Checking in: The Hytte, Bingfield, Hexham, Northumberland
In Norway, you're not a true citizen unless you're in, or dreaming of being in, a hytte - often a fairly basic, timber "hut" with no electricity and in which the only running water is the sweat you produce reaching its remote location. So it's quite a delight to discover one to rent just off the A68 in Northumberland.
Inspired by a 15-year-long sheep-shearing stint in Norway, Simon Gregory and his wife Sonja, a part-time midwife, decided to design and build one of their own in Britain. "I just sat down with a bit of graph paper," says Sonja. The result is a self-catering holiday let that has at its heart a sustainable ethic reaching from its tufty grass roof down to its 6kw ground-source heat pump.
Hunkering down on the gently sloping two-acre site, the Hytte's unassuming exterior belies its Tardis-like interior. It's huge: a superb kitchen (complete with A-rated appliances, natch), four bedrooms, a bathroom and wet room (fully accessible for wheelchair users), fan out from a wooden-clad open living area, reminiscent of a rather grand sauna.
Peppered with stunning images of nearby Hadrian's Wall by local photographer Roger Clegg and sheepskins (a little reminder of Simon's past), the decor is more homely than chichi: black, practical leather sofas are set around the smart Norwegian fireplace with views overlooking the decking area and garden beyond.
And my, how warm it is. The Gregorys could have gone down the usual oil-powered central heating route ("a lot cheaper - but only in the short term") but instead have installed a ground source heating pump that harnesses all that lovely, CO2-free, renewable energy found underground. Pumped through the underfloor heating system it manages to keep the Hytte and its guests toasty warm even in the harshest Northumberland winter.
Heavy insulation, glazing and, of course, the green roof also play a part. Its turf (sourced from a mile and a half away), dotted with aubergine-hued sedums, not only plays a role in heat retention and sound insulation, but can also absorb up to 75 per cent of the rainwater that falls on it, reducing the amount that ends up in the drainage system and going some way to offset the run-off from the hard landscaping around the property. A reed bed then admirably does its bit to manage bathroom waste.
Set on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, the Hytte is perfect for those with an active disposition. But active or not, make sure you visit French restaurant Bouchon Bistrot in the pretty, ancient market town of Hexham, barely a 10-minute drive away.
Should you decide to stay in and cook, you'll find the recycling system easy - it's the most organised I've ever come across. There are plenty of boxes, full instructions and, best of all, the contents of the little compost bins under the sink go to the hens who spend their days in the recently planted wildlife area, which includes a 17-variety "Buddleia Avenue".
The Hytte doesn't score any eco-points for its outdoor hot tub and sauna but its "Electricity Pay Back" scheme does mean guests tend to check the internal electricity monitor and reflect on their energy consumption. "You can use the hot tub and sauna every day and still be under the average," explains Simon, "but it encourages people to switch them off if they're not using them." If guests are determined to guzzle energy, the units above average they use are charged (at 10p per kW on a competitive Green tariff with EDF) with all proceeds going to the Northumberland National Park Environment Association and the Great North Air Ambulance.
"I used to lie in bed,'" says Sonja, "and think no one would come." But the Hytte - now five-star rated and awarded the Green Tourism Business Scheme's gold standard - shows that being sustainable in no way compromises your business: it had 87 per cent occupancy in its first year, and an impressive 97 per cent in the second.
The cost: Four-night breaks from £385; one week from £550. The Hytte is a silver winner in the Enjoy
England Awards for Excellence 2009