Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Travel arrangements, baggage delivery, accommodation, flights, all worked well.
Well researched, great variety, brilliant app, very helpful and friendly representatives and staff at all the hotels we stayed in. All the organisation was perfect, no hitches or problems, great communication.
Very good service
Very well organised from beginning to end
We have always been happy to go with Headwater
We've travelled with Headwater for many years. Consistently excellent service, great choices of hotels and all of the details sorted.
Everything went to plan!! Accommodation was very good.
This was our fourth Headwater holiday and every one of them has been superb.
Well organised, good communication pre holiday, friendly team
It was a seamless experience for us.
The combination of lovely hotels, excellent organisation while on route and pleasure of cycling between destinations is hard to beat.
This was our first cycling holiday and Headwater took away all the stress of organising the whole lot.
Everything was wonderful and logistics were perfect.
This was our sixth Headwater walking holiday and we have enjoyed them all
Customer friendly booking experience.
Headwater are always reliable and honest. The travel descriptions in the brochure are accurate, and we have never been disappointed, after around 6-8 vacations with the company (can't remember how many exactly - we have lost count). They do the local research so that we don't have to!
Consistency in the quality of the holidays we have taken. Well organised, good hotels, well thought out itineraries
Really great holiday, the Italian bike company were great and very organised.
Good organisation. Kept informed about the trip and any changes. Queries were always answered. Staff were friendly and very helpful.
Perfectly organised with an amazing hotel and great walking instructions
Everything was well arranged; hotels were good although rooms with balconies are useful for drying walking gear. The walking app was very good although one path on the first day's walk was very badly eroded requiring a detour -- Mark was informed. Our driver, Lex, was extremely helpful giving us advice on where we could get food on the first day's walk -- more information on shops/restaurants for each leg of the walk would be useful.
Accommodations were excellent, walks were really good. It was great to have options.
Organisation was faultless. When I requested emails to be re-sent there was never any problems.
The whole holiday was smooth and stress free. Had contact details. The information on where tourist information was was great.
I always felt I could double check things with the office and no-one ever made any judgement.
It was a holiday I needed and it was as good as I hoped it would be. Thank you.
Well organised ..clear details ..pricing good..
Excellent relaxing self-guided tour. Options from easy to hard walking but good advice on selecting. Great information, good hotels. All paths easy to follow. Not overcrowded with tourists. Beautiful country and great historic sights plus views.
A fantastic varied holiday, great walking, excellent hospitality and clear support and notes.
Had a great trip! And Mark, your representative in Catalonia, was really fantastic.
This is my second Headwater cycle holiday and they never fail to deliver an exceptional experience. All went like clockwork the organisation and hotel selection perfect
Been with you many times, good holidays
Good customer service and format that's good for walkers.
An all round good experience
Everything worked perfectly.
We had a wonderful holiday despite the rain, the walks were fantastic and we loved using the GPS app. We felt we had had good communication regarding our trip and everything ran very smoothly. The hotel was perfect for this type of holiday.
We were probably unlucky with ferry/hydrofoil disruption. Overall we decided that the trip involved too much travel time - but we realise that is the nature of the trip. 🤷🏻♀️
Well organised, good instructions, decent accommodation.
Generally a very good holiday. Well organised and accurately marketed. As experienced hikers, we found the terrain challenging but very hikeable. A few attention to details in the itinerary would enhance the experience greatly.
I’ve traveled with headwater previously so knew I would be well looked after in every way .
From the first enquiry to the last taxi pick up every thing was ,efficient,accurate,and professional.
We have been on several walking holidays with Headwater and have never been disappointed. Booking the holiday is easy and the staff are helpful and have made alterations for us.
The accommodation has always been as described and brilliant for walkers. I would recommend Headwater for a hasslefree and enjoyable activity holiday
The trip was an absolute delight. The days were full of sensuous pleasures ranging from the scent of crushed grapes and lavender to the rushing streams and peeling bells. The tour was well paced and the hotels superb. I have to pick out L’Hotel du Poète at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse which was such a stylish place with such welcoming and accommodating staff. However all the hotel stays were excellent and exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.
Everything went very well and communication with Headwater was very prompt
Very easy & efficient booking & very good ongoing contact & information
The cycle routes were carefully and thoughtfully arranged to provide a beautiful day cycling every day of the holiday. Thank you.
Everything worked well as planned, no issues
Loved cycling in Sicily although it was quite tough in parts! Good choice of hotels and days off to rest and enjoy the beautiful baroque architecture.
Great service and well organised. Good range of trips to choose from.
The hotels were great. The route challenging but doable. Problems arose because of our poor understanding of the app but we are poor on these things - friends and family will probably be more savvy.
The finca was lovely, comfortable and well run. The walk leader was excellent.
Everything was very well planned and organised and the quality of the accommodation and the guide was excellent.
Holiday went well.
The booking process was pretty smooth, the host hotel was really great and the hosts helpful with our needs.
The agent who helped us book was knowledgeable and helpful and recommended better options that we hadnt considered. We were kept well informed. he whole trip went smoothly with no problems with any bookings
The walking app was really good. The walks were great perfect holiday.
Everything worked well.
An easy way to book an activity holiday when you’re older.
A lovely variety of walks allowing you to appreciate the Puglian countryside. Good restaurant recommendations.
We liked the navigation app but it monopolises your phone so do take a camera along as well .
Rosey Oct 24.
Wonderful trip cycling through Provence with friends.. easy to navigate route, lovely stops, plentiful food and wine along the way.
We absolutely loved Matera and the rides through the olive groves. We enjoyed the local food and wine and the cycle route along the coast was fabulous.
The holiday was well-organised, the hotels were true to the descriptions, our travel worked like clockwork and the app was a fantastic tool for a self-guided trip. We found the Headwater team very approachable, friendly and efficient and they always came back to us when we had a question.
Well organised. Lots of good communication before tour.
Great app. Mostly accurate directions
We liked the flexibility of a self-guided trip and everyone we dealt with at Headwater was really helpful.
Your itineraries are lovely and amazing!
We really enjoy active holidays and would recommend Headater to anyone who anyone who enjoys being outdoors exploring the places they visit.
Great way to explore the countryside; was even better than we’d expected!
Well organised
On time
Communicative
The arrangements all went very smoothly and we had a lovely time.
Bad Ischl is a lovely location and the Salzkammergut area is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy a lakes / mountains / woods walking venue.
A very well organised holiday. Great accommodation and restaurant recommendations. excellent support from the Headwater team
This is our second trip with Headwater and both were of the same high standard. Everything was first class with lovely hotels where we well looked after. Baggage transfer and bikes were great. The navigation app was superb and stopped you getting lost apart from when you wanted to!
Headwater provided an interesting and varied cycling route in the Rota Vincenta with an excellent app for navigation. The app also provided useful information on local sites of interest. Their communication was very clear and everything was straightforward and worked as it should.
Well organised, clear instructions, all the transfers and hotels and hydrofoils as planned.
I think Helen did her best to find us good alternative accommodation when first choices became unavailable. Walking notes were detailed.
Everything worked for us and it all ran smoothly. The accommodation on route was varied, but all very good/excellent as were the meals served. The luggage transfer worked very well and our bags were always at our next location. The communications by the Headwater staff were thorough, accurate and helpful. Thank you
Always well organised, excellent accommodation and good walks
Some great walks with the help of the excellent HW app. Fab hotel as well. No glitches.
Everything was taken care of for us. Flights, hotels etc. All we had to do was turn up and enjoy. The hotel booked was excellent, and the area was stunning. Couldn't want anything else.
Very well organised holiday
Navigation worked great The route was well chosen, minimal traffic on roads. Meeting with the rep at the start was very informative.
Good, imaginative package, very well-organised, but I do have some reservations about the amount of travelling on a short trip, and the up-to-date info on one walk.
Excellent notes for the walking; easy app; good hotels & interesting places.
Most things worked well
A great holiday with a chance to explore the wine growing area of the Langhe in some depth. Most roads fairly quiet, but some steep ascents so well worth considering e-bikes unless you are very fit.
We had a wonderful experience with Headwaters on our self guided trip in the Algarve. the bikes were excellent the support was excellent and the Headwaters navigation app worked flawlessly giving us great ease of mind while we cycled on our own. Keep up the good work!
The quality of the booking service, pre-holiday preparations, routes, bikes and hotel accommodation is first class.
Already recommended it to my neighbor! The agents were very responsive and the tour was well-designed.
It was well organised
The support and prompt feed back from Headwater to enquires, in particular Helen and the team, has been very professional. Have used Headwater previously and hope to again in the future.
Southern Sardinia is a wonderful island for a cycling holiday as it is very unspoilt and the people are very friendly. The weather in September was perfect and we enjoyed the contrasts of island hopping for a couple of days and then enjoying fabulous coastal views and stopping off at delightful, peaceful coves on others. Some stretches had quite busy roads but there were many peaceful roads and paths in between.
Efficient and friendly service throughout
I have enjoyed all my trips with Headwater . Destinations are well chosen, travel and transfer arrangements work well, accommodation just the right level, and Finca Cerrillo the best yet.
Very well organised. The price included everything for the week tour.
I thought the itinerary was varied and well-planned and moving from one place to the next ran very smoothly.
A very enjoyable and varied holiday with interesting places to walk and visit off the beaten track. Excellent transfer arrangements and good and varied accommodation.
I love the attention to detail you get from Headwater and the personal interaction from the staff, they go the extra mile to make a special holiday for you
The organisation of the trip was simple and easy and the responses from Headwater were efficient and speedy.
We feel that we experienced a great flavour of Rioja from city wine festivals to more religious celebrations in the villages. The hotels were all quite unique and the service excellent.The local food and particularly the wine was always especially good as we had just cycled through the vineyards during the day so we felt we had earned it even with electric bikes.
All aspects of the holiday including travel arrangements, pick ups and transfers and accommodation all went smoothly.
The holiday was truly amazing. The choices of towns, hotels & self guided walks were faultless. The perfect exploration of the Puglian region, with the app providing insightful knowledge on the towns and walks along the way. Would highly recommend and thank you to headwater for organising the memorable trip!
Organisation was relatively stress free, being able to go all the way by train was great, wonderful accommodation
Overall it was well-organized and well-resourced trip.
We have been on many Headwater holidays and they have always been excellent.
Now had two great adventure walking holidays with you.
From booking, app to hotels all very good
The choice of holidays was good. Everything was well organised. Communication was clear and accurate and all contacts with Headwater staff were friendly and successful.
Good customer service
All the boxes ticked, once we all got used to the ap, with only one hiccup all went as planned, and good weather
Great organisation with helpful staff and interesting cycles
We've been going on Headwater walking holidays for 10 years runnning now, with the exception of Covid in 2020, and have never been disappointed with the walks or hotels or the efficient organisation of the trips.
We really enjoyed this holiday because the routes chosen enabled us to explore areas of the islands that we wouldn’t otherwise have seen. Mostly the paths were clearly marked and easy to follow. We walked through forests, on mountains, alongside coastal waters, around lakes and through tiny villages. We decided to spend our day at Mjlet walking round the lake, but there are lots of different routes you can opt for. Troghir was delightful and the walls of Dubrovnik were fantastic. We had some of the best fish I’ve ever eaten. Take your swimming costumes with you, and swim along the coastline in the beautiful clear waters.
Overall a very well organised holiday with good walking routes
We enjoyed the walk very much. We are in our early 70's so were looking for an enjoyable rather than an extreme experience. The walks were through lovely countryside; the accommodations were very good and in keeping with a little "out of the way: experience; the navigation app worked well at all times; and, the Headwater staff and Hotel staff were consistently very helpful. Very happy to recommend.
It was the same as all the other Headwater holidays we’ve done,excellent
I've had a number of cycling holidays with Headwater all of which have been managed well by helpful staff.
I have been on 3 Headwater cycle tour holidays now and all have been excellent. The routes, accommodation and arrangements have all been very good. I have enjoyed visiting the countries immensely.
Good planning and close attention to detail. Everything was as we'd hoped
Having now enjoyed quite a few Headwater Holidays, we know they work well! For us, the enjoyment comes from visiting small places where the locals congregate, rather than being surrounded by fellow Brits!!
Even after completing our HW holiday, add-ons to other places has always worked well, travel and hotel accommodation being organised for us, taking away the stress.
Great walk, very friendly and helpful local staff
The booking process was easy. I was apprehensive about booking a self guided tour - but it was fabulous. The transfers to and from the airport were exceptional. The hotel and the food were amazing. The app was easy to use - I found the written directions overwhelming, however the real time navigation alleviated that concern.
Trip well organised. Transfers faultlessly facilitated. Hotel food and staff excellent.
We really enjoyed our exploration of the Euganean Hills and discovering a new part of Italy, despite its closeness to Venice.
The locations were fantastic, everything worked and we had a great time.
Easy booking, everything fell into place, the app worked well, hotels were tasteful and good quality - even if the beds were a bit hard
Your booking staff, Helen, on this occasion are extremely helpful and efficient. The quality of the hotels used on this trip were very good.
We really enjoyed the Lake Constance cycle route experience. It was easy cycling on a well marked surface with very little exposure to roads with cars and trucks. The instructions worked very well. We opted for e-bikes and found that the vast majority of locals and other tourists were on e-bikes as well. The hotels were pleasant and provided very good buffet breakfasts. There are ferries between almost all the towns around the lake and one could opt to use these instead of the trains if you wanted to cycle less.
Excellent customer service
We had a wonderful hiking trip in the Austrian Lake District - one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited. We had a really active trip and managed to see so many interesting places and complete lots of hikes and walks around the region. The local villages and towns were wonderful, the local people were very welcoming and food and drink was excellent. It was a wonderful holiday
Very good holiday information and a superb navigation app that was generally very accurate (as was the printed copy). Due to cancellation of original flight by BA phone calls (on a Sunday) to Headwater resolved the small onward train issues we had. Hotels provided were highly suitable and ongoing transport of cases worked well.
Self Guided and use of a local provider. Great Service and knowledgable staff.
The holiday was extremely well organised, and the navigation app made sure we didn't take too many wrong turnings. All the hotels were to a good standard, well located, and the food was great.
Love the freedom of cycling and having my luggage forwarded!
Cycling in the Peloponnese began in the mountains where it was quite cold mid September.
The routes are mainly on lovely roads with no traffic and great panoramas.
Road surface varies from really good, to not to good, but small tracks are on the whole, good.
It’s not too hot in September but a lot of restaurants have closed too, so better to take something to sustain you during the ride. The Greeks are warm friendly people and they always give big portions at very reasonable rates.
Efficient, good quality, good experience
Loved the trip. It was super easy to get around and was exactly what I was hoping for.
We have taken many holidays with Headwater. The staff in England are excellent and usually the trips they sell are very good with high quality hotels.
We had an enjoyable holiday and particularly enjoyed spending time at the agritourismo L'Albara, where we were very rested and made very welcome and well-looked after. We would definitely travel with Headwater in the future.
Good product
Lovely cycling route, smooth booking process, well organised with good self-guide app
The holiday was well organised and the bikes were excellent, as was the briefing in Slovenia. hotels were all good as well.
This was a very well curated holiday, with excellent accommodation and the kayaking was great fun. The information provided was generally very good eg maps and the Headwater staff were very helpful.
Headwater provide a personal service by helpful and well informed staff. The self-guided walking holidays are well arranged and the accommodation offered is well chosen. The navigation app is brilliant.
Overall a great holiday at an excellent hotel in a stunning setting, only slightly marred by a couple of impassable routes. PG
Interesting routes and great places to stay.
Very well organised. Loved the app ... no chance of getting lost!
Very supportive sales staff and everything is organised in a timely manner.
All the hotels and travel arrangements and transfers are clearly explained and are easy to understand.
Had a great holiday in Puglia with Headwater. Accommodation was good to excellent in some cases and the app really easy to use. Met other lovely people en route. Would definitely travel again . Airport transfers are better organised locally though as much cheaper.
The booking process and communication before departure was easy and efficient.
Our holiday itself was well organised and relaxing and went without a hitch.
Holidays are well planned
We’ve had such a great holiday - the walks were varied and interesting - we were confident using the app and the written directions. The locations were wonderful. Thank you
Apart from a minor problem booking the holiday (which was clarified the next day) everything went according to plan.
Good contact from first point of booking and a great holiday
Headwater made booking the holiday, managing slight changes requested by us all very easy. The holiday was great and everything ran smoothly
Well informed before departure on itinerary and equipment needed for recent inclement weather
Great location, hotel very homely and 2 great hiking guides.
Excellent service. Prompt and helpful communication.
Good communication and organisation, interesting itinerary and nice hotels
Good holiday and well planned and organised
Excellently designed holiday and very good hotels.
Good holidays in great places. Good hotels.
I didn't organise this trip but would recommend it. Great contact in Puglia - Marco - who was very helpful.
Excellent organisation, all the taxi transfers worked very well. Walking app was quite easy to use once we were using it for real.
We were pleased with our holiday, despite the atrocious weather at the beginning!
The transportation of cases between hotels and the cycling App were excellent. Hotels chosen on the whole have been in good locations
The trip was very varied and had beautiful scenery. E-bikes made a big difference and were really good. Jesus was very responsive. The hotels were good on the whole and the staff helpful. Sometimes it was a challenge to find a restaurant without a recommendation but there was always a choice of places to eat within walking distance. We have been on many Headwater bike trips and we are now complete converts to E bikes! It allows us to do more of the more challenging routes and we are not exhausted at the end of the day!
Everything went to Plan. The bikes were great. Miroslav was excellent. The scenery was amazing. All the accomodation was fine. Hard to fault really !
Great information and easy to use app.
Good.
Good support well organised friendly staff
a reliable company that attaches great importance to quality
A great tour. Would recommend it.
Well organised, our local contact was very available and understanding.
This was our first hotel-to-hotel for many years, and apart from an issue with the pick-up things ran pretty smoothly. The walking days were quite long, and at times we were glad we had purchased a walking map. We hardly saw a soul for hours at a time so great if you like peace and quiet.
The team in the UK and in Malta were great easily contactable and quickly resolved any questions. They also readily adapted the holiday to meet our requirements.The walking routes were interesting and and the notes and app really useful.
We visited some really interesting towns that we would not have otherwise experienced.
All arrangements went smoothly, the hotels, luggage transfer and app all worked perfectly
Very well organised trip, extremely helpful staff, locally and via your office. Great support when all trains leaving Bregenz for Zurich airport were cancelled!
Really well organised.
Really enjoyed the hoiday
Very well organised, friendly and personalised booking process.
Great cycling routes and lovely hotels.
Well organised, planned and good itinerary. Excellent accommodation and transport.
Our holiday was very well organised, everyone we dealt with was friendly and helpful. When there were weather-related issues alternative arrangements were made quickly and we were kept informed of what was happening
We enjoyed our first visit in September to Slovenia and found the green meadows, even after a very hot summer, and pristine villages very appealing. Bohinjska Bistrica as a base did probably entail more bus journeys but there were advantages in having two supermarkets and a lovely bakery to provide food for packed lunches; furthermore the bakery is open 7 days a week.
The Julian Alps pass is worth purchasing although it does not guarantee free fares on all the buses as you initially think. Also the bus timetables seemed a little fluid at times.
The team were great from the start, very helpful and prompt to respond to my queries/requests.
The enquiry process and booking was simple and efficient. Andrew was informative and helpful. Christine, the local agent and her colleagues were excellent and all the hotels selected were of a good standard. The canoeing experience down the Dordogne was great. I feel there's not a lot to do on some of the day's when not canoeing because the towns are quite small, so feel that the multi activity holiday may be a better choice.
Very prompt and thorough responses to our requests, with a friendly but respectful style.
A superb 5 days in Kandersteg. The availability and variety of walking available is excellent. The option to go through to Sudrampe when the weather in Kandersteg is unsuitable, meant we were able to walk every day.
We really enjoyed our Headwater holiday. All destinations were either fascinating, stunningly beautiful or both! Support on the ground was superb with our agent "going the extra mile" to rearrange logistics in the face of an impending storm. Our guide for Mount Etna was fantastic. The hotels could have been better but this did not spoil our trip!
Headwater Holidays was very helpful in advising on our choice of walks and responsive to our questions in planning our holiday. The trip was well designed, accommodations were excellent and the app was flawless. Written material on sites and history was thorough and informative. Each day of our walk on the St. Francis and Olive Grove Ways was magical. We are delighted now to plan our next walk with Headwater.
Very Good experience we have travelled with headwater for 4-5 years and have always enjoyed each trip. Overall great standard of accommodation and routes and Sardina was beautiful and wonderful for cycling sea and seafood lovers.
Nice hotels, decent bikes, routes mostly quiet
The organization is great. The ability to receive directions on our I Phones was amazing.
Interesting place to visit. All arrangements went smoothly. Good value.
Efficient, friendly with very good support and advice.
Luke was incredibly helpful when I was deciding where to visit: he listened carefully, understood the brief and made some carefully considered options - including some which were outside of our initial ideas.. one of which we ended up taking. I also like the wide selection of destinations for self-guided walking.
This was a wonderful hiking holiday in a perfect location - Dobbiaco was a great home base and we absolutely loved the town, one of our favourites in the Dolomites. Headwater/ Hotel Bellevue provided everything we needed to enjoy our week of hiking. We especially took advantage of the spa facilities - that was a superb way to wind down at the end of a long day of hiking.
The sales agent was great and allowed us to add in an extra couple of days into the tour. Everything went smoothly and we had an excellent holiday
Holiday went ahead without a hitch despite adverse weather conditions. M tours' representative, Miroslav, was very helpful in all circumstances.
The areas chosen are usually in interesting locations. The staff are very helpful and the navigation app excellent.
We had an interesting, active and enjoyable holiday on Sicily visiting places we would have been unlikely to get to on our own. When there were weather issues which affected the hydrofoil local staff put in alternative arrangements and this allowed us to continue to enjoy our holiday, even though it was not quite the holiday we had hoped for.
We found that the organisation of routes/transport etc, and cost/quality ratio of accommodation/meals was just about perfect for us.
We had a good choice of walks appropriate to our abilities and inclinations. Lake Bohinj area is very beautiful and a joy to walk. As mentioned we think the better location, taking account of the vagaries of the buses, would be to stay in a hotel in Lake Bohinj.
A wonderful walk with beautiful and varied scenery. The porterage worked seamlessly well and was always at the hotels in good time.
The app was easy to use. The variety of the accomodation was interesting. The luggage transfers worked smoothly.
Headware holidays are always very good.
Transfers better than expected. App was good even when we went off course.
Helpful customer support took all the hassle out of organising and booking the travel arrangements. A great experience with some wonderful memories. Carl Bennett September 2024
Headwater were very helpful in arranging our holiday. Lake Bohinj is a lovely area with some fine walks. The area surrounding the hotel was busy and vibrant. It's worth using the local transport (€15 for a week in 2024-buses with flowers on).
Very helpful when we made some last minute changes - very responsive
This is great holiday as the scenery, food and culture change as you descend from the dolomites, through to Venice. The second day of cycling was tough not only because it was long but the second half of the days cycling path was a lot of rutted gravel which we found not an easy surface to descend on. We had a great sense of achievement at the end of the holiday. The scenery and villages were stunning and we ate so well throughout the trip. The towns we stayed in overnight had v good restaurants to choose and book. We added a day in Verona to start , going to the opera in the arena and then a couple of days in Venice after cycling which complemented the trip.
Everything went smoothly and it was an excellent holiday
Headwater holidays were very helpful and always responded quickly. I would particularly like to thank Helen Hodson who was excellent
This is our second family cycling holiday with Headwater and another very positive experience, from the initial enquiry, to the booking and then after sales service. We went on the Lake Bled to Trieste 10 day holiday. The route was excellent, scenery fabulous and we had a lot of fun. The additional options along the route were also all well worth the extra pedalling. Thank you Headwater!
Our trip to the Dordogne was very enjoyable. The hotels had been well chosen and the routes between them were varied and contained a good level of challenge. We appreciated the app, which was easy to use and stopped us getting lost!
It was a thoroughly enjoyable and excellent holiday. The cycling distances were good, the bikes were great, the weather was very good (not that you can claim credit for that) , hotels were well positioned and of a good standard, the scenery was super and the cycling infrastructure (cycle paths etc.) quite incredible for a Brit. The courtesy which 99% of drivers showed to cyclist and pedestrians had to be experienced to be believed. The App took away any worry about the route.
The Bodensee area is perfect for this type of holiday.
The only thing that could have been improved would have been if I hadn't had to cart my travelling kettle with me. All except two hotels had them in the end (Arbon and Stein am Rhein did not) but it in no way spoiled any aspect of the holiday. A real plus were the panniers - great capacity and quality.
The two holidays at Headwater have been superb and takes all the hassle out of the trip and allows complete relaxation.
Very professional and excellent communication from start to finish. Travel Itinerary and walking options were very well considered. A thoroughly enjoyable experience from booking to return home.
Headwater provided an excellent holiday package. Very well organised from booking onwards. Kandesteg is a wonderful location with an excellent hotel. The walking was superb and made easy with the well designed app.
Overall fantastic service; was very impressed with the branded paper holder, with maps, printed itinerary etc. Super quick to respond to questions, and also on the outbound trip dealing with stress/worries caused by being stranded at the airport whilst our plane was delayed hour after hour; making sure the ongoing transport timings were adjusted and we didn't find ourselves stuck at a foreign airport overnight!
The hotels were inconsistent and if we had had the lovely small hotels the whole way it would have been ideal .
Very good experience, as before. All staff with whom I had dealings (both in UK and Croatia) were helpful, attentive to any needs, polite and friendly.
Generally a great holiday experience.
This trip is a must! What a hidden gem this part of Majorca is! The walks are fabulous, my particular favourite was the walk from Port de Soller to Deia which are both stunning. Public transport is very easy to use, i.e. bus or tram / train. Restaurants are very good quality and reasonably priced too.
Brilliant place. Loved every walk.
Excellent experience where I experienced kindness as well as hospitality. I felt completely safe as a solo independent cyclist and knew I had the backup of the headwater rep if required.
What a fantastic way of exploring the Loire and its rich history. The hotels are well selected and perfectly situated to enhance time spent in beautiful locations.
Very enjoyable few days. Would definitely use Headwater if planning a similar trip in the future.
This is the second time we have used headwater . The places we stayed were variable and a good mix . The luggage was always there when we arrived and always got into our room early . That was wonderful especially as it was so hot . I have no complaints .
Excellent
Very good trip with great route maps that kept us off any busy roads and took us through beautiful countryside
Wonderful break in Austria, all round. Hotel was very good, they made us feel very welcome. We enjoyed the added bonus of having a spa at the hotel. Food in the Evening at times was a limited choice.
A stunning cycle holiday. Beautiful places and very doable cycling each day. Highly recommend. Hotels good also.
The trip was amazing. Lots of different towns and scenery.
Any dealings I had with staff at Headwater were all handled very professionally. All staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. The hotel and itinerary were all of a very high standard and Switzerland was a beautiful place to visit. I have already recommended your company to several friends and would be happy to book with you again.
Very easy to book all of our questions answered. Loved the app and the routes. Great hotel. Will book again with Headwater without question
Luke was very helpful and available. He explained everything we asked and offered all necessary information
I had a wonderful time overall. All of the hotels were great and the trails were beautiful. I would recommend this trip to anyone and I will go on another trip in the future.
I think I was caught in a handover between Toni and Stephanie. Nonetheless, the booking and queries were dealt with quickly and always in a friendly way : )
The last day of our trip has a steep climb followed by some undulation which isn't highlighted perhaps as much as it could be. For my daughter and I we were fine with this but I think it could be a shock for anyone expecting 'leisurely'!
I would specifically like to than Steph Marlowe for her help when we were travelling out on the day French railways had been sabotaged. She kept in touch with us all along until we were safely on the train (3 hours late) from Paris to Lourdes and checked in with us the next day.
The local company Balaguere were helpful and friendly and knowledgeable.
This was a very enjoyable holiday, love the self guided cycles as they allow you to set your own agenda for the day. The cycling was easy and the distances good for the heat of July/August. Good hotels along the way. Great to visit three countries on one holiday.
I think the trip worked out very well. Of course going with friends makes the trip wonderful. There are many positives doing self guided trips particularly traveling on your schedule. I think it would be wonderful to be able to customize it through your company for tweets to itinerary and pay for higher end hotels.
A very good trip well organised. Local rep Richard very good. Luke did a terrific job in putting the trip together a very short notice.
Always a good holiday with Headwater. Good activities in great places with well chosen accommodation
We had a wonderful walking trip, our first together in 18 years of marriage. We would definitely go again. Experiencing the Alsace on foot was so satisfying and it's given us a spur to get a bit fitter and do more walking. The service throughout was excellent.
The trip was excellent - amazing walking with a fantastically accurate GPS powered app, incredible views and food. The itinery was well thought through providing beautiful walks and the opportunity for rest days where needed. Would recommend.
Really enjoyable holiday, support teams were excellent and the navigation app worked perfectly. Thanks for a great holiday.
This was the best holiday I've ever been on. It gave me the freedom to explore without the worry of getting lost. I went 'off app' later in the week, to extend the walks; easy to do in Switzerland where all the paths are well sign-posted. Each day took me somewhere different, each time more breath-takingly beautiful. The Gasterntal valley was a highlight. The hotel was excellent, very clean, and the staff friendly and helpful. This holiday is a great introduction to self-guided walking.
Fantastic hotel. Very clean, with soft pillows, and top notch food. I like that I could select my own packing lunch from the extensive breakfast buffet. And the view from the balcony. I haven't got enough superlatives to describe this holiday. Everything about it was perfect. Like a dream!
The booking process was clear and response times to my queries swift. The accommodation was really good, great food and well located with helpful local information. Navigation via the app was really simple and the detailed location notes really made light work of finding my way on a solo hike in unknown areas
Overall experience was excellent. Megan at Headwater was extremely helpful in helping us to choose and arrange the holiday and everything about our trip to the Dolomite was brilliant - fabulous hotel, great walking app, amazing scenery and we even had perfect weather!
This is an excellent holiday with varied walking. All the walks are easily accessible from the hotel. Local hospitality is impressive.
An enjoyable holiday. The itinerary was good and the travel worked out fine. Apart from using a the hotel with no A/C in peak summer months. A little more guidance could be given about how to deal with taxi and bus transfers. (There were apps available for Sao Miguel.) I would be good if you could offer a few easier walks, perhaps walking from the hotels to allow for bad weather or injuries.
a great adventure with lovely weather and surroundings
Reliable agency. Made me feel confident I had made the right choice. Well paced, good accommodation and importantly well located.
We had a great holiday, all planned and sorted fot us. Very good customer service and support. Will definitely go again with Headwater.
This was a truly wonderful holiday. The cycling was thoroughly enjoyable. Anyone who has cycled in the UK will be bowled over by the facilities and care provided to cyclists around the lake. The cycle paths were, most of the time, completely traffic free, smooth, and well signposted. When we were on road, the cars treated us with care and respect. For much of the time we followed the shore of the lake so the gentle lapping was never very far away. There were one or two inclines but nothing very arduous or long. In other words, an excellent tour for anyone who might have some trepidation about a cycling holiday. There was only one long day, about 60km, but every day there was plenty of time to amble at your own pace, stop for a radler or a coffee, stop for a picnic lunch on the side of the lake and even to visit a schloss or simply walk round a pretty village. An absolute delight.
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday. The support provided by Headwater - including walking directions and notes, choice of hotels and luggage transfer - was faultless.
We have been travelling with Headwater for more than 20 years. Generally very satisfied.
Although it was not necessary on this holiday we always found having a local rep helpful.
Also note previous comments re app v walking notes
Very good. Well organised and helpful.
A wonderful holiday. Great hikes, just right for activity level, outstanding scenery.
Very good. Always accessible and answered any questions I had. Delivery at the location and advice was provided by the property owner, Stefano who was accessible and knowledgeable. His help and care was excellent.
I guess Headwater removed the hassel of finding/booking accomodation and provided walking itinery ideas and detailed route information. We arranged our own flights and transfers.
Our experience with Headwater was excellent and any queries or changes we had was handled promptly and efficiently. Communication was brilliant and dealt with all queries we had. We would highly recommend them.
Headwater-excellent
Easyjet-poor
A great company to deal with, and questions quickly resolved. The app, routes and itinerary were great for our Chamonix and Courmayer trip
A great well planned two centre holiday with fab walks and great hotels ( we upgraded the hotels)
Headwater experience was great, as it has been over the many years (15 plus) that I have used them. Clear instructions, good responses to email queries and telephone calls.
The on-line brochures are good for reviewing before choosing exactly how one wants to plan the holiday - taking time pre and post holiday tour etc.
We had a fantastic trip. Fio was very responsive to queries and the Christine was a fantastic local agent. The hotels were a pleasant surprise. We loved that smaller hot ale with great character were used. The food on half board was amazing.
Neustift is a lovely village in a beautiful setting. The Hotel Alpeiner is one of the best we have stayed in on a Headwater holiday. We had single rooms but they were 'normal' doubles, not the smallest rooms. The rooms were very good. The outdoor pool is great and we used it most days. Hotel staff were friendly and helpful.
This was a lovely holiday, our only caveat being that we found one of the walks more difficult than Headwater's instructions suggested, the Elfer Summit walk. In addition, the walk which Headwater suggests at the Stubai Glacier is closed and it doesn't appear on the local walking trail maps. The Ice Cave there is also permanently closed. The Glacier is still very well worth the trip, especially the 'Top of the Tyrol' viewpoint and the short walk to the chapel up at the same level. We'd recommend reading the information pack supplied by the hotel as there are other very enjoyable walks in that, particularly Stage 1 of the Wilder Wasser Weg. We had a great week.
Overall our experience was top notch! We had no negative experiences at all and the app, routes and hotels were excellent. We would definately recommend Headwater, Exodus to anyone wanting a bike tour experience! Thank you for a great trip and to Kate Hatton who organized our travels!
We had an excellent time on our trip. We enjoyed everything about it, even the rain didn't dampen it much.
Excellent
Very professional, quick to respond, could not be more helpful. Would definitely recommend Headwater and plan to travel with them again.
Impressive scenery, challenging walking, beautiful wild flowers and butterflies (beginning of July).
Excellent- very friendly & helpful
Booking staff are very good and listen to what we want. Suggestions for hotels for extra nights have always been good. Communication is excellent. The app is very useful and gives hands-free accurate directions while walking. It encourages us to try another trekking holiday.
We have been very impressed with the holiday start to finish, especially as this is the 4th time this trip has been arranged, we have had cancellations due to natural disasters and an injury and it has been very easy for us to change the holiday to new dates without issue.
Travel/Arrival: Generally good, but why won't Headwater deal with the budget airlines when the route is better suited?
Accommodation: very good to start with..
Food: Amazing!
Locals: Cheerful and helpful. Drivers very flexible.
Routes: Out of this world! However no live tracking of issues/closures? Nor recognition that the Tour de France was on and could affect travel time?
Memories will last a lifetime 🙂
Very well organised. All went very smoothly.
Overall good communication & prompt replies to emails & queries .
Overall it was a magnificent holiday. Where transfers are organized for visits to attractions and wine tasting more time needs to be allocated and with a driver with local knowledge
Great - very well organised and we really appreciated the rail travel to the destination being planned for us (please try to offer rail travel on trips that include sleeper trains so we can book our next holiday to Slovenia with you!). The route instructions and app were great too, although the destination was so well signposted it was quite easy to follow our noses for a lot of the route. Overall it was a lovely holiday, the perfect balance of activity, exploring and rest time. And although it was well planned, the itinerary was flexible enough that we could have our own serendipitous adventures :)
Enjoyable holiday but extreme heat prevented us from walking as much as we would have liked.
We absolutely loved the booking process, and the holiday was amazing! The views and routes were stunning, and we were able to gorge on the beautiful food every evening. The only thing I would say is the access to the local guide on arrival was difficult and the route required quite a lot of use of buses.
First walking holiday and it was one of the best experiences of my life Everything went well Great resources - notes and GPX - Good accommodation all spotlessly clean
We benefitted from good weather Walks were challenging which is what you want if you travel that far On dogs we read about issues with strays and shepherd dogs We had no problems - two strays quietly "escorted " us off their patch just walking in front We came across a flock of sheep fortunately with a shepherd who told the dogs to lie still which they did when we passed We met no bears or boars There were bear foot prints on two walks so care is needed - we used whistles and banged tekking poles together and on trees as we walked
People were great
We really enjoyed the holiday just disappointed that the sixth walk involved quite a lot of the fifth walk.
Initially I was confused by the connection with Exodus but otherwise everything was the same experience we are used to.
It's an expensive option, but we definitely got good value in relying on Headwaters expertise, when traveling to a new area.
Great advice and service from Kate. Everything went smoothly. We weren’t able to use wine tasting vouchers due to timings but otherwise everything went as planned. Flights were a good price and time. The route wasn’t as varied as we’d hoped with lots of forest. We didn’t meet any other walkers all week which was our only disappointment
Good holiday but very challenging. Great going from village to village over the mountain passes.
Very good - haven’t done a holiday with you for a while, but as good as ever !
The walks were superb. We had difficulty with the App and would have liked to be provided with a map to plan and guide.
We had been to Algarve for holidays with our children, the north of Portugal could not be more different. Cultural, beautiful, green and lush, affluent, friendly and super food (not a Perri Perri chicken to be found on any menu!) Highly recommend this trip, combining Porto and Viana Do Castelo, gives you a thoroughly enjoyable an interesting contrast and insight into a fabulous part of Portugal.
Very good communication - it is always easy to speak to someone.
The holiday was booked as a treat to myself, the holiday went beyond my wildest dreams of expectation. (I am usually fussy). There was nothing to pick fault with this holiday to Kandersteg. Everything was made easy for me as a customer. All aspects were thought of and the extra touch with the option to make a packed lunch at the hotel to take out hiking made it perfect. For full board at a spa hotel the value for money was incredible. We spoke with an 80 something year old couple who had been visiting the same hotel for 30 years (sometimes 4 times a year). We can now see why!
We were impressed by the seamlessness of our holiday, the extra details supplied by the apps and also the freedom we had.
Everything went very smoothly. Helen Hodson's communication was excellent throughout the booking booking process.
I like the hiking and the set up to move our baggage. This is a great option for people who like to hike.
True to its description. beautiful islands with stunning views. Moderate difficulty for the walks, with options to use public transport as and when required. Highly recommend stopping at O' Sole Mio where we met Francesco, the most charming gentleman (and owner/chef) who prepared for us a tasty lunch. Albergo II Monastero hotel was superb.
Another superb trip with Headwater. This tour is excellent in that the cycle lanes are very good quality and you have time to see the various memorials and museums which are a must. Fascinating historical tour. Very poignant and emotional. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you
Megan organised our holiday exactly as requested including the three days we had in Salzburg which were wonderful. Hotel Villa Carlton very good, very stylish and quirky and only a 10 minute walk to the Old Town.
I really enjoyed my first trip to Norway, although the landscape wasn't as varied as some other places I've walked. The local guide was lovely and even sang happy birthday to two of us in Norwegian. I think you need to be an experienced walker to do this holiday as you go over some difficult terrain, such as rocky paths and slopes, steep ascents and descents and river crossings, and you need stamina for the long walks! Our group was small (5 people) but luckily we all got on well. The hotel is a bit 'rustic' but has excellent and plentiful food and friendly staff. We were lucky with the weather most days, but you'd need to be prepared to walk in rain and chilly winds, even in July :-)
This was our first walking holiday and we absolutely loved it. The combination of cue sheets and navigation app meant that we NEVER got lost and could relax and enjoy the walking without worrying. All the hotels were amazing and we enjoyed the variety of settings and atmospheres. We were not expecting the hotels to have heated pools - this was a realy treat on days when the weather was cooler.
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, all hotels were of a good standard & will definitely look through your brochures for our next adventure.
We thought this trip was value for money and was a successful introduction to using travel companies again after many years of not. We had a fabulous week in the Picos de Europa and would recommend this self guided trip. Jim at Hotel Torrecerrdo was amazing, he went above and beyond to make everything as easy as possible. the Headwater app was invaluable for the first two hiking days and we look forward to using your services again. Lynne
Given it was very short notice after a quick decision to travel on holiday everything was really well organised. Everyone was very helpful and we had no problems at all arranging travel or during the trip. I think maybe it needs taking into account that difficulty of walks will increase given weather conditions and that generally you will be outside walking at the hottest time of day. That said we managed the walks successfully but I think that's because we are experienced walkers, it was tougher in the recent heatwave.
For all the good literature provided, it was only when we got there to the location that we truly got into the detail of the walks. If we should return one day and I'm sure we will then we have some cracking walks to take us on our way and with now knowing the terrain it is a much more a win win. You don't have to have visited to enjoy these walks but heat, terrain, and having now experienced it is an added bonus.
The location, the hotels, the arrangements have all been excellent.
Meiringen is a perfect base to explore the Alps. Our hotel, 'Meiringen', was ideally located near the train station, but with no trains running at night and excellent sound insulation, we were never disturbed by noise. The hotel is exceptionally clean, with beautiful rooms featuring the owner's artwork. The half board option was fantastic, offering a great selection. I'm pescetarian and had plenty of choices, while my husband enjoyed the best steak and delicious pizza. The walks were carefully selected to showcase the best spots, and we particularly appreciated having a variety of walks to choose from each day, each with different difficulty levels. Public transport runs like clockwork in Switzerland, and what seemed complicated when it comes to travelling within the country was actually very easy. We are already planning to repeat this holiday and stay in the same hotel next year, as there is still so much to explore. We highly recommend this trip
Overall we enjoyed the cycling in such lovely countryside. I know it would have been difficult on this particular trip but a circular route would help those of us who do use our cars to get to the start point as we had a lots of organisation, time and expense to get back to our car on this holiday.
Professional, personal, efficient service with great routes, well described and easy to follow, through beautiful landscapes with lovely hotels to relax in at the end of each day. What more could you ask for? Oh and lovely weather too, but I imagine that is outside your control!!
Excellent, always helpful! Thank you.
Pretty good. I appreciate Seilers is a “family” hotel but it could really get its act together a bit better, especially in the food department.
Headwater were extremely helpful in helping us to plan our holiday. They were very responsive to any questions we had & organised a good route with great hotels and additional visits to local artisans. The guiding app is brilliant & keeps you on the right track without having to stop to look at maps. They were very good at contacting us about local conditions following heavy rain and were responsive to the feedback we were able to give.
They were also very flexible, allowing us to make our own way there by train.
We had a lovely holiday - a wonderful mixture of cycling, culture, warm weather, Italian food & hospitality & I wouldn’t hesitate to use Headwater again in future - many thanks!
helpful, friendly and efficient staff and overall excellent service and holiday experience
Such a great holiday in such an amazing location. It was so easy to book and the app was an amazing help on the walks.
very satisfied
We absolutely loved the walks and the hotel. The staff were lovely. We didn't meet an Exodus or Headwater representative so we're not given additional advice on the walks. This was fine for us, but some people would not have completed the waterfall walk due to the exposed section. It was a beautiful walk and our favourite of the holiday.
Trip was excellent
Superb location, superb hotel with fabulous food. The walking was amazing and using the headwater app finding the route was never an issue.
Booking with Headwater introduced us to walking in the Dolomites. The walks were lovely, and with the exception of one, were consistent with the level indicated. A great introduction to a fabulous area for walking. The hotel, and food, was an unexpected highlight
Very enjoyable holiday in the Alsace, beautiful region of France. Lovely medieval villages and vineyards. We found some of the walking more than ‘easy walking’ . Not a problem for us but could be misleading for someone expecting something less demanding. Hotels and food very good and excellent except one hotel we found below standard and were disappointed with it. Some of the villages were deserted and nowhere to stop for a drink or to buy food so make sure you take food and drink with you on walks. Some places and bus driver from Basel airport to train station only take cash.
The pace of the holiday and the hotels chosen was excellent. The app worked really well., and using mainly the audio enabled us to be hands free
We loved the holiday overall and the arrangements were very good. Perhaps we need to scale back on the length and difficulty of walks in the future as they were extremely challenging. The app made all the difference.
Trip was excellent. Headwater organised a difficult combination of flights Frankfurt airport was a nightmare but a necessary evil to get us there as painlessly as possible
The cycling was excellent : through beautiful mountains and then down to the coast on nearly all traffic free paths and stopping at interesting towns en route
The starting venue of Lake Bled was stunning and the finishing coastal Italian town of Grado was very pleasant. The last day cycle at Grado is not to be missed through a beautiful nature reserve by the sea Palmanova was an unexpected highlight with a very attractive huge main central square
This was our fourth Headwater cycling holiday and once again the organisation and information was faultless. The cycling through the Julian Alps was stunning, and the long ride (61km) was an easy downhill freewheel! The following day (Venzone to Udine) we took the gravel track around the lake option but in hindsight, shouldn’t have bothered; the gravel track wasn’t that pleasant to cycle on and the lake view was instantly forgettable! We always delight in seeing villages and countryside that most tourists miss and this trip was no exception.
We have had a great holiday ,it lived up to all expectations and everything ran smoothly.
Very good!
Overall another very good experience, thank you.
Excellent customer service, detailed communication and well thought out itinerary that enabled us to get the most out of chosen destination.
Clear description of the holiday, borne out by our experience. Only the high temperatures restricted our activity, walks were v clearly indicated through the app. An overall map would have been helpful (more for orientation than on-the-ground guidance). We intend to book with you for Slovenia in 2025.
We absolutely loved our Headwater holiday - our second. The organisation was superb in terms of efficiency but we also greatly appreciated the thought that had gone into the details such as routes and hotel choices. Mallorca exceeded out expectations in beauty of the landscapes, towns, cities and coasts and the food was superb. For us the variety of new places and experiences every day is so exciting and energising! We loved the simple things like stopping in a little village for a coffee or beer. We love the independence of self-guided cycling - set off when you like, stop when you like, but with the knowledge that back up is there if necessary.
Thank you all the Headwater team both here and in Spain! Can't wait til the next trip!!
We had an excellent experience with Headwater. The hotels were charming, friendly and extremely clean. Trail information was accurate. The area of the Picos is absolutely breath-taking. The contract with S-cape for luggage and personal transfer was mostly excellent. I would recommend Headwater and would be happy to hike with this company again.
The holiday was fantastic, with the convenience of baggage transfer, available bike support, and the opportunity to utilize local routes to explore the region's highlights—truly brilliant.
This was an easy and relaxing cycling holiday with plenty of spare time to explore each place. We especially enjoyed our stays in Aveiro and Praia de Mira.
Very well organised - we felt we were in good hands. The trip was well planned to enjoy some beautiful scenery and the cycling was a very pleasant experience throughout. Thank you Headwater!
An excellent holiday. We packed a lot in and had a relaxing time.
a fabulous holiday, thanks to Megan for all the help and information.
A very good walking holiday, plenty of opportunities to swim along the way. Island hopping was fun too.
Slovenia exceeded our expectations - it’s a beautiful country and the people were so welcoming. We were delighted with the hotel and the fact it was in a quieter part of the valley near to but away from eg Lake Bled. The area is great for walking and we were lucky with the weather too!
A memorable experience.
It took us 4 years to be able to go on this holiday having seen a leaflet about cycling the Danube before covid . Headwater made every aspect of arranging the holiday easy and it far exceeded our expectations , from the variety of hotels , ease of luggage transfer , excellent route app , and pleasure of seeing the country on a bike ( easily achievable on e bikes )fantastic Austrian hospitality. We enjoyed it so much that we were sad to finish our last day of cycling , if time would had allowed we would have carried on to Budapest … next time !
A very good holiday and good service from Headwater. I have written separately with specific issues about the bikes and app.
We were quite late booking but Headwater were very helpful in finding us Hotels to suit. The Routes were great with only minimal on road travel. We were unfortunate in that one of our party became ill and was unable to complete the cycling part of the holiday. The bike company were very happy to collect our cycles from 2 different locations.
overall very well organised. The app is an excellent tool and very user friendly.
Headwater is a fantastic company, wehave travelled to several countries with them and have always ben well looked after .All arrangements working smoothly.
It is difficult for us to comment on the walks as because of my husband's illness we only did half of the first walk and deviated from your walks on most of the other days but we felt the walks we did do could have been more interesting. We customised the holiday to some extent - we missed out the last walk and rearranged the taxi so we had more time for sightseeing in Siena; on another day we did a shorter walk following tourist signs from Greve, and at Radda we chose to do a shorter walk which we found at the Tourist Office. We added an extra night in Florence which gave us a full day there, and added a night in Pisa at the end of the holiday so for us this holiday was as much a sightseeing holiday as a walking holiday which worked well.
Greve was a lovely place and ideal for a rest day particularly as the hotel had a swimming pool. Our two nights there were perhaps the highlight of the walking holiday.
We would be grateful if you could pass on our thanks to Scape for arranging our rescue when my husband became ill halfway through the walk from Florence to Impruneta - for their helpfulness, courtesy and patience, and I know we put the taxi driver who made a detour to pick us up to some inconvenience. They were equally helpful when we rearranged taxi times later in the week.
This is an excellent well organised walking holiday as it’s one day hiking and one day off to discover the towns. The scenery is spectacular and all the Hotels were a very good standard. The Amalfi Coast is a very expensive part of the world so the holiday represents good value for money. I would avoid June July and August as even though our weather reached maximums of 28 degrees it felt hotter as very high humidity. This is our 7th self guided trip with Headwater and we have always found them to be very professional and experts at finding the best locations.
Overall a really enjoyable holiday.
Another good Headwater walking holiday, but perhaps not the best we have had because of unseasonally hot weather for mid-June. Lovely coastal scenery, the inland sections spoiled in part by many dead olive orchards. This, plus one or two more challenging sections, suggest a Level 1+ grading in our view. Good hotels, two with very welcome swimming pools. Would have liked more time to explore Lecce and Otranto, so perhaps it would be better to include two "rest" days.
We had a good holiday. Most of the days we followed excellent routes and enjoyed wonderful country side, quiet routes and good weather.
Most of the hotels were very good - good standard of comfort, space and food.
On the whole Headwater provided us with a very good package. I suppose when you provided us with half board, it would have been nice to be able to choose where this would be, although the choice you made for us, prove to be excellent.
Great hotels, fantastic views, wonderful food but cycling routes can have some very challenging hill sections for road bikes, make sure you are fit or happy to walk up hills
An absolutely fantastic holiday, great itinerary and excellent support before and during the ride, would have no hesitation in recommending Headwater to anyone on looking for a self guided tour.
Great holiday except for the travel through Paris - the persistent problems with the navigation app detracted from the enjoyment of the cycling
Booking experience was excellent. Enjoyable itinerary with well chosen mix of hotels. Local agent was very good.
Always enjoy our Headwaters holidays. Enjoyed being in one centre as hotel very nice and comfortable. Always minor issues and frustrations with the routes. Great way to see an area
We had a great time. The countryside was beautiful and we enjoyed the cycle routes. Very nice hotels too.
The bike rental company was very helpful.
Always well organised; reliable and enjoyable
Every part of my trip was brilliantly organised. Going solo did give me some fear. But booking transfers, dinner bed and breakfast and having the apps and print outs made the whole thing flow amazingly. The standard of the accommodations were fabulous. Thank you.
There was a bit of confusion when booking the trip as to which hotel was going to be used.
The staff at Headwater were very friendly and helpful and successfully resolved our queries.
The grading of the walks was variable and didn't seem to take into account terrain.
The Headwater general information was very good and helpful.
Super trip again. We have two more Headwater trips booked for this year already and have been a very satisfied customer for over 10 years. Thanks again.
This was our 11th trip with Headwater, most have been in France or Italy and this was our first in Portugal. Portugal is a great place to cycle in with many good cycle paths, friendly and helpful people and English is widely spoken. The itinerary was excellent, and the coastal and lagoon scenery was varied and interesting, and mostly level 1 with a handful of hills that may qualify it for the level 1.5 rating. We are glad we added an extra night in Coimbra and enjoyed walking around - the botanical gardens were a highlight.
One of the best walking holidays we’ve had.
Very enjoyable, cycling is a wonderful way of seeing a country. Headwater did an excellent job.
Of the cycling holidays we’ve done, Italy seems particularly well suited to cycling. Excellent cycling lanes, great food, weather & interesting scenery.
We absolutely loved the holiday and would definitely do it again.
The app was brilliant and the E-bikes were a revelation.
The hotels were all excellent and the whole holiday was trouble free.
We had a really lovely holiday. The scenery was beautiful and very varied, as is suggested by the title of the trip. All the hotels served us very well, although some of the rooms given were better than others. However, we felt that the description of the routes and terrain could have been more accurate. The cobbled roads were mentioned, but there were a lot and some of them were very uncomfortable to ride. There were also some tricky gravel slopes which would not be fun in the rain. I notice that reviews from a previous year describe a coastal path being impassable because of an extensive area of deep sand on the track - this was still a feature this year but the GPS had not been updated - we had to work out our own detour. Despite all this we found the cycling challenging in parts but great fun.
We enjoyed the cycling but the route in Sweden was not that interesting in terms of landmarks, scenery and culture. A lot of route was through industrial and residential areas, and despite the holiday name, most of the route in Sweden was not along the coast. The Danish bit was very pretty. We cycled 265 kms and enjoyed the challenge, better weather would have enhanced our enjoyment! We felt that the holiday was expensive.
The location was stunning and Tuscany is quite beautiful
Navigation app was amazing as was the support from local agents. Beautiful rides through stunning scenery apart from short time on busy coastal roads. Accommodation was mostly good to excellent.
The information and organising done by Headwater was excellent and we found the whole experience a lot easier than we thought it might be.
Well organised walking options at nice resort and hotel
What a brilliant holiday. Loved using the App for the walks. Loved the variety of hotels and islands. Using the App visually at times was useful as we could check that we were on track.
Procida was like Italy unspoilt. Ischia was somewhere in the middle and Capri was far too busy until we did the walk and saw no one.
A good degree of fitness needed as all three island had hills, together with 28deg heat to make it really enjoyable.
The App made it possible to see all the back alleys as well as more mountainous routes.
Everyone was very helpful throughout the whole process of deciding on the trip, answering my endless list of questions, completing the booking, providing updates and information between time of booking and act trip
generally speaking we were very happy an will recommend Headwaters to our friends
Superb pre-booking service and excellent walking app. Would have benefited from a bit more guidance on good things to do at the various places that we stopped on the walk. Obviously we can google this ourselves, but actual feedback from people doing the trip would have been valuable.
We had a wonderful holiday in the Dordogne region of France. Headwaters created a skeleton framework based around excellent accommodation in beautiful villages, provided rental of canoes and bikes and transfers where needed. The local headwaters staff were very kind and helpful. The accommodation , food and scenery in that part of France was fantastic.
Due to the fact that it had been a very rainy spring, instead of four days of canoeing in the area of high water we were unable to canoe, and therefore had only one day of canoeing during our holiday. Headwaters rented bikes for us as an alternative, which turned out to be a great experience. Our initial disappointment and confusion around last minute changes could have been handled better by headwaters. However, we were blessed with great weather and we had a flexible group that were able to roll with the changes and had a wonderful time biking. We were happy to be able to get on the river for one day to experience the peace and beauty along the Dordogne.
We chose the month of June to do this trip because we understood that water levels could be quite low later in the season. As it turned out, the water levels were too high. I think it’s good to be aware that these things can happen and to be prepared that alternate arrangements may need to be made depending on water conditions. Out
Easy to book. Helen very helpful sending links to our trip info.
Excellent holiday . Fantastic location . Warm welcoming hotel with delicious meals . Great walking and the scenery was awe inspiring . Would definitely recommend and will be booking again with Headwater .
This was our7th assisted cycling hol with headwater. Prev were 2002-2009 various locations in France. So you may conclude satisfaction with our relationship.
Stunning alpine scenery. Off road cycling mainly and almost all flat or down hill. Cycling alongside main roads on cycle paths can be a little uninspiring but against that it would be almost impossible to take a wrong turning
Communication was excellent throughout our booking. Knew exactly what we should expect from the holiday. Local agent was really good and their selection of accommodation good.
This was our fifth cycling holiday with Headwater and certainly not the last!
Overall a good experience.
The temperatures were much higher than usual for the time of year which made the walking much more of a challenge.
Friendly staff, great hotels and comprehensive, accurate route notes. Happy to add on city breaks and find the best flight options for you. We've used Headwater many times and will do so again.
We enjoyed the holiday, which was a departure for us as we'd never done a pilgrimage route before. We were disappointed at the high proporion of walking on tarmac and stony, shadeless tracks but that is partly down to us for not doing our research. Could you give more prominent information in the brouchure and online about the surfaces we'd be walking on? The accommodation was mainly excellent and quite luxurious. A common problem was getting food and drink in the afternoons when we'd arrive at our destination but nothing was available until after 7pm - but we don't think there's anything you could do about that. The navigation app was brilliant. I started using it just looking at the map on the phone - as I do with other navigation apps. However, it was a revalation when I put the earbuds in - then I hardly ever needed to take the phone out of my pocket.
A fantastic holiday with a great itinerary and great places to stop and see on the way.
The first couple of days it was very hot and the hill climbing on those days was very tough with few places to stop or get out of the sun. We did this holiday on conventional bikes where’s e-bikes would have made some of those climbs easier. The latter part of the cycling was much easier and cooler by the coast which was more aligned to our expectations.
We had a good time but didn't do all the walks. We felt that the bus service was excellent and were glad that we spent the first afternoon finding the bus station and sorting things out a bit. We visited the tunnels made in wartime instead of walking one day. Would certainly recommend that people do this.
Our holiday in the Stubai valley was excellent. There were plenty of amazing walks to do and the hotel itself was first class. While it didn’t affect the enjoyment of the holiday, we didn’t find the Headwater app useful and didn’t think the itinerary offered by Headwater was necessarily the best one. However, the hotel offered many amazing trips and information which more than compensated for this
Overall, an enjoyable experience. This was my first walking holiday, and i will certainly do more in the future.
Great off the beaten track type of holiday, the whale watching boat ride we went on was the highlight and seeing the tea plantation with beautiful walks every other day, we felt you needed to book a taxi to get you home from walks to be safe in case the bus did not collect from where you imagined it would. I would recommend people load the app what three words in case of an accident as the remote spots would be difficult to explain if you got into trouble. Say Hi was another useful translation app when in remote spots needing to ask for help. We missed the feeling of having a local person to check in with that we have had with cycling holidays- however Melo travel were helpful when we approached them for taxis. The beauty of the island needs to be seen- hydrangeas, agapanthus and lilies were everywhere and the trees were sublime in parks. In Lisbon the silver lime/ linden trees were in blossom and smelt so perfumed. Glorious
A great holiday for walkers, trust your instincts and don’t just follow the app as things can change post updates. It gives you enough topography to allow you to re route and get back on track. The support from both the UK and in Malta is exemplary. So glad I went.
Well organised and efficient. Katie very proactive and helpful, went the extra mile for us. Our third holiday with you over the last two years and would certainly travel with you again. Five star service.
This was my first holiday with Headwater and the overall experience was good. This was a self Guided holiday and the supplied guidebook to West Highland Way included in arrival pack was very useful. I didn't use the app at all as I couldn't see a way to get my current location shown on route, which rendered it it rather useless,
For a long time the hotels along the route were unspecified and were not supplied until about 1month before the trip and only after I received the "final" itinerary which still didn't include hotels, once I questioned this by email I quickly received an updated itinerary with hotel list. I found this disconcerting as I knew we were travelling at a busy time on the route (June) and it added some uncertainty whether hotel close to the route had actually been booked.
Baggage transfer arrangements and taxi pickup and drop off from Kingshouse to Ballachulish worked well.
A lovely holiday - always well organised. Sadly several villas we wanted to visit were closed temporarily or permanently.
Wonderful holiday, the Portuguese were friendly and welcoming. Eating out was very reasonably priced everywhere compared to UK which was a bonus. The terrain was easy going and more so with my electric bike. Lovely mix of coastline and countryside and rural villages and loads of places to stop for coffee breaks and the must have Pastel de Nata. Fab trip.
An amazing time exploring beautiful Puglia. Accommodation excellent, Agents Marco and Claudia friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend this holiday to anyone who wants to enjoy the walks, scenery and history of this beautiful destination.
The Headwater team are just great. From the local teams to the UK booking teams, the end result is an amazing holiday. We have used Headwater before, and ONLY go back to them. They can be trusted to give you a most valuable life experience and memories, each and every time, almost anywhere in the world.
An excellent experience despite one vey poor hotel.
The cycling was tougher than expected due to some poor surfaces (lots of dirt/gravel sections which were slow) - combined with the heat. Cycling along the canal became a little boring and we wished we had a 'rest day' in the middle when we could have explored the local area. The guest house style accommodation was preferred to the chain hotels which generally had small rooms.
Overall we really enjoyed the trip but wouldn't cycle along a canal again - a little too boring.
The bikes and the app were brilliant. One bike was faulty on morning one and the local partner answered his phone straight away and told us how to fix the problem - (re position magnet on back wheel) He (Yiannis) was great . We had a great time and all the logistics worked . The app is incredibly precise and the fact that it beeps when you are off course reduced all our anxiety about map reading !! This was important as we had 4 days of extreme heat - 35/36 in the shade and didn’t want to get lost !! The bikes were good - robust tyres which was important as road surface v bumpy and rutted at times - no problem for us and great that no punctures were had . One exception : The driver who picked us up at Petra drove us to the wrong drop off point with the bikes - Spili - which was annoying so we cycled back half way so as not to miss all the bypassed route
A really great trip- it was both a holiday and an adventure. Cycling allowed us an insight into local life that we would not have had on a different holiday. The contrast between the Dolomites and Venice was huge and every day the scenery was different. Some of the sights were truly breathtaking. The cycling was very enjoyable and we enjoyed the cameraderie with others on the trip when our paths crossed. We can't wait to go an another trip like this.
Very enjoyable holiday, Croatian rep excellent, excellent Ebikes. Holder for mobile phone made reading and hearing app directions difficult.
We were fortunate with good weather, would have been different if inclement. Much preferred the small, family run hotels.
We were very happy with the organisation and communication from Headwater.
The amount of cycling per day was just right for us and the App was easy to use.
It was great that our luggage was waiting for us on arrival at the next hotel.
Given we didn’t cycle we still had a very enjoyable time.
I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants a gentle cycling exploration of the beauty of Catalunia
The experience was great. The places we visited were varied and extremely interesting. The organised events such as the Bread making, Wine tasting and guided tour of Matera were really excellent and not to be missed.. The Trulli Houses of Alberobello were well worth vsiting as they are so unique. However it was busy when we were there but not uncomfortably so, but I would think at it its busiest it could become extremely crowded.
Despite difficulties with the rail connections, and a couple of poor meals at the hotel, we thoroughly enjoyed our first Headwater holiday. The overall experience was very good.
One of the best holidays we have ever had. Didn’t want to leave.
The App was great - all the information you need for walks, elevations, transport and lunch options. We mainly just used the map on the App for route navigation but it also has written navigation cues and you can have the instructions read out to you like a sat nav if you choose!
The hotel was excellent as well. Delicious food, lovely views, friendly and helpful staff.
We would feel very confident that if we chose a Headwater holiday again we would get fantastic walking in a beautiful place with a great hotel. Thank you Headwater!
Lovely hotel very relaxing, clean and friendly. Food was wonderful. You could mention how easy and reliable the buses are to use.
We had an excellent experience with Headwater from booking to arriving home, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an adventure holiday.
Your routes are always excellent - really appreciate that research. but i cannot over emphasise how much you need to get local hotels to get comfier beds. Just awful!
An outstanding experience. Everything went like clockwork. Particularly impressed with the transport of bags to next hotel plus dropping us off at start of walks. Drivers were so professional with lovely Mercedes cars. Hotel staff lovely. Also loved the choice of destinations - a nice variety, ie not all in bustling tourist destinations.
I general enjoyed the holiday. Found the travelling to Gatwick challenging. If doing it again would go more regional. There was a mistake that sent us direct to the airport hotel instead of the Car parking facility that didn’t help and the hotel not booked for our return - this was sorted out promptly and we accept it was a honest mistake. Transfer from the airport to station was confusing because it wasn’t stated we needed tickets and I would advise that going forward this should be made clear. Train and transfer to hotel worked well. However before using the app Trenitalia we needed the agents email address to initially log in and this was not made clear. We inquired and it was sorted but maybe make clear initially. The hotel was excellent, it would have been nice to have tea / coffee facilities in the room but accept this may not be common in Italy. The food was enjoyed and we would stay there again or recommend. It was basic but adequate and had a relaxed and comfy feel to it. The family and staff welcoming and friendly The electric nikes Headwater app excellent. The bike support was not required but the individual concerned was good and filled us with confidence.
Overall I would travel with Headwater again and happily recommend.
So Thankyou.
A very well thought out itinerary. The walk on Korcula started fairly dull, the detour to the fort has little merit, the picnic bench with a view is no longer white and nowhere near the fort this might be better as a 1/2 day walk taking in the rocky glen. There were lots and lots of butterflies and wild flowers at the start of June. All the local taxis were spot on time. Very handy to have all the ferry tickets pre-booked. Perhaps advise folk to take beach shoes and swimming gear to Mjlet, the restaurant on the island in the lake there is still reasonably priced.
A well organised trip with excellent local support. Miroslav’s initial briefing confirmed there is nothing he doesn’t know about the route. Lake Bled is a beautiful spot & breakfast at our first hotel was stunning. The initial warm up day is worth doing & it means you will encounter the only short uphill challenge of the whole week. We had unexpected heavy rain for first two days but the rides were easy & mostly downhill along cycle paths. It was never busy but worth using the lights provided in the tunnels (& take your designer shades off!) The hotels varied but all were clean & comfortable. Once again Miraslav’s advice on restaurants was so helpful. Udine is a great place to explore on foot & the hotel is in a ideal location. Last few days to the coast was easy flat riding but have to admit I missed the mountains. Headwater provided a delightful trip with easy rides most days. Thank you
Very enjoyable, but see our earlier comments regarding the second driver and the scaling of the maps.
The communication with Megan for the trip set up was professional and timely with fast responses my questions.
Joanne was very helpful with getting us off to a good start to our trip after we arrived and Russ kept in touch to make sure things went well.
Generally a very good experience.
Fabulous!
A very positive experience. The rep was on hand to answer any questions or deal with any issues. The places I stayed were first rate and the walks took me through some beautiful countryside I'm sure I never would have found under my own steam. Overall the organisation of the whole trip was excellent.
Loved the holiday . Itinerary excellent and the intel for things to see and do. Great help with finding restaurants. Liked all the accommodation.
We were very pleased that everyone we dealt with at Headwater, including its local representative, dealt speedily with any questions or requests that we had. In particular, Sergio worked so hard to find a holiday that met our requirements in terms of dates, flight times and our interests.
We really enjoyed the holiday. The walks were generally easy to follow and I particularly liked the fact that each walk was different from the previous one (I.e. not just nice coastal walking, but different coastal scenery).
All in all it was a lovely holiday and we enjoyed the walks. The island is great as it is so unspoilt and we didn't really bump into other walkers at all. We had great food and plenty of choice without eating meat.
We didn't like that the goats had their front and back legs tied together so they couldn't climb - its apparently illegal but very wide spread.
Overall, walking the Camino was fantastic, so many good memories and met so many nice people. We weren't expecting much in the way of accomodation but it was all OK. I wish we had been aware that there was the option to stay at the Paradore in Santiago on the last night but probably too much information to go through, we made up for it when we transferred to Madrid. The walking was good, very easy. I was worried that we might not be able to manage 20km a day at 69 years old but it was fine. It's a type of holiday I wish I had done sooner
The worst bit was trying to get hold of transport at the end of the day and couldn't get a mobile signal or they didn't pick up the phone. On one occasion we decided to keep on walking and go to the hotel ourselves as it was only a couple of miles away
We are now looking at doing another walking holiday, maybe a bit longer next time
An excellently run organisation who have always been helpful with good communication.
have been on x2 holidays with the company and booked a 3rd for later in the year
A great holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. Well organised, with no problems at all. A good range of different walks; cliff tops, olive groves, wooded valleys, hill-top towns, building up to the unique and stunning city of Matera. Directions were easy to follow. The walks weren't too challenging, leaving plenty of time and energy for exploring. Comfortable and quirky hotels, including a Trullo in Alberobello. Teenager declared it the 'best holiday yet'.
The Dolomites are stunning. The routes on the first 3 days were fantastic, the last two days were a bit residential/industrial. However, despite the weather and Funactive we had a great time! We’ve visited some wonderful places, seen some beautiful sights and have made some happy memories.
Mallorca cycle was a bit more challenging than we expected. I wouldn't like to have been placed in the hotel in Randa
Very enjoyable, low fuss way to travel.
Bikes - Triple 3x6 Acer group set. Regina valves (compatible with Presta) pump, inner tubes, locks and patches provided. Waterproof phone holder takes iPhone Max. Comfortable to ride. Better than expected.
Routes - fairly flat but not as pretty or scenic as some locations. Fly tipping no worse than parts of UK and only really seen around Trapani. Worth checking the weather as wind prone to changing and off shore breeze can make the flattest road a bit of a slog and effect timings.
Hotels - the two 4 star hotels are not UK "4" stars (Hotel Mahara and Hotel Admeto). They have may have more amenities but rooms are basic. Breakfasts were awful!!
Best hotels - first and second nights. Sopra la Mura, Castellammare: great service/breakfast and Baglio Pocoroba, Sagesta: warm welcome, middle of nowhere, home cooked food, great views. Hotel Carmine also a lovely place to stay. A trip to the Florio winery very worthwhile.
We arrived in Trapani at lunchtime and went up the cable car (great town at the top - lots of hotels and restaurants) leaving the following day to get the boat to the island (need to book if you want a popular "commute" time). Probably 6 hours needed to ride around and see things.
Archeological parks and sights are incredible.
Best restaurant: the last night at ORASEA on seafront or Gennaio 30 Bistrot in Trapani. Impeccable service and food.
Pleasurable with a very well chosen hotel and location
This was our eighteenth holiday with Headwater and there have been none better. It really was a great trip. We especially appreciated the fact that dinner was included on most nights. There are not so many Headwater trips nowadays that provide this. We have always particularly appreciated this because the food is always so good. At the end of a tiring day it is great just to be fed and not have to traipse around looking for somewhere not knowing what the food will be like. With Headwater it is always very good if not excellent. The hotels and routes were great and Hotel Montmirail was especially memorable. The app worked really well.
It was great! We really enjoyed the location and the cycling/walking routes. The app is very helpful.
Excellent thank you
We love Headwater and the way it offers the chance to see a country and countryside slowly and up close by walking. The prices are reasonable, the locations we stayed were all interesting and places we likely would have never found or tried on our own, and the whole experience was satisfying.
It was a lovely trip, the first walk was arduous and the app misguided us …. But we loved the whole trip . Staff were on hand to help if we needed it .
We thoroughly enjoyed our weeks cycling the heel of Italy, The Headwater navigation App was excellent and made each days cycling worry free. The organisation from start to finish was very well done.
We had a great time in Italy and enjoyed the route and variation of the area. Is not a cheap holiday and after the physical challenge of the day expect a certain standard of accommodation for the night which we had. We had an exceptional rep. in Croatia last year, felt a bit different this time round, welcome meeting about the bikes out in the street, didn't feel very personal, language was a bit sketchy also. There was a road closure in Alberobello which meant we had to walk quite a way with our luggage which made us late for the welcome briefing which didn't help but was out of our hands.
