Bryn Elltyd is a 6 bedroomed guesthouse in Tanygrisiau. When we bought the place in 1983, it was semi-derelict.  There were no toilets, a double Ty Bach in the garden and one cold water tap. The acre of garden is deliberately kept semi-wild and supports a great variety of wildlife; in 2005 we won the Snowdonia Wildlife Gardening competition in the business section. Over the years we have gradually improved the house, building conservatories at the front and back and a south facing sun lounge upstairs to conserve heat, and adding a number of extensions.

The building. We were always aware of the environment but it was not until 2000, when we decided to create a Guest House that we really got into sustainability.  We added a new conservatory, which is used as a breakfast room and built another bedroom. As with our earlier extensions, we put in far more insulation than the minimum required. All the windows in the house are double glazed except two, which have secondary glazing. The extension was quite a modern structure, all timber, built on stilts and very different from the rest of the house. It is to the credit of the Park Authority that they gave us planning permission. The latest building, the Hobbit Room, was originally built as a workshop and is now another bedroom. It is insulated with sheep’s wool and, like our Garden Room, has a turf roof. Again, it is a timber structure but the original stone wall has been retained outside. Everything we have built has been, as far as possible, in timber. I am fortunate that I am a carpenter by trade. Unlike PVC, wood is sustainable and we can grow it round here.

Sustainable energy. Last year we put in solar collectors with the help of a 25% grant from the Green Dragon Award scheme. When the sun is shining, even if the air temperature is very low, they can take the hot water to 60 degrees. Even on a cloudy day they produce some heat. This heating is supplemented by a woodburning stove. We are fortunate in having some three acres of woodland, most of which we can coppice.  We are currently taking out some of the bigger trees.  A lot of young oak will be left which will become our gift to the world. If we buy wood we are careful about where it has come from and we also use compressed sawdust heat logs. Three radiators are still running off LPG but when they are replaced in the next year, we will be totally carbon neutral.

Apart from one or two places such as the kitchen where we need a very good direct light, our light bulbs are all low energy ones. Guests are encouraged to turn off unnecessary lights.  We switch off the TVs, computer and our microwave when not in use. (TVs use 90% as much power on standby as when working).  All our rooms are en suite with showers. We do not provide baths as they take two to three times more hot water than a shower. Our electricity comes from ‘Good Energy’, guaranteed renewable, for which we pay extra. Despite this higher cost, our fuel bill this year will be coming down. 

Water and sewerage.  Showers save water as well as energy. All the toilets are slowly being replaced with dual flush models.  The septic tank feeds into our pond via a reed bed. While we can see the brown trout in the pond we know the system is working.

Sourcing locally So that we can grow more of our own vegetables we have put in raised beds using our own compost. We try to source as much food locally as we can, preferably organic. Our certified organic lamb and beef comes from Ty Isaf in Ffestiniog.  When local organic food in not available, we buy local rather than organic that has been flown thousands of miles. We shop mainly in Blaenau Ffestiniog, including all our white goods, such as fridges and freezers, which have to be replaced about every couple of years.  All appliances purchased are the most energy efficient category (AAA). The prices will match the discount shops (35 miles away), we get a better service and it supports the local economy.

Gwynedd County Council is very good at recycling and we can recycle glass, cans and paper.  All our composting we do ourselves. Because we cook from fresh and know what people will be eating, there is no need to over produce, and therefore we do not have much waste food.  At the present time, even when all six rooms are full, we have one green wheelie bin compared with most establishments which have two or three.  This also saves money because, even if you’re paying business rates, you pay for extra wheelie bins.  If the problem of recycling plastic were to be solved, we would rarely use a bin.

We encourage the use of public transport. Some people, particularly those from overseas, travel by train to either Blaenau Ffestiniog or Llandudno Junction and we collect them. Even those driving to Bryn Elltyd, often leave their car in the drive and we give them lifts, or they use the trains.

Staff Tourism jobs are said to be low paid and insecure but this is not necessary.  Our two staff are paid well above the minimum wage. One is now permanent with a guaranteed twenty hours per week. The other is an eighteen year old catering student who works at weekends.

Proof that it works. We now shut in January and sometimes in early December for decorating and maintenance but we could have people in every weekend. We are already booked for every weekend until October and it is building up during the week. Last year in August our room occupancy rate was nearly 99%.  Most of our bookings now, apart from the many returnees, come from the web, helping us to be as paperless as possible. We are registered with ‘www.responsibletravel.com’, a company committed to sustainable travel, which only supports businesses with an environmental statement and proof that it is being implemented. People deliberately choose us because we are seen as sustainable. All the bedrooms have a copy of. ‘Save the World for a Fiver’.  Guests come down and say ‘we’ve been reading this book’ and some later buy a copy. It makes them think and most people appreciate what we’re trying to do.

 (Bryn Elltyd is no longer owned by the Coles)