Sustainable spa break: The Headland Hotel 

This iconic hotel on a headland in Cornwall is independently run, and since the owners took it over in 1979 made improvements and repairs to the tune of £34million, transforming the iconic hotel into a much loved, family owned destination. As part of their developments, that have made significant eco friendly commitments towards becoming a sustainable spa …

Eco-friendly cars

From the moment you arrive at the hotel, they work towards supporting sustainably minded guests as well as their own efforts towards the environment, especially given that it’s a bit of a journey to reach them. With that in mind, the hotel has invested in their very own ‘Pod-Point’ to charge electric cars.

Energy saving solutions

The spa and health club are designed to make the most of the magnificent surrounding natural scenery. Large windows allow you to enjoy sea views from all corners of the space, so it is fitting that the details inside go towards sustainable spa solutions to keep the environment as glorious as it is. They have hybrid gym machines that create energy rather than use it, and they also use the Prefect Heating System app to quickly make adjustments on the heating and avoid waste.

Sustainable spa materials use

While it may be becoming an expected practice, it isn’t all hotels that are as mindful as this one when it comes to saving materials rather than simply recycling them. The Headland Hotel uses their own cardboard compactor and promotes paper-saving initiatives. They also stopped using plastic straws in 2017.As a result, they save an estimated six to eight tonnes of landfill space every year.

Local and seasonal food sources

Helpful for sustainable tourism practices but also making for an excellent tasting menu, the hotel is committed to supporting local food producers wherever possible. Cornwall has fantastic raw ingredients and they have built strong relationships with local suppliers, enabling them to keep the food miles low and the quality fresh. For example, they serve fresh Cornish fish and meat as well as drinks from Cornish breweries and distillers.  They also use ice creams and sorbets from nearby Callestick Farm when not making their own.  Other local suppliers include Kernow Sausages, Rodda’s Creamery, Cornish Tea, Rosedown Eggs, West Country, St. Austell Brewery, Niles Bakery, Mathew Stevens, Celtic Fish and Game and Philip Warrens Butchers.

Commitment to conserving the coastline

In case you hadn’t noticed, The Headland Hotel is surrounded by the most magnificent coastal views, perched as it is on top of a cliff. So it stands to reason that they are committed to help conservation efforts in this magnificent area. As a result, when you stay at The Headland you are invited to make a donation of £1 to the National Trust upon check-out. The National Trust looks after places of historic interest or natural beauty. From 2014 - 2017 the hotel was able to present four cheques to the Trust totalling more than £40,000.These donations helped towards the conservation efforts including:

• Repairing and widening a section of slumped coast path at Porthcothan Bay.
• Replacing fencing and footbridge repairs at Holywell, along with regular litter picking.
• Conservation work to the ash trees at the round garden in Crantock village