A truly great walking holiday, our fourth with Headwater. Hotels in fab locations, excellent food, challenging walking and incredible scenery. We loved it.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Via Francigena walking holiday. End of May is an excellent time to go with hedgerows and fields full of wild flowers, poppies in bloom and hedgerows of wonderful smelling jasmine. The App with route notes was good. Stayed in lovely hilltop medieval towns but because of the lack of accommodation in some areas not all accommodation was to the same standard but couldn’t fault cleanliness. It’s not an easy walk as a 2+ and most days there wasn’t any lunchtime stop availability so food and water had to be carried. Would definitely recommend this beautiful walk.
Great holiday; fun cycling; beautiful country; English spoken everywhere; fantastic wines. Roads are in really good condition compared to UK made cycling more comfortable.
GPS worked really well but would suggest wearing earbuds when in traffic to hear instructions. We took paper instruction too which helped at times.
Electric bikes were a good decision! Plenty of charge left in the batteries at the end of a day. We could have charged every other day.
Great company with whom we have travelled previously and will do so again.Jo Chaplin very helpful and local agent in Piedmont excellent
A great trip
Well organised, navigation app worked perfectly , good standard of bikes, most hotels comfortable
Great trip, seamlessly organised by the Headwater team and local agent. Some stunning countryside and great experiences along the route.
We paired the Headwater Slovenia itinerary with the Bohinj Wildflower festival for an incredible time.
This seemed like a cut-above in terms of service. It really felt like the personnel genuinely cared and wanted to help make the holiday top class. Our requests re food, an extra night in the hotel and queries about the bikes were all handled quickly and well. The hilltop villages were beautiful. I thought the towns in the valley were sometimes busier than I expected but I think that is just normal pressure of population growth. I thought overall it was a little pricey but then again we were very well looked after so maybe fair.
Very good but its not a cheap holiday. Might have liked a few more dinners included in price
Headwater looked after us well. Hotel Jezero is in a great location but the restaurant and the food were disappointing considering the amount we paid. Package holiday buffet style was not really what we were expecting. Free wine at dinner though was a novelty and saved us a bit of money! Pool very nice indeed.
We have done cycle tours before but usually totally independently. This is the first time we have used Headwaters (Or anybody else in Europe) and they made the experience so much easier. The navigation app was terrific and overall we had a great time exploring the south west corner of the Algarve. Thanks
Arrangements were clear, mapping perfect using the app. Bikes were well prepared and ran smoothly.
We arranged our own ferry in place of flying and can recommend Condor from Poole to Guernsey / Jersey.
Overall great experience with excellent suggestions of places to see.
Roads were quiet once away from the main towns but cycle lanes and motor vehicle restrictions ensured safety even in the busy areas of St Helier and St Peter Port.
I was really impressed with the hotels in the small towns we stayed at. As well, our luggage was always there at the hotels when we got there. We appreciated getting the route in a GPX file so we could use our Garmins insetad of your app since that is what we are used to using and didn't have to change our phone settings. Just an awesome trip!!!
Wonderful trip, beautiful countryside and well thought out routes. We did not have e-bikes, which we might have enjoyed on a couple climbs, but we enjoyed the challenge and the accomplishment! Wildflowers were in bloom, with poppies everywhere. Amazing food at all locations. We did a different side trip than suggested one day, and I will share that as a potential option for this trip.
Headwater were excellent and organised things exactly as we requested despite it all being very "last minute".
Megan was always very helpful and patient with us - despite us having to put things on hold at one point.
The local bike team (Puglia cycles) were very good. The initial briefing was excellent (the best we have had on our numerous cycling holidays). The Electric bikes were of good quality.
When a chain came off and got stuck in the pedal hub they sent someone out to help within 30 minutes. The same day we had a puncture that we repaired ourselves despite there being only one spare inner tube (wrong size) between 2 bikes - they did offer to send help but it wasn't required.
All accommodation was of very high quality and very welcoming (apart from Santa Maria 24). Breakfast were very good and always tried to provide Gluten Free for my wife.
The App is excellent - 99% accurate. Gives really good directions and clear route information as well as showing interesting sites en - route
Excellent service provided by Headwater staff. Very relaxing and enjoyable holiday, very well planned. Very good hotels, excellent service provided by locals and all hotel staff.
I was impressed with Headwater generally in that Megan always answered my queries very quickly and I liked that the itinerary would be altered to suit us. Generally, with one exception, the hotels were good and the food offered was adequate if not outstanding. The problems we had with the app were extremely irritating but it did not let us down entirely. The routes mapped out were good except in one place where the undergrowth on the cycle path made cycling very difficult and possibly hazardous.
We had a great holiday and loved discovering Puglia and Matera. We felt that most of the days the destination was better than the walk. Our favorite walk was the one into Matera, definitely cross the bridge and don't take the transfer!
Very professional
Overall a lovely experience but with decent bikes it would have been wonderful.
Excellent holiday. Great documentation, routes and first class step by step navigational guidance. Outstanding quality of bike paths and bike cafes on route. Very good bikes, but very heavy. E bike excellent and easy to use. Very few bike garages had charging points. Battery had to be taken to room to recharge.
Hotels on Silver standard were clean and comfortable but lacking any extras - wardrobes and drawers were a rarity. Bathrooms were small and showers only. Most hotels only provided breakfast, but it was comprehensive. Eating out every night was essential but sometimes a taxi ride away. Documentation could have been clearer on this point especially in Peschiera after a 5 hour afternoon ferry with no catering on board.
Well organised, good communication. Creative itineraries and good choice of hotels.
We had a great experience with Headwater, it was a treat for us as it was far more than we would usually spend, but it was luxurious, and great having everything sorted for us!
We would definitely use you again if we have the funds!
A very well organised holiday. Transport from the airport to the hotel was very easy. The hotel was lovely. Enjoyed all the walks and found the app easy to use.
Our hosts, Sue and Gordon, at the converted mill/farmhouse could not have been more helpful. Mike, our English guide was a mine of interesting information. The walks were wonderful with a wealth of wild flowers. The temperature was perfect for walking in the morning with plenty of time for a swim or relax in one of the many delightful shady corners in the Finca garden. The evenings were cooler than anticipated. Few of us had that extra fleece necessary for a cold north east wind! But no matter Sue whipped out some welcome rugs! All in all it was one of our best ever holidays!
Excellent communication and helpfulness
We chose this holiday particularly because the walks were expertly guided. Headwater would do well to include more such holidays.
The holiday was fun and invigorating. You chose a wonderful hotel in La Finca.
Great walking holiday, well organised and everything went smoothly.
The choice of walking distance each day was perfect. I liked the fact we had a choice.The hotels were wonderfully situated and the staff excellent. It is easier to get a taxi to turn up on time in rural Spain than it is in U.K.
I will definitely use Headwater again.
Headwater organised a very good walking holiday of about the right distance each day. Accommodation was mostly excellent. Headwater supplied both the map App and the route descriptions which you needed to use together to make sure you were going the right way. Unfortunately our transfer from the airport on arrival did not materialise but the local rep was excellent at sorting that out. We found ringing the contact numbers supplied was difficult with UK phones. All we got from Headwater emergency number on a Saturday was a recorded message.
Headwater have kept me informed leading up to the holiday - the hotel, the village and the routes which Headwater selected were just right for me.
Very impressed. Headwater had come recommended to me a few years ago. The walks were just right, and as described; the hotels were all very good; the villages/towns we visited or stayed at were beautiful; the guides were sociable and efficient; and the app was very easy to use. The email correspondence pre-trip was just right.
We enjoyed our holiday and the e bikes were excellent but the countryside in this part of Italy was not especially attractive. Getting in and out of the 3 towns was slow, tedious and not easy to navigate even using the GPS app. It was so flat the e-bikes were scarcely needed, certainly not for younger and fitter cyclists (we are 78 and 75). Two of the highlights were the trips to the Parmesan factory and the Balsamic vinegar producer. The amount of cycling was just about right. The best day was the 28km short trip into the hills around Bologna, an extra as we got our bikes a day early. Perhaps more information as to good lunch and evening meal spots might help but this was mid May and the weather was showery and cloudy. Of the places we stayed the Agriturismo was the most suited to a cycling holiday although the pool was not yet open.
Overall an excellent experience, enabling us to see a side of Mallorca and it's people not normally seen in tourist hotspots. The quiet rural routes were a joy to cycle and the hotel and towns picked for the overnight stops were inspired and yes we would all do it all again.
Fun holiday and nice places. Bit flat and occasionally a bit boring countryside but we enjoyed it.
Generally an excellent well planned walking trip.
Disappointed with hotel in Penada.
App excellent but there was a lack of information about the locality of the hotels such as eating out suggestions and local facilities/customs etc
Excellent
Really great holiday. The app is fantastic. Concerns about getting lost or stressed with route finding were irrelevant.
The Danube cycle was great. The route well thought through and the cycle paths in excellent condition throughout Austria Slovakia ( except the last stretch into Bratislavia through an industrial area which was not fun!) and Hungary. The people everywhere were so helpful. Need to review the route guidance re road side stops as the route into Bratislava had no cafes or other stops at all! Also exiting the train from Budapest to the local station at ?? was really difficult as we really struggled to carry those heavy bikes up the stairs to the bridge over the railway then down again. Would recommend this trip to others. Great easy cycling, lovely towns , terrific scenery and a good vibe. Bratislava well worth the extra night stopover in a lovely hotel. Realistically we did not need e bikes but it did mean we arrived in the destinations early afternoon and thus had time to wander around and see the local sites.
Very good service from headwater - pre trip - notes and contact very good . Tour of Alhambra which was part of trip was excellent . Hotels were really well appointed and clean and comfortable . Breakfasts in each hotel were substantial . It it a great holiday .
Enjoyable and very interesting. Walks were quite challenging, given the unseasonably warm temperatures, but rewarding too.
Excellent holiday walking the Amalfi coast. Hotels varied - but generally good. Some parts of navigation notes need updating g - ut combined with the app - not too many wrong turns.
Path Of The Gods was very busy & challenging in places - it doable
A good way to see the area
Recommend an upgrade to a sea view room
We loved that every thing was arranged, bikes, app and all info was ready for us. We enjoyed having the freedom to cycle at our own pace, stops and look around beautiful villages, castles and chateaus. Lovely wine and food on our way .
We had a fantastic holiday. We were very impressed with the company.
Relaxing and interesting holiday enhanced by good organisation, well chosen hotels and activities
We had a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding holiday with fascinating historical features, beautiful countryside, excellent walking and good supporting information provided.
A lovely holiday even though we never experienced the full majesty of the Picos because of low cloud and rain. There was still some deep snow on the highest paths, even in mid-May, but all the routes were easy to follow, with well-marked paths all the way. All the hotels were welcoming, spotlessly clean and comfortable although none of the bedrooms were particularly large.
Our overall experience on this walking holiday in Slovenia was very good - we really enjoyed our holiday. Despite a few inclement weather days (always expected in a mountainous region) we ventured every day - the scenery and beautiful countryside were excellent. The general cleanliness/maintenance, efficiency and levels service in Slovenia are to be applauded. It was also comparatively good value eg. for food, drink & local travel etc. As outlined in previous responses, we have noted a few reservations regarding the hotel dining experience included in the package - we could have used the separate 'al la carte' restaurant for a more refined experience, however this would have been at significant extra cost to us.
This was a lovely holiday, cycling on mostly quiet and smooth roads through sleepy Mallorcan Villages and towns. Wonderful scenery along the way.
The hotels were all different, special and welcoming. We especially loved the Finca Es Torrent at Campos, so relaxing and eating excellent local food in the sunny courtyard was a highlight.
Our least favourite part was cycling into Alcudia, we found it so busy and it came as a real shock after the peacefulness of the rest of the tour.
This was our 4th Headwater holiday and as usual everything was excellent. Thank you
We really enjoyed the Holiday and It was supported brilliantly by Headwater staff, with excellent accommodation, food and arrangements. We had an unfortunate problem in returning to Porto but this was due to an unplanned train delay.
Headwater is a very easy company through which to organise an interesting, inspiring and enjoyable cycling or walking holiday. All representatives are well informed about the holiday portfolio and very responsive in a timely way to queries and questions. The team has built excellent relationships with the in-country teams which support holiday makers during the holiday itself. We have booked four holidays with Headwater to-date, travelling to Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Austria, and we are already looking at ideas for 2025.
We hadn’t used the navigation app before but it was so easy to use. Had a few little blips with it in towns but soon got the hang of it. The rides were about 35-40 miles a day, four of the days were easy. The other two days had some long and sneaky climbs. We were the only ones at the hotel stops not on e-bikes though.
The hotels were all comfortable and easy to find. The masseria stay was lovely. Food in Puglia is excellent especially if you love fish and seafood. Might be a bit limiting if you don’t. The wine is pretty good too.
Quite a lot of variation on the route as you ride past trulli, along the coast and through vineyards and olive groves. Sadly the litter and fly tipping along the route, especially the Ionian coast, is dreadful.
Very good communication from start to finish. As always with a Headwater holiday we know we can relax and let them take the stress away of travel arrangements and the holiday lasts from door to door. Thanks again. Already booked our next one.
I was really happy with all aspects, staff always helpful
Headwater were very thorough and very professional. Any problems we had weren’t their fault.
Very well organised and enjoyable. App is excellent. Makes old style paper and map itineraries obsolete.
Very proactive and helpful service. Would definitely use again
I enjoyed the variety of accommodation Good itinerary but some issues with organization
Another great holiday with good rides and nice quirky accommodation.
A few mistakes when booking including wishing couple who had to cancel due to hospitalisation a good holiday!
I have scored the experience highly. A couple of issues which may be down to the timing of the holiday. 1) The weather was mixed - could have been better. 2) I was the only person booked for the week and as I was travelling alone that was a bit of a disappointment. - but overall I still enjoyed the holiday.
Everything was fantastic. We cannot fault the trip in any way. The hotels were lovely, all so different and in great locations. The people were friendly and helpful, the scenery was beautiful, the suitcases were waiting for us at every hotel. The directions were spot on. Everything worked as it should. Even the weather was good to us - apart from some strong headwinds on a couple of days. Thank you for the most amazing holiday!!
Excellent holiday, weather a bit cool but good for walking,
Lovely food, decided to learn a little Spanish for future visits!
This was an outstanding holiday, fantastic cycling route mapped fantastically by Headwater, through quiet roads across the Greek countryside, good distances each day. Bikes provided were fabulous, near new, in perfect condition. Collection and transfers perfect, and return to Athens accommodated out needs. Overall brilliant experience and would use Headwater again without hesitation and as a first choice of cycle tour company.
A very unique way to explore a country that takes you to towns you wouldn't normally get to see. Thoroughly enjoyable. A great self lead adventure
We were very satisfied with everything.
Lake Constance Trip, a beautiful trip to enjoy three countries. The sights were spectacular, the people warm and helpful. We loved the Headwaters support and people. But most of all we were delighted to travel independently at our own pace. The design was also terrific; two nights at each location one day for biking and one for sightseeing and relaxing.
Another well organised trip that went smoothly and according to plan.
Very happy with self guided walking package, with the contact before travel and with the hotel. My only issue is with the guide. A nice lad who made himself available however when asked about our free day, we were unable to join one of the fully guided trips ( understandably) and our guide couldn’t offer any options. Not a problem for us as we are experienced travellers and well able to sort ourselves out however from previous experiences guides are often Mr fixits and have contacts which I don’t think the guide had.
Very good overall, perhaps 4* hotels are best where possible in Croatia
I have travelled with you on numerous trips and find your organisation is very good. The information you supply is comprehensive and generally covers everything I need to know. The staff are always very helpful and quick to respond to any queries
This was our first time on an organized walking holiday and we were glad that we chose the location (Siciliy), time of year (May) and self-guided tour. We got to know our fellow travellers who were all nice people but things were not too intense as a guided trip might have been. It was also nice to have a selection of walks so that we could all chose walks to our level and compare notes afterwards. We learned a lot from our fellow travellers. Headwater did a great job of the arrangements which removed a lot of the stress of holidaymaking and we were very grateful to Helen for arranging to postpone the trip for a year when our personal circumstances meant we had to pull out the month before leaving. Overall we were glad we chose Headwater and would do so again in the future.
An excellent holiday in beautiful areas --and good company as well
We enjoyed our Headwater holiday immensely. The Sales Team were so professional and provided excellent instructions and information. Everything went according to plan, the flights, transfers and briefing on the itinerary for the week. Sicily was so beautiful and all of the accommodation was fantastic. We especially loved Baglio la Luna for it's stunning views and it's charming host Daniella. The walks were well organised and Zingaro Nature Reserve was our favourite. Marettimo Island had a very special charm and beauty. We felt that the last walk at Monte Cofano might be too much to do in the time allowed and in the heat so our driver very kindly drove us to the end of the route so we could walk back as far as we wanted along the coastal path and then return to the meeting point. Thank you Headwater for a wonderful holiday.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Headwater experience as it took us to a part of Sicily we would not otherwise have explored. There was a nice variety to our days and we were given plenty of options of what we could do. We enjoyed the fact that we were self-guided but met up with fellow Headwater guests every so often, allowing us to get to know them during the holiday, allowing us to feel very comfortable together and enjoy each others company in the final stop at Baglio de la Luna. We particularly appreciated the fact that the days seemed to work out to be hard walks every other day, allowing for a bit recovery in between. I think we would have appreciated a bit more guidance as to where the nicer beaches were. For example on Marettimo we only found the nice beach which was mentioned in your suggested short walks on our last day there. We also loved the white stone beach at the end of the coastal walk in Levanza. It would also have been useful to have some restaurant recommendations. All in all, however, it was a very successful holiday leaving us with memories of stunning views, nicely sore muscles, ravenous appetites satisfied by exceptional Sicilian food and great travel companions. We would recomment Headwater to our friends.
We had a excellent holiday. The routes and hotels were excellent. Most enjoyable trip
Good experience - loved the fact that it was not a touristy place and we were encountering French/German culture on the borders the 2 countries. the wine was fantastic too and the walks thru the forests were excellent - great boulangeries to pick up a picnic.
Madeira has a variety of walks with spectacular views. Made a welcome change for us doing a single centre as usually do the hotel to hotel holidays. Hotel very good though you need to drive if trying local restaurants. These have very similar menus(all skewers) unless you drive at least 20 minutes. Once off main road along south of island roads are narrow and very steep . We are both confident experienced drivers used to narrow roads and still struggled at times with oncoming and parked traffic. Headwater app works well. Feedback given to Headwater re new tunnels shortening and making journey to/from hotel far easier. We extended holiday so stayed 10 nights walking every day. Did 2 of the additional waks Sao Cristovao which was excellent and Pedegral - Levada Nova da Calheta which was OK. Walking poles recomeneded for most walks. I do have vertigo but coped fine with all walks just going more cautiously if necessary.
Really enjoyable trip in a beautiful if rather crowded part of Italy. The walking was different to usual with many steps, but the routes were interesting with superb views. The accommodation was of a high standard. The Amalfi hotel was very welcoming and friendly, whilst the Positano hotel larger and less attentive,
The navigation system does come with cliches and at times some confusing directions, but you eventually you get used to it.
We'd travel with Headwater again.
The holiday was great. Loved the flexibility of Headwater for allowing us to spend extra time in Rome. The walks were very good wrt length, difficulty, maps, navigation etc. I noticed during the holiday there were different hotel options and next time I might focus a bit more on which ones. Having said that, we got a good range of places to stay and the B&B basis worked perfectly for us (except in Porteta) which is in the middle on nowhere and therefore the restaurant being open was rather crucial.
Excellent guide for the Etna walk. App was very good though we didn’t need it really.
It was a great experience. Well organised. Logistics very impressive. Absolutely beautiful scenery.
We really enjoyed the holiday. It was an ideal time to see the Island, in Spring, as there was so much flora and fauna to appreciate. The hotel selection was very good - a good variety in terms of location and hotel style. And each hotel had a swimming pool, which was very welcome at the end of the day's cycle. I particularly enjoyed the facilities at Algaida. The garden with the pergola and swimming pool was a delight, as was the breakfast garden room.Everyone we met was very helpful. The routes were well planned and the appropriate length to allow time to enjoy the scenery, towns, cafes, landmarks. We enjoyed the food, the wine and the fact that until we reached the Nnorth of the island everything was so rural and peaceful. I would also like to mention Toni, our taxi driver on the return to the airport. He was so helpful, informative and accommodating.
We thoroughly enjoyed cycling through the beautiful countryside of Matera and Puglia. Puglia cycles need a mention for their incredible support, accessibility, kindness and consideration. We had the best introduction and best care we could have wanted. I do think that the beauty is primarily in the first week of the holiday. As you reach the plains and seaside the countryside is very flat, windy and a little boring: you can appreciate only so many olive groves and vineyards!
We didn’t complete the holiday because my husband had an accident: no fault of anyone. But I feel that an extra day mid holiday for bottom resting would have been appreciated.
We may take a break for a year but we have cycled with Headwater for almost ten years and they have been the best holidays anyone could wish for.
The holiday itinerary was well planned and the booked activities such as wine tasting, bread making and the guided tours were excellent. The app was really useful for getting around and my clients had an enjoyable holiday. The only thing they missed was somewhere outside to sit and relax at the hotels. As a result they felt they had to keep busy all day so didn't come back feeling relaxed but they had a good time.
We had a lovely time, in spite of the snags mentioned. However the trip lacked the personalised feeling I had on my previous Headwater holiday (Alsace, some years ago), where we had a local contact who met us at the first hotel and provided very current info about each walk before we embarked. In that trip, we moved hotel most days, so there was constant updating. I did not expect that with this trip, of course. However, Joanne’s phone call when she was just back from Guernsey was so helpful that I was aware there was nothing similar for the Jersey section.
The app is good as a route-finder if one sticks to the designated routes , and we liked that. But it can’t help if the trail has washed out! (Also, if you go the “wrong” way around any bit of the plan, it can’t adapt.)
We loved Sark, and were fortunate that we had splendid weather. The tip about taking the tractor up the hill was a good one. The wind was up for our return boat trip & it was very lively - wouldn’t want to do the trip on a stormy day.
Very impressed with your pre holiday information and updates. Everything went smoothly. A thoroughly enjoyable and well organised trip. A great range of food and accommodation from traditional to more modern and from homely to more formal.
We had a brilliant holiday. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The itinerary was interesting. The mountains are absolutely stunning! I loved the cable car.
We are in our 70's so the walks were challenging at times. We walk a lot at home, but more experience of hill walking beforehand would have been useful. We relied on the App so needed to make sure we could download the walks. We wondered if the written instructions were accurate at times. A power pack is useful as back-up.
My walking poles were essential for me at times. Many cafes have wooden walking poles in stands near the entrance, I assume you can borrow them and leave them at your destination. Overall, a fantastic experience!
We usually feel very confident of booking a holiday with Headwater. This time we started badly with an inexperienced agent and nearly gave up. Luckily we persevered, found an agent who understood the holiday and we had a wonderful time in Slovenia, thank you!
Fabulous Holiday. Great places. Very enjoyable.
Excellent
Cycling the Heel of Italy was a fabulous trip with an excellent itinerary and lovely choice of hotels exploring beautiful undiscovered Puglia. We went in early May & the wildflowers were everywhere, just wonderful and weather was perfect as sunny & hot but not too hot. Very few tourists so it was lovely and quiet! The route choices were excellent, taking us directly to fabulous view points or things of interest, we particularly enjoyed the strade bianchi off road parts though these are few as the route was mainly quiet lanes with few cars, drivers are in any case very courteous to cyclists. We are keen cyclists at home and are fit so were fine with the occasional slightly hillier days, views on those days were so beautiful, but most days were really fairly flat. Scenery was so varied with many olive groves, wild flower meadows, beautiful quiet sandy beaches for impromptu swims en route, then more rugged coastlines with rocks and sea caves. You get to see the real Puglia which is just so beautiful. The locals were incredibly friendly and kind to us. The bikes were hybrids and simple/comfortable. The local cuisine is delicious, with lots of fresh seafood. Many interesting villages to stop and explore en route for coffee, local cakes, ice creams, or Puccia for lunch. So much history, beautiful towns/villages, old churches, castles. We finished in Lecce which really is truly stunning so make sure you allow enough time to fully explore it! A wonderful holiday thank you Headwater.
Organisation, locations and accommodation was excellent. Parts of the walk were harder than described, notes were not very good , app was excellent
The arrangements by Headwater were great, but the rain got me down a bit.
Easy and straightforward. All necessary info and booking details emailed in plenty of time.
All of our Headwater and Exodus holidays have been very good. This was definitely the best cycling holiday that we have had, with the extra two nights in Venice at the end making it one of our best holidays of any sort.
It was great and we would definitely like to do another cycling holiday with Headwater
Our second Headwater cycling holiday - we definitely needed e-bikes as well as mountain bikes as some tricky terrain and steed gradients. We had a great time but there were moments which were challenging.
Many years ago we traveled with headwater, but this was the first time in years. We feel that headwaters has excellent trips, excellent planning and very helpful staff. We are very satisfied customers and will certainly travel again with headwaters. Staying at the agri Turismo was the best. What a good idea, that headwaters arranged. We would love to do something like that again maybe in a different country.
Our third holiday with Headwater and each tine the service has been excellent. We will certainly be booking again next year
Headwater provided an excellent holiday experience and I have no hesitation in recommending them
Our hiking trip with Headwater was extremely well planned, flexible and all the detail taken care of. The App was excellent We selected Headwater because we could stay in the one accommodation and travel out each day. Our accommodation was Artimedes, a self contained unit. Loved it. Hotel due Torri is a family run business. They make sure all customers are made to feel welcome and enjoy their time with them. The food selection during the week was lovely and varied. Cooking classes are a nice touch. Close to all required bus stops and the town is interesting to walk through.
Had a good experience with Megan when booking as was adding onto a trip with my friends.
Trip was great and the app was very accurate and gave good, clear instructions.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our Dalmatian Island hopping experience. It was a perfect combination of hiking and exploring the stunning and historic local area - soaking up the beauty of the natural scenery as well as the spectacular towns. The itinerary was very well thought through with plenty of free time to sightsee and the local guide was excellent. All of the transfers worked like clockwork and we loved the additional experience of catching boats between the islands. We got an early morning flight to Split which meant that we had plenty of time to explore Trogir which was well worth the early start! We had been to Dubrovnik previously so we spent our last afternoon just relaxing in Lapad. But others may want longer to explore the delights of Dubrovnik. Overall we would definitely recommend this trip!
A well planned holiday which we enjoyed. Pity so much was closed in Marettimo as this was restrictive. Excellent and very knowledgeable/helpful local agent. Well planned walks.
Overall very enjoyable and well planned trip . Taxi service was excellent , local contact excellent . Really need to sort the island visit before the season starts there.
As we were on a self guided walking holiday it was important that everyone played their part when they needed to (airport transfers, chauffeurs, luggage transfers, etc) and Headwater made that happen and so the holiday was stress free. Everything worked like clockwork and crucially the route notes were well written and accurate which has given us confidence in another self guided holiday experience.
a good, well planned trip. The few hicups dealt with well. Day one a bit too long perhaps.
We were so impressed with the organization of our holiday. The first time we used Headwater it took us a few days to believe that our luggage would be at our hotel when we arrived. No doubts this year. The staff at all the hotels was helpful and friendly. The walking was great, though hilly - we should have looked at the itinerary more carefully before we left?! We loved it. Already thinking about where to go next year. Thank you.
Great cycling holiday, well organised and great infrastructure for cycling.
This is my second trip with headwater. That speaks for you
We really enjoyed the walking holiday. We hadn’t expected to walk through so many meadows which were very enjoyable. It was a walking holiday where you do get away from everything and only see a few fellow walkers most days.
We would recommend that you visit the local shops, bakery etc. before you set off as there isn’t always anywhere on the way.
Really good as we my friend Tony and I wer able to transfer our wives with the baggage and they had a parallel and brilliant holiday
BTW the market in Sineu is amazing for the May Day bank holiday Sunday - you can buy anything from a horse to a combine harvester as the whole town if covered in a market with the locals from the Island there!!
Really enjoyed the holiday. We had an amazing time in Andalusia and the three cities we visited were very different and had so much to do and see. Itinerary was well paced. The app was helpful and everything went according to the plan and itinerary.
Info about the train and bus station would have been good. Or maybe just more about Vianna in general
Would we recommend this Headwater holiday in Puglia to friends? Absolutely. There were a few 'hiccups' but overall, we really enjoyed our trip.
If you like exploring, have an independent spirit and enjoy an active holiday, tours like this tick all the boxes. With the improved quality of the accommodation, and (in this case) the freedom to choose where to eat that comes with B and B, we happily recommend Headwater to others. The Alsace tour was really pretty and despite getting truly soaked one day, our enjoyment was not dented!
Fascinating coastline and wonderful wildflowers. Great introduction to Salento.
had problems with my cell but nothing to do with HW who lent me another.
as in the past i find a 30% charge for being solo excessive
Used Headwater a few times in various countries. All works well and never any problems, which is what you want on holiday. The price charged for a holiday is considerably more than actual cost, but if you don’t want hassle of organising youselves and have the Travel Agent back up, Headwater fits the bill.
A highly enjoyable holiday, well planned, excellent choice of hotels and interesting walks that ennobled us to get a real flavour of the Amalfi coast.
We had a great time. Enjoyable walking and with good variation. Hotels were well appointed and we liked having the extra time in Funchal at the end. We had a couple of glitches with the company on the ground - one late pick up and a walk being changed due to a landslip - but these were dealt with. Would thoroughly recommend and we are looking forward to booking our next Headwater holiday
Very enjoyable well organised . Description of rides were ot always accurate in terms of challenge
Excellent - would do it again
This was our first self guided walking holiday. It exceeded our expectations - excellent varied and interesting routes, interesting and comfortable accomodation, friendly people throughout, wonderful breakfasts to start the day and great local evening meal recommendations. The transfers all worked beautifully and we enjoyed the train journeys. The walks were very peaceful; we especially loved the wildflowers, olive groves and vineyards. (The final gorge walk into Matera was not much fun - very congested and slippy - we were anxious about falling despite our walking poles and boots. It was a holiday weekend and the suspension bridge was newly opened so may usually be quieter.)
All in all an excellent and well organised holiday. Only small critisism was our first nights accomodation which after a very long day travelling did not provide a coffee or tea or the facillity to make one in our room also their breakfast was not up to the standard of the rest of the hotels.
We did have a delay on our first morning because they brought ordinary bikes instead of electric bikes and it took most of the morning to get these changed over. However Peter who was dealing with it was a very pleasant and helpful guy
Lovely cycling holiday in Normandy. The local team were very friendly and helpful, and there is so much to see in the area. Fascinating and moving to see all the D-Day beaches and museums. The Bayeux Tapestry is truly a wonder, and don't miss the brand new La Mora museum in Honfleur, where they are building a replica of William the Conqueror's boat!
Our experience was really good and we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. The itinerary could have been shortened by a day at the beginning as we had time to go from the airport directly to Sarria. We did not see Sarria at all other than starting the walk. We were surprised that the Hotel in Santiago had no real dinner arrangement as an option.
A safe way to cycle through Portugal and experience Excellent food in great hotels.
Our experience was very positive. We absolutely loved the bread making and the tour of Matera. Both guides on these tours were exceptional.
Very good. Great tour - so varied. Beautiful part of Italy.
Extremely well organised holiday, thoroughly planned and ideal level of detail. Great support structure and well timed updates for the trip with a superb app that contains all the details required.
Kate and her colleagues were always available to answer any questions we had and the local guides couldn't have been more helpful.
Really well maintained bikes and equipment and well planned routes through stunning locations with really good hotels at the end of each day.
Would absolutely recommend Headwater to others planning an activity holiday!
We stayed in the Artemide apartment, which was only a few yards from the hotel reception; the staff at the hotel were lovely, the food excellent; we enjoyed participating in the visits to the kitchens for the pizza, pasta and tiramisu making and socialising with the other hotel guests.
We really enjoyed our holiday despite the changeable weather and the towns & bus services becoming very overcrowded later in the week. We experienced wonderful views on all our walks, from the paths high above the coast, from the top of Tre Colli and the waterfalls in the nature reserve at Valle delle Ferriere (we did this walk to/from the reserve starting from the village of Pontone), on our free day we did a walk through the lemon groves to Maiori. Be aware that there a lot of stone steps on the downhill walks; we used local buses to avoid where we could (eg from Montepertuso to Positano and from Pontone to Amalfi).
Repeat travellers with Headwater, so we knew what to expect. All told the holiday met our expectations taking us to places not before visited. Walking at our own pace and not always sticking to the guided walks suited us fine.
The trip was great and the walks were excellent. Some routes were so quiet during our April visit, we barely bumped into another soul, which really suited us. Some routes are off the beaten path; that's special and something you might not find otherwise. The app was impressive and we utilised it fully.
I have to say Headwater are extremely good at what they do. You can ask anything and they give a useful and informed reply. If you want extra days on your holiday then Headwater make the arrangements without any fuss. Brilliantly holiday company.
Basically a good holiday, however we should have been advised that it was too early in the season and a lot of the facilities where closed.
Thank you for a very enjoyable holiday overall.
A very enjoyable walking holiday. The coastal scenery is stunning on all the islands, Spring is a good time to go for the abundant wild flowers. The walking App is easy to use and it's impossible to get lost. Travelling around by bus is easy and inexpensive, but you do need either a paper map/time table (from the bus terminal) or to download the bus app for routes and timetables. The bus app is very clever and allows you to track the buses too, so you can check if there are any delays
This was the first time we'd done a trip like this with luggage transfer and scheduled walks, and it all worked as well as we could have hoped. The apps are excellent, and mean it's very difficult to go far wrong on any walk.
Christine and I have a walking holiday each year and we always travel with Headwater because of the reliability of the quality of service and assistance if and when required.
We enjoyed our holiday. It was affected by the weather but your local agents handled the situation very well.
A lovely hotel in an ideal position & close to the bus route which gives access to the rest of Gozo. Ideal.
Positive. I got confused at one stage with downloading the app. I recall you used an acronym for final joining instructions (FJI?) which is not obvious as so many companies use different slang!
App worked well.
Office helpful and responded very efficiently
Great holiday. The balance of cycling and non-cycling days was perfect, and the routes and distances were just right for us on non-e-bikes. We went in April and the scenery was stunning. Excellent.
Your agents were fully conversive with the holiday and my needs. Only down side was I felt the hotel in Gatwick Airport was expensive with no breakfast provided in the cost
Wonderful location, felt well supported and enjoyed our experience.
An excellent well planned holiday which we would recommend.
Although it was quite expensive vacation for us we had a lovely holiday which was, overall very well organised by Headwater who were always available when we were unsure about any aspects of the journey.
Helpful and knowledgeable. I get a sense they care about making holidays as good as as can be
Excellent from first to last contact. The decision to upgrade to e bikes was not regretted. There are a lot of uphill in the routes and we managed these with ease and comfort, even at the end of a long day. The charge was easily sufficient and even after a hard day's cycling had loads of charge and range left. The bikes were heavy beasts though! The Headwater app, route notes and voice commands were very good.....a couple of times the voice command contradicted the route on the app but wasn't a big issue as we re-routed quickly. Stephano was a wonderful host. The specially prepared vegan meals for my partner were superb and generous ( as we're all the meals at La Pietriccia ). Our room was super comfortable and the cycle trips fantastic. I gave Stephano a 5* review independently only because l couldn't leave a 10* review!
Excellent support in tailoring our holiday to just want we wanted
Generally happy with the arrangements made, the information supplied and the personal touches provided by the Headwater staff. Thank you
Very well organised
People at Headwater are always very good to deal with. I think you organise great holidays.
One thing that really stood out was how flexible and understanding the team were with our requirements. My wife was suffering with morning sickness and her capacity to do the full itinerary was really compromised. The itinerary itself allowed for a bit of a pick-and-choose approach but I was really impressed with - and appreciative of - the quite late notice change of pick-up times and drop off points.
Another excellent holiday - we’ll use again
Just a small point wrt the app. The voice instruction is fantastic but I don’t know if it was me but the voice instructions stopped a couple of hours into the walk and I had to shut down the app and start over to get them back - but this is a minor point
An excellent holiday in a less visited part of Italy. The area is hilly and the walks excellent. Because they are not too long there is plenty of time to cope with hills at your own speed. We took this holiday in Spring and appreciated the sunny mild weather and abundant wild flowers.
An great experience, very helpful staff at Headwater and the service at the hotels was great. Would have loved to have spent 2 nights in Lucca rather than Montecatini (seemed rather a sad and deserted) but that said understand that it was to do with the number of miles/rest times along the cycle route.
Excellent - I asked for the optional upgrade and a change of UK airport. Everything was quickly organised and well communicated. The hotel and its location were excellent. The walk descriptions provided were clear and the walk routes were helpfully graded and in beautiful countryside. Taxis to and from the hotel from our destination airport, Ljubljana, were on time and well driven. The whole journey went like clockwork apart from delays in passport control in Munich during our return journey.
We had the perfect holiday - big blue skies, wildflowers, birdsong and the scent of orange blossom accompanied us on our rides through the countryside.
We visited some interesting places, enjoyed wonderful food and restaurant along the way.
Loved the concept of cycling sea to sea.
The Hidden Villages of Umbria holiday is wonderfully designed. The locations are stunning and there are countless panoramic views. All the people we met were friendly and helpful. The food is great too. Get food for picnics on your walk from local alimentari, or anywhere that advertises panini. If you have a pre dinner drink in a bar, it will probably come with snacks. Try the scrambled eggs with truffles. Look out for wild boar on your walks - we saw some on the first walk. We would also recommend adding a day in Assisi at the beginning of the trip, As ever, Headwater were able to accommodate our extra request. They are a pleasure to deal with!
Quality holidays and good communication
Friendly and helpful
We have previously done multiple holidays (cycling and walking) with Inntravel, as we like their service, use of small hotels and quality routes. We went with Headwater this time as we couldn’t find an Inntravel holiday we fancied that was running at this time (that we hadn’t done already!) I’m pleased to say Headwater met the standard we were hoping for. The route app was excellent, and apart from the some sections of the coast road, felt very safe and enjoyable.
Although we were at the start of the season, we managed to find places for coffee, lunch and ice-cream each day, which was good.
Overall, a fantastic, well managed holiday. Highly recommended.
Good!
It was very easy to book and joining instructions were very clear. Hotel was lovely, beautiful surroundings. Skiing from door step- lots of different routes available. The 2 guides were very good managing the different levels and their instructions have improved my technique enormously
Overall an very good experience. The hotels in Sagres and Lagos was really good to stay in.
I was extremely pleased with this holiday. I travelled early in the season (pre-Easter). There were good traffic-free sections, but in fact all the roads, even the main ones, were unbelievably quiet. You do have to understand that at this time practically everything is closed, sometimes entire small villages. On the other hand, it was even possible to cycle round the narrow medieval streets, which I imagine is not easy in the season. The routes chosen were ideal, scenic, quiet; I could not fault anything. While there are some beautiful cycle lanes, some of the road surfaces. especially in the country, are challenging, and there are good potholes. Be prepared for distressing levels of fly-tipping, even in some very rural areas.
I think that Headwater had the daily physical scoping of the Alpujarras trek, and the supporting hotel accommodation to allow the trek to happen, pitched just right. I think that Headwater showed good evaluative judgement on both aspects.
Excellent walks on a picturesque island. Majority of island covered. Fantastic detail in the App. No issues with navigation at all.
The flight times did not coincide with the ferry, necessitating additional hotels, for which transfers should have been included. This is a sparsely populated island with limited service provision, which it is useful to point out to customers. There would have been higher quality eateries in a couple of places, so it would be good to have the choice to upgrade to those. No evening meals, except 1, were in the accommodation. Most breakfasts were also in bars.
Overall the head water experience was brilliant. Easy and no stress holiday. Everything ran smoothly even during the delayed flights saga. I would definitely travel with headwater again
Very good.
Nice if could have been 7 nights - 8 days.
It was fine really,with good quick responses.Because of our unusual circumstances- you having the only available room in the hotel- we had to pay for a lot of guiding we didn't want or need,but we were glad to visit this lovely annual destination again
Excellent company to travel with. Highly recommend
We felt well looked after. Holy Week processions inGranada/Malaga could have been a problem (getting out of the cities in our car) but thankfully we were able to plan and managed to avoid them.
Generally it all went smoothly. In Grenada it would be helpful if the trip notes said that the bus to the Alhambra is busy, so leave plenty of time as you may not get on the first bus that comes. Also that the meeting point for the guided tour is a 5 minute walk up the hill from the bus stop. In Seville it would have been useful to know that we had premier tickets for the Flamenco show, which includes a free drink before or after the show. Ideally the Alhambra tour would be at a time that leaves opportunity to wander afterwards as the tour itself is quite intense and keeps moving on.
The app is terrific; it's clear that great care has gone into it's creation. Occasionally it was a little wobbly in orienting itself and a few yards behind us (as it were) in navigation, so we had to wait a few moments for it to catch up. These are minor points however, it's great!
The booking experience, holiday information and the walking app were all very good.
The briefing documents from the local rep didn't arrive until the evening of our first day, but otherwise, apart from one route not being navigable, all went well.
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. A couple of the days walks were challenging, but that was fine with us. The app is brilliant, especially the alert when we have gone the wrong way!!!
The taxi drivers (Savvos and Odysseus) were helpful, informative and friendly and on time!
Our local representative didn't show up.
The car hire company were very helpful when we had an accident.
Some of the notes on the routes for walking need updating and further information to make them clearer.
The hotel was great it was nice to have this level of luxury after a days walking.
Although we normally walk about 10miles a day we thought that the walks might be a little short but this was unfounded, we hadn't taken into account the effect of altitude.
Great service, great holiday. Great trip, fantastic accommodation and people along the way. The app was particularly helpful and kept us on the right track!
We loved the hotels and surrounding views from each hotel,breakfasts were amazing!
Ferry and transfers very smooth!
Enjoyed all the walo
Our two favourite activities were the port tasting which came with matching cheeses, (we had previously commented that we did not know any Portuguese cheeses) and the trip to the Quinta do Ameal for wine tasting. The guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and the tasting was a real insight into the effect that terroir has on the taste of wines.
We did follow suggestions for what to do while in Viana but stayed local and really enjoyed the costume museum, well worth a visit.
lovely walking routes which although short were very scenic and challenging .
Driving in Gran Canaria is probably not ideal for unconfident drivers
Over all good - not sure how many people go to Kandersteg as there seem to be little information on to be guaranteed snow need to go up cable car and you require a pass.
We had a great experience with Headwater, the pre-departure info was good, the holiday was thoroughly enjoyable and met expectations. Even at the end of the holiday when the snow storm closed the airport, a couple of calls from Headwater with advice on what we should do was really appreciated. Would definitely look to book with Headwater again.
We have had several holidays with Headwater and we enjoy travelling with you. Sometimes we are asked the same questions several times by different agents ( e.g height and shoe size ) which seems unnecessary
Route finding – the app worked perfectly.
Local agent Lea pleasant and efficient
We had sunny weather. No rain.
The scenery at the coast is stunning. We experienced fantastic wild flowers at every turn. Lots of interesting birdlife.
Trails not difficult
Accommodation excellent
Excellent experience overall. I will definitely be returning!!
Ralf was wonderful - very informative and helpful. Gave us advice and answered our questions. He was very reliable with the transfers and it was reassuring to know that we had his phone number if we needed any help. Transfers from airport to ferry & vice versa were very good too.The app looked very good. We downloaded the info before we left and printed the walk instructions. The directions didn't work with our phone on most occasions, due to loss of signal.
A well organised and interesting holiday with some challenging walks, spectacular scenery and an excellent guide.
An enjoyable experience and the walking instructions were very clear. The local representative Ralph provided excellent support throughout the trip.
The overall holiday once in Puglia was fantastic. The local partner was excellent, the walks and accommodation hit the mark. The walking level was spot on and the options worked well. Using local trains also worked well. All transfers and pick ups worked like clockwork. More work is needed in the outbound flight arrangements. The choice of hotel in Milan was poor - nature (old), location and price. The whole flight combo to get to Brindisi or perhaps Rome / Bari needs thinking through. The original return flight had a 24 hour stopover in Rome which we had changed. With a 5 hour connection, no stopover is needed.
We had an excellent holiday. We received refunds for unused ski passes and ski hire promptly. Due to the lack of snow, most of our days were spent on walking routes; it would have been helpful to have self-guided information for winter walking, in view of the lack of snow for cross-country skiing. The travel arrangements went smoothly and the hotel was excellent in all respects.
Overall experience was excellent and this was the fourth time I’ve been to Venabu.
I was nervous booking this type of trip without knowing anything about Headwaters. It turns out there was nothing at all to be nervous about, everything was handled with total professionalism. The app worked great, the bikes were great and overall the 3 star hotels were also. We will be doing a trip with Headwaters again!
The holiday was very well organised with only one hitch, the failure of the pickup to turn up to the airport. However I managed to share a taxi with others quite easily. The walks detailed were all excellent though I did not do the Cooper's Island walk as the buses were not running the whole way. I did, however, enjoy a shorter walk at St Davids. The weather was very good, which helped. The small nature reserves were impressive as were the local museums and colonial architecture. The views were tremendous, the flora along the Railway Trail was amazing ,lush and very varied, and the birdlife wonderful, especially tge nesting Longtails. But above all it was the exceptionally friendly and helpful Bermudians which made this trip special for me.
We enjoy the freedom of self-guided walks in areas off the beaten track, but with the luxury of having bags transported and the routes worked out for us.
My experience was very good - and I was particularly impressed with how flexible the itinerary could be. We met 2 other couples on the same trip and I think we all felt impressed as Headwater newbies! It was our first experience of a self guided tour and would definitely do this again. The staff at both hotels were lovely, and we appreciated the opportunity to spend the day at the sister hotel to Porto Bay Serra Golf to find the sun finally having had a mostly wet week!
Excellent all round!
Already mentioned by the previous answers other than the route on day one, whilst generally very good could do with being looked at carefully for safety purposes. There is a stretch of gravelled cycle route detour which would have been dangerous to ride all the way on e bikes . On the last day there is the option of making a detour to one of the bays before the ride to C ape St Vincent - I don't have the route in front of me - the bay was something like 'Taheira,,,there is a fork in the detour toad - it is a left fork, we guesed correctly. It would be useful to add this to the route instructions
A well organised trip to a favourite destination.
The admin was all sorted and connections were easy. Well done, Headwater.
We find Headwater easy to deal with and flexible. The self guided packages fit the bill for us and the delivery of them has been faultless. We’re back with you in June.
Venabu is a very special place. The hotel has a lovely atmosphere, the food is amazing and the experienced ski guides make the whole experience wonderful evening when the weather is not the best. Lots of people return to it and I would love to see it in the summer for a walking holiday as well.
The holiday offered all that we wanted. The walking was challenging at times owing to recent landslips, mountain weather, and the exposed & precipitous nature of some paths. To me this was part of the enjoyment. Headwater advised us to be ready for these conditions but there would be obvious hazards for those who did not take the time to read your guidance and to be prepared; perhaps this should be stressed? We made 2 new friends who were also guests of Headwater. Enjoying some of the walks and meals together certainly added to our enjoyment of the holiday. Thank you very much! 🙂🙂
Great holiday in a very different setting to all the other Canaries. Without Ralf's expert local knowledge, we would have found things way more difficult. To be honest, the breakfasts were all good but the evening meals are pretty basic. Apart from this, it's an excellent holiday for serious walkers. Walking poles are essential...
The experience was overall very good. A couple of pointers about the trains would’ve made it clearer about the platforms/connections etc but all worked out fine in the end. There was poor communication from the ski school so our second lesson was cancelled unfortunately. This was not the hotel’s fault.
We enjoyed every aspect of the holiday. It was the first time we have been self guided rather than part of a group and it really suited us because we could ski at our own pace. The hotel was very comfortable and quite unusual in that we were the only people from the UK for most of the week. There was a lovely mixture of nationalities. We hope to go back in the future.
Holiday was enjoyable. Parking at the first hotel should be changed from roadside to old football stadium.
This was a well organised.
Lanzarote was lovely and the people some the friendliest we have met. I would recommend this to other travellers.
It was great to have everything organised for us, particularly as Norway is a country we didn't know well and we are relatively new to cross country skiing.
Once again I really liked the choice of hotels. I like hotels that are quirky and friendly and this has been the case on this holiday. I really like the app for guidance while walking and think that GPS should be available for every walk. I like the freedom to be self-guided and the app provides the necessary reassurance to help me feel confident about striding out on my own. Going on a self-guided walk with an organised timetable means that I bump into other travellers doing the same route in the evenings. I like this as I don't feel on my own while also being entirely independent. I am becoming a bit addicted ... :)
Easy walking and unusual landscape, very windy and quite humid but lovely to have warmth and sun
Great food and local wines
We knew that Headwater would ensure we arrived safely. We chose to arrive earlier to spend a night in Oslo. Our return journey would have been improved by being on the earlier flight - I'm not sure if this was because it was not available when we booked but others took this flight.
We had an amazing cross country skiing holiday. It was just as lovely as the holiday that we had had the year before. Wonderful scenery and skiing and delicious food in a relaxed and comfortable hotel with lovely staff. We have already booked to come back
I was somewhat cautious about this trip, but Headwater was excellent in every way previously had an awful trip with Exodus, essentially since the local agent was unhelpful, and frankly dishonest.
This was our 3rd holiday with Headwater our experiences have been excellent. This year our hotel was full and the company upgraded us at minimal cost
Headwater is a professional organisation with friendly and helpful staff and it is an organisation we would travel with again. The essential information was very useful but an overview map provided with the joining instructions would be helpful. The trip to Akaslompolo exceeded our expectations. The scenery was beautiful, the cabins were comfortable and warm and the food was excellent. Other activities were available and there were plenty of walking routes if you didn't want to ski. We would come here again. The only criticism is that the signs on the routes were sometimes confusing and did not seem to tie in with the map.
We were lucky with the weather being perfect for an early spring walking holiday but the overall experience was enhanced by the Headwater backup of accommodation, welcome guide, and especially the Walking Route App. So straightforward.
Excellently organised and with the weather being kind we did all the walks plus a bonus walk to the highest peak.
I thoroughly enjoyed my cross country experience in Venabu and will book again for next Winter!
We had an excellent holiday. The variety of walks chosen was very good and each day showed us a different aspect of the island. The walk on the fourth day when we transferred from one hotel to another was planned to start from a small parking area on the Teide plateau. By the time we arrived there mid-morning the parking was completely full (it was a sunny Sunday afternoon) and there was nowhere to safely park in the vicinity. We were therefore unable to undertake that days walk which was a shame. This was the only problem we encountered on an otherwise faultless holiday. Thanks to all the team.
I have already recommended to friends who like to walk and crave a little more adventure than a circular walk from the hotel or compsite. The Headwater model is ideal and local gents are invaluable. I am looking forward to the next one.
Very well organised, lovely hotel, food in particular was fantastic. Good xc ski equipment.
It’s been an excellent trip
I am interested in further Exodus/Headwater winter holidays
A very professional and personable organisation that has looked after me and my late husband through, now, three walking holidays.
We have had excellent experience with Headwater and their services. We will use Headwater´s services again for sure.
Excellent communication. Well planned and the added assurance of 24hr local support
My first experience of both Norway & cross country skiing. Both a real pleasure.
A good instroduction for beginners & good for experienced as well.
Enjoyed it overall and liked the fact we could so some other activities - e.g. snowshoe track as well; as the skiing.
The headwater experience was excellent to use - informative and helpful staff - clear communication and an excellent choice and variety of holidays
Great holiday - we did self guided. We had a great time. Found room in first hotel unbearably dark although a very nice room. Needed one on lower level with decent window. On first walk we hadn't got the sounds the app made (for wrong way etc) sorted out and got very lost down the gorge ! Path down there very tricky to find and we met a lot of lost people (Spanish).once we sorted out app it worked really well. Loved Tejeda and being in little village - unfortunately as off season very little open in evening (but enough).
Excellent holiday. We stayed in a beautiful place, learnt new skills and met interesting people.
Super helpful, knowledgeable about the venue and facilities, travel arrangements and transfers. I couldn't ask for more
Really lovely island. Great walks. Hotel in excellent location
Venabu is a beautiful and magical place. The hotel is quaint and the entertainment was quirky. Food was excellent - we couldn’t ask for more. The staff were wonderful and our skiing experience was great. We had previous experience of downhill but had never skied cross country before - this was a great way to get started.
I have only one word - thus trip was very good.
Lauren Matkin provided fantastic service and helped us with all our queries
Good holiday
From my 1st phone call with Megan Wyatt, I have been impressed by her knowledge of your holidays and her helpfulness. She always returns calls and kept us informed, and made us feel valued as customers. Thank you.
An excellent first experience
A great way to explore new territory
Very well thought out visit to Bermuda. I felt we got a good introduction to the island and explores the key areas. Clear and unambiguous guidance made the self guided walking straightforward. I would strongly recommend the trop to any walker wanting to visit Bermuda.
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday with an excellent guide.
A great choice for independent travellers looking for an active holiday with safety and quality assurance built in.
The Headwater rep in Malta, Stephanie Tickle, was excellent. She was very helpful and gave us lots of recommendations for our stay there.
After the excellent walking holiday we enjoyed in Portugal with Headwater, we felt this trip is a work in progress and needs more development. This is especially true of the grading and variety of the walks offered. We are fit sixty year-olds and very keen walkers but we found some of the walks challenging. However we had a really great holiday and La Palma is a wonderful holiday destination.
A safe pair of hands
We enjoyed the holiday. Weather was lovely. Walks very nearly all on gravelly tracks and roads esp in the mountains rather dull, better near the sea, swimming in the sea great.
We have had over 10 holidays with Headwater and always enjoy the walks and the hotels. It gives us a flavour of the country we are visiting.
Headwater were helpful from the beginning and came up with an itinerary for us to include everything we wanted to
do. Any queries were sorted before we left England and whilst in Japan. The notes we were given were extremely clear, detailed and invaluable; as a result the trip went smoothly with no hiccups. I would certainly recommend Headwater ( and have already!) and would certainly travel with them again
Such a great way to experience a destination. The routes allow you to soak up the landscape and the culture at a leisurely pace. It actually covering significant areas over the course of the holiday. The optional routes make for a great opportunity to delve deeper and widen your experience.
Hotels are well selected and in great locations to allow you dip in to the local food scene - always well deserved at the end of days cycling. We always feel recharged at the end of holiday with a stack full of great memories
Great holiday, excellent local team, Headwater app is fabulous, hotels are great, varied walking - had a lovely week
This is our 12th holiday with Headwater mostly cycling holidays. For a second year, we loved walking the routes of the Akamas Peninsula, Cyprus customizing our time over two weeks - one week at Droushia Heights Hotel followed by one week at Aphrodites Beach Hotel - so enjoying a balance of walking the longer routes every second day. We enjoy both hotels very much indeed. We are keen to return to Cyprus to experience both previous walks and new walks.
With experience we have learnt to tailor-make our holidays by researching what additionally paid-for room upgrades are available, and depending on locations, deciding whether it is more advantageous and relaxing to pay for half-board.
Good communication very well organised transfers
no issues at all
Advance preparatory information was clear. Management of an itinerary change, due to unforeseen circumstances whilst on holiday was well managed and communicated with us clearly.
This was a fabulous holiday. We enjoyed every bit of it.
We were very pleased with our first ever self-guided walking holiday, and would definitely consider one again, as it takes some of the pressure off finding planning time beforehand. Madeira is truly beautiful and an excellent location for walking, but be prepared for very variable weather, although it is not cold. It is not great for vegetarians or vegans, but the food is very fresh and healthy.
Fantastic holiday and great welcome from all host hotels. Plenty of advice where to eat in the evenings and very well selected itinerary
We had a fantastic trip, though the northern italian weather by mid october isn't quite as balmy as we'd have liked.
Our experience of Headwater is very positive, the staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We liked that one person, Megan took care of our booking it made our holiday feel Taylor made for us. Many thanks.
Not perfect but we will use you again. Thank you.
Temperatures were much hotter than typical for mid-October. This made everything hot and dusty and the walking more difficult. As a result we took the shorter options where provided and improvised shorter options where not. The buses on Malta were very busy and often they would be too full to pick anyone up. Once we realised this we got out earlier to beat the crowds. Gozo was much quieter and much more our cup of tea. The people on Gozo were very friendly. We had no problems with buses on Gozo, always on time, always plenty of space. The food was excellent throughout the holiday.
The locations and walks were interesting and varied. Accommodation was good.
Everything was dealt with promptly and courteously, including when we had various changes to timings of the trip and people coming on the trip.
The app used on the cycling trip was excellent. Easy to use and incredibly helpful.
I thought the holiday was really fabulous. The pre-departure info was great, the flights & transfers a pleasure & on time, the cycling routes excellent & the Headwater app was superb. The idea of 2 nights per hotel was really good as it allowed time to relax & unpack. The boutique hotels were terrific & the bikes great. We enjoyed being off the beaten track & away from the tourist havens. The only downside was that a lot of cafes & restaurants were closed in the non-tourist places, which limited our choice. Since half the fun is enjoying the food & drink, it was a bit of a shame. We didn't realise we had booked right at the end of the season, which seemed to be the reason for this.
The walks I really enjoyed were the last two when we were walking along the cliffs and by the sea - these were the sort of walks I was expecting and they were fabulous. The first four walks were predominantly inland and quite dull through fairly featureless landscape along wide man-made tracks with very little shade - a hat, sun cream and plenty of water is required. The walk on day 5 around Vila do Bispo had nothing to recommend it other than providing some exercise, but we liked Vila do Bispo itself which had a couple of great restaurants. Overall, the food was fantastic - good quality, simply cooked and delicious. I would recommend the Memmo Baleeira hotel in Sagres over the Pousada for many reasons, one being that it has an excellent restaurant, but be aware that if you want to dine there during your second visit you will need to book in advance, especially if the weather is unpredictable - when we arrived after our walk and tried to book, the restaurant was already full! However, Sagres has some great restaurants so it wasn't a problem, and we managed to avoid the rain! Where dinner is included we would prefer to be given an amount to spend (as was the case in Pedralva) rather than be presented with bread, pate etc. and then three further courses - far too much food for us. We did not massively enjoy the hotel in Lagos - it felt out on a limb and as of now is in the middle of a building site, and again, too much food at dinner - we would have preferred to eat out.
Well organised; good selection of hotels ; thoughtful planning of walk sections
Overall, I had an excellent time. Norfolk is beautiful and excellent for cycling. I can’t wait to return. And the routes were really excellent for exploring the area.
Excellent. The only observation is that the full fees must be paid months in advance of the trip taking place which differs from many other providers.
Very pleasant and helpful to talk to and arrange the holiday. I will certainly arrange another holiday with them.
Loved our holiday, and the walking navigation app was really great. The hotel Taverna del Capitone was wonderful
Superb quality of accommodation. Sa Bisbal and Can Cota suites particularly lovely
Really well organised. Felt confident with all arrangements. Slight hiccough at the end when our itinerary said depart hotel for Bari at 1000 when it should have been 0900 but all ended well.
Our second ebike holiday with Headwater: again a most enjoyable experience. The routes chosen were on good roads with little traffic and provided lots of time for exploring towns /beaches etc. Small problem with one of bikes dealt with well, excellent battery so no range anxiety! Headwater app worked very well. With one exception (where we were marooned in a comfortable but soulless hotel in residential area outside Pozzallo) the hotels were excellent with Baglio Siciliamo a country house with excellent restaurant and pool, very close to Lido di Noto and within easy reach of Noto was absolutely delightful in every way.
Fine
As we only booked 3 days in advance of travel, I found your staff most helpful in booking our trip.
Although we made some compromises on accommodation, which inevitably affected the cost, due to our late booking this was acceptable. In hindsight the necessary upgrades made the trip more memorable than being in a standard room after a long hot hike.
From start to finish the experience was smooth and seamless. From the initial booking the service from your agent Toni was 5*.The itinerary was very well laid out, the guide book was extremely detailed and generally easy to follow. The hotel transfer of the main luggage was a godsend.The Camino itself was very well organised. Generally the hotels were above bar and the service was extremely good. At no point did I have any problems out there. The route gave a good variety of terrain along the coast, through small towns and woodland area. The weather ranged from amazingly hot and sunny in portugal to wet and colder in galicia but all part of the journey. It did not detract at all from the overall experience. Also the safest i've felt travelling ever on a holiday!
You meet a variety of people along the way from countries from all around the world all travelling for their own reasons being religious, spiritual, active holidays etc. I wouldn't say mine was spiritual as such but it was a brilliant way of zoning out from life back home and resetting the mind. You start your walks thinking, then you run out of things to think about and then you just keep walking to your next destination truly appreciating everything around you. The satisfaction when you reach your final destination cannot really be described properly. Receiving your certificate of distance travelled and your compostela tells you that your feet did not travel in vain. I would book with confidence😊.
Classy hotels in a lovely part of Spain. Good easy cycling with excellent support from local agent. Some issue with timetabling to arrival initially but public transport v good.
This trip was really fun and well organised. Would recommend
An excellent experience from first communication about the holiday right through to the end
The Headwater experience included a lot of good points - the holiday booking experience and the travel and accommodation were all good, with everything going smoothly and very easily for us. However, we found some of the walking in Malta much harder than expected, partly no doubt due to the unusually hot conditions (30 deg in October) and we experienced some challenges getting used to the app and following the routes. Our expectation of the activity grading level for parts of this holiday was significantly off!
From first contact to end of trip Headwater folks on the web and in the field provided top-notch advice and assistance in decision making. It was like having personal service throughout. Interesting walking routes and fine hotels.
A fantastic holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. The locations each night were really varied from amazing farmhouse in the country to modern hotel overlooking the harbour.
Cycling varied from coast road to cycling through olive groves. Would definitely recommend.
El Hierro is a fantastic walking destination. It is a privilege to walk in this unique biosphere. The people are friendly, the food and local wine is good, the senderos are well marked and there is a a good variety of routes in the 6 days of this trip
This was a lovely holiday. But with hindsight, other destinations in France have provided more of a relaxing holiday in that we could stop along the way for coffee or lunch whereas on this one we just went from A to B with little in between. Maybe this is because Sicily is a poorer area although it was beautiful. We didn't appreciate the fly tipping either!
Excellent destination if you don’t want crowds, fabulous walks and beaches and great service from Headwater who dealt with all our pre-trip queries most professionally.
Organisation hard to fault. We have had no problems with any of the 5 Headwater holidays. "Add ons" to holiday accomodated with no issues.
It was a good holiday. It would be very helpful for Headwater to give some restaurant recommendations. Most hotels made suggestions but we had to spend time looking the suggestions up online which was time consuming. The recommendations in Castellamare and Mazara were excellent Headwater's notes seem to suggest a richness of seafood at Selnunte along the shoreline. We did not find it so,. It might be a good idea to draw attention to other restaurants that are available in the town and away from the sea.
Start in Valencia was lovely. Cycling was tougher than expected due to heavy bikes but mountain and coastal scenery was varied and beautiful.
This trip was a follow-up for us, having cycled Passau to Vienna last year. There is definitely a reason why the P-V section of the Danube cycle path is the most popular. This section Vienna - Budapest was not as consistent in terms of scenery or quality of cycle path, both in path surface and direction finding, however overall we still really enjoyed it. It was very varied, although some days were so straight and flat as to be quite monotous in parts. We were completely away from the river for two whole days so it was more a "cycle roughly along the route of the Danube" rather than a Danube cycle path. Still that meant that it was a real joy when we did get back to the river, although it became quite busy in parts along the more scenic sections. Having been used to the incredible quality of the cycle paths through Austria last year, some of the bumpy tracks came as a bit of a surprise with one quite long very loose gravel section feeling quite uncomfortable, slippery and difficult to ride. We felt this should have been noted in the map pack as we found it a challenge even as experienced cyclists (day 5 Komarom-Esztergom). Overall however, looking back it was an incredible adventure across three countries, experiencing local communities and culture through a range of industrial, urban, rural and agricultural landscapes. Gyor was a particular highlight and of course finishing in Budapest was a stunning end to our trip. However I would recommend the P-V section first.
Just more info on the places of interest on our cycle routes. Like the monastery is only open 3.30 to 4.30 pm.
Castle only open weekends! Abbey, pre booking at Euros 11. Etc
All five of us thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. We thought the combination of 4 nights on Gozo and then 2 nights in Valetta provided lots of variety with coastal walking on Gozo plus a visit to the citadel and then sightseeing in Valetta. Both hotels were excellent. We used taxis to get around on Gozo. We also enjoyed the pools and 2 of our group also went to the spa whilst on Gozo.
This was the first time my husband and I had been on a walking holiday together - although I have done similar holidays with friends. Based on our experience we would certainly take another trip with Headwater
Overall very positive. As I mentioned in the previous comments the bike selection needs to be improved in giving people a choice of type of bike.
Communication with Headwater staff was easy, with quick response times to any queries. We were able to tailor the trip to suit our needs and it felt like the staff really cared that we had a good holiday / experience. The trip ran smoothly with transfers always arriving on time. The accommodation was of a good standard.
Our walking holiday in Sicily was in October 2023 and the weather was still very hot so we chose to do shorter walks, rather than the more strenuos of the route options. This gave us time to enjoy swimming in the clear blue sea waters and to use the hotel swimming pools and loungers. The walking tracks were clearly marked and easy to follow.
We booked ourselves on to a boat trip around the island of Marettimo which was one of the highlights of our trip, with several opportunities for snorkelling and even a swim through a sea cave. The waters here are unbelievably clear.
Our trip itinerary included visits to some historic sites (additional entry fee for some) which were interesting and added to our trip.
Excellent holiday overall which was well organised from start to finish and all information given was clear and helpful.
Great experience. A wonderful way to experience the Luberon. Great for our party member who was very fit as well as those who needed the full ebike experience.
For an older man e-cycling solo this holiday was perfect. I was fortunate to have the amazing rolling vineyards and hazelnut groves of Piedmont in beautiful autumnal sunshine all week. Routed by the Headwater app for leisurely rides on mainly quiet small roads and occasional track was pretty stress free. Passing through iconic wine villages and towns to stop for a morning coffee and then onwards to lunch with possible arranged winery visits and tastings was right up my street. The small hotels were spot on (especially Villa D’Amelia) and the arranged restaurant food varied from very good to exceptional. Although relatively expensive, you certainly get a high quality holiday. Fantastico 🇮🇹.
A special mention to Fabrizio (your man in Piedmont). When my bike chain broke (luckily near to one of the hotels), he was on hand to provide a replacement bike ‘pronto’ the same evening. As the replacement e-bike frame was too small for me he willingly changed it back again to the repaired original bike the following evening, consequently minimising the whole inconvenience. A pretty good show I think. Please pass on my thanks for his efforts in not letting this adversely affect the holiday.
Overall an enjoyable holiday.
Good walking route and good accommodation
We would use Headwater again
Very well organized and great places to stay
We were lucky enough to enjoy seven straight days of beautiful cycling in the sunny hills. Each route was really well thought out, challenging but immensely rewarding. We cycled on the standard bikes which we found to be very comfortable with good gears for the long climbs. We are both active fit people but not regular cyclists and we found the routes very manageable. We particularly appreciated being able to choose the optional longer routes.
We thoroughly enjoyed our hike in the Lake District. The initial briefing with Ian Jones particularly helpful- delightful man. Looking forward to another trip in the future
Very enjoyable holiday, well organised, would highly recommend to others (have done so already!)
The Loire Valley is an historically fascinating place. As others have said, I think a two day stay in Blois is merited. One day for a leisurely visit to Chambord and another day for exploring Blois and its very interesting chateau/ castle. The Hotel Monarche is a disappointing start to the holiday. I think alternative accommodation should be chosen.
The rest of the accommodation was good particularly the Hotel au Charme in Amboise. However, it only does breakfast and the dinner at the adjoining Hotel . Le Clos was uninspiring. We did however come across a real gem of a restaurant by the name of Les Arpents. Incredible food. Apparently, it is full almost every night of the year so it is necessary to book.
We visited six chateaux and found them all really interesting especially Le Clos de Luce in Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Some of his inventions are recreated.
All in all a very good holiday accompanied by undiluted sunshine except for one morning.
Excellent service, information etc. both before and during the holiday.
We have now completed 3 Headwater holidays and we would definitely use them again. The quality of the hotels is excellent, the app makes the walks easy to navigate and we feel we get a better sense of each area by walking through the countryside, mostly away from busy roads.
We had a great holiday in Puglia. The countryside was lovely (except for the appalling litter problem which seems to blight southern Italy and Sicily), the towns were stunning and the length of cycling days just about perfect. The hotels were generally good, and the Masseria Bosco was outstanding. Swimming in warm seas on both sides of the region was very special, as were the gelati! The navigation app was brilliant - you really can't get lost (though you do have to be a bit careful in busy cities) and Headwater's communication was excellent.
An excellent holiday. Superbly organised, all aspects slotted into place beautifully. Long term parking was pricey, but safe and secure. Breakfasts substantial and high quality.
The cycling was extremely pleasant and very easy without resorting to the E bike option. The 10 day option gave a good opportunity to explore the area beyond the cycle paths.
Overall this was a lovely holiday. Fabulous scenery; great swimming in Lake Bled; stunning Italian towns and places to stop en route. There was wonderful art/culture to experience along the way such as the Tiepolo frescoes in Udine and Roman mosaics and remains in Aquleia. The cycling was not overly challenging but the distances covered meant we felt pleasantly tired at the end of each day and could justify all the wonderful pasta; ice cream; and wine on offer!
We enjoyed our first Headwater holiday after years with New Experience. We miss the personal touch of NewEx and dealing with Anna and Matthew but we appreciate times have moved on - and Headwater didn’t disappoint. The Montenegrin local company 3E are absolutely superb and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Taxi services always on time and what a benefit having a tourist SIM card provided
Overall it was an excellent experience and any apprehensions we may have had about the operational arrangements on self guided trip were dispelled whenever something like a taxi pick was scheduled to happen as it always did. As none of us had travelled with you before then we had no reference for your grading which is probably about right although anyone our ages (66,69 & 74) of a lesser fitness level would find some aspects of day 2,4 and possibly day 6 very challenging. The app is excellent with maybe only a couple of ambiguities (day 2). Second part of Day 5 on reaching the coast at Lara Beach is quite disappointing as pretty much all the rest of the walk is an expansive construction site to one degree or another. There is a lot of site traffic and heavy plant machinery causing disruption, partial road closures/diversions. The dusty conditions created combined with that caused by the beach buggy safaris make this stretch quite uncomfortable at times. The walk on Day 6 was the best for us with a great range of terrain and views, the descent down the mountain side towards the end being the highlight. Would certainly consider Headwater again and recommend you. Would also be happy to discuss/expand on any of the feedback given here if you wanted to contact us.
Booked with friends who had already booked the trip - so whole thing was not hugely researched by ourselves. So the whole thing was a wonderful experience
Our trip to Japan was just fabulous. We loved every part of it.
We added a few days at the start and finish of the trip to travel independently, and it was good to have this extra time to explore Kyoto and to travel a little further afield afterwards. Having the reassurance of our booking with Headwater gave us the confidence to do this.
The travel and transfers all worked out very smoothly. The walk itself, the hotels and guesthouses, the food, and the welcome we were given by all our hosts along the Kumano Kodo were exceptional.
It was a very special experience which will live long in our memories.
We enjoyed our holiday very much. As indicated we were generally pleased with the accommodation. We didn’t meet a rep before the start of our cycle, not sure if we missed them. We were surprised on the first morning g however when we were called for our luggage at 9am. We were told the driver had a schedule to follow. We realised then that we were part of a much larger group, not actually Headwater but a Loire cycling group so we felt some of the individual attention was lost on this holiday. (They will not have received this e mail?)
The app was generally good but needs updated as some of the eating places/boulangeries etc were actually closed permanently.
Our group consisted of 2 couples and despite asking several times to contact each couple individually we always received only one e mail with information, invoiced etc., which I then had to forward. This was irritating, especially as our friends have also travelled with Headwater previously and are on your database.
