Green Tourism

B​est Western Valley Hotel in Ironbridge is the first hotel in Shropshire to be awarded the coveted Gold award, under the Green Tourism Business Scheme, for demonstrating excellence in environmental practice

In order to qualify for this rating, the hotel had to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, managing waste and energy consumption, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting an awareness of the environment and the community, through staff training.

Joanne Boddison, General Manager said “Our in-house Green Team has been the driving force behind achieving our gold status, and we are very proud of what we have achieved. As a business we have become much more efficient with our resources and received positive feedback on our work from guests and visitors. It is a long term plan, and we will continue with the project and our commitment to sustainable tourism.”

See below to view the most recent Green Tourism Business Scheme report.

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Green Tourism Business Scheme

Information about the Green Tourism Business Scheme Award and other businesses that are members of the scheme can be found at www.green-business.co.uk

Greenwood Centre

Witihin walking distance of the hotel is the Green Wood Centre. It is an innovative interpretation centre for woodland management, coppicing, sustainable building and other sustainable technologies. The centre has its own cafe, retail outlet for coppice products and also many courses are held onsite ranging from yoga weekends to woodland management.

Green Wood Centre Course details are available here

Car Charging Station

Hotel guests are able to charge their electric cars during their stay. The Type 2 seven pin charging stations add about 30 miles of range to the car’s battery every hour they are on charge. It means that a car could be charged in under four hours from battery being completely flat and be used for about 90 miles. We are hoping  this will encourage more people to change to electric cars as accessibility to charging stations becomes more common. Please phone the hotel for further details, this is a chargeable service.

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Green Conference Package

We are aware of a growing number of environmentally educated consumers, and expectations are higher of both leisure clients and corporate meeting planners. To assist in this cause, we have developed the Green Conference Package for conference planners, and the Green Groups package for tour operators. The Going Green phenomenon tends to cover three main points of discussion - conserving energy and resources, recycling and reusing of products, and utilizing local organisations for activities.

The new conference package has been formatted to include all three objectives, but still includes the same standard features - overnight accommodation, a three course meal, refreshment breaks, and equipment hire, with various environmental advantages added in.

Green Transport

If you would like to be a greener visitor and consider using public transportation please visit the following sites for timetable information.

Train Timetables can be found here

Bus Timetables here The local bus stop collects and picks up from the Museum of the Gorge in Ironbridge.

If you would like to work out your carbon foot print please click on the link below. 

Carbon footprint calculator

Green Groups Package

Ironbridge as a tourist destination can offer a great deal to the consumer who wishes to lower their carbon footprint. We work very closely with Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the Greenwood Centre to provide a sustainable destination to the leisure and group market.

Once the traveller has arrived at the hotel by coach or public transport, it is possible to enjoy a short break in the Ironbridge Gorge and visit the museums and attraction on foot, or on bicycle.