By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Air travel may be increasing yet a small, but growing number of people are turning their backs on flying in favour of land travel, in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. Two share their stories of so-called "slow travel" holidays.
By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Air travel may be increasing yet a small, but growing number of people are turning their backs on flying in favour of land travel, in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. Two share their stories of so-called "slow travel" holidays.
BARBARA HADDRILL - AUSTRALIA
BARBARA HADDRILL - AUSTRALIA
Ground breaking: Goodbye, Machynlleth...When Barbara Haddrill, 28, was invited to her friend's wedding in Australia in October, she had a dilemma. She had promised not to fly any more for environmental reasons but as bridesmaid, she felt obliged to attend.
Ground breaking: Goodbye, Machynlleth...When Barbara Haddrill, 28, was invited to her friend's wedding in Australia in October, she had a dilemma. She had promised not to fly any more for environmental reasons but as bridesmaid, she felt obliged to attend.
"I'd said that was it, I wasn't going to take the plane anymore and wasn't going to travel long distances," she says.
"I'd said that was it, I wasn't going to take the plane anymore and wasn't going to travel long distances," she says.
"But then this came up and it wasn't something I could immediately say 'No, I'm sorry, I'm not flying any more and not coming to your wedding.'
"But then this came up and it wasn't something I could immediately say 'No, I'm sorry, I'm not flying any more and not coming to your wedding.'
"Then I spoke to friends and it became apparent it was possible to get there using another route."
"Then I spoke to friends and it became apparent it was possible to get there using another route."
So instead of a departure hall at Heathrow and a possible stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Barbara went via Moscow, Beijing, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore and Darwin in an epic journey taking nearly two months and taking in train, boat and bus.
So instead of a departure hall at Heathrow and a possible stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Barbara went via Moscow, Beijing, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore and Darwin in an epic journey taking nearly two months and taking in train, boat and bus.
The decision reflected changes Barbara had made to her everyday life during the last five or six years, due to her concern about the effect humans were having on the environment, especially in carbon emissions.
The decision reflected changes Barbara had made to her everyday life during the last five or six years, due to her concern about the effect humans were having on the environment, especially in carbon emissions.
She no longer drives, buys organic, locally-sourced food and uses a wood-burner to heat her home, which is a caravan near Machynlleth, in a forest in mid-Wales. And while the 51 days Barbara spent getting to Oz would be longer than many tourists' holidays, as a part-time worker at an eco centre she has the flexibility to build such a journey into her life.
She no longer drives, buys organic, locally-sourced food and uses a wood-burner to heat her home, which is a caravan near Machynlleth, in a forest in mid-Wales. And while the 51 days Barbara spent getting to Oz would be longer than many tourists' holidays, as a part-time worker at an eco centre she has the flexibility to build such a journey into her life.
...hello, Great Wall
...hello, Great Wall
Speaking from a farm in Adelaide, where she is planning her journey home and appealing for anyone who can help her get from Darwin to Singapore, she said it had been a very rewarding experience.
Speaking from a farm in Adelaide, where she is planning her journey home and appealing for anyone who can help her get from Darwin to Singapore, she said it had been a very rewarding experience.
Overall she found it more comfortable than an economy class plane seat and she met lots of fascinating people on the way. As well as seeing new places, she had also learnt a lot about herself and stuck to her green principles.
Overall she found it more comfortable than an economy class plane seat and she met lots of fascinating people on the way. As well as seeing new places, she had also learnt a lot about herself and stuck to her green principles.
"You have to believe it's worth doing something yourself. You have to take personal responsibility and can't wait for someone else to do it.
"You have to believe it's worth doing something yourself. You have to take personal responsibility and can't wait for someone else to do it.
"You can't think you're only one person. I've met other people doing things like me so it's good to know you're not on your own.
"You can't think you're only one person. I've met other people doing things like me so it's good to know you're not on your own.
"Perhaps it's not for everyone to think they're going to go on a boat to Australia but maybe they can think 'Do I need to go to Australia in the first place?' And look at things in your day-to-day life."
"Perhaps it's not for everyone to think they're going to go on a boat to Australia but maybe they can think 'Do I need to go to Australia in the first place?' And look at things in your day-to-day life."