Another excellent and really enjoyable self guided walking holiday with Headwater on the Classic Catalan Walk
We were originally booked to do another walking holiday in Greece which cancelled 10 days before departure to storms and flooding. Headwater team went all out to find us an alternative and we settled on enjoyable twin-centre holiday with just the right amount of time at each. Flights, transfers & ferry journeys all worked out perfectly. Hotels were of good quality and we felt welcomed at both. Local transport came in the form of local buses (passes provided) and were amazingly reliable. We used them every day to get around for both walks and tourist visits. Local agent, Stephania, was amazing and reachable for all queries. She recommended several restaurants, two of which we thought were outstanding.
Only disappointing factor was a room downgrade at the first hotel. It was very hot even at the end of September and there is very little shade on the walks but we started off relatively early to try and finish by lunchtime and then find a swimming option in the afternoon. Looking forward to the next one!
Everything was well organised and the trip was very enjoyable.
An excellent experience.
We are not regular cyclists so self guiding using the app allowed us to go at our own pace but with backup from the local host. The app was easy to use, the routes were excellent, and the hotel a lovely place to relax at the end of the day.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday ( in September) and were blessed with lovely weather. In fact, we rather wished we had combined it with the 'Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling' holiday. The e-bikes were good and so was the navigation app. Agriturismo L'Albara was clean and comfortable and we enjoyed the food and the swimming pool. Fedrico is 'larger than life' and very helpful and made the stay particularly enjoyable. We found we did need mosquito repellant and was pleased with the recommendation on a previous review to take a travel kettle.
Was a good trip. Valued the free day in Matera and the shorter cycling day to Alberello so had time to visit the limestone caves. The app was easy to follow. Welcomed opportunity to upgrade the hotels.
We have always found Headwater very helpful and provide excellent self guided holidays. The places we have visited have been very interesting and beautiful.
I was very happy with the organisation of the holiday
The transfers were excellent and we really enjoyed the family run hotel, the service was great and food very good. I think we’re found the walks quite strenuous but that’s probably because we ourselves weren’t really fit enough but we thoroughly enjoyed them nonetheless! The views were amazing. Everything was very well organised, the flight was diverted for refuelling but that was obviously nothing to do with Headwater! So we were on the plane for 7 hours whereas it should have been 2 hrs 40.
Generally a very enjoyable holiday with well organised transport
I had a nice time.strange I was on my own. I did plan my own itinerary. I was lucky with the weather. I would go back to Austria but it was nice and relaxed and I controlled my day.nice hotel a good breakfast selection happy to go back, but disappointed that I didn’t get the free things on offer displayed in the lift.bad isch was a nice location for bus and train
We loved it.
The hiking was excellent and unforgettable! The app worked very well. Loved the variety of country that we hiked through. However, four of the nights’ accommodations were well below what we expected.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and the whole experience and met some wonderful people.
It was a great holiday - great location and all worked very well.
Very well organised holiday.
Overall we enjoyed our trip despite a couple of days of very wet weather. It is the Lake District after all. The forestry work on the way to the Far Sawrey ferry cut off the route and we had to detour through the bushes and walk along very muddy. Again not something Headwater has control over.
However, the cafe at the Yew Tree Farm hasn’t been a cafe for about 10 years
Very well planned and everything went smoothly. It would be nice if there’s weren’t better or more information about where the hotels are situated relating to centrums
Excellent at home and away
Nav app was excellent, different accommodations brilliant, choice of route itinerary was also excellent for varied scenary and interesting holiday.
The main remark is really about the grading of the tour. Cyprus is hilly and perhaps a "Moderate" grading in hilly territory is correct, but tough it was.
And then we were indeed surprised not to meet one single trekker during the entire tour - therefore our question: have you really sold this tour before?
Another important information (perhaps) missing is the fact that during the different tracks you cannot buy anything (there simply no shops - no nothing) - hence its important to highlight that plenty of water has to be taken with you from the accommodation. We experienced very hot weather (35-37 degree) and there was no shades to find at all. Hence water is crucial. One final comment: we would have liked to get off earlier in the morning (to avoid the hottest period of the day), but the hotels only serves breakfast from 7:30 or 8:00 and consequently you can only head off by 8:00 or 9:00 leaving you with not option, but to be out in the hottest period of the day.
The staff were knowledgable and helpful and the app was really good
We had a lovely holiday, the Sardinian coast is beautiful. The hotels were all good and the Sardinian food and wine excellent. The bikes were good. Everywhere was very welcoming. The hotel Luce de Faro (our favourite on this trip) will do a packed lunch for you (order the night before), and we would recommend you do this especially on the day you cycle to Teulada…as there is really nowhere to buy food especially if you are transferring on a Sunday. The cycling on day 4 (Teulada to Chia) is quite tough, and we felt the holiday might be better graded a 2 based on previous headwater holidays.
A couple of notes of caution, not many coffee stops, and not much of interest to visit along the way apart from the lovely beaches until you get to Pula. Pula was a lovely town to finish in, and we had a lovely lunch at Solaria in the square.
We had a great time..such a brilliant way of seeing new places.We just felt this time the bikes let us down.? Hadnt been serviced of late.Though no punctures....felt they were better suited for city travel only.
The holiday met our expectations. All good apart from we would have liked to have met local Headwater contact and have a phone number for the duration of the holiday. It was suggested a WhatsApp group be set up with Loic (who seemed to work for another company?) and another member of Headwater, We only got Loic and he was busy with other matters.
Also times of arrival of "someone" for briefing and meal transfer on the first, last and departure. I was left feeling it might not happen. It all did so I need not have worried and everyone was very kind.
I was stressed at the beginning and end as we had to take Taxi, Plane, bus, train and taxi. There was plenty of time to make the connections and they did all work.
We had a great time. We got lost once but recovered ok. We were unable to download the map app. One hostess was not advised Re food allergies but she accommodated us nicely.
I had a good holiday with Headwater, everything was well organised and the local agent, Patricia, was very helpful when changes to restaurants were required.
I had no issues with the travel or accommodations.
I would have no hesitation recommending Headwater holidays to family and friends.
This was a great holiday. Walks just long enough and challenging enough as we had a very hot week (end of September). Although not really difficult terrain we were glad of our walking poles as some of the vineyard tracks are very steep.
The hotels were so lovely it was a pleasure to relax there on our free days. We stayed at Casa Pavesi in Grinzane Cavour as the advertised hotel was not available for our dates. This was a great result as Pavesi is charming and characterful, castle interesting and has Michelin-star restaurant (book in advance) and Grinzane Cavour has other restaurants, wine bar/coffee/deli and was a nice place to hang out on a free day. We had steak cooked on the open fire at La Tagliata, a short walk out of the village.
A short detour into Albaretto on the last walk found us a restaurant whose owner kindly made us coffee and takeaway paninis for our lunch. Unfortunately the tower was shut - looks amazing.
The last night tasting menu at Villa d’Amelia was incredible - better than the Michelin restaurant above!
Worth noting that vegetarians/vegans might struggle in this part of Italy, it’s a very meat/dairy cuisine.
One criticism - the local guide (and other people) said the walk to Serralunga d’Alba (from Grinzane Cavour or the other hotel) was really well worth doing but with no notes, nothing on the app and no map provided for this we did not feel confident to attempt it.
Thank you Headwater for organising a great holiday!
All the hotels were excellent, great staff, good food and very comfortable, especially Il Monastero in Ischia. We found most of the walks too challenging for us and on reflection we would have preferred to visit only Ischia and Capri, having longer on each and the flexibility to do less walking each day.
Procida: Walking in Procida is not our idea of a relaxing walk. The island is so small it is difficult to get off the beaten track and every narrow street is a main road. We felt vulnerable walking through the narrow streets with locals speeding past in their cars, vans and on scooters and electric bikes. The whole island was very run down.
Ischia: A much nicer island, more pleasant to walk about. We found the buses completely unfathomable, no signage along the routes, on one occasion we ended up going back to Ischia Port because we missed our stop! Not as easy to buy tickets as the information suggested.
Capri: A lovely, upmarket island, stunning views.
Some initial confusion over logistical arrangements, due to this being a new trip for Headwater in 2023, We were given compensation for the cost of the ferry from Naples to Procida and also given extra evening meal because of incorrect info on itinerary.
We had a problem with a cancelled EasyJet flight and Headwater were extremely helpful and efficient in helping us to resolve this issue.
A lovely well-paced and leisurely cycling holiday - with no hills! Porto was the highlight - a fabulous city. Make sure when cycling up the Douro river to the coast that you visit the architect tea room and the swimming pools in the rocks - we managed to miss them! Some lovely hotels in beach locations. The Headwater app made the cycling very easy.
Very enjoyable with an interesting & varied itinerary. Felt support was reliable & there if needed.
Everything went according to plan and we were very satisfied overall. The accommodation was excellent and the transfers went smoothly. There were a few minor issues that I have listed below.
This was our second self-guided walking holiday with Headwater and, as before, the organisation of transport, accommodation and the itinerary were excellent. The walks were well-chosen with a variety of terrain. Although the written walk details were good, they were unclear in places, so the Headwater app was an absolute necessity. The hotels were all charming, lots of character, lovely outdoor areas and excellent food.
A thoroughly enjoyable 10 days walking holiday. It was good to have 2 days in each hotel in case we needed to recuperate, but in the event we did all the optional walks on the "rest" days anyway - not bad for a couple of 75 year olds!
We really enjoyed using the Navigation app which gave us confidence we were on the right route.
Full marks to Headwater for up-dating the app within 2 weeks of us notifying them of a blocked access on the route.
Fantastic vacation. The hotels were all fantastic and the bikes were very good. One bike had troubles but with phone call to local contact we got it fixed. Thank you.
Really enjoyed our trip and was well organised by Headwater with very good guide to help. All hotels good with exception of Hotel Mahara
Well organised, well documented,and helpful patient staff in the office, all very smooth travel and better than expected hotel. First time with Headwarter. Impressed.
Excellent holiday. Impressed by quality of hotels and the transfers - they were always on time.
Very satisfied with the itinerary and the smooth transfers.
All the advantages of independent travel with the logistics taken care of.
Excellent
We really enjoyed the route and accommodation, and felt we had seen so much of Puglia. The route is difficult to get to and from, but fortunately we have some friends who live in Puglia, so they picked us up from Brindisi airport, we stayed with them for a few days and then they drove us to Alberobello. I discovered, whilst we were there, we could have got back from Lecce to Brindisi by rail to meet the Sunday flight. Instead we had to rely on staying with our friends again for a few nights). This would have been very useful information to have upfront when planning a trip, and this is where Headwater are weak. You should be giving more information on how to get to places, from different uk airports, rather than just via the London airports. I think you’d get more customers (as we were surprised that we were the only two on this trip).
I like Headwater a great deal. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I like going on solo self-guided walks and I feel I can do that with the support of Headwater staff. Things do sometimes go wrong, eg i get lost, or there's an issue with a hotel. In such cases I've found the staff genuinely want to help me, not just because it's their job, and they will make sure I'm ok and everything is sorted out.
Good friendly service providing regular updates. I like more detailed knowledge of an area, history etc check out trailblazer books that had maps length of time to next location etc, stop here for a break…
A superb trip which i have wanted to do for awhile and i would highly recommend a few days in Turin. Would suggest late September just before the harvest and the truffle festival but the region is busy and remember certain places and restaurants shut Monday/Tuesday and other random days so worth booking well in advance.
This was my 7th Headwater trip and wonderfully put together with changes by Megan in the sales team.
Good service from start to finish.
Overall we enjoyed our holiday but my wife especially suffered on the uncomfortable bike.
Pre-travel booking etc was very efficient. Navigation app is excellent though a power bank for your phone is essential to last the day. Hotels were adequate to good but breakfasts were overall a bit disappointing in both choice and quality.
Well researched itinerary and well located accommodation.
Fourth holiday with Headwater over the years. Always very enjoyable and exciting destinations. Great routes and we visit places we would never have seen otherwise. Thank you.
Overall everything worked well, the App and local Rep probably the best features. The route could have been significantly better as there is no particular need for it to be circular. The farmland walking is pretty non-descript. The hotels felt tierd and/or in secondary locations. It was dissapointing that the feature hotel, Castella d'Emporda was not offered. Difficultly of the walking was fine and as described and the route notes were good. It should be noted that the main attraction from Encis is closed on a Monday. Value for money wasn't great given the price the hotels could have been booked directly at and transfers seemed very expensive although good.
The pre trip information allowed us to focus on the walking and appreciating the beauty of the local area.
Overall good. We requested a front facing room with twin beds and balcony but given a rear and side facing room with a double bed. We did get a large balcony. My wife was disturbed by train noise at the rear because we had our window open due to it being warm.
My first walking holiday with Headwater. Fabulous-from start to finish. The walking, food & stunning views.
We were self guided but it was lovely in the evenings to be asked if we wanted to join a group in the kitchen to see our meal being cooked, included in bbq.
But had our own table etc. ( you need to enjoy local food & not expect to eat early)
Other benefit being with like minded people- they are there for the walking, socialising, food, wine but comfort of a clean bedroom, hot shower & not late noisy nights🤣
Lovely people at Headwater; easy to deal with. Great itinerary. Super hotel and staff in a lovely location. Super walks.
Woeful pre-trip notes.
Too reliant on app and e-mail.
App misleading in terms of walking time remaining but loved the breadcrumbs
Probably the best organised holiday I have ever been on. And I'm a travel agent! Less than a week before we were due to travel our holiday had to be cancelled due to damage caused by extreme weather in Greece. We had trains and hotel booked in Gatwick for the night before departure and Headwater moved heaven and earth to get us an alternative going on the same day so our arrangements weren't ruined. They did it within 24 hours, at no extra cost and boy was it a good alternative. The accommodation we had was outstanding, quirky, high standard and very different, the walking was varied through some lovely countryside and along the coast. The app worked perfectly, especially when we managed to miss a turning, it got us back on track very efficiently. The local transfers were by suited chauffeurs in large Mercedes which was a bit above and beyond. I can't say enough good things about Headwater, this was a fabulous trip and we will definitely be doing another. Thank you.
It’s not our favourite walking holiday with Headwater, because at time the Strada Blanche seemed to drag on. We prefer walking in woodland, such as in Alsace Vosges or the French Jura. I think this holiday is more suited to cycling - we saw many happy cyclists out there.
However Stefano is definitely one of the best hosts we’ve had, such fun and passion. La Pietriccia is a great location too, with lovely food and service.
We had a lovely time in Sardinia: the food in particular was outstanding. We had electric bikes and so none of the routes were challenging, but at least one of the days would, I think, be hard work without assistance. One small part of one route was on a busy road which felt quite uncomfortable. It was also hotter than expected in September - but who can predict the weather! Still, overall an outstanding holiday.
‘For our first e-bike holiday we were challenged by the first route and length of ride( 41km) and would prefer the option of more rest days - perhaps have Day 3 as rest day. There was no information for activities/ sightseeing information on rest days and we were fortunate that our host Stefano was amenable and very knowledgeable of the area and assisted us in transport and background information of the areas to visit.
A very well-organised and extremely enjoyable cycling holiday. All the hotels were superb, both in location and facilities. We had a very warm welcome everywhere. We would recommend adding an additional night in both Bratislava and Budapest to allow time to explore these wonderful, historic and interesting cities.
Well researched cycle routes and friendly hotels
Generally reliable and deliver the promise
Excellent holiday. All details managed well. Would travel with headwater again.
Lovely cycle routes -navigation app was good. Each route was through different landscapes mostly on quiet lanes. Hotel de Poete was great with very helpful friendly staff. Chateaux de Mazan was a beautiful building but was disappointing. It felt very corporate and service was poor. E-bikes were good and made cycling up the hills easy.
A great trip - well organised from beginning to end. Good standard of hotels and a superb app to navigate.
The whole experience was excellent, Andrew Palmer from Headwater was very helpful and answered all my questions. There wasn't a rep to talk of bike the bike hire company was very good and didn't have any disasters so never had to call the helpline.
Already planning my next trip.
We didn't understand what held board and two pax meant so we therefore didn't realise when we were given a dinner on the evening. Some of the hotels didn't offer us dinner until we asked and they checked. We also didn't like our meal and the service in the castle hotel.
All in all we had a great time. We would recommend Headwater to other people.
This was very well organised. The App was great and it was lovely to stay in different parts of the island
We have used Headwater many times and always found them excellent with a high standard of accommodation and good organisation. This is the first year that we have used an app for navigation which was fine but we would like it to be supported by good quality maps so that we can navigate the local areas.
Mapping app was brilliant. Routes well planned for max use of cycle paths. Especially enjoyed last route ending right outside hotel at Koper, and two nights at this v good hotel.
Overall it was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the variety of the scenery. The first walk was amazing.
A beautiful part of Italy which is well worth exploring and enjoying.
We have always enjoyed our holidays with Headwater. The hotels have been good, interesting, good food. The bikes have been fit for purpose, the activity ratings realistic and the itineraries and suggestions worth doing.
I am fan, as I have now done a number of trips with Headwater. On a few occasions I have not really liked some of the 3* hotels (too basic) and I guess it would be good to have the option of choosing better hotels. But overall, I love the concept and I have always enjoyed the trips. Will continue to consider future self-guided trips with Headwater.
The overall experience was fine and we felt it was an attractive walk - no doubt enhanced by the superb weather we experienced. The only small difficulty that arose concerned the timing of transfers to the start and from the end of the walk but that was satisfactorily resolved in the end.
One comment I would make about the walk is that I would strongly recommend the green route around Prachovske Skaly as it gives a much better oversight of the park
Really impressed with Headwater. Great holiday in Austria and discovered a new holiday destination that we would return to. Thank you.
Well planned and organised. The only disappointment was that we were told the Tibetan bridge in Matera was closed, which it wasn't. The final walk Matera would have been much more interesting if the bridge had been included (although we can understand why it wasn't).
Excellent trip , the planning and organisation of the journey and hotels were all well arranged so you can just relax and enjoy the cycling
As the weather was vey hot, which we would normally have no problem with as we love the heat, we did fewer of the walks than we might have done had it been cooler. We did, however, do some shorter walks in and around Port de Soller. That is in no way a criticism of Headwater, just a fact of the weather.
As I’ve already said, we did not realise that nearly all the walks involved a tram or a bus or a train, or a combination of them, and we would not want a holiday that was so reliant on local transport in the future.
We did, however, like Port de Soller, and the hotel Aimia.
Good
Holiday was fantastic. Lost more time transferring than I had realised. Though this is the first time I have done this type of holiday. Have only done inn to inn before. Overall the islands were amazing, the people friendly and helpful and would love to go back .
This was a fabulous holiday to a beautiful destination, generally a high standard of accommodation and efficient travel arrangements given number of flights/transfers/ferries. (As per more detailed feedback provided ) - One or two tweaks would reduce some of the airport waiting time. Great variety of walks, and of course freedom to choose to follow plan or not. Would be good to suggest walks directly from accommodation/town locations - as part of joining Information. local tourist offices can do this but then you have the extra time to find out/plan etc when only 1-3 days available per place. Will definitely plan to return to the Azores and explore some of the other islands too.
As always a really excellent service from Headwater and well organised operation led by Mark at the location. Lovely cycling trip with good hotels.
We booked our holiday with Headwater as a last minute post school holiday treat. Even though time was tight all arrangements were made within the restrained time period.
We travelled from France in our own car and had no problems finding our accommodation from the information provided. The e-bike plus road bike arrived early next morning with panniers and locks and we were off straight away for the start of a very enjoyable holiday. The agriturismo hotel met all our expectations with regards to friendliness, support and cuisine. In fact the traditional Italian meals were truly excellent.
Another great holiday from Headwater, thoroughly enjoyed the cycling and loved the location and the Puglian people, very friendly indeed. The contrasting accommodation was extremely interesting from a cave once inhabited by the Sassi in Matera, to a B&B where we had breakfast in the owners dining room in Putignano, a Trulli in Alberabello and a 4 star hotel in Otranto. The itinerary was full on and definitely showed us all that Puglia has to offer. Fantastic!
Highly recommended! Well-curated selections in lovely places. Commitment to sustainability and local communities much appreciated too.
Your representative, George, together with the hotel staff we met along the way, were without exception pleasant, friendly and efficient.
On our walks, the app worked very well and the printed route notes were an excellent back up. The walks themselves (apart from the second half of the walk to the Sporting Hotel) were enjoyable.
We were not happy with the Sporting Hotel - a hotel closer to the walking area would be better, and the motor bikes at Teolo spoiled our enjoyment of the Villa Lussana. As we have mentioned we had paid for a superior room with balcony at this hotel and would appreciate a refund for this.
We had a very pleasant holiday where concerns and questions we had before travel, particularly re the navigation app, were addressed beforehand. All arrangements worked smoothly
We had a great time in the Azores with the Whale watching and Volcano visit being the highlight. The cycling is quite hard ( and I am a fit keen cyclist) as there are many very steep hills on route and we were glad we opted to upgrade to the electric bikes. Interesting place to visit and we found the food to be both good and excellent value for money.
This was our first cycling holiday abroad and one we will definitely repeat. As first timers we were glad we booked a single hotel holiday as it gave us the opportunity to have a non cycle day, if required.
It is useful to have all transport and equipment booked in advance.
As always the holiday was memorable. It was our first use of ebikes and we are delighted. It will help us do future trips where hills or distances might have been off putting to the 70+ customers!
Everything went smoothly, and the holiday totally lived up to our expectations. It was clearly quite an expensive holiday, but such was the quality of your company's support, the quality of the bikes and the tremendous hotels (we were clearly in superior rooms, and on occasion a junior suite) we couldn't fault the holiday. (We were lucky with the weather, and the cycling suited us perfectly, and it is a beautiful, and facinating part of the world.) Top notch.
I am going to contact Megan direst with my views.
The towns and cities passed through are all attractive and, for our trip, the weather was hot and dry throughout. The Danube is for a large part out of sight, with the route instead passing through farmed and by wooded areas.
There are a couple of things for which potential cyclists should be prepared. A section of the trip, from Gyor to Komarom,is taken by train. The railway station at Gyor has a number of platforms; apart from Platform 1, they are accessed via a subway. Getting your bike down the steps takes some effort - there are channels that take the wheels of your bike over the steps. Getting up steps onto the allocated platform is a more difficult matter; there is no lift so it is a case of carrying the bike up the steps.
The second aspect that cyclists should allow for is the few kilometres prior to reaching Obid. This section is on gravel paths and can be slow going and tiring.
Headwater staff, particularly Katie Smith ,were always friendly and helpful. Katie went out of her way to resolve our initial holiday queries
Excellent experience overall
Nice easy cycling although a bit repetitive. Excellent Agriturismo accomodation with excellent food and wine a lovely pool.
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. More info possibly about booking wine tours would be good although hotels happy to do it for you. Villa d'Amelia fell over backwards to help us when our flight was re-routed. I wrote and thanked them. Just one other thing about bikes - you need a 'walk' mode in case you have problem going up the very steep hills. Pushing an e bike with no walk mode is exhausting.
Loved it.
Andrew palmer and other office staff were great
Miroslav was great
Bikes were great
Most of the time the app worked well
We really enjoyed our trip, were very lucky to have wonderful weather and excellent company, the friends we travelled with. We were pleased to have hired e-bikes, they made the cycling much more pleasant. The itinerary/route was perfect, sufficiently challenging but plenty of time to relax. Scenery, in Slovenia especially, was stunning. Hotels were generally of a good quality and in excellent locations and the ground agent’s restaurant recommendations helpful. Having never done a Headwater cycling trip before we were surprised and delighted to have such an enjoyable adventure!
Excellent all round
My first headwater experience was excellent from beginning to end. I love the choice to holidays and will definitely book one again you are a brilliant travel agent.
We loved the holiday so much, Headwater were excellent in terms of organisation! The only issues we had was with the friendliness of the staff at the hotel and the price of a suite when it was very dated and basic.
Headwater take care of the work required to produce a complex itinerary so we can relax and enjoy our holiday. We got to see a lot of Sicily in just one week and have returned home with some extraordinary memories. The highlight has to be the guided night hike up Stromboli to witness the volcanic fire show, very humbling.
The holiday was well-organised and the walk descriptions were easy to follow. The walks were perhaps more strenuous than we had expected. The only thing that spoiled the holiday was that one of our suitcases did not arrive and still has not arrived. We would appreciate more help from Headwater with this.
A great walking holiday in a great location .
a great holiday once we got there and amazing views and walking. Details of the holiday could have got to us earlier and you need to be more clear with what is expected and additional costs of passes/transport in future advertisements. The hotels were excellent and we would visit again
The holiday exceeded our expectations. The change for a second cup of coffee at the Marettimo Residence was at best surprising and at worst enough to make recommending the holiday different
Some of the walks were more challenging than we expected. We are experienced hill and costal path walkers and we found some walk’s difficult particularly in the heat.
This "walking holiday" is different from many others as there is only one point-to-point walk (Cofano), several sights (Erice, Segesta), and a lot of pickups. Thankfully, as it would have been a disaster to have had 5 point-to-point walks in 34+°C heat.
We didn't attempt the sensible length circular walks in Zingaro or Marettimo as it was too hot.
The longer ones were out of the question.
If you don't like tuna or swordfish, your restaurant choices will be very limited, but octopus lovers will be quids in.
We stayed on for 4 nights in St Vito lo capo in the middle of the Couscous Festa. This is a very Italian affair and the town was packed with Italians, not foreigners!
Lovely safe beach.
Had the pleasure of dealing with very friendly and informative members of the Headwater team who were always able
to offer expert advice and answer queries immediately .
Thoroughly enjoyed this holiday. Walks were long but manageable through stunning tuscan countryside. You will need to have a portable charger for your phone in order to use the app as it uses up battery life quickly. The accommodation was good, spacious rooms clean and comfortable. The staff were helpful, efficient and welcoming. The food was very good filling and tasty. Local wine was very pleasant. On the free day the spa was very enjoyable. There is a long train journey to contend with which was a slight drawback. However, I would highly recommend this holiday if you like long self-guided walks through stunning countryside, comfortable accommodation, good food and wine, expertly organised by Headwater.
This was our first Headwater holiday. It was fantastic from beginning to end. Everything ran smoothly. We had a wonderful time
Excellent holiday - cycling was challenging but not hard and good to get off early to avoid the heat arriving at destination for lunch and relaxing / visiting. We took our own gravel bikes which were perfect for the terrain. All the hotels were excellent and very accommodating and welcoming
Helen Hodson was extremely attentive, helpful and reliable.
Very good. Administration excellent. Notes very good. The App could do with being more informative. The fifth day’s cycling was tough because of surface quality and no decent cafe or restaurant en route.
Another great Headwater holiday. Cycling Lake Constance (on electric bikes) was very easy for these oldies with either dedicated cycle lanes or very quiet back roads . We haven’t cycled since last year’s holiday and managed the trip easily. The days off between cycling days were great to take advantage of the many swimming areas around the lake and to have more time to explore each area. We preferred the B&B this year (previous years have been half-board) as there were copious amounts of eateries to choose from in each location. Thank you!
This was an excellent holiday, with lovely scenery and some very nice hotels and restaurants. There's also something inherently pleasing about a walking trip that takes you between two different countries. It was really helpful to have two walking options each day (one on the coast and one in the hills), meaning that you could select the length and difficulty of the walk depending on how you felt. The route guides were also extremely clear and it was not necessary to rely on the GPS app, although was still a handy extra resource.
Good as it’s been every time
The holiday completely met my expectations/intentions. I found Headwater easy to deal with. It was my first holiday with Headwater since 2011 (Slovenia) though my wife and I had been on at least seven previous Headwater holidays, starting in 1988. We were always very happy with the service provided.
Well organised, efficient, attention to detail and personal preferences. Excellent information and communication. Good value for money.
Please do take note when someone says they have vertigo problems. I do appreciate it is difficult for someone who does not have that problem to see any difficulty.
We were very happy with 99% of the holiday and our interactions with your staff.
Overall, we were quite happy. Villa del Poeta, really made the holiday. The staff there were amazing! They made me feel like a friend, not just a walking wallet. We felt Headwater could have done a little more to make us feel welcome and take any concerns away, such as 'How to catch a bus/train in Italy'. More advice on places to visit and their opening hours, even if it has to be revised regularly. Although I'd have thought once a year enough.Lists of nearby restaurants would be good and local customs. We didn't realise dinner generally isn't eaten till 7.30 ish. Our intro felt rushed and fitted around the guides other work, as nice as he was. There were some great stops on some of the routes (Villa Beatrice). The routes were a bit tougher than we were expecting but there were some great views and it definitely felt like a slice of Italy.
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Scenery superb and the accommodation was the best we had experienced on a Headwater holiday. Food was excellent, the only disappointment was the electric bikes as these were so much heavier than we are used to. It was good to have the extra nights in Milan to see all the sights. It would have been great if Headwater had prebooked a tour of the wine cellar at Fontannafreda as there were no tours available during our time there and your agent had highly recommended this.
Excellent holiday. Great choice of hotels Roads quite busy in places so would need to be a confident cyclist.
We had an excellent holiday, great walks ,scenery, weather , accommodation, and food . Many thanks
We felt that Headwater provided an excellent pre-trip service. During the holiday all transfers occurred without problem. The hotel selections were good, and standards were generally high
Very good pre-booking. Great local agent.
The route notes need reconsidering. The hotels need re-inspecting. It would be helpful to have dinner recommendations.
The holiday was really well organised. Luggage transfer was smooth and our bags were always waiting for us when we arrived at each hotel. The Headwater navigation app provided clear instructions and was very easy to use. On the odd occasion when we made a wrong turn, the app instantly told us we were off course so we could get back on track quickly.
Definitely recommend. Have done 4 cycling holidays with Headwater now and felt this the best. Cycling not overly challenging - you can always walk the few steeper hills! Very varied with mountains at start with optional paid chairlift at Arnoldstein and free (with local card from hotel) gondola at Tarvisio to get higher views. Alpine museum interesting for all. Reaching Italy lots of agriculture and history with amazing Roman mosaics in cathedral. At Udine we researched our own optional ride. At Palmanova recommend renting an audio guide from tourist office for a1-2 hour tour. Reaching the coast felt like a real achievement with a celebratory dip in the sea. All accommodation very acceptable as usual .
Overall an excellent holiday, varied scenery, the highlights being the cycling in the Julian Alps. Lake Bled was very beautiful and would have love to have had at least an additional day there. The luggage collection was faultless and the bikes were a very good standard. The hotels were very varied and all very clean and comfortable with the odd one having poor service at breakfast. The cycle ways en route were mostly dedicated to solely cyclists, fabulous infrastructure. This was one of our favourite Headwater trips and we have been on a few now and would highly recommend.
Everything went well with all aspects of the holiday.
Enjoyed holiday and booking went smoothly - the tour round Puglia was good and well thought out. Staff at Headwater were good and very helpful.
Would also like thanks passed to your agent in Italy for their excellent service.
Great team at Headwater especially Helen and the lovely chap who explained GPX files brilliantly. Would travel with Headwater again - Umbria or Loire or Vietnam or Thailand. But the price is relatively high we thought.
See my comments. Overall we jad a great time!!
We are long time Headwater customers. We really liked when Headwater had their own staff in situ. Those tours were really special. That said subcontracting to local companies works well in out experience. Appreciate that allows Headwater to offer more tours but there is less opportunity to differentiate from competition.
The route from Furodouro to Aveiro was very dull, enlivened only by the ferry. All other routes were very enjoyable, so was the one poor cycling day. We found it best to avoid the tramways in Porto, fely safer and easier on the road. The final cycle route at Praai de Mira was too short. There were plenty of cycle tracks and quiet roads to extend the route so I would suggest that you offer a choice of routes ,we found it very easy to cycle 30 kms on the tracks.
Overall saw a lot of Portugal that would not normally be seen. Porto was a very interesting and lively place. Cycle paths etc excellent and the fact that the traffic slows down or stops for cyclists is both surprising and very peasant....
The train back from Aveiro to Porto worked well. However, I think more explanation is needed on how you get a ticket on the Metro to the airport. You need to get a numbered ticket first, then got to the ticket office and get a train ticket. Not easy when everything is in Portuguese. Also at the station in Aveiro it would have been good to know that you had to descend the steps to the ticket office and once purchased you had to verify the ticket at a machine on the platform. Little things that may help others in the future.
Efficient, informative and great selection of hotels
There was more riding on roads than we expected. The bicycles provided were excellent and well maintained. Staff at the bike shed in Bregenz were thorough and very friendly. Navigation app was a gem. Loved the organization of the tour with a day of riding and the next of touring. There is so much to see in the area and we wouldn’t have enjoyed ourselves riding every day. Travelers may wish to carry a small repair kit and perhaps first aid kit on the cycle. One of our group had a tumble and loosened his seat. We had to go quite a ways to find a bike repair stop.
Lovely holiday, well organised, mostly very good choice of hotels and activities very enjoyable
A bit challenging for 70year olds but we had a great time!
The way they put the holiday together is amazing I thoroughly enjoyed myself it was my first self-guided holiday I normally do guided holidays but I took the plunge and went self- guided it was harder as you have to think outside the box but at the same time liberating without having to be in certain places at a certain time.
It was a fantastic experience and I made memories to last a lifetime! Thanks Andrew and all at Headwater.
Beautiful part of Italy with ample opportunities to sample local food and refreshment. The walks are not for the faint heartened. Shortish distances each day but a lot of climbing up and down. Very easy to use local buses and ferries to get around
An excellent holiday. Good routes with options Useful information about cable cars, public transport and places on route for refreshments. The map app didn't show enough information for us but the paper maps sent were a necessary addition.
I know you have taken these over from New Experiance, but I believe you current staff should do or participate in this walk to get first hand knowledge.
Unfortunately Eurotrak App walked along slightly different routes to the walking book, for example from Schwartzwalt Alp we wanted to walk the Romantic Track to First not covered by Eurotrak, Otherwise this is a wonderfull walk.
Fantastic holiday , beautiful weather, amazing scenery . Suggested itinerary of routes was first class & pretty easy to follow. Easy walks to start gradually leading to more strenuous ones, but even the harder ones were fine for someone who keeps themselves fairly fit. Hotel was lovely & in a beautiful small town. 10 minutes walk to the local bus station & 5 minutes to the train station which were all very easy to use once you got the hang of it. There really isn't anything negative to say about this holiday.
We had a most enjoyable holiday, enhanced by the peace of mind that all would go as planned due to your pre-travel information and the excellent briefing and care from your local partner.
We enjoyed the holiday very much but didn't always get on that well with the navigation app or the printed notes.
We were blessed with fantastic weather throughout which enhanced the trip. The scenery was surprisingly beautiful, the cycle trails were superb, the hotels, food and service were excellent and the distances, whilst long on some days, were very manageable for us middle-aged, weekend cyclists. The only criticism is a small one. The bikes supplied by Dutch Bike Tours were fit for purpose on the flat but the lack of suspension was felt on every uneven surface, such as cobblestones and woodland trails. Overall, one of our favourite cycling holidays so far (however, we have only done four in total so not greatly experienced in that department). It was certainly the safest in terms on being segregated from the road traffic for most of the journey.
We enjoyed the four small family-run hotels and there was enough variety in the cycling to maintain interest. There was very little traffic except on the road to the very popular Es Trenc beach. We would recommend the walk to Lluc on the rest day at Caimari as a change from cycling. We are in our sixties but we managed to cycle without the use of e-bikes. There was air conditioning in all the hotel bedrooms. We managed to complete the cycle routes in good time each day, arriving at the hotel in early to mid-afternoon, in time for a drink and swim in the hotel pool. We needed plenty of sun cream and insect repellent as it was sunny and humid. Most of the hoteliers and restauranteurs spoke good English and menus in English were often provided. We navigated with one of us using the mobile phone app and the other using the paper route notes, and this worked well. Either on their own would have sufficed. Overall, a very enjoyable holiday and we will use Headwater again.
Overall we had a great holiday, Lauren was very helpful during the whole booking experience, would recommend Headwater to anyone wanted a cycling holiday with no hassle.
Overall, we had a wonderful cycling holiday and discovered many enjoyable facets of Portugal that would have been difficult to identify independently.
Headwater went out of their way to expedite the trip and resolve the few problems that arose. The seif-guiding aspect worked well.
We very much enjoyed our Coastal Croatia holiday. The navigation app worked like a dream . The bikes were top quality, well serviced and comfortable. and thankfully we had chosen e bikes, The tracks were much rougher than we expected in places and more short ups and downs - we walked in places . We loved the accomodation at Villetta and Villa Tottorotto both very individual old buildings with excellent food and service. Hotel Flores was not at the same level but the rooms were large with a balcony and location in the pine forest, next to the sea and town was lovely. Take Bruna's advice on day 6 - the road at the head of the Lin Fjord is very busy, bendy , single carriageway steeply down/uphill. We recommend taking the boat to Brijuni island from Fazana and hiring a bike there. We missed the gears but it is just beautiful with lovely bays, roman villas, good roads and quiet if you avoid the road train! All three destinations. Fazana, Rovinj and Porec were well worth visiting.
An enjoyable holiday. We have been on a number of cycling holidays. If you were inexperienced, the briefing would not have been sufficient. The agent appeared to be a rush to leave! One of our bikes had a constant issue with the gear cable but my partner was able to sort it out. The train journeys were difficult with the electric bike as it was so heavy and both stations had steps on and off the platforms. The Pisa hotel AC Grand was too far away from the centre of Pisa. Breakfasts in all hotels were basic and not replenished even when we were eating at 7am! Overall we enjoyed our trip and the big bonus was being able to download the route on our mobiles.
The cycle route was not very scenic, so although it was lovely in parts, and we did enjoy the trip, we expected to be by the Danube more. I'm not sure I would call it a Danube cycle route. We did enjoy the trip, but we do feel some things could be improved. The customer service from Headwater was excellent, the issues were more related to us being on the actual holiday.
Excellent company to book with. Were helpful and receptive to tailoring travel plans to extend holiday.
Excellent holiday wonderful scenery with a variety of well planned walks. All staff helpful friendly and attentive. Difficult to find fault
Excellent Navigation App. We did not use/need additional maps. Very good transport information on how to use the fantastic transport system to arrive at start and departure from walks. Glorious walks. We were very lucky with sunshine every day and so could see wonderful views. Hotel comfortable with mountain views. Good breakfasts and supper. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables! Chef on duty up to Thursday - lives in San Candido - makes the best porridge I have ever tasted! Found it useful to have German as well as Italian knowledge as several mountain lodges spoke German. Pool at hotel useful to use after a day of walking.
Wonderful area to walk in, rather busy at times in places as it was obviously very popular . This also put local transport under a certain amount of pressure
One of the best holidays we have ever had. A mix of exercise and relaxation. Well planned via the app, very easy to book and staff cheerful and helpful. Thank you
The Headwater staff were very helpful in setting up this holiday at relatively short notice. I never had to wait on the phone for it to be answered! The App and Route Notes are excellent except for the outline maps provided in the notes which lacked information - so I would strongly recommend buying the Tabacco maps as it is easy to take a wrong turning in this terrain and to give some perspective for each walk. Some of the walks were more like those in the lower Alps than true Dolomites (the Dobbiaco location being geologically at the far northern end of the Dolomites) but they all had superb views of the Dolomite peaks and some were of course right in them!
Everything about this holiday was superb. Having travelled with Exodus in the past (which is also excellent) we appreciated the superior quality of accommodation on this trip. The holiday was to celebrate my 60th birthday and I was very pleased that we made this choice. Even the weather was beautiful!
We thought Tuscany was great and so was the whole holiday. We are all getting on a bit average age 77 and Stephano helped us shorten the walks. We loved the hotel, always too much food and the local wine great and excellent value. Swimming pool just what was required and used every day. Owner great fun and very helpful. Four of us had 3 extra days and he helped us hire a car locally. All the staff were very helpful. The extra days were used to visit Siena and Pienza and were well worth it.
Absolutely 100% excellent organisation and customer service from Headwater, specifically Megan who responded to my many queries (emails, phone calls) efficiently and effectively. The cycle route from Passau to Vienna was amazing - breathtakingly beautiful in places, with interesting villages, vineyards and countryside.
Very good holiday, well organised, lovely hotels. Warm welcome from all hotel staff. Have holidayed with Heatwater for over 20 years and this holiday was one of the best. Thank you.
From start to finish a brilliant experience. The team are first class.
An interesting trip. The cycling was not difficult. The mix of transport (included train and boat) added to the experience.
This trip was pleasant with excellent and safe cycle paths for the vast majority of the trip. However it was a little repetitive with long stretches of cycle paths through uninteresting terrain. The Danube is largely out of sight for most of the trip which is a huge pity and the few occasions we did rest on the banks was achieved more by chance than design. The itinerary left little time for discovering and exploring once we reached our destination points as we often arrived late in the day and with only 1 night in each hotel.
We found our Headwater holiday to have been well organised and thoroughly enjoyable and we would certainly consider using the company again. The admin team (Joe Chaplin) was very helpful with our booking and kept in touch over the intervening months. Stuart, our rep was a delight and all the accommodation was excellent.
Route was very suitable for us and we had lots of information from the navigation app. Well done Headwater.
This was our first holiday of this type, we loved the freedom of travelling unguided. The route guidance was excellent and the difficulty and daily distances were just perfect for someone with average walking fitness. The hotels were tremendous, being perfectly located and we could not fault service, food or anything else. The walks were truly superb, blending wonderful strolls through the area's vineyards and gentle climbs through the forests of the foothills. The routes were really well way-marked and so it was easy to navigate. The walks passed through ancient villages and Chateaus and there really were no sections that were anything but breath-taking. Our personal stopover highlights were Riquewihr, a fabulous medieval walled village, and Itterswiller, a tiny village surrounded by rolling vineyards. We will definitely be returning to France again with Headwater.
Found service good even when I had trouble doing API as fault with Swiss air!
Excellent all round, except for holiday grading. Would definitely travel with you again.
It was a relaxing and carefree holiday, thanks to Headwater’s sorting of all the travel and accommodation details and the excellent service from the hotel and guides. They really covered all the bases, so all I had to do was turn up and enjoy my holiday.
The whole experience was excellent. Travel arrangements worked well. Walking level of group and local guides were very good. Hotel accommodation appropriate for activity. Food was exceptional.
Great holiday, well organised.
Overall, we had a fantastic time. Thank you very much!
Our holiday with Headwater ran smoothly from initial booking right through to the end of the holiday. Very little hassle, no unnecessary stress and an enjoyable experience
I really enjoyed my cycling holiday around Slovenia . The scenery is wonderful, The accommodation 90 percent was good The App works well.
I question just one stay at Lipica
Great holiday, bikes, routes, hotels all good (albeit we did pay for some upgrades). The agent we met was fine, but never had so little contact with them in all our holidays with you before. It would have been pretty perfect if they had mini - bused us back from Coimbra at the end of the holiday. Finally, of the three meals in restaurants, the two in Praia de Mira were excellent, delicious fish beautifully served. The restaurant in Porto was fussy and poor quality and we gave up and left when we had waited 40 minutes for a sweet and they clearly weren’t interested. Thanks, we will be back!
Brilliant cycle route through fantastic scenery.
We all had an enjoyable holiday and were very lucky with the good weather.
As before, Mark (local rep) was very good.
It's probably unfair of me as I was travelling alone and relying on Mark for safety back-up, but I do have an ambivalent view of the app, as in some ways I think it detracts from the fun of self-navigating. Also it's not 100% reliable when you are in a more remote area with little or no GPS signal.
Hotel Europe &Spa in Zermatt was excellent - top tip; they have an electric car and will pick up and drop off from railway station on arrival and departure. Cicerone travel book on Zermatt & Saas Fee is very good with well described and various walks & other useful info. The App Swisstopo has excellent maps. The Glacier express is good but the local trains (despite the need for changes to do the same route) is very good and usually less busy. We were not sure the extra expense of the GE worth it
This was our fifth Headwater cycling holiday and we really enjoyed it.
We did feel that the quality and facilities of the first (and last) hotel was well below that of the others and probably our only disappointment
It turned out to be a superb holiday, allowing us to sample a different country by seeing much of it at a slow pace to take it all in. Some of the sites along the way were well-worth seeing and discovering more about. Just a shame that there were very few ‘stop-off’ places en route to enjoy refreshments - maybe we were ‘out of season’? Better towards Brussels….
Really good trip, the walks were varied and there were good options to extend them if you felt up to it. The food in the hotel was amazing as well.
Great first trip with Headwater
We loved the holiday and the routes were carefully planned and easy to follow on GPS. There was one occasion when we had to cross a motorway (the A10) which was a bit scary
We had a great experience. No problems with the luggage at all. We would certainly think of doing it again, though we might tailor the experience a little by adding an extra night at some locations and checking the hotels more carefully before finalising a trip. It was occasionally frustrating to be in a very interesting city and not have quite enough time to explore it.
In Switzerland, we were given a travel guest card so that all public transport in the area was free including cable cars and boats and trains! The travel card gave us extra flexibility as we could adapt our plans on the day depending on the weather and not worry about additional expenses.
The staff at Alfa Soleil Kandersteg are simply the best. They made us feel at home from the moment we arrived, treated us to some amazing Bernese cuisine, and looked after us with great care.
Good choice of location, hotel and routes. We were disappointed with the quality of the route directions and the discrepancy between the app routes and the written route directions but there is good local signage and most paths are well maintained. The suggestions for optional extensions and optional additional routes were very useful. NB the app routes provide additional extensions, which we made use of. A proper scaled walking map with contour lines was not provided - if appropriate, consider buying one locally to help plan your routes.
It is good to have a company that will allow a traveller to be flexible in terms of travel arrangements; we flew to Zurich but went everywhere else, including returning to the UK, by train. Likewise the flexibility to walk as often as you feel like, although we walked every day when the weather allowed.
The local knowledge at the host hotel was invaluable and the cuisine was excellent.
We had a really good week, even though the weather was variable. That’s life. The hotel was very comfy and food was good. We enjoyed the walks -especially the path of the gods.
The walking app was very good and saved a lot of time and effort looking at a map, or instructions.
Buses were a nightmare, especially with the road from Agerola to Amalfi being closed for half the week. This obviously restricted our movements.
The bus in Priano (to Amalfi) didn’t stop at bus stop 5.
The trip to Vesuvius and Pompei was excellent, with great guides at both locations.
As self guided walkers we missed out on some information such as the bbq evenin (until it happened), and receiving info about our transfer from the hotel back to the airport. We were not on the drivers list!
Carmen was very helpful.
Everything was perfect had a fantastic time
Very good. Prompt. Friendly. Accommodating. Made us feel important. And adaptable to our suggestions.
Always available to help if there is a problem
Product is a great itinerary
Overall really enjoyed the holiday - will email regaling the walk that was unsuitable
Had a great holiday despite endless rain and worst storm in45 years including large hailstones causing damage to cars! Map app was easy to use and very helpful. Lots of detail in the guide book but I didn’t always find it easy to get my head around! Bavarian people were friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed our holiday 😊
Booking food options or giving food option in Apt would have been helpful.
Although not inexpensive, the holidays are excellent, good hotels, routes and restaurants
Very helpful.
Navigation app worked brilliantly.
Holiday well managed from start to finish - but accommodation varies in quality.
Spa in hotel Bergrose was great. Scenery is spectacular and Lake Wolfgang was crystal clear and so refreshing to swim in on a hot day.
Good for those who don't like walking in big groups but enjoy the security of local support and route guidance
I really enjoyed this trip, despite travelling in August and experiencing an Italian heatwave which is always going to be tricky on a walking holiday! Beautiful scenery, picturesque towns and villages, and varied terrain. I travelled solo and and most days I walked miles and miles without seeing another person, which I quite liked. The App/GPS routes worked brilliantly, and the Via Francigena is very well marked, however less so as you get closer to Rome. The peace of mind that all hotels were booked and baggage transported efficiently just took all the stress out of the holiday, and I consider the premium worth paying. A few bits of advice if you do book this holiday - the taxi transfers suggested at the start and end are unnecessary, get the Funicular up to Orvieto and the train back to the airport at the end. Getting the Pilgrim Passport stamped can be a bit of a trial, but some of the hotels have stamps so always best to ask when you check in. Before you go, research how to get your Testimonium from The Vatican, there is loads of advice and help on-line. Take bug spray and use it as soon as you get to Orvieto if travelling in Summer. Take a power pack out with you every day, my phone battery struggled on some of the high mileage days with the App running and taking lots of photos. I have done a lot of small group holidays, and it was a bit of a leap of faith giving a self-guided trip a go, but it was great, and I'm already looking at which one to choose next!
Very well organised, E-bike excellent standard, navigation app user friendly.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and very impressed with Headwaters hard work and efficiency.
A very efficient service and a well-thought-out itinerary. We loved the holiday. As mentioned earlier in the feedback, there were one or two things that it would have been good to know in advance that weren't mentioned in the information pack, but in the overall context these were minor.
We enjoyed an excellent trip which went incredibly smoothly. On Day 1 which was transfer to start the holiday all arrangements went to plan and the 1st class Train ticket was appreciated. We were lucky that there was a food festival in Brig on our arrival with a great atmosphere. On Day 2 (first walking day) we skipped the 2nd cable car so started walking earlier and effectively added 2 hours to the walking time. Day 3 we followed the itinerary and had a great day. Day 4 was an optional day, we decided to do a walk not part of the itinerary to the largest Suspension Bridge in Switzerland from Randa. We did find the cost of local transport was significant, we probably spend ~£150 each in first 3 days on trains, busses and cable cars. Day 5 was a rest day for us in terms of walking, we took the Metro Alpin option from the itinerary. Day 6 we done the walk that was Day 5 on the intinerary. Day 7 we went Off-Itinerary and done a fabulous walk from Mattmark back to Saas Fee via the Glacier Trail. Day 8 was our return trip home, it was a bit bumpy as the travel time coincided with a large music festival so the train was overcrowded and uncomfortable, the return ticket was second class, we would have valued a 1st class ticket due to the situation. The Headwater App was a great reference, during the walks the signposting in Switzerland are excellent so we did not need to continuoulsy refer to it. I would go B&B only to have flexible dinner options rather than hotel only.
Everyone I dealt with at Headwater were knowledgable, helpful and efficient although they didn't have detailed knowledge of the trip I was looking at. Any questions I asked were sent to the Italian bike company and simple answers were received. Our only bad experience was the collection of the e-bikes, we needed someone who knew about the bikes, knew about the trip and spoke English. The route, the guide and the App were excellent. The hotels were mixed but overall fine. We had one big problem where we lost a bike key and the Italian bike company were very helpful (but we needed the help of the hotel to translate for us). Overall we loved the trip.
We enjoyed visits of castles, gardens, caves, small villages and country side while following an excellent road map. Electric bikes are a must because the road can be sometimes quite hilly !
It was a great holiday, the app was useful but the itinerary was too difficult for us. The general info was ok. We used the trail information at the resorts and used their leaflets instead as it suggested a choice of trails and the grading instead of one trail only. We loved the resort and the hotel but not the room. Would recommend the area to friends.
An excellent trip despite the poor choice of hotels. I would rather more central and basic hotels to maximise time in the cities. Dendermonde and Maldegem didn't see the point of visiting either as nothing at each location. I think the route and hotel placements need rethinking. Bag transfers all worked seemlessly and the bikes were well maintained, although do wonder why you need 27 gears in Belgium, the biggest hill is a bridge!!! Maintenance could be made easier with simpler gearing, which could help reduce the holiday costs.
Belgium is an excellent country for a cycling holiday as its flat, there are lots of designated cycling paths along rivers and canals. These link up many beautiful medieval cities which are well worth exploring and a Headwater holiday allows you to do this at your own pace.
Had a really lovely holiday and would book again. Disappointed with one hotel as mentioned and pick up on arrival everything else was great.
Overall we had a lovely holiday. The travel arrangements worked well particularly those whilst in Jersey and Guernsey - all transfers on time and very helpful staff. The walks we did were lovely and our only criticism relates to the assessments which were certainly a bit optimistic for us!
We were travelling as a group of 4 on e-bikes.Although some of our team would have been happy with road bikes we were delighted with the extra power due to the heat and the headwind. On one occasion our accomodation was on a hill at the end of the day so the e-bikes were a delight.
We all thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, found the path in great condition. there was a great variance of landscape as we moved down the Danube. The cafe's that we stopped in were of good quality. There was always the option of visiting castles Abbeys on the path without too much time taken out of our day. We always managed to reach our hotel by 5ish.
Terrific experience. I do not see your name mentioned among the traditional Camino companies but it should be. It was a very easy and terrific experience.
Lovely holiday in this beautiful Austrian town. The hotel was ideal, with friendly staff, great breakfasts and two indoor pools. Amazing scenery - we loved being able to catch the cable cars up the nearby mountains, then gradually make our way down. In the end we only did 4 of the walks - one day was too rainy, so we instead caught the train to explore Innsbruck, and we opted to spend a whole afternoon at the Schwarzsee bathing lake. The hotel is a short walk from the historic old town, with lots of restaurants, bars and street performers.
We had a fabulous first cycling holiday. The route was beautiful and the mileage just right for us. We loved all the places we cycled through from the beautiful countryside to the little towns, where we found plenty of opportunity and time to explore and have lunch. The hotels were all good - some better than others, but all comfortable and clean. We particularly enjoyed our stay at the Abbaye d'Alspach on the second day, it was so very charming and the village was the same, like going back in time. Although relatively fit, we are non cyclist at home and this was our first cycling holiday so I did find some of the hills a bit challenging, particularly on the second day but managed through it (my husband better than me), sometimes getting off to push! The hard work was worth it though as we came back feeling fit and healthy and having cycled through some breath taking scenery. The route guidance and GPS tracker were excellent and meant we never got lost. I would highly recommend this holiday.
If it wasnt for the experience of the last hotel with the air con not working we would have rated the overall experience as excellent
Once again another fantastic holiday! Amazing organisation, great support throughout. Just one hotel let the whole experience down a little,but this could be due to local culture/personality differences. All meals inlcuded were FABULOUS! Would definatley travel with you again, but would be GREAT if you could take AMEX please. We really trust you to make great selections and trip notes, which goes a long way for us as we are super busy and would not have time to plan all this ouselves. We have really built up a trust with you now after travelling with you 5 times myself!
Cycling through the picturesque villages of Provence was a wonderful holiday - can?ǨѢt recommend enough.
Headwater took the worry out of booking a holiday everything was well planned and all went smoothly.
I would recommend Headwater 100 per cent. We booked last minute and they still found all the accommodation we needed. The route was excellent - we were able to enjoy the scenery, stop off en route, enjoy the destination towns in the evenings. Mainly bike lanes and bike routes which was brilliant. Excellent service and communication throughout. We couldn't fault it - amazing unforgettable holiday
Wonderful holiday and really well organised Thank you very much and look forward to our next holiday.
Toni was very helpful and got everything sorted quickly. We really enjoyed the walks; the app was easy to use. Our hotel was outstanding and the airport transfers worked well.
All very good, excellent introduction to the Pyrenees itinerary.
Our Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago has been amazing and the trip has been made even more enjoyable with the excellent service from Headwater. The management of hotels, bag transfers, and availability of support has been excellent. Thank you.
This was our second holiday with Headwater and the customer service and holiday was equalled to our previous holiday, Megan was very helpful and the holiday lived up to expectations. The cycling along the coastal route was generally pretty flat, except when going in land. However there were quite a few gravel tracks which we stayed on for several km (5-8km), on a couple of rides. These were at times heavily rutted and as we had a mixed fleet of Mountain and trail bikes, not all the bikes could withstand the terrain. We really enjoy the variety and unique experience that a cycling holiday offers, giving the opportunity to explore destinations that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. In Istria, having access to the bikes all the time meant easy exploration of the local areas at other times and not just during the actual guided routes. We added in additional days to our itinerary which meant we could use the bikes to cycle to more secluded beaches and swim locations.
Well organised and excellent cycle trip on mainly good rural back roads. Generally very good hotels and excellent transfers. Electric bikes were brand new and easy to use-much needed in 30 degree heat.
Great holiday - great journey and great destinations.
Excellent holiday with excellent equipment. Got a great sense of achievement. Enjoyed seeing all the towns and countryside - even if it did rain one day! Headwater were very helpful and communicated well.
Very well organised with excellent hotels routes with apps and points of interest clearly indicated. Let Headwater take the stress out of planning for the perfect cycling holiday ! It's worth paying for !
An excellent trip, beautiful hotels, fantastic cycling.
Loved the activity aspect and hotel La terrace was a real highlight
Excellent itinerary - excellent hotels with wonderful food. Excellent bikes. Good travel arrangements organised by Headwatwer office staff
Overall, an absolutely superb experience, my non cycling wife thoroughly enjoyed it due to the E bikes assistance. Great service moving the bags daily, good hotel selection probably the most memorable holiday I will ever have. We are looking to do a similar thing with friends who had done the same trip in 2018 and recommended it to us. Hopefully next year we will book another amazing holiday with Headwater.
The itinerary was good. I thought it was sensible to split the first and last days in two. Going from the start in France to Roncesvalles in one day, whilst doable would have been tough given the amount of ascent required. Equally stopping in Viana rather than going all the way to Logrono was sensible, given the heat and distance. The entrance to Logrono isn't particularly interesting and to put that at the end of a long day would have been dispiriting. The signage along the way was very good apart from the last section coming into Estella, where a series of new cycle tracks has made things confusing. A stone arrow on the ground helped, but it could be easily missed. As it happens I chose the right option.
We had a really fabulous holiday and would really recommend this type of trip to friends who like cycling. Its perfect if you don't want to sit by the pool/on beach all day. its great to have the itinerary sorted and have bags transferred every day. Two of the locations were really excellent. Despite it being high temperatures it was fine when cycling on e-bikes.
We had a great holiday. It was relaxing and inspiring to walk among the Burgundy vineyards and amazing landscape of the Cote D'Or. The walking routes were well organised and varied. Navigation was easy with the GPS app. We walked 40 miles over 5 days and climbed 1100m, higher than Mt Snowdon!
An all round great trip, well organised, taking us through beautiful Slovenia. First time self-guided. Directions and app were perfect. Loved it!
Had a wonderful time. Self-guided tour with friends was a real success.
Really good trip. Travel arrangements were really robust. Communication was good. Trip notes were really helpful. I'd recommend the Switzerland trip we did, and also travelling with Headwater - I've travelled with them before and would travel with them again
Very enjoyable holiday
We loved our trip to the Catalan Coast. Such a beautiful area! The walks and suggested walks were well planned, with minimal time spent walking along busy roads. The hotels were very good and the staff at each had helpful suggestions for places to eat and things to do. This was our second Headwater trip and we have already planned a third!
The initial problems with my booking were frustrating but afterwards, all the admin was correct & provided at the right time. The hotel location was excellent and would make a good location for snow showing. The hotel team & our guide, Wenche, were also excellent.
I was very impressed with all aspects of the holiday. The only thing I'd change would be the length of the wait for the train.
I have been to Venabu 3 times to ski and I wanted to see the area without snow (totally different). The week's walking is designed to show the culture and scenery of the area and the guide (Wenche) was very knowledgeable and interesting to be with. She had to cope with a wide spread of ability in the group which she managed to do as well as the weather which was not the best. We visited old churches, summer farms and an exhibition during the week either as part of the walk or afterwards. The staff in the hotel are very friendly and efficient speaking very good English. The food is plentiful and as a vegetarian I enjoyed all the evening meals especially the Norwegian meal. I was also glad to be able to arrange my own flights as those offered by Headwater did not suit my needs.
I especially enjoyed the little things that were not in the itinerary and were unexpected - like a visit to an old stave church, a stop to talk to an old farmer, and a second visit to the summer farm where we were given rhubarb pie.
Our Headwater experience was fantastic. Everything was booked for us bar a short coach trip which Headwater explained clearly what to do and two evening meals which our agent booked for us when asked for his recommendations. We underestimated how long the cycling would take given the beauty of the places we were cycling through and us wanting to stop and explore! The distances were very manageable however and gave us time to relax at the pool before supper!
Once we got through the booking process, the service from Headwater and the organisation of the trip was excellent.
An unbelievable experience. For two septuagenarians, for one of whom it was a first cycling holiday, it was superb. We could not have asked for more. When booking, Katie’s assurances on the cycle routes and bikes were spot on and gave us essential confidence.
Generally fine - and helpful with extra add-ons. Communication was good. As I've said above maybe the trip notes need a little fine tuning -and Exodus and Headwater need to agree on a standard grading for the holiday.
Very good, indeed mostly excellent.
Great walking on what is an amazing piece of history
This was a wonderful holiday which cleared out many cobwebs with its alternating days of water-based activity and relaxation.
Well organised trip, good electric bikes, lovely routes, hotels and locations.
Fantastic in every way , so relaxing
This was our 5th holiday with Headwater. We enjoyed being in a single centre activity holiday and the extra recreational facilities at Bergrose. I have personally developed some fear of heights and narrow paths affecting my enjoyment of some routes, notes didnt always indicate nature of path. Route can be a level 1 but flat though high and narrow! Not sure if I can do activity holiday again for that reason though am perfectly able to enjoy most of what is on offer. The R2 bike route varied considerably between wide paths and other for example.
Well planned holiday.The scenery, the weather, most of the accommodation and the advice and support of the on the ground representative (Richard) made it one of the best walking holidays we have ever been on.
We were impressed with the speed and efficiency with which problems were sorted, also the friendliness of your staff. A real dislike of flying may make us think twice about going abroad in the near future but we may consider holidays in the UK with your company.
As I said earlier, we have enjoyed many happy trips with Headwater over many years. However, as I said on an earlier page, the route notes seriously need some attention in our opinions. Although they read well enough, the sentence construction suggests they were written by a local with local knowledge. To us, they appeared unclear and sometimes inaccurate. In the end we devised our own walks. Staff at the hotel were fantastic, Megan at Headwater was most helpful and we shall almost certainly book with you again but the itinerary needs looking at.
This was a brilliant trip, and I was very sorry when it came to an end.
Excellent holiday. Good hotels and clear guidance
This was an excellent holiday. Great hotels and good venues. Easy cycling, as advertised. Bikes were big and heavy, but on flat trails they were perfect.
Thank you Headwater for another excellent Holiday package.
Communication was good, and we felt we were kept up to date with our booking. Any queries were promptly answered.
We had a wonderful time Vancouver, a lovely city and in the ebautiful Sunshine Coast of Canada. The walks were splendid and apart from some difficulties, the instructions were good. The Rocky Mountaineer was a very good experience.
Great location for a cycling holiday - super hotels and a variety of options available to eat out in the evenings if required. Very good service from Randovelo and we appreciated the extra service they provided.
Overall a good holiday experience
I was rather disappointed that the walk itself was not managed by Headwater as i did appreciate detailed route instructions which I could download. I did not enjoy relying on gps. A map would have been helpful as well as information about deviation from the route. I did appreciate having a meal booked for 2 of the days when I got badly lost and was unable to get help, I did receive help from the next day
An excellent holiday - well organised and very helpful staff -Andrew Palmer was great. The hotels were excellent - clean and mostly modern with really positive staff.Thank you
I really appreciated the lovely accommodation and that all the arrangements worked like clockwork to make it a relaxing holiday, especially as a single parent travelling with 3 children
This was our first holiday and experience with Headwater and we hope it will not be our last. From my initial query, Jo Chaplin provided us with an excellent service in helping us book our holiday. She was very attentive to our needs and returned my calls/emails promptly and when promised, displaying an excellent customer focussed service. Getting connecting flights from Belfast via London Heathrow to Zurich proved difficult but Jo simply booked us on direct flights from Dublin to Zurich using Swiss Air, resulting in a good financial saving. We booked in May 2023 and travelled in July 2023 and Jo kept us informed every step of the way, sending us train tickets and information guides (including detailed route walks and maps) well in advance, so we could read and ask any further questions before travelling. The Hotel Alfa Soleil exceeded our expectations and is in an ideal location on the edge of Kandersteg. Everything about the hotel was perfect and we would not look to stay in another hotel if we returned to Kandersteg. Being met on the train platform by Adriano from the hotel was a great start to our holiday! Our only 'complaint' is that 5 days is not enough time to fully explore the Kandersteg area, so we look forward to booking a return visit!
Had a wonderful time although it would be useful for HW include market days + opening times of places to visit along the way to help choose departure date. We missed all markets and a lot of places of interest are closed Monday or Tuesdays which coincided with our journeys. There are quite a few sections of cycling with industrial backgrounds in view but the scenery other than this was excellent in places. Bikes are great, (not electric) lovely and comfortable, cycling app is a must ....... so much easier than stopping to read route notes. Food was good on the whole. Villa Lussana in Teolo was a disappointing breakfast, tinned fruit salad and fruit straight from a very, very cold fridge, they appear to be concentrating on their restaurant next door. However, the larger of the Pizzeria's behind the village provides excellent food and you need to book or be prepared to wait .... best pizza's for 40 years mmm! Pretty good value too. Be sure to set off early to visit Vincenza, it's a beautiful place and takes around an hour to cycle to using the app. Lots of places closed in Padua on Monday's but an interesting place although not as beautiful as Vincenza **travel by train for this one. Agrutorismo L'Abara is unique with a fantastic humorous host (Frediricco) who will ensure you mingle with other guests at meal times. We met and enjoyed 2 evenings with 2 different Belgian couples who both spoke excellent English. Interesting to fine our countries have much in common.
You are helpful without being in any way intrusive. Excellent customer service. I travel with confidence
We thoroughly enjoyed out holiday with Headwater. The location and hotel were perfect for an alpine walking holiday. The hotel was friendly and the food good. We loved the walks and thought the programme of walks suggested was just right. We adjusted the order slightly to allow for two days of low cloud and a sore foot. The transport arrangements worked well. We both came back relaxed, refreshed and much fitter than we went out.
Accomadation and food very good . Hotel staff very helpful. Headwater staff very helpful organising the holiday
Walks excellent as previously. Hotel significantly disappointing.
A lovely week exploring the Cotswolds with some unique accommodation experiences
We thorough enjoyed our two Danube trips with Headwater & all the arrangements were 1st class . The bikes and route Apps were good as were the transfer arrangements. We would certainly recommend both Passau to Vienna (265103) & Vienna to Budapest (264840) . It was good to have extra days in the 3 cities & request hotels of our choice where we had extra nights .
Fantastic. I have been singing your praises to all my family and friends. Any foreign holiday we go on from now on I'm sure will be with Headwater. The staff have been amazing throughout. It's not been easy for your staff as this holiday had to be rearranged so many times due to covid restrictions but we got there and it's the best holiday we've ever had. Thank you Headwater.
We had a very wonderful holiday thank you
The process was relaxed and informed making it easy to choose our walking holiday with confidence. The local agents in Pembrokeshire were also excellent and couldn't have done more to make us feel welcome.
This was an outstanding holiday in every respect. The Euganean hills are a lovely place to walk and virtually undiscovered by tourists from outside Italy itself: you feel like you are in the real Italy, while still enjoying the stunning views, food, and culture you would get in more popular parts. The weather got pretty hot making some walks more challenging, but generally there was enough shade so it didn't feel unsafe. The accommodation was nicely varied and excellent throughout. We especially loved the pool at the Hotel Sporting and the food at Villa del Poeta. We had a great day out in Padua by bus from Teolo - highly recommended. And we had a perfect city break in Venice at the end. What more could you want! Headwater team was excellent throughout, with George and Carmen on the end of the phone if needed. One suggestion for future guests is to make sure you bring enough food and water with you every day, as (despite what the trip notes say) we found shops and restaurants were closed or non-existent most of the time. On day 1, there was no packed lunch available from Il Feudo, and we had to make do with some stuff from the breakfast table. It's a good idea to bring plenty of snacks (perhaps from the airport) and you really need to carry 2L water per person per day in the summer.
Overall very good, we have used your company many times over the years and have always enjoyed our holidays . This trip was slightly let down by our stay in Riquewihr as the restaurant was terrible and really left us with negative view of that part of the trip . Fortunately we have never experienced this on any of your previous trips and I suspect might be due to the subcontractor.
The locations and walking are lovely. Generally accommodation very good. All staff friendly. Thank-you to headwaters staff
Based at a comfortable family-run hotel with particularly good food in a quiet location within a pretty (but not overwhelmingly busy) village, we enjoyed some spectacular walks, plentiful alpine flowers and attendant butterflies, and even the opportunity for a lake swim with an amazing view at Oeschinensee.
We had an excellent self guided walking holiday to Switzerland. We had a good Hotel which was convenient for the Railway and Bus travel. The information we received was great but anything we didn't know we found out at the tourist information which was located in the train station. The food was really good with plenty of options. The Hotel staff were also very kind and extremely helpful. Overall it was a really enjoyable holiday and we are looking to travel again in the not too distant future.
Our experience with Headwater was fantastic, everything was very well organised and we couldn’t fault the hotel or location. We had a fantastic time and that’s all we could ask for.
Relaxed single centre walking holiday. The selection of walks provided were useful in a week with quite unstable weather. The transport links from Dobbiaco made travelling to walks no problem. It made a change from the place to place walks that we have done in recent years. Overall a great taster for the high Dolomites.
A great trip - superb hotel with excellent staff. Super location with challenging but achievable walks. Would be more than happy to return.
As novices to walking holidays, we had an enjoyable trip to Malta and Gozo, however due to the exceptional heat it was quite challenging! Some of the walks have a 30-60 minute bus ride before the start, so cannot be started really early (we weren't prepared to forgo a reasonable lie-in and enjoy the hotel breakfasts!), but over the course of the week we did learn how to make the most out of the buses to shorten or amend our route plans and still see much of both islands! We enjoyed the many swimming opportunities and the peaceful walks that were a nice balance to the bustle of Valetta and Victoria and the main towns.
The holiday was very enjoyable and everything went smoothly, (thanks) some of the route directions provided were a bit vague in places and we'd have preferred to have had a proper map to refer to from time to time. Overall it was a great holiday and we'll need to start planning the next adventure as soon as possible.
Hotels were very good choices. Bikes were good quality and comfortable. Daily distances provided a good level of exercise but within our ability and time to enjoy places and stops en route. Guide material very good.
I traveled with my 20 year old son during his University break. The Headwater cycle component of our 4 week trip is indeed the highlight! It is time together that we will both always remember….. it was really special. Thank you Headwater!
A variety of walking from disused railway trackbeds to hill and forest. 95% of the route was on fenced pathway so little concern about encounters with cattle or horses, which I know some would worry about. Accommodation was first class.
A holiday that involves fairly effortless paddling along a beautiful stretch of fairly undeveloped river is great! The lazy stoppages along the route were exceptional although these need to be planned in advance. All the hotels gave us a very very friendly welcome and all the food was of a very high standard.
We thoroughly enjoyed our cycle tour of Veneto which was an area previously unknown to us. It is unspoilt, easy cycling, with enough points of interest on the way to give you a break from the bikes. We found it amazing value and made us want to go back to explore more of northern Italy. The Headwater app worked great and there was plenty of information in the tour notes which encouraged us to take a train to Padova and to cycle on our 'rest' day to Vicenza, both of which were fascinating places. The bikes were excellent and we had a really good briefing from the local agent. Th only slight gripe was the first and last stop, Il Feudo, where we left our car, which was in a delightful spot but a bit too basic for us - we felt we needed aircon in the bedrooms (temperature was into the high 30's at end June) and a decent shower. Also be warned: take plenty of mosquito repellent!
Highly recommended walking holiday to Split and Dalmatian Islands. We chose to do some of the shorter walks suggested to keep near the sea as it was very hot, so every walk also included a swim. Great accommodation with v friendly hosts.
The standard tour was excellent but the 'tailor-made' part did not go well.
