Do you worry about your carbon footprint and the impact you make on the place you visit?

Thankfully, help is at hand for eco-travellers in the form of a couple of new 'ecoescape' guidebooks from Green Guide (www.greenguide.co.uk ).

Billed as 'the handbook to responsible escapism' the two, full-colour guides, ecoescape: United Kingdom (£8.99) and ecoescape: Ireland (£8.99), offer tips, hints and advice on slow travel (taking the train or cycling rather than going by plane), green places to stay, eco days out and the benefits of buying local food and drink (you support the local environment and economy you're staying in for a start).

And one of the main beliefs behind the books is that you can enjoy a great holiday close to home, joining the trend for stay-at-home 'staycations'.

I love the idea of slow travel that is outlines in the book.

Basically, this is the idea that the journey is as important as the destination. After all, we're usually in so much of a rush to get to our destination, we forget all about the amazing scenery and people we pass on the way. And if we stay local, we'll be giving something back to our own communities too.

By using cars less and avoiding flying if we can, we can discover new ways to take holidays. So slow travel is as much about changing our ideas about what constitutes travel as it is about seeing a new location.

It's not about how far you go, but how you go!

The UK guide, by Laura Burgess, features 50 of the best getaways, from Cornish Yurt Holidays to B&Bs serving organic breakfasts in Brighton. There are eco-lodges in Lincolnshire and an eco-hotel in Pembrokeshire, plus details of National Trust working holidays (where you can do things like build a dry stone wall, meet new and interesting people, take a break from your usual routine and help this national institution all at the same time)

Ecoescape: Ireland, written and compiled by Belfast-born Catherine Mack, espouses the same themes and features green travel options, personally chosen by Catherine, across the country, north and south.

"I wanted to make a guidebook to share the stories of great people who are, quite simply, trying to make a difference," she explains.

"They are striving to make a living out of Irish tourism, but taking responsibility for the impact it might have locally."

Some of those people who are making a difference include the owners of the lakeland retreat in County Cavan; the Gyreum Ecolodge in Co. Sligo; Anna's House organic B&B in Comber, Co. Down; the Blaney Spa and Yoga Centre in Enniskillen and the eco-campsite at Orchard Acre Farm in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, with its own tepee.

As well as places to stay there are also features on things to do, such as the long-distance Kingfisher Cycle Trail around the Republic's North-West counties; whale watching in west Cork; taking a dip in a seaweed baths in Sligo and booking a trip with Fermanagh's Ireland Eco Tours company.

None of the businesses have paid to be included in the book, no commission fees change hands and all the recommendations are based on the authors' personal choices.

Laura's also keen to hear about people's own travels, so log on to www.ecoescape.org and send her your feedback about places you've visited, or, if you own a green business, tell other people about it.

To research the book, Laura and her writers made use of trains, buses, bicycles, public transport and that most environmentally-friendly method of transport of all, their legs!

The book is also printed on 100 per cent recycled paper using vegetable-based inks - how's that for green credentials!

Ecoescape is published under the Green Guide imprint by Markham Publishing, available from bookstores, and selected wholefood and specialist retailers, or direct from www.greenguide.co.uk (it's worth checking out the site as it's also a directory for planet-friendly living and a comprehensive database of eco-friendly, green and natural products, services and organisations).