UK - AUSTRALIA, ONE-WAY Cost Distance Time CO2 emissions Barbara £2,000 14,004 miles 51 days 1.65 tonnes Plane £450 10,273 miles 25 hrs 2.7 tonnes Sources: Climate Care, Defra, Choose Climate, Expedia, BA
UK - AUSTRALIA, ONE-WAY Cost Distance Time CO2 emissions Barbara £2,000 14,004 miles 51 days 1.65 tonnes Plane £450 10,273 miles 25 hrs 2.7 tonnes Sources: Climate Care, Defra, Choose Climate, Expedia, BA
WEST FAMILY - TUSCANY
WEST FAMILY - TUSCANY
For the West family, who live near Petersfield in Hampshire, a walking holiday in Tuscany gave them the chance to put into practice their green principles.
For the West family, who live near Petersfield in Hampshire, a walking holiday in Tuscany gave them the chance to put into practice their green principles.
"We are very green in the way we live and the work I do and that's the way we think," says Jonathan West, 49, who runs a woodland management company. "There's ever reason to avoid flying and this mentality that has come about that we must get there in the fastest possible route because cheap air flights cost less."
"We are very green in the way we live and the work I do and that's the way we think," says Jonathan West, 49, who runs a woodland management company. "There's ever reason to avoid flying and this mentality that has come about that we must get there in the fastest possible route because cheap air flights cost less."
On the way to Paris
On the way to Paris
So last August, Mr West, wife Alice and children Bede, 14, and Fritha, 11, boarded their first train at Petersfield for Waterloo. Another two rail journeys followed - the Eurostar to Paris and a sleeper to Rome.
So last August, Mr West, wife Alice and children Bede, 14, and Fritha, 11, boarded their first train at Petersfield for Waterloo. Another two rail journeys followed - the Eurostar to Paris and a sleeper to Rome.
From the Italian capital, they travelled in a minibus supplied by the walking holiday company ATG, to just outside Orvieto. They then walked into the town before the start of their five-day trek.
From the Italian capital, they travelled in a minibus supplied by the walking holiday company ATG, to just outside Orvieto. They then walked into the town before the start of their five-day trek.
"It's hard to underestimate how good it was," says Mr West. "The mentality required to catch a train is very different from the precision you need to catch an aeroplane. The availability of a train is much greater and it's very liberating compared to 'I must get to the airport.'"
"It's hard to over-estimate how good it was," says Mr West. "The mentality required to catch a train is very different from the precision you need to catch an aeroplane. The availability of a train is much greater and it's very liberating compared to 'I must get to the airport.'"
Snubbing the flight meant the family could have a night in Paris, which they loved, but the couchette to Rome was very hot and stuffy.
Snubbing the flight meant the family could have a night in Paris, which they loved, but the couchette to Rome was very hot and stuffy.
Being green is becoming as significant as cost in planning a holiday Jonathan West
Being green is becoming as significant as cost in planning a holiday Jonathan West
A walking holiday is regarded as the best form of sustainable tourism in terms of carbon emissions. But Mr West says eco holidays are not sustainable if they require a flight to get there.
A walking holiday is regarded as the best form of sustainable tourism in terms of carbon emissions. But Mr West says eco holidays are not sustainable if they require a flight to get there.
"It's one's responsibility but it's also a nice way to think. Being green is becoming as significant as cost in planning a holiday."
"It's one's responsibility but it's also a nice way to think. Being green is becoming as significant as cost in planning a holiday."
He admitted it is not always straightforward to avoid flying and a family skiing holiday would not be as easy.
He admitted it is not always straightforward to avoid flying and a family skiing holiday would not be as easy.
One unexpected benefit of choosing the train was that Mr West, a botanist who usually carries a knife, was able to avoid the security problems associated with airports.
One unexpected benefit of choosing the train was that Mr West, a botanist who usually carries a knife, was able to avoid the security problems associated with airports.
HAMPSHIRE - TUSCANY, ONE-WAY Cost Distance Time CO2 emissions West family* £719 1,112 miles 2.3 days 0.07 tonnes Plane £288 750 miles 2 hours 0.56 tonnes *= 4 peopleSources: Climate Care, Defra, Expedia, Should I Really Give Up Flying? Wednesday 24 January, BBC Two, 21:00 GMT. Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
HAMPSHIRE - TUSCANY, ONE-WAY Cost Distance Time CO2 emissions West family* £719 1,112 miles 2.3 days 0.07 tonnes Plane £288 750 miles 2 hours 0.56 tonnes *= 4 peopleSources: Climate Care, Defra, Expedia, Should I Really Give Up Flying? Wednesday 24 January, BBC Two, 21:00 GMT. Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