An amazing walking holiday in stunning Kandersteg. The walking was jaw-dropping, the hotel warm, friendly, efficient and Nico’s restaurant served a wonderful 3 course dinner. Everything was of a high standard yet also personal. Saunas great too. Thank you so much.
The cycle route from Bolzano to riva del garda was outstanding.
Lovely holiday, well organised and supported throughout. Excellent itinerary with some lovely scenery and interesting stops.
It was a good walking holiday, with 5 out of the 6 walking days having good or excellent weather. The hotel was quiet and in a quiet, peaceful village. Kandersteg is much quieter and smaller than Grindelwald or Zermatt for example. Most of the walks are accessed by gondola, cable-car or bus for which you are given a ticket. There are two walks that you can do straight from the hotel. There are a mixture of moderate and harder walks and there are more walking routes than there are days available to do them, so you have a choice. The higher altitude walks gave the best mountain scenery, but it’s only worth doing them in good weather. One could see snow-covered mountains from outside the hotel, but not every day owing to cloud. The hotel food was very good. Headwater provide the route notes and it is better to print them out before leaving home.
Be aware there is not a lot of shade and no access to water. Coastal walks can be too hot in the summer months. We went at the end of June and it was very hot there were signs on some routes warning people it was too hot to walk. . Using the gps app provided is an absolute must , if using paper instructions we'd have got lost.
The train journeys were really picturesque and added to the holiday experience.. Our local guide was excellent and punctual.
Fantastic holiday! Challenging walks with unbelievable scenery. Park Hotel Bellevue was the perfect place to rest (fab spa) and re-fuel after a day's walking. The hotel staff, the food, the rooms, the spa and special mention for Fabio, our favourite barman, made our holiday very special. We hope to be back!
We have now experienced Headwater on a number of occasions. We had a wonderful weeks stay at Hotel Ciasa Salares. The staff in every department couldn't be more helpful. Restaurant food from breakfast to dinner was of a very high quality and variety. Our room was spotless, however the shower was teeny tiny so it was just as well we are slim people. That said, it was still difficult to wash ourselves without hitting the wall, screen or temperature control. We had no air conditioning which would be a must during the summer months. The Headwater app was amazing and we never found ourselves lost. The Dolomites were outstanding in their scenery and we are keen to go back for winter snow. Would thoroughly recommend.
One thing to mention was the transfer cost from airport to resort which was extremely expensive. As we were extending our holiday, we hired a car for 10 days which was considerably cheaper than the taxi fare from airport to hotel.
Excellent hotel - location, facilities, staff and food.
Navigation app was outstandingly good, informative and with a few very minor exceptions accurate and easy to use. Made our walks highly enjoyable and stress free.
Austria's Lake District is a fabulous area to visit and explore. Wonderful breathtaking scenery, plenty of attractions to choose from, great food & drink and friendly locals.
Very positive. The Puglia itinerary was excellent. The scenery was very varied: inland (vineyards, olive groves), beaches on the coast and cliffs on the coast. We visited some lovely towns / villages in Puglia and had the time to see them each day. Most of the roads were not too busy. The navigation app was superb at directing us.
Excellent cycling holiday in incredibly beautiful surroundings
We had a fantastic holiday. the route is varied and we visited some lovely and unique locations. The optional day to Arnoldstein is a must as it is beautiful at the top of the chairlift and well worth the effort. The optional cycle to the nature reserve in Grado was also a great day. We tagged a walking holiday on at the start and that worked really well. An amazing adventure with lots of great things to see and do along the way.
It was a fantastic holiday for me & my wife. Everything was just perfect. We really enjoyed ourseve very much. I really recomended this hotel (Alfa Soleil) for foodies.
We had an excellent trip that met our needs to explore baroque architecture and the Sicilian coastlines. The initial organisation by Lauren and Stephanie was excellent and flexible in terms of us adding days. The transfers and bags movement were very good. The hotels were of good/excellent quality with the Baglio country house our favourite for location/style and food. The routes were good but not as interesting as our trips in Spain and Portugal and included many busy roads near the coast. We felt we had a real flavour of the country in terms of the people/food/scenery and architecture.
Great walking location and a lovely hotel made for a fantastic holiday - all the better as the weather was sunny.
Helpful and efficient for independent travel. Very Good routes and accommodation
Overall the holiday was very enjoyable and the accommodation excellent (helped by a complimentary upgrade at Madeira Park!) The breakfast situation needs a bit more thought. At Shades of Jade, the breakfasts were excellent, but not so in he two other resorts. At Madeira Park we had no cereals, but did have a litre of milk, which went mainly unused. At Desolation Sound, we had neither bread nor cereals (we had to go and buy bread ourselves). Fruit and juices were plentiful at all three locations.
A great holiday in a wonderful location. Excellent variety of walks, accurately described in the route notes. Having all meals including picnic lunches, provided by the hotel was ideal for us. The food was excellent.
A very high quality experience, from the excellent responses of Katie in the office to the first class transfer and hotel to the proposed Dolomites walks through high altitude flower meadows and scenery.
The wide variety of walks allowed us to choose according to conditions. The free access to bus train and chairlift made it all very simple. The Belvedere was exceptional with very interesting meals. There was direct access to a very large swimming area with a variety of temperatures, water jets and saunas.
We had a great holiday in Slovenia. The area was stunning and the local bus made getting around easy. The hotel was comfortable. The staff were excellent, and the food was good and very plentiful- we’d challenge anyone to try and eat three courses there! The range of walks available was varied and this was really helpful as on really hot days it was good to try and stick to more shaded walks. It was good to be able to choose which walk we wanted to do on each day. We felt that the instructions for some of the walks could have been improved and moving to an app would make more sense. Keeping the time spent planning is an important part of the holiday for us and sometimes it was challenging to juggle the map, grid references and instructions. If this had been made more simple it would have made our holiday an excellent one rather than a good one.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback it is invaluable to us, I have fed this back to our product team. Regards Katie
Lovely holiday; fantastic way to see France.
The most beautiful region with various terrain, however quite a few major roads to cycle on .The highlight of the holiday was the Reinhardt hotel ,staff ,food and amenities were all excellent.
The holiday was a joy and delight, the hotels were excellent, the scenery was stunning and the flowers were fantastic.
Overall a really enjoyable holiday although some of the accommodation experience could have been better given the price paid for the holiday. The experience at Villa Lussana was extremely poor due to the attitude of the management. While the management at Il Fuedo were very nice, the quality of the accommodation was quite poor (felt like 2 stars when were expecting 3/4 star level). Consideration should have been given to location on a Sunday. We had no real options to easily do day trips from Teolo without a major cycle again given no public transport available on a Sunday.
Great holiday, easy cycling although it was very hot later in the day. Enjoyed exploring the area and managed to communicate with limited German. Cycle paths are mostly off road and when on the road, drivers are very aware of cyclists and pedestrians.
Walks were cleverly graded , becoming more difficult by the day so that we were able to build our fitness. Staggeringly beautiful scenery.
Ideal for independent walking (and cycling). Beautiful, peaceful and friendly country very much suited to a slow pace of life.
Incredibly well organised break. App was great and easy to use. Gorgeous food and beautiful hotels in stunning locations. Some of the walks were more challenging than suggested, particularly when walking uphill in the heat, to reach a final hilltop destination. There was mention of “trattoria” along the way, but these were often not named or noted on the map. The last day there were no toilets, bars or restaurants along the route, which wasn’t indicated on the app. Being more specific would be extremely helpful. Highly recommend the holiday. We had such a great time and would definitely do this again.
Headwater proved to be a reliable company, courteous and helpful when booking and during the trip. George and Carmen were supportive representatives. Accommodation and hosts were mostly very good in particular Gabriella (Il Feudo) and Julia ( Borgo Petrarca ) Walks were sometimes challenging in parts .We had to negotiate difficult, steep and rocky sections. The Navigation App guiding us was good. One final stretch was on the road and tedious, however the Spa we arrived at more than compensated! Plenty of sightseeing on days off, using taxi or cheap local transport. Giottio Frescoes in Padua were wonderful and we managed to buy tickets on the day.Good cheap wine, lovely meals and lovely people.Managed a trip to Venice on last day as we had a late flight home. Overall, Fabulous experience, loved every step and will do more with Headwater.
Very good, as before.
It was a lovely holiday but the maps were not topographical so at times there were of nouse. We used the app on the phone all the time because if we had to make a decision about which path to take it showed us if we had made the right decision.
An outstanding hotel in a great setting, with easy access to the mountains and the Stubai Valley
Excellent locations some hills which are quite hard due to the weight of the bikes
A well judged trip with easy cycling and great places to visit
We rate Headwater and all its staff very highly. The sales team, mainly Andrew Palmer, were helpful from start to finish, always sorted out any problems or queries efficiently. We had to rebook flights after our airline cancelled but this was sorted out by Sara at Headwater UK very quickly. The local Headwater staff were similarly helpful when we wanted to make changes to our itinerary, this was sorted out with minimal hassle. In short, we have had an excellent experience with HW and we ended up having an absolutely brilliant holiday, just what we had hoped for.
The holiday and venue were super. Walking super and hotel facilities excellent. Although we had forgotten how expensive it is in Switzerland!!!
The Headwater name was clearly useful at both hotels - I felt we were looked after better because of it. The local transport provision with Savvas was brilliant, he is a key part of teh holiday, and definitely earnt his tip! The agent was irrelevant to our booking, but maybe with bigger parties there would be some benefit. We had a wonderful experience during (to us) a very hot week. (Savvas and the locals thought it was mild). the walks were progressively more amazing; the inland walks to start with are a great introduction and aclimatiser, with the peninsula walks being stunning with the forests and coastal views. A head for heights is useful on the way down from Moutti tis Sortiras! Amazing views!
Beautiful destination, family ran hotel made us feel very welcome and they were very helpful.
A very enjoyable short break cycling in France in a region easily accessible by train from Paris. The routes were rather hillier than we were expecting from the description but easily managed given the relatively short distances and afforded some fine views, especially on the final day. Auxerre and Chablis are both lovely and there was plenty of time to explore them both. They both have some excellent restaurants but these get booked up especially at weekends so you would do well to book for any that you fancy trying in advance of this trip.
An excellent holiday through lovely scenery. The cycling could be as energetic as you wanted and the contrast between the easy canal towpath /voie vert and the few ascents and descents on roads was about right: the roads are nothing like as busy in France! Great food and wine.
This trip provides a lovely coastal experience of Istria. The hotels are all in good locations giving access to the local towns, beaches and restaurants. The cycling is reasonably easy but with a few (manageable) climbs that take a little more energy.
One amazing trip, with varied on/off road terrain and stunning views. A mix of off road trails and tracks, quiet tarmac roads, pine and eucalyptus forest trails, coastal paths, and a good level of climbs and descent plus a few really nice flowing downhills. The area is truly stunning throughout, and the beaches are incredibly beautiful and unspoilt. Our memories of this trip will stay with us forever. The mileages and level are different to what was published when we booked, being higher in reality, but suited us well as we wanted a bit more than the original outline offered.
Overall an excellent holiday. The hotel was in a beautiful location with easy access to facilities in the town. Good routes and great e-bikes which were essential for this region in our opinion. The hotel staff were very friendly and quintessentially italian ! They did all they could to accommodate one of our party who does not eat meat.
Excellent, although some of the cycling was tougher than expected. Would get an Ebike next time!
We had a perfect week, completed beautiful walks and enjoyed the whole experience.
Kandersteg is a picture postcard Swiss village, with an alpine panorama from the moment you leave the train. Our hotel was easily accessible, comfortable and provided a warm welcome; the suggested itineraries took us to some fabulous mountain valleys, upland meadows and rivers.
The local agent, Emmanuel, was excellent and also a careful driver. The hotels were generally good, but the first hotel we stayed in ("Port Toga", not "le Bastia") was very good. The level of facilities in the rooms of the hotels was different which is to be expected from 3* hotels. All had AC's that worked, which was good given the temperatures we experienced. The pools at "Belle Vue" and "Le Revellata" were very good; we did not try the one at the Port Toga, and "A Storia" didn't have one.
The app for these walks is a must have. It shows precisely where one is relative to the paths available. The route maps are OK but not clear enough, and the descriptive could be better. The walks were generally quite spectacular, but on unmade and rugged ground, so care is needed along with proper walking shoes. Shame about missing the boat trip to the Loku beach but a storm was forecast.
The holiday was generally very enjoyable despite the heat, and a blister or two. Mr. Norbury - June 2023
Croatia is a beautiful country. We had great walks, lovely scenery and good hotels. At the briefing we felt a bit overwhelmed with the amount of info re transfers, taxis and ferries but all worked well and all the tickets , bookings etc are well presented in a folder so we didn't loose anything! Day 3 - St Antonie - route on Jelsa - the bus drops you just outside of town rather than in the town centre so keep an eye out and check with the driver if you're at Jesla - we missed the stop but the driver very kindly took us back! Walking to the Tor at the beginning of the walk is more like a 3 booter and involves quiet a bit of scrambling. Once at the top though the rest of the walk is easier. We shared a cab back to Hvar with other walkers on the trip later in the day so as not to have to clock watch/ rush for the last bus back in the early afternoon. Overall a fab trip with varied and interesting walks.
Fantastic and iconic hiking country, with more ups and downs than a roller coasters, and flora and fauna to shout about. Even the storms are dramatic!
Hotel is friendly, comfortable and basic. You won't spend much time there, but when you do (and are not sleeping) you are enjoying gourmet food, chatting with friendly owners and staff in the bar, or just soaking in the scenery on the terrace.
A wonderful trip in a wonderful country. I would suggest providing gpx files is a must have for this trip (and instructions for new users on how to use gpx files - ie download the free GAIA app)
Lake Bohinj is an excellent base from which to explore the region. Quieter and less developed than Lake Bled, it is very unspoilt and yet provides easy access to Lake Bled and the capital. One point to near in mind is that Hotel Tripic is a bus ride from the lake, so you can spend a reasonable amount of time on/waiting for buses. the other hotel (Jezera) is right by the lake and so more convenient.
We had a lovely time walking the Camino - very helpful staff and everything went as it should have done. Helpful walking notes.
An incredible experience in Bavaria. Amazing combination of lakes, mountains and forest scenery. Lots of forest paths at first, but sensational views in later days. There are some tough stretches where you climb or descend steeply over long periods of time, on proper paths but nevertheless it requires stamina and walking poles are handy. The app for guidance was useful but needs a few tweaks and we'd have preferred an old-fashioned map as well. All hotels met or exceeded expectations, friendly welcome and great breakfasts, although it helps if you speak some German. Public transport is part of the itinerary, it's easy and the hotels provide travel cards for free bus travel across the area. The local partner was very efficient with luggage behind the scenes. The booking process was frustrating - sloppy admin, complicated by IT system requiring separate bookings and paperwork for our two rooms. Plus we missed out on cheap flights because it took 3 weeks to confirm our reservation.
The whole experience was excellent, from dealing with the travel agent to the brilliant staff at the hotels. The route was very good and the app provided all the information I required. The highlight of the holiday was definitely the tasting menu on the last night.
A wonderful way to see the true Italy. You are independently exploring, with the freedom to roam but have the “safety net” of the company if needed. Giving you a sense of security and peace of mind.
The extension in Venice was somewhat spoiled by the cancellation of the return flight and the lack of help available. I related the events of the day in an email to Joanne the day after our return. Easyjet were no help whatsoever and we felt let down by Headwater, especially when we eventually got a call back from the Emergency Cover staff and the person said she had no record of what we had said in our earlier calls. From then on, we were on our own. A later email said H/W was exceptionally busy and calls were dealt with 'on a priority basis'. If two 76-year-olds stuck in Venice without help on their 7th H/W holiday isn't a priority, then I don't know what is! Fortunately, Paula (and maybe others) helped us to get our extra expenses refunded which we are very grateful for and has somewhat redeemed the situation: otherwise, this would have been our 7th and last H/W trip.
Excellent itinerary, bicycles and hotels. Cycling a pleasure largely using dedicated cycle tracks with very little in the way of inclines. Cycling one day then having a day off to explore each location was well worth considering as there is a lot to see 'en-route'.
We loved this holiday - great app - well researched walking trails and good small family run accommodation - we will definitely do another Headwater self-guided walk
Cycling the Loire Valley with Headwater Holidays was a great experience. The maps and instructions provided were first class and we were able to cycle mostly on dedicated cycle paths. The itinerary was well thought out and we were able to stop and visit other villages/towns along the way if we wanted to. We were also able to arrive in the next town early/later afternoon - just in time for an ice cream and check-in at the next hotel. The bikes were quite heavy but easy to ride. The gears made the few hilly areas a bit easier but we did have to walk up one or two steeper hills. The bike panniers were very useful and meant that we did not need to carry a rucksack. The hotels were lovely; each one very different to the next. The only problem was that one hotel had no air conditioning and it was very hot during our holiday. A fan was provided but it was no substitute for real air conditioning. Overall, we really enjoyed our trip along the Loire Valley.
Excellent bikes and apps in beautiful countryside . Not much information on where stop meals etc which weren’t provided .but hotels very welcoming and accommodating.
Booking with Headwater is always a positive experience and the holidays are of the highest standard.
This is a wonderful holiday but it is much more than grade 2. May of the hills are long and some are very steep (14% gradient). Only extremely fit cyclists should even consider using a road bicycle. Some of the tracks are rough and our UK bikes would have shredded tyres, and inadequate grip. After rain, these tracks can be quite muddy.
The catering is outstanding, especially at Villa d’Amelia, where the gastronomic menu is worthy of at least one (and probably two) Michelin stars.
There is sufficient daily exercise to justify the calorie intake
Excellent itinerary and hotels,cycling a great way to see the countryside .Lake Bled a great place to start,the museum in Udine and the Roman site at Aquilea were highlights.The Headwater app gave incorrect instructions at some turnings(at times where the correct and opposite direction was visible on a distant signpost)and the paper map backup was helpful.All the hotel reception staff were friendly and helpful.The bikes(one e-bike,one normal)were excellent.
Very helpful office staff. Communication sometimes a little slow. Walk maps for Kandersteg need updating. Walks were utterly superb, flowers and scenery amazing. Great too to see how little Kandersteg had changed since 1980s. Lovely too to see how the Swiss gov's support for farmers means systems here are extensive and the result wonderful flowers and Wildlife alongside dairy and meat production. As we farm we were jealous!
Hotel is excellent. Friendly service and good food. Picnic lunch much appreciated.
An excellent first start to walking holidays. The mobile OS map app was extremely valuable, gave peace of mind, and minimised getting lost.
Fantastic holiday, cycling was just the right level of challenge. Some busy roads / hills/ rough terrain meant I would not want to have been a complete beginner but having some cycling experience I found the level perfect. . Hotels were all fantastic except for error at hotel Sa Punta not serving anything (food or a coffee) at the end of our first day of cycling. Alternative restaurant sorted by hotel and prompt generous refund from Headwater but really first night was not a four star experience (second night at same hotel was excellent) . We would quite liked to have small spanner so we could alter seat height ourselves (called rep out twice which was not a problem but could have been avoided) Fantastic route, very varied, lovely mix of coastal scenery and inland villages. Some very remote villages which were lovely to visit away from other tourists. I would highly recommend this holiday as a perfect mix of rest / relaxation / cycling
Very good communication with the agent allowed us to make good choices, and quickly. The information provided is very good, though oin this particular trip the it turned out to be more difficult that we had anticipated. That said, the hotels selected an the route plotted were excellent.
We had a fabulous time cycling in Catalonia. Cycling was not too challenging and mostly on tracks and cycle paths. There were a few short sections on bigger roads but the drivers were courteous and allowed us plenty of room. All destinations were interesting and hotels of a high standard, all serving delicious breakfasts. We cycled past stunning coastline, acres of apple orchards, rice fields full of egrets and through historic, almost deserted, villages. Highlights were evenings in picturesque Calella de Palafrugell, everything about the city of Girona and the fabulous 40+ kilometres down hill from Girona to the coast on the Via Verde. Mark and Shelley were friendly, efficient and gave us lots of local insider information on our drive from the station to Calella.
We had an excellent holiday. Staying 2 nights in each hotel gave us the opportunity to explore more of the local area. The cycle paths were clearly signposted and the routes were easy to follow. Most of the cycling was on dedicated cycle paths, so there was minimum cycling on roads, therefore avoiding traffic.
Cycling holiday with Headwater was excellent and I would recommend this trip. We enjoyed the change of scenery from the inland routes of the first two days to the beautiful coastal routes of days 3, 4 and 5 - we spent two afternoons on the beaches which were outstanding. The trip have everything you need. The hotel in Gallipoli was only average but the remainder were very good. The family run hotel in Avetrana with a swimming pool was very special - staff amazing. We also loved the Hotel in Otranto where the staff were again great, the room was lovely and breakfast amazing with lots of choice. Overall the cycling was pleasant, not too challenging and a great way to see Italy. We will look to do similar holidays with Headwater and have recommended this to friends.
Excellent journey along stunning landscapes. Day five coastal path road more challenging but stunning scenery. Bikes good, friendly people. Enjoyed and made the most of our free day in Pula. We thought it was a well planned and well thought out journey.
Easy flat Cycling. Not difficult to follow route. Very good cycling trails. Hotels good with 2 exceptions (Grein & Vienna). Bit boring on last two days so could have happily ended at Krems. Very poor local agents RadReiserFuhrer. But on the whole we enjoyed our holiday.
Fabulous - thoroughly enjoyed all parts of the trip
Good variety of walks of differing difficulty with extremely detailed route instructions. Made extensive use of the bus and train system, which was included and also used a number of gondolas and chairlifts to access higher plateaus. The mountain backdrops are spectacular. In early June the area is pleasantly quiet.
A tranquil break on a beautiful island, with good walking and a brilliant hotel. A really fabulous break. Adding 3 days on the back to see Valetta was a great idea.
Easy walking holiday. Navigating some of the routes was a bit tricky and full use had to be made of the digital maps supplied. The hotels were very good and fairly close to restaurants for an evening meal. English to a certain extent was spoken by hotel staff. If you want to go to the visitor centre at the American Military Cemetary be aware that they won't let you in if you have a knife. I had a small Swiss Army Knife in my rucksack whiich was measured and declared to be too big. Couldn't leave it at reception so couldn't enter. Also having taken a taxi (20 euros) to Omaha I intended to have lunch in one of the 2 nearby restaurants but both were closed. Walked back to Port en Bessin on an empty stomach. Overall a very enjoyable holiday.
Superb trip on a truly wonderful river and location. Well worth the money.
This is a self guided cycling trip in Northern Portugal. Bikes are provided and are good quality, although mountain bike tyres would have been a better offer as some of the off road routes are quite rocky. The hotels were of a good standard, The six days offered varied cycling largely off road. The first three days offered some lovely riverside routes; the coastal sections were less attractive and on the final day involved close up acquaintance with an oil refinery. Headwater offer a dedicated App for navigation which I chose not to use, as it would have drained my phone battery. Those with a Garmin will find that a better option.
Excellent routes through flatter parts of Tuscany giving varied interest through all the rides. Occasional (unavoidable) stretches on busy roads but most roads pleasantly quiet. Good friendly hotels for the necessary post-ride recovery. Although the strada bianchi only makes up 12% of the distance, it feels like more!
We had an excellent overall experience
An excellent but not demanding bike ride with the three great cities on the way.
This section of the Danube is not particularly scenic but the holiday description makes it seem better than it actually was. A lot of the cycling is away from the river and has trees either side for many kilometres so no views to admire; this made some sections of the ride repetitive. It would have been good to know about the path running out and the need to push up a grass bank ?yes we were on the correct route! Also, we, and our fellow travelers did not know about and were surprised by the 6km stretch of gravel going to Estergom.
A good trip ending up at some nice towns and cities for our evening stops. Our group felt that the scenery wasn’t quite what we expected - fairly uninteresting cycle tracks with very few places (villages, etc) to stop en route for coffee/lunch. Extremely disappointed that we were booked into different hotels in 2 overnight stops from the rest of our group. Bikes were fine, gears etc good, although why there are no water bottle holders is a mystery. Generally very safe routes apart from the last day when we on a busy road for 5 or so miles. Joanne was a good representative that answered queries quickly.
Overall an enjoyable holiday. The bikes were heavier than expected, but sturdy. Some of the legs were monotonous and more busy roads than would have liked, particularly in heavy rain. The one day our luggage arrived later, but before 6pm, we were all very wet and couldn’t access our rooms straight away. We felt there should have been clearer directions to the hotels. Some were not easy to find. It was made more difficult being the end of a hot or wet cycle. The routes ended abruptly in a town and the physical maps were not detailed enough to establish where we were.
The Bolzano to Venice cycle route was outstanding and made the most of the excellent cycling infrastructure in this part of Italy. Much of the ride was on hard, smooth surfaces on the banks of rivers or canals - safe, serene and scenic cycling. Where roads were needed (the incredibly beautiful descent from the Dolomites to Lake Garda), we were given plenty of warning of the high risk points. The recommended 'Ride with GPS" APP was outstanding - good mapping and very helpful voice messaging. Our ebikes were really good - comfortable, stable, excellent battery range & easy to charge (another pannier please!).
The historical cities on this beautiful route are truly wonderful and viewing them from bike and/or foot was a privilege.
We regretted opting against hotel upgrades as some of ours were distinctly average (small rooms, far from town centre) and not sure we got VFM.
Headwater staff helping us to organise our holiday were excellent - supportive, prompt and highly effective.
A very enjoyable and scenic tour of this area of Northern Italy. We travelled in early June and wherever we were, the wonderful aroma of Jasmine and the flowers of the Linden (Lime) trees filled the air. The bikes were solid, well maintained and comfortable and the cycling routes were excellent, mostly off-road and flat and the quality of the roads for most of the trip was very good (no pot-hole dodging required)! There was so much to see at the end of each cycling day in the historic towns and the hotel accommodation was, on the whole, very good. Most hotels were spotlessly clean, with comfortable super-king size beds. The breakfast at all the hotels was plentiful and good. We took the upgrade option and some of the hotels were much plusher than we had envisioned which was a nice surprise. On the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable trip with some lovely cycling routes, great scenery and sights and lots of cafes (and delicious Gelato) en-route. I’d recommend this trip without hesitation.
Spectacular scenery but not a huge amount of variation in the walking for the first 3 days. Coastal path challenging at times..
Excellent coastal walking in a beautiful part of Pembrokeshire but still allowing some time for sightseeing
Nick, our guide, was excellent. His local knowledge meant that our walks were interesting and enjoyable. Some of the walks were steep but not of any great distance. If you are reasonably fit you will easily manage.The food at the finca was outstanding- local produce expertly cooked. Sue and Gordon were superb hosts-, they were efficient and organised-nothing was too much trouble. If you have not been on a Headwater holiday previously, the finca is a good place to start, you can't fail to enjoy yourself- highly recommended
Location of Finca rather remote but made up for by quality of accommodation, food and great staff. Having guide Nick enhanced the holiday due to his knowledge and wonderful manner. Please keep guided walks on your agenda as they make a good holiday great and encourage group bonding
The holiday struck the right balance for us, between support and organisation and independence. You always felt there was somebody who could advise you, and this took away any stress or worry. We felt in good hands. The choice of resort and accommodation exceeded our expectations.
This holiday was beautiful! It was so well organised. Island hopping is very different to the other Headwater holiday's we have done and be aware of the extra mileage of ferry hopping on top of the walks. The hotels were well placed and their hosts were amazing! Mljet was stunning and the walk to the top is so worth it!!! Hvar was beautiful but the Jelsa bus walk was very tight on time. Adding an extra day in Split was fantastic and he Croatian people were so friendly and kind. Overall we enjoyed every second and i would thoroughly recommend it!
The walks were challenging enough to get a sense of achievement without feeling overstretched. The GPS navigation made it almost impossible to go wrong and was a source of comfort, as was having Azra answering very quickly when I had to phone her with a question.
The accommodation and instructions were spot on, which led to me having a more relaxing week than when I have organised my own trips.
Self guided suited us as we’re used to ‘doing our own thing’ but this tour gave us our own space (with everyone having different walking paces) but provided the benefit of having other similarly minded people to share our trials and tribulations with at the end of each day - if you wanted to.
I would definitely recommend Headwater/Exodus to anybody wanting a self guided walking tour.
We had a wonderful time in the Dolomites, stunning scenery and interesting history on the walks. Amazing food in the refugios on the walks and in our hotel in Dobbiaco. As we went in early June, the weather wasn't as predictable and some walk options weren't fully operational,( which we had been told could be the case by Headwater) it was still worth going at this time as it was much quieter. On the some walks we only met a handful of people which was our preference. Also it was important to carefully read the bus timetables as some buses didn't run as frequently in early June ( marked by a 1 at the top of the column). The App was amazing and made it so easy to navigate and enjoy the walks. You can turn on different audio options, one will actually tell you to turn while another option beeps when a turn is coming up. The hotel was perfectly located near the train station which made it so easy to get the train. Some buses also went from there. Food and the service in the Park Hotel Bellvue were excellent, a real personal service with a drinks reception one evening to get to chat to the other headwater walkers. Organisation and communication from Megan at Headwater was excellent making is all very easy.
Great holiday overall - would definitely travel with Headwater again
The Channel Islands offer beautiful, scenic walks with opportunities to view wildlife.
We did this trip in reverse; Capri, Ischia & Procida. That fitted with other plans we had. Headwater were great at accommodating that change and updating a significant chunk of their documentation. Walking in Procida is a bit of a struggle given the nature of the island but the other islands made up for that. We especially enjoyed Ischia where the accommodation was fantastic and we used the buses (as we did in Capri) to visit some of the sights including a day at the Aphrodite Apollon Thermal Park which we would heartily recommend.
Walks were fabulous. Great accommodation. Food was excellent. We learnt a lot about the wine and food at Villa Amelia both of which were exceptional. Do do the walk to Serralunga it’s fabulous.
This was a magical ten days, walking in the wonderful Italian countryside with some amazing wild flowers in the hedgerows and some interesting small towns to visit on the way.
What a great holiday! Slovenia is a fantastic country. Very well set up for cyclists. Weather was variable- (we went in early June) be prepared for anything! Headwater organisation was great , as ever. Local rep was helpful and professional. Good bikes and equipment (we had eBikes). Used the App no problem. Well described holiday. Can thoroughly recommend. Nice to have the two nights most places- so we could explore around. Stress-free. It is hilly on some days, and was very hot when the sun came out, so was glad of the Ebikes.
Excellent holiday, additional few days in Venice very efficiently arranged by Headwater, app worked fine, bikes in good condition, well thought-out itinerary.
This tour around Puglia offers a varied insight into the region from the Trulli houses to resort hotels. Food and wine are consistently excellent and the hotel accommodation overall exceeded our expectations. The cycling, for the most part, is enjoyable. I would caveat that by saying some of the coastal roads are busy, even at the end of May/beginning of June and despite assurances from Antonio at the start of the tour that Italians treated cyclists with a degree of courtesy we found this to be generally not the case.
The itinerary was tougher than we expected for the moderate description so we will be more cautious in future. If using trains, we would recommend buying tickets on the day so you can catch the most suitable one as the ones suggested by the agent involved a lot of unnecessary waiting around and changes. However, the walking was through beautiful countryside and we visited some lovely towns and villages. A very enjoyable holiday.
So pleased we worked with Headwater. We used them to book our flights and rail tickets too. We found the maps and the GPS app on our phone useful too. it helped to read previous reviews and learn the we could turn our phones on to airplane mode and the app still worked. The towns, villages and coastline were magic. The local guide who met with us and ran us to one of the hotels was terrific and very knowledgeable. There was only one day we felt that the route overlapped with a but we had covered the previous day but only for about an hour. The suggestions for dining were good but the towns we stayed had loads of eating places so we didn't pre book any. Doing this walk the week leading up to the D Day anniversary was extra special as there were lots of events, people etc creating a very heart-warming atmosphere in the towns and at the two cemeteries. As well as enjoying the wonderful scenery we loved taking time to learn about the role Normandy played in history.
This holiday provides a great opportunity to see some of the main highlights of the Puglia region, visiting many sights of historical interest, a good standard of accommodation, nice manageable walks, and very efficient transportation (apart from some unpredictable Italian train services).
Wonderful cycling route along the Route des Vins d’Alsace- relaxing and stimulating scenic route with fascinating stops.
Enjoyed overall , most of the route was on main roads, many motorcycles , we expected more of a cycle route, my wife is ‘ gluten free’, she indicated this on the booking but the hotels weren’t aware of this., some of them could provide something but mostly not. The Astoria in Bastia is close to the station but access walking with luggage is difficult.
Beautiful trip to Croatia, very scenic and varied locations visited whilst cycling
lovely but not too challenging cycling, good accomodation, food everywhere outstanding. All in all a great week
Excellent service from your team in UK. Top quality bikes. Lovely hotels in Sardinia. Have told everyone on my return what a good holiday I had.
Our contact at Headwater, Andrew Palmer, was excellent throughout. Accommodation was great, maps and guidance were mostly accurate. Bikes described as lightweight were anything but. The title 'Cycle the Danube' is somewhat misleading, as for large sections of the route the river was not even visible. More on busy main roads than anticipated. Train, ferry and boat trip were enjoyable additions to the itinerary. Cycling was easy, lots of it on dykes which are part of the flood defences for the river. Some of the distances given in the Exodus brochure are way out. Bikes had 21 gears, you only need 2! All border crossings were open and unmanned. Overall an enjoyable trip, quite leisurely and interesting to see new places.
It is a lovely part of the world.
The hotels were fantastic in every respect. Really made the holiday.
The path of the Gods walk was a good challenge for us. The other walks could have been longer.
Spectacular views everywhere you look!
Our holiday got off to a poor start with and a minibus driver who wanted to drop us off in the wrong place ! But once we got to Brenner we enjoyed some great cycling on smooth , traffic free cycle paths. The changing scenery from the Dolomites through to the Venetian plains was stunning with many miles along the River Adige, past vineyards in the Soave region and finally along canals and past magnificent villas as we approached Venice. There were many castles and other places of interest to visit en route and whilst the excellent guide book gave good descriptions of these there was no guidance in the 'Ride with GPS app' as to how to find them. All the cities we stayed at would have been worth spending longer in , but the guide book gave good descriptions of the highlights and useful tips on where to eat. The cycling was well described to help choose hillier or flatter options, but the hilly route from Verona to Vincenza was challenging. Overall a great trip.
V well organised. Could provide a Sat navigation rather than using phone as Navigation device quickly uses battery on phone. First hotel booking in before 4pm would be helpful and hotel manageress and Victor in agreement on placement of bikes. Amazing views and off road routes made a super holiday.
An excellent holiday with pleasant walks and good food. Some knowledge of Spanish will help.
Very well organised and efficient service providing routes bikes and luggage transfer enabling us to enjoy a relaxed week of cycling and sightseeing with confidence. Route was well designed with minimal sections on roads and all roads used were quiet and felt very safe for cyclists. We loved the Roadbooks app which made it almost impossible to get lost.Plenty of options for sightseeing en route all well signposted via the app and instructions. Rando Velo also an excellent partner We thoroughly enjoyed the trip .
Well planned route & easy to follow. Occasional hills but nothing too strenuous. Mostly on cycle routes or very quiet roads so traffic never a problem. Worth booking ahead in Beaune & Cluny for meals out but plenty of options. All hotels were clean & comfortable. Sturdy bike. & reliable baggage transfer. Need to highlight that TGV station in Macon is not the one near your final Ibis hotel so will need to book a 20 min taxi ride
Cycling the Vineyards from Beaune to Macon. The idea of this holiday conjured up idyllic images in my mind beforehand and they were borne out by my experiences on this trip. The countryside, vineyards, villages, rolling hills and scenery and - perhaps most of all - the amazing quality of the off-road cycle paths all more than lived up to my expectations. Unfortunately, I missed the initial briefing due to a mysteriously cancelled SNCF train. However, Active Tours kindly arranged a briefing for me the next morning.
The paper route maps were a helpful adjunct to the GPS, but the place names and marker points on the open street map were sometimes difficult to reconcile. It would help if the points on the map could be numbered as per the associated schedule of directions. I was new to using an electric bike, but the one supplied was good quality and fully operational. I was pleased to find that, with reasonable use, there was no risk of the battery running out during a day's ride.
Great trip, interesting & sometimes challenging itinerary. Definitely make sure you include the optional extra from Haro. Wonderful hotels!
sublime, the locations, itinerary, food, service and ease of the whole holiday was excellent. We were very lucky with the weather too- the recommendations of where to stop for coffee/ lunch very wise and welcome. End of May is glorious- the honeysuckle, fields of wild flowers, swift and house martins everywhere and so many lovely spots to stop and rest/ picnic. The velo vert route was lovely when we were able to use that too
A lovely itinerary with something different every day. Good accommodation and food.
Bermuda is simply stunning. Fantastic coastlines & colours. Very friendly people. It was easy to get about via bus & ferry services, with not too challenging, scenic walking. The itinerary enables you to see most of the island in all it's glory.
The walking holiday in Puglia was exactly what we expected and hoped for. Using the GPS system we were able to walk at our own pace and enjoy the beautiful wild flowers, scenery and the varied walks that made up the tour.
Almost all of the accommodation was very good although our stay in Ostuni left a lot to be desired.
We were generally very happy with the organisation and planning that had gone into the visit.
Great overall experience. The bike rides were a good length but left plenty of time for other things and the countryside was beautiful. The terrain was a bit unpredictable with occasional steep and dangerous sections due to loose stones mud and sand. It was the first time we had use of a GPS for cycling and it was a bit unclear at first. Clearer written instructions would have been helpful on the first day out of Moncão. On the final day it was disconcerting to have to push our bikes through sand dunes that have overwhelmed the boardwalk.
A great way to try a not too strenuous (for the average fit person) self-guided cycle trip where navigation is mostly straightforward, with use of the fantastic local app. The combination of being in nature on the Danube, culture & history, cities and food is great.
This cycling trip in Puglia was wonderful. All accommodations and locations were excellent. This area of Italy was new to us and it didn’t disappoint. The range of areas and experiences was excellent from staying in Trulli to Masserias and quirky auberges. The support of the local agent was excellent and they were so supportive when one of our party had an injury. There was probably more road cycling than compared with other cycling trips we have done but mostly they were quiet. We would definitely recommend this as a trip and hope to visit other parts of Puglia.
My holiday to Finca el Cerrillo was one of the best. From the moment one arrives, the welcome, from Alison, David, Sue, Gordon and the whole team, the exquisite location, accommodation etc., mark it out as something very special and in my opinion, unique. It is remarkable what has been achieved by Sue and Gordon, the owners, over the years, both inside and out, the place filled with the most fascinating, eclectic collection of paintings, artefacts and memorabilia, a place full of love. No surprise then, that some return, time and time again. I so look forward to being back.
Good guided walking in a great location
This is a great holiday for people who have a good fitness level. The walks take longer than stated as the scenery is so magical
An enjoyable holiday with stunning scenery but the walks were somewhat more difficult than indicated due to the number and height of the steps involved. We particularly enjoyed the Tre Calle walk. Trying to use local buses was often impossible and we had to resort to taxis on a couple of occasions. The hotel was very good but is dominated by large groups if you are on a self guided holiday.
We visited Croatia May 20-28th 2023 and were very glad that we were not there in high season when apparently most of the islands we visited would be heaving with tourists. The weather was perfect and on many of our walks we met very few people, if any. Island hopping is an ideal way to enjoy the amazing scenery. One word of advice, make sure that you keep all your paperwork safe. It can be quite confusing at first to receive so many vouchers, which are essential for ferries and pickups. Having said that, everything worked seamlessly, apart from the time we nearly ended up in Dubrovnik, not realising we had docked in Mlijet! Take poles- nearly all walks are downhill on stony ground. I struggled a bit with the walk on Day 2 and opted to skip Day 3 walk due to the tight schedule. Otherwise all the walks were manageable and definitely worth it for the spectacular scenery. We found Croatia to be a little more expensive than anticipated. However, we would thoroughly recommend this holiday.
Fully up to expectations. our host provided us with an app called Ride with GPS for our phones. The routes were marked and easy to follow in real time except that we were caught out by a failing battery power.It might be good to remined future clients that it is worth having a reserve battery power pack to top up the phone if they want to use this facility. Howevere the written instructions you gave us were very good.
A full days journey to get there and return home which is tiring particularly as the service on arrival at Rome Airport was bad and rude.
Once at Chiancino it was a delight
We had a very pleasurable holiday in Catalunya. Fantastic scenery and very comfortable hotels. Efficient luggage transfer and very helpful contacts. The train travel to Flaca was quite tricky and confusing - it would have been better to have headed for Girona and it was much easier to return to the airport in Barcelona from there. The cycling routes and equipment and itinerary were terrific and the app was brilliant although the mobile phone holders didn't allow easy visual checking so we relied on audio.
At the Castell d'emporda hotel, although a beautiful location, there seemed to be a two-tier system of guest dining for the half-board option as the limited evening menu provided insufficient choice.
We appreciated staying for two nights in two hotels as it allowed us to take a rest day when it rained all day.
A beautiful walking holiday taking in castles, hilltop villages and dramatic coastal walks.
The holiday gave us a good variety of walks - coastal; river valley and moor. Richard was an excellent walk manager. He kept in touch and had excellent knowledge of the walking routes so he was able to ‘tip us off’ where there were anomalies with the instructions.
Post Covid has affected the availability of choices of places to eat in the more rural areas. Worth checking websites and up to date information.
A wonderful holiday full of places of interest
Our first time with Headwater and on E bikes, initially with trepidation, then after working out how to use the map app etc, we rarely got lost and really enjoyed the mix of exertion, scenery, culture, food and wine!
The start was a bit rocky with no personal welcome from Fun Active and we thought the initial bikes offered were poor but we did get them changed to better KTM bikes as offered in the Headwater brochure. Other than this we really enjoyed our trip which was essentially a great route.
We enjoyed the holiday overall. The itinerary was great, the ebikes were excellent as was the navigation app, the accommodation was varied and interesting. We had administrative problems during the booking process and our bikes were collected a day earlier than they should have been.....but despite these annoyances, we enjoyed the holiday .
Organised. Stress free. Challenging but very rewarding
Fantastic cycling trip. The route was amazing with spectacular scenery and brilliant cycle paths. The accommodation was all good and always well placed.
Fabulous. Well organised and excellent detailed routes.
Enjoyable, but see below.
Walking in very attractive wooded/hilly countryside, on a mixture of tracks and minor roads. May was a good choice - not too hot, but mainly sunny - although this meant some potential restaurant stops were closed. Estimate that about 5% of the itinerary is Level 2, with some scrambling required. Used the Navigation App, but glad that we had printed notes as backup when the satellite signal seemed to drop off. Second half of walk on Day 4 is tedious along roads, but Hotel Sporting Terme with its thermal swimming pool and copious buffet made up for it! Recommend a direct road transfer (at extra cost) from Venice airport to Cortela and back. We used the excellent local agents for this and they also provided day transport to/from Padua for a good day out there (Scrovegni Chapel etc). Overall a very good week.
We had an enjoyable week. The walking was, very good, although perhaps slightly more hilly than we had anticipated. The latter part of the holiday was in hotter weather about 20 to 23°, but much of it took place in dappled shade, and was a pleasant, walking temperature. We took a taxi to Padua from Galzignano a fabulous day out. I would recommend a visit to The Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio and also take the suggested walk and restaurant from Teolo on the day off. We chose the longer route to Cortela as it was our last walk, the terrain was quite demanding and on reflection wished we had cut out the zig zag on the way down.
We were so glad we opted for e-bikes. The cycling varies in enjoyment; some days were enjoyable, others only in parts. There are plenty of uphill sections, some sections involving slopes with loose stones, quite a bit of dust - and plenty of fairly stiff breezes. Ensuring the security of e-bikes at hotels involved effort in some cases though - two of the three do not have appropriate facilities readily available yet.
Overall there were some parts of this trip that were wonderful - sublime views, great food, lots of things to do - and others that were harder to find total enjoyment in.
Overall a reasonable itinerary though it does involve a lot of cycling on unmade tracks. The hotels were of contrasting styles the staff were pleasant, friendly and helpful and the meals good.
We enjoyed this holiday in the southern Algarve on our first visit to Portugal & our 10th cycle trip with Headwater.
Very glad indeed that we opted (also a first) for E-bikes. Despite being moderately fit there were some long uphills, occasional stretches of busy roads, in a headwind or on dusty tracks which we would have found challenging. Excellent quality bikes but hotels in Lagos & Pedralva not yet set up for suitable overnight storage.
The recommended routes were generally quiet & took in some nice inland scenery & lovely sections of coast. Cabo San Vicente diversion was spectacular but also spectacularly busy: buses, buskers & bratwurst stalls!
Memmo Baleira at Sagres was delightful; we’d recommend two nights there at the beginning to really make the most of this lovely hotel, the helpful staff & the facilities. The food at the renovated village in Pedralva was a bit disappointing. They pride themselves on local sourcing but breakfast was almost entirely packaged & plastic.
The Portuguese people were the highlight for us. Hospitable, helpful, courteous & very welcoming to visitors throughout our journey.
An enjoyable experience, with like minded people
Beautiful coastal paths. Visit to Comino a must for the walk but very busy at the Blue Lagoon and extremely limited places to sit and enter the water. Fungus Rock area is spectacular as are the cliffs between Ta Cenc and Xlendi Bay. Easy to get around on the buses. Only 2 Euros for two hours travel on any route. There is no courtesy bus from the hotel, however, to Kantra Cove (which we thought was dangerous anyway) or to Victoria. Buses go one per hour. Had a few issues with our room but these were rectified promptly. The swimming pool in the spa is the loveliest I have ever swam in. Great way to end the day before dinner. Staff were all very pleasant, especially Natalie. On the downside, there is no shop or bar close to the hotel.
An enjoyable holiday overall. Sadly the weather wasn't great for the first few days, and a couple of the ferry rides were quite rough and sea-sickness inducing. Procida is well worth a visit and relatively quiet, hotel was quiet and had a lovely garden, swimming pool, and covered patio restaurant. Sadly the evening meal was not good. Ischia is becoming very touristy, but the Monastero hotel was a wonderful find. Excellent breakfast. We did not try the dinner there as it was an expensive tasting menu. Our bathroom was a bit cramped, but others were better. A lovely garden to explore and a free ticket to the Castello which was wonderful. The walking was a bit much for us (pensioners). Taking a bus to Campagnano on the first day would cut out a tedious climb through the outskirts of Ischia town. Capri has become very overcrowded with tourists, but the hotel was well placed away from the crowds, and had a lovely terrace. It was easy to shorten the walks to allow time to visit attractions.
Locations, accommodaton, food and general organisation were excellent. 2 of the days were hard/long.
Our third cycling holiday with Headwater in a beautiful part of Spain. Travelling in early May Platja de Pals was very quiet and lots of bars and restaurants closed. We felt a hotel in the town of Begur would have given us more eating options. However, we had a lovely holiday and enjoyed exploring the Catalan coast and inland medieval villages.
A very memorable experience, totally enjoyable and extremely well organised. I will definitely book again.
Super trip around the Valencian coast, city and mountains with fabulous scenery, food and Spanish hospitality. Loved the diversity of this adventure and the whole experience more than lived up to our expectations. Would go back to Valencia for sure
Thanks Headwater
Very well organised. Good routes. Mainly good hotels. Maps etc very good.
The planning of the holiday had been excellent. Although in one resort I was not accommodated in the hotel advertised, the alternative accommodation was delightful, suited me perfectly. and could not be faulted in any way. Transfers between transport hubs and hotels were excellent, so too the moving of luggage from location to location. A trouble-free vacation which I would love to repeat..
This was a hugely enjoyable but challenging walk. The hotels we stayed were very varied , welcoming and of a good standard. The staff were very helpful especially at La Giustiniana. We walked through stunning countryside, along old Roman roads in some places .The Headwater app was excellent for general information and navigation . Our bags arrived before us all but one day and they were quickly recovered and brought to the hotel .We met lovely people along the way. The walk into the St Peters was especially memorable .We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday.
We loved this holiday and had a fantastic time! Even though the weather was poor (cold, wet) for the first week. We loved the variety: of cycling terrain and views; of hotels (cities, towns, village, resorts); of food - terrific fish (passed on the spleen dumplings!). We enjoyed the independence of self guiding but met lots of interesting people from all around the world - but very few Brits! We didn't use the app because for us it was easier to use the booklet of maps and instructions, but would have liked a live app - we met Germans who were using the Czech app mapy which seemed excellent but we weren't successful downloading it. We would only query one piece of Headwater info: we did not find lots of cafés and restaurants along the river cycle paths and quickly decided we had to be well supplied with food before before we set out each day because we couldn't rely on finding somewhere when we needed it. But altogether a great holiday and experience - highly recommended!
The itinerary and app were excellent. I think we could have opted for a harder level as despite the despicable weather we managed our walks faster than anticipated. I’m not sure the welcome chat was really worth it. It was more useful having your agent at the end of WhatsApp.
A relaxing, beautiful place to visit with outstanding food and wine! Headwater organised everything well and the local agents were highly efficient. Service in the comfortable, clean hotels is second to none. I can highly recommend Piemonte. The routes were well marked by Italian authorities and the guide notes for walking were accurate. It is a spoiling holiday with an associated price tag.
Very smooth reliable service.
Cycling was underated, the routes were amazing. The hotels were overated. EG: advertised outdoor pool and spa. There was no spa and the pool was green and unusable.
Overall our holiday was excellent, aided very much by the attention of our host Stefano Mazzetti
The route details was excellent but only provided the evening of arrival at the first hotel. More information should have been provided about the GPS website. Using this system requires a modern smartphone with extra backup power. We had rainey days which are not ideal for phone navigation so the enjoyment level was reduced. The holiday is recommended and was a great experience but we could have been better prepared by prior knowledge.
The Heart of Venetto cycling holiday was just the right level for me, as someone fairly new to cycling. We completed all 6 routes and found the App fairly easy to use. The rides To lake Fimon and Vicenza were particular favourites.
The village is very quiet and, as others have mentioned, the bar and bakery have short opening hours.
The food provided by The Agrotourismo was first class as was the wine. The pool looked lovely but unfortunately it was too cool for us to use.
Unfortunately the weather was not kind which had an adverse effect on the cycling. We had 5 days of rain, one of cloud and only one with sunshine!! The hair dryer in our bathroom proved very efficient at drying our clothes! However. the hotel Bergrose certainly came up to expectations and we so enjoyed the food. At least we didn't fall off the Ebikes and the cycle paths were great as was the beautiful scenery. Most efficient buses which we used to visit Salzburg and Bad Ischl. A comprehensive list of rides offered by Headwater too.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole holiday. The walking was very varied taking in stunning coastal scenery, verdant valleys and beautiful natural landscapes. The locals were friendly and the accommodation and food all brilliant. We especially loved staying in the ‘slow village’ of Pedralva. We would thoroughly recommend this excellent trip.
Headwater walking holiday provided a challenging adventure, exploring beautiful countryside in Catalonia. We have memories of Spanish castles, poppy filled valleys and turquoise rocky coves. What a wonderful holiday.
We felt very well looked after by Headwater both before and during our trip to Sicily this Spring. We have travelled with Exodus and Headwater on several guided and self-guided trips over the years, both with and without our family, and for activity holidays they would always be our first choice.
Amalfi Coast is overcrowded so be aware of this.
A very good holiday in all aspects. The food in Ta Cenc was disappointing. Few local dishes or Maltese cuisine.
We loved Sicily but experienced poor weather conditions so were unable to reach the island of Marettimo (which is the core of the holiday) and were offered a poor series of alternative activities.
This was an excellent holiday. Northern Italy had just suffered a deluge on our arrival and the weather was unusually mixed during our stay. The local contacts Carmen and George were extremely helpful, and with the useful and thorough notes provided by Headwater we were able to adapt the walking. The app was very good and reliable. Villa Poetica was the stand out hotel, high on a hill in a pretty village, our host Carla was excellent . All hotels were very clean and comfortable in good locations. We added two nights in the nearby city if Vicenza to our tour, a beautiful relaxing city. This was our first walking holiday, we hope to do more with Headwater in future.
A very enjoyable and varied walking holiday which zigzagged around one area in South West Portugal, providing hills, forests and spectacular coastal walks. The hotels in Sagres were both excellent, with super pools. The pool at Pedralva was out of action, and there was nowhere to relax in the sun after a long walk. Thankfully the pizza restaurant was open on the day we arrived. No amenities or shops in the area. Lagos was very enjoyable, with various local places of interest and eateries. Personally we would have preferred B&B at Costa D'Oira - the breakfast was excellent.
Our first walking holiday and it was a fabulous experience. The pre-departure notes and information provided, made planning easy. A necessary cancellation and re-booking was handled expertly by Helen. The itinerary and route notes were very detailed. The overall quality of accommodation and meals, was excellent. We never went hungry or without a glass of wine! All taxi and bag transfers went smoothly. We hadn't anticipated being joined by other Headwater guests at the various hotels and it made it very enjoyable to meet new walking companions. We would definitely book another trip in the future.
Scenery, route, food, accommodation very good - weather, well, be sure to pick your dates with care as our first 4 days were wet, very wet (10th to 23rd May 2023)! Highlights: lush vegetation in the more mountainous areas, with poppies, grasses and other wild flora in the lowlands as you left the Alps going towards the coast.
A really interesting and thoroughly fascinating taste of North Portugal, providing three contrasting locations. The Douro region was perhaps what we had most anticipated, with rolling vineyards down to the river and certainly did not disappoint - truly stunning walks. The National Park was the best surprise, travelling in and back out of Spain to reach, you are then in granite mountains with amazing rock formations, medieval paths and bubbling streams. Finally, you hit the river and coast for a real change of scene. The walking is quite challenging at times, with climbs and rocky paths for the first two locations, but although the river/coast days are long, the terrain is flat. The hospitality everywhere we stayed was amazing, and wine only 1.30 a glass! We finished with two nights in Porto, a must extension if you have the time. Having had a first introduction to what North Portugal offers, we will certainly be back at some point to revisit some of our favourite places.
We travelled to Sardinia just before the main tourist season started, so some places weren't open - but this meant that we often had places all to ourselves. We loved the quirky houses in Nebida, and the staff at the ferry port, Portoscuso, were really helpful. The ride up to the abandoned tuna processing plant on Carloforte was slightly underwhelming, but the loop ride was pleasant - and we saw the flamingoes on the salt pans! The ride to Chia (day 5) was tough in places (maybe class this holiday as a 1++?) but the reward was always a lovely downhill freewheel. Some other roads were rather busy. The Roman ruins at Nora were well worth a visit, as was the Batteria Boggio with its lookout points and abandoned gun emplacements (with ammunition stores - fortunately completely empty) . All the hotels were most welcoming, insisting on speaking English to us, and usually transporting our luggage to and from our rooms. Food and wine were also superb - what more could you ask for?
Great location and wonderful walking. Just need to upgrade hotels.
A really good walking holiday and an excellent way to see South Devon - coast and inland. Accommodation was excellent and the local agent Richard Price could not have looked after us any better.
As an experienced walker I enjoyed being able to do interesting and varied walks in an area that I didn't know at all. The tranport of luggage meant we could take a bit more than we normally would which was a bonus.The app was excellent and worked flawlessly. The descriptions of the walks were accurate and they were largely off the road. Spectacular wild flowers.It was good to have coastal walks then inland ones. It would have been good to have some options for extended walks. We did an extra section at Otranto towards the lighthouse that was spectacular. The accomodation was varied and interesting though we did have issues at one hotel with lack of hot water and heating. These were responded to appropriately by Headwater. The towns we stayed in were interesting especially Matera and Lecce. The additional information given about each site was useful and we followed some of the recomendations for restaurants. We would certainly use Headwater again and indeed visit Puglia again.
The hotels both accommodation wise and food were excellent. All three were very different in their own way. The breakfast and the service at the Hotel Memmo Baleeira in Sagres was fantastic. The cycling was tough going in places, off road and some long climbs. We had an issue with the e bikes at handover in that they were nothing like the ones we had been promised but the local agent managed to source suitable bikes at short notice. The scenery and coastline were stunning.
A great experience with interesting and for the most part, rural, off the beaten track accommodation of a very high standard. The hosts were without exception extremely welcoming. The walk is challenging at times but no less enjoyable for that and the experience of arriving in Santiago and the sense of achievement at the end of the 6 days of walking was one I won't forget any time soon.
A really pleasant and relatively easy-going cycling holiday on peaceful country roads in an area of Mallorca that relatively few visitors - apart from cyclists - see. Excellent welcome and very co-operative staff at all four hotels - Finca Es Torrent, Petit Algaida, Sa Bisbal (using Con Cota facilities) & Son Sant Jordi.
Very enjoyable holiday with stunning scenery and incredible food!
An excellent way to visit the less touristy areas of Northern Portugal, cycling through countryside and coastal regions. our party of 4 had a mixture of E-bikes and normal bikes, and this worked out well. The GPS system was excellent, once we had all learned how to use it, but would ask Headwater to ensure that the agent provides a mobile phone mount for every cyclist, rather than one per couple. The circular route on the 3rd day, where we stayed in the same hotel for 2 nights, was a totally different terrain, and much too difficult for our aging party! However, the day spent in Ponte de Lima was very enjoyable. We added extra nights in Porto and Lisbon, extending the holiday to a wonderful 10 day break.
The cycling was fun and the app was generally easy to use though you should take an external battery pack. My phone was 3 years old and you need to set the screen to be quite bright so it uses up power quite quickly. The hotels that we used were all 3* but were comfortable. All hotels provided excellent breakfasts. We went in early May which is described as part of the holiday season but we found most places still closed so stopping off along the way wasn't as easy as we expected. One thing that we were really surprised by was the cost of transfers to and from the airport that Headwater wished to charge. Something like 240 from Bari to Arborobella (we caught a bus for 8 euros, and over 400 from Lecce back to Bari ( we caught the train for 24 euros). We hadn't been cycling for some years before booking this holiday but we practised for 5 weeks before going and we were fine.
We loved our holiday, apart from the rain! L’Albarra was brilliant, we loved staying there. The family are so welcoming and kind. It helped that I can speak Italian but the son speaks excellent English. It was relaxing to stay in one place. The E bikes were excellent. The website said that the pool was closed in May but it was, in fact, open. We were pleased to bring our own travel kettle, thanks to a previous review. Local shops are scarce so maybe more info about where to get lunch or buy provisions for a picnic would be helpful.
We travelled with our son who has special needs and we had a great time. The itinerary, organisation and choice of hotels and food was really good and the small number of special requirements we had were met really well. Croatia is a beautiful country and we had the best mix of activity and relaxation and met some lovely fellow travellers too.
Excellent location Jim had extensive knowledge of the arrea the walls were challenging but fantastic area. The hotel was well run great food attentive staff
Very interesting walking and spring a good time of year as everything very green. Dramatic rock cliffs and beautiful woodlands. Little towns of not much interest (apart from Jicin) but countryside more than made up for that. Good idea to extend in Prague as there's loads to do and the hotel (Hasta) is superbly situated with excellent restaurants close by. Staff also very helpful in Prague hotel in particular.
We greatly enjoyed the holiday and our apartment was lovely. We found the walks physically hard. Walks were problematic if one relied solely on the paper walk guides. We had battery problems when using the navigation app.
Beautiful walking in forested hills, mostly easy, but with a few stiff climbs. Good boots needed, and walking poles helpful
A fabulous cycling holiday with beautiful countryside, especially the May flowers. The fields of poppies were spectacular and the routes planned by Headwater allowed full appreciation of the Provençal spring. One thing to be aware of is that Le Couvent in Apt does not allow check in before 5.00pm: something that would be good to know before turning up at 3.00, hot and sweaty and looking forward to a cooling shower. The meals arranged were great and all of the hotels were very comfortable with excellent breakfasts. Would definitely do a Headwater holiday again.
We were looking for a relaxing holiday in interesting locations with lovely walks and good food. This holiday was perfect. We especially enjoyed staying in the monastery in Ischia. Breakfast on the terrace there was a delight. The walks were excellent and the navigation App was very helpful. A wonderful holiday.
The flight had been delayed for 3 hours but the transport was waiting and Hotel Tripic stayed up to welcome us and had left a meal in our room. The owner and staff were always helpful and friendly. The room was clean and comfortable. The routes for the 6 walks we did were usually clear except the one to Vogel. We then moved to Hotel Cubo in Ljubljana which was really excellent. The staff again were pleasant and helpful, the room wonderful and breakfasts were particularly special!
A good holiday to view Greek archaeology.
Overall we really enjoyed this trip and based on previous cycling trips the 1+ rating was about right. Undulating on the interior sections and generally flat on the coastal sections. With the exception of Hotel Hopps (not originally part of itinerary) all hotels were good with good breakfast. With the exception of the agriturismo all overnight locations had many points of interest if you had the time and energy, and there were many places for a swim on the coastal sections. A couple of unexpected route diversions encountered as well as a few injections of speed to get past the odd stray dog. Without wishing to condone any fly-tipping whatsoever, the level of rubbish was not as bad as expected having read previous trip reviews. We saw much worse as we continued our journey through Sicily. Botecchia cycles were appropriate for trip profile and distance. Filippo the local agent provided an excellent briefing and introduction to the trip. All-in-all we would recommend this trip.
A fantastic cycling holiday, that took us through through beautiful landscapes and cities.
A good mix of beautiful countryside, fascinating towns and scenic coast.
An excellent week on Gozo with some great walks.
Good hotel.
No hotel minibus service provided to the start of the walks.
Buses and taxis are very good on Gozo with great online booking and information.
Very pleasant week was had by us both. Anything we needed to know the hotel was always happy to help us. the food and accommodation was great. we may well return there, even though we have been twice before
A well organised holiday from start to finish. Wonderful locations with great walks and scenery. We especially enjoyed the spring flower and shrubs including many Orchids and catching sight of the wild goats and birds on Marittemo. The additional visits to Segesta and Erice were well worth doing with spectacular views. Walking notes and maps were very good and easy to follow. All three locations were very different. We especially enjoyed the last stay at Daniella's where we were welcomed on arrival each day with a pot of tea on the terrace in her beautiful landscaped gardens. All in all, we would thoroughly recommend this holiday especially if taken in May when the flora is wonderful and the temperatures are perfect for walking.
Our holiday was exactly what we had hoped for. The cycling grade and distances were suitable for our ability and central Mallorca offers fantastic countryside to explore. The villages were lovely and the hotels gave great service and accommodation. Although we used the paper maps at times, the Headwater App. has inspired us to look into what Apps. we can acquire for ourselves. A highly recommended trip and we will holiday with Headwater again in the future.
Headwater booked the trip but the hotel actually provided were different than reality. Having arrived expecting Hotel Homiday time we were then told actually it’s Galeon. Itinerary were incorrect. Guide didn’t arrive on first day. The walks were excellent and enjoyed. Hotel Romantica left no options other than hotel to eat. It tries to be fine dining which is not what you want after a long days walk resulting in large food bills.
A great biking adventure through beautiful Puglia countryside and town. Directions in towns sometimes more difficult to navigate but always got there in the end. Back up when pedal came off bike was efficient but trying to give an accurate location was a bit difficult.
The helpfulness of team in Puglia when one member of team required medical assistance was absolutely wonderful and we were very appreciative of this.
I would thoroughly recommend the Highlights of Hadrians Wall Walk as offered by Headwater to anyone looking for an interesting, moderate walk lasting less than a week including travel days. The landscape was more varied than I was expecting, with amazing views from the Sill, delightful pockets of woodland and lakes and rivers. We spent a bit of time exploring Vindolanda, Housesteads, the Roman Army Museum and the Sill Discovery Centre which added to the interest.
We loved the holiday. Each day seemed to get better and better and it was nice and varied with lots to see. The app makes navigation a cinch. We loved the hotels as well, all three quite different with different offerings. Headwater were brilliant in their flexibility re changing pick up times and adding days on. This was our first walking holiday so I can't compare to others but we had a very enjoyable time.
A well organised walking holiday to a stunning area of France. All accommodation and local cuisine of a high standard.
Varied and interesting itinerary, with a good mix of private transfer, train and walking. The accommodation was excellent, especially my trulli in Alberobella. The local agents, Slow Active, were excellent, always on time and ready to help. Matera was an amazing city to end the holiday with, and I'm glad we had several days there.
Good fun holiday. The app is great, takes a little time to work and more time should be given on that. Perhaps send a sample one through before you go would help greatly.
Some bits were tricky but we felt we had had a fun an adventure.
Well organised trip. To make the most of cafe's during the cycle it is necessary to diverge from the tour route.
A superb walk along a magnificent coastline & through countryside alive with wild flowers & butterflies in this lesser known part of Portugal. The accommodation chosen is delightfully varied - part luxury/part simple. Quality food in terms of breakfast & evening meals. Both the written walk notes & maps together with the GPS App are very accurate & helpful. The staff & service provided from start to finish and during the holiday was professional, knowledgeable & pleasant. This is our 6th walking holiday with Headwater. We will definitely book more.
The Cinque Terre has some challenging walking and beautiful scenery. Unfortunately it is overly touristic (during the period we were there the local villages received some 40000 visitors per day) so village locations were impassable - walking routes not so much. This uncomfortable but also difficult as all transport is by rail, many trains being full to overflowing with daytrippers and also travellers with full baggage. Sestri Levante was a very pleasant and manageable base, and the hotel friendly and professional
This was as much an adventure as a holiday. We loved it. Setting out every day, heading for some where different, walking through beautiful country side and meeting friendly locals and the daily thrill of our luggage arriving at the next hotel before we did. We enjoyed the interesting sometimes quirky hotels and thought the navigation App was really good. Thank you for a great trip.
Great holiday especially out of season! Would be very busy in peak season and loved having walks and beaches to myself, not having to book restaurants and everywhere so green and lush! Great walks and plenty of time to explore the towns.
Excellent and responsive advice from the start from your staff; the ensuing paperwork was thorough and comprehensive.
All the arrangements and logistics throughout were smooth and efficient.
We thought the walks were very well chosen and well balanced: demanding at times but never anything but enjoyable and rewarding. The final walk back to Benevello was our favourite - a varied and delightful walk through absolutely beautiful countryside. You definitely need to purchase a picnic for this walk.
All the hotels were very good though it took us a while to get used to the arrangements at Fontanafredda: be sure to make good use of the roof terrace - it’s a well kept secret! The Uve Rooms were also unusual but the staff were delightful and we would thoroughly recommend eating there. Our favourite hotel by far is Villa d’Amelia; it’s such a beautiful house and grounds and the staff are delightful. We ate very well there and would love to return one day.
Really challenging cycle ride with excellent stopovers and luggage carrying
My husband and I had always wanted to go to Sevilla and Cadiz and as we like cycling it seemed an ideal thing to do, to cycle from one to the other, however, although the villages and towns along the way were well worth visiting the cycle each day was pretty uninspiring and just a means to the end. I enjoyed the holiday but not sure I would actually recommend this particular journey. There was another person who mentioned the uninteresting cycle routes, but we chose to ignore it! The Paradores are fabulous to stay at but our hotel in Jerez was a complete come down and should not be on their list of places to stay.
Nice time of year to cycle although a little chilly in the evening. Cycle routes were good to excellent regarding scenery/road quality. Avoid Easter weekend as very few restaurants are open in Tripoli.
We have holidays with Headwater/Exodus for over 20 years - on both self-guided and group holidays. This was our first time using the app. I was anxious about this but it was fantastic - easy to install and easy use during the cycling. Thank you to Megan Wyatt who looked after our booking and answered initial queries.
Otherwise excellent service from the team and from all of the people who looked after us in Mallorca.
Thoroughly enjoyed our cycling in Sicily with Headwater. All transfer arrangements went smoothly. The local Geotravel representative, Filippo was extremely helpful, friendly and efficient in imparting information and answering queries.
The bikes were perfectly adequate for the level of cycling and road conditions. The Navigation App is easy to use.
Cycling in April, the weather can be mixed so pack accordingly, it was cold and wet at the start of our trip but temperatures rose throughout the week.
The countryside is beautiful. Highlight visits were to Enrice, Marsala Wine Tour, Archeological Site at Selinute and it is well worth spending an extra two nights in Palermo to experience the magnificent buildings.
We ate well throughout at small local restaurants and drank the excellent local wines.
We have no hesitation in recommending this holiday. Headwater area great company to travel with.
Thank you.
Rosemary and Bryan
Plenty of historic buildings to see in the towns, and plenty of easy flat cycling through a green rural landscape.
Walking Hadrians Path was an excellent holiday but I think the 2 rating is too low. There were some parts that were difficult to walk and scrambling is not a 2 rating. I could not get a taxi to take me to Lanercost on Day 2 for the start of the walk. Other clients have said the same thing but nothing addressed. It was the goodwill of the Blenkinsopp hotel owner that saved the day. The Blenkinsopp staff are amazing as is the hotel and food esp. Carol's lamb roast. It is remarkable that guests are put in the George Inn esp. given previous feedback. The hotel is tired, my room was dirty and the staff are not welcoming. I realise location (Corbridge) might be the essential factor, but I wonder what is being done to incentivise the George to make much needed improvements. I received a Day 1 briefing but for the sake of 10mins, I am not sure what the point was. Going over the literature that I had already read didn't seem fruitful. Overall a positive experience and great walking holiday.
Wonderful mixture of walking and culture - really beautiful, walks not too strenuous and so give plenty of time for sitting down and reading a book etc as well.
Fabulous itinerary making the most of this region of Italy. A good balance with historical visits. The walking made the most of the wild coastline and the locations of all of the accommodation were just perfect. We traveled in the second half of April so enjoyed gorgeous wild flowers on our walks. The seafood in particular was amazing throughout and the home cooking of our last accommodation (Baglio La Luna) just perfect. Absolutely loved this week!
Well organised - well directed walks with accurate instructions. Good back up in emergency. Lovely places to stay and enjoyable walking.
We had a wonderful holiday in Puglia cycling from Matera to Lecce over 9 days. It is a stunning part of the world and on a bike you have the advantage of seeing things and meeting people that you wouldn't if traveling by car. Overall, we would highly recommend this holiday. As we were cycling in April we did find a lot of the coastal areas were just getting ready for holiday season, so they were quiet and cafes were not always open. However, this was also a positive in that the roads were extremely quiet (apart from towns), so on balance this was good for us. The introduction and bike hike through Puglia Cycle Tours was excellent and our choice of electric bikes definitely the best decision for us as it was hilly in places. The electric bikes meant that we didn't walk up any hills! My only regret bikewise was that I didn't take my gel saddle with me but otherwise all worked well and we would love to return to this part of the world to explore further.
Very well organised and a beautiful area to explore. Local rep was excellent and highly recommend this holiday where you choose the mix of walking and relaxing.
La Gomera is a wonderful island to explore. Walks are quite demanding. While we enjoyed driving around the island it's not recommended if you're nervous negotiating hairpin bends and/or roads with sheer drops on one side!
I would recommend this holiday on basis that the selected itinerary and choice of accommodation which was excellent
Excellent. Superb trip, well organised.
We really enjoyed the majority of the destinations, Bratislava was a particular highlight.
Varied walks in a beautiful area of The Luberon with very comfortable accommodation . Fabulous in the Spring with the cherry blossom.
Excellent walking break though you do need a reasonable level of fitness as its long and tiring at times with lots of ascents. Hotel choices over all were well above expectations to the point that the worst accommodation was more within our expectations for a walking break. All instructions were very clear and easy to follow. You can book with Headwater with a level of confidence.
This cycling holiday is very easy relaxing and stress free. The scenery is stunning with riverside views, small farming villages and historical towns visited. There is the option to choose your own pace and stop along the way to appreciate the local buildings and countryside. Being early in the season (early April) not many local coffee shops were open for refreshments along the way, but the bike is well equipped to carry snacks and drinks with you. The cycling is down river so the only inclines yiu will meet which are few are to get over bridges or in towns. The hotel spas are all of a high standard and we'll equipped. The local people are proud of their towns, villages and countryside and welcome visitors. A thoroughly enjoyable experience!
