Map: finalists in the rest of the world

“Green is no longer extreme.” That is the conclusion of Richard Hammond, one of our Green Spaces judges, in response to your varied and imaginative nominations for the most enjoyable, responsibly run travel “destinations”, at home and abroad.

Your nominations, which ranged from activity centres and urban walks through to remote islands and luxury lodges, surprised and delighted our green travel experts. So, well done, and thank you.

Here we present our shortlist of nominees. Now we begin the task of visiting them and checking their green credentials. Our awards are unique in this respect. We announce the winners of the Green Spaces Awards in December, and the reader who has won a trip for two to Venice, courtesy of Railbookers.

Your enthusiasm has been infectious. We want these awards to reflect the way you, our readers, want to experience the world: lightly.

BEST PLACE TO STAY (Britain)

Caerfai Bay

Nominated by Pauline Stiles, Amesbury, and Sian Moxon, Highgate, North London

Live the good life at this peaceful camp site, with an organic farm and shop, and spectacular sea views.

Loch Ossian Hostel,

Nominated by Jonny Cooper, Stockwell, South London

A hostel that leaves no footprint? This one has “bat-friendly” paint, a wind turbine, water filtration and compost toilets.

Trelowarren, Cornwall

Nominated by Sarah Passingham, Norwich, Norfolk

Eco-timeshare cottages preserve the beauty of the Lizard Peninsula for generations to come.

The Ecolodge, Old Leake, Lincolnshire

Nominated by Mickey Burke, Lincoln

Nothing is wasted at this lodge, on a stretch of “unpolluted paradise”.

BEST PLACE TO STAY (Europe)

Biohotel Stanglwirt, Going, Tyrol, Austria

Nominated by Paul Brown, Leeds

A green spa (yes, really) and riding school where the produce is so local you can see it from your bedroom window.

Finca La Herradura, Orgiva, Spain

Nominated by Rosalie Ward, Brentwood, Essex

Rural escape that uses solar power, and is set in dramatic mountain landscape.

Mas Perangel, Pyrennees, France

Nominated by Andreea Petre-Goncalves, Brussels

A remote, “breathtakingly beautiful” self-catering farmhouse with solar heating and home-grown food.

BEST PLACE TO STAY (Worldwide)

Il Moran, Governors' Camp Collection, Kenya

Nominated by Simon Peters, Tufnell Park, North London

Safari with conservation and community support at the heart of its ethos.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru

Nominated by Alice Elinborg Ferrier

An eco lodge that cares for the wild, exotic landscape upon which it depends.

Village Ways, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Himalayas, India

Nominated by Bernadette Erskine, Abergavenny, Gwent

Experience Indian village life on a walking holiday staying in locally owned and ecologically run guesthouses.

Nkwichi Lodge, Manda Wilderness, Niassa Province, Mozambique

Nominated by Alexia Woolsey, Central London

Luxury lodge that ploughs money into community projects.

Mumbo Island, Lake Malawi, Malawi

Nominated by Lucy Bale, Bridport, Dorset

Paradise regained. Kayak 11km to a pristine, ecologically run island.

Great Bear Lodge, British Columbia, Canada

Nominated by Helen and Christopher Morgan, Bridgend, Wales

Riverside lodge set in temperate rainforest, using solar, wind and hydro energy. A wildlife hotspot.

BEST PROJECT (Britain)

Centre for Alternative Technology, Powys, Wales

Nominated by Michael Coupar, Preston, Lancashire

Eco centre, with a resident community, that researches practical solutions to the threats posed by climate change.

Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Reserve

Nominated by Chris Lewis, St James's, Central London

A highland wilderness where original local species, such as boar and moose, are being re-introduced.

Mill on the Brue Activity Centre, Trendle Farm, Bruton, Somerset

Nominated by Judy Bell, Codsall, Wolverhampton

Kids learn about food miles and compost at this activity centre and summer camp.

Titanic Spa, Linthwaite, Yorkshire

Nominated by Sophie Day, Camden, Central London

A sustainable spa in a “carbon-neutral” building.

BEST OPEN SPACE (Britain)

Godrevy Point, nr Hayle, Cornwall

Nominated by Paul Douglas, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and Miranda Dickinson, Stourbridge, West Midlands

National Trust oasis, with green fields, wild coastline, a lighthouse loved by Virginia Woolf, local fisherman at work and unforgettable sunsets.

Thames Barrier Park

Nominated by Kate Bohn, the City, Central London

Countryside in London? Discover acres of greenery by the edge of the Thames, with a great café to boot.

Breakwater Country Park, Wales

Nominated by Gillian Oakes, Cheadle, Cheshire

A former stone quarry that is now a blossoming wildlife reserve.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ceredigion, Wales

Nominated by Zoe Ashpole, Manchester

Go wild in this beautiful, protected forest. Its visitor centre uses green fuel and recycled water.

Machrie Moor, Isle of Arran

Nominated by Jenny Shaw, Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Run away from modern life on this island where buses, recycling and eagles rule.

BEST OPEN SPACE (Europe)

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Nominated by Liz Rodgers

Walk the circumference of this 6km lake that is lovingly cared for by locals.

Turtle beach, Dalyan, Turkey

Nominated by Charles Bentley, Sunderland

Dalyan's dreamy beach is protected, and is home to loggerhead turtles.

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