Catalan Coastal Walk

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Very good. I was particularly impressed with your local rep Mark who went out of his way to make me feel safe (as I was hiking alone in some quite remote places).

Marion Sugars, 21 Aug 2023

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We loved this holiday. The walking was very manageable even if tiring at times. The route took us into what felt and looked like really remote, open and unspoilt countryside. Many beautiful views and a lovely mix of coastal and inland paths. We generally took an hour or two longer each day than the published figures because we needed to enjoy resting for lunch and taking photos. Tickets to Salvador Dali's house are well worth buying but really this must be done on-line at least a month in advance as it is so popular. The hotels and small towns were a delight. Local food was excellent and good value.

Mr Baker, 16 Sep 2022

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Catalonian is a wonderful place and the five of us enjoyed the trip. The weather in early October was extremely pleasant. The paths are covered with small rocks and there are a lot of descents that are tedious. You will need hiking poles. There are several places on the first and third hiking days where the path is very narrow (18 - 24 inches?) with a sheer drop off on one side. The walking notes need a lot of work. Most days we could follow the trail markers so it didn’t matter. The third day notes are a mess offering partial options that make no sense (like follow the road if you don’t like heights... but follow the road where? We were still 5 miles from the hotel). The last day, we walked about a mile out of our way before we turned back. This is our ninth Headwater trip and this has never happened before.

Make plans to see the monastery on the first hike, the turtle reserve, the wineries, and Dali’s house. Each will take some pre-trip planning, but it’s worth it.

I am disappointed that Headwater sent us back on the train to Barcelona without warning us that there was rioting. Our train was the last into the station before it was closed for two days. We were greeted with a dozen armed vehicles and protestors. Roads were blocked and flights cancelled. We got a text 3 days later from our rep asking if we were okay.

Having said all that, we enjoyed the trip. Best part was swimming in a secluded cove mid hike and the picnic afterwards.





Mrs Love-Fordham, 6 Oct 2019

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The holiday was exactly as outlined - a 'Catalan coastal walk'. We loved the little Coves & bays along the route plus the delightful small towns we passed through.

Mr Higginson, 20 Sep 2019

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This was a fantastic holiday with a wide variety of locations, accommodation, eating experiences and challenging walks with lovely views and interesting history.

The Hotel Vilamont Spa was particularly welcoming and helpful and despite having smaller rooms and being in a small inland village was charming and very comfortable. The Café Colon where dinner is taken is a delight and food delicious, fresh and exciting, reflecting the owners' Parisian and Catalan origins; the restaurant itself is very rustic and oozes much history.

Though very different in style, all hotels are comfortable and clean and in good locations, in particular the Hotel Blaumar.

The walks are all excellent and the routes easy to find and follow. All the main walks involve ascents and descents, quite steep at times, but afford fabulous views and dramatic changes of landscape.

There are some very interesting local walks on the rest days which are well worth doing, some offering a chance to swim in the Mediterranean.

This is one of the best Headwater Holidays we have taken



Mr Riley, 4 Sep 2019

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We possibly misunderstood the references to coastal and beaches/ coves not realising that the walks would be so strenuous/ steep and spend most of the time elevated above and unable to access these. It wasn’t until we received the walk details that we had a better understanding. Unfortunately we were also there during a heatwave and so the walks were not as expected/as enjoyable as we had hoped. Walking poles were an essential along with the walking boots etc. The fact that we could skip a walk and travel to the next hotel in the taxi was really helpful and so we both did the first two walks and my husband the fourth. All in all very enjoyable holiday and as noted our understanding plus the weather were the issues and these were just an unfortunate combination.

Mrs Birchall-Scott, 23 Jun 2019

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Really beautiful walks visiting lovely places. Wonderful organisation. Would highly recommend.

Mrs Boston, 31 May 2019

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Marvellous walking in remote rural and coastal areas but with high quality hotel accommodation in lovely coastal settings at the end of each day.

Mr Howe, 23 May 2019

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We really enjoyed our holiday. We could not fault the service received at any of the hotels and the driver Fransisco was very helpful. Due to the heat we found some of the walks a bit challenging but the scenery is stunning. We were able to get into the sea at the end of a couple of the walks which was very welcoming. We used the pool at Vilamont Spa. Salvador Dali's house was very interesting and worth the visit. On the last day we had time to go to the tortoise sanctuary which if one has the time is worth the visit.

Mrs Walker, 8 Jun 2018

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Definitely a 2 boot holiday and not to be done in high summer heat as a lot of the walking is in open high countryside

Mr Ford, 8 Sep 2017

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As with all Headwater Holidays experienced so far the Catalan Coastal Walk was a great experience,. The walking was challenging but the notes provided were meticulous and at the end of each day it was a joy to experience the comfortable, characterful hotels in interesting locations. I can't fault Headwater's meticulous arrangements.

Mrs Feely, 22 Sep 2016

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Catalan Coastal Walk has it all: wonderful walks, stunning scenery and fabulous hotels - one of the best!

Ms Nicolson, 12 Sep 2016

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The Catalan Coastal Walk holiday was really good, with interesting walks, stunning scenery, pleasant accommodation and great food. We would certainly return to a couple of the destinations we visited on the way. The walking was not too onerous and we were normally quicker than the expected time to be taken, even without rushing. The hotels were all welcoming and comfortable, with a discernible rising in quality of accommodation from one location to the next. The taxi arrangements were superb, with our driver, Fransisco, always early, cheerful and helpful. However, there are always some bug-bears, but these are merely small tweaks that could have made our personal experience better. Mainly, the notes were not to our taste and often needed re-reading, others may find differently. Also the location of the first and last night's accommodation, although nice enough, seems to be at odds with the holiday's overall description of 'coastal'.

Mr Ezra, 25 Aug 2016

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Brilliant!

The Catalan coastal walk is challenging in parts, particularly when the weather is hot, but it is spectacular and the route notes were great (with one or two exceptions, see below) The hotels were all quite different, each lovely in its own way and the restaurants that were pre-booked offered varied and interesting menus.I would thoroughly recommend the holiday.

Last year we walked in the Venito and we think the walks and accommodation in Catalonya are even better than those last year.

Thank you Headwater.

Mrs Bibby, 12 Jun 2016

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We enjoyed our holiday however I must point out certain issues. The notes on page 3 of your Catalunya brochure are unclear - you have tried include notes for several holidays in one go using commas which results in it making little sense. In the first two lines you do not make it clear that you are talking about two different stations (Airport Terminus and Passeig de Garcia). I think you should investigate alternatives to having to wait at Passeig de Garcia station - it is busy, hot, no facilities, you are not allowed out of the station and we waited one and a half hours for the train. I think you should also give more information as to where to get off, it was luck we spotted the Viajuiga sign and managed to scramble off the train. Trail notes badly written and in parts not clear, there were two instances of them being totally wrong. Page 23 2nd para arriving at junction we could not understand which path to take so opted for the road route which says follow to Cala Joncois NO just the opposite is correct. Page 25 second column 3rd para on reaching T junction turn right NO turn left and at next T junction turn right. There are no road signs to help you.

Mr Cheek, 6 Jun 2016

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Definitely a two--boot walk, especially the day to Almadabra Park hotel, which was the longest and had some quite hazardous sections on the coast path.We were in late May and had some disappointing weather, and there was no question of swimming in pools or on beaches. Hotels were good, although the dinners at the Monterey/Porto Christo were poor - dinners and breakfasts at other hotels and restaurants were good. Francisco our taxi driver did the job OK but he speaks only Catalan and a little French.

Mr Cross, 27 May 2016

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Excellent holiday. Be sure to carefully check the travel details if you have requested any changes or non-standard arrangements.

Mrs Robertson, 25 May 2016

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Excellent concept well executed

Mr Abrahams, 21 May 2016

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Jim and Katie Illingworth, the Headwater reps, were absolutely fantastic - the best we have ever had; from the postcard we received a few days before our trip to their solicitous and detailed advice about the routes, the travel arrangements and thoughtful attention to detail e.g. Katie suggested that we buy a multi pack of bottled water which could be transported with our luggage every day. In addition as we experienced a heatwave during our trip, they suggested ways of shortening the walks to make them more manageable. They also recommended excellent restaurants when an evening meal was not included giving us lots of choices. Francisco, the taxi driver who transported the bags (and us on some days as it was so hot and we didn't want to walk) was delightful despite his lack of English and our lack of Spanish!

Mrs Coonan, 21 Jun 2015

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Wonderful variety of walks and scenery with comfortable hotels and good food.

Mrs Wakefield, 18 Jun 2015

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Met our needs brilliantly. Superb scenery. High level of service and comfort.

Mrs Crowther, 23 May 2015

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Fantastic walking area if you like wild, remote stony terrain. Incredibly windy at times and also challenging steep downhill sections if these are not your forte! Superb coastal and inland scenery. Great to have suggested walks for free days especially as the weather wasn't really good enough for swimming and relaxing. The local taxi driver was great, carrying on the luggage and when we finished the last day's walking early we phoned him and he picked us up. He also helped us sort out an earlier train to Barcelona. We had the same reps in Tuscany last year and once again they were brilliant, providing extra route notes and e mailing changes. The initial briefing by phone worked well and we were delighted when they joined us for our last evening meal. They really go the extra mile to make things go smoothly. The hotels were all excellent and we liked the variety in the evening meal arrangement. Adding on 2 nights in Barcelona was the icing on the cake. The hotel there was of a lower standard, a very small room,but we did expect an ensuite room and not one with a bathroom down the corridor. We would have liked to have known this in advance and been given the chance to upgrade. Overall, a memorable holiday!