Fantastic walk along Hadrian’s wall. Beautiful scenery throughout . Very easy to follow the route via the route notes and waymarks . Accommodation was comfortable and friendly. The walking was just about right - challenging enough to be enjoyable but totally achievable . We used trains and taxis at the start and end and that was very easy. If you want to visit the museums it might be worth putting in an extra night as would be tricky to fit all that in with the walking; we were happy just to walk . Highly recommend and good price
Itinerary fine. Unfortunately weather not great do not a lot to do when cycling finished
Tiring but good
A wonderful introduction to Sicily that leaves you wanting to come back for more.
A lovely hotel with excellent staff who were both helpful and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the walks as they were interesting and varied. The Headwater app was brilliant at keeping us on track. We visited both Pompeii and Herculaneum because we visited the latter on our way to the airport - it would have been helpful to have known that that was a possibility when we booked.
Excellent activity holiday 9
This was our second Headwater trip and once again we had a wonderful holiday cycling through the countryside of Apulia. I very much enjoyed the variety of accommodation which, while not of luxury standard, was varied, original and always comfortable (a Trullo house, a converted olive farm estate cottage and a boutique hotel in the middle of Conservano). The guide who picked us up from the airport was charming and gave us lots of information about local culture and customs . We love our food, and although there were no recommendations given in our information pack, Headwater were quick to send us a list of recommendations at our request and very good recommendations they were too! One thing I would point out is that my husband’s panier tended to fall off on the bumpy roads, so make sure you secure it to the bicycle frame with the opening straps. Also, the last bit of the tour around Monopoli on the last day can comfortably be omitted - much of it is a road next to the motorway!
Having never tried a holiday like this we were a little apprehensive, but we needn't have worried. Thanks to Headwater's meticulous planning we can highly recommend 'Walk The Algarve's Wild West' - it was a most memorable experience from start to finish. The delightful scenery meant the walks were all hugely enjoyable, with only a couple of slightly monotonous sections which were thankfully short. We went in late March when the flowers and birdlife were at their best, as was the weather. As the maps are not exactly OS standard, the app proved to be invaluable. We were amazed by the quality and variety of the three hotels, especially in Sagres and Pedralva. And while Vila do Bispo may not be the most exciting town, we had two exceptional evening meals in the local restaurants. All transfers ran like clockwork and Headwater's local agent, Lea, could not have been more helpful. We are already perusing the brochure for next year's adventure.
A landscape where the "Bible meets the Burren" ! Amazing rocky, parched landscapes with dramatic cliff walks, ridgeline villages, church domes and clear seas you want to dive into. We self guided around the coast and villages of Gozo, relying on the local buses and a stout stick. Relatively eas y walking but the unremitting hard surfaces can be sore on your feet and knees. We travelled in March and benefitted from the wild flowers and green valleys. Hotel Ta Cenc was wonderful with its dramatic cliff setting. The ridgeline villages are beautiful, although quiet, but we loved the bustle of Victoria and would especially recommend a visit to the Citadel.
A great way to see Andalucia. Seville and Cadiz are spectacular and extra days at each end are recommended. Excellent hotels in good locations. The ride through the hills around Montellano was lovely and the disused railway track to Arcos was a gem. Everything was well organised by Headwater and went to plan. Recommended to anyone wanting to sample Andalucia.
Consider more variety of walks possibly with more challenge
Ideal holiday for those who want to focus on cross country skiing in a functional but comfortable hotel. There is a reason why people keep returning to Vanebu every year; it is reliable and friendly, with a real sense of familiarity. For those visiting for the first time, the guides that lead the tours are very approachable and helpful. A good place to learn the sport, and also to improve.
Hotel excellent; some of the walks quite tricky. Driving (to the hotel and to each walk) is not for the faint hearted!
Interesting walks in beautiful unspoilt areas of Northern Portugal. The service from the local company Green Walks was outstanding and the navigation app priceless, we wouldn't do another self-guided holiday without the navigation app
La Gomera is a stunningly beautiful and totally unspoilt island. The walking is fabulous but you must have a very good head for heights and be a confident driver too as the roads are very serpentine. Travel arrangements were very straightforward.
Excellent walking holiday although we were unlucky to lose 2 days walking due to thunderstorms. The Mill hotel in Kakopetria was quirky but very comfotable and we enjoyed the spa bath after the walks. If wifi was necessary the speed was very slow. Droushia Heights hotel was modern and comfortable with good speed wifi. However, we were quite early in the season and the outdoor pool had not been filled. That did not bother us. The final walk we decided to start from Neo Chorio and take the Aphrodite trail. Fabulous walk and terrific views. We completed the walk after refreshment by walking to the next hotel, the Aphrodite Beach hotel. This also was clean and comfortable with good wifi but the beach cafe was not yet open. On our final day we walked to the little port of Latchi for a nice lunch. Gps system worked well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and loved to see the contrasts in scenery/season as you move down from the mountains to the coast. The archaeological sites were well worth visiting, some are really quite extensive. Hotels were all good with very friendly staff/owners and copious breakfasts and plenty of options in all places for getting meals in the evening. Local agent was great when setting us up with the bikes and letting us know about bag transfer arrangements. He also pre-warned us about loose dogs in some areas - these are very territorial but only for a very short distance so we kept our heads down and cycled through them - sometimes using the boost on our e-bikes to get through more quickly!
Fabulous location and skiing. Good mix of people. Hotel rooms were basic but comfortable but food was absolutely superb - and a lot of it! We were complete beginners but felt that we did a lot each day and had a real sense of achievement. Location was superb and felt empty in the best way!
Overall we enjoyed the week despite some windy conditions. The hotel had a very welcoming and homely feel. We were disappointed that the ski groups seemed to be based on self-assessment rather than the guide deciding which person was suited to which group. On the first day we found ourselves having to choose between "beginners" or "intermediates". As we are not beginners we found ourselves among some strong skiers which was a shock to the system and knocked our confidence. Ideally we would have welcomed more intervention from the guides to ensure we were in the right group each day.
Excellent holiday with very good accommodation and wonderful, scenic walks. Favourite walks were in Firgas (the one with the climbing ropes and log bridges!), Artenara ridge (make sure you have a phone to ring for a return taxi) and Barranco de Guayadeque with spring flowers. Both hotels were very good, although it's worth mentioning that they have central air-con which was still set to heating in a 26 degree heatwave. Fortunately Alberto was able to help us persuade them to switch over to cooling mode.
We weren't able to eat at El Mondalon as the restaurant was closed for the 3 nights we were there (2 nights for a private function and closed Monday as standard). Casa Miranda, a 10 minute walk up the road, was very good but also closed Sunday evening and Monday. At the Parador there's a choice of either the restaurant or the cafe/bar and the watercress soup is an absolute must (it's not vegetarian, despite the name). Tejeda, a 15 minute drive away, has lots of eating options too.
This is a good walking holiday based in very comfortable hotels with excellent meals and facilities. The itinerary means that you experience different areas of this beautiful island. The taxi transfers were always on time and the drivers often gave very useful advice. The actual walks were varied, but some were very challenging and good boots and walking poles were essential for these.
Great cycling experience in Algarve. We have been able to discover the coast and the countryside. Lovely hotels and great food.
We enjoyed the opportunity to visit a new country and experience a new activity. The Yllas region of Finland is very beautiful and quiet and the snow and cold added to that. The hotel was excellent and staff very professional. We found the cross country skiing challenging. We were complete beginners so in that respect we felt our expectations of what we could achieve in terms of ability were not met. We had hoped to be able to ski around the area more easily than we could and instead we switched to doing a bit of skiing on the lake (nice and flat) and then walking around the park on the cycle trails. I would suggest that beginners should book more lessons and to know that they may not be able to ski for many kilometres after 2-3 days of practice so to be prepared to ski for some of the holiday but also enjoy other outdoor activities on offer. The northern lights were lovely and the people of Finland very welcoming and friendly.
We enjoyed the holiday a lot. Cross country skiing is very energetic (in a different league from hill walking or downhill skiing) and you need to be very fit to enjoy it.
Hotel was excellent in all respects. Äkäslompolo was truly beautiful. There were many skiing and walking trails on the doorstep. Travel was fine.
Booking process however was very poor. After realising the direct flights as advertised on the website weren't available, I booked and paid a deposit. I was later informed hotel was full, no others available. Days later, I was informed there was a deluxe room at the hotel for an extra payment.
Furthermore, having booked a 6 day cross country skiing holiday as beginners, we'd also booked a 90 minute lesson which we'd assumed would be on day 1. It was on day 2 and the hotel were unable to change this, which meant we spent day 1 falling over. If these booking issues can be improved, I can thoroughly recommend this trip for the fit!
Venabu is an excellent location. A good mix of tracks and off-track skiing is available with excellent, knowledgeable guides and a wide choice of tours - something for everyone. The hotel is also a standout feature of this holiday with the best food I’ve had in Norway.
A brilliant chance to learn cross country skiing in superb wild scenery, based at a wonderful and welcoming family-run hotel
Gordon and Sue are superb hosts, we loved the Finca
Good varied walking - each day was different. Beautiful places to stay. In Fuente Heridos, there is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant called “Veg and Veg”. The food is really good and interesting, and it is run by an enthusiastic couple who told us all about the food. We had one of the best meals of our trip, and we are not even vegetarian. Thoroughly recommended, particularly as a change from the general pork-based cuisine of the area
Enjoyable vacation in a beautiful country
Our cross country ski trip to Yllas,, Finland exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were fantastic, and the wide variety of trails accessible from our resort were extraordinary. Seeing the Northern Lights was truly a highlight of the trip.
Returned to Venabu for the fourth time after an extended interval (of many years going elsewhere, then the pandemic). This is still a very good, friendly hotel. This time I had a room in the east wing - not large, but cosy and having everything I needed to hand. The public rooms and other hotel facilities are good, comfortable and welcoming, with great food. The cross-country skiing from the hotel offers a lot of variety, and I was pleased to find the hire equipment was robust and well suited to a mix of on- and off-track skiing. This week it was windy, but we still had a good time with some memorable days. I would be happy to go back for yet another week here!
The itinerary worked smoothly & efficiently. Both hotels were welcoming, comfortable, and responsive to our special dietary requirements. The walks were most enjoyable, especially the (rather earlier than usual) Spring flowers, panoramic views, and beaches. We found a secluded little bay with a rocky, wave-fed, & rocky “spa” pool that was ideal for a bracing quick dip at the end of our day’s walk. The navigation app was quick to master and worked well. (No smartphone battery problems occurred with an iPhone 11 switched to low power mode.j
The Akamas Peninsula is a good destination and we were fortunate with the weather for late February. We liked the choice of short or longer walks which suited us. But the walking notes were not always accurate and were clearly designed for those using GPS. Facilities in the locality were limited, e.g bars and restaurants not yet open for the season. This was despite having checked with the agent that they would, mostly, be available. Food in the second hotel was very poor, although the staff were friendly and tried their best to please. Rooms were adequate but a few additions such as slippers (the tiled floor was very cold at this time of the year) and decent towels would have made the stay more comfortable.
We had very good snow, and cold dry conditions, so the snow stayed in excellent condition. It also snowed regularly, so there was lots of powder snow. The guides were excellent, patient and amusing during the coaching sessions, and knowledgeable of local terrain, enabling the best use of the weather.
The hotel food was excellent and plentiful.
A fantastic way of discovering the rugged beauty of Tenerife and its well preserved natural areas. The option of long routes and short routes provides the needed flexibility for each day of the trip.
Well organised. App was excellent. Walks were harder than anticipated from grading. Island is beautiful and feb weather is good for walking. Hotels were okay but we would have liked the option to upgrade to a sea view. Second hotel restaurant was overrun with cats. Not very hygienic.
We were very impressed by the customer service provided in setting up the holiday arrangements: Headwater also helped us to arrange an extension of our stay in Cyprus with a rented car, all of which worked very well. Both hotels were excellent, with a special commendation for the home cooking at Aphrodite Beach. The walks were very well explained and the app-based route guidance was easily accessible and reliable. It is a very good idea to offer long and short versions of the walks each day, together with plenty of advance information about ascents and descents. The routes were generally well-chosen, with very little use of roads and we enjoyed some marvellous scenery.
We had a very enjoyable holiday. The hotel was comfortable and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
Food was very good.
We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed the walks although on a few of them we found the instructions ambiguous on occasions. Some of the paths were quite hidden. Generally directions were good as were buses.
Walks were more challenging than anticipated but gave us a sense of achievement at the end!
I would highly recommend a stay at Yllashumina. The food was delicious and there’s excellent access to all the ski trails. If you’re lucky you’ll see the northern lights.
The walking on El Hierro was excellent, the paths are very well waymarked and generally in good condition. The local agent Ralf was excellent and looked after us very well. For future trips to El Hierro please note that the path normally taken from Jinama to El Frontera is closed due to a landslip, so Ralf collected us from there and drove further along the escarpment to the next path. Also, please note that when we arrived in Tenerife, there was no taxi arranged to take us to the ferrybport, although a phone call soon sorted that out. Also, although we were told we were staying in Los Verodes in El Frontera, we were actually booked into Apartments Alameda, so that caused some confusion. This may have been due to the changeover from New Experience to Headwater.
We had a great time with varied walks and lovely swims in sunshine in February. The local guides were helpful and supportive; for example they informed us about a closed road with ice and fog. Driving in Tenerife is challenging with many windy roads and we felt we could have been told in advance about this.
An excellent adventure, great walking and fantastic hotels. The walking can be tricky in wet weather, slippery down hill sections and February a prime time for wet weather, but the challenges were well worth it, Madeira is a wonderful walking destination.
I have returned to Venabu for 3 consecutive years because the hotel, food, ski equipment, guiding and ski area is so fantastic and for the same reasons have recommended it to others. My 21 year old son accompanied me on his first ever XC trip and Ewan went out of with way to encourage him and took him out at 7am one morning for a 1:1 session even though Tom was skiing with Exodus. The pre-skiing activation and post-skiing Pilates were excellent and enabled me to regain some movements I had lost following a previous injury. Teaching was excellent and focused on 1 or 2 specifics with videoing to identify areas that required improvement. The staff as always went out of their way to be helpful. Ample supplies of ski wax ( unlike another company/location which advised clients to buy their own. One downside was that not all tracks were pisted which limited the ski area to some extent - local politics seemed to be a factor
Excellent choice of destination and hotel offering a mix of history, nature and culture.
All aspects of the holiday were excellent. Skiing on loipes directly from the hotel; exceptionally comfortable hire boots; very good skis; well maintained loipes; lovely cafes en route; excellent food at the hotel with good choices; very helpful staff; wonderful saunas & great outdoor hot tub. Our hotel location was quiet & peaceful with Akaslompolo a half an hour's walk away for shops etc. Lots of snow. We were even lucky enough to see some Northern Lights one evening. A very enjoyable holiday.
I found Akaslompolo a top class destination for cross-country skiing. Snow conditions were excellent, which I consider essential. I will never again book a trip outside Scandinavia, because of unreliable snow conditions nowadays in central Europe. The network of ski trails is immense and it is easy to find trails with few other skiers. An unexpected pleasure was to find several cafes for skiers at strategic points. In late January, day length was not a problem, at 7 hours. Daytime temperature varied hugely, from -3C to -24C, so you need clothing for very cold conditions. Use local forecasts, not the BBC. The hotel was very comfortable with excellent food. There were many other activities that could be booked - I went to a reindeer farm only 1 km from the hotel. The only aspect people might find difficult is that that there was absolutely no "group dynamic" of Headwater customers. You need to be prepared to dine and ski just by yourself or in your own party.
This trip is an excellent introduction to cross-country skiing the guides and ski area are perfect. Can't wait to go back
Beautiful location, excellent walking.
Travelling in late January meant that it was very peaceful and we passed very few people on our walks, however there were also very limited options to eat and drink. Fortunately, the hotel breakfasts were excellent and set us up well for the day, but we would recommend that you come prepared with cereal bars and snacks.
Malta (and Gozo) are great destinations for independent travel. The bus service is superb - an extremely reliable way of getting to and from places to start and finish walks. There are plenty of excellent walks to choose from taking in a range of spectacular coastal scenery, historic sites and attractive towns and villages. Gozo is the prettier, and quieter, island of the two so suited us more but we wouldn't have wanted to miss the historic attractions on the main island. We could easily have spent 3 days exploring Valletta and the 3 cities! A final word about Headwater's local guide, Stephania. She was one of the best guides we have had for this type of holiday. She was very attentive, full of great ideas on how to improve on the walks provided by Headwater and offered a number of great alternatives to the Headwater suggested itinerary. She kept in touch throughout our stay in an unobtrusive but reassuring way. A credit to Headwater and to Malta!
Weather in January was disappointing. Damp, cold and on the day we should have walked down from the highest point icy, so walking was prohibited.
Amazing location , all level of Cross Country Skiers are catered for . Excellent food and all staff are friendly and helpful
An excellent introduction to cross-country skiing. Whilst there was the occasional challenging moment on the pistes, the rest of the holiday was totally stress-free. The hotel was very comfortable, and a sauna in the late afternoon was a lovely way to ease off aching muscles. The food was plentiful and delicious - I particularly enjoyed the Norwegian breakfasts and buffet lunches, including herrings, smoked trout, lingonberries and selection of pickles and mustards. The hotel stands alone in the National Park, which means that there is no-one else around - but also that there is nowhere else to go. Evenings were quiet in the hotel, most guests went to bed after dinner - no lively apres ski on this holiday!
Contrasts of Tenerife Walking holiday does just what it says on the tin! It was a series of excellent, very different walks - contrast between and within the walks! Superb variety, lovely hotels to stay in and a great holiday!
The holiday was so enjoyable. We were pleasantly surprised that it was only us on the holiday and not a group. We usually organise our own holidays and so it was a change to have it all done for us - once we realised how well everything worked we really relaxed - knowing that the taxis would arrive when they said they would, the hotels were of good standard and the navigation app worked really well. The scenery was stunning and we absolutely loved all the walks.
We enjoyed the holiday so much that we were looking at your website to see which holiday we wanted to do next whilst waiting at the airport in Madeira for the flight home! Thanks to Helen from Headwater for making the booking of our holiday such an easy experience too. We would definitely recommend Headwater to our friends.
Routes were varied, interesting and well documented. Hotel standard and service was excellent. Location was probably too remote with a tortuous car journey back to near sea level from 800m, to start access to many walks. Location also meant there were no local alternative dining destinations.
We have been skiing at Venabu for many years, the hotel is very relaxing, staff friendly, food is good, the variety of routes and the guides (if you choose to use them) are excellent. Would recommend skiing at Venabu to anyone thinking of trying cross country skiing for the first time or looking for some where else to go.
Wonderful hotel with friendly, warm, accomplished, helpful staff at all levels - from managers, to guides and instructors, to chefs, and to serving staff. A very good skiing experience in beautiful scenery with well managed tracks. I would recommend Venabu to any beginner or experienced skier.
We did not stay at the cecil hotel in Oslo and never had any plans to do so - not sure why this is added above?
The telephone staff at Headwater were friendly and helpful but they repeatedly asked us for the same information over again and failed to clarify our final itinerary until we requested it. We seemed to be dealt with by a fair few different individuals, and did not find communication overall was consistent. .
We had a great time. Excellent experience
Cross-country skiing with experienced guides in beautiful surroundings. Excellent plentiful food.
We had a very good holiday. The first, third and fourth hotels were excellent
The fourth hotel Quintinha São João was the best - recommend you use it regularly. Transfers were all very good We shared the trip with a very nice English couple. The second hotel Porto Bay Serra Golf in Santo da Serra was average, service was stretched and the staff were less customer focused. The hotel was cold, condensation continually ran down our room windows. Santo de Serra has little to offer and everyone on the island seemed to know it rained there most of January. The holiday in the winter months would be better with the Santana hotel and then more days in Funchal which does get some sun. The walks could be reached by transfer easily. We found the App brilliant as were our printed off instructions. The walks were moderate/ challenging- the levada on day 2 has tremendous exposure with 300m drops and the coastal walk is exposed. Friends in Funchal sorted gentler walks easily.
An excellent introduction to the beautiful island of Madeira. Well-planned walks and spectacular scenery from the high levels of the levadas to the stunning coastal walks. Hotels are well chosen and the local service is efficient and friendly.
Great Experience, good value for money.
We greatly enjoyed the varied walking routes and the comfortable hotels. The detailed route notes and gps maps gave us confidence.
This trip is perfect for those who want a ski-from-the-door holiday with tuition and/or ski-guiding included. It works brilliantly for groups of differing abilities. The fully inclusive arrangement is great in costly Norway, although alcohol is excluded and a beer is about £10 and wine £50+ a bottle.
The hotel is very friendly, with excellent food and welcome extras such as a free yoga class and unlimited tea & coffee. The comprehensive gym, sauna and table tennis are also free and useful for any non-ski days.
Headwater guests all sit together on one big table, which is great for solo travellers and for getting to know others (with whom you also ski).
The rooms are clean, simple/ rustic, always warm with plenty of hot water and great views. There are no kettles but hair dryers are available and you help yourself to clean towels when you want them.
Various activities are organised in the evenings including talks and quizzes, all done by the family owners.
I plan to return next year!
Communication and service from my first conversation and email communication with the Headwater Team was excellent. The Airport, hotel and daily activity transport and guidance was excellent through out, with all the team involved being knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you all.
The majority of our trip was lovely, the only downside was our experience at Hotel Romantica, which was quite negative. The hotel was quite uncared for, in need of maintenance and modernisation, the public areas particularly had a musty feel and were dark. The owner was rude, we had queried the previous evening why our starter took an hour to arrive after we had sat down. The following morning, Christmas day, he confronted us aggressively, insisting it was half an hour, he didn't even bother with 'Good Morning'. This incident soured our stay at this hotel, he rarely acknowledged us for the remainder of our visit.
We enjoyed the walking, the routes and the Holiday Time hotel in Santa Cruz was delightful.
We enjoyed the variety of the hotels, the walking routes and the new places visited. It was nice to be a bit off the tourist trail. The peacefulness of the countryside and the wildness of the coast was a good contrast.
Wonderful location, amazing walks and landscapes, friendly helpful locals.
A wonderful walking holiday in Tenerife. Walks extremely well described in the trip notes. Weather variable as expected this time of year but suitable alternatives to high level hiking were suggested for the days with poor weather. The hikes gave us a fantastic experience of the variety of climate, terrain and aspect of this beautiful Island. It was our first visit to Tenerife but we will return.
This was a lovely holiday with interesting, quiet cycling routes through fabulous coastal scenery. Our only slight disappointment was the hotel in Lagos. While the food was good and the room itself comfortable, in the winter sunshine, it was very dark in our room. This may be great in the summer but a hotel more like the one in Sagres, which has lots of natural light and lovely views, would me much better in the winter. Also my husband had an electric bike. While that was great, we were a bit concerned that the battery might run out on some of the longer routes. It didn’t but got very low. This might be a problem for someone who relies heavily on the battery. So perhaps just something to highlight to future clients who decide to use electric bikes.
We used a hire car, organised by Headwater. When we arrived at Garachico late on Friday evening we found it difficult to find parking in the narrow streets and to navigate the one way system. Your advice was to park in a street nearby the hotel. The hotel receptionist suggested the car park , the campo futbal,only a two minute walk from the hotel. The car park was free and there were always spaces. We suggest that you direct future clients here.
Sue & Gordon made us very welcome and did everything they could to ensure that we had a really enjoyable, memorable holiday. The weather was ideal for walking the hillside tracks; we even managed a swim on most days (this was early November!!) and the caves at Nerja make for a wonderful excursion. Although generally the wildlife has suffered from the heat and lack of rain earlier in the year, Rafa did manage to spot and point out a chocolate (black) squirrel and a mother + kid ibex on two of the walks.
Best holiday in a while
Great walking holiday, efficiently organised and accurately described accommodation. Walks were through some beautiful remote countryside and the app was brilliant at ensuring we never got lost. Would definitely book through Headwater again, as soon as possible!
Wonderful accommodation linked by average itineraries and heavy clunky bikes
We thoroughly enjoyed walking the Akamas Peninsula in late October / early November 2022. We really benefitted from being able to stay at the Droushia Heights Hotel for 7 nights followed by 7 nights at the Aphrodite Beach Hotel. The staff at each hotel were most helpful and welcoming. We received room upgrades at both hotels. Two weeks provided us with plenty of scope for walking the routes and exploring and relaxing locally. We walked all five 20 km routes, all of which we loved. We cherished people's friendliness; experiencing the detail of the Akamas landscape of foot; the quiet and peaceful villages and environments; the wonderful scenery; pristine beaches for swimming and sunbathing; the delicious food and the warm sunshine. Thank you to Joanne Chaplin and the staff of Headwater, Cyprus Walks, Droushia Heights Hotel and the Aphrodite Beach Hotel for a wonderful holiday.
The staff at Headwater were really polite, friendly, helpful and efficient, especially when our flight was cancelled. The different hotels were great (clean, beautifully maintained, friendly staff). Treks were easy to navigate from the detailed descriptions provided and rewarded us with stunning views. It's not the cheapest way to go but Headwater took all the stress out of organising the holiday and for people with busy lives, that's worth a lot.
Absolutely super trip - fab hotels and very well organised. Definitely an extra day in Seville to sight see and in Cadiz if you can. The cycling is probably easy for experienced riders but would feel quite hardcore for recreational cyclists (we are the latter!). One day is 70KMs and over 700m ascent with most of the ascent at the end of the day. A lot on lovely quiet country lanes but also need to be confident on main roads in towns with traffic. Is about 30% off road which is a nice change but the bikes are road bikes so lack suspension so be prepared for some bone rattling riding along the way. We loved the challenge and every aspect of the holiday. The Parador hotels are fabulous. Very much recommend. Thank you Headwater for another great holiday.
Absolutely fantastic holiday. Would highly recommend Headwater for their destinations and organisation. Have been with them a number of time now and they are always the first place I look at when going to book a holiday.
A wonderful holiday. The weather in October was perfect for cycling. We had some superb lunch stops in restaurants we found by chance (I don't think you can go wrong in Puglia). The roads were very quiet so we felt very safe - more so than on some other cycling holidays we have had.
We booked our own hotel in Valletta as wanted it to be an old hotel in the old area – and would suggest you do offer that option to travellers on Malta. We were disappointed that at the 5 star Ta Cench hotel we were initially put into a room with clearly broken air-conditioning control and function, and workmen working on the roof from 7.0 a.m. onwards. This was not good for one of your customers, but one of the lovely customer managers was excellent at showing us replacement option rooms and upgrading us to a better room. We greatly enjoyed our stay on Gozo, and appreciated the detail of your walks. Over dinner in the beautiful restaurant on Gozo, we met several other headwater holiday travellers, who were all unanimous on their pleasure at the headwater holiday – as well we. We have limited funds, but if we can ever afford it, we should certainly travel with your company again and recommend it. Thank you
A comfortable way to walk the Via Francigena. The route was very quiet when we walked it in October. We enjoyed the lovely countryside and interesting villages. Accommodation was basic but clean and comfortable.
Thoroughly enjoyable cycling holiday! The phone app was superb - an excellent addition. By far and away the best days were on cycle tracks / Via Verdes away from the traffic / roads. Some of the towns along the way were simply stunning and we loved the fact that they were mostly off the tourist trail. Hotel Xauen was disappointing and I haven't completed the review for Hotel Sancho III as we didn't stay there! All in all, it was a great trip which I would be very happy to replicate in the future.
Lovely Finca in the mountains surrounded by groves of fruit and nut trees. Amazing hosts. Food beautifully served on the terrace under fairy lights in the unseasonably warm October evenings. Walks with knowledgeable guides, never too strenuous, back in time to enjoy a swim and relax in the pretty gardens.
I would recommend Headwater and hotel Finca el Cerrillo without hesitation. I enjoy walking and every thing about this holiday was excellent.
A well organised and varied programme of walks and activities. The Finca el Cerrillo was a wonderful place to relax after a day's walking.
Excellent holiday in October, lovely flowers- our weather was good enough to swim in outdoor pools - Serra Golf and Quinta do Furao had indoor pools . Our first day walking along the coast entailed significant climbing up at end of walk. On day off some of the group, we went away with ,walked on the peninsula which was beautiful. My husband had a eyesight problem whilst we were away and despite lots of phoning around by Headwater folk no eye specialist was available . We visited an emergency department in a hospital in Funchal and had excellent care given reasonably promptly. As regards flights please be aware Funchal has a challenging airport - our flight was aborted just as we were about to land . We enjoyed taking part in the sledge down and tele-cabin up, visited botanical gardens and took part in Madeira wine tasting. Walks were stunning, great views - remember either your phone or head torch for tunnels . I used my walking sticks throughout, for security and down hills.
Fantastic trip and introduction to Madeira. Some of the walks are challenging so you need to be fit.
Useful to have B&B in last hotel to make the most of the restaurants in Funchal. Taxis reasonable price. Try A Bica but advised to book as very popular.
Excellent holiday. Very well looked after. First walk along the coast was quite challenging due to number of steps and heat but we really enjoyed it. The levada walks were amazing due to the views, wildlife and plants. No really scary bits and felt safe at all times with appropriate safety rails. Food in hotels excellent, all hotels had pools and very relaxing. We enjoyed Funchal for meals out and visiting the botanical gardens and other sites. A great relaxing holiday. Highly recommend doing the wine tour at Blandys if you have time and taking home some Madeira.
Holiday was good and as expected. Ta Cenc is excellent, and all transfers were on time etc. Would certainly recommend. Walks varied and easily accessible on Gozo. A relaxing, quiet place to stay!!
This was a nice tour with lovely scenery and good opportunities for exploring the local area especially on the rest days. The first day is a tough one with a lot of hills and it was hotter than we expected for October. But we enjoyed our day off in Lagos with a boat trip and strolling through the old town. The route options from Lagos to Pedralva give a choice of hilly or less hilly , both were enjoyed by members of our group although the hilly option made for tired legs at the end of the day. Pedralva was a fun place to stay with a nice restaurant and friendly staff. The optional off road cliff top tour was a super ride with great scenery and we spent time on one of the beaches swimming and watching the surfers. The ride back to Sarges was less strenuous and we had plenty of time to see Cabo de Sao Vincente ( most south westerly point in Europe) although it was disappointing that the lighthouse was all in scaffolding with no visits possible. Overall a very good trip.
This was a fantastic trip. Well organised. Navigation App very good but interestingly my younger companion (daughter in law) found the written instructions very helpful. Lovely part of Europe, food amazing, walking really enjoyable and good weather.
Good walking through beautiful countryside
The booking, information and support from the Headwater agent was excellent, any queries were answered promptly and fully. The island of Madeira is fabulous and this holiday gave a really good picture of life there. The walks are challenging but worth it and walking the levadas is a unique, if at times, scary experience! The taxis drivers are excellent and beyond helpful, their pride in their country shines through, their English is excellent. Recommended if you have a head for heights and a love of landscape and flora. The cable car to the botanical gardens is well worth doing and a free one way ticket is included in your holiday. It is worth noting that the toboggans do not routinely run, we were not bothered by this but some others were.
Overall the holiday from start to finish was extremely well planned and managed in both the UK and Madeira.
The walks were varied and showed the contrasts of the island. In general the route notes were excellent, a couple of minor updates required. All transfers were very good with excellent, pleasant and informative drivers.
All hotels were very good, all with excellent breakfast options. We were slightly disappointed with the dinner at Quinta do Furao as it had a limited menu. Location of Porto Bay Serra was good with an easy walk into town. Quinta da Bela Vista was a nice hotel with good facilities but for us was too far from Funchal Old Town and the shuttle service does not run weekends. As we were only B&B here it was also a long walk to the sea front restaurants.
Took advantage of the cable car ticket to vista the botanical gardens, would have liked to take the toboggan down but they don't operate on Sundays.
Would definitely recommend at least one or two extra nights in Funchal.
This was the first time we have been on a cycling holiday, and our first holiday with Headwater.
It exceeded our expectations. The itinerary was exactly as described; the hotels were all very comfortable, the bikes were more than adequate, and the administrative support around the edge of the holiday was all perfect. We enjoyed the routes, and cycling near to the coast before heading inland for the final two days. We were lucky to avoid any rain, and the temperature in October was ideal for cycling. The GPS Navigation App was simple to use and to follow. Everyone was very friendly and helpful; we were upgraded at two of the hotels without asking; and we especially enjoyed having a day in Aveiro to explore all the sights.
It was a perfect break, and very special to visit Portugal for the first time.
Fairly easy cycling through undulating countryside with some nice coastal sections. Wonderful food and good swimming in clear water. Some fine hotels, particularly the agriturismo and Room of Andrea. Unfortunately, Sicily is an opencast landfill of rubbish, and it is so sad and depressing to ride along otherwise wonderful backroads lined by endless garbage. The tourist board needs to apply some pressure to stop the accepted culture of dumping. I wouldnt recommend it as a cycling destination purely for this.
The self- guided holiday model requires excellent equipment and extremely clear route notes. We spent a lot of time stopping and pondering which way to go and sometimes having to retrace our steps. Only a smallish portion of the ride from Vienna to Budapest actually borders the Danube.
Really enjoyed the trip and would explore more of Euro Velo 6 but hotels did not live up to 4 star expectations
A great experience - we did regret that we hadn’t extended the 5 to a 7 night holiday . Gozo is a very special place. The hotel was excellent particularly the friendly service and the superb evening meals. The walks were delightful .The highlight was joining in a procession through a village streets as part of a local festival.
Slovenia is a cycling holiday destination with great landscape variety, loads of local history, good food and wine growing regions all well supported by excellent cycling infrastructure. Small enough to be easily accessible but large enough to offer cycling touring contrasts (mountains, lakes, hills, vines, coastal paths)
Excellently organized holiday where most things worked well let down by the occasional flaw. For example the B&B in Lecce claimed not to be aware of our early arrival, whilst the initail briefing was of little added value party coz the guide admitted to being distracted by events elsewhere. The wealth of overlapping, sometimes conflicting, documentation does not always instill confidence. The walking app can be a little quirky but overall works very well particularly the off route and proximity alerts, making guidance very easy.
I loved being able to use an electric bike for the first time, the bike was of very good quality and was able to keep pace with my partner on a regular bike. The landscape we cycled through was mostly olive tree plantations, the towns were very interesting historically and particularly enjoyed our stay in Alberobello. Lots to see and the accommodation was in a trulli building which added to the atmosphere. Our favourite accommodation was at Masseria Salamina,
Fabulous food, lovely grounds and even had a dip in the pool in October! Altogether a great trip to an undiscovered area of Italy for me and my husband. The organisation and support was excellent. Two points that made it a challenge was the incomplete routes on the Headwater App not taking account of all our accommodation locations and the shortage of information on the routes , more detail would have been appreciated. I was quite shocked at the amount of rubbish, general waste tipping on the road sides. An excellent trip.
Great selection of activity holidays to diverse destinations offering the traveller a whole range of activities. Hotels are carefully chosen and Headwater go to great trouble to find local restaurants that offer food and drink that reflect the local area. Routes are carefully planned and detailed information provided. Headwater seem to use quality advisors to assist holiday makers whilst on their trips.
(Copied into separate email to Joanne Chaplin - I seem to have rambled too much!)
This is our second holiday with headwater and we would definitely travel with Headwater again. The organisation is good and all staff friendly and helpful. . We enjoyed Sicily very much and were very pleased with the bikes, locations and liked the mix of hotels . However we were really shocked by the rubbish that litters the Sicilian countryside and found it difficult to see past this to enjoy the countryside as we would have liked to. Most of the hotels were very good , one was a bit past it’s best . Mostly the food ( usual just breakfast ) was good, but our 2 last hotels the breakfast was poor and in one case very poor, with dreadful coffee in both. The other thing that I struggled with is that the beds were generally very firm to hard and in all the hotels but one the pillows were very hard foam and very uncomfortable. This of course could be normal for Sicily, but unfortunately I came home with a very sore neck. I am sounding negative, but really overall it was a great holiday .
Excellent holiday. Villa Favourita at Noto a real highlight
The route takes you through beautiful cities, where you eat delicious local food and sample local drinks. Cycling through the beautiful agricultural land and coast lines is throughly enjoyable on quiet roads. The routes each day are enjoyable but not too challenging. All the accommodation is delightful.
This was absolutely wonderful. We cannot rate Finca el Cerrillo hiighly enough. Gordon and Sue were welcoming and kind hosts, and the whole atmospherre was that of a family holiday. Rafa was a superb local guide, and knew the hills around us intimately. He clearly tailored the walks to our ability. The mix of meals (in the Finca and in local restaurants) was really good. We liked the 'honesty bar' but spent too much there!
Of all the walking holidays we have experienced with Headwater , (this is the fifth) this one was the best. Maybe because it was based at a single centre (the excellent Finca) and was guided . A combination of an excellent small hotel, outstanding food, a well informed guide and varied interesting walks made this a holiday to treasure.
T
Finca el Cerillo is an excellent holiday location. Accomodation and food were if a very high standard.
The walking, graded as level 1, was more difficult than I had anticipated and was exacerbated by the temperatures.
We had a great time - lovely area, comfortable hotel and amazing walks. It was great to stay in an authentic Italian village free from tourist traps.
Although rated as 1+, there are a lot of hills on this trip so we were glad we chose ebikes . My ebike started to emitt an enervating wailing sound from the front wheel hub and Philipo came out in a storm that evening to repair it. The scenery was varied and interesting, but there was a fair bit of urban and main road to negotiate, which was not pleasant. The hotel breakfasts were on the whole limited for vegans. We spent a couple of additional nights in Selinute, with a beautiful beach, warm sea and a laid back feel.
Booking arrangements good but a couple of minor glitches. Travel to and from destination good but see comment below.Cycles reliable and easy to use.Cycling involved quite long distances on minor roads and dedicated cycle tracks. Mostly excellent although muddy and slippery in one or two points. Chateaus did not disappoint although visits a bit hurried after a day on the bikes. If repeated would allow an extra day at Blois. Hotels and restaurants generally excellent but that at Amboise overlooked a noisy street and did not serve dinner.All in all an excellent break and would do again in another part of France.
We had a great time on this cycling trip, particularly enjoying staying in both the agriturismos, the one at Villaganzerla having the most convivial atmosphere at mealtimes, while 'il Feudo' was a more intimate family farmstead.
Whilst my husband is a regular cyclist for whom the (relatively rare) 'hills' and hair-pin bends were as to be expected, I as more of an occasional cyclist would have found them a challenge without the e.bike! We loved Este and Montelice, but didn't have enough time to see all the attractions, so if doing again would perhaps have built in an extra day. Similarly the canal boat museum at Battaglia was a gem. Our highlight in Teolo was being able to listen to a concert in the art gallery literally across from our accommodation (a once-a-month 'friends of' event). While October is clearly turning 'end of season', for us September was a perfect time as the weather was like a nice summer day in Britain.
The team also excelled with our extra night in Verona.
Excellent holiday, great accommodation, good quality bikes and stunning scenery
great experience
An excellent holiday with lots of variety in the walks. Madeira is a beautiful place. The route notes were very good and the arranged transport and transfers were efficiently carried out. The hotels were very comfortable and in good locations for the walks.
Piedmont is a truly beautiful, enchanting and interesting corner of NW Italy. We learnt a lot about the social and economic history, enjoyed the wines and food, and found all of the local people to be extremely friendly. The milk ice cream at the restaurant Guido was to die for! Our few days in Turin at the end were very enjoyable: a fascinating and beautiful (former capital) city with lots to see and do. We had very good weather and the end of September/early October was perfect for walking, seeing the grapes being harvested and the start of the truffle season. Some of the walks were quite tough in terms of ascent but the beauty of the landscape made up for it. We will certainly return to Piedmont.
Holiday was very good expect for staying in Belvedere Hotel
It could help if we had maps and app
Really interesting and entertaining trip. Route notes need very careful study though.
THE ALGAVE IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA OF PORTUGAL TO VISIT AND THE ITINERY WAS PERFECT AND ACCOMODATION WAS LOVELY. SOME OF THE HILLS WERE QUITE CHALLENGING BUT WORTH IT FOR THE VIEWS AND THE BEACHES WERE STUNNING. BIKES AND GPS MAPS WE WERE GIVEN WERE GREAT.
Sicily is a country of contrasts. The archeological sites are amazing, Segentum and Selinunte are fantastic. The roads are not in a great state of repair, and at times we had to wade through mud. The roadsides are disappointingly covered in rubbish, and fly tipping is very prevalent. The roads are also very busy for cycling, and the drivers don’t give you much room. As someone previously mentioned the bikes are not high quality, , heavy and really suitable for short city rides.
I’m sorry I don’t buy into the fact that they need to be sturdy as there are panniers. We carried virtually nothing . We went to the Egadi islands for a few days….they were fantastic, and great cycling, well worth a visit.
Eating out was very expensive.
We travelled in September , temperatures were great, and often a gentle wind.
The hotels were mainly great. It’s worth spending extra time in Palermo, as there are some amazing museums and palaces, The archeological museum has a lot of information on Selinunte.
The trip went like clockwork.Headwater delivered the entire y like clockwork .
Overall our holiday was great, well organised transfer, lovely staff, location and facilities at the hotel. Food and drink options also excellent. Walking options were varied.
I enjoyed a varied and interesting walk in Normandy.
The highlights of the trip were the times spent in Honfleur and Bayeux and its well worth tagging on an extra day at each end of your holiday.
The accommodation I stayed in was not as grand as that I experienced during a recent Headwater trip to the Dordoigne but it was more than adequate. The locations of the hotels were generally excellent. While in Beuvron en Huge I stayed at Le Manoir de Sens and just a bit of advice for any future travellers. There is no onsite catering so make sure you stock up on food and drink in the village at the end of the days walking.
The walking was generally interesting, taking in a combination of farmland, villages and coastline. At times the route was a little undulating but it shouldn't present a challenge to a regular walker. One of my objectives was to visit the D-Day beaches and I found the American and British war cemeteries particularly moving.
Overall, a very enjoyable trip.
From start to finish the whole service was first class. Highly recommended
Thoroughly enjoyable, and well organised trip
September was a wonderful time to walk in the Euganean Hills. The countryside was beautiful and the walking interesting and scenic.
We had a really great week cycling in Puglia. It’s a beautiful place and we felt we got closer to the countryside seeing it from a bike.
This is a great trip through the backroads of Provence.
An extremely enjoyable holiday but the cycling is quite challenging in places. The brochure does not make clear how much cycling is off road and on sandy , gravelly tracks - about 40% but the bikes provided are more than up to the task. Amazing scenery and plenty of opportunity to swim en route so make sure you carry your bathers.
Pleasant cycling on quiet roads through impressive mountain scenery
The holiday was excellent. We had a great time. On balance we would have preferred slightly more upscale accommodation. We especially thought that the Arts et Terroirs hotel in Gevrey Chambertin was extremely dated, and generally disappointing. The staff however were absolutely charming.
We found the printed walk instructions and maps very poor, and had we not downloaded and followed the app we would have got lost countless times. The instructions were too perfunctory and just didn’t do the job. Using the ‘Ride GPX’ app made the walk way easier.
Overall we loved our holiday and hope you will take any criticism in a positive way.
The classic Catalan walk offered a varied route from coastal scenery to well preserved villages in the interior. The standard of accommodation was good and well located.
On previous Headwater holidays the local rep has met us on arrival at the hotel to go through the itinerary but this didn’t happen here. We rang Cyprus Walks on the first evening and we spoke again a day or so later to arrange pick up times when we had more idea of what we wanted to do and how far we wanted to walk. It was good to have a choice of short and long routes each day. In Droushia we ate out each night. There was a choice of tavernas within walking distance but we went to Finikas Tavern every night which had a lovely courtyard at the back with a grape vine for a roof and did a fabulous Greek salad amongst other things. On our first walk we went to Mylari Bistro in Kritou Terra at lunch time for some welcome refreshment. Lovely walk to Lara beach. The Aphrodite Beach Hotel had a nice beach below it and a good fish restaurant not connected to the hotel which was only open in the daytime. Stoney beach so would recommend wet shoes/pumps in the sea. Overall, good holiday.
Overall we enjoyed the holiday but based on previous experience we felt the holiday should have been graded as a 2, and not 1+. The opportunities for visiting ancient sites on St Antioco and at Pula were well worth doing. We really enjoyed the frequent swimming breaks from the very many stunning beaches along the route, and the excellent food and wine! The support from the local agents, especially Naomi, was excellent
At the time of our visit dining and drinking options in the area were very limited with most cafes, bars and restaurants closed. The only real option was the hotel where food choice was limited and repetitive.
Doing our cycling holiday as a self-guided tour was an excellent way for four of us to travel, to see and experience this part of Sicily.
please see below
This was a first cycling holiday for my two friends and I and so we decided to get E-bikes. This turned out to be a good idea as there were quite a few hill towns to visit and the 'boost' was needed on some steeper climbs. The navigation app was very easy to follow and we never got lost. The accommodation along the route was excellent and having two nights in most places was very welcome. Cycling around this area of Puglia was really enjoyable and beautiful. I would definitely book another cycling holiday with Headwater as they were super helpful from start to finish and the whole trip was flawless
Wonderful welcome and support from Stefano and his team. Beautiful rides with some amazing views through varied terrain in the Val d'Orcia, challenging at times but not too much to handle. Lovely pool, ideal for a wind down after a day in the saddle. We looked forward to dinner every night, cooked with love from local produce. Excellent value home produced wines. We highly recommend this holiday. The Headwater team were incredibly helpful and efficient in answering our queries and arranging transfers. It is so refreshing (and so rare nowadays) to be able to speak to named helpful people who know what they are talking about.
We had an amazing holiday and have recommended to lots of our friends. Everything was managed really well, staff were friendly and the route was pretty easy to follow. Some of the instructions were a little tricky to follow at times but we got better at interpreting them as the holiday went on. The hotels are quite basic we had all 4 star but i would compare most of them to a UK premier inn standard - clean and comfy but standard and basic. However we would 100% go on another
Really enjoyable holiday! Well organised. Good bikes, easy cycling. Excellent, easy navigation app. Very quiet, rural location. Walking distance into the local village. Clean and comfortable accommodation. The pool and garden was an added bonus. Excellent home cooked food. I would recommend bringing a travel kettle and tea/coffee. It is also worth noting that not all rooms have a fridge.
Would highly recommend to anyone looking to experience a taste of rural life in Italy along with the chance to visit beautiful Vicenza.
There is a local supermarket, bakery and and a small café/bar in the village but worth noting that they seem to close at about 12.30 and don’t reopen until late afternoon.
This was our first trip to the Maltese Islands and we had a couple of days staying at the Pheonicia Hotel in Valetta, Malta before going over to our walking holiday in Gozo, which helped us to aclimatise to the area and understand its history a little. Both hotels we stayed in (the Pheonicia and Ta Cenc) were excellent, very comfortable, with great facilities and lovely food. The walks in Gozo were very interesting and helped us to see most of the island using the local bus service to take us to the start point for some walks. Our only criticism is that we needed larger scale maps and some of walk instructions need to be updated. We have done many Headwater Holidays and this was the first one where we struggled with some of the instructions, but a more detailed map would have made the difference. Otherwise it was a most enjoyable holiday- thank you!
Extremely gentle walking in beautiful Spanish scenery, excellent food and accommodation but rather a lot of idle time.
Overall, the holiday was very good. In mid-September we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine, and the walks themselves were enjoyable, varied and largely on well signposted wide gravel paths. We made full use of the cable cars, buses, Headwater’s GPS files and a free app called Swiss Topo. This enabled us to veer off the suggested routes, for example to the summit of First from the Allmenalp lift, although paths were well-marked. The views from the Oeschinensee walk were exceptional, but the stroll to Blausee (currently green) did not really merit a place on the itinerary. The location was ideal for a 7-day walking holiday. We got off to a poor start as the train from Bern was cancelled and when we rang the Alfa Soleil they weren’t expecting us until the following day. The superior room with balcony, for which we paid an extra £40 a night, was sunless, cold, cramped, dated, had no Wi-Fi and the fire escape ran through the middle of it. Make sure you get a room on the front.
Headwater response:
We would like to thank you for providing such comprehensive feedback.
We are pleased that you did enjoy your holiday and would like to assure you that your comments regarding the accommodation will be reviewed by the Product Manager for this holiday.
Headwater Customer Services
Incredible holiday, communication back and forth with Headwater prior to the trip was simple and straight forward, very friendly, knowledgable & was always able to help, easy to get hold of via email & over the phone. Flights, train & bus transfers from start to finish was seamless and very straight forward to follow. Hotel was in a prime location for accessing the mountains which meant everyday we were straight to the gondolas without any faff inbetween. Hotel was clean, friendly & happy to help with good local knowledge of the area, food & service was on point. 100% would be happy to use Headwater again to book a holiday, prior to the trip I had booked a trip with a different company which sadly fell through, their communication was poor and lacking leaving me unsure about these types of holidays. Headwater is the full opposite, a professional company who has completely got my confidence in using them again in the future. My holiday to Switzerland was one to remember so thank you!!
A very lovely holiday staying in beautiful cities in a variety of different types of accommodation. The walks were varied and well explained.
We enjoyed our holiday in Catalan. We found the medieval towns such as Pals, Begur and Corca very interesting. Also the villages on the coast. We visited Salvador Dali's Castle at Pubol which I would recommend. At Pubol we had very tasty and inexpensive lunch at the hotel there.
All the hotels were good but Hotel Castel d'Emporda was amazing. The battle of Waterloo display there was well worth viewing.
We went in the middle of September was lovely. Not too hot for cycling. The cycling was good too but there we did not like the hills to Begur or near the coast route so I would say it should have been marked as grade 1 bicycle with some steep hills occasionally
My self-guided cycling experience around Terceira was amazing in many ways. The hotels were really good quality and made you feel immediately welcome and relaxed. The beauty of the island needs to be seen, its incredibly lush and subtropical with a volcanic edginess. Tiago my guide was incredibly helpful and a wonderful mine of information which made the trip even more rewarding. I would highly recommend this holiday and look forward to returning.
A relaxing holiday, in a mix of beautiful country & small towns & villages. We were made to feel welcome by hoteliers & locals alike. Grape harvest was underway whilst we were in area & we found that very interesting!
Very well organised holiday and run very efficiently
We had a lovely time, everything from visiting the amphitheatre in Pula to sitting outside enjoying a delicious breakfast overlooking the waterside in Fazana. Lots of lovely sea food and the routes were varied and interesting. Alot of the routes were tracks rather than tarmac but it was fine for our bikes with no suspension (we took our own). September was a good time to go with temperature in the mid twenties. All the hotels were very nice but we preferred Fazana most of all due to its location.
We enjoyed our holiday in Puglia. All the hotels were good except the one in Alberobello which wasn’t a brilliant location and the breakfast was average.
We didn’t go to Otranto as the train times weren’t great. The driver at Alberobello was lovely and extremely helpful.
Enjoyable holiday provided with excellent bikes. Impressive towns and countryside and excellent routes
This was our first "organised" holiday and so a new experience for us. The organisation was excellent, including travel bookings, taxis from hotels to start of walks, and luggage transfer. The hotels were superb, all with character and very "French" (family-owned, no chains). The walk directions were clear and accurate, as were the maps, and the availablity of GPX files was very helpful. The staff at Headwater were very helpful and efficient, and replied to emails and phone-calls very quickly. I would certainly book a walking holiday through Headwater again.
We had a wonderful holiday! The unique selling point of Headwater is the combination of walking in beautiful scenery and high-class accommodation. The pace of the holiday allowed time to explore the local area as well as enjoy the hotels. The walks were generally very well described, and the maps we only used as back-up on odd occasions. I would thoroughly recommend Headwater....we had a great time ! Thank you !
Great trip well supported and will book again
Super. Cycling tour. Everything we needed was provided by friendly and efficient service. Highly recommended.
We really enjoyed the Barola wine trip. The hotels and the service was excellent. The countryside was beautiful, similar to Tuscany and no crowds. The hilltop villages were so pretty and each hotel was so comfortable and welcoming.I like some previous reviewers recommend an e bike unless you are a seasoned biker. Some of the hills were grueling.
For headwater. Recommend your guests to book ahead for the wine tours in Fontanafredda. We got there and they were all booked up which was disappointing.
The Altmuhltal 5 day walking holiday is one of the less good Headwater holidays we’ve been on - we've been in more than a dozen. Our holiday was in September and therefore just after the season ended. As a result finding restaurants was difficult - we actually had no dinner at Dollnstein since all the restaurants were closed. A little tricky after a 17 mile walk!
The walking was enjoyable, through pretty countryside. Day 2 was tough (Pappenheim to Dollnstein) and dragged on a bit towards the end. We’re glad we didn’t do the longer holiday, which would have been very tough.
Eurohike notes were scant, but their App was excellent.
One high point was Hotel zur Sonne in Pappenheim. A lovely hotel and fabulous restaurant.
One last point. We don’t recommend flying via Nuremberg. BA flights in and out were late in the day. Our outbound flight ran 3 hours late, meaning we arrived at our hotel after midnight. Our return flight was almost as late, meaning we got home similarly very late.
This was a lovely trip. The notes for the walk were excellent - very helpful. This a walk so worth doing even though it was quite taxing in parts.
All hotels excellent, but all slightly different. Had a little trouble with walking notes and ended up walking much farther than expected. Very nice part of Spain and area I didn’t know I enjoyed Girona on the way back again very good hotel and right in the centre
The walking was fine but a bit too much on lanes/roads for us personally. That said I appreciate that this was as much to do with the area chosen as anything else and also the fact that we had to get from A to B. The hotels were all very different and without exception fun to stay in. The only downside was the limited choice/unchanging menus at two of them (already corresponded about). The maps didn't arrive until after we'd left for the holiday and were awaiting our arrival home. Luckily my husband had managed to buy copies as they proved essential at times, although the walking notes were on the whole, very good.
Fantastic route with forest, rivers and sea, with historic villages.
Could have done with a complete support pack, tubes, brake pads as heavy rain caused punctures and brakes to wear quickly. The support team were great but would be useful to have back up kit at hotel. Great trip.
Another great holiday with Headwater!
The holiday provides a great tour of the beautiful coastline of Southern Sardinia and the islands. The cycling is relaxed with lots of opportunities to stop off at beautiful beaches
Self-Guided cycling across Portugal, Porto to Sagres. Brilliant. Great trip. Custom made holiday by the team at headwater. Excellent accommodation and support as needed by the local teams. Highly recommend.
Our week in Kandersteg was highly anticipated and still managed to exceed our expectations. The Alpha Soleil was a lovely location with a fantastic breakfast and supper dinner meal. Portions are generous, but not excessive. The provision for lunch packing made each hiking day so easy, The hike plans were so clear and maps so excellent we never wondered if we had strayed from the intended path. The staff was cheerful and generally kind. Many made you feel like a new friend, without being overbearing.
The hike itineraries were stunning, for those who love the mountains. The trails are clean and adequately maintained and not too heavily populated. We would do every hike again, they are so wonderful. They are challenging, but not difficult. We commonly spent 6 hours/day on the trail, basking in the beauty of this spectacular setting.
Further, Kandersteg is so convenient to other marvelous Swiss mountain towns, you can easily extend to see even more.
A great holiday as long as you are happy to find your own way around places and have a good level of fitness. Very well organised and efficient.
All that we were looking for in this holiday - great location, stunning scenery, peace when walking, great support and excellent food - the first proper holiday for one of us in a long while and well overdue.
The only note is, wow, Tuscan food can be rich/heavy!! Used to more of the Mediterranean style Italian food and occasionally it was a bit too much for both of us in the meat and/or cheese combinations. But always excellent in taste and quality which really shone through.
Stefano and the team were outstanding, very helpful and knowledgeable. He's a great host and ambassador for you and the rest of the team were also very kind and helpful. Location is perfect, the walks measured and always end in somewhere nice for a late lunch and wander in some shady streets. Mid September was a great time - not too hot or crowded but still plenty going on.
The holiday and value for money was let down by the George Hotel experience
Menorca is a beautiful, quiet island ideal for 1 boot walking. I cannot rate the hotel anything other than excellent, it surpassed all expectations. Great location and facilities.
The ideal combination of active days in beautiful surroundings with indulgent meals and lovely accommodation, all arranged for you.
Headwater were really helpful and met our various requests. It was an excellent trip with varied walks which really give you a feel for the La Palma. Recommend you use the first walk to gague the timings suggested in the instructions, and use a map too. Take plenty of water and snacks as cafés along some routes are closed. Take a swim suit on the Charco Azul walk as the sea pools there are great, and a refreshing way to end the walk. Make sure you have your camera charged as the scenery is stunning!!!
Excellent walking trip on a beautiful scenic island
Excellent trip, very well organised, great hotels with lovely swimming pools, just what we wanted and can't wait to book our next holiday with Headwater.
Underwhelming scenery and very average hotels. Headwater navigation app useful but massive drain on phone battery. Would be good if clients were advised to have back up battery. Will not be going to this part of Portugal again, nor will be be recommending this trip to others. The Headwater brochure description of the coastal cycling trip was completely inaccurate - has anyone at Headwater been on this trip. Cycling through industrial sites and run down seaside / touristy towns is not something we were expecting.
We had a fun week with our friends
despite the rather dull cycling!
An excellent choice for a first cycle tour. With comfortable accommodation and plenty to do and see on the days we were not cycling.
The staff at headwater were extremely helpful during the booking stage. They arranged an e bike at short notice a few days before we were due to travel. All hotels were comfortable with excellent breakfasts. The route was easy to follow although gps would have been helpful when going into the larger towns. Will definitely use Headwater again.
Great fun very interesting and enjoyable.
Great to visit Seville, Carmona, Jerez & Cadiz but as a cycling holiday this was less interesting than other more rural Headwater holidays we have done. Long stretches of monotonous agricultural scenery on the Andalusian plains with little shade & few villages to stop in. Also a lot of heavy going off road cycling. But it is level 3 & early September very hot. Glad we had EBikes!
We enjoyed this cycling route through hills, forests, attractive villages and around the Bavarian lakes and Alps. Our e-bikes were excellent, though we would have appreciated a more detailed introuduction from the Eurobikes rep. The hotels were all very comfortable and welcoming, while the luggage transfers worked smoothly. All in all, though, a most enjoyable tour of Bavarian landscapes, food and architecture.
Our Mallorca cost to coast trip was another great Headwater holiday for us. We loved the variety going across the island and stayed in some quirky but fantastic places. I would recommend it to others as a great way to see some of the real Mallorca and have a varied holiday at the same time. The travel arrangements were great and the bike rental was no problem at all, even when we had a puncture on a small country road. Someone attended to it very quickly. All in all a great holiday.
Great place to cycle if first time as most of the routes are very flat and easy to follow. Lots of local life and architecture to see en-route.
We are a couple in our mid-70s and found the distances and cycling routes easily managed on our e-bikes. We were very impressed by the many cycle paths on the Atlantic coast. The few hills on the route to Coimbra were easily managed on our e-bikes. We appreciated the good quality of the hotels and their locations. Our Trek e-bikes were very good quality although we would have liked one female step-through bike rather than the sloping crossbar provided. Charging them was easily done in the hotels. It was worthwhile booking an extra day in Coimbra to explore the city. Most of the food was of very good quality and good value.
Stunning views and wonderful small towns and villages to meander through. There are quite a few new roads and cycle ways which have been built since the route notes were last printed, and so a degree of deduction and use of the two Kompass maps is recommended.
We enjoyed the holiday. The cycling alongside the River Danube often on the old tow path was excellent, along well maintained, clearly signposted routes with lovely scenery. There were often lovely river boats and barges on the river and we often crossed the river on dams or small boat ferries. We decided to have E-bikes although tended to only need a bit of input from the batteries towards the end of the longer 50Km plus cycling days. The standard of our hotels was generally good although evening meal options in some places were limited. The Zur Post hotel in Melk and the Wolfinger in Linz were very central and very comfortable. Our two evening meals in the Zur Post were excellent. After a long day’s cycle there was often limited time to explore some of the towns and cities E.g Linz. It was wonderful to be able to cycle the final leg from Tulln to our central hotel in the beautiful historical part of Vienna and we stayed for two nights to explore the city.
The company have been fantastic, we’ve had the holiday postponed for 2 years. The best communication & customer service I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. I can not recommend the company highly enough. The all inclusive deal at Kandersteg Switzerland was absolutely fantastic. The hotel was fantastic and the food was 5*. Well organised and stunning views
More personal Headwater monitoring is needed overall - you are not as in touch as you were in 2012 when we last did this trip. For example, don't arrange an evening meal (in a particularly poor Beer Garden) too close to the time for the evening briefing! You need to check hotels and their location personally - especially in cities - leaving it to your partner-company to sort out is not satisfactory. The route directions to hotels were generally very poor and need to be re-written - based on your own personal experience!
Overall very good, only gripe we had was the hotel in Vienna was a long way from the city Center, luckily we had an extra day staying there.
A very good holiday, much enjoyed.
We were a party of one 25 year old who used a regular road bike and his 2 parents who were glad we’d booked ebikes as the route was very hilly in parts, as described in the route literature. The cities and towns we stopped in were beautiful and so interesting. The hotels in Florence and Pisa were a little out of town but pleasant walks there along the river. The routes between the stops were through mainly agricultural landscape and largely on roads, some quite busy, or on tough gravel riverside paths. In the cites luckily there were dedicated cycle lanes. The holiday was well organised and the local agent helpful although stressed he wouldn’t come to assist with punctures (fortunately we had none). The bikes were well maintained although some suspension in the saddle would have helped. All in all we had an excellent holiday - our third with Headwater - and would definitely recommend the company and look forward to going with them again some day
We have travelled with Headwater pre and post dependent children for over 25 years and loved every trip. Locations and itineraries alwasys spot on.
It really was quite a magical trip, with some outstanding rides, breath-taking views and great places to stay. We enjoyed the sense of an overall journey from the mountains to the sea, and the variety along the way. Our local agent was outstanding.
A wonderful hotel in a beautiful area, with excellent provision for cycling - mostly on cycle paths or very quiet roads, through stunning scenery.
After 15 plus years of hotel to hotel cycling holidays this was our first single centre cycling holiday. Although the cycling distances were short we were able to combine rides with walks to ensure a good day of activity and I would recommend that good walking shoes are worn for cycling as some paths are quite rough.
The Bergrose hotel was exceptional with an excellent spa, superb meals and friendly and efficient staff.
The Headwater cycling app was fantastic and removes the need for the group debate at every junction as to which way to turn.
Very enjoyable overall. The hotel was excellent apart from their billing system which conflated my bill with another couple. The scenery was beautiful but the difficulty of the walks was understated and we did not find the App helpful. More guidance is need on how to deal with an emergency situation whilst walking as access would be difficult. The written walk notes were very detailed and accurate, except for the walk from Amalfi to Ravello.
For a walking holiday, be very sure you are a strong, able walker. The walk grading is very misleading.
Stunning location - most walks are from the hotel but there is also a shuttle which always seemed to be available for us when required but in any case the local buses are frequent. We cannot rate the hotel staff highly enough, fun and enthusiastic people on reception, really knowledgeable staff in the restaurant (especially regarding the local wines)
It would have been useful to review the walking notes prior to booking as our first day fell on a Sunday when places were closed, it also meant other things on consecutive days were closed on the days that we were visiting so we could have altered our day of arrival to make the most of our time in the area. Would have requested an upgrade on the first hotel had we known how basic and small the room was, would also have liked the opportunity to explore Blois and its chateau but we were shipped out at 9am the day after arrival. If we'd read the notes we could have requested an extra night in Blois. There was nothing in Chitenay other than the hotel, the days we stayed it was a fixed dinner menu so the only choice was between dessert or cheese - no option on starter or main course. We didn't enjoy the dinners here, but our taxi driver had said it had a very good restaurant - it was a shame we couldn't choose from the main menu on the days we were there. Very helpful local staff at Rando
A well organised and very interesting introduction to the geography and history of Sicily. Transfers and site visits were well planned and always ran like clockwork. We appreciated the range of walks offered to suit weather and fitness levels. Strongly recommended.
The Camino De Santiago was a wonderful holiday, great accommodation, food, route notes, etc and when our plane was delayed Headwater could not have been more helpful to arrange alternative flights.
This holiday gave us the unique opportunity to explore the Catalan countryside while cycling on gravel paths and country roads combined with rest days exploring Girona and the wonderful Dali museum. We chose to use E bikes and were very glad we did as it gave us the opportunity to go 'off piste' to visit small fishing ports without the worry of having to cycle back up a long hill on a hot afternoon. The most impressive aspect of cycling in this part of Catalonia is how worry free it is. There are cycle paths everywhere and we found the local drivers to be very considerate to cyclists. The cycle into Girona, for example, was a joy as the route followed leafy paths alongside a river for much of the way leading straight to the heart of this beautiful city and our hotel. The navigation app was brilliant; that little reassuring voice in your ear saving endless minute of debate about the 'right way'.
Holiday was actually booked via Exodus so difficult to comment.
Great trip - the locations were stunning and the walking routes were fabulous. Our only mild complaint was the communications about what was open and when, on the trip. For example - we booked the trip to start on a Friday, which meant our first 'rest' day when there were 4 local wineries to visit - was a Sunday. When all 4 wineries were closed.
It would have also been useful to have the heads up about restaurant closings on Monday and Tuesday in the region. Both days it was very difficult to find lunch and dinner spots, and all that was needed was the heads up from the agent that you need to have this in mind and book in advance. The same goes for all winery tours and restaurant bookings - the places are so small and the places get booked up. The impression we had from the guide and itinerary was that you can simply drop into places, which is not the case. You need to plan much more yourself.
This holiday was a new challenge for us as we are occasional cyclists and normally organise everything for ourselves. The experience was just great! All of the arrangements worked perfectly and we had a fantastic holiday. The cycling was perfectly suited to our standard and the chateau and landscapes were magnificent. We arrived home and immediately grabbed the brochure to plan our next trip.
Wonderful (first time) leisurely biking high class gastronomic wine tour with beautiful mountain vistas every day
We loved our trip! and we are already planning more bike trips in 2023!! Some disappointments. 1. The boys’ bikes seemed to be much older than for the girls, with batteries that would hardly last a day, so that Fabrizio ended up replacing one of the batteries. Their power for turbo was often not enough for the steeper hills (and we all have bikes in Canada so we are used to pedal assist on hills). The girls’ bikes were excellent. 2. The app was great, except outdated for some places, which might have been a covid related issue. It would be handy for the app to include where free charging stations are, as it seemed that quite a few villages had them, and we definitely needed these at times with the battery issues. 3. We were disappointed with Fontanafredda, who did not seem to know how to deal with bikes, such that one of the bikes was plugged in near the lobby. 4. The other hotels were excellent in handling the bikes, and just lovely. Thanks for such a great trip!
A good holiday for those who prefer easier walking and time to visit places of interest en route e.g. St David's Cathedral. We had excellent accommodation (and breakfasts!) with knowledgeable and helpful hosts - having left a camera behind, one even offered to bring it out to me, a 10 mile round trip! Our briefing by Laura was thorough and she assured us she was available at all times. She remained friendly and informative throughout.
It did what it said on the tin. Easy walks of suitable distance and effort. saw all literary locations but we did need to do our own route to see Beatrix Potter's house which was a meaningful ommision from the itinerary.
What a glorious holiday! The cycling routes; the quality of the bikes; the standard of the hotels; the locations; the food - everything was perfect! One of our best ever holidays. Hard to find any ways this holiday could be improved.
Lovely walking holiday in Provence - beautiful hilltop villages, vineyards and views. Not too challenging and good to relax by the pool in the afternoons.
Very disappointed with this holiday. Not cycling on coastal routes as expected and stated in brochure and cycling some distances on main roads. Some poor hotels. Enjoyed Porto and Aveiro which are lovely cities. Some uninspiring cycle routes. Despite stating 4 star hotels, 2 of them very poor. Very expensive for what it was.
We loved our trip to Corsica. The local agents, and particularly Emanuel, were chatty and informative. The hotels were good and the one in St Florent had a huge terrace overlooking the sea - which was very special. The sea swimming was beyond brilliant. A note about the walks however - don't rely on the maps and instructions. They are not 100% accurate but there is an app (so think about data and battery life) ... we used the app - and it stopped us going wrong many, many times. Also - many of the walks are labelled "coastal" but don't be fooled into thinking they're flat or easy - the paths are rugged, so bring robust walking shoes. The walks are stunning, and challenging in places ... but always worth it.
Wayfinding instructions not always accurate. Briefing in Orvieto unhelpful, Ingrid didn't know about our lack of full information from Headwater, assumed we could print info from our phones. Headwater asked for travel insurance details when we were already in Orvieto. But taxi to S. Lorenzo Nuovo excellent, luggage transfer worked, all accommodation able to cater for a gluten and dairy free diet. We enjoyed staying at small family-run hotels - Capranica probably needs refurbishing - location excellent.
As 'first timers' on a cycling holiday, we all enjoyed every moment of the trip. Visited amazing places and a great way for a group of friends to catch up and have fun. Already arguing about the destination of next years cycling holiday !
We had never heard of the Venetian Hills, before spotting the trip on the Headwater website, and we are delighted to discover to this beautiful and unspoilt area. It seems almost unknown to British tourists, and the visitors seemed mainly to be locals. It is perfect walking country - clear paths, lovely countryside, very quiet and peaceful. We often walked for hours without meeting a soul, enjoying stunning views.
The scenery is lovely - steep and (sometimes) rocky wooded hills, olive groves, vinyards, isolated farms, pretty villages and interesting historic villas, historic towns. The walking is good, on very quiet lanes, tracks and footpaths. The directions were almost always very clear and reliable.
Although the distances are relatively short, hills are steep and some paths are rough and rocky - especially the full option on the final day (which is well worth it). Hotels are all lovely - excellent dinners, welcoming staff. The excellent wine (very cheap) is a bonus.
Amazing holiday but beware the gradient guide can be deceptive! Barolo Gastronomic is hilly - electric bike recommended and we are active fit cyclists !
This was an amazing holiday. From the time of booking to the completion of the tour all ran smoothly. The app for navigation was brilliant - would only go on trips like this in future if this app was used. Puglia Cycling who did our transfers were always on time and very pleasant. Luggage was delivered by 4 pm each day, often earlier and usually waiting in room for us.
The weather was hot but a breeze kept it comfortable. Plenty of water is essential. It is worth noting that in some towns the public toilets are locked during siesta time but restaurants/bars were still open. There are many beaches and swimming holes along the way to stop and have a dip.
Unforgettable. Thank you to Headwater and Puglia Cycling.
The Dordogne activities holiday was well thought out and put together. The staff on the ground wee helpful and available. The accommodation was uniformly excellent and baggage transport efficient and problem free. Equipment was good quality and well maintained. Be aware that e-bikes need to be pre-specified, which is a detail that had passed me by and if walking any stages, the instructions are sketchy. Other than that, a lovely experience and a good holiday.
Headwater offer the opportunity to explore a region in the best way possible, cycling. Interesting places to visit and a variety of accommodation and food. Great adventures to be had.
Excellent holiday, especially for visiting places of historic interest
The Bolzano to Venice cycle had beautiful scenery, especially in the Dolomites and Lake Garda. The cycle paths were excellent but some days cafes and restaurants en route were scarce and no guidance on this was given by the Girolibero agent. Usually the Headwater agent is very helpful about this. The only guidance we were given was about the electric bikes which were excellent and made the longer days, 75km, very manageable, although never staying in the same hotel for two nights made the cycle a bit intense. Hotels were not up to the usual Headwater standard except for the Sporting Hotel near Padua which was excellent. Some rooms especially in Mestre were very small. No advice was given about roadworks detours which caused problems.
Excellent walking and grand countryside. Luggage transfer worked perfectly. Walking notes were spot-on. The choice of itinerary, start and end points were excellent for public transport. I took the advice of some of your reviewers and stayed an extra night at Twice Brewed to visit the museums (Vindolanda, Chesters, Housesteads) on a non-walking day (AD 122 bus) and was glad that I did. Vindolanda alone took over 2 hours and I could have stayed longer. I allowed time at the end to visit the Roman Town and museum at Corbridge - an excellent finale to the week. Some of the walking was challenging but the lengths of the stages were well managed and this 76-year-old enjoyed herself very much. Hotels were well chosen (the food at Greenhead and at Corbridge was excellent) but although The George at Chollerford is stunningly situated and I had a lovely modern room, management was woefully absent and food was awful. The weather was perfect. I had a great holiday. Thankyou Headwater!
We had an excellent cycling holiday from Passau to Vienna. We would have liked more time in Passau as we arrived late in the evening, probably should have added an extra day there . We had an excellent time and plenty of recreational time each day when we arrived at a new place.
Would highly recommend this holiday.
Very well organised holiday staying in comfortable hotels. We experienced more of the country than we expected and really enjoyed the experience.
Thank you for a wonderful holiday. The Dordogne region is a beautiful part of France, and lent itself well to this type of activity holiday. We were very impressed with the hotels, all with swimming pools, which were very welcome after hot days walking, cycling or kayaking. Staying in the luxurious Chateau Monrecour was a particular highlight.
Christine explained everything perfectly, and was even able to swap two of our individual kayaks for a double after the first day, which made the second day on the river easier.
This is quite an active holiday - perfect for my 15 year old, but some of the up-hill cycling (mostly just the last day - we are from a flat part of the world!) and kayaking on his own was sometimes a bit of a stretch for the 13 year old, although we got there in the end. The Headwater App made navigating on the bikes very easy.
Lots of happy memories of a fantastic week.
If you are lucky enough to be there at the right time of the year, the Swiss Alps is a wonderful place to be. This tour, with its centrally located hotel, offers access to some excellent walking in outstanding mountain countryside. It was also great value for money compared to what we would have had to pay had we booked the hotel and cable cars and found food and drinks ourselves.
La Peitriccia is a delightful agriturismo. The family were charming and Stefano could not do enough for us. We had a meeting with him every day after breakfast when he helped us work out what we wanted to do. We were a group of four, all over the age of 69! We did find the walks a bit too much for us but Stefano adjusted them and drove us to destinations and collected us when we finished the walks. The rooms were simple but very adequate and we had a lovely terrace looking over vineyards and up to the hill top village, where we had an interesting delicious wine tasting following our first day's walk.
The meals were excellent. They were always cooked freshly using local produce. There was no choice but this did not prove a problem and they felt very authentic. We drank the local wines which were delicious. The swimming pool was not heated but was very pleasant although we didn't have that much time to use it. Highly recommended.
Excellent week spent round lake Konstanz. Plenty of places to stop off for swimming, mini golf, food and drink and even fishing. Stunning scenery, great accommodation. Would recommend b&b only as plenty of places to eat out but if you did want to eat in hotel book ahead. Bikes were excellent quality .
If I was bringing really picky I would suggest that GPS app for route would be a lot easier as it was a bit of a pain having to stop to read directions/turn page.
We did the recommends wine tasting at Hendricks (joesoh Furst) this was a fantasy experience with a wonderful lady who was so passionate and knowledgeable and extremely friendly, she also has amazing English, we really wished we could had carried more wine on our bikes.
Overall this was an excellent family holiday and would definitely recommend it.
We had the most wonderful holiday cycling on electric bikes in the Ventoux region of Provence, to celebrate my 70th birthday earlier this month. Our guide, Christophe, was very helpful and charming and most anxious to ensure that we had a fantastic holiday. Similarly the hotel staff were very keen to provide a high quality of service, particularly in helping me locate a lost jacket. The Jardin de Mazan was the most wonderful hotel both in the quality of accommodation and the wonderful meal Eric cooked for us, Both Eric and his wife did everything possible to make our stay memorable and nothing was too much trouble for them. It will be a very hard holiday to beat.
This was our first Headwater holiday for 4 years and was a very enjoyable holiday, with relatively easy cycling, and a sense of achievement when we finally made it to the coast. The scenery at the start of the holiday is stunning and the time in the mountains is definitely the best cycling. Once you leave Udine it is not so interesting, but visiting Palmanova and Aquileia made up for this. The best evening meals were to be found in Udine and La Carmagnola is definitely worth a visit. It was the first time we had encountered the Headwater app…didn’t really use it in anger as the route is very well signposted. On the downside the written route notes generated from whatever technology is used lacked descriptive detail which would have been helpful on a couple of occasions..
Hotels were all good and had good bike storage facilities.
We used an app recommended by the representative in Croatia and made very little use of the printed instructions
Enjoyed the holiday looking forward to another family cycling holiday next year
Brilliantly organised-good walks/maps and transfers.
Well looked after-can’t think of any way to have made it better than it was
Our trip to Provence was spectacular ! Headwater very kindly customised our trip, to allow my husband to fulfil a long term dream - cycling up Mont Ventoux, for his 60th birthday.
Megan, at Headwater, kept me involved and up to date with the progress of the booking from when the initial enquiry was made until we departed for France. The standard of the hotels was superb, the navigation app kept us on track and the road bikes we were provided with for the ascent of Mont Ventoux were spot on. Overall an excellent trip.
Great trip for people with different levels of cycling experience
This was an excellent holiday on all fronts. The Headwater staff were their usual helpful self, including a mix up with bikes in France which was resolved very quickly. The hotels and locations were first-class and we could not fault anything at all. This was our third Headwater holiday. Much more interesting than the last one in Chablis where the villages were almost deserted in August and on a par with our first one in Umbria. A big thanks to Helen, Sara, Katie , Steph , Cecile and all who helped. Not cheap but we think great value for money and just what the doctor ordered after COVID!
We loved our holiday. The arrangements worked very well, although changing planes in Munich seemed to involve numerous checks of passports and boarding passes. The Ostuni Palace was of the highest possible standard and so it took quite an adjustment to settle into Palazzo Rollo where the room was much more basic. Everyone was exceptionally kind and helpful. Taxis worked well and so did the train journeys.
Expected to be cycling around small fishing villages and cycle trails, was not expecting to be around built up and overcrowded seaside resorts.
A varied cycle tour with lovely locations at the end of each day. There are some challenging sections along the valleys when windy, but otherwise enjoyable. Although there are some pretty towns and villages along the way, it is best to travel to the end points to spend time in those areas.
Excellent holiday, very highly recommended. However, 3 comments. Bike collection in Astorga, your directions say collect from Bike Shop at 9.00 am but the Bike Shop does not open until 9.30 am. MY Ebike was very good but the chain kept coming off,. On 13 Aug, our accommodation was changed to Casa Blanco but the route given in both the App and paper maps was only to A Parada das Bastas. We had to go to A Parada day Bastas and ask them for directions, which thankfully worked.
We travelled by ferry and car with our two children aged 14 & 12 for the Dordogne Activities holiday, a total of 8 nights in the Dordogne. Two days canoeing and 5 days cycling. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We are used to cycling at home and have also done a fair amount of canoeing previously. The quality of the bikes was very good, the cycling was about the right level for us, a few hills, mainly quiet lanes and roads but there were a few fast and busy ones. The canoeing was enjoyable too, the water level was very low in places in the Dordogne due to the prolonged drought making the canoeing harder due to less current and needing to navigate to deeper water. The accommodation was on the whole very good and also the food, although menu options were a bit limited at times. We would definitely use Headwater again for a cycling holiday.
Great places and scenery, pleasant walks, very nice accommodation (except in Blois), delicious food and good fun altogether. Some fine tuning and adjustments in logistics would improve the overall exprience of otherwise great holiday!
La Linghe is a beautiful area, almost medieval with its vistas of extensive vineyards peppered by numerous hilltop towns and villages. The walks are great, well signposted and easy to follow. Some of the views are stunning. We really enjoyed the range of locations in which we stayed: smart winery hotel, cosy wine bar rooms and some villa glamour. Just a note: If walking in August you will need to carry plenty of water as many places are closed. We found we had to be quite self-reliant on occasions which was fine but which a first timer might find a challenge.
Really enjoyable, accommodation and food were really good, navigation app was brilliant, Christophe’s advice on where to go and to eat was invaluable, itinerary was also fantastic with options to do as much or little as we wanted. The routes were very well planned being mostly on quiet back roads through beautiful scenery. As the weather was very hot we chose to bike in the mornings so we could relax in the afternoons. In cooler whether we would have taken more time and explored more en route.
Overall we had a good holiday. The quality of the hotels were good. The bikes were sturdy and we had no problems. The local agents used by Headwater holidays did not follow the itinerary that was given on the Headwater website. This meant that some days we cycled longer than expected (other days less) and stayed in very rural villages that had little or no facilities.
This is a fantastic way to see parts of a country you would probably never see. The routes are so well planned and thought through taking you along cycle paths and quiet country lanes to villages and towns and places of interest away from busy main roads( mostly). The app is really accurate, useful and easy to use. The bikes are sturdy hybrids that are well maintained. If you don’t use an e-bike then you do have to have a certain level of fitness as cycling each day as some parts of the routes can be a bit of a challenge( some uphills require a bit of effort). Also you should be aware how the heat might affect your ability to do cycle. This caught me off guard but we just chose to leave earlier to avoid the sun. The arrival in Florence was fabulous, finishing at the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge with a cool beer and then having the following day to explore was wonderful. Truly spectacular city. On the last day we biked part way to Pisa and then took the train. A unique way to see Tuscany
The hadrians wall holiday is well thought out with extremely detailed route notes and with accommodation in all the right places . The scenery is stunning , and the food in all but one of the pubs was good . We stayed two nights at twice brewed in order to be able to take part in an excellent star gazing event and also to visit vindolanda. The baggage transfers worked really smoothly . The AD 122 bus ( every two hours along the route ) was really helpful for getting around . The only thing I can say is that the taxi to
The start of the first days walking was expensive … but there is no other way of getting there ! Also , the stay at the George hotel was decidedly substandard : grubby rooms, weedy garden, food not great , broken shower . I would want to stay somewhere else really .
Thanks headwater for a great holiday .
Kandersteg is a great location for a hassle free centre based walking holiday in Switzerland. The surrounding mountains are spectacular (helped by a week of near perfect weather) and the recommended walks are all good, providing variety to fill the week. The inclusion of all meals at the very hospitable Hotel Alfa Soleil as well as the provision of two separate guest cards on arrival to allow for free use of the local cable cars and public transport makes the holiday good value for money given that prices in Switzerland can be quite high. Headwater emailed me GPX files for downloading onto my phone a few weeks before arrival for navigation purposes. Route finding in the Swiss Alps is already straightforward with excellent waymarking on the ground, but the GPX files were very accurate and made finding my way even easier.
Fabulous countryside, interesting villages, great wines.
We had a wonderful holiday in the beautiful Venetian hills with excellent walking routes and directions, lovely views and good hotel locations on our itinerary. It was the first holiday of this type we had done, and our first Headwater holiday, but we would definitely do a similar trip again. Headwater were really prompt and helpful at all times when we needed anything or had minor changes to request, and also incredibly efficient - they managed to sort our holiday when our booked holiday was cancelled at short notice, so were really so helpful on this occasion.
Great trip. Loved Porto and glad we added two extra days to explore the city. Excellent choice of small friendly hotels in good locations. Enjoyed visiting a part of Portugal that is less travelled by British tourists. All felt very Portuguese. Interesting cycle along the coast, mostly on good cycle paths, passing through sand-dunes, pine forests and lakes. Some stretches arid and scrubby but it didn't take away from our overall enjoyment of the trip. Fantastic seafood and fish - not to mention Portuguese wines - throughout the trip. The cycle ride was mostly flat although the wind was (apparently unusually) blowing South to North for the whole trip so we were cycling against it. Great for the whole family. Perfect cycling weather as the sea mist didn't burn off until early afternoon so it was warm but cloudy. The sun came through just in time to hit the beach. Fabulous long beaches, partic at Praia de Miro, with great waves.
An excellent holiday- a combination of a great cycling route, interesting places to visit en route and very welcoming, high standard accommodation. The cycling is easy and pleasurable- the longer distances are planned for days where it is very flat or downhill. The scenery- particularly for the first few days is spectacular.The app is excellent , making following the route and also visiting interesting places along the way very easy. There was plenty to do in the non- cycling days (Lussari cable car, Orrido della Slizza gorge walk, the tobogganing and the mini golf all excellent and mostly free thanks to the card provided at the hotel in Tarviso).Each hotel was very welcoming- booking excellent restaurants for us each night. Steph at Headwater and Miroslav and team in Slovenia/Italy were very good at organising all parts of the trip. Our first Headwater holiday but definitely not our last - we all voted to do another trip next year!
There were some good hotels (this questionnaire gives the wrong ones) and nice moments. Tiago is great. But this is not an easy trip and there needs to be more info about the bikes. Let's have a chat. I'll write a fair review - there aren't any at the moment and there needs to be at least one..
We have traveled with Headwater 7 times now. Once again we were very happy with the organisation and support we received. One day I had a flat tyre on my bike and we talked through the changing of it with the agent. He said someone would come to rescue us, but we fixed it ourselves so didn’t need help. The cycling varied between flat terrain down the coast and undulating through the countryside.
Easy cycling, mostly adjacent to the Danube with some forays inland, with ample opportunites for refreshing dips in the river and cafe stops along the way. Perfect for a heatwave!
We have travelled a lot and done a variety of different holidays and would say that this was the best walking holiday we have ever done. The hotel is outstanding and the app was brilliant. I was worried about navigation as I usually go guided but it was so easy to use. I couldn't recommend it enough.
It was Type 2 fun. Some of the walks were quite hard going in the heat but we were pleased once we’d completed them.
The locations were good.
Excellent hotels in great places, good bikes, excellent routes, everything worked faultlessly
Enjoyable safe cycling along mainly dedicated cycle tracks through some beautiful countryside. Everything ran very smoothly - with our luggage generally waiting for us when we arrived at our hotel. The hotels were all very pleasant and the breakfasts were plentiful with a focus on fresh local ingredients. The hotel staff were pleasant and helpful and all spoke good English (whilst also humouring our attempts to speak German) The arrangements for picking up our bikes were straightforward and the bikes were comfortable and well maintained. The route is extremely well sign posted and once we realised this on the first morning we stopped trying to use the overly complicated/excessively detailed notes provided by Headwater.
We had an excellent stay at Ty Helyg. The host were very welcoming and the standard of the accommodation were excellent. We were very unhappy with the Imperial Hotel. The standard of the accommodation was poor. We had to move rooms. The lift did not work and it was unkempt, unclean and generally unpleasant. The walks were excellent and we enjoyed them.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your comments. We are pleased that overall, you enjoyed your holiday. Your comments regarding the Imperial Hotel will be closely monitored for future consideration.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Good. We enjoyed outselves.
We had an excellent holiday. The train travel arrangements were all excellent from London and then onto Kandersteg and after this onwards to Florence. Thank you to Megan our travel contact with you for all her work on this. Our only criticism would be that we booked a superior room with Balcony. The Balcony was a real asset but the room was small for a superior room for which we paid extra and the bathroom was needing updating.
What an incredible week! Not sure what was the highlight the walks, scenery and views or the Casa Salares hotel and the fantastic staff, food and ambience! Seriously the walks were fantastic and helped by the weather. Could feel I was getting fitter as the week went in with the walking and the swimming pool at the hotel when we got back each day! The GPS was fantastic and worked brilliantly as my sense of direction not great which is why I normally do walking holidays with a guide! The scenery was stunning and great that most of the walks you can do straight from hotel. The hotel was something else! My friend kept telling me about the reviews for the food but I did not personally read anything about it! Blown away by the hotel and one of the best I have ever stayed in due to the wonderful staff, the incredible food and facilities! A proper family owned and run hotel. Fantastic trip all round, thank you! Not too crowded either, not like TMB!
The Santiago ride was a pleasure but the information from the app caused us both delays, detours and frustration before reaching destinations
Good itinerary. Comfortable distances even though weather was hot
Wow wow wow! Wonderful scenic routes, amazing hotels in St Emillion and Blaye! Great cycling on good routes and very good quality bikes
Well organised in every way. Excellent app giving general information and providing routes to follow. We loved every minute.
Enjoyable, well organised holiday with good local partner company. The equipment and navigation app were all good. We made it to every destination without mishap. Good hotels overall - only onecwas a wee bit belowvthe standards we were expecting. We would recommend Headwater and would be happy to use them again.
Wonderful wonderful and well organised
A beautiful area to cycle in and the Headwater electric bikes were brilliant. So comfortable and easy to use. The route was well planned; lots of interesting places to visit and just the right distances so that on hot days we could do most of the miles in the mornings.
We did the Landscapes of Thee Luberon self guided tour in July. The dinners were great and the itinerary was excellent. Special thanks to the staff at Les Imberts who helped us recover a backpack we accidentally left on the side of the road!
We have traveled with Headwater on many occasions. Lake Konstance cycling is a well structured circular route generally following the lake. Hotels are generally 3-4 star, and fine for this type of tour. The holiday is pretty good, and the day cycling/ day rest works well for us; it is quite relaxed. Dinner was not included so can be a hassle after a day's cycling to find somewhere to eat. Some of the hotels have good dinner menus.
Switzerland (Arbon and Stein am Rhein) are in Switzerland and prices in bars and restaurants are very expensive.
The one significant negative point are the quality and detail of the maps/ route instructions. This had a huge impact on our holiday. The route instructions are very poor and maps are not detailed enough to follow the route.
Will do this on feefo
A very moving cycling tour. Lovely countryside and only the odd long hill!
Local agents advice and help was invaluable.
Good accommodation ( especially Mortons and The Limes , which were both excellent) and great walks, although the walk to Lulworth Cove we felt was more challenging than the 1.5 boot rating. We are experienced walkers so were fine, but there are some pretty steep ups and downs. However, another successful Headwater walking holiday for us.
Most enjoyable, lovely scenery, excellent cycle paths, perfect bikes and very good hotels.
Lovely area but Apt was a disappointment. Accommodation was clean and comfortable but nowhere to sit during the day and rooms very small also would have chosen to have had another day at first hotel and not stay in Apt for 2 days
The itinerary notes were outstanding, truly impressed.
Quite long days of walking but the landscape and scenery was absolutely stunning. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife such as deer, hares and we were also lucky to spot some wild mink. Would perhaps add some extra days in around Killarney and Kenmore to explore the areas - just not enough time. Would recommend pre booking restaurants although there are plenty of choices in most places they were also quite busy. Definitely book in Cahersiveen as only two main restaurants and they are very popular. Would definitely recommend this holiday but walkers need to be prepared for the long but great walking days but with a challenging walk between Waterville to Cahersiveen.
A lovely region of Italy to visit, cycling through the vines and hazelnut forests. Loved the combination of cycling in the country but also visiting some interesting towns. The hotels were in lovely locations.
The whole set-up of the holiday was very good, the accommodation wonderful, it was just the detail of the walks that let things down - it seemed in many cases that the routes had not been revised for a considerable length of time. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday but much of this was due to the work that we put in rather than relying on the information provided. The walking maps are poor - why are they not provided by Headwater and in colour?
A lovely holiday with the right balance of activity and relaxing moments with an interesting and varied style of accomodation. The luggage transport between hotels was excellant. This holiday offers seaside and city, countryside and beach and the food oppportunities are memorable.
The cycling was generally on flat terrain, the last couple of days involved use of the gears, which made a welome change. Some of the cycle days could be a bit boring with long straight roads or tracks without a change of scenery. We hit Portugal at the height of the heatwave, but it was possible to complete the rides in the morning avoiding the heat of the day. The beach stay In Praia de Mira was most welcome, a dip in the cool sea was refreshing.
Most if the Headwater holidays we have done before had the Headwater rep situated locally, we missed this service. Our initial briefing took place in a hot underground car park, delivered at a rate of knots with only verbal information for the whole trip. We saw nothing of the local reps after the initial meeting. However, the luggage transfer was excellent with our bags always there before us.
The hotels were of a good quality. The Palace Hotel in Curia was disappointing as the air con didn't work and the food wasn't great.
In country experience, excellent. Local guide and transport first rate. With some minor exceptions, hotels good. HQ admin would benefit from some customer service upgrade.
The area surrounding Kandersteg is absolutely beautiful and some of the walks were outstanding particularly the walks around “Oeschinensee” (which we saved for our last day)and “Gasterntal and the Klus Gorge”. Getting around the area is easy with the ski lifts and public transport and we had no problem getting to any of the walks. The Alfa Soliel was an excellent base with excellent views from the balconies to the mountains. We found this single centre self guided holiday excellent where we met like minded couples who we could chat with in the evening over a drink and compare notes on the days activities but have the freedom to decide our own agenda and pace throughout the week.
Altogether this was a great holiday which we really enjoyed.
With Covid it took 3 attempts to go in the holiday but it was well worth the wait.
Perfect location of hotel with outstanding food, service, comfortable beds and room
Amazing scenery and brilliant hiking opportunities
We will definitely return Outstanding ❤️
You need a good level of physical fitness to make the most of this holiday. Despite being experienced walkers we found the going tough, although this was probably due to the extreme heat. An interesting and varied itinerary which would have benefited from longer than a week’s stay.
Cycling the Camino de Santiago was great but the description in the brochure is a little deceptive as there was a lot of cycling on roads (not on the Camino), even though not much traffic. Last 2 days didn’t see the Camino signs at all! I believe the brochure should describe this a little better. Electric bikes a must if you are a leisure cyclist as extremely hilly! Having said this Headwater were very helpful and we would definitely recommend them.
The Cotswold village circular walk holiday was a really enjoyable experience. The walking was well signposted with detailed walking instructions in a handbook provided by Headwater in conjunction with Hikes and Bikes. The villages were delightful with the beautiful cotswold yellow stone cottages. The countryside was amass with flowers. June/July is a wonderful time to visit. Our luggage transfer was very efficient and our suitcases were waiting when we arrived at our hotels/bed and breakfast en route.
Excellent route through pretty villages, vineyards etc with stops at some wonderful Palladian villas. E bikes were a must in July as it reached 35 most days. Good route with reliable back up transport of bags etc
A great active holiday where you travel through different landscapes to arrive in interesting towns with lovely hotels.
Cycling from Porto to Coimbra was an absolute delight. We started with an extra day in Porto which we would highly recommend. I wish we had added an extra day at Coimbra.
The cycles provided were excellent as were the gps maps. All but one of the evening meals were excellent, particularly the seafood at the restaurant at Praia de Mira. We have cycled with Headwater and Exodus on many occasions and always had a great experience. Porto to Coimbra is a relatively gentle cycle and could be enjoyed by anybody with average fitness.
We would highly recommend this holiday.
One final tip, always take your own cycle seat.
A first walking holiday booking with headwater proved most enjoyable and I regret not having discovered the company nor the concept of walking holidays in my younger years
We went on the Secrets of Sicily cycling holiday but happened to hit a heatwave which made the first couple of days cycling very hard due to the intense heat and lack of shade, but Headwater were very accomodating and arranged with the accomadations to provide breakfast earlier so that we could leave early in the morning and beat the sun, after that we enjoyed our trip a lot, the cycling was relatively easy and the scenery was lovely especially in the last few days, I thuink this trip would suit people who are interested in history, architecture and local "real" Sicily, we didn't see another tourist at all while we were cycling, only once we stopped in the cities. The highlights were the meal that we had in the Eco-Tourism hotel, and the small seaside resort of Selinunte on the last day - simply lovely !
A very pleasant area to cycle around from an excellent base location.
The holiday was very enjoyable. The transport arrangements worked well but were quite challenging with taxi, 2 trains and transfer, perhaps flying into Gerona would have been a better option but we would still have had to return via Barcelona. The outgoing flight from Manchester was a nightmare, having to queue for an hour to enter the check-in area at 3.00 am in the morning is totally unacceptable, but that's Manchester Airport.
The Garbi Hotel was generally very good, perhaps a little tired, but the staff were extremely helpful and friendly.
Delightful walking holiday in an accessible, beautiful and interesting area. Walks were accurately graded and we had no problem following the routes.
All information required for our self guided holiday was excellent and any queries were dealt with quickly by Megan who kept us up to date on everything. We did not arrive at our hotel until 1am but access at that hour had been pre-arranged. Dobbiaco was the perfect place for our self guided walking holiday and the choice of walks on the app plus the paper maps and transport tickets made it easy to work the itinerary to suit ourselves. The Dolomites are awesome!!
When BA cancelled our Saturday flights home (Venice to Glasgow via Heathrow) late Thursday afternoon I contacted Karen in the office. She couldn't have been more helpful and passed the details to Steph who managed to book (after discussion with us) alternative flights from Innsbruck to Manchester, overnight accommodation there and a new transfer from Bellevue Hotel to airport. This was all sorted by early the next day so that we could enjoy our last day in the Dolomites. your company is lucky to have employees of this standard - I could not fault them!
We loved this holiday. The walking notes were excellent, the Cotswolds is just stunning and the accommodation was to a high standard. We highly recommend this holiday.
Wonderful itinerary with first class bikes & good hotels. . Hotel Seegarten & hotel Rheinfells had superb restaurants. Enjoyed having one day off between cycles.
We very much enjoyed our self guided walking holiday in the Venetian Hills. The area is beautiful, quiet and unspoilt and the scenery and views during our walks were both impressive and attractive in equal measure. The hotels and B&Bs were varied in style and nature and were all very good. In particular the staff were invariably very friendly and accommodating, the food and wine were first class and the service provided everywhere was excellent. The local agent, George, has very good English and he was very helpful, reliable, friendly and informative. We combined the walking trip with a really enjoyable city break to Verona where Headwater arranged an excellent city centre B&B for us. All in all another first class and ver well organised Headwater holiday.
Great route. Varying quality of hotels. Poor bikes. Expensive for what we got.
We've holidayed with Headwater for many years in many countries and loved their GPS routes and journeying through a variety of different, characterful hotels they have provided with careful thought. This summer's route across the SE tomato growing region of Sicily was contracted out to a local agency & too busy with too heavy road traffic for our liking in June 2022 and breath-taking views were spoilt by significant roadside rubbish all along the route which had been fly-tipped (discarded loos, fridges, building material, endless bags of rubbish). Our local taxi driver explained that the Mafia wait for rubbish emergencies to be declared and then they pick up the contracts. Make sure 1. You challenge the hotel rooms you are given when busy as we had unacceptably poor rooms offered for the price we paid. (clearly some were struggling post pandemic) 2. You know how to change tyres (bring plastic gloves and wipes). 3. It can be very hot so ask hotels to freeze your water bottles overnight.
Headwater response:
Thank you for taking the time to post your review and for the additional comments made. We are truly sorry that certain elements of your holiday were disappointing. Fly tipping unfortunately does appear to be commonplace in this region, and I feel that the taxi driver explained the situation well. I’m glad that we were able to discuss your holiday with you directly.
Wonderful locations cycling through the Piedmont countryside with its vineyards, Hazel groves and rolling hills. On clear days we could see the French Alps in the West and the Italian Alps to the East. Great choice of hotels, with warm welcomes after a hard day’s cycling. Always delicious meals and a great choice of wines. E bikes are essential unless you are strong cyclists. These bikes enabled us to conquer the steepest climbs. Relatively expensive but good value for money; highly recommended.
From the first trip communication to the last, I have never experienced a travel group who is as thorough and professional as Headwater. First rate, all the way!
It was a very enjoyable holiday. However hiking is not all that easy in 30 degrees + heat. One needs to be careful of you descriptions. These walks are for the average fit person. 18 k walks that include ' a steep incline for the next kilometer' are not for such people.
It was a good experience mostly flat cycling except for a few inclines at end with some good sights to see. We enjoyed the Port tour and tasting.
This was an excellent trip, made particularly memorable by the excellent (but very warm) weather. The itinerary is first class, but be aware that there are long stretches (full days in some cases) where you won't see the Danube. So, it is definitely not a cycle along the river bank. The route is mainly flat and there are stages where you cycle along man made 'dams' which are pretty boring at times. It is worth using the maps supplied to vary the route and explore other areas/routes.
The hotels were excellent and of 4 star quality. Our luggage always made it to the next hotel before us and we had no issues checking in.
The bikes are robust and 'industrial' and were in very good condition - we had no issues.
Overall, a great way to explore the 3 countries. I would definitely recommend it.
We had a fantastic holiday overall. Megan was very professional and helpful during the booking process and we were delighted with our choice of route. The bikes were brilliant, some hotels were absolutely excellent (in Gyor and Bratislava specifically) and all personnel were amazing. The distances of the routes were just right for us (despite the blazing hot sunshine!) and we loved the cities and towns we visited throughout.
Lovely accommodation although my room was very basic. The location was very scenic and the hotel owners were lovely. However the main criticism is that all 6 cycle routes were far too short and the 4th route was particularly dull and tedious due to it mainly being alongside I busy monotonous main road.
We have found Headwater to be a very good company to travel with on self guided holidays. They provide the route guides and maps required so that you have no concerns about getting lost. The Alpha Soleil Hotel is well situated and the staff were extremely efficient and friendly. The food was beautifully presented, but for us we felt some of it, though looking very pretty on the plate, was rather uninteresting in flavour. The wines were very pricey (even the house white wine which had a very peculiar taste and there was no indication of the grape variety on the bottle). The house red wine was fine.
With a few tweaks this was an excellent holiday with great support fro Headwater before, during and after our holiday. Looking forward to next year. Thank you
This was one of the best holidays we have been on.Either by itself or as we did combining a week in Toblach at the Bellevue . The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and with a well signposted footpath system clearly marked on the maps provided. All the walks are enjoyable and the cable car /gondola system can be utilised. The walks can be as hard or as easy as you wish and can be integrated into the local bus system .
The hotel is excellent with a comfortable rooms and a well appointed restaurant. The food is very good ,excellent variety, well served in a delightful environment .
There is a indoor swimming pool and a small gym, so do take swimwear . Overall I could not fault this holiday in the area or hotel.
The holiday worked well and the routes well planned. However the area is very flat and there was a lot of road or cycle path walking. This region is well suited for cycling but would not recommend for walking. The first walk was particularly long and we had temperatures of above 35 degrees on roads that were reflecting up the heat and little shade. At one point we did not think we would be able to complete the walk because of heat exhaustion. We had run out of water and there was nowhere to get refreshments. I knocked on a door and fortunately a very kind French lady refilled our water bottles. The second and last hotels were exceptional.
An enjoyable and relaxed exploration of Istria
Perfect first family bike trip!
Enjoyed trip. Tough enough cycling for a non cyclist as I am. Fine for my husband. First day especially tough. Lagos 2 night stay was a waste. Too tired after 1,St day to cycle and did not enjoy the experience of town of Lagos. Much too commercial and touristy. Be warned too the staff in hotel in Lagos try to ' upsell' drinks. 27 euro for a g and t. 27 euro for a bottle of very poor wine ....totally opposite of what was asked for.
On the contrary the staff in village were very knowledgeable about their products and we drank delicious wine.
Overall we were very pleased with Headwater and the holiday in Portugal.
Our holiday was however spoil by the cancellation of our outward flight at short notice by easyJet. This was overcome by the very quick and effficient service of Headwater in finding alternative flights outbound with TAP from Gatwick. We were very pleasantly surprised at the support Headwater provided late at night the day before we were due to travel and efficient reaction to the situation.
Return flights to Bristol necessitated a hire car from Bristol to Gatwick but we do not hold Headwater in any way at fault for this
In terms of the tour ouronly areas for comment would be:
We found three parts of the route where road/ rail works meant the app was not accurate. Do the local reps check accuracy of the app?
The hotel at Curia disappointed as the Spa facilities were unavailable , the outdoor pool area being dialapidated & the pool water very unwelcomimg!
Overall the holiday was excellent.
The routes were well chosen, cycling along quiet roads and paths, passing through small villages, nature reserves, other unspoilt landscapes and agricultural areas. The bird life on and around the rivers and lagoons was fascinating, the wild flowers and trees lovely. From time to time there were views over the Atlantic ocean. There was plenty of time to stop for coffees and generally enjoy the ambience. The detour to Costa Nova was most enjoyable. The holiday timetable was perfect for us. The hotels were excellent. All in all a fab holiday.
Wonderful area with excellent cycling and bikes . We were very disappointed with the Hotel Hermitage which we had stayed at 3 times before but had changed hands . The welcome was dismissive and the quality of rooms within our group was very different. Other hotels were excellent with the reception at Le Jardiniere de Mazan the ambience and food quite marvellous . We were disappointed that the representative on the ground felt that helping with a difficult puncture was not in his brief
I cant see how you can improve it.
headwater are well organised and helpful. The hotel staff were very helpful too, after initially putting us in a back room, they kindly moved us on day 2 to a room with a view.
Well organised holiday with easy to follow walks to chosen standard of ability. Good opportunity to meet like minded people if you wish. Scenery is absolutely stunning in Dolomites and Headwater hotel choice very good.
Fantastic and adaptable walking holiday. Excellent hotel, with great (and lots of) food, and perfect location. Most of the walks require a bus journey, which adds a little bit of logistics to the start, and some nifty speed/time/distance calculations to ensure you're not hanging around too long waiting for your bus at the end.
GPS app is good, but maps and map reading skills are still essential to enable you to properly plan your day and to figure out a 'plan B' if there are any trail closures enroute (this happened twice for us).
The scenery is absolutely stunning, and no camera can fully recreate the image. So take time to properly stop, catch your breath, and soak the views into your memory.
A beautiful area of Austria with relatively easy walking and great hotels
Stephano offers an authentic Italian experience which is all about his organic farm and what he produces, and the countryside and birds that he knows intimately and which he loves. Stephano (and his brother) welcomed us and did everything to ensure we had a good experience, we thoroughly enjoyed them and their offer. The food was prepared with care/attention to its health benefits and food miles. We loved the Tuscan countryside which you see so well by foot although it was extremely hot by midday so walks had to be undertaken earlier in the day, and some were shortened to avoid the heat. This was an unusual level of heat for June. The only difficulties we had with travel was when we returned to Heathrow, otherwise tickets and travel arrangements were excellent. Our holiday was post Covid when the hospitality industry is under pressure, we were therefore not able to have the Cookery session. Thoroughly recommend the Theia Spa and massage which had to be booked ahead.
We absolutely loved this holiday. It was our first time in Sardinia and we were blown away by the magnificent blue sea and coastal line. The most magical moment for us was seeing the flamingos grazing in the salt pans. A sight to behold. The Sardinian people were lovely and welcoming and the food along with the Sardinian wines, delicious. This was a beautiful quiet part of Sardinia and cycling was definitely a great way to absorb as much of this beautiful island as possible. Given that we were mainly cycling on the coastal roads, we were amazed by the very considerate car drivers who always gave us loads of room and were incredibly respectful of cyclists. All in all this was a joyful holiday.
This was a fabulous hiking holiday with great walks, lovely hotels and fantastic buffet breakfasts. This was our first self guided holiday and and I would definitely do one again as it provides an extra degree of freedom and independence. I’m not sure if the written walking guides were written by someone who speaks English as a first language as some of the instructions were ambivalent to say the least - especially at the start and ends of walks. We met two other people on the same holiday via Eurohike who also experienced some difficulty. For example the first days walk was stipulated as 18 km whereas by the time we finished it was 26 km!! Also landmarks had changed and that makes me wonder whether they generally need updating. We were also issues with a wrong return train ticket which if I had not checked could have caused us a problem returning to Munich. Notwithstanding this, we had an amazing time and Headwater we’re quick to respond to my questions prior and during the holiday.
Another excellent Headwater experience. This time to rural Normandy. We did not know this area at all and this walking holiday enabled us to explore this beautiful and rustic area. The walks were of good length, the hotels all very good and we had a real opportunity to experience great French cooking in the evenings in the towns and villages in which we stayed. The staff at Normandie Rando (the local tour company) were all terrific. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in this little known part of France. Recommended.
The itinerary and the walking distances were good but, unfortunately, I happened to book my trip to coincide with the worst French heatwave for a number of years. By making early starts and benefitting from the coolest parts of the day I managed to complete the entire route. Had the water been a little less extreme the route would have been easily achievable. On the whole the hotels were very good and the accommodation in Carsac and St Vincent de Cosse was absolutely stunning. The hotel in Souillac was a little more functional but perfectly adequate. Souillac has suffered badly as a result of the Covid pandemic and it needs renovation. However, while there and although it was a rest day, I planned my own walk, doing a loop in the hills to the south of the town. This comes highly recommended as I've never seen so many butterflies except in a butterfly house. There must have been at least twenty species almost literally competing for air space. I will be booking with Headwater again.
The Eugenic Hills were unknown to us, but provided a beautiful area for walking, abounding with flowers and wildlife, with endless views over the Venetian Plain.
Overall, an enjoyable holiday. Local guides were friendly and helpful. The hotels were of good quality or better and the service was generally very good. The exception would be Les Sables d'Ocre; there were no staff available after 8pm (and thus no bar). This was very disappointing. It is not a long walk into the village but sometimes this is not what is wanted after a day's cycling; the information was not given to us prior to the holiday. The major disappointment is that Headwater, or possibly the parent group Exodus, seem to have kept prices relatively high but there is evidence that an increasing number of holidays on offer do NOT include evening meals. This, for us, is a real negative and we don't accept the theory given that it was to give us more flexibility. It gives more headaches and time on the internet/phone attempting to arrange evening meals. We enjoyed much of the holiday but felt it was the least enjoyable of the five holidays we have undertaken since 2008.
Lovely cycling routes and the electric bikes allow hilltop village visits with ease. Excellent bikes and support. And our stay at the Jardin de Mazan was an absolute highlight of the trip.
We had a fabulous cycling holiday for our first trip to Sardinia. Headwater provided a superb itinerary, great bikes and lovely independent hotels run by Sardinian families. The scenery was jaw dropping and we could not have packed in so many memorable sights and locations without the Sardinian Headwater teams’ thorough knowledge of the region. The ride was more moderate than “easy” in the high temperatures of June, but perfectly manageable with care and our luggage was always waiting for us in the room of our new hotel, a welcome sight after a hot day’s cycling. We’ll definitely be back to Sardinia and back to Headwater for another adventure on wheels. Charlotte and Clive Makin.
A pleasant holiday cycling in the mountains behind valencia and along the Orange Blossom coast with its magnificent beaches and nature spots. Holiday slightly tarnished by the very heavy bicycle i was given was unsuitable for the steep mountain climbs. The others had e-bikes and were fine. The mountain sections are pretty strenuous especially in the spanish heat and the heavy bike. So i would not recommend this holiday to the casual cycler unless they are quite fit or take e-bikes. Also the mountain sections are mainly on roads, which although not busy, you never felt like you were getting off the beaten track. Hotel accommodation was all very good apart from the hotel Xauen in Montanejos which was quite basic and had poor breakfast compared to the other hotels. Eating out was a pleasure with both food and wine very cheap compared to UK. We would have welcomed a few recommendations from Headwater on where to eat, as some restaurants were a lot better than others for a similar price.
Please see separate trip report which we will email to you
Beautiful cycling holiday- would have enjoyed more time in Slovenia/Alps
Easy run down to the Adriatic
Overall I can't grumble, the most significant pain was the airports, going and coming back, the walking holiday was fine.
Headwater provide a stimulating itinerary, with walks that are fairly graded and staying at good boutique hotels. We really enjoyed the holiday.
A most enjoyable holiday even for 80-year olds like us. The walks are realistic in terms of difficulty. The only problem was the unseasonably high temperature but this was tolerable by starting walking at 8.30am and reaching the destination by 2pm.
Travel arrangements with KLM were good - breakfasts in hotels very good - route Porto to Praia de Mira made for easy riding and wonderful and varied scenery and some fun coffee and lunch stops. Fewer places of interest to stop and visit than in France, although birdlife worth seeing.
Lovely holiday, we will travel with you again. It seemed expensive, but it probably wasn't for what it was, given the high quality of the bikes and especially of the hotels . which we loved but don't normally treat ourselves to!
Excellent first cycling holiday. Mixed experience with meal vouchers. Great group. Itinerary beautiful in some places.
A challenging cycle ride rewarded with superb views and Portuguese hospitality.
This was a great tour (our third with Headwater and our first in Spain). Our hosts were good and friendly and we enjoyed every moment, the hotels chosen were excellent. The ride was beautiful, flat and interesting. The only downside was that the contracted person taking us to the rail station on our return got us there too late. We didn't mind too much, but it caused us an extra hour. Overall this short Catalunya ride was perfect for us (in our late 50s). Please Headwater, can you add some more short break rides!
Great part of France to visit - pretty villages, acres of vineyards and hotels off the beaten track. During the week we covered over 10,000 feet elevation - more than Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike,, Snowdon put together in 5 days walking. The combination of forest walks and vineyards was excellent arriving into villages. Most of the villages have a baker’s shop and cafe, but remember most places closed after 14:00. Not always easy to find lunch, so be sure to take your lunch before you set off.
Reliable and always providing interest and challenges.
A very enjoyable cycling holiday, lovely scenery especially the paths along the river and through the woods. It was hard work for those of us not that used to cycling, but a good achievement to have made it! We enjoyed visiting some of the chateaux along the way. Lovely food and wine, of course! However, the Gastronomic package of 4 days of half board was unfortunately poor value for money. It would have been better to have our dinner reservations made and for us to pay locally. We packed our cycling helmets and water bottles as the information we received indicated we needed them but these were all provided by the local agent so we didn't actually need to bring them and could have saved a lot of space in our bags.
Good cycle routes through lovely countryside. Accommodation in Rome was excellent, with very attentive staff. Accommodation at Agriturismo La Peitriccia was disappointing, but Stefano was very helpful.
A well selected one centre location, with a well thought out set of walking routes which be easily adjusted depending on our wishes each day.
Great place to visit with nice walks and places to visit - would particularly recommend Ravello. Food was varied and good in hotel and Geraldo looked after us very well.
We had a fantastic holiday in Sicily.
Everything went well, good walks and hotels. The weather was hot 34 degrees (first week of June)on first day ....too hot for a 4hr walk... good there was a pool at the hotel... Marettimo was beautiful and 25degrees with a
breeze..Great restaurants fresh fish and everyone friendly. Looking forward to our next holiday with you.
Absolutely fantastic week. The second hotel were,abit grumpy when we arrived and said we were B&B when we were half board so we missed two evening meal. Everything else was incredible. We feel like we've been on a honeymoon .
A generally enjoyable trip slightly marred by a couple of issues which were not Headwater's fault. As part of the holiday booking, we paid for three 'gastronomic' meals in the places we stayed, where local alternatives were very limited but found only one of these could be remotely worthy of the term 'gastronomic' and we could have purchased the same meals much cheaper directly at the hotels concerned.
Cycling per se was enjoyable. Very angry to be offered a family room at Chenonceaux when we are not related. Gastronomic meal on the last night never materialised.
Experience left a bitter taste.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your comments. We are really pleased to read that you enjoyed your cycling , however sorry that your experience was impacted by the hotel accommodation with your friends and the disappointment with your meal on the last evening of which we have responded in writing.
Extremely well researched & organised. Accommodation was varied & always clean, with helpful friendly staff, particularly Stefano at the Agriturismo & Martina at Hotel Marin. Length of cycling each day was perfect...not too much, so enough time to relax & swim in the clear warm silky sea or the swimming pools at two of the hotels too. Fresh fish was delicious. It was a tremendous week.
The holiday was in a beautiful region and hotels were mostly excellent. All taxis ran to plan and services received were polite and friendly. Our only issue was that we are experienced walkers and map readers but the described routes had clearly not been updated for many years and were at times near impossible to follow and we did get lost twice! Paths were labelled with the wrong number and 'tiles' did not exist. Also temperatures were well over 30 degrees on some days ( we travelled 1 June) and it was bordering on being too hot to do the walks on some days. It would be helpful if some guidance on this was given in the brochure.
Walking in un-spoilt/un-touristy countryside, with many interesting places to visit along the way. A refreshing tonic from over-crowded Italian hot spots.
This seemed much harder than the other 1+ Dolomites to Lake Garda cycling holiday we have done despite our fitness being better. However this was probably largely due to an Italian heatwave in late May/early June when we travelled with the thermometer at 30C in the shade each day by 9am. Thoroughly enjoyed it though and were very glad we chose the 10 rather than 7 night option. The extra nights further south contrasted well and it was good to cycle by the sea. Hotels all of good quality and each had its own special qualities. Not being tecchies and with basic phone contracts had some concerns re the GPS app pre travel but after a few minutes on the first morning we coped fine with it. Much easier than the old paper instructions. Had taken a battery charger pack but never used more than half a phones battery whilst out. Amazed how cheap prices were when stopping for drinks in small rural villages eg 1 euro for usual menu of coffees
Fabulous holiday made perfect by hiring the electric bikes as it was hilly and the electric bikes made the whole biking experience really enjoyable. The scenery and hotels were super and we were really well looked after.
Organisation excellent. GPS App and map booklets were excellent. Good route with plenty of cycle lanes. One tougher day mainly on roads. Route was a good one with plenty to see in the Italian towns we visited.
Troubles free except unclear to transfer pick up during arrival
Austria is a hidden gem! Locals could not have been friendlier. Be prepared for mixed weather. Scenery spectacular. Walking could be challenging especially in damp/wet conditions
Beautiful cycling through varied landscape. Wonderful wild flowers and bird life. Gorgeous villages and friendly people. Definite things to improve: a lot of transfers required to get to the first hotel (3x train then pick up); the app is pretty good but could have a bit more navigation description; bikes should be fitted with cradles for phones (or recommend that clients bring one) so that you can track the map while also listening to directions. There seemed to be many different itineraries and guides emailed (plus links embedded) that it is difficult to be sure you’ve got all the right info. A printed pack in the post would still be the most useful thing. Final small point - there is a killer climb on the last day which isn’t mentioned anywhere. There is an easy detour to avoid it though. Maybe worth giving this option in the notes?
It was a fun holiday with some exertion thrown in
This is our second cycling holiday with Headwater (Austria 2019) and accommodation and helpfulness of local agents was first rate. An issue with bike set up was swiftly resolved with an alternative style being delivered within two hours. Rating of cycling difficulty was accurate.
we designed a bespoke itinerary to celebrate an anniversary, which despite several rounds of alteration caused by intervening commitments, was created and implemented to our great satisfaction. This was one of the best holidays we have ever had. The scenery is spectacular, the walking was not too strenuous (despite the unseasonal heatwave), the transfers all ran to schedule and the accommodation of a high standard.
A very enjoyable holiday, staying at interesting places in good accommodation. We would certainly book with Headwater again for a cycling holiday
We had a great time but we should have asked for e-bikes. Some of the hills were very long.
It was lovely to arrive at the end of a ride in the little towns of Puglia, all different and charming. Some of the cycling was really spectacular, particularly along the coast. I was pleased to have an e-bike as the temperature was way over 30 degrees everyday at the end of May. As someone not very tech-savvy, I needed help with the navigation app. Remember to download last-minute adjustments just before you go!
An excellent week's walking with varied landscapes and beautiful scenery, flowers and birdsong. A good mixture of tough days and easy walking.
We highly recommend that you use the .gpx files provided by Headwater. These were really valuable eg in providing some extensions to the recommended routes.
Excellent holiday
Headwater's attention to detail always makes for a good holiday.
We have enjoyed twelve holidays with Headwater since our first visit to Sicily in 2006! They have all been thoroughly enjoyable and one of the beauties of booking with Headwater is that you can relax at every stage knowing yoiu are in very capable hands!
We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Booking through Headwater was easy, though in retrospect we could have booked the same holiday ourselves much cheaper. Our contact, Joanne, was very helpful in sorting out our late booking.
The Loire region was lovely and a great holiday location. This was our first cycling holiday so, we chose a level 1 trip. .But We found 40 kilometres a day to be far to long and took too much time. We had minimal time to visit places of interest. We struggled with some directions and indeed were lost on 3 occasions. Also be aware that the gps on phone overheats on the hot days so you do need to master the paper routes. We suggest booking 4* hotels as we found the 3* a bit basic.
Well-planned and interesting itinerary. Cycling is a great way to explore this region and we enjoyed the variety of destinations and accommodation, all of which were clean and comfortable. I would recommend this area for vegetarians- we had some great vegetable dishes and found restaurants were happy to adapt a pasta dish on request.
The walking was varied and not difficult, with abundant flowers and birdlife. The directions were very good, and we would recommend printing them before travel. it was helpful to know if and where refreshments would be available each day. The accommodation was very good, with the swimming pool at Pedralva a very welcome surprise.
A great itinerary, a lot of variation in level of challenge.
Dordogne beautiful area to travel round can be very hilly in parts,local people very helpful
Everything went well, service, help from Headwater, notes etc. The only thing as a group was why we were put in the Hadrian Hotel, rather than the George Hotel. Whilst the Hadrian hotel is good, its no longer geared to walkers, with their expensive evening taster menu and slightly further off the walk. We found it odd walking the extra 1.5 miles to this hotel, as we passed the George Hotel. The breakfast at the Hadrian's was excellent. We did talk to the staff who explained some of the history with Headwater, but going forward I would have thought we should have stayed at the George, particularly as we booked over a year ago.
Walking was very good. Villa del Poeta was how all your accommodation should be for a holiday in this price bracket.
Superb accommodations, excellent app guide, interesting cities but a misconceived holiday. Cycling into and out of big cities through the inevitable busy and sometimes scrappy outskirts is not enjoyable. Most of the tracks were difficult and uncomfortable apart from the Via Verde. Our advice is to go for a city break to visit cities and stay for a few nights then go for a cycling holiday in more interesting and scenic countryside. Senderos y Pueblos fine, Senderos y Ciudads not good.
The activity level of the cycling was not difficult, but the distances are quite long (we were not on e-bikes!). If booking again we would add a rest day either in Grein or Melk. The scenery was varied with some spectacular sections but also some flat bland areas. That said we really enjoyed the overall experience.
Excellent way to see beautiful places. Good routes and well selected hotels
This cycling route through Puglia is a stunningly beautiful one - particularly in late May when the poppies and other wild flowers were in full bloom; the weather warm but not scorching and not too busy with other tourists. This was the first Headwater cycling trip I have done without 'stay put' days, and the overall mileage each day (at leisurely pace) did mean there was little spare time for sightseeing. However, it was absolutely worth the effort to visit each of the locations - they were wonderfully varied and I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on any of them!
One of the days involves taking a train - it's worth noting that not all the trains allow bikes, and we were lucky to have had help lifting up the bikes into the hanging racks on the train - a tricky manouevre for the vertically challenged!
An excellent holiday giving us opportunity to discover the contrasting landscapes of Slovenia. Everybody we met in hotels and cafes was extremely hospitable. Our guide was very helpful too. However the rides involved long and many very steep hills so be prepared for getting off and pushing. Some gravel paths have very deep gravel. Although I'd ordered a manual bike, our guide offered a swap to E bike without which I would not have been able to complete the rides. I am a reasonably fit cyclist and was surprised that this holiday was only pitched a activity level 2. I think customers should be advised of the hills involved.
Charming, pretty Finca spread out with different rooms in the garden area. Very relaxing atmosphere and very kind, friendly hosts (Sue and Gordon). It was very hot for May during our week but the walks were all adjusted to allow for this. Nick was a very knowledgeable guide and very helpful. Spent a great week there and met some lovely people. Would definitely go again.
Excellent walking holiday, but be prepared for lots of steps! I would recommend to use the private transfer as there is a limited train service on a Saturday. The Hotel Due Torri was excellent and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.
An excellent holiday, but the experience was let down by no local Rep input. The return travel arrangements to the airport were eventually sorted by the excellent team at the Hotel.
This part of Tuscany is beautiful and the hill top towns and villages are delightful. The agro tourism accommodation is a pleasant change from a standard hotel. It is lovely to be surrounded by olive trees and vines.
The food was of a very high standard, but as someone who eats little meat, I opted not to eat some of the main courses. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the walks, although the temperature was 8 deg C warmer than is usual for mid May. There are many wonderful photo opportunities. On the free day we enjoyed a visit to the thermal baths and a well deserved massage. I would encourage others to do this holiday and it was very good value for money. The only down side is the two trains and taxi journey each way to and from Rome airport, but it is ultimately worth it to reach your final destination.
The hotel looked after us well. We went half board - the evening meals were generally good. The area was very scenic and the wild flowers were lovely. The ascent/decent from to the village was quite severe especially after a long walk! On the first day the walk took us through an area with poor GPS signal where the paths were also indistinct and in places over grown.
However the biggest challenge was the heat - in mid-May we were expecting low to mid 20s but instead central Spain suffered a heat wave up to 37C making walking after 11am not sensible. As a result we spent our last 2 days in and around the hotel. As a small local hotel it was an ideal base for walking but by its very nature its facilities were limited for the days when it was too hot to go outside! This is by no way a criticism of the hotel or the holiday but the severe heat somewhat spoilt our last few days.
All of the elements are there but the complete package lacked the something special.
Brilliant holiday, excellent hotel, great walking (although relaxed and appropriate for us mid 70s age group with health issues) and sea swimming (much helped by the lovely May weather of course). We recommend booking the best rooms (we had experience of the best and the cheaper ones).
A great way to introduce yourself to a different type of holiday, especially if you are unsure of how to plan things and the best route.
We thoroughly enjoyed cycling the Wine Route of Alsace. It is a very picturesque part of France, and the villages we visited were lovely, including storks nesting on rooftops. The second day was a bit hilly, but nothing we couldn't manage and the length of ride each day suited us well.We were very fortunate to have perfect weather, which made the holiday even more enjoyable. The hotels were very clean and comfortable and in the evening there was a good choice of restaurants in every town or village. Lots of interesting ice-cream flavours to try too, such as rhubarb, gooseberry, red currant etc in most towns. All in all a great holiday, and we returned home with lots of photos and happy memories.
A great holiday in beautiful countryside and coast. The itinerary was good giving plenty of time to dawdle and have a swim in the sea. We did extend the route on the two shortest days to get a bit more cycling. The local cuisine was delicious especially the seafood.
My wife and I have travelled widely and with various other holiday companies but this, our first holiday with Headwater is probably the best one we have had. Certainly, the most enjoyable. Everything from the initial planning through to our return travel arrangements were all perfect. It has to be said that the bikes we used were excellent as were the support services around Lake Constance if you encountered any problems which we didn't. The weather was perfect. Only the isolated short shower otherwise wall to wall sunshine. My wife and I are in our 70s and only occasional cyclists. However, the cycle paths around the lake were of good quality and very flat. The scenery was magnificent and varied. Lots of wildlife and beautiful flowers. Pretty lakeside villages, harbours, cafes, beaches and toilets . In the distance were beautiful snow capped mountains. I cannot put into words just how good this holiday was. Thoroughly recommend it. Well done Headwater and thanks for everything.
Fantastic way to see the glorious countryside, towns, cities and natural beauty of Puglia. Well organised, good bikes, good accommodation and we think the best way to immerse yourself in a location. As firstimers with Headwater would highly recommend to anyone.
Excellent. the App was easy to use for middle aged people who usually ask their children to work this kind of thing out. The Headwater emails were well timed and informative and when you passed us on to Gulia cycle tours, they were equally as efficient. The route was fantastic, the hotels just ideal for this holiday. The people we met from Puglia Tours delightful. We had 2 potentially big problems - A) one of our parties' bags didn't arrive from England on our flight. So we logged a missing bag form at Barri airport but it was difficult with language barrier and not knowing where we would be if and when the bag might catch up with us. Headwater were amazing and the bag caught us up 2 days later. And the driver from Puglio Tours took us from Barri airport to a hypermarket ( thank god open on a Sunday pm) to buy essentials. We also had a problem with a bike and again - fantastic backup and all sorted. Best holiday & when probs occurred the finest back up
Beautiful location. Lovely, welcoming, family run hotel with excellent food and very friendly staff. Spa great way to end the day. Spoilt by beautiful weather so spent late afternoon in garden with glass of wine. Excellent cycling routes and lovely walks of varying level of difficulty. Trip to Salzburg by bus is well worth while.Overall, fantastic holiday.
Really enjoyed our holiday, hotels were of a good standard and in great locations, the route was varied and flexible allowing us to explore other areas on route.
We enjoyed our trip through this wine growing region and thought the routes were well planned though they do involve cycling past many vines! . The Jardin de Mazan hotel was a highlight with beautiful rooms and delightful owners. The food was good throughout the trip. Christophe gave us an excellent briefing with many useful pointers and recommendations. Although the app generally worked well we still do prefer to have actual maps of the area, not just the route, and we would definitely recommend having a portable charger for the phone.
We aren't the type to want to sit around on our holiday, so this was perfect for us. Fantastic riding along wonderful tracks, paths and roads alongside the coast, sometimes in dappled sunlight under trees, sometimes along quiet country lanes between olive trees and vineyards. By the end of each day we felt like we'd enjoyed the sunshine, had had some exercise and had seen some more of this beautiful country and was now ready for a cold glass of wine and a good meal, which were both readily available in all of the chosen beautiful coastal towns. Stunning! Have already highly recommended to all our friends and family!
The cycle paths on this trip were excellent. Only traffic was going to our hotels.
Route was very easy to follow.
A brilliantly varied and interesting cycle ride on excellent infrastructure. Fascinating history, physical geography and welcoming communities.
Highly recommended
The Cinque Terre walks are challenging and a certain level of fitness is required. The first walk on the itinerary is particularly challenging in terms of length, elevation and terrain and resulted in us changing the order of walks for balance. Having to use public transport to get around was not a problem and the routes generally took us to places worth seeing. The hospitality and food in Liguria was very good and there was little problem in finding gluten free options as required.
The scenary in Western Sicily is spectaclar. The island of Marettimo is a particularly special "away from it all" place with virtually no cars but boats parked everywhere. The people are friendly. The food - fish of course - is very good. The walks and the swimming excellent.
We would like to thank you for organising our pilgrimage on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. We had a truly wonderful time, and the memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Everything went smoothly, and Headwater arranged lovely hotels with fantastic food. We would recommend this unreservedly
Very good except for length of walks! But we managed this after first day by getting taxi to drop us into the route a few kilometres.
We had a very good holiday with some lovely walks in beautiful locations. The weather was perfect at this time of year (2nd - 10th May) for walking and all the 4 hotels were clean and comfortable and all very different. We ate some delicious food and tried some excellent wines. 3 of the walks were consistent with the grading but we found the Path of the Gods very challenging and harder than we had expected. One of the features of the Amalfi coast are the hundreds of steps both in the towns and villages and on many of the walks and this is something that anyone booking this holiday should be aware of.
An enjoyable varied route. An excellent introduction to the region.
Cycling hillier than expected, Lascaux caves a highlight, food at Les Glycines excellent, prefered new longer 25mile rather than 20mile trips with 2 days at one location, grateful for taxi for 2hour trip to Toulouse when train failed but strongly dislike single person supplement
Alfa Soleil is a really super hotel. While we were there the restaurant was officially closed but Nico opened it for us. He is an exceptional chef who provided us with a personal service in his menus and also advice as to where we should go. The staff are friendly and welcoming and all had a great sense of humor. Switzerland is very expensive but somehow our experience in Alfa Soleil made it not matter.
A very well organised self guided cycle holiday. Great hotels & excellent cycle routes. The Headwater navigation app excellent. Alex the point of contact always available.
We really enjoyed this holiday with you. We were met on arrival at the first hotel by the local rep , who was very helpful. The cycling was very good and with beautiful scenery. The hotels were excellent and very welcoming. Certainly it has given us a taste of Sicily and we will definitely want to visit again.
All the organisation ahead of our holiday was excellent. The hotel in Sestri Levante was a gem. Magda, Santo and all the team were so welcoming and friendly there were hugs and even moist eyes when we left. Santo's dinners were excellent and we ate at the hotel beyond the three arranged nights at a very reasonable price. A free laundry room and a roof terrace with clothes horses was a great help. Rooms are fairly basic but spotless and comfortable. The hotel is well located for the station and exploring the town.
The Cinque Terre is a popular area for walkers and the five towns are very busy with tourists. Some of the paths were fairly busy and would be more so in high season. The walk notes are copious and route finding very easy. I would suggest the walks might be graded tough rather than moderate, there are many very steep sections which are less path and more rock climbing. A fair bit of hands, knees and bottom especially on descents. Trains are not as frequent as might be hoped!
Headwater arranged our train travel from London to Naples. Whilst we have arranged journeys like that before, it was much easier having them do it. The app was great for our self-guided walks. The thing that really made our activities work so well was the advice from Gerardo in the hotel. He advised which day to go where according to the weather and also the May 1st Public Holiday. He helped us organise a trip to Paestum (really recommend that). The hotel was very comfortable and staff were both friendly and efficient.
The slight downside to our trip was buses. Although we were very happy to stay just off the coast, getting the bus back to Bomerano each day is quite difficult. There were days when not everyone got on. We often had to stand on a very crowded bus - not easy when waiting for a hip replacement. We were asked if we would share out transfer to Naples. We were happy to do this but were then told the time would change to suit the others as we had over 2 hours at the station.
This was my first experience of an "unguided" walking holiday. The walks are detailed but the directions are not always very clear and do need updating. Lovely walks, scenery and points of interest but found some of the walking along road became a bit tedious and repetitive. Having a good map or GPS allowed us to "personalise" the routes! Easy to get around the island on the buses when needed. The 7 day unlimited travel card was perfect. Squeezed in a day trip to Valletta. The Hotel Ta' Cenc has a 5* location. Beautiful cliff view point. The hotel itself doesn't quite hit the 5* rating today, but has a certain charm and quirkiness with lots to recommend it. Relax, keep a sense of humour and enjoy the differences!
tedious.
A lovely holiday in a quiet, unspoilt part of Italy.
Another great experience with Headwater among the beautiful flowers of Madeira. Highly recommended.
Walking in Puglia is a great way to see the area, as there is time to see both the countryside and the beautiful towns.
All in all and excellent holiday, which was challenging but very enjoyable. The standard of the accommodation was outstanding and the walks were varied, very demanding in places, but achievable and wonderful. This holiday would be difficult for people with a fear of heights, but we managed to walk on the levadas, even in the most vertiginous places and felt a great sense of accomplishment. The scenery, accommodation, helpfulness of the staff at the hotels, food, flowers, and weather all made this a holiday which exceeded our expectations.
Should any changes be made to your accommodation, make sure that Headwater explain any differences between the original and new accommodation. The changes didn’t bother us but may bother some people (ie. Spar hotel with swimming pool was changed to a simple - albeit lovely B&B).
Cycle routes were good and easy to follow, one bike needed new rear brake pads after first day, this should have been identified before bike was issued. Repair was promptly addressed. Also had a puncture on first day , front tyre had very little tread in the centre, so puncture could have been avoided. All accommodation was very good and food excellent with great advice from restaurant staff.
Quite tough for the grade. Super coastal scenery. Can be exciting riding. Would be hard in the wet.
Well sited hotel with plenty of flexibility
This was an excellent and really well organised trip, staying in three very nice hotels. All of the management by the local agents was great and the transfers worked perfectly. Late April was a good time to go, with pleasant temperatures for walking without being too warm. The scenery was lovely and there were excellent views from the hotels, especially on Marettimo and at San Vito lo Capo. Walking on Marettimo was particularly enjoyable as it was very peaceful and the air was filled with the smell of the wild rosemary. There was also very good food, especially fish.
Excellent organisation and support, all hotels were fantastic in superb locations, navigation app was brilliant. Would definitely recommend this holiday.
Hadrian’s Wall is England’s greatest ancient monument, a unique defensive structure that defies belief, and to walk so closely alongside it for four days is an absolute privilege. It is in many places a challenging walk because the Romans did not try to build round the major crags and contours through which it winds. The atmosphere the Wall generates, of looking north and imagining the possibility of imminent attack, is present throughout and further enhances the whole experience. This is greatly increased by visiting the museums along the route, especially Vindolanda and Housteads, though we would strongly recommend going to these a day before setting out on the journey rather than at the end of a strenuous day’s walking. This holiday was splendidly organised for us by Headwater, the walking notes were excellent, the arrangements for leaving and picking up our car worked well and despite some variation in the quality of the hotels, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
For me this was to an excellent cycling holiday in the heart of the Tuscan Val d’Orcia, considering I was an ‘senior’ solo rider in early season. The hire of an E-MTB bike was a boon for the hilly ’strade bianche’ (gravel roads). A week at the Agriturismo ‘La Pietriccia’ was a very good choice. Stefano, the main host and his brother Simone, were extremely helpful in everything. From organising me on and off the suggested App routes, to giving me a beer when I got back and providing tasty 4 course meals in the evening. The ‘tasting’ at BradiToscani food/wine shop and the Chianciano Thermal Spa arranged visits were a delight. The cookery session was unfortunately cancelled because of Covid restrictions but was substituted with an enjoyable local pizzeria visit.
Highly recommended to any cycling Italophiles.
A good experience for anyone walking the Camino de Santiago for the first time. Did not get to visit the cathedral in Leon due to the Easter Penitent festival taking place over the weekend. But this was more than made up for by the spectacle of the parades of about 20 religious societies that were taking part in the festival, which, I believe is the biggest of its type in Spain. All of them with their own bands which had very good and noisy drum sections. All of the venues where I stayed were good, and mainly in renovated old stone built Galician houses, some of which were former Pilgrim Hospitals. Staff very helpful, especially at Rectoral de Lestedo who greatly facilitated my visit to the church of San Salvador at Vila de Donas, which was well worth the effort made to see it. On the travel from Madrid Airport at the Railway station at Charmartin. Went to take a Taxi, advised by operative that price could be 50 Euros and it would be better to take the metro at 3 euros. This I did.
We really enjoyed the biking adventure, we are not avid bikers, but found the routes a good pace for us. We did have one challenge because we did not receive our last days GPS map, so our advice to others is to double check to ensure you have them all before you go.
Great trip. Well organised. Maps brilliant. A bit expensive but probably worth it
Excellent adventure and great way to get to know Portugal.
Generally we loved our holiday through Headwater. The only disappointment was the rental bikes - we are both very keen cyclists and felt, in the spirit of openness, advertising the bikes as 'high quality' is a little wide of the mark. They are heavy, clunky and are more of an entry level city explorer bike rather than biking 200 or so kilometres on. Scenery was beautiful in parts and the route great, however it was disappointing in parts to see so much rubbish dumped on the side of the roads (which we know is no fault of HW). Everything ran incredibly smoothly, mapping was very easy to follow, local support staff were excellent and in constant communication - we felt very safe and looked after :)
Would highly recommend and will definitely travel again using HW. The booking process was efficient and very friendly. On the whole we had a fantastic time.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback we are so pleased you had a lovely holiday and thank you for your comments regarding the bicycles. The bikes do need to be sturdy enough to withhold the usage, the weight of the pannier racks and panniers, the stand, heavier saddles and the suspension - all of which contribute to the overall weight.
Its such a shame that you experienced rubbish that had been dumped on the side of the road. Our team, when planning the routes do try to choose the most scenic routes
I do hope that we will be able to welcome you back to Headwater for another holiday in the future.
Kind regards
Customer Service
An excellent holiday. Walking in the beautiful Italian countryside away from tourist places. The warmth & friendliness of the Italians. After 20+ years away & Covid, it was so good to be back! The luggage transfer was 100%. We shall be booking further self-guided walks in Italy.
An exceptional route - everything had been thought of. The first day is a long distance so it might be off putting for those who don’t cycle long distances regularly. The food everywhere is of a fantastically high standard. We recommend Le Bubbole in Matera, La Cantina in Alberobello and The Dish in Ostuni. Booking in advance recommended.
Fairly easy walking on good tracks in beautiful and peaceful countryside and coastal areas. The routes were easy to navigate with an interesting mix of terrain. We really enjoyed the delicious local food and wine and a good hot shower at the end of the day and all the accommodation was very comfortable and the staff helpful and friendly. Not every hotel provided in-room tea and coffee so you might want to bring a travel kettle and English tea bags.
Some stunning scenery and memorable walks along the Algarve coast. We travelled in Spring so the weather was not too hot and the wild flowers were beautiful. The hotel Memmo Baleeira in Sagres is a fantastic place to stay and the Aldeia de Pedralva lived up to the billing as a wonderful, quiet haven. We didn't enjoy staying in VIla do Bispo so much as the hotel is rather basic and the town is quite dull with limited restaurants (but it was early season, so maybe it is more lively in summer). The walks on the first two days included stops at some fantastic beaches and the walk on the last day along the rocky Atlantic coast, finishing up at Cabo sao Vicente is the undoubted highlight. The walks in the middle two days were less interesting.
A really lovely part of the world to visit. The coastal walk and beaches were amazing. The last walk into Sagres, particularly offered fantastic geological views. Reaching Capo Sao Vincente gives a real sense of why it once was thought of as the edge of the world. Unless you're hell bent on walking for the sake of walking, I'd give the first walk out of Vila do Bispo a miss and catch the bus to Lagos for the day. An interesting place with history and plenty of cafes for a coffee and nata. The local people are friendly and easy to get along with.
Very good. Route guides need updated. Hotel Ta Cenc very good. Rooms not 5* but food and service were.
it is very well worth going up to the lighthouse on the Ta' Pinu day, because the views are great. Also on that day, it’s worth adding the “stages of the cross” walk, again for the views
We added three nights in Valletta and would recommend that to others doing this trip. One day we used the hop on and hop off bus tour to see more of the island and would strongly recommend a visit to Mdina. We also recommend the harbour tour by boat from Sliema, and the military/history museum at the old fort in Valletta.
The Seville - Cadiz route provides a great cycle through this part of Spain. Not to hilly and last couple of days pretty flat. Lunches can be a bit basic, but evening meals were excellent with a bit of searching and waiting until 8pm. Seville, Carmona, Arcos, Jerez and Cadiz all have lots to offer.
A great introduction to cross-country skiing catering for absolute beginners as well as the more experienced skier. Food is out of this world.
Hotel Venabu was wonderful - they obviously pay a lot of care and attention to getting things right, so while you may not get the slick and shiny feel of a more highly starred venue you win more in the atmosphere and quality of service. Food was literally AMAZING. Every evening something to write home about and proper, healthy portions! Necessary after the skiing which we really enjoyed. One thing to pick up on was for the tour operator, Headwater. We were doing cross country ski for the first time and weren't given any information on suitable clothing - I took all my warm ski gear out which was not suitable! So a friendly email a week or so before with some top tip items to pack would've been nice.
Holiday was made easy, flexible with alternative walking available due to the weather.
Hotel meals were excellent great range of choices every evening. Staff exceptional very friendly and helpful. The hotel is in a fabulous location some areas of the site need refurbishment but the main areas of restaurants,pools and gardens are well tended. Transfers went very smoothly with a very helpful driver Pierre who pointed out various sites of interest on the way to Gozo.
I would recommend this self guided walking tour of Gozo to anyone.
A great week's skiing. If you are travelling solo you might end up skiing on your own in the afternoons as there is nothing organised. My husband and I went out together after lunch each day as the weather and snow were both very good it was a shame to be sitting inside. The food is very good with buffets at breakfast and lunch and a served meal in the evening. As a vegetarian I would recommend the food. The free tea and coffee all day is a bonus particularly for Norway. The free Yoga class is good to help those sore muscles.
Excellent skiing trip. Megan was her usual very friendly and helpful self. everything was well arranged. We had a superior room at the Hotel Cecil, which was VERY comfortable. Very good beds. We also used the flytåg (airport express train) for the first time. It is really quick - 20 minutes into Oslo and great value at half price for pensioners! We won't use the airport buses again. The skiing was very good. Still plenty of snow and we had 6 days of blue skies and sunshine, and only 1 cloudy day. Guiding and tuition were as good as ever. the food is still excellent. Buffet for breakfast and lunch, 3 course served dinner to minimise covid risks. Transport to and from the airport is now quicker as the road works are finished. overall, and excellent and well-organised trip. This was our 4th visit to Venabu and I doubt it will be our last.
Beautiful location, very welcoming family run hotel, great walking area. Level 2 for activity is right but guests should know several walks include long periods of ascent/descent using steps rather than paths. It is very hard on the knees.
Wonderful cross country skiing in beautiful surroundings. I would recommend the Ski Safari options for people comfortable going off track as it is a chance to explore the back country with a knowledgeable guide.
The holiday itself was well organised, however be aware that with all meals being held in a relatively crowded, unventilated dining room, if you are at all concerned about Covid exposure risk I would recommend you consider alternative accommodation eg chalets / lodges.
Venabu offers great, varied skiing on and off track. Lovely accommodation, fantastic food, excellent guiding.
We were two "beginner" cross country skiers. The teaching was excellent. Equipment excellent. The hotel was fantastic as was the food. Travel connections and overall organisation extremely efficient. Very friendly and helpful staff. Great group of holidaymakers with us. We would definitely book with Headwater again and go back to Venabu. Brilliant week.
Excellent holiday, superb walks in great locations. We did all the longer walks, some with a fair bit of ascent/descent and they were all excellent. Take sticks for the descents! Vilaflor & Garachico hotels were great, good food (and large portions) included in Vilaflor. There was an event in the main square in Garachico for 2 nights whilst we were there, but fortunately the music stopped around 10pm both nights.
There's a great little bar/cafe in Vilaflor with a large terrace overlooking the views at the back - Casa Pana, just down from the Dulceria Vilaflor below the main square. You can't see the terrace from the front! And in Garachico we had great meals at Hotel San Roque, just around the corner from Quinta Roja, and also at El Caleton by the sea.
We had a couple of nights added on at the end and stayed at the Hotel Botanico near the botanical gardens, both excellent. La Orotava is also worth stopping at to look at the gardens.
Loved the skiing, loved the scenery, loved the yoga and especially loved the food!
Perfect environment for maximising cross country potential.
Wonderful hotel in the beautiful and relaxing area of Kandersteg
Excellent walking holiday. Good accommodation and logistics.
Very enjoyable holiday. Excellent walks, hotels, food & friendly people. Was worried about the GPS navigation app, but it was great - didn't use all the maps & routes that we downloaded ourselves. Would recommend this holiday.
Transfers, accommodation and group XC skiing are all managed locally by the hotel, Venabu Fjellhotell. So, while I have no complaints whatever about Headwater (Megan Wyatt, my trip manager in the UK was excellent) this review is really about the hotel, which is very special. I have enjoyed brilliant XC ski trips at several Norwegian fjellhotells - they are all welcoming and offer beautiful, endless, pristine, perfect snow - but Venabu is in a league of its own. For one thing, a lot goes on there in the evenings, from illustrated talks to the famous "Norwegian Buffet" dinner to gentle live music in the lounge. Another, is the flexible and personal ski instruction they provide. At least four ski guides were available while I was there, enabling small groups of matched ability. Above all, though travelling alone, I always felt I was among friends.
The hotel is a good, friendly, little family hotel. It's in a town so the views are more of surrounding buildings than of the distant hills [a top floor room might have been better]. The scenery on the walks is wonderful. Weather in February was mixed. It was a perfect walking temperature but there were a couple of days when there was a fair bit of mist, and one very rainy day. Overall I'm very glad that we went.
As a sole traveller, I wanted the reassurance of not wasting time finding my way to the start of trails or back to hotel. Being able to move between 3 hotels was great to experience different areas of Madeira. Headwater route instructions were mostly accurate but the first one needs an alteration as a barrier has been put up to prevent walking under the cliffs. This was ok though as I just did an out and back rather than circular.
The 4 star hotells were excellent in every regard but the final 5 star was over-priced and not what I would expect of a five star. I'd prefer 4 stars. Location were ok but my personal preference would be overlooking the sea.
Plus points -
Organising transport to and from trails taken care of
Variety of locations was excellent
Walking was perfect standard for me
Madeira is a friendly welcoming island, crime free and chilled.
Great experience, well graded walks as good organisation
An excellent venue for cross country skiing. A wide variety of tracks available, track cutters out daily. Excellent food. Good tuition for beginners and led tours for more experienced skiers. Good equipment. Very friendly. Easy to meet people if you are on your own.
An excellent holiday in Venabu. We were well looked after and the food was delicious.
Very enjoyable starter cross country skiing week with well placed hotel and lots of food
All transfers and pick ups from the end of walks worked very well. Hotels very good standard. The walks showed very different aspects of the Madeiran geography.
This was a friendly fun and energising week in the snow. Venabu is a lovely family run establishment. I loved the simplicity of the rooms: they were quiet and comfortable which after a day falling over in the snow is all I wanted. The sauna and yoga was very welcome relief for aching muscles. The food was great and always a good range of vegetarian options. Staff were helpful and efficient. The ski instructors were fabulous - incredibly patient and fun. I had never done anything like this before so I did find it hard work but I will definitely return!
A really wonderful, well organised and highly enjoyable trip. The peace and tranquillity in Norway was amazing. Some days we saw no one else at all whilst we were skiing.
We booked the cross-country skiing week in Venabu, as complete skiing novices. The hotel was in traditional Norwegian style, providing homely comfortable 'no-frills' accomodation, with excellent, plentiful food.The ski instructors were friendly, helpful, patient and knowledgeable, so that we made good progress from our zero starting point, and were able to complete beautiful ski treks up to 10 by the end of the week. All the hotel staff were very friendly and chatty and went out of their way to make our experience as enjoyable as possible. We also enjoyed the snowshoeing to the frozen waterfall, and the husky sledding.
Overall we would absolutely recommend this holiday for anyone wanting an active week with lots of cross-country skiing, especially for those wanting tuition and guidance.
Our only slight reservation is that Venabu, although situated in a beautiful mountain environment, is quite isolated, so there is little opportunity to visit cafes, shops etc.
Warm welcome in Norway. Well organised for skiing so you could do what you wanted. Wonderful food. Lovely lounge. Easy going atmosphere with added extra of Yoga. Lots of solo travelers
I have been to Venabu only twice, but many other guests so like Venabu that they come again and again. It is all very well organised, efficient, friendly and welcoming, and the food is delicious, locally sourced and typically Norwegian. The instructors could teach a brick how to do cross-country skiing. The only thing I would say about the cross-country skiing is that just because you can do downhill skiing doesn't mean you can automatically do cross-country skiing. It is a different skill, and you do need to be reasonably fit and supple to do it. Cross-country skiing uses muscles that most of us don't normally need to use. But equally, cross-country skiing through snowy forests or beside a frozen lake in the very clear and pure air makes you feel better and fitter than you have felt for years. You have time to enjoy the scenery, and the scenery is amazing.
A wonderful XC ski break with good accomadation, location perfect, good snow, leaders ..and company. Surpassed my expectations. Not cheap but Would go again and recommend as good value for money.
An ideal venue for cross-country skiing - excellent guiding and tuition provided by Joy and her team. The snowshoe walk in the middle of the week is a magical experience taking you off the tracks and into the forest. The Fjellhotel is a very welcoming family hotel with really excellent food. All Covid measures in place helped to ensure a safe and comfortable environment. We hope to return next year!
The journeys were very stressful due to Covid testing at Oslo airport, very early flight times, had a long wait for the minibus at Oslo with no information as to what was happening. The train worked well on the return journey. The hotel was very quiet but we were upgraded to better rooms as there were so few of us. Most of the staff disappeared during the week leaving a skeleton staff which was a bit strange. The quality of the food generally was good but the vegetarian options were limited/ repetitive. It would have been better to have had a buffet dinner as in previous years. Also, no alcohol was allowed due to Covid rules until the last night which we were unaware of. Skiing was excellent as were the 2 instructors. The only other activities available during the week were 2 yoga classes and a snowshoe walk which, again, was excellent.
We had another great holiday in Venabu. The location is superb and even with the poorer snow conditions this year and increase in temperature mid week there were plenty of places to ski. The local guides used by the hotel were excellent as usual and provided an excellent skiing (and snow shoeing) experience. It would have been nice to have had the opportunity to try the skating style of skiing as well as the classic style. Compared to previous years, and probably because of covid, the selection of food was not as good especially desserts but the quality was as good as ever.
Venabu xc skiing great and Headwater HQ staff very helpful giving emailed updates as government COVID regulations changed
I\'ve been on this holiday numerous times. Even with the restrictions due to Covid it was enjoyable as usual. There were good practical arrangements to enable us to stock our rooms with towels etc. The food was at it's usual high standard. It was disappointing that there was no buffet available for the evening meal. Joy and Ingrid ensured that we had an enjoyable holiday even though there was a lack of snow at the beginning of the week. Overall even with the restrictions it was an enjoyable holiday.
Madeira has fantastic walking at all levels. This self guided tour means you get to see lots of the island.
A magical place for Christmas with an excellent family run hotel and plenty of good food. The snow was good, you could ski virtually out of the chalet and tracks well maintained. Ski instructors were excellent. There were other options if you did not want to ski all week such as snow shoeing, fat biking, downhill skiing, dog sledding and reindeer rides. Most of these were in another area not far from the hotel so the immediate vicinity of the hotel was not touristy and felt authentic and remote. This is not a group holiday and probably not for single travellers. Probably better if you've done cross country skiing before to get the most out of the week as you are not with a group unless you pay for lessons.
Perfect mix of accommodation and good deal of very practical advice. Superbly organised and highly recommended.
An energetic walking holiday in stunning surroundings. Tenerife was surprising and stimulating, from the rocky coastline, amazing views through to the extraordinary volcanic landscape. Thoroughly recommend.
This is a fantastic cycle route - every day interesting. Super scenery, lovely cycling, lots of places to visit, people everywhere wonderful. We enjoyed it SO much. Highly recommend.
If you’re allergic to cats, this hotel is Not for you! At least 8 roam the complex. Breakfast was great but evening meal disappointing. Great menu but tired ingredients. Vegetable selection poor and overcooked. Meat and fish overcooked. No freshly made desserts.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Spencer, thank you for summarising your experience at the Hotel Ta Cenc. We are very sorry to learn of your disappointment during meal times, please be assured your invaluable feedback will be passed on to the Hotel Ta Cenc for them to review and ensure they are able to make improvements. Thank you for choosing Headwater and we look forward to welcoming you on many more holidays in the near future.
Kind Regards
Headwater Customer Service Team
Some of the guides need revising - Where is the wooden bridge on Levada do Norte for example. The other logistics excellent. e.g. other guests in Bella Vists were ferried to airport for same BA flight some 2 hours before us. Our timing was just perfect.
An enjoyable holiday based at a good local hotel with excellent food. The walking is quite rugged, although not strenuous and there is sufficient variety for a week. In fact, being based in one location allows you to get to know the topography well and appreciate the local way of life to some degree. We hired a car which meant we could visit other villages after our walk each day.
Comfortable hotels in prime locations and still the opportunity to hike and walk and have an active yet luxury holiday feel.
Our holiday was a celebration for our 30th wedding anniversary. In order to be consistent with the previous thirty years of marriage I left the planning until the last minute. I contacted Headwaters barely two weeks before the half term started yet they were able , as ever, to provide a first class service which totally met what we were looking for. From the moment we landed, where we met Mimmo our agent, until our departure from our gorgeous Lecce hotel on the final morning, we encountered nothing but an amazing service wherever we visited or stayed. We loved all of the accommodation as well as the stunning routes. Puglia is indeed an astonishingly beautiful region in Italy, as evidenced by the breath taking coastal routes to Gallipoli and Otranto. Likewise the climb to the hilltop town of Ostuni, as well the town itself, was simply stunning. I am running out of synonyms for brilliant but that is the adjective that I want to use to describe the everything about the trip. Thank you.
Well organised tour with efficient moving of luggage and good standard of accommodation. Wonderful scenery particularly around the coastal areas on the west side of the peninsula. The wind and steep hills on the first day in particular made it pretty tiring. Bikes were really good particularly on off road stretches. The luggage rack and Paniers did make the bikes quite heavy on the hilly areas. The app was excellent for guiding and very quickly indicated if you took a wrong turning. It is good to study the description as the app doesn’t always tell you where the optional stops are. We rode right past one of our planned lunch stops without realising.
Overall a really lovely and varied tour of the south west corner of the Algarve.
Holidays in Wales are always likely to be weather affected and mine was no exception to the extent that low cloud, rain and wind meant that any of the high ascents were pointless from an enjoyment point of view. However I was advised by local reps/accommodation providers of other quite challenging options that could be done despite the weather. Additionally the Welsh Highland Line was not operating its normal service because of Covid so taxis were laid on where necessary. This detracted to a degree from the overall enjoyment of the holiday.
There is not one thing I could fault about this holiday experience. From the helpfulness and service when booking a holiday 4 days before travel (!), information re Covid practicalities, the accommodation, food, walks, group size and transfers. Everything was spot on. To add a few extra words about Finca el Cerrillo, everything previously said about the hotel is true. Wonderful owners and staff make it feel like home from home, where nothing is too much trouble. The food was outstanding and plentiful. They went the extra mile for some in the group when the walks were too strenuous, and arranged at no extra cost, alternative walks and activities. I have already booked to go back again and I haven't yet been home a week! Thank you to both Karen at Headwater and everyone at Finca el Cirrello for a relaxing and wonderful stay.
The trip was well organised and instructions clear.
Overall this was an excellent holiday: we had a great time. As ever, there is always room for improvement: the route notes need slight updating; the staff and ambience at the hotel are excellent, but our room needed some refurbishment in the bathroom (the shower was very scruffy). The transfers to and from Gozo worked very well and our driver (Vincent) was very helpful and informative.
Helen Hodson at Headwater was very helpful. The bike handover in Sagres was very poor with no arrangements having been made (we just happened to be in our room
when he arrived), no panniers provided, phone holder for one of us only. Trip notes said a mobile would be provided for duration holiday but this did not exist. Similarly on returning bikes no arrangements made.
Trip notes mention
cafes but not that they were closed on Sundays, opening times would be very helpful, particularly cycling to Petralva.
GPS worked well. Busy road section on route to Petralva and better if this could be avoided.
Accommodation and food good on the whole.
Luggage transfer worked well.
Overall we enjoyed the holiday.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your invaluable feedback, we are pleased to learn that overall you enjoyed your self guided cycling experience with us. Your holiday feedback is invaluable to us and we recognise that there are improvements to be made, we will work closely with our locally appointed agent to ensure they fully understand the importance of providing a high level of service and the correct equipment to accompany the bicycles. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to rectify this whilst you were on holiday with us.
Thank you for choosing Headwater.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Although we are restricted to short/morning walks, there are plenty of options. Longer ( more than 8 miles) are also available. Local buses very convenient. Hotel excellent with both indoor & outdoor pools, a gym & excellent food (large portions). Kantra restaurant at Mgarr-ix-Xini excellent for lunch & or rest day. Walking notes v good, but take extra care between Calypso's cave & Ramla Bay. Our trip was unusual, as we arrived by cruise ship at Valletta port & returned home by air. The booking was made in Jan/Feb 2020. The Maltese authorities required our vaccination certificate to be via nhs app ( rather than the paper version) which caused us some anxiety - I don't know whether that was because we arrived by ship; I suggest you confirm the exact requirement for customers arriving by air. This was the 4th time we've stayed at Ta'Cenc & we enjoyed our 12 days gentle 1 boot walking (up to 4miles/day)
Perfect shoulder season easy walking destination; well chosen hotel and helpful guidance notes for each walk.
Cycling in north Norfolk was a great way to see the area in a bit more detail and offered a good variety of countryside, seaside, country house estates etc to ride through and allowed time to look around if we wanted to. It was great to have the app to tell us our route without having to constantly check a map. The hotels were all very comfortable. Very enjoyable. A few bike issues which was a bit unfortunate but we still had a good time.
We loved Sicily and the routes we biked through. The countryside was varied and the town’s spectacular. My bike was perfect but my partner’s had both technical difficulties and two flat tires on the last day. We were very quickly rescued though and that made all the difference. The GPS worked beautifully and we felt guided the whole way. Most of the hotels were lovely and beautifully located but a couple were disappointing so we would suggest you research the choices and make sure you like where you are going to be. Generally it was a very fun and interesting trip and with a few tweaks would have been perfect.
I had a real adventure walking the Cotswold Way. Having my luggage sent ahead was best. The accommodation was mostly delightful and provided many pleasant surprises and some real characters to talk to.
A lovely way to see a lovely and interesting part of the country. Our weather was mixed, but that did not prove to be a problem, with a comfy and welcoming hotel waiting at the end of each day. Universally, we were given a warm welcome, and the navigation app was a boon : we didn't get lost at all.
It was a well thought-out itinerary which took in the high-lights of Puglia - rural rides to beautiful hill-top towns and coastal rides with lovely views over the Mediterranean.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, and found all the accommodation very comfortable. You definitely need walking boots on the route as there are some stretches of scrambling over rocks, and some very muddy parts. The generous breakfasts set us up for the day, so we found that we didn't need a packed lunch,but just took a cereal bar and some fruit each. However, we did on some days find a café en route or at the end of the walk for the odd cream tea etc! The only place where we found that there was no pub or restaurant for an evening meal within walking distance of the accommodation was Porthcurno. Overall a very inspiring holiday.
A very enjoyable holiday, but quite challenging walking at times, both because of the boulders on some of the paths and the length of walks. We were very lucky with the weather, and the scenery was stunning. We really felt we got to know Cornwall in depth by walking along this beautiful coast.
A beautiful walk over 5 days on the coastal footpath. A little more challenging than we had expected. The terrain is quite difficult in places and we are experienced walkers. The last day from Porthcurno to Mousehole was especially hard. The accommodation overall was great, a mixed bag but no complaints.. The St Austell Brewery pubs at Sennen Cove and Mousehole are lovely, very comfortable rooms with wonderful sea views.
We would do it again.
We needed more cash than we had anticipated so would recommend people take at least around £50 per person. There is a cash point in Lands End which the walk passes but it was out of order.
A lovely circular walk through the Cotswolds
The cycling was a little harder than we had expected, it is rated 1+ but could perhaps have been a 2. One bike that was originally supplied was really in need of a service and was not very good. Having said that once I mentioned this it was changed the next day and the replacement was fine. The shower in the hotel at Holt was very weak but we were told that the water pressure in the area is very low. The last day of cycling is quite tiring though there are quite a few potential stopping places. Overall this was a very good holiday. We used to cycle daily to work but having retired and so cycling less we found this a little more of a challenge.
Very enjoyable. The first day's cycling is the hardest - make sure you have plenty of water. We also managed to view Ragusa on our arrival day so were able to set off and do the major climb before the main heat of the day. There is a beach bar at the Isola delle Correnti which we really enjoyed - it may not be open all the time but if fun if it's open.
All in all a fabulous holiday, my only criticism is that some of the notes were not very clear at times. Having said that I would definitely travel with you again.
An excellent route with excellent route notes. All accommodation was also of high standard apart from the White Hart at Winchcombe which should be dropped immediately.
A wonderful opportunity to see the real lake district away from the roads and crowds. The walks and views were sublime and came with a glorious sense of isolation with the traditional countryside and sheep as a reminder of traditional farming through the centuries. Every walk gave way to such fabulous photo opportunities and we were blessed with warm september sunshine so we could see for miles.
It was okay but not as good as Headwater's holidays on the Continent. Not so well organised. That said, the routes took us through some lovely villages.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday but considered it an expensive holiday as our travel was not included - even travelling to and from accommodation that was not located at the route end, particularly when we had two nights at the Old Success Inn.
The level of difficulty was more extreme/dangerous than we had anticipated. We were very glad that our weather conditions were excellent! Some of the route instructions weren't very clear and Coastal Path way signs were lacking in some areas - almost non-existent on Day one.
We were delighted with all of our accommodation until we reached our last destination in Penzance where we had booked an additional night. The accommodation was clean but fell far short of our previous hostelries. How disappointed we were!
Russ couldn't have been more helpful particularly when our initial flight from Edinburgh was delayed.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our challenging holiday and would certainly like to return to see more of Cornwall.
We've used Headwater many times in mainland Europe but this was our first experience in the UK - for obvious reasons this year! As always we found the experience second to none, really enjoyed the walking and the excellent choices of accommodation. The rep's briefing was really helpful and the maps, gradings and alternative walks all worked really well. Thank you!
Headwater's choice of start and end points for the Hadrian's Wall walk were absolutely spot on. This, combined with the West-to-East direction of travel definitely gave this an advantage over others. The hotels were very welcoming and of a high standard. We couldn't fault any of the arrangements. The guide notes and maps were easy to follow and very comprehensive - especially when pointing out Roman remains that might otherwise have been missed. Our friends had to postpone this trip and we are extremely happy to be re-booked to do it all again with them. We are also looking to see which other walking trips we can book with Headwater as we have been so impressed with everything.
Accommodation was well spaced to allow moderate day walks. Path was slightly more difficult than we had anticipated, so we found we were at the slow end of the timings suggested. The South West coast path is poorly signposted in places - it is important not to be side-tracked by public footpaths. Bag collection and delivery was excellent.
Had a lovely break and really enjoyed all the walks. My first time doing self-guided but no problems and easy to follow routes. Enjoyed house visits but logistics of booking them was quite challenging as had to pre-book specific time slots. Fortunately they were flexible and helpful when needed. Only real problem I had was that some places were closed on the day that I was due to visit which was disappointing. I found everyone very friendly and welcoming which was really nice when travelling alone. I was lucky to have very good weather which helped too!
This holiday has been lovely, with very well selected walking tours that kept me challenged and entertained. The GPS has worked well and has avoided me taking the wrong turn here and there., including on the misty mountain side. If I would have tried to organise this all on my own it would have taken ages, so I feel it is worthwhile using Headwater's service. In total I only interacted with 2 people, the person booking the trip and a local person knowing the intricacies of the walks, hotels etc. Both were always very helpful.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Becker for your holiday summary, it is lovely to read that you had a great time away with us.
Headwater Customer Service Team
We found getting taxis problematic. We struggled but did suceed to get a taxi from Twice brewed to Greenhead but with 24 hours notice, the greenhead hotel was unable to get ys a taxi to Lanercost for the 1st days walk, for which we had prebooked tickets at the priory. Luckily your helpful agenr was able to find us a taxi but it was £30. I think this taxi in particular should be part of the included arrangements.
We took tge bus back to the car rather than another difficult and expensive taxi ride.
I would recommend 2 nights ar twice brewed as we did not have time to see Housesteads at all and rushed Vindolanda.
I found day 3 walking exhausting and the times optimistic for an over 60s moderately fit woman. We used the bus for the last part of the walk.
Day 1 was the highlight
The Angel Inn is quite noisey and id recommend investigating other eating options in Corbridge.
This holiday exceeded our expectations
A great week. We have to mention the Star Gazing at Twice Brewed which was great. Walk notes were very accurate and easy to follow. A well needed holiday enjoyed by everyone.
An enjoyable holiday in a part of the country we have never previously visited.
Another very successful Headwater walking holiday. This was the first UK walking holiday we have taken with Headwater and, whilst we did miss the atmosphere of being abroad, given the current Covid-19 situation it was an excellent way of having a change of scene, walking in some lovely countryside, experiencing comfortable accommodation in different villages in our own country. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
A walking holiday packed with historical sites. Advisable to pre-book taxis and evening meals.
Expected more and better accompdation
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Reeve for your holiday summary, we are sincerely sorry to read your review of our holiday. A member of our team has privately contacted you to discuss further, thank you.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Excellent holiday - shame about the torrential rain for part of it!
All pick ups and transfers were smooth.
the accommodation was good/excellent.
The trip was described as leisurely but there were very rocky ascents and descents at times - I wish I had brought a stick.
We would have appreciated some notes as to the walk from Hawkshead to Hill Top Farm.
Great experience from booking to departure! Pity about the weather - we got drenched on the first day!
Very happy with hotel accommodation, food and taxi transfers. Hotel staff were pleasant & helpful. We are confident and experienced walkers who enjoyed the holiday and were able to work around difficulties encountered, but some may find certain omissions and changes to the guidance notes challenging. For example: There was no 'Headwater Information File' in the hotel. There was no hotel shuttle bus service. The walking routes were good and covered all of the features of the island but they were all longer than stated. Some of the route notes were out of date as directional landmarks were no longer present or the route was blocked by fences and/or private land and in one case by bridge repair works, in particular walk 9, walk 13 and walk 21.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Bardsley for your invaluable feedback, your feedback has been passed on to our Senior Programme Manager in order that we can ensure we make improvements to our literature provided. We look forward to welcoming you on many more self guided holidays with Headwater.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Extremely enjoyable walking, with lovely pubs to stay in at the end of each day. Food in the hotels at the end of each day was good, with the Hadrian Hotel in particular standing out as excellent.
An excellent walking holiday with a lot of variation each day in landscape and history.We spent an extra day(and night) at Twice Brewed to enable us to visit Housesteads and Hexham at leisure using the AD122 bus and fitted in Corbridge Roman Town and Aydon Castle by arriving early on Day 1. It was not as easy obtaining a taxi for 9-9.30 am from Greenhead to Lanercost Priory on day 2 as explained in the Information Notes. We managed to get one but the cost was £18. Having to leave our car at Twice Brewed rather than at Corbridge was a great advantage. However, we managed to avoid the suggested use of a taxi at the end to get us from Corbridge back to Twice Brewed at the price of £40 by using a No.10 bus to Hexham and then an AD122 bus to Twice Brewed as advised by a local taxi firm! As we have bus passes, this was a free option!Because of the number of places of interest to visit and the length of the walks,the preliminary research done proved very beneficial.Baggage transfers excellent
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary, it is great to see you had an excellent holiday with us. We appreciate the additional advice you have offered - very beneficial to our team and future customers. Thank you for choosing Headwater for your UK break in 2021.
Headwater Customer Service Team
An amazing privilege to travel this ancient route and see the remains and ruins of the Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters forts, as well as the impressive roman town at Corbridge. (It's worth joining English Heritage, as this repays itself by the time you have also visited these sites as well as the medieval Lanercost Priory and Aydon Castle.)
If you are looking for history, Wordsworth, Ruskin, Cunliffe as well as beautiful scenic lakes and fells this is for you. Staying in the beautiful Grasmere, Coniston with its lake and the world famous Bluebird cafe and finally to the quintessential village of Hawkshead. Taking a Gondola ride on Coniston, the peace and quiet of Grizedale forest and spectacular views towards Hawkshead. From start to finish this holiday offers all you need for a perfect weeks walking.
Very enjoyable, but the walking was challenging
Well organised, good comms and very good service with no hiccups. All the accommodation was very comfortable and close to our walking route. We were very happy with it all.
A well planned itinerary with good guidance and clear indication of walking difficulty. Highly recommended.
Although we had walked in the Lake District before, this holiday gave the opportunity to experience routes new to us and it certainly covered a wide variety of scenery. The standard of accommodation in each centre was excellent and we would like to make special mention of the staff at the Wordsworth Hotel and the Queen's Head who could not do enough for us despite having the extra work of coping with Covid procedures. Lakeland House being a B & B staffed only part-time was a different experience but we had been advised of this in advance and as a small building it did the best it could to be Covid secure and was certainly adequate for our needs. Thanks also to the staff at Headwater for helping us to have an enjoyable holiday after the disappointment of our Catalunya Activities week being cancelled last year.
A wonderful walk that takes in the best of Hadrians Wall with plenty of time to see various sites along the route. The walking is very varied each day so no chance of getting bored of the scenery. The Hotel(s) service and food was a genuine pleasure to experience at the end of the day. A most enjoyable holiday.
The Hadrian's Wall walk was excellent - beautiful scenery, lots of history and good weather. The routs was easy to follow and the walking well within our capabilities. Two Brewed is on the Pennine Way and the Hadrian's Wall Way and was quite crowded. The Angel in Corbridge felt under staffed at times and was also busy. This would be less of a concern when COVID was not around.
Price wise, which acknowledging hotels are keen to recoup losses from the last 16 months, we felt there were some issues in respect of charges and the quality offered. This was particulalry so in respect of The Angel.
Headwater response:
Thank you for taking the time to share your holiday experience with us. It is lovely to read you enjoyed your time away with us. Thank you for your comments regarding price and quality, our Programme Manager is in receipt of your feedback and will look further in to this matter.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Overall enjoyable and a helpful local representative. One B&B was below the standard expected, and there was a problem on our last day with our luggage going astray.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary. We wish to thank you for your time earlier on the phone to discuss in more detail our properties used on this holiday. We were also very pleased to hear the luggage going astray was resolved locally and the hotel arranged a bottle of wine for you as an apology. We look forward to welcoming you on a future holiday with us.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Lovely holiday walking Hadrian’s Wall organised by pleasant and efficient office staff. We even had some sunshine as an added bonus! Hotels all good but bag transfers arriving late was very annoying after long days walking. Value for money questionable overall. Had to get own taxi to start our 5 days (£45 Corbridge to Greenhead). Then charged £30 for taxi from Greenhead to Lanercost. Suggest others shop around taxi firms and book in advance. Admission to Roman sites also additional cost. We ate in the hotels in which we stayed. All very good apart from the Angel Inn which was just ok. Suggest book a different restaurant in Corbridge. We booked with Headwater as it gave us a sense of security in these uncertain COVID days. Some room for improvement though!
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary, we are very pleased to learn you enjoyed your time on holiday with us. We are sorry to learn of the luggage arriving late, we have addressed this with our baggage handling company and we have sent you a private message with a more in depth explanation. Thank you for your feedback, it is only through our customer feedback that we are able to continuously improve our product.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Beautiful walking, wish we had been able to complete the south coast elements, but zennor to sennen was on a par with Dolomites and Swiss walking for challenge and views
Looking forward to doing something similar in the uk again
Excellent organisation from the operators, including very detailed maps and directions. However bear in mind that you will be “living out of a suitcase” and pack carefully, don’t take too much stuff, beware you have to walk come rain or shine.
We loved our time away - everything was arranged smoothly and all necessary information was received in good time. The walking instructions were superb and very thorough - we did not get lost once. The accommodation was very suitable for our needs.
Fantastic week away - we were blessed with perfect blue skies. The landscape is stunning. We are regular walkers and found the walks were strenuos in parts (particularly St Ives to Zennor and Portcurno to Mousehole) However that certainly didn't spoil the holiday. Accommodation was good. The local representative Russ couldn't have been more helpful. We definitely would recommend this holiday! Only criticism was the route notes were not very detailed and didn't really add much value.
The holiday was excellent with good accommodation and very clear instructions from Hikes and Bikes. There were a few B&B's that we stayed in which aren't on the list above and the Guiting Guest House in Guiting Power was the best of the lot. It was a lovely quiet village after the hustle and bustle of Bourton-on-the Water and the best night's sleep I have had in years and breakfast was excellent - a definite 10/10. Hadley House in Broadway wasn't so good but comfortable and clean and the breakfast was lovely. The Noel Arms Hotel in Chipping Campden was also very good. We have travelled with Headwater 4 times now and will continue to do so. Thank you for being a company that genuinely cares that their customers have the best holiday they can.
A wonderful way to see the beautiful Norfolk countryside.
Enjoyable, plenty of time to enjoy countryside.
Though pretty gruelling (for two old men at any rate), it was a wonderful experience. The Headwater organisation from start to finish was superb and all the arrangements with hotels etc went very smoothly.
A wonderful walk through woodland, countryside and villages. We recommend doing this walk in the late spring, when the bluebells, cow parsley, and cowslips clothe the countryside. We passed so many interesting historical sites, from Neolithic tombs, Iron Age forts, ancient battlefields, and finishing in Bath was a pleasure. Don’t forget to photograph your feet at the start plaque in Chipping Camden, and again at the finish outside Bath cathedral.
This was an excellent holiday exploring some stunning countryside along the Cornish coast. The routes necessarily involved quite a few ascents and descents, but I don't think they would pose any problems for anyone who enjoys walking. The local guide was really helpful and attentive and the accommodation throughout was at very nice B&B's and pubs. Would definitely recommend.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Flower for your lovely comments, we are really pleased to learn you had an excellent holiday with us and that you would recommend. We look forward to planning many more holidays for you in the future.
A self guided walking holiday was a brand new venture for me
since I had always been on group guided walking holidays before. This new venture turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. The trip notes and maps that I was provided with to download onto my phone were very accurate. In fact I didn't have to refer to the OS maps that I was sent as well. The Lake District is a fantastic area to visit to start with on a first self guided walking trip, very pleasing. Hotels along the way were very good. I enjoyed the walking routes ,Grasmere to Coniston was my favourite. Overall I had a very enjoyable time and I would definitely do this self guiding experience again in the UK.
We had very enjoyable holiday despite the restrictions
We had an amazing week with Stefano and his family and team. The equipment was excellent and the cycling amazing, pretty challenging, but we got to see the beautiful countryside and villages of the region. The food at La Pietriccia was outstanding. Despite the Covid restrictions Stefano did everything he could to help us keep our plans flexible so that we could complete all the routes. We would certainly recommend this holiday for people like us, who like their cycling, wine and food in equal measures.
Headwater response:
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are all delighted that you had an amazing holiday and we hope we can welcome you on another trip with us again soon.
Headwater Customer Services Team
The self-guided walking was well planned and suited our levels of ability (a challenge, but a good challenge which allowed us to feel we'd earned our dinner!). Varied itinerary, which added to the enjoyment, and plenty of opportunity to adjust the programme to suit our wishes (for instance, adding a boat trip round Marettimo and snorkeling in the translucent waters).
Good varied cycling both inland and by the coast. Lovely countryside, good wine and food
Generally the terrain was very rough and in places difficult without a mountain bike . Had it been raining we would have had to give up. We were initially given mountain bikes but we are too old to manage these and there were no panniers, which are promised in your literature. We chose to change our bikes to step through hybrid bikes without being informed that we needed mountain bikes to manage the ride.. A bit more guidance on local places to eat and interesting points on the way and how to get to them would have been good. The sat nav directions were excellent for route finding. The hotels were adequate , especially in the time of Covid and we felt safe. But they were not outstanding and rather lacked character overall.
Headwater response:
Thank you for taking the time to review your holiday experience with us, feedback is very important to us and therefore we have spent some time with our local agent to improve services on the ground. It is great to know the Headwater app was excellent and you felt safe in the hotels during these difficult Covid times. We hope you will travel with us again soon.
Kind Regards
Customer Service
This area of Portugal is beautiful. We had Ebikes (mountain) which was great as they were needed due to the terrain in some places. The cycle routes varied from cycle paths, brilliant, cobbles roads, okay, and forest/ river tracks, not the easiest but manageable as long as you didn’t want to see the scenery. The hotel in Monção is slightly out of the town and no food was available in the hotel. Plus no air conditioning and the beds were very hard. The bikes were fine but the panniers provided were very small so unless you wanted to carry a backpack there was little room for water and valuables. Mostly the directions were great, only minor detours! One bridge we had to cross was closed which the agent had not informed us of. Warning about crossing the bridge at Viana do Castelo would be good. The pedestrian foot path is too narrow for bikes. On whole the holiday was good as the food in the region is excellent. We enjoyed the wine and beer but the first 2 wine tastings were not great.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your recent review, it is lovely to read that overall you enjoyed your holiday with us and discovered a beautiful part of Portugal. We would like to apologise for the difficulties encountered due to a bridge closure unfortunately this can happen on occasion and should our local agent be aware of possible detours required we have asked that this is highlighted in the holiday briefing. We look forward to welcoming you on a future Headwater holiday again soon.
Kindest Regards
Customer Service
excellent itinerary with lots of variety .
excellent local support when we needed it
Wonderful views while cycling although we found some of hills slightly challenging especially on hot days! GPS guidance was better than we expected but on occasions instructions should be given slightly earlier and repeated - traffic noise could obscure! Printed instructions are if anything too detailed and would be difficult to follow if GPS failed. In event of GPS failure a visible point of reference, like a nearby town on the screen shot maps might enable easier identification of where you were on a map!
Impressed by ability of office and ground agents to put programme together within the very short timescale
An excellent holiday and we feel that a lot of credit should also be given to the local organiser, Hikes & Bikes, with whom you are in partnership. The walks were easy to follow & well explained with photographs where needed. The transfer of luggage was very efficient
lovely unspoilt region of Italy !
Provide exactly what you expect and what you hope for. Walks are lovely and well planned and well judged. Everything went smoothly. Hotels were great.
We loved the area - very unspoilt and the wild flowers were a joy. Unfortunately coronavirus impacted on the overall enjoyment. It was reassuring to have your Representative Stephanie giving us a call during the week. We'll come back to this area once the current crisis is over.
A great walking holiday in beautiful unspoilt scenery with some welcome warmth and sunshine. Despite the uncertainties of Corona we were able to relax, though were glad to leave Portugal safely as the situation "hotted-up" !
Superb hospitality from friendly and helpful staff in a beautiful location with fresh air and great exercise and wonderful food.
Skiing was good. The room was VERY much in need of improvement.
I’d never been cross-country skiing before and I couldn’t have had a better first experience. The location is beautiful. The hotel is excellent - friendly, comfortable, clean, with a wide range of tasty and nutritious food. The tuition is outstanding - with a good balance between learning the skills and getting out there and enjoying the environment. We had a complete range of weather scenarios - from a blizzard on the first day to -10 and clear sunny skies on the last. There are lots of extras on offer - we enjoyed both the snow shoe excursion and the night skiing. If you are hesitating I’d totally recommend giving cross country skiing a go at Venabu.
The holiday was very good. We very much enjoyed the Quinta do Furao hotel set on the cliffs over looking the coast. Even with building work going on we did not even notice it going on. Their hospitality with a welcome/ departing gift were a nice touch and would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to others.
Most clients return to Venabu year after year for the excellent food, location and the extensive network of ski tracks all signposted and groomed.
Excellent venue for cross country skiing. Hotel staff friendly and helpful, home for home. Ski guides and level of teaching excellent.
Finca el Cerrillo is a stunning holiday destination. Sue and Gordon are wonderful hosts and made our holiday so enjoyable. The walking was great with spectacular views. The hotel itself is a tribute to the thought and hard work that Gordon and Sue have put into a run down olive mill over the years. It is cosy, quirky and picturesque with many seating areas around the interesting garden to catch the sun or find the shade when needed. We loved our holiday here and really hope to return..
Gorgeous walking in an unspoilt part of Portugal: dramatic coastline views, stunning beaches, abundant wildflowers and amazingly warm and sunny in late February, Often you wouldn't see another soul all day on the walk. Hotels were mostly of an excellent standard (Pedralva was a disappointment, mainly because it was blighted by extensive building work during our visit, but both other hotels were great) and food was outstanding throughout. Detailed and reliable trip notes. One of the best holidays we have had.
Another great trip to Venabu. The hotel is extremely friendly, superb location with excellent skiing for all levels. Food is very good and plentiful! Highly recommended.
An interesting island for walking with a good network of well signed footpaths. We enjoyed our week and everything went smoothly.
Excellent holiday but very expensive destination, it would be nice to offer some self catering accommodation.
The hotel is warm, clean and suited to the environment and the activities it offers. The food is very good- fresh, healthy, plentiful and tasty. The guides offer routes on and off track depending on the conditions. There are lots of lovely areas to ski. Venabu is a peaceful place with staff who are friendly and welcoming. It caters well for children and adults who want a holiday 'away from it all', breathing in fresh air and spending time with each other.
We’ve returned every year since our children were six, they are now sixteen. Venabu is the perfect family skiing holiday with good skiing, great instruction and guiding, fantastic food and a relaxed atmosphere
A great way to walk through the country and see the fantastic coastline with a high degree of comfort in the various hotels.
Excellent base for skiing and other winter activities. The ski tracks offer a variety of terrain and challenges, there is no charge for using the tracks which were well maintained throughout the week I was there. I would recommend the half board option because the food in the hotel is excellent and there are no better options that do not require travel by car or taxi. Ski equipment was good and the staff in the hire shop friendly and helpful, I did resent having to pay for my hire skis to be waxed.
A good intro to xcountry skiiing
Venabu offers a tranquil, but active cross country ski experience, with home comforts and a family feel. The warm, relaxed hotel has plenty to entertain outwith the ski times. There's yoga, sauna, ping-pong, lectures on nature and the area, and amazing food which caters for all tastes and wishes.
The area is beautiful, you can night ski, dog sled and take a horse drawn trip, or just head for a solo ski after lunch - with great signage to make that feel safe and fun.
This is an amazing holiday which offers nature in winter just perfectly.
We had an amazing holiday. It was a first for us - never been cross country skiing, never booked a 'package holiday' - but I am now hooked! Loved cross country skiing and booking through Headwater made everything so easy. Hotel was really lovely - had a very homely feel, food was great and it all just worked. Can't recommend highly enough!
Venabu is in a beautiful location. We had excellent snow conditions with well maintained and well signposted tracks. The Venabu Fjellhotel is a lovely hotel - my only criticism was the "end-to-end" beds, but these are a traditional Norwegian style so they do have a certain charm. The hotel staff were unfailingly helpful and efficient, providing excellent (and plentiful) food - having the choice of lunch non the hotel or making a picnic up at breakfast gives you a choice of how to organise your day's skiing. We chose to ski independently of the group(s) but from the comments made at dinner the group(s) & tuition sounded good. If you choose to ski independently you will need a map. Overall we had a fabulous holiday and are certainly hoping to return next year.
Fjellhotel have a fantastic team of ski guides and instructors. They're brilliant. Fjellhotel is terrific in providing exactly what's required and it's always available for the guests. An excellent holiday.
Gozo was a quiet island, perfect for a relaxing walking holiday. As a self-guided holiday we could adjust each day's walks as we felt necessary which provided great flexibility. The Hotel Ta Cenc was excellent, and although some parts of the room décor were aging slightly, the bar and restaurant service were superb. We fully intend to return to Gozo and Ta Cenc to walk the parts of the island we couldn't reach in the short time we had booked.
A great holiday. Great trails and wonderful food. Yllas is a great location. We strongly recommend half board at the hotel. Room a little disappointing - very cramped. Initial transfer was late and it was a little confusing arriving at the airport but otherwise things went smoothly. Delighted not to have a rep. around. Ski Rental OK but ran out of boots in my size and landed up with some old (but very functional) boots. Would certainly visit again.
The accommodation, food, location and ski instruction at Venabu fjellhotel is excellent and people go back there year after year. Cross country skiing is not an easy option. It is aerobic exercise and is best enjoyed with a good level of fitness. Skiing straight from the hotel door without the crowds, lifts and passes is superb.
A beautiful area of Norway, peaceful, 160k of routes, wildlife, with lots of skiing options for beginners to experienced skiers planned by excellent team led by Robert at Venabu.Other snow activities were on offer too.The hotel is comfortable and although the East Wing accommodation is not luxury by today’s standards the rooms are clean and warm. The family hotel run by Line now, is so welcoming and comfortable with wonderful food.. and for a range of dietary needs. A great holiday blessed with fabulous weather.
Lina and all the staff at the Hotel Venabu Fjellhotel were all outstanding. The food was excellent - better than i had expected and the level of guiding and ski instruction from Robert, Inga, Marie and Wenke absolutely superb. I will return to the superbly run establishment and will upgrade to the west wing for a bit more comfort next time.
We were lucky with the weather. No real complaints
Excellent venue, friendly hotel Staff and wonderful food. Ski Instructors were all great.
This is a "full-on" holiday to try and complete all the walks in a week, especially if you have bad weather, so would recommend booking extra days to include other sightseeing options. Hotel was pleasant enough, and a great location if you like a beach view, but somewhat remote - you need to familiarise yourself with other bus routes/directions if you want to return any later than 9.15pm! The food there is reasonably good but limited, we chose to eat out a lot of the time and there are plenty of good eateries in Hamilton. My personal suggestion would be to book room only to maximise your dining options. Tim provides a wealth of information at the briefing and we didn't need to contact him for anything else during the week - the route notes are fairly straightforward and it's relatively easy to find your way around. And if you do get lost it won't be long before a friendly local approaches you offering help and directions! Overall a good intro to Bermuda, its history and its people.
The Hotel Soleil in Kandersteg was fantastic
Good hotel. Pity there was so little snow as this restricted our skiing significantly.
This was a delightful experience, with all the necessary practical elements thought through and put in place. We enjoyed every part of it.
More attention from guides needed to separate beginners in the tracks and teach awareness of others.
All very efficient and good value for money
Venabu hotel ski guides are experienced, helpful and make the guided ski trips safe and fun. The food at the hotel is excellent and plentiful. We have been going to the hotel for many years and always look forward to the holiday and are never disappointed.
This self-guided walking holiday in Bermuda was fabulous in every way. The hotel was a luxurious island paradise, with fine dining from a large a la carte menu every night. It was well worth having the inclusive meals package suggested. We enjoyed the trip immensely. Everything was good!
The location is fantastic with numerous trails that are easy to follow on your own. The ski school is well organised with extremely knowledgeable staff. The hotel is not luxurious but adequate. The food is incredible with full board. The holiday is ideal for XC skier's of all capabilities with Good instruction given
This package is a fantastic hideaway in a winter wonderland learning a great skill in a fantastic environment. If you've not tried it before I highly recommend. (When I went several people had been going back to Venabu over and over, and I now know why!) The team that look after you are excellent and the hotel feels like a big home away from home. The skiing is easy enough for everybody to learn safely, but difficult enough to keep fast learners interested and many km of routes to keep everyone enthusiastic throughout their stay. It has become an experience and a week of memories I'll never forget. Thanks
Amazing venue and lovely activities. Hotel in an amazing setting. Christmas activities provided were wonderful. Food and staff at hotel were very good. Hotel rooms need updating with new beds, pillows and bedding.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Roper
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are thrilled that you had a lovely holiday. We appreciate your comments regarding your hotel room , and is something that we will monitor throughout the season. We do review our hotels each season and will continue to work with our suppliers to ensure they are providing the kind of quality accommodations our customers have come to expect.
I do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Great holiday, amazing landscape, good food. Great group of people which made it extra special. The area around Venabu for skiing is outstanding. The skiing was fun and as a beginner we were taught by amazing instructors who broke it down in stages for us. You need to have a reasonable level of fitness as you are effectively running / walking on skis for at least 4 hours a day (there was only 6 hours of daylight in December when I was there).
As a veggie I was worried about food, but I shouldn't have been. There were hot veggie / vegan options for lunch and dinner everyday on the buffet, as well as various plant based 'milk' options. Incredible.
The fact that the ski instructors and staff go back year after year, as well as the guests speaks volumes for the friendliness of the hotel as well as the beauty of the area. I will be returning.....
La Palma has some wonderful walks. Pretty, attractive landscape, varying from lush, verdant plantations at sea level to stark volcanic landscapes at 2,400m. There is nowhere flat on La Palma! Some of the walking is very strenuous, but quite spectacular as you walk up and down steep-sided barrancos. Day 4 is the equivalent of walking from sea level to the top of Snowdon in 12kms. The location of the accommodation and the combination of taxis and buses to get to and from walks works very well. Santa Cruz is picturesque and compact with plenty of good places to eat and drink.
Excellent walking and food in an unspoilt area. Felt very welcome everywhere and reps were extremely friendly and helpful.
Generally good. Some stretches of walks boring but necessary to get to destination. I loved Pedalva but didnt like sharing track with motor bikes around Pedalva. November not best month for flowers. and outdoor pools and sea too cold for swimming. Jude and Tim were really welcoming and helpful
Once again we have had a wonderful holiday through Headwater
Very relaxing holiday in pleasant location. Walking easy but walks could be extended.
Hotel facilities very good and staff friendly and helpful. ONLY down side was the weather - torrential rain and wind for two days but it was November! But hotel facilities good pool - fitness suite spa so no problem filling in the day.
The first time for many years that the Gozo ferry had to be cancelled! All in all an enjoyable break.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Baker
Thank you for a lovely review. We are glad that you had an enjoyable holiday , despite the weather! Unfortunately something that none of us have control over what ever the time of year.
I do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Service
Walking in SW Algarve in November gave us wonderful sunny weather, great temperatures, but be prepared for wind. The hotels we used were all top class or unusual; great locations and food. Routes were clear- made much more sense when you were actually doing them, as a lot of the routes were more straight forward than the instructions seemed. The 10 miles per day on the moving days were at the upper end of my range; plus the walk suggestions were good- but again, at my age (70, and not a regular walker), I found the holiday rather tiring. Tim & Jude were superb hosts for the holiday, & we wouldn't have hesitated to call on them if we'd had any problems- which we didn't.
A lovely hotel and flexible itinerary made for a great holiday.
The personal care and attention provided by ALL staff throughout the holiday was excellent. The hotels were a haven of peace and sophistication after our energetic days. The trip to Puglia included highlights such as the Trulli houses and the ancient olive groves. In general the cycling was pleasurable and, when our cycle let us down, we were rescued swiftly. Of interest to us was the fact that the residents of Puglia took great pride in their houses, gardens, vineyards and fields however outside of this the roads were strewn with litter, the like of which we have never before witnessed. It detracted from our enjoyment and reflected badly upon the region as a whole. Thank you again to all who made our holiday so memorable. Phil & Kath
Very well thought out and planned holiday with materials (detailed maps + descriptions + garmin, once I had read the clear instructions on how to turn it on to the relevant route,) provided excellent. We would have appreciated the detailed written routes accompanying the maps to have included place names
Excellent holiday with good hotels, great scenery and realistic riding days for the described activity level. The bikes were excellent and comfortable.
Headwater holidays are amazing! The hassle of scrutinising where I’m going on holiday is taken care of by Headwater as I know they would have chosen great places to visit and stay. Thank you Headwater
Beautiful country area over Italy with lovely summer weather at the end of October. Lots to see, lovely little beaches. Pleasant cycling, especially with bikes for the occasional severe hill!
This was a first cycling holiday for us so we were apprehensive. However we definitely would recommend both Headwater and the Contrasts of Puglia tour. The organisation was excellent as were the hotels. In the end we took e bikes ( having deliberated about this) . We didn’t use the power so much but we felt that we definitely enjoyed the holiday more and did more on the bikes than we would have without the power. It was a very pleasurable and relaxed week.
The app works really well and is relatively easy to download and use though we found it useful to use the printed out route maps as well as a check. If you are not used to using apps etc it might be a little tricky to initially set up. We loved the routes that were chosen - mostly on very quiet country roads with minimal traffic situations. We found the car drivers very considerate, more so than in UK. The hotels were all in great locations and very nice.
It was our first organised walking holiday and it was fantastic. We especially appreciated the excellent notes and enjoyed the coastal walks.
Visited in mid October resort very quiet hotel rather lacking atmosphere (it was due to close end of October) a very attractive region of Spain. Quite a steep climb up to hotel from village excellent helpful efficient local rep (Greg)
I could not fault this holiday. Although I have been on many Headwater holidays both cycling and walking I would recommend this particular trip to anyone considering taking their first walking holiday, both with friends and alone. It was recommended to me mainly because the hotel was so nice and I certainly appreciated that as soon as I arrived.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Whalley
Thank you for leaving such a lovely review and recommendation. We do hope that we will be able to welcome you back on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Excellent hotel on Gozo, lovely walks and scenery, and friendly locals. But don't expect any support from a Rep.
Headwater response:
Dear Ms.Short, thanks for leaving your review. We are pleased that you loved your experience in Gozo. I am sorry if you were under the impression that this holiday is managed by the Headwater Representative; This particular holiday is actually managed by the hotelier. If it is a holiday supported by a 'rep' that you prefer please speak to our team who will be more than happy to advise you on any future bookings.
Again, thank you for taking the time to review your holiday.
Kind regards
Headwater Customer Service
The walks gave an excellent taste of the area and coming in October we saw the autumn colours at their best yet were able to enjoy warm sunshine!
The walk instructions and timings were spot on for us. We had a really enjoyable and relaxing time
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Fletcher
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your holiday and managed to relax and enjoy the warm autumnal sunshine in Austria.
We do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Services
One reason we choose this holiday was because all meals were included in the cost of the holiday. This was exactly what we wanted. I see that future holidays in this area/hotel don't include a picnic lunch (essential as there are no shops on the walking routes) and only one evening meal. So I can't recommend on the basis of what we experienced. The food at the hotel was really good. The walks were as described on the itinerary and were enjoyable. In October the temperature was just right for walking. I'm glad we chose this month.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Drage, thank you for your review. I am pleased that you enjoyed your holiday and I would like to assure you that the opportunity to add picnic lunches and evening meals on this holiday are still available as additional options. It is important to Headwater to offer the choice to customise your own trip, therefore the standard trip is B&B, apart from on the first night when dinner is always included and the option is there to add the extras that you require.
Excellent holiday with efficient service and great transport. Good choice of locations and good walks with good route notes. A very enjoyable holiday.
Amalfi Coast walk was a wonderful holiday, stunning views, passing through olive and lemon groves, watching the locals harvest their olives, accommodation was outstanding with lovely friendly host's felt like part of the family. Enjoyed the days off to wander around the beautiful villages, swim in the sea, perfect. This is our 6th walking holiday with Headwater and we are always impressed with their holidays.
Headwater response:
Dear Miss Reid, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; Your positive comments are really appreciated and thank you for taking the time to make them. Hopefully we can look forward to seeing you again on your 7th Headwater holiday.
This was our first cycling holiday (we are in our seventies) We had the most enjoyable time, meeting up with fellow cyclist from other countries on route
The towns we stayed in and the hotel were all very good. The cycling was almost all on quiet roads. We would certainly like to book another trip. Mary and Tim
A wonderful area of Spain to explore and the easy walking on offer was just right and gave access to wonderful views. Everything was organised well and the walking guide was excellent.
Superb welcoming English hosts and staff at outstanding accommodation. Nice mixture of eating at local restaurants and at accommodation. 12 walkers in group were an ideal number. All walkers were good timekeepers (including four Icelanders) making for a very affable happy group. Our guide had excellent knowledge of the area and its inhabitants.
A perfect balance of independent travel with the knowledge of knowing that at the end of each days walk there will be a comfortable bed and an excellent meal in an unspoilt rural location each with its own individuality.
This was our 7th headwater holiday but the first we had done on foot. Every holiday has been special in one way or another but this one certainly ranked among the best. The walks were excellent, carefully routed to avoid any distances on busy roads and include a lovely range of scenery. We enjoyed the sense of being right out in the countryside and away from the main tourist centres although there were several times when a café or bar along the way would have been welcome (We had to carry drink and snacks with us on each walk although we did find a bar open in Gargas on the first walk.) Coming from a particularly flat part of the UK we were worried about steep climbs but the inclines were generally quite gentle and we managed fine. The weather helped. At the start of October, it was warm and dry but with a cooling breeze. In the summer heat we could have found it more challenging! The route notes were very good, as long as we read the details carefully. We only lost our way once, adding a few extra kilometres to the walk into La Fontaine de Vaucluse.
The hotels were all of a high standard, Each had an individual character, all were very comfortable and the breakfasts were wonderful. We especially enjoyed the Hotel de Poete in Fontaine and the Hermitage at Pernes les Fontaines.
The Headwater rep, Joey, couldn't have been more welcoming or more helpful. He went out of his way to make sure we had the best holiday possible. He was always cheerful and fun to be with.
We enjoyed our holiday. The logistics worked very well, the hotels exceeded our expectations, and the meals, especially those in the outside restaurants you chose, were outstanding. One possible,very minor, improvement, would be to reduce the volume, or simplify the content of information sent to us before departure. Many thanks to all involved.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr.Tayler
Thank you for posting such a lovely review. Your comment regarding the pre departure information is currently being reviewed. Whilst we want to ensure that our customers have all the information required for their holiday we are actively looking at alternative solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. For example; Holidays with Ride with GPS may not require printed route notes and a geographical map.
We do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater Holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Good for people who like an energetic walk
Lovely area to visit with excellent hotels and support. Only weakness is very poor standard of app based guidance which is fine if you just want a car-like sat nav experience but it fails completely to provide any useful background information on the places being visited or passed en route. Much lower quality than the excellent written notes which Headwater used to provide. To be fair, if all you want is to get from A to B on your bike on the prescribed route, they are absolutely fine.
This was our first Headwater holiday. We really enjoyed it. The scenery was diverse. The routes were interesting. The bikes, though heavy, served us well. The routes were easy to follow and the gps worked well. The weather in early October was fantastic - warm and sunny. Curia and Coinbra suffered from early morning mist which made the mornings cool. Evenings also made a Jumper advisable. Only issue we had was with the Mecarico Hotel where our upgraded room was directly opposite the building work which was no more than 20 feet away. We also had some difficulty in finding our way from the train station at Porto to the Metro. There are no signs. The escalators were not working. The Metro Route is route E. It was not operating a direct service. We had to change at Musica although we stayed on the same platform. Portuguese people were really helpful and friendly. Food was good and relatively inexpensive
Very enjoyable but two of the rides were slightly more difficult than we anticipated from a 1+ rating
We have just come back from cycling around Lake Constanz. Really easy cycle routes and great, wide paths, which made it much more sociable than when you have to cycle on main roads. The notes were generally good to follow, though we got caught out a couple of times because the distances to the next set of directions weren't always stipulated and sometimes much further than we expected. I do think that the hotels could coordinate a bit on menus: each one gave us beef consomme with pancakes as a starter soup on one of the two nights we were there and there was a lot of pork and trout. A bit more choice would have been nice. Overall though, the scenery around the lake was stunning, the days off in St Gallen and visiting the Rhein falls were superb and we were incredibly fortunate with the weather considering we were cycling in October.
A charming hotel with lovely staff in quiet part of Andalucia
Very enjoyable rides with a range of scenery and interesting places to visit. Vicenza and Padua which we visited on bike free days were particularly beautiful.
The bikes were fantastically maintained by our rep James - in contrast to Headwater agent holidays that we've been on before.
An excellent walking experience with fabulous food and wine offerings. We came home thoroughly relaxed from this week’s break.
Lovely, varied walking in an unspoilt, lesser known area of Italy. It was good being able to intersperse visits to beautiful villas and the historic city of Padua. The rep, James, was very professional and friendly and very well-organised.
A great way to see a country. Headwater have obviously done their homework. Lovely places to stay - great routes between locations - not too strenuous, but enough to make you feel you deserved that beer at the end!
Great location. Easy quiet cycling excellent food plenty of interesting places to visit
Another excellent holiday with Headwater. The routes, the towns, the accommodation all just right. My only request would be that some new routes are added for France as we have nearly exhausted them all.
A GREAT BREAK FOR CYCLIST WHO LOVE ITALY
A joy to walk in vineyards, olive groves and wooded areas in anunspoilt untouristified area.
The Danube bike path from Passau is scenic and the majority is on a fine paved dedicated bicycle path. The riding is easy and the distances are moderate. There are quite a few points of historical interest e.g. the monastery in Melk, the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial.
The hotels are a mixture of (very) small family-run hotels and one large chain (Steigenberger). All were very clean and the staff were welcoming. I spent three nights in the Hotel Austria. I was quite skeptical of Headwater's choice of this hotel, but upon arrival I was very warmly greeted, the room was fine, if not luxurious, breakfast very good and the room was very clean. After three days, it actually had begin to feel very "homey" due to the friendly staff.
This is the second time I had done this trip. Both were booked through Headwater, but this trip was actually contracted out to an Austrian company, and I do not feel they provided the level of service and communication that Headwater has provided for on my seven prior trips booked with them.
This was a one week activity holiday and it was well planned and varied. Freedom to choose when to do each activity or to vary it was ideal. The hotel would have been fine for a couple of nights, but not quite comfortable enough for longer due to quality of meals and constant background music. The actual town was lovely and we were pleased to extend our stay beyond a week. Visitors do need to be aware that the hotel has great views because it is up a hill. Lots of steps! Greg and Seonna were excellent reps with great advice and support.
Another very enjoyable Headwater holiday. Different from our previous cycling holidays in that we were based in one place and had walking as well as cycling options. We enjoyed the flexibility of choosing our daily programme. Calella de Palafrugell was an excellent base with good restaurants.
A very well balanced walking holiday on a beautiful island with genuinely friendly and flexible taxi drivers!
One of the best trips we’ve ever done.
A good cycling break with a wide variety of good eating. Spectacular scenery. Be prepared for some serious hill climbs if you don't use an electric bike, gradients up to 13%, but manageable for those who are used to it. The mobile phone based navigation leaves a bit to be desired: difficult to hear in traffic, difficult to see if you need reading glasses: and a few quirks. A back-up paper map is useful or possibly a Garmin type GPS works better. If you like cycling this is a great holiday: if you are an occasional cyclist it would be fair to say that some routes take the long and occasionally tortuous way round between places which are quite close to each other. A few sections use quite rough tracks: if you aren't confident riding over large pebbles and avoiding big potholes, take care! A great selection of wineries to visit, and if you are tempted to buy, many will ship it for you.
Had a lovely time, got what we expected and Joey the Rep was absolutely fantastic. The only area of complaint was the Hotel des pins. Location and room fine, Food not that great. We could clearly see from the other guests that the food was very good but we got a set menu which was not great. On both nights they forgot I had a Nut and Fish allergy which wouldn't have been to big an issue if they had provided me with a reasonable replacement but on the second night the starter, Fish and Salad was replaced with just salad for me. The main course was poor compared to the other hotels and then they finished me off with stewed apple sprinkled with nuts, good job my allergy is mild. Having said all that lets not forget that the Hotel Montmirail was absolutely fantastic.
First time with Headwater. We found the holiday to be as busy or as relaxed as you wanted. The walks provided were interesting with various levels of difficulty, meaning that you chose which route to follow. The hotel accommodation, staff and food were excellent. The food being some of the best food that we have ever been offered in a hotel. We will be looking at Headwater breaks in the future.
Holiday made perfect by care .commitment and expertise of James . It was very reassuring to have his constant but unobtrusive help throughout our holiday Excellent in every way .Thank you
A lovely activity holiday, cycling through interesting countryside, on quiet roads, visiting interesting towns and staying in characterful and comfortable hotels. The distances of approx 40km each day were just about right for over 60’s and the GPS navigation was excellent. It would have been impossible with paper maps only.
A wonderful opportunity to explore another part of Europe. Cycling allowed us to see genuine ways of life in Puglia and to enjoy the excellent cuisine guilt free after active cycling.
Our holiday was to celebrate a big birthday. It was as good as we hoped and we would travel again with Headwater
Headwater holidays definitely seem to include the eating experience as very important. They are well put together and well located.
To be able to cycle on the level from Vienna to Budapest, taking in some interesting towns and countryside en route, is a great experience.
A good opportunity to see a corner of Sicily that is not often on the tourist trail. Spectacular scenery and pleasant walking, though walks were often quite short in length, there was plenty of interest along the way. Several alternative walks offered at all venues.. Worth combining with a few days in Palermo, for a marked contrast.
Canoeing on the Dordogne was an absolute highlight of my travels in France. Headwater’s in-country representatives were outstanding in every aspect - from the moment they met my train until they dropped me back at the station nine days later. This was my first experience of a holiday kayaking trip like this and, whilst I am an experienced kayaker, I was quite nervous to be doing this on my own. The thoroughness of my first day briefing put me totally at ease and I was able to relax straight away and enjoy every moment. I also appreciated the detailed notes and activity suggestions for my stay-put days and enjoyed a couple of great walks, following the extremely accurate guiding notes provided by Headwater. I would thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys nature and water-based activities.
This was a well organised tour taking in some pretty hilltop villages. We have done several Headwater holidays, but think that this was our first '2 bike '. It was quite demanding and many locals had electric bikes, but the hills are manageable. Les Imberts is a very small place, but the suggested trip to Gordes is well worth it, but we took an easier, but longer route there to avoid the main road. We found Apt to be rather uninspiring for a 2 night stay, We looked on Trip Advisor and found a couple of good local restaurants, but there was little to do during the day. Instead we cycled to the small town of Cereste along a cycle route- but it was a demanding ride. Our last hotel on the route was very picturesque and the welcome was the best we had, but we would have liked some choice at dinner especially as they hadn't noted the dietary preferences we have noted with Headwater ( luckily I had a good lunch that day). La Pernes de la Fontaines is a very pleasant town.
We started our holiday with a night in Avignon and would recommend this. Our guide Joey contacted us the night before and made excellent recommendations for our morning in Avignon. The week we stayed was a busy one for Joey ( he could have done with some help), but his cheerfulness and enthusiasm were most welcome.
We would recommend this holiday.
Having travelled with Headwater before, we knew what to expect, but this holiday didn't dissapoint. The hotels and restaurants were of a very high standard. We were lucky with the weather which really helped. It was dry and sunny most of the time but not too hot for walking. We on,y got lost once - this was on out first day and probably due to a farmer seeking to discourage use of paths across his land. The instructions for that day may need a quick review. There wasn't really a map to cover everywhere we walked, but we managed with the sketch maps provided and maps covering various parts of the area we walked in. We walked an average of about 7 miles a day and found places for a light lunch which is all we would want after the spreads provided for breakfast. A lovel holiday
Our walking holiday in the Luberon was an excellent way to experience the area and
This kind of holiday was a first for us, and we loved it. It was great to walk from one place to another and have our luggage moved for us. The hotels were well chosen and comfortable. The area is beautiful and the views from the hotels were lovely. If we were to do this again, we would probably go early summer in order to have more daylight when you can sit outside at the hotels in the evenings and appreciate the views. For the last Walk we did from Teolo to Il Feudo, we chose the longer option but cut it short at the point where you could do so. With hindsight we would probably have preferred the shorter walk on the hard surfaces, as the walk we undertook meant that we were in forest for most of the time with no views at all and the paths were not just steep, but very uneven with lots of loose stones, which meant that we spent more time than we would wish having to concentrate on getting a foothold. Notwithstanding this, we thought it was a great holiday and will look forward to planning another one for next year.
Ring of Kerry's scenery and hospitality is wonderful - extremely earthy and heartening. You truly feel connected to both the people and the land through this experience. The riding is by no means for the faint hearted though. The hills over mountain passes are challenging, particularly with Ireland's wet and windy conditions. You will need to be fit, resilient and prepared to be wet!. Bring wet weather gear. The rewards are significant though - a sense of achievement and a highly authentic cultural experience riding through Irelands farmlands, history and natural landscapes.
first night restaurant Kamera in puglia not friendly or good food should change this.
Well organised and efficiently run with good choice of hotels.
Great holiday- we wished we’d opted to stay 2 nights at Calella de Palafrugell as it was a lovely spot with beautiful clear water for swimming. Our guide, Greig, was brilliant - particularly when we had a day of storms and ran around transferring everyone and their bikes to their destination as if it were no trouble at all. The area is beautiful with fascinating old villages and towns - Girona a real highlight
Excellent all round. Good mix of accommodation all good anor excellent. Fascinating route : mountains to the sea. Very interesting to see the earthquake damage and recovery in Versone. Plenty to do an the rest days. Good to have the occasional two day stay. Really liked the electric bikes (first time use). M tours and hotel staff all very pleasant and helpful.
The general standard of the walks, route notes and accommodation made this a very enjoyable holiday. We also used the supplementary guidance notes for things to do and these also proved helpful. The local reps kept us informed as necessary and ensured all arrangements were in order.
N.B. Will send this separately. Thanks.
Stunning coastline, beautiful old towns with lots of historical interest, amazing sunsets and glorious food and wine! Some of the cycling tracks were very rough with uneven surfaces on unmade roads, not gravel as described. The agent Bruna was extremely helpful and we would recommend taking up her offer of a lift to avoid cycling on a dangerous stretch of road. We had a really enjoyable holiday and are now planning our next Headwater experience!
The cycle rating is very accurate, the bikes and equipment provided were excellent. We particularity enjoyed Porto, although unfortunately there was a lot of sea mist in the mornings at the time we were there affecting the views. In comparison to the three other Headwater cycling holidays we have enjoyed, this route was not as scenic or picturesque. The evening meals at local restaurants included in the holiday were all excellent. We arrived at Praia de Mira 'out of season' and struggled to find somewhere open for a lunchtime meal. The Portuguese people we met were all very helpful and friendly.
Note this has already been published on the Exodus website:
This was our first self-guided holiday in a long time although we have done many group holidays. Mallorca is very well set up to cycle covered in good condition country lanes and feels very safe. In my opinion the rides were grade 2 some days, and 3 on others. The hotels were of varying quality. Hotel es Torrent was a lovely place to start but there was no choice over the evening meal and was some way away from the village. At Reco de Randa we were given an upgraded room, and the pool and restaurant were both lovely. Food was really good everywhere we stayed. However in Pollenca we were put in an apartment which wasn’t really appropriate for a hotel holiday (shame as the hotel itself seemed lovely).
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Do cycle (or walk) up the hill to the Sancturi de Cura in Randa.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Because Headwater didn’t provide them, I mapped all the rides on RideWithGPS (if you would like them please let me know). Google maps was very good as a back-up if you take a detour.
Having taken several group and self-guided cycling holidays with Exodus and Headwater, the 'Contrasts of Puglia' self-guided holiday has to be ranked number one. The whole trip was wonderful, for the route through the various contrasting landscapes and the wonderful locations and excellent hotels. Best cycling holiday yet and would thoroughly recommend to anyone want a real insight into Puglia region of Italy. E-bikes were great up some of the hills !
A great holiday with good routes and accommodation. We really enjoyed the sense of freedom and variety.
Good all round, except a cycling itinerary for the rest day at Apt would have been very welcome. The hotel at Apr lacked a Headwater blue book. The manager / owner did not seem to know about them.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr. Chandler
Thank you for your review. We are pleased that you you enjoyed a good holiday. Headwater continually aim to improve on the services that we provide based on customer feedback and your comments regarding a cycling itinerant on the rest day has been passed to our product manager to consider. The Headwater blue book that you refer to was not replaced for this season; so this would have been the reason the hotelier was not aware of them.
Thanks again for your comments and I do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the future
We found it too hot to complete all the walks but time by the pool was a god restorative. If one wanted to start early one had to miss breakfast which is only available from 8.00am. If we wanted to go to Cala Turqueta we were advised to get to the queue for access to the road leading to the beach by 7.30am - after that and for most of the day access was prevented. The hotel is isolated so there is no chance to wander off easily and enjoy local life without a fairly long car journey along an unsympathetic, narrow road. Once in the hotel the ambience and staff were charming and welcoming.
This holiday was a wonderful way to enjoy not only the the Amalfi coast but also the villages we walked through in 'real' Amalfi. Paths into countryside abundant with food being grown, not only lemon and olive groves but grapes, tomatoes, kiwi fruits and all sorts of beans and other veg. Staying two nights in every location allowed time to explore these beautiful towns and take a trip to Pompeii. Consider staying in Naples for a couple of extra nights.
An absolutely great walking holiday in truely beautiful part of Italy. Food and wine were fab except for the Michelin restaurant on our first night. The food was strange. We went there because the Michelin restaurant in our hotel was close on Monday nights. A shame as we ate in their bistro on our last night and it was very good. Our reps were excellent and friendly and not intrusive as this was a self guided walking holiday. There were some glitches with a couple of the walks but this was because a farmer had closed and lick a gate and another time the instructions weren’t clear at a confusing junction. However we got to our destinations easily despite some very steep incline to coast into the villages. It would have been helpful when booking to tell us what else there was to do on our days off as this was very limiting by the time we got there. Moving every two days was ok but we felt that at least one move was unnecessary as the walks were all quite close together. Over all an excellent holiday and we would use Headwater/ Exodus again
The family run hotel was excellent in every aspect. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the food was first class and the service was prompt and efficient. We had a super room at the front of the hotel with a balcony looking out at the snow capped mountains. It was ideally situated for all the walks for which excellent information was provided. The walks were amongst beautiful scenery with typical Swiss mountain chalets, cows with ringing bells etc. We made good use of the included cable cars. We were lucky to have had excellent weather apart from one day of low mist & cloud. If we had had poor weather for the entire week it would have considerably lessened the enjoyment of the holiday as the point of being there was to experience the wonderful mountain scenery. Of course, you can't do much about the weather!
