sea views with outside space – balcony, terrace or garden access, complete with design-statement moulded plastic chairs.

Spa treatments use ayurvedic, organic seaweed and house-brand (ingredients: local clay, salt and herb) products. The relaxing atmosphere encourages you to hang out – literally, in pods suspended from the ceiling; there is also a couple’s suite, with double bath – say no more.

We like: the bright red log-fired outdoor hot tubs overlooking the sea; the mud bath, where you get messy slathering yourself and partner in mineral-rich Moroccan rhassoul, for that extra frisson; and the free meditation classes, a new addition to the yoga and pilates already offered.

If you can bear to drag yourself away, nearby activities include tree-climbing (discover your inner child), surfing (inner dude), wild swimming (inner adventurer/naturist) and basket-weaving (inner crafter).

Rates start at $260 including tax, breakfast, inner calm and (with luck) fine weather.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

The post Places & Spaces: The Scarlet, Cornwall, UK appeared first on EcoSalon.

Surf’s up!

As the northern hemisphere heads into summer, what better time than to learn how to surf or practise your technique? Diehard surfers were probably out riding the waves all winter long, but if you are like me, the warm weather is a definite prerequisite.

Surfing is fantastic exercise and many surfers report spiritual as well as physical benefits. Being out in the ocean paying close attention to the waves and your own body within them can’t help but bring you closer to nature. Many surfers are passionate environmentalists because they see firsthand the effect of any sewage or litter on their playground.

Sadly though, the average surfboard is very far from green. Despite numerous attempts over the years to create an eco-friendly surfboard , the majority of surfboards are pretty much made how they always were. That means a urethane foam blank (with a wood stringer), fibreglass and polyester resin. Or in short, non-renewable petrochemicals.

The latest eco-surfboard comes not from Australia or Hawaii but from Cornwall in the southwest of England. Cornwall is both a fabulous place for eco-tourism and the hub for surfing in the UK, so it’s not as surprising as it might sound. Five years in development, the surfboard traces its history back to a fallen balsa tree in the rainforest biome in the Eden Project in Cornwall. It is at least 50% renewable, with some 15-20% of the foam core made from plant-derived material and a resin developed from linseed oil to coat the board.

My dream is that one day all surfboards will be sustainably produced. If consumer demand grows and research delivers continuous improvements to the product and price, this could become a reality sooner rather than later.

The post A Surfboard Made from Renewable Materials appeared first on EcoSalon.