Big breaks

Low carbon holidays for 2010

Foodie heaven: Join chefs, sommeliers, fishermen and small-scale producers at the biennial Salone Internazionale del Gusto slow food festival in Turin. The event, which has been building momentum since 1996 has become a forum for political debate on a range of issues from ‘good, clean and fair’ food to globalisation. It also seeks to turn the traditionally elitist approach to quality gastronomy on its head. Rub shoulders with over 170,000 visitors including Senegalese fisherfolk, shepherds from Abruzzo and nomads from Mongolia.

 Cycling in Netherlands: Go Dutch and join the cycling masses on 15,000 kms of largely level cycle routes.

Cycle the Loire valley, with 160 kms of marked bike trails including riverside routes through Blois, Tours and Amboise. Find y our way with ‘Cyclopedia’ — a GPS handheld guide for cyclists exploring the area. It’s free and available in English.

 European city escape: New high-speed trains from Brussels mean you can now get from London to Amsterdam in just over four hours, without going near an airport or its high-blood-pressure inducing queues and checks. Book in to the Dutch capital’s 300-year-old Seven Bridges canal house hotel, whose individual rooms are furnished with antiques, Italian drapes and ornate rugs. A city break is a particularly green option, as you won't need a hire car. Just walk around, use public transport, or rent a bike.

 Sustainable style: Check in to the futuristic pod resort of Whitepod near the Swiss village of Les Cerniers, which has set the bar for sustainable style and ethical adventure trips in the Alps. Founder Sofia de Meyer established a nomadic camp of geodesic domes, taken down annually, before switching to permanent low-impact structures. Whitepod seeks to offer comfort and relaxation with minimal impact on the environment, and has regenerated a nearby village and taken over a disused ski resort.
n Adrenaline adventure break: Few places offer as complete an escape from the hectic flow of urban life as the wilder corners of Scotland. Refresh yourself and get fit at the same time on a sea kayaking and remote camping trip. You will explore the remote Summer Isles off the north-west coast, a little-known archipelago with wild coastlines, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches.