Delightful Devon: The green, green grass of home

The day-trip approach

Understanding the farming way of life is the backbone of Occombe Farm, an educational organic farm opened in 2006 by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. We visited for an afternoon to look at its herd of Ruby Red cattle, Dorset Down Sheep, bees and more. It encourages organic farming methods, and houses one of the best organic stores I've ever seen.

With luscious cheeses, a gleaming meat counter, and tempting fruits and vegetables piled high, it was so well-stocked I could have spent twice the time there as we spent visiting the cows and sheep. Stock up before you leave or at the least hit the cafe, where quiches, pizzas, soups and pastas make for hearty lunches.

Then drive on in to Paignton to Paignton Zoo, which is dedicated to conservation. It uses solar energy, harnesses rainwater to clean enclosures and uses energy efficient lights and heat pumps. You can even pick up re-purposed animal poo in the form of rich fertiliser in the gift shop.

It's nice to spend the better part of the day at the zoo - riding the visitor train, seeing the monkeys and gorillas, birds and big cats, eating ice cream - in a way that benefits wildlife beyond simply putting it on display.

The economic approach

Kitley House, a country house hotel set in 600 acres near Plymouth, demonstrates the other end of Devon's push toward green tourism. The owner of the 500-year-old grand hotel, has pursued green innovations because they make good business sense (it won a Silver Award in February 2006 in the South Hams green tourism scheme).

He has made it more energy efficient as well as restored the grounds to encourage wildlife ranging from otters and brown trout to swans and doves. The fact is, people care about the impact they're making on the environment, even as they sip cocktails on a balcony overlooking the serene green field abutting a river, or take part in events like murder mystery dinners (during our stay the hotel was full of friendly high-spirited guests trying to guess whodunnit).

The Discover Devon website suggests several itineraries that fit its eco-friendly initiative, all of which highlight choices when touring the area. What appealed to us was the many family-friendly and, indeed, family-owned places and attractions listed, as diverse as cycling programmes to the self-catering holiday park Oakdown Touring and Holiday Home Park. And we didn't have to fly thousands of miles to enjoy them. Now that's green.

The Venus Company
With locations in Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth, Bigbury on Sea, Newquay
www.venuscompany.co.uk

Huxtable Farm
Near Barnstaple
West Buckland
North Devon
EX32 0SR
01598 760254
www.huxtablefarm.co.uk

Kitley House Hotel
nr Plymouth, Devon
PL8 2NW
01752 881555
www.kitleyhousehotel.com

Occombe Farm
Preston Down Road
Paignton
TQ3 1RN
01803 52002
www.countryside-trust.org.uk

Oakdown Touring Holiday Home Park
Weston
Sidmouth
EX10 OPH
01395 513731
www.oakdown.co.uk

Paignton Zoo
www.paigntonzoo.org.uk

Discover Devon Green Holidays
www.discoverdevon.com