Possibility of eco-huts along 109 mile UK trail

The North York Moors National Park Authority is considering the idea of placing some low cost, eco-friendly camping huts along a popular walkers route, the Cleveland Way National Trail.

Accessibility right along the trail

The idea is that the 109 mile national trail is made even more accessible to families and groups, by developing eco-huts, essentially mountain bothies, along the route.

The Cleveland trail takes you from Helmsley to Filey, via Saltburn, a very scenic walk for a long weekend following the Heritage Coast by Scarborough.

Feasible?

I would suggest that people back this idea, as it provides an excellent way for people to get out into the great outdoors!

The 109-mile walk from Helmsley to Filey, via Saltburn, follows the Heritage Coast through Scarborough. The Scarborough Evening News states that:

National Park bosses will carry out a feasibility study to examine the costs and potential benefits of the eco-huts as well as looking at the impact such a development would have on the surrounding landscape and the benefits to the local economy.

Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer for the Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way, said: “Eco huts have proved popular on the continent, particularly in the Netherlands where they provide simple, low cost accommodation for those who don’t want to carry a tent while walking.

“There are already some in the UK but creating a network where people can walk from one to the other along the Cleveland Way would be quite unique for this country. It’s still early days and there some careful considerations to be made, but the huts could provide a real boost to tourism.”

Green accommodation

The designs of the huts would include eco-friendly technologies and features to generate and preserve energy.  The materials too will be good for the environmentally friendly, and of course allow people to enjoy the trekking across the North York Moors, knowing that they’re got somewhere great stay at night.

UK-wide network?

A UK-wide network of mountain bothies would be excellent for those preferring this style of camping over proper camping in tents – only kidding!  Let’s wait and see, but fingers crossed it all goes ahead!

Your thoughts?

Are you for or against the eco-huts?  Let us know using the comments box below…