Ms Clark, 15 May 2015

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Excellent holiday and a lovely area of Spain with great food and wine

Mr Cameron, 21 Apr 2015

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Varied walking, great countryside and wonderful, welcoming accommodation with excellent food. An ideal holiday with real feel good factor

Mrs Potts, 24 Sep 2014

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Enjoyed the whole holiday. Walking and hotels were great and the scenery was fantastic. Enjoyed barcelona and the trip to the Dali House. Overall a good variety of experiences in the time.

Mis Rodgers, 21 Sep 2014

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We enjoyed the rest days and some parts of the walks were very enjoyable with spectacular landscapes. However, overall we felt that the holiday was not exactly as described. It is called a 'Coastal Walk' but it is, in fact, rather a tough mountain hike as the walks focus inland in dry arid and often rather inhospitable terrain. The holiday description states 'once you begin walking clockwise around the peninsula, the sea is your constant companion'. The sea is not your constant companion, as for the most part, it is far off and out of sight. There are no villages at all (bar one small one just before El Porta de la Salva) on the walks, pretty,'cute as a button' or otherwise. A lot of people would enjoy this but it could be clearer in the holiday description. A lot of the climbs and descents are steep and rocky and in one place you do have to do a small bit of rock climbing. The trails are often on loose rocks and stones and narrow.There is quite a lot of scrabbling required. I think this should have been flagged in the holiday description with better photos. I would have rated the holiday difficulty at least as a '2 boot +.' Cadaques is certainly the highlight but all the hotels were excellent and welcoming. Recommend the restaurant 'Can Rafa' in Cadaques.

Mr Grant, 12 Sep 2014

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Couldn't fault it. Even the weather was excellent. Looking forward to next year's brochure.

Mr Petch, 8 Sep 2014

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For us aged 79 and 74 the walks were challenging but we very much enjoyed our holiday in a beautiful area of Spain.

Mr Lewis, 4 Sep 2014

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Fantastic holiday - very good walks and directions. Only niggle was the train journey in Spain as instructions about tickets not clear. Ticket booth at Barcelona closed so ended up buying wrong ticket and then having to pay again on train. Again on return journey not enough detail about buying ticket and when I rang rep unfortunately he did not know so made journey slightly stressful! Overall a very enjoyable holiday

Mrs Evans, 31 May 2014

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Does what it says in the brochure - 7 days of interesting sights without using cars or trains - organisation during walk flawless.

Mrs Brown, 19 May 2014

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Excellent walking with fantastic scenery. All accommodation of high standard. Walking definitely 2 boot.

Mrs Currie, 19 May 2014

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All was very efficient and the walking instructions were excellent

Mrs Rathmell, 17 May 2014

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Headwater holidays always live up to the descriptions in the brochure. Well planned walks, mainly excellent food and accomodation.

We had a great holiday. Well done Headwater.

Mrs Grundy, 13 Apr 2014

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Well chosen area for walking.Very good self guiding notes and helpful and efficient rep.Excellent choice and standard of hotel. Just everythig we expected of Headwater. Thank you.

Mrs Hawkins, 24 Sep 2013

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This was a lovely holiday. The walks were quite tough and in particular the walk from Cadaques to Roses was demanding. The scenery was stunning and hotels very comfortable. Alan's guide notes were excellent. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable holiday in a beautiful location

Mis Callaghan, 14 Sep 2013

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The Catalan Cooastal Walk guides you through an area of outstanding beauty which remains unspoilt by tourism.

Mrs McKinstry, 2 Sep 2013

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use headwater and plan a holiday to fit your needs and wishes.

Mrs Winward, 31 Aug 2013

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Excellent walks but in places were much more demanding than 'leisurely.' Good mix of hotels. Generally good food. Roses was very much at the Costa Brava end of holidays but the rest was good. It was a bit disappointing to find so many extra costs - the train from Barcelona to Garriguella & back - the £59 for a relatively short taxi ride from Garriguella to Figueras for the train home (although the taxi people - Francisco & Maria - were very reliable). With a few exceptions the guidance notes were reliable - the optional walk at El Port de la Selva had loads of mistakes - I have pointed this out to the rep. Overall though it was a good experience & I would recommend it.

Mr Pearce, 30 Aug 2013

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Although we enjoyed the walking we found some of it challenging, and yet we are quite active walkers. It is not what we expected as a leisurely classification.

But the whole area was beautiful and enjoyable.

Mrs Hales, 26 Jun 2013

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Excellent holiday. Walking notes by Alan were excellent and to a point that a map was unnecessary.

Mr Davis, 25 May 2013