Knockaloe Beg Farm offers bed and breakfast, self-catering, hostel/bunk accommodation and glamping in the west of the Island to visitors and locals who want to enjoy a staycation.
Fiona and John Anderson run the business with great concern for the environment and are constantly trying to improve their green status and reduce their environmental impact.
Over the past decade, they have rebuilt the farm using old materials where possible, breathing life back into their area of the Island. They have also recently developed an allotment and built a greenhouse using recycles materials. They are also planting more native and fruit trees and improving hedges with hedge laying, stone wall repairs and new hedges along lines of fencing.
The Andersons promote local produce and provenance to visitors, offering a reduced food offering to B&B guests so that as much produce is as local as possible. This includes home grown fruit and vegetables and their own bacon and sausages.
They reduce waste as far as possible and have large bins for recycling waste that is produced. Consumable products are also sourced from more ethical sources, such as toilet paper, shampoo and conditioner, plastic free, Fair-trade and organic products. Globally, it sponsors children in developing countries and has twinned its 20+ toilets in a scheme to promote water sustainability.
The business has achieved various Green Tourism awards over the years and won a UNESCO Biosphere Award in 2018.
Knockaloe Beg Farm is heavily involved in community life, including the development of the old Patrick Schoolrooms, which is bringing to life the history of the Knockaloe internment camp.
It offers ‘open farm’, birthday and school visits, teaches children about how they can positively influence the environment and offers work placements to local students, too.
