Review of Tory Bush Cottages, County Down, Northern Ireland

> For contact details and availability, see greentraveller's full listing of Tory Bush Eco Cottages

The name given to the mountain range, the Mournes, suggests a sad desolate place. Nothing could be further from the truth. My heart literally skipped a beat as I opened the curtains of my eco-loft apartment at Tory Bush Cottages. It was worth arriving in darkness, just to be able to watch the sun rise over the heather, moss and bog-covered valleys as well as the piney peaks of nearby Tollymore Forest Park. They looked like school text book images of glacial formations, with the crags and crevices slowly revealing themselves as shafts of light pushed through the morning mist. No wonder this area is being muted for National Park status.

Having all this as its 'back garden' is top of the list of Tory Bush's green credentials. Pretty good start, although David Maginn, the owner, is a firm devotee to the sustainable tourism movement and has made huge efforts towards keeping his little piece of the Mournes as green as possible. The cottages are all built in the local 'clachan' style, with whitewashed walls and slate roofs. In the main reception and adjoining 'eco-loft', he has used sustainable building techniques. "Insulating with sheep's wool brings money to other farmers like me. It makes sense", said David.

This enterprising farmer also boasts a solar panel to heat the water and a rain recovery system to do the laundry for the entire complex. He also uses recycled cardboard plasterboard, and a wood pellet boiler. Only the eco-loft runs on renewable energy at the moment, but David is constantly looking at ways of developing this, to make all the cottages as sustainable as possible. However, just being able to walk out the door, and access the mountain trails almost immediately makes this hideout in the hills the perfect green place to start as you mean to go on. If the National Park status goes ahead, let's hope other landowners in the area can be inspired by David Maginn's continuing efforts to protect the treasure on his doorstep.

Top tip: Eat and drink at The Maghera Inn, six kilometres from the cottages and winner of Northern Ireland's Pub of the Year award in 2007. The beef and Guinness pie will revive you after a day's walking and, if you go on the first Friday of the month, you'll catch local traditional musicians in session.

Verdict: If you don't know the Mourne Mountains already, get yourself there. Tory Bush is in an amazing location, although decor a little bit 'out of a catalogue' rather than homely. No matter, as you will be drawn out into the hills, and want nothing more than a bath, large roaring fire and bed at end of day.

Getting there: There are regular buses from Belfast to Newcastle, and an 8km taxi journey to Tory Bush Cottages from there. There are less regular services from Belfast and Newcastle to Bryansford Village, just under two miles from the cottages. Tory Bush's sister company, Mourne Cycle Tours will deliver bikes to the cottages.

Catherine is the author of ecoescape: Ireland, £8.99 (+£1.50 UKp&p). You can also read Catherine's article about Tory Bush and other green travel in Northern Ireland in The Independent.

For contact details and availability, see greentraveller's full listing of Tory Bush Eco Cottages