Campsite wins national award for its green credentials
A family-run camp site in Clifden located on a highly sensitive protected beach has been recognised with a major national award for its sustainability.
Clifden Eco Beach Camping and Caravanning Park in Claddaghduff won Ireland's 'Leave no Trace Most Sustainable Escape Award' at the Outsider 2016 Awards in Dublin.
The campsite at the estuary of Streamstown Bay and now strategically located on the Wild Atlantic Way was deemed to be Ireland's first climate neutral accommodation and set a European president by being the first business in Europe to ban the single use of plastic water bottles.
This is a camping experience with a difference. Here you will not find pool tables, video games, television rooms or a playground.
The philosophy of the owners Kris and Tatjana Acton is ‘let’s get back to nature and discover a real camping adventure'.
Guests can indulge in the beautiful natural amenities such as a safe private beach, fishing by the stream, campfires on the beach and self-guided walks through an EU priority Machair Habitat - a complex sand dune habitat system confined globally to the northwest coast of Ireland and Scotland - with several Natura 2000 sites, including Omey Island and the Aughrus peninsula, all within a 5km radius.
Kris was born and raised on the farm where the campsite is located.
“My wife is German and we have a son and daughter. We took on board the campsite just a few years ago by setting up a website and getting eco certified. Before that the campsite was operated alongside my father’s organic farm since the 1960s, the farming taking priority of course,” he explains.
“What inspired us and continues to do so is the unique location, the vast natural beauty, the sandy beaches and of course the amazing sunsets, this makes it an ideal location to operate a campsite.
“It was imperative for us that the business be managed and operated sustainably, as the location is on an ‘EU Machair habitat site’ and a listed ‘Geosite’ - so a very sensitive approach was need in continuing the practice.”
The couple undertook independent training and certification from Ecotourism Ireland and Leave No Trace Ireland, which was an expensive exercise.
However, the process has been a crucial approach in maintaining the sustainability of the site both for owner and visitor.
“The reaction from visitors has been fantastic, they just love the semi-wild natural aspect of camping between the dunes with their own private campfire, coupled with our strong commitment to sustainability, really gives a great vibe throughout the site on any given evening,” he enthuses.
The facility has been greeted with overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors who hail from Connemara or as far away as New Zealand and Japan.
They won the award for being intrinsically green and sustainable and for their commitment to having a positive impact on the environment. They also had a sensitive approach in delivering a unique sustainable tourism product to visitors, according to the judges.
The campsite offers guests organically sourced spring water on site. Frequent visitors include eight species of bumblebees and bottlenose dolphins.
The farm is the first certified organic farm in Connemara.
“The night sky is spectacular due to limited light pollution on the grounds and with our eco-friendly braizers visitors can star gaze alongside a cosy fire with marshmallow cocktails on the beach or adjacent to each plot,” exclaims Kris.
“Our location has all the attractions of 'wild camping' combined with the safety, comforts and family friendly nature that one expects from a small sustainable camp site.”