Perfect location ideal for walking. Stunning scenery. Kandersteg is picturesque and the hotel ideal with great staff.
Excellent centre for exploring rural Tuscany that was off the usual tourist trail.
A really interesting and scenic journey but with some challenging surfaces on loose gravel along dykes[with alternative routes on/alongside main roads]and some quite long distances especially on the 1st day.
Lovely places en route such as Bratislava,Gyor,Visegrad and of course Vienna and Budapest.
We felt that the itinerary didn't allow adequate time for exploring the places we visited and we would suggest in future offering more flexibility i.e. some days off between cycling/taking us by car/train where the route is not so interesting or alongside main roads[something that Headwater have done on other holidays].
The written notes were on the whole good but the verbal briefing on arrival was non existent-I think that the bike company had staffing problems :this needs addressing and communication needs improving.
The bikes were fine and we had no problems with them.
We were very happy with all the hotels but especially liked Hotel Honti in Visegrad and Hotel Lajta Park at Mosonmagyarovar[smaller and a more relaxed friendly atmosphere].
Overall we would recommend the trip but with the provisos already expressed.
A great way to see beautiful countries, keep fit and enjoy good food & wine
Excellent trip, great scenery and locations, overall hotels superb, bikes were fine and the itinerary worked really well. Having one day cycling, one day sightseeing is an excellent way to balance exercise and having the time to visit some of the excellent museums, buildings and scenery around the Lake.
Excellent stay in beautiful place. Hotel food delightful and a very high standard. E bikes wonderful. Our reps were very good and caring
Go with the itinerary, or do your own thing with flights transfers and accommodation taken care of, its easy and stress free.
An amazing holiday that far exceeded our expectations. Lovely hotel with a great choice of food friendly and welcoming staff. We went on some amazing walks, not too challenging for novice walkers like ourselves. The scenery was simply breath taking and would strongly recommend walking the Valparola Pass, not just for the stunning views but also for its history during WW1. We chose walks provided by Headwater to suit us and made use of the public buses and cable cars.
Wonderful way to see this area of Sicily. Temple of Segesta a highlight. Beautiful inland scenery & fantastic coastline. We had excellent, driver, Nicolas, punctual and safe, also flexible & happy to change itinerary to suit us. We were the only guests to our surprise! Far too hot for 70+ yr olds in early Sept. to walk in Zingaro Reserve. Found shady, rocky beach near Scopello & enjoyed the sandy beach & umbrellas of San Vito Lo Capo. Marettimo was delightful with excellent walks. Beware vertigo on one! Il Veliero - great fish restaurant. Stunning location back on mainland for last two nights. Highly recommend adding on at least 2 days in Palermo.
We had a wonderful holiday which more than lived up to expectations. We loved the location. The lakes and mountains, towns and villages in Austria, were really picturesque and were fortunate to see them in amazingly good weather.
Our holiday Reps, Jill and Colin were exceptional. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Their knowledge of the area and advice on walk routes were the basis we used to planning what turned out to be a wonderful week of walking.
Beautiful area of Northern Italy - it was a total feast for the senses. Our rep was the best ever and our first cycling holiday in Italy was a lovely experience overall.
We had an excellent walking holiday in Piedmont. The accommodation was very good. It was a gastronomic holiday. We would describe half of the meals as gastronomic but others were disappointing. The food in Villa d'Amelia, Benevello was wonderful. We were disappointed, however, with the food in Hotel le Torri, Castiglione Falletto although the local restaurant we ate at, 'L'argaj', was excellent. The local restaurants in Montforte d'Alba were 'rustic' rather than 'gastronomic'. The countryside is beautiful. We really enjoyed the walks even in the high temperatures. Had it rained some of the chalk footpaths would have been very difficult. The walking instructions were very good - there were only a couple of occasions were local farmers had altered the paths or field layout but we managed to work it out. The Headwater reps were fantastic. Although we didn't need to call on them (probably due to the excellent quality of the Headwater set up), we were very confident that they were looking after us ie moving our luggage and checking we were safe and happy. We would certainly consider travelling with Headwater again.
Really Happy with the overall experience - & would recommend Headwater to others
Our first trip with Headwater, and we were very impressed. We liked being in charge of our day (unlike when walking with a group) - we can leave when we like, and walk at our own pace. Walk instructions were (mostly!) very clear, accommodation very comfortable and well-located, with plenty to do on the 'rest' days. Overall organisation good, and all involved very helpful.
This was a really delightful holiday in a most beautiful part of the world. The cycling was perfect for us.
Where dinner was provided we felt that the eating options were adequate rather than good. When we selected our own restaurants we fared much better.
This was our third cycling holiday with Headwater and, once again, it proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Transport to and from the airport was quick and efficient and the rep, Antonio gave us valuable advice on the week ahead. The accommodation provided was as good as ever and the navigation app proved to be invaluable. This app makes like so much easier and it is one of the main reasons we travel with Headwater; no more pouring over maps or guidance notes which can be quite dangerous on busy or poorly surfaced roads etc. This holiday offers the opportunity to stay in or visit five beautiful medieval towns which are quite breathtaking. The route is quite manageable for the average cyclist with a few hills to contend with but nothing very difficult. Don’t forget, that walking up a difficult hill is a perfectly acceptable option. The road surfaces were a bit dodgy at times and it’s clear that the economic situation in Italy is having some effect on road maintenance. None of this detracted from the enjoyment of cycling in some beautiful countryside and through some beautiful and fascinating towns. This sort of trouble-free cycling really is a wonderful way of visiting a country and the saunter through this is part of Puglia was no exception.
Excellent cycling holiday with plenty of diversity from the Alps of Slovenia & Italy to the Adriatic coast. Cable Car to Monte Lussari shouldn't be missed.
Great holiday staying in three different lovely old Croatian towns on the coast with good cycling with the added bonus of being able to add extra nights in Venice at the end of the holiday
This holiday had quite a lot of off road sections. We had excellent weather but these would be difficult if wet. Lots of choices of restaurants to eat at in the evenings, and interesting towns to enjoy. First two hotels really excellent with helpful and friendly staff. Beaches very rocky so take shoes to swim or buy some there. We enjoyed some Snorkelling .
Very enjoyable mix of holiday with cycling over varied terrain and geography and good amount and quality of relaxation in most interesting cities towns and villages.
A very good trip. and we will return for more.
Very enjoyable holiday, leisurely cycling, good time of year to go (September), good accommodation. Route notes generally good but need review in a couple of locations (subject of separate email), much to see on the non-cycling days (Linz, Melk, Krems).
Easy cycling, wonderful sightseeing and a great way to explore the Danube and Austria. We love cycling holidays and this was was very enjoyable. Headwater holidays aren't cheap, but they are very well organised, totally reliable and always great fun.
Amazing scenery, fantastic hotels and excellent service as usual from Headwater. Totally loved Slovenia and Italy, stayed 2 nights in the hotels at the start ( Lake Bled ) and end ( Grado ). Preferred Lake Bled though Grado nice too especially the lagoon and bird watching. Found the cycling quite a lot more challenging than in the Loire, slightly surprised its only graded as a 1 plus. but we are not regular cyclists. The first 3 days felt a little too long, but maybe because we were delayed starting first day; the cycle path blocked on second day meaning a detour and we were staying in Valbruna so 7 further on than the standard tour and the third day it was 28 degrees and a fair few inclines. We only stayed one night at each place en route and this worked well and the later shorter days were easy and fun. Loved the variation and found when we were in towns the Italian drivers were very supportive of cyclists. Will book more Headwater holidays!
Interesting location and places stayed. Parador hotels in particular fabulous character and hilltop locations gave spectacular views. Bikes good quality which was just as well as note of caution some of the off road tracks very rough sharp stones potholes. The first day while shorter mainly off road so took a lot longer and left us exhausted luckily roads better after this.
A company that is all about subtle choices of accommodation, destinations and routes; knowing also how essential their own representatives are on the ground to make everything work well.
Headwater takes care of all the arrangements, leaving you free to enjoy the cycling. Thanks for a first class holiday.
Great to see an area on foot with sufficient down time to explore independently.
Stress free baggage transfer between accommodation aiding an enjoyable experience
GREAT HOLIDAY. ALL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS WENT TO PLAN. THE VENETO AREA IN ITALY IS SUPERB FOR CYCLING AS THE ROADS ARE VERY QUIET AND THE CYCLE TRACKS ALONG THE CANAL WERE LOVELY. GPS WAS REALLY GOOD AS WE DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP STOPPING. THE WRITTEN ARRANGEMENTS WERE ALSO VERY GOOD WITH EXTRA INFORMATION ON VISITING PLACES ON FREE DAYS. WE WERE A GROUP OF FOUR WHICH WAS PERFECT AS WE COULD KEEP TOGETHER MOST OF THE TIME. WOULDN'T HESITATE TO BOOK ANOTHER CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH HEADWATER AND AM ALREADY LOOKING AT THE BROCHURE FOR NEXT YEAR!
A lovely holiday. Gentle cycling with lovely views and lots of interest. Excellent hotels and plenty to do on rest days. Highly recommended.
If you like good food and excellent wine look no further than the Gastronomic Barolo Walk-it ticks all the boxes and was absolutely fabulous .
We enjoyed this holiday. A couple of howevers: we had an early flight out, which necessitated a 3.30am start. We arrived in Fazana at 11am. It would have been helpful to have the welcome briefing earlier in the day, rather than at 6pm when all we wanted to do was eat and get to bed. In Rovinj we stayed at the Hotel Eden which was a culture shock after the Villa Phasiana. The staff were extremely unhelpful, asking that we wait to check in until they had finished dealing with a coach load of Germans, despite me being stood in line. They didn’t tell us about what was on at the hotel, and later that same evening were more interested in chatting to one another rather than speaking to us and another guest at the reception desk. Particularly bad was that our luggage was left in the main reception area until we collected it at 7pm on the evening we arrived. No security whatsoever. I would not recommend this hotel.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Wilson
Thank you for posting your review. Overall we are pleased that you had an enjoyable holiday. We are however sorry that your experience in the Hotel Eden was not a good experience. This is not a hotel that we use frequently and hopefully it was an isolated incident that we will continue to monitor should we use it again.
Again thank you for taking the time to post your review and I do hope that we will
be able to welcome you again on another Headwater holiday.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Not a part of Italy we knew much about but Puglia was a great region for cycling. All the places we visited were interesting and the hotels were of a high standard. The food and wine were also very good and, generally, good value for money. The cycling wasn’t difficult although the Day 2 journey from Conversano to Alberobello, was quite hilly and would have been very tiring had we not had ebikes. It is definitely worth visiting Ostuni while at Pezze di Greco; we didn’t fancy cycling there as the route was long and hilly but the hotel organised a taxi for us which worked well. All in all, this was one of the best Headwater holidays we have experienced and we are currently planning our next cycling holiday for 2020.
Great trip, cycling is relatively challenging due to steep Tuscany hills and gravel roads but the scenery more than makes up for it! The food and welcome is fantastic, if you have the opportunity do the cookery course. Stefano is both educational and passionate.
Thoroughly enjoyed my stay
Excellent in every respect, flight arrangements, hotel transfer, accommodation and route guides.
Excellent hotel which was a great base for a range of amazing walks.
Dobbiaco / Toblach is a lovely small town and a great centre for walking in the Dolomites. Public transport is very good (and runs on time) so it's easy to plan and feel confident of your arrangements - vital when self-guiding. The route notes were very good and we never needed to actually look at the provided maps - though having the routes pre-downloaded on a gps was a godsend, because sometimes there was a plethora of paths in popular places initially going off in similar directions. The suggested timings worked very well for us too, so again we felt confident that we would arrive at various locations on time. The Hotel Bellevue was very good and their packed lunches quite generous, though there were also opportunities to buy lunches in town and most routes had refuges or cafes en route.
Great hotel in a lovely location in the centre of Dobbaccio. Impressive rugged mountain peaks as you walk, with some wonderful traverses, a few tricky ascents and descents and a lot of gravel paths. Only a few of the suggested walks start directly from the hotel so if you don't want to take a bus to start your walks then this may not be the holiday for you. However, the buses are great and they always stick to the timetable so we had no problems. The Tre Cime walk was the highlight. Nemes Alps was next best but we recommend you miss out the last downhill slog (a 600m altitude loss all on a wide gravel 'road') - instead we suggest you either get the bus back from Kreuzberg/Monte Croce Hotel after a hot chocolate at the hotel - it's like thick chocolate sauce! - or do the pass from the Kreuzberg hotel and retrace your steps to the hotel and then get the bus home. Check out the gun turrets at the foot of the mountains during the first half of Nemes Alps walk. Consider researching these before you go - we wish we had.
A great way to see several places in one week in the Sicily area. We could tailor the walks to suit our own needs using the Headwater routes as our starting point. Also it was nice to meet our fellow travellers and spend some socialising time with them
Excellent from start to end, great base for walking holiday. Glad we could fly from local airport. Team in Austria - very friendly and knowledgeable.
Lovely countryside and picturesque towns - almost too many of them. Some of the days are packed with sightseeing, leaving little time to do the cycling! Excellent hotels, and very well looked after by the Headwater rep. The route is at times quite piecemeal, trying to avoid busy roads, which is made just about manageable by using the GPS system provided.
Journey to start of holiday not easy. Cycle route good for inexperienced cyclists. Interesting area.
Hotel meals seemed to be a little downmarket ie. special menu for Headwater clients.
A fine, challenging activity holiday with excellent back-up support re luggage forwarding, through-out the week. Idylic Provencal hotels and villages interspersed among vineyards and Olive groves galore. A region dominated by both limestone and sandstone cliffs clothed with dense forests and providing stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
We thoroughly enjoyed the hills. What a relaxing place to go. Everyone we met were very friendly. The hotel staff couldn’t do enough to please us. James the Headwater rep went out of his way to ensure everything went smoothly. The only downside for us was American Express was not accepted at any of the hotels. This was our fourth Headwater walk and I am sure there will be many more.
Our reps Janet and Andrew were superb and they really added to the enjoyment of the holiday. Although three of the hotels were beautiful and of a similar standard (Relais St Anne, hotel La Terrasse and Villa Romaine) the other two were very much more basic.
Superb accommodation with good & food service — the cycling is fun with lively scenery
Great holiday with lovely contrasts in cycling through the mountains and along the valleys and coast. Some really nice hotels along the route. Hotel Triglav was particularly nice with wonderful balcony and views across the lake. Make sure you take clothing for all weather conditions, in the main weather was lovely warm and sunny but be prepared for heavy rain in the mountains.
Beautiful hotels and food. Interesting area to walk. I much enjoyed it. (Although walking instructions not as clear as other holidays I have taken with you ( I found the french maps easier to follow )
Absolute stand out features were the delightful hotels in Fazana and Rovinj. Utterly charming in every possible way. Sadly, Hotel Flores in Porec was utterly grim...in every possible way, and a disappointment to end what was otherwise a wonderful holiday. Fazana and Rovinj hotels were perfectly located, the staff were tirelessly charming, genuinely welcoming and really went the extra mile. If you can, I would recommend selecting somewhere other than Flores for the two final nights of the stay in Porec. The coastal cycling paths gave spectacular views and were mostly level and of a reasonable length. Suggest taking the bikes from Fazana to the island on the first cycling day rather than going to Pula. The city doesn’t seem to have much to offer apart from amphitheatre - maybe you can squeeze in both trips?? One part of the route took us inland to Bale. Whilst the destination was lovely, the long climb uphill on a busy road to get there was a bit of a trek. Would suggest sticking to the coast and avoiding the uphill if you are a softie like me. The country route from Porec was beautiful, passing through pretty villages and opening up a view of real Istria away from the tourist areas at the coast. Do stop at the caves on the final day - well worth seeing. Bruna was a super rep who took us off the beaten track to see the gorge from the shore and the view from the top - singing to us much of the way! Quite a character in the best possible way. Already considering where to next.
A great holiday but it does have a few flaws!
Joanne Chaplin, our contact at Headwater was excellent, as were Phaedra and Paul our reps in Piedmont. The e-bikes were amazing - they made the whole experience a real pleasure and enabled our group of different ages and abilities to enjoy the cycling equally. Thank you for a really happy and memorable holiday.
My friend and I had a great holiday. I had previously been on cycling holiday with Headwater, about 7 years, ago level 2 ish - from Auxerre in France. Comparing the two, the ride was not significantly harder than this one at level 1.
The cycling routes were good and quite varied with some hills and beautiful scenery. Sometimes it was difficult to hear the GPS in traffic but most of the routes were on cycle paths or quiet roads. I came home feeling very relaxed.
This was probably the best holiday we have had with Headwater out of the four we have experienced. One of those was in Tuscany. What we liked was the accurate grade of and types of walks and the well situated hotels - within easy access to the main towns/cities. The first and last hotels - Miramalfi and Continental were accurately starred and very comfortable. The Grand Hotel Continental in particular we found outstanding in quality and service. Our decision to stay another night was the right one as we were able to get round and visit the different sights. We were disappointed with the Hotel California. Although the bedroom was spacious with an excellent view (though the bathroom could have been cleaner) we found the service lacking - a three star hotel with a two star service (the family appeared inexperienced in relation to customer service). There were no lounge areas to relax - we had to spend any time at the hotel in our room. Hotel Punta Campanella was the only hotel were we had half board. We don’t think this was necessary as there were a number of good restaurants close by. Others in the party who stayed at Taverna De Capitano enjoyed the local tavernas at a reasonable cost. We found the restaurant pretentious and the offer of a three course meal was unnecessary. If we were to do this trip again happy to stay in the same hotel without half board package. We did not meet Anna we forgot to attend the meeting. We made contact -she was unable to meet us.
This was our first organised walking holiday from hotel to hotel and we loved it. The pace was relaxed with welcomed days off in between and amazing food and wine. The description of the holiday is accurate. The hotels were very comfortable and beautiful apart from Le Torri. Although the hotel is in a great location, our room was disappointing, very stark and dark.
The walks were very good with length and timing as advertised. The scenery was as described through vineyards, woodlands with at times exceptional views. The notes provided for the walks were on the whole very good and useful however we felt that at times more accurate and or additional information on distance would be useful. The map provided was useful in conjunction with the notes.
All the restaurants we had dinner at were really good, especially Larossa in Alba.
We would highly recommend this trip for anyone who enjoys a more leisurely pace.
This is the first holiday of this type we have done. It won’t be the last! The accommodation was excellent, food amazing and some of the best views we have seen! The area offers a lush, manicured landscape with amazing hilltop villages and a warm welcome from the local people.
The logistics of the trip were superbly organised so that we felt like we had an independent holiday but without the need to worry about making any arrangements! Phaedra and Paul were fantastic- helpful, knowledgeable and easily contactable. All the arrangements they made ran like clockwork and when local taxis were used they were luxurious. The gastronomic aspect was such good value. All the restaurants had been carefully selected and pre booked so there was no need to waste time scrolling through trip advisor and trying to make reservations. Each evening felt different. There was a good mix of high end restaurants and quirky more local establishments. A particular highlight was the castle at Grinzane Cavour! It doesn’t get much better than eating dinner in a Michelin Star establishment at a UNESCO world heritage site! It was a privilege to be there.
We enjoyed this holiday, it was well-organised with a good variety of hotels and easy cycling on great bikes. The Ride with GPS App, which we had never used before, worked very well and kept us 'on track'. We liked the contrast between the urban environments of Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra and the coastal stops at Furaduoro and Prairie de Mira. Curia was an experience in itself, a real step back in time. The food was good throughput and we especially enjoyed the local restaurant at Praia de Mira and a tapas bistro called Dux Taberna Urbana (recommended by the hotel reception) in Coimbra. We found the people very friendly and helpful everywhere we went.. Some of the cycling is a bit dull, but this is to be expected in a flat coastal area and we found it more interesting when we turned inland. There may well be more birds and w ildlife in the spring and early summer. However we were lucky with beautiful September sunshine all the way and It was interesting seeing the different ways in which life works in the different areas, especially the fascinating the way of netting fish in Praia de Mira. I would recommend ladies to consider taking a gel saddle cover as despite some long cycles on unmade tracks I did not experience any lasting discomfort. The upgrade to a sea view room at the front of the hotel in Praia de Mira was definitely a good idea, we loved sitting on the balcony in the sun overlooking the sea. One night would not be enough in Coimbra, there is so much to see.
The booking with our requested addition was handled quickly and perfectly. Travel was great with all connections working well. The hotel and staff were great with nothing too much trouble - we had a dietary request that was fully met without having to repeat it having notified Headwater. The routes were easy to follow and the Swiss know how to signpost. Weather was variable but normal for area and time of year but even so we did what we set out to do.
Brilliant holiday. We had a fantastic time. Thank you.
Generally good, but confusion at the point of booking as hotel was confirmed, we booked our travel and later we were advised Alfa Soleil was unavailable, so an alternative found. The Hotel Ermitage was very good. However, we were promised pick up on arrival and drop off on departure between the railway station and hotel, but neither were available, so we had a 15 minutes walk with heavy luggage. We attended the briefing meeting at the original hotel (Alfa Soleil) and received everything we needed for the week, with good advice, but there was no further contact with the local rep and our hotel (Ermitage) were not really aware that we were Headwater clients and never asked about our plans. They did ask who was paying the overall bill for our stay on departure, which was embarrassing (we were settling the drinks bill). Overall the holiday was very good, walking excellent, local staff friendly, hotel very nice and Headwater staff at HQ helpful and prompt, but some aspects (as described) did not live up to expectations. We prefer self-guiding, independent holidays, so not a big issue for us, but others may not be so happy. It would not put us off travelling with Headwater again, as it was very enjoyable, but there are areas that should be looked at to prevent repetition.
Kandersteg offers a great deal of scope for a walking holiday and the Hotel Alfa Soleil is well situated for accessing walks in the surrounding area.
Great holiday if you like mountain bikes and fairly rough terrain. Beautiful countryside and friendly people, wonderful Agriturismo accommodation.
The location is perfect for quiet (often off road) cycling. Roads and gravel tracks gave access to a variety of stunning scenery. There was plenty of opportunity to experience the culture, local food and drink.
Our base for the week, Agriturismo ‘La Pietriccia’, a small family-run farm, was idyllic and the hosts very friendly, welcoming and entertaining!
Excellent mountains bikes were provided and were ideal for the hilly, gravelly terrain. We greatly enjoyed pedal cycling but the option of e-bikes would be a very good alternative for those less confident or fit. The routes gave a splendid variety and were never repetitive. It was a fabulous week.
A great taste of Tuscany - scenery, food and wine were all lovely! Stefano was very helpful, ensuring that the holiday would cater for each individual's needs. The fact that about 50% of the recommended routes were on gravel tracks (varying from flat, easy to ride sections, to quite steep and slightly more challenging sections) made the provision of mountain bikes most welcome.
Great holiday cycling through beautiful countryside with wonderful historical UNESCO cities to explore.
Experienced a pocket handkerchief of Austria
Very comfortable place to stay with excellent food great service and wonderful walking
Good walking, some of it reasonably challenging in the heat in a spectacularly beautiful corner of Sicily.
Excellent and efficient transfers made arrangements run smoothly and were a real time saver.
I really enjoyed myself.
A lovely holiday with congenial fellow guests in a beautiful location. Stefano is a welcoming and enthusiastic host, and endeavours to be flexible to his guests' needs and wishes. We would recommend going when it is not as hot - late September or May would be perfect. Our favourite walk was from Castiglioncello del Trinore, through the forest, and we recommend visiting the thermal baths, and paying extra for the spa and the 'emotional showers'!
Excellent and well organised.
Easy cycling through lovely rural Italian countryside and villages.A very relaxed agroturismo providing an excellent base with extensive grounds and very good swimming pool.Wonderful evening meals which were the highlight of each day.
This is our second Canoeing/cycling on the Dordogne holiday and our fourth with Headwater. We are already considering what our next will be, and whether we will do the Dordogne again in a few years.
Unless you are extremely fit, make sure you hire electric bikes to make the most of the stunning countryside.
You need to be an experienced cyclist as there are some pretty busy roads. Scenery spoiled somewhat by the amount of litter. All,hotels excellent. Electric bikes superb. Baroque landscape superb.
Great adventure from beginning to end. Thankyou
This was a fantastic holiday in beautiful surroundings. The mountain paths were more challenging than those we had experienced in a Dolomites itinerary with Headwater but totally passable with care and a reasonable head for heights; you did need a good level of fitness for the steeper routes but it was never an issue. Although not included in the suggested walks, we climbed to the Doldenhorn Hut which gave spectacular views. The Gasterntal Valley is another essential.
A great way to see parts of the country you wouldn’t normally see. The hotels were first class and the people we met were so friendly.
Generally everything was fine
From the greeting by Antonio at the airport, throughout the holiday everyone was welcoming and helpful. The hotels we stayed in were quirky but excellent. They helped to make the holiday. The hotels location, mainly in the heart of the community allowed us to immerse ourselves in the Italian culture and feel a part of that community. The ride, at times was hillier than expected but our decision to hire ebikes made it so much more enjoyable and gave us extra time to go off route and explore the countryside more without putting any strain on us. We could also spend more time exploring the villages and towns that we passed through knowing that the pedal assist would help us getting to the next hotel without taking too much out of us to enjoy the evening and the next days ride. The RidewithGPS kept us on course but allowed us some leeway to go our own way but giving the ability to get back on course. The help and assistance from Morgan at Headwater before we left was excellent. She always got back to us with answers to our queries, which for us on our first cycle tour may have seemed silly but she always answered promptly and helpfully. We thoroughly enjoyed the cycling holiday and are looking forward to another one next year.
Overall a really enjoyable cycling tour of Slovenia and North Italy offering wonderful scenery on dedicated cycle tracks. We would have benefited from local advice of where to have lunch stops as some were quite a distance. It was our first experience of using GPS and more information on the first day about its alert function etc would have been useful as we went off piste a few times on the first days.
Well organised, lovely reps, lovely accommodation/food, great holiday
This was an excellent holiday. All our family enjoyed too - from the children, to the parents to granny ! Lovely activities and super bikes. We would like to do this holiday again.
We really enjoyed our holiday in Portugal. Porto is a lovely city. The cycle routes were good, lots of variety and no hills ! The cycle through the lagoons was wonderful. Some of route dictions were not clear and we got a bit lost most days but we could use our iPhones to find ourselves. We thought the written directions were sometimes out of date and did not take into account new road layouts. We sometimes found we could not exactyidentify where we were on the map as there were not enough landmarks mentioned. The hotel locations were all superb and well chosen. All the breakfasts were first class. All the people we met were very friendly and helpful. We would recommend this holiday to anyone who enjoys cycling along flat land near the sea.
A wonderful cycling holiday that had some hilly sections so the option of the e bike was great for the less fit, especially in the summer heat. Each hotel offered excellent service and food and the pools were lovely. We enjoyed the variety of quiet countryside hotels and the bustle of staying in Vaison with the fantastic Roman ruins to visit. The routes take you on quiet roads through vineyards and quaint villages with beautiful scenery every day.
Excellent relaxing holiday - accommodation was faultless.
An excellent week mixing Canoeing and biking around the Dordogne with our 11 year old son. There are loads of places on route to stop off for a swim in the river, which is beautifully clean. There are also plenty of places to stop for drinks and a bite to eat.
A charmingly rustic hotel, placed perfectly for all walks. Passes for buses and cable cars extremely useful - but beware train fares are on the high side!
Hotel Ciasa Salares gave us a genuine mountain welcome. It was sophisticated without being pretentious. The food was of the finest quality and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The only criticism was that the advertised gym was unavailable twice due to it being booked out for the day by another party.
There was plenty of choice of walks for a week's break.
A lovely taste of different low level walks available in the area which makes us want to go back and do more on our own. Walking notes were excellent and easy to follow despite being discouraged from doing so and lack of confidence in them provided at the briefing. Given how often it rains and n the Lakes some walks are a little unsuitable after seriously heavy prolonged rain and alternatives would be useful. But all in all a great trip with delightful views and interesting history.
The Route management was fabulous.
Superb holiday! Andrew and Janet were extremely helpful and made for an extremely relaxing holiday. Accomodation and food was generally excellent, with some really exceptional meals (wine lists were extensive but quite expensive, generally minimum about €20 a bottle). Activities were well planned and clearly explained. Holiday does require a good level of fitness for the activities and the hotels, twice we were on the third floor but no lift (lots of stairs to carry suitcases up). Would highly recommend this holiday.
Overall a very enjoyable holiday with excellent accommodation and bicycles (ebikes). The cycle paths are easy to follow and well maintained. A lovely cycling trail which can be done by any age group. Many young families were following the route. Perfect also for those of a more advancing age! (We are both in our mid seventies.). Cannot but recommend this holiday very highly to all. Cycling into the centre of Vienna was so easy. The Austrian’s do look after their cyclists. Only criticism would be the lack of a designated contact person for the holiday but the cycling back up service was good and luggage transfer excellent.
As the title implies there are some steep hills but the villages are very attractive. Magnificent countryside and panoramas from the elevated villages.
Lovely route .Every day seemed to be completely different in scenery . We went through places that we would never have seen on any other type of holiday.
The new Ridewithgps system is good and a great help especially now we need glasses to read the notes alternating them with sunglasses all day long!
A very enjoyable cycling holiday. Great hotels in lovely harbour towns. Some of the cycling was a little trickier than we're used to with lots of gravel/stone tracks and more gradients than we were expecting. The room at the Palazzo did not have a balcony which we were expecting. Apart from that, all great.
Fantastic holiday, wonderful scenery from the Alps to the Adriatic, staying at really super hand-picked family-friendly hotels along the way. Worked really well for us as a family with children ages 17, 15 and 11. GPS brilliant as we could all cycle at our own pace, without worrying about directions, or who has the map. Saved a lot of family arguments, what a marvelous invention! Loved our "add-ons" of three nights in Ljubljana at the beginning and three nights in Venice at the end, hotels really central and (as usual) very well chosen. Bikes great quality, representative very helpful, including when I left the passports and money on the table at the hotel on the second day - after he had already driven us half an hour to the start of the day's ride (oops). We went in the really interesting Alpine museum, whilst his colleague came with our items. Thank you!
A well organised and relaxing holiday with great canoeing, lovely hotels and a beautiful area
THE TRIP WAS EXCELLENT. CYCLING BESIDES THE DANUBE RIVER WAS VERY NICE AND RELAXING. VERY EASY RIDE. EVERY DAY WE HAD DIFFERENT SURPRISES: BEATIFUL SCENARY, LAKE TO SWIN, CASTLE TO VISIT, GOOD WINES, MUSEUMS, ETC. THE WACHAU VALLEY IS WONDERFUL.
This was our third walking holiday with Headwater and lived up to expectations. The walking was lovely, although the second one was quite challenging! All the hotels were comfortable and the last two were luxurious, but all had wonderful food. France is not an easy place to be if you are gluten free, as one of our party is, but the last two hotels were particularly good. Taxis too, are scarce and very expensive, if you wish to go out on your rest days. However, the reps (Janet and Andrew) were very helpful and we all had a lovely holiday, and would certainly use Headwater again.
I loved it! Walking was varied and spectacular. Madeira a stunning holiday destination. Will definitely book with Headwater again. Quality of hotel accommodation was great.
We had a fabulous time. This was the first time we have done a multi centred activity holiday and we will definitely do another.
We loved the freedom that a self-guided tour gave us to set off at the time that was right for us, take breaks when we wanted, stop for lunch where we wanted and travel at our own pace. The hotels along the way were excellent and far more "up market" than we expected. The Headwater staff, from the initial booking to the location rep, were extremely helpful and informative. We will definitely be going on another Headwater holiday.
Excellent walking in fantastic mountain scenery. All walks well signed and directions very good. Bus transport was also reliable and very comfortable so could plan walking easily around the timetables.
Hotel very comfortable, in good location and served excellent meals (choices for main course and starter). Staff were really helpful.
All made for a most enjoyable week in a beautiful location. Plenty more walking than there was time for so would very happily come back for another go.
An awesome canoe holiday. Headwater were very thorough in all the preparation and organising. The reps could not have been more helpful in giving local advise and support. We will definitely be using Headwater again for another holiday adventure. Thank you to all
An excellent week cycling round Lake Constance. The route took in many villages and towns with opportunities for sightseeing and refreshments. The lakeside sections provided beautiful views and lots of picnic opportunities. The cycling was not difficult and the distances each day allowed for leisurely cycling with lots of breaks. On the shortest day there was plenty to see en route so we did not arrive at our destination too early. The directions were clear and easy to follow. We had been warned that it is busy in August and certainly at the weekend especially the route was well used but it never felt over crowded and in many ways this added to the atmosphere. For anyone who does not like cycling on roads this trip is ideal, the majority was on dedicated cycle paths and the short sections that were on roads usually had a dedicated lane. We also found that motorists were much more considerate of cyclists than we are used to! The hotels were all good with individual charms, the quality of the food was very good and we enjoyed every meal and not having to find restaurants in unfamiliar places every day. This is one of few holidays we have said we would consider doing again as there is so much more we could explore.
Fabulous family holiday, we were a mixed group of cycling abilities and found something for everyone combining walking, cycling and beach days. Hotel was quirky and comfortable and Saturday barbecue night is not to be missed! Headwater rep was really helpful and always available for advice.
Hotel and Reps excellent. Food superb. Area - delightful. GPS on Ebike hit and miss. E-bike great once it had been swapped for one the right size. Trails and routes and advice excellent. I was dismayed that late booking meant I had to pay a lot more than the listed price. I found it hard to adjust to eating so early in the evening. Did n;t like that I had to cut my day's adventures short in order to make the evening meal. Bettina and her familly / Staff were wonderful hosts and very patient with my attempts to speak German - they spoke very good English. The swimming pool and spa were delightful and an enjoyable luxury after a long day cycling/ hiking/ pottering around the area. Lots to do and see. Colin and Jill were wonderful - very helpful. Flights were good - but unable to check in online at either end because of the late booking which meant they were via Tui and I couldn't choose seat. Would heartily recommend Headwater, the Bergrose, the Austrian Lakes, ebike and best of all Jill and Colin - great atvice, helpful but not intrusive.
Very enjoyable experience, pleasant walks, nice hotels with friendly staff and excellent food. My favorite walk!
Good value for money
Where to start? This was a fabulous holiday, so good that we have decided to return next year. The staff are delightful and cannot do enough to help even knowing what to do when confronted with a diabetic hypo. We enjoyed the splendid food, the wine and the ambience. The scenery is breath-taking. At 6000ft up the mountains still tower over the landscape. It really is a beautiful place with many well marked tracks for walking. There are cable cars to transport you to the alpine meadows which was a relief as I would have found the climb up challenging. If you would like a memorable holiday this is the place for you.
This was a fabulous experience - the food, views and staff were all wonderful
We had a fantastic holiday mixing exercise with beautiful scenery, excellent food in a tranquil environment. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend a cycling holiday with Headwater.
Barolo gastronomy self guided tour is an excellent way to see the countryside of the Alba district. Beautiful scenery ,some long walks , with a welcoming Hotel with excellent food options and glorious wine!
We just wanted to thank Headwater for another fantastic holiday experience. We are very grateful to the helpful Headwater team for helping us to put together a 14 day holiday in Venice and the Venetian Hills that combined a 3 night city break in Venice, the 8 day ‘Walking in the Venetian Hills’ walking holiday, followed by 3 days to relax at a nearby Agriturismo with a pool.
All the arrangements went well and we had good support from James, the local Headwater Rep who was helpful and knowledgeable. We travelled during the first two weeks of August and enjoyed excellent weather throughout our stay with daytime temperatures around 28 to 32 degrees.
Venice is such a beautiful and extraordinary city to visit and we had sufficient time to explore the city and visit several of the islands. The beautiful little islands of Torcello and Burano were particularly memorable. Our hotel in Venice, the Hotel Kette, was ideally placed to explore the city, less than 5 minutes walk from San Marco.
The walking tour in the Euganean Hills completely lived up to our expectations. We found the walking notes straightforward and the 1+ activity level for the walks was about right. Often we were walking through wooded hills but we also enjoyed wonderful views of the surrounding Venetian countryside and saw some interesting wild flowers. Please note that carrying plenty of water on the walks is essential.
The accommodation at Cortela was simple, but comfortable and Gabriella made us feel very welcome. The Prosecco produced on their vineyard was delicious! We particularly enjoyed the beautiful little village of Arqua Petrarca and the food and accommodation at hotel Villa del Poeta were excellent. On our rest day there we took the opportunity to walk to the pretty nearby town of Monselice.
The hotel at Galzignano (Belvedere Resort Ai Colli) was very comfortable and our room enjoyed a lovely outside garden area. The food and wine there were excellent. At Teleo we stayed in the B & B Tito Livio in accommodation that was to a very high standard and there are plenty of opportunities to eat at local restaurants in the evening.
For the final part of our holiday, we transferred to a nearby agriturismo, the l’Albara, Villaganzerla. This was a great opportunity to relax and unwind after our walking holiday before returning home. Our room at l’Albara was very comfortable and the pool was lovely set in a pleasant large garden area … a perfect place to read and relax. Everybody was so welcoming there and the food and wine were both excellent. Dinner is served in one sitting on trestle tables (with choices and the offer of second helpings!). The wine produced on their own vineyard is superb, reasonably priced and highly recommended.
We are looking forward to choosing our next Headwater holiday next year!
This is one of the best holidays we have done with Headwater, with an interesting variety of scenery, but luckily mostly downhill gradients.
Inevitably the highlights were in the first half of the holiday as we cycled through the Julian Alps. We particularly enjoyed the day between Tarvisio and Venzone - fabulous views and really interesting cycling through tunnels along the old railway line. We would also recommend the suggested excursion to Arnoldstein - the climb to the chairlift is tough but well worth it.
The second half through flatter land is obviously a bit less dramatic, but we enjoyed Aquilea in particular and Grado was fun.
An excellent mixture of accommodation. We had a few early problems with the route finding (not clear at a couple of points on the full day in the Lake Bled area) but you can't really go wrong if you follow the FVR signs in Italy.
Highly recommended!
We generally enjoyed good walking without any major issues. Our initial transfer to the hotel was not booked but we had a very good follow up from your local representative and staff. Also, one of the hotels was trying to charge room cost directly to us, but eventually they understood.
The holiday was well described and you can do as much or as little as you want. The food provided was the best Italian food I have ever tasted! So...different from UK Italian restaurants and the local wine was very easy to drink. There is a Family atmosphere to farm location and overall very relaxing. The cycling APP used with headphones makes life a lot easier and means you don’t have to stop and start at each junction. The cycling is generally easy, although it can be very hot, so be careful on the days where the route is longer. The other main thing to be aware of during July/August is that (other than in Vicenza) almost everything is closed during the middle of the day. So be very careful planning cultural, shop or restaurant visits else you are likely to be disappointed. Overall a really good holiday and ideal for one where you want a balance of activity and relaxation.
We had a fantastic holiday. We stayed in some great places, had some wonderful food and cycled / canoed through some fantastic scenary. The local reps Janet and Andrew were superb and always available to help if needed. The bags, bikes and canoes were always in the right place at the right time. All we had to do was enjoy ourselves.
As usual, very well organised and with first class assistance from the Rep on the ground. The walks were rather more challenging than the rating suggested under 37 degree temperatures. An unusual and interesting location but not one to be recommended for walking at the height of the summer season. This would probably explain why I saw not one other walker on the entire time (though many on bikes). But excellent overall.
Spectacular holiday! Stunning canoe trip on the Dordogne- beautiful tranquil river. Fantastic accommodation and wonderful food! Headwater reps Andrew and Janet brilliant. Megan Wyatt at Headwater- thank you!
Excellent experience - don't hesitate - book your holiday now!
An excellent holiday, well organised with fantastic food (and range of options). The sights are beautiful and varied. This holiday has something to offer everyone and I would recommend it as a way to explore the towns and villages along this part of the Danube. The cycling is easy and relaxed; there is flexibility and so this holiday will suit the majority of people, including families.
I would recommend The Dolomites holiday. Its a very special location for walkers and cyclists. Scenery outstanding, people friendly and accommodating. We stayed in the Park Hotel Bellevue, which was virtually opposite the train station and about 10 mins walk from the main bus terminus. Included in our stay were travel passes for the week on both transport systems and a shuttle pass which conveys you to the start of the Tre Cime walk. There are a myriad of walking/cycling tracks available in the area for both low level and high level jaunts and all are excellently marked and easy to follow. Headwater provided exemplary guide literature and maps to ensure that it was pretty near impossible to get lost. Hotel was well positioned and very comfortable, staff were very friendly and accommodating, but the downside was the hotel opposite, which had live music on 3/4 of the evenings, one of which ended at midnight. Apparently the local district governor approves licences for such events, our hotel manager told us his hands were tied, but, given that this area attracts walkers and cyclists, whom in general want an early night and an early start the next day, this was irritating. Hotel food was indifferent, some lovely pasta dishes, but also undercooked fish (twice) and potatoes and inedible polenta. Breakfast, whilst sufficient for us, lacked variety and the salad starter(evening meal) time consisted predominantly of varieties of leaves, overall though it was acceptable.
Walking in the Dolomites is amazing. The scenery is breath-taking, the wildlife is special and the walks are easy to follow. The detailed instructions on the use of public transport is invaluable.
The holiday was excellent, the walking in the area was great, some challenging but easier options available. The hotel was superb, the staff were very friendly and helpful, food excellent and great facilities.
The location for a walking holiday was excellent. Stefano and Family provide a most welcoming atmosphere for all aspects of your holiday. Stefano provided excellent route guidance, modifications and recommendations. Stefano's passion for local produce and good healthy eating is reflected in a diverse daily menu, which is both very enjoyable and adaptable. This was our first visit to Tuscany, we would highlight recommend this holiday and would most definitely visit again.
Great value holiday with very good back up service. Cycling offers a very good opportunity to see an area and experience it's culture while at the same time not feeling guilty for eating and drinking too much.
Piedmont is the next big thing in international tourism with its stunning countryside and world class restaurants so get in before it takes off.
Kandersteg is a truly lovely location. The hotel was very welcoming and our room very comfortable. We were upgraded to a Junior Suite and had a view of the mountains from our balcony. The food was excellent. Being able to prepare a packed lunch was a real bonus, as food and drink in Switzerland are both very expensive. Luckily,apart from the first day, the weather was ideal for walking. Most routes were clearly marked, although there were a couple of walks which would benefit from clearer instructions. The scenery is spectacular, particularly as the alpine flowers were still in full bloom. The grading is accurate. Some walks are relatively steep and if, like me, you are not keen on walking downhill on loose stones, can be a little daunting, but they are well worth the effort. We haven't stayed in one location on a walking holiday before, but had no regrets, as the walks were varied and never less than stunning. We would thoroughly recommend Kandersteg and the Alfa Soleil to anyone contemplating walking in Switzerland.
great hotel,great location, wonderful holiday
A thoroughly enjoyable 3 days cycling with my daughter on (predominantly) designated cycle paths and quiet country roads in beautiful and unspoilt Catalonian countryside. We had a warm welcome wherever we went and found 3-4 hours in the saddle each day suited us perfectly. Easy to reach beaches enhanced our holiday and we'd both like to repeat it all.
Challenging, enjoyable, comfortable. Scenery and locations excellent.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Château Monrecour was the highlight for accommodation and food but we also found Relais Saint Anne to be very special. Our tour reps Janet and Andrew were fantastic. They went above and beyond to help us out and make sure everything went well. Everything went very smoothly with luggage transfers, bikes and canoes.
Another great holiday with Headwater, our first time outside France. Easy cycling often on cycle paths.
You notice lots of detail when exploring a region by cycling at a gentle pace. You can stop whenever you want to and explore more or speak with people along the way. GPS is a must and saves so much time. The standard of hotel accommodation and cuisine at the end of each day's cycle is a delight. You feel yourself getting fitter and fitter with each day of your holiday. We enjoyed the Gastronomic Barolo Cycling so much two years ago that we returned this year and were not disappointed. We especially love Hotel Villa d'Amelia near Benevello.
From our initial arrival in Passau to the spectacular cycling of the Danube Island into Vienna, this was an adventure not to be missed. From concert halls, wall graffiti and art museums to medieval towns, meandering rivers, mountain trams and jaw-dropping monasteries, Austria never ceased to amaze. We do recommend taking the short journey into Linz on the train and definitely recommend cycling into Vienna on the traffic-free Danube Island.
The walking is good and varied with stupendous views if the weather is kind, as it was for us. Plenty of flowers, butterflies, lizards in mid-July for added interest. The hotel staff were very friendly and the food was definitely a cut above usual hotel fare, both in content and presentation. Switzerland is an expensive country but Headwater's price includes most of the basics so that we paid for little else except wine, a couple of cups of coffee and the rail fare to the Sudrampe walk. We heartily recommend the latter as it is such a contrast to the other mountain walks, rather like going from Switzerland to Provence!
This was our fourth holiday with Headwater and our third cycling tour. We felt that our last cycling tour, Passau to Vienna, was going to be a very hard act to follow.
As we have now come to expect from Headwater and their agents, the travel, transfer and luggage arrangements were seamless and the local agents were excellent and engaging. Remarkably, our luggage was always ready for our arrival; even on the shorter rides at the furthest point from their base. A great effort!
The stay in Bled was enjoyable but the cycling to Venzone through Tarvisio was truly exceptional; an absolute delight and without doubt the highlight of this tour for us. Indeed, probably the highlight of all tours to date. The mountains and the river gorge provide a spectacular backdrop to the perfect tar sealed path through countless tunnels and over many bridges. So many photo stops needed!
As advised at the briefing, after Venzone, the landscape changes and frankly, it is in stark contrast to the previous days. Although the destinations of Udine, Palmanova and Grado were certainly photogenic, we didn't find ourselves making so many photo stops en-route now. Also, many of the tracks are now gravel requiring heightened concentration. Although mostly fairly well compacted surfaces there were inevitably are few places where we struggled at times.
For us, we would have happily foregone the stopover days in Udine and in Grado but we appreciate that others would likely have a different view. We would suggest that these could perhaps be optional.
Overall, a really enjoyable tour and the Julian Alps will live long in the memory.
Excellent hotel in Bad Ischl with very good transport connections to various walks just 10 minutes walk from hotel. All walks suggested were within the grade with some being a little more challenging than others. All with outstanding views. If there weren't so many other places to visit in the world I wouldn't hesitate to return. A friend and I found the walk descriptions easy to follow and going at your own pace gave you the options to take as long as you liked at various places of Interest. Would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone who enjoys walking with a little challenge and stunning views .
Good location, great walks, brilliant food.
We were only away for eight days but it felt like eight weeks. The walks were wonderful, we never met anyone and reading the notes and hiking the wonderful Eugenian Hills made me clear my brain and relaxed my mind. The locations of the hotels and inns we stayed at were in beautiful surroundings. We would never have found these places had it not been for Headwater's ingenious way of finding them. Having a tour representative is such a good idea. Other walking companies do not offer this.
Headwater response:
Thank you for leaving such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved the wonderful Eugenian Hills. We are proud that we are able to find these hidden gems for our customers to experience and enjoy and it reaffirms the hardwork that the team put in to create these holidays. Hopefully we will be able to welcome you to another Headwater holiday in the future to enjoy as much as this one.
Kind regards
Customer Service.
I enjoyed it
As a Literary Tour it was thoughtfully planned, apart from Day 6 when your Highlights suggests alternatives, but the walk sheet offers only a rather unneccesary trip to Wray Castle. Surely the walk to Beatrix Potter's High Top (returning via Moss Eccles Tarn) should have been the first choice. The National Trust is establishing an off-road path from Hawkeshead, which we took to Near Sawrey. And the extension to Day 7/Bowness was a downer. Being thrust into such a touristy place took us away from the empty countryside world of our walk.
An excellent balance of cycling (some challenging hills!) sightseeing, eating and drinking with plenty of opportunity for relaxing as well.
We both thought this was the best holiday ever. Great bikes; cycle tracks, hotels; places to visit, and food. Not a cheap holiday; the way we did it; but what great fun; we really didn't want to go home to UK. So don't tell too many people how lovely and quiet and clean this was.
Best hotel in my mind was Hotel Rheinfels staff, food and room all were great; needs a special mention.
Headwater response:
Thank you for such a lovely review. We'll try not to share how lovely and quiet it was; 'Promise!'
We'll be sure to feedback your comments to the Hotel Rheinfels as its always nice to know that you are doing a good job .
Don't forget we've over 70 cycling holidays to choose from and we would love to be able to welcome you back to enjoy some more.
Kind regards
Customer Service
A good cycling holiday.
We had a good week though in very hot weather. Overall we thought the week was underated at 1+ boot. 2 would have been more appropriate. Greg, the rep was very conscientious. The walking notes were good. The Hotel Garbi and The Castle were extremely comfortable and helpful. The Hotel Rosa in Begur was extremely friendly and welcoming. However the room was very small and the air conditioning not able to cope with the ambient temperature. Not comfortable. But overall a good holiday.. very interesting hilltop villages.
Very enjoyable walks with excellent notes. We are experienced walkers but even we struggled with very high temperatures on Day 4. We were offered the opportunity to swap one day’s walk to canoeing; this is an example of Janet and Andrew ( the reps) going out of their way to tailor our holiday to suit both us and the weather conditions. We thoroughly enjoyed the canoeing and it added a new dimension to our holiday! The hotels were very high quality as we have come to expect with Headwater ( our ninth holiday with you). The only exception was La Terrace in Meyronne where the menu was limited and was the same on both evenings. It gave the impression that we were less important guests and didn’t add to the ambience.
Headwater response:
Thank you for leaving a lovely review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the canoeing a great alternative to walking in the extreme heat that you were experiencing. Janet and Andrew will be really pleased to read what you have written. I am sorry that the menu in La Terrace was limited and would like to assure you that your comments have been fed back to them.
Kind regards
Customer Services
This was an amazing holiday full of different activities but the highlight was the canoeing. The standard of accommodation was excellent and the food superb. The outstanding feature was our 2 lovely reps who could not have done enough for us. Initially Andrew collected us from Toulouse rather than have us arrive late for dinner if we had come by train. In the morning he showed us features on the river to be aware of which was a great help to a pair of novices.
He gave us a lift to Rocamadour which we would not have seen otherwise. We paid for a taxi 2 days before to go to the Goffre Padirac which cost 30€ for a 10min trip! He even brought us bikes to cycle back as the temps were in the high 30° and not fun to walk in. Overall they did a fantastic job and really made a difference to our holiday. We would contemplate doing this trip again in the future as we enjoyed it so much. Thank you.
We love the sporting holiday as a family. It brings us all close together. The Barolo experience was relatively difficult and at times the weather was rather hot. The E bikes made it more enjoyable for the 2 of us who are a bit older. The hotels and restaurants were all unique and enjoyable.
Hotel Alfa Soleil is very traditional, comfortable and welcoming and it’s worth making sure you get a balcony room as the mountain views are outstanding. The small pool was never busy. The food all week was excellent and in particular the hotel catered for a special diet with great care.
Many of the walks use lifts, trains or buses and it was really helpful to have the lift pass and bus pass included, especially as the lift pass puts you ahead of the queue. We thought the Blue Lake was a bit over-
the walks were all fabulous and the walking notes accurate and interesting. All walks were open in July and the waterfalls in particular were spectacular because of melting snow from the very high peaks. The Sudrampe walk is different from the other walks, but the further we went, the more memorable and fantastic it was.
You need to change platforms at Bern railway station. There’s just enough time for the change of platform with luggage but it is a bit tight, particularly as one of our trains was running a few minutes late, so it’s worth knowing which platforms you need before you set off.
Great wine and food , great walking and no worries.
Beautiful part of Provence to walk in despite it being atypically hot. In view of the high temps, not many hotels offered an early breakfast (07:30) to allow us an early start. If I was to do again then out of main season would be sensible.
Also some popular village restaurants get booked up quickly so having some contact details at the hotels could help smooth these difficulties
Amazing scenic approach into Ljubiana airport. Scenery in the mountains was fantastic. M Tours (the local agents) were brilliant; always there to help and always on time. Good level of cycling fitness required especially during hot weather. Very good accommodation. Route signage when you know what you are looking for is great.
This is the best active holiday we’ve been on - we loved every minute due to the fantastic information provided by Colin & Jill. The bikes were of a great standard & the bike lanes in Austria made it feel safer to get around than in the UK. Colin & Jill were so helpful & on hand if we had additional questions about routes or the local area. Wolfgangsee is such a beautiful area with lots of hiking & biking routes, a great way to get back to nature. The hotel food was excellent, both at breakfast & our delicious 5 course dinner every night. Only improvement would be air con or a ceiling fan in the bedroom as it was very warm at night. We plan to book with Headwater again!
This was our eighteenth Headwater holiday and one of the best. We hope to return in the near future.
Excellent holiday that worked really well mainly to the efforts that Stefano has put in to ensure that routes are easy to follow with his electronic guide and the friendliness and helpfullness of his staff and family.
We enjoyed this holiday in this lovely Veneto region which seemed unspoilt and with few tourists. Particularly enjoyable were our visits to Padua (by bus) and to Vicenza by bike. Particular highlights in these cities were the stunning Scrovegni Chapel in Padua (book on line the day before), and the ancient indoor theatre in Vicenza. The weather was particularly hot (early July) for the duration of our holiday and we were glad to have booked a couple of extra days of relaxation at the L'Albara which had an excellent pool. It also had air conditioning which we considered an essential feature during our stay. Unfortunately we were moving on on a Monday when a couple of the best reviewed villas were closed. Cycling was generally easy and flat apart from the climb up to Hotel Lussana with four hairpin bends, and the final day with a climb up and down hills before our last stop at Il Feudo. Generally we were very impressed by the very many cycle paths in this area.
My self guided holiday in the Venetian was a perfect holiday for me, as my friend and I had never been to Italy before. A good introduction the people, food and wine, and of course the region. The itinerary was quite leisurely for us, but really enjoyed it, plenty of time to explore the area on our days off. Public transport is very good and the people very helpful.
The booking and arrangements were overall excellent with good choice of hotels, catering very well for our pescatarian diet. The route instructions were mostly accurate and easy to follow. The local rep was very helpful and knowledgeable. We have now travelled with Headwater on a number of occasions and will happily do so again in future.
A memorable trip in a wonderfully scenic location
A brilliant holiday, everything worked like clockwork, the staff in the office were efficient, helpful and charming, the location and hotel were superb. Very happy customers.
Excellent organisation. Extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended!
A lovely ride through beautiful varied scenery. The hardest rides were the optional detours and those suggested for ‘rest days’. Seamless logistical support and generally lovely hotels. Definitely worth arranging own flights direct rather than involving stops in Germany which makes for hideously long days travelling.
hotel very lacking in basic favilities - kettle in room air con bigger choice of food st night room service . staff st hotel were lovely . rating hotel 4 star was misleading . room gloomy . guides were exemplary . walks and bikes great . scenery fab
Fabulous scenery and amazing food. Like living in a picture postcard. Too hot and no air-conditioning but that is no-ones fault. Holiday better if it had been cooler.,
electric bikes were great and easy to ride.
Normally would be a great place to stay but currently due to roadworks, traffic is being diverted past the hotel that is making it noisy. Friendly staff, good clean rooms and good food, make it an ideal base. As it is central, with good bus and train service, it is easy to get to all walks.
This was a really excellent trip. There are some beautiful walks in the region with stunning views, and the trip notes are very accurate. The hotel was extremely good, with very friendly staff, nice spa facilities and really impressive food (including the chocolate room!).
Headwater response:
Thank you for such an excellent review. Your positive comments are really appreciated and thank you for taking the time to make them.
Kind regards
Customer Service
Excellent walking holiday but would probably go to Menorca earlier in the year as the end of June is almost too hot for walking!
Fantastic holiday, we did not choose the Gastronomic tour as we prefer to explore for ourselves. Be aware though that restaurants close on different days and are all well supported by locals so without reservations you may not get a table! We ate at some amazing places with no English menu, just what we enjoy...but take your phrase book. Everywhere we ate we had excellent food and wine. Veal features on the menu in many forms along with hazelnuts! The scenery was stunning and mileage travelled each day very manageable. We would strongly recommend electric bikes, unless you are a Club level cyclist many of the hills go on and on. My husband who cycles regularly at home on a road bike found the ordinary bike heavy and inappropriate. My electric bike was amazing!!
First time in Portugal , loved the people and the country would definitely like to return . The cycling was fairly easy ,even for over 70's .
From our wonderful rep Greg to our amazing accommodation, great bikes and well thought out routes - it was an amazing holiday. Everything ran smoothly. Cycling through scenic countryside and ending the cycle with a dip in the clear sea followed by a jug of sangria in the sun - pure bliss. Can't wait until next year!
Fabulous "Landscapes of the Luberon" walking holiday with Headwater in the south of France. Excellent clean, comfortable and welcoming hotels, great walks with very good, accurate self guided notes amidst beautiful scenery and villages that were a joy to visit and stroll through in the sunshine. Rep was very efficient, friendly and helpful and went out of his way to accommodate us. We added a couple of very enjoyable short city breaks in Avignon and Nice at either end of the holiday. In short a very varied, memorable and wonderful holiday which we really enjoyed.
This was a fabulous holiday one of the best that we have had with Headwater because there was jaw dropping scenery, easy route & excellent hotels "What's not to love"!!
Fantastic holiday at the Bergrose Hotel, Strobl. Very glad we opted for a 2nd week as there was so much to do and see in this beautiful area of the Austrian Lakes. The cycling routes provided were, on the whole (we had non-electric bikes!), easy and on dedicated cycle paths. The walking routes were all on good, well way marked, paths or tracks, but they were steep in places so glad we had good boots with us. Unfortunately it was very hot so we did not do them all. The hotel was lovely, the food excellent and the staff very friendly (and all spoke good English). They even provided a great range of veggie meals that were not just the meat eaters fare, less the meat! The local reps were brilliant and looked after us very well. Overall an excellent holiday if you are looking for a variety of activities (kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing etc all available locally) together with some genuine Austrian food, culture and scenery.
The entire holiday was even better than we could ever have hoped for. The walking the Levadas was a very interesting way to see the parts of Madeira some people never see. The transfers each day were excellent but best of all was the quality of the hotels which were excellent and are in locations to let you experience the different areas of Madeira. The staff were all very helpful and the food at the 3 hotels was super. This was a holiday that exceeded all our expectations and if you are reasonably fit and enjoy walking then we would highly recommend this. Madeira is a very beautiful and interesting island and I am sure we will go back again to experience more of what is on offer.
This was our honeymoon trip, and I can safely say overall it was a brilliant experience. The hotels were excellent, the food and restaurants selected gave us a good variety and experience of what that part of Italy had to offer. Transfers and bag drops worked very well, and the support team were readily available for queries and help when needed.
We feel more information should have been available about the longer routes, and better advice about suitability of gearing and types of bikes needed in advance of the trip (we wanted to take our own bikes). The longer optional routes have some very steep sections and even a seasoned club rider would need gearing lower than is standard on most road bikes.
Tremendous week in the Swiss Alps, walking and eating. The wildflower meadows were wonderful at this time of year.
The general route of this holiday is very beautiful but, as has been said before, there are extensive cobbled roads and unmade sections which are uncomfortable for cycling and dodgy when wet. A significant part of the route follows the Camino de Santiago so we met lots of walkers going in the opposite direction on often narrow tracks.
Great holiday and wonderful experience.
A fascinating and varied cycling holiday through beautiful countryside and interesting locations, plenty to see and do and much to admire in the countries visited.
This was a very relaxed and enjoyable holiday. The location of this simple hotel is just perfect. The setting and proximity to beaches and small interesting restaurants was wonderful. .Bike was super and well equipped. Hotel staff were kind and welcoming. I had a lovely holiday. Was on my own and felt safe and happy at all times.
A wonderful week in a lovely part of Austria in very comfortable surroundings.
We had a fabulous holiday. We enjoyed the cycling, the food and friends we made. Even the weather was perfect.
A fantastic week in Kandersteg with a good range of walks from easy to challenging. Could have stayed another 3 or 4 days easily. Hotel Alfa Soleil was really nice.
The trip was fantastic - we all loved every minute. The luxury (spa, sauna, pool) and meals in our hotel were far beyond our expectations.
The hikes were incredibly scenic and spectacular and much easier than we had imagined (this is not a complaint). All in all heads up to Headwater.
Varied walking from a comfortable base
What is great about this location and this particular hotel is that you can do as much as you want to i.e. stay in your comfort zone; or push your boundaries and cross them, which you will not regret.
My husband and I used Headwater in order to walk the Camino de Santiago. When arranging our holiday, we asked for an extra night in Madrid as well as Santiago; this they did for us, no problem at all.
Throughout our holiday, we had, mostly, excellent accommodation and the walk routes were really good.
We will both be using Headwater again and highly recommend them.
The holiday was excellent and we have already recommended to friends. Only one hotel, Villa Beccaris, was not up to standard with poor service (sending us to tourist information when we asked to book a wine tasting after trying to connect to a local vineyard for less than 1 minute) and poor food - they ran out of pastries at about 9am even though breakfast was until 10.30am and they were holding a staff meeting for a future wedding in the breakfast room and one of the chefs glared at us when we entered the room. We want to stress that this didn't spoil the holiday it was just out of kilter with the excellent hotels experienced elsewhere during this holiday. The reps were outstanding, extremely helpful and friendly.
Our canoe trip in June 2019 was excellent. The weather was very hot (France’s recent heatwave) but the river was possibly the coolest place to be if you have all the right sun protection. Surprisingly, we were just about the only canoe on the river at this time. It made for a calm, surreal experience just for us. We found that the trip notes were misleading at times. Information on landing points and weirs/chutes could be updated and the maps made clearer. We brought a foam cushion for the seats and this made quite a difference when sitting in the canoe for up to 5 hours. Andrew and Janet were the reps in Souillac and they couldn’t be more helpful and friendly, even though they hadn’t been on the contract for long. They went out of their way to change the schedule to accommodate a wet day with a visit to Rocamadour. They were also keen to show us some of the key actual day 1 landing specifics which were ultimately essential in hindsight. The accommodations were good and we found that the food for dinner was generally high standard with good choices.
The Go Ride App was great, Maurice was very knowledgeable and Neil from the bike shop was very helpful. The scenery was very beautiful, we were lucky with the weather but it was not easy even with e bikes, be prepared for some challenging hills towards the end. A rest day in Cahersiveen would be good to explore Valentia Island. The Climbers Inn was a great place for a rest along the way.
We had a fantastic holiday. We were particularly impressed by the company that provided the bikes as they went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect and that we were happy with the bikes before we set off.
Good itinerary with high standard of accommodation. Requests were noted. Appreciated upgrades with bath in 4 of the hotels. Restaurants for evening meals excellent. Enjoyed having time for sightseeing.
An enjoyable holiday on really excellent cycle paths on both sides of the river for the most part. We had a bit of an problem transferring from Munich airport to the station as the main line was closed for part of it's length and we had to detour onto another line and the description provided by Headwater for this transfer is minimal. The hotels were generally very good. The Steigenberger Hotel in Klems is having a large extension built which means the indoor pool and spar are out of action, have obviously been for a considerable time and are likely to be for some time. Given that the hotel is quite a walk from the town, is up a steep hill and the pool/spa are major features we would have preferred to have stayed in the alternative hotel used by Headwater, much closer to town. One point regarding the initial briefing, take pen and paper and make lots of notes as our agent, Martin was very informative but describes the whole trip and suggests alternative routes to that in the Headwater documents. We had forgotten what he had said before we reached many of the alternatives he suggested.
Fantastic scenery, some great hotels and meals.
Walking notes excellent in terms of directions but could have much more detail of places of interests passing through. Hotels never boring, all have character and different. Travel - should be better informed with more options offered inc train.
An excellent combination of easy cycling and excellent sight seeing.Good accommodation and excellent food. Headwater customised a standard trip to meeting our timings and wish to amend the final destination.The local agent added a number of helpful suggestions which enhanced our enjoyment. At all times we felt support was on hand ---but we never had to call on it.
The views were tremendous from the hikes and our hotels. The hikes were well planned with good directions and all the taxi pick ups and drop offs went smoothly and we really appreciated not having to start our hikes up hill out of the hotels. We also liked the itinerary design of 2 nights at each hotel giving us a chance to rest if we chose to. The first hotel was so lovely that it caused us to feel a bit disappointed by the subsequent ones. All the hotels were quiet at night except the Continental in Sorrento where we were given a room on a noisy square even with an expensive upgrade and a prior request for a quiet room. Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento are beautiful but very busy towns full of people and cars so this is not the walking trip if you want tranquility.
In general the holiday was good. Some of the hotels (eg Portopalo Suite, Ferro Hotel) were not of the usual Headwater standard in particular with regard to location. Some outdoor space and perhaps a pool would have been nice. Torre Dantona and Villa Favorita were far more what we expected. We loved both of these places.
Really enjoyable holiday. The hotel at first feels a bit old fashioned but we were very comfortable there and grew to love it. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was excellent especially the two themed nights. The view from the balconies was spectacular and ever-changing. The walks were well chosen....mostly up on a lift and walking down through wonderful flower meadows and rushing ice blue rivers. The walk at Ochinen See was the most challenging, especially as there was still snow and melt. Walking poles are essential. Switzerland was beautiful but very expensive....the picnics for lunch were very welcome. Overall we had a great holiday.
First class hotel with friendly and professional staff. Beautiful region of Spain with an excellent mix of walking and potential sightseeing.
A good all-round activity holiday with plenty of scope to explore and make up your own schedule from day to day.
All staff spoke good English as do most Austrians in this holiday destination.
Austria has a lot to offer and my surprise many people. Clean,beautiful with plenty of healthy recreational activities.
We found it an excellent holiday in every respect but one. We had to leave the hotel at 7.30 am but the hotel refused to give us anything by way of food or drink despite a 70 minute journey to the airport. Considering we had paid for breakfast and that 7.30 in the morning is not an unreasonable hour to get something - anything - we were not happy and it took the edge off the holiday, leaving an unpleasant 'taste' to finish on.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday feedback, whilst we are pleased to learn that overall you had a wonderful holiday with us, we are truly sorry to learn of the hotel not being able to provide breakfast for an early departure. Please be assured we are in contact with the hotelier and our local reps to discuss breakfast arrangements for customers who are having an early departure in the future,apologies for the disappointment caused and thank you for bringing this to our attention.
A good variety of brilliant walks. Hotel was really comfortable and food was excellent. Flying to Venice provided a great opportunity to add on a few days there.
Wonderful Island to visit very interesting locations to visit with some good walking but beware in June it is hot and there is very little shade
Enjoyable holiday through beautiful scenery. Stephano and his family could not have been more helpful and friendly
The holiday was excellent. The hotels and food was great, we did flag one restaurant that needs to be changed. Our only negative point would be that the steepness of the routes were not reflective of the grade of holiday and we found this quite unpleasant. I think you need to offer e-bikes only! We made it though and the sense of achievement I guess is greater!
An easy to follow lovely and interesting holiday around Lake Constance enjoying the European lifestyle.
Great thank you
This was one of the best holiday we've ever had, Provence is amazing, really beautiful and stunning. The hotels were wonderful, as were the walks, really enjoyed them. We would recommend everyone to visit this fantastic region of France and travel with a fantastic holiday company Headwater, as they really have it all so well organised and take good care of you. Thank you to all at Headwater, we shall be planning next summer's walking holiday soon.
Just like the promotional material says -- discover an overlooked part of Italy. One the whole holiday we only saw one other group of English-speaking tourists, except when we went into Padua. An excellent holiday -- the walks were a bit more challenging than we had been expecting, but manageable, and we were well rewarded with excellent food and wine every night. A very interesting mix of hotels, and each was very comfortable with it's own personality. We very much enjoyed this trip.
Fantastic routes, mainly downhill and 90% safe cycle tracks. Beautiful scenery en route with good options for days off.All hotels in great locations and great service and bikes.
The holiday lived up to our expectations. Unfortunately the weather was not kind and we had a lot of rain but our reps Andrew and Janet bent themselves over backwards to make our days as enjoyable as possible. They went out of their way to juggle the itinerary and came up with great places to go on our rest day, always willing to provide transport. The canoeing was great fun and the scenery was spectacular! Most days, apart from an occasional fisherman, we had the Dordogne to ourselves! The food and accommodation throughout was very good and in some places absolutely brilliant! We both put on weight despite the canoeing! A great holiday, would thoroughly recommend.
Very interesting area with beautiful sights and and transfers of bags between hotel went seamless. Very good, would use again.
Great route, interesting sites and beautiful sceneryi
Seeing the countryside you can never see in a car or coach
We did the Amalfi coast walking holiday in the first week of June. Just about made it before it gets too hot. The hikes in Ravello and Path of Gods were stunning and every bit met and exceeded expectations. Hotel Miramalfi has a brilliant location where our rooms faced the sea and do not miss going to the deck chair platforms by the sea- below the pool. Highly recommend this one.
Good cycling with some climbing in a fascinating part of Italy. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, but this is a poor part of the country and prepare to be alarmed by the amount of dumped rubbish by the roadside.
An excellent holiday and itinerary, embracing 5 fascinating baroque towns and 2 pleasant coastal resorts. The cycling is not particularly demanding and passes through some lovely countryside. Usually, there are a fair number of cafes/refreshment places on the route. Most of the roads are reasonably quiet although there is the occasional fairly busy road for short periods. The hotels chosen are very good, especially The Stephano Palace and Villa Favorita. Claudio, our representative, was charming, informative and very helpful. He came out to rectify a mechanical problem within an hour of being called. The whole trip worked seamlessly including the audio app and transport to and from the airport.
The mountain scenery viewed from the walks was superb, we were lucky to enjoy fine weather, and the hotel and the food were excellent.
The three locations offered different aspects of north-west Sicily, and walking descriptions very accurate. Phillipo gave us a great introduction to the area at the briefing, including tips for our extension in Palermo. We enjoyed staying at all three hotels and accommodation was of a high standard, although a little disappointed with the quality of food (breakfast choices were very limited at Marettimo Residence after 8.10 as supplies weren’t refreshed, and the evening meal at Baglio la Luna was not well cooked on the first evening, second was better). The walks on Marettimo are beautiful; Scopello lower walk along the coastal path was extremely crowded so not much fun; we didn’t do the final walk at San Vito as it was too hot and challenging for us based on feedback from others, so spent the day on the beach. The drivers were professional and courteous, giving the opportunity to see Erice and Segesta, and boat travel good. Definitely recommend adding on time in Palermo.
Food excellent. James very helpful.
Puglia is a super place to visit, the scenery is stunning, the towns so beautiful and interesting, the routes well planned and the assistance wonderful.
Excellently thought out, organised and worry-free holiday with a good blend of saddle days and optional activities. Enjoyed having two nights in some hotels.
Calella de Palefrugell is beautifully situated on a lovely stretch of rocky coat with small, sandy bays. The walking and cycling can be as strenuous or gentle as you wish with interesting viewpoints and places to stop. A must is the beautiful Cap Roig Botanic Gardens, which is a short walk or cycle ride from the hotel. The hotel itself is well situated in a quiet area a short walk from the busy and interesting seafront. Greg's recommendation of a visit to the local Tapas restaurant was much appreciated. Also, it was good to be able to fly to and from out local airport. Many thanks.
Fabulous walking in by far our favourite part of Sicily - recommend doing the higher level walk in Zingaro. And as for Marettimo, what a discovery. Spectacular scenery and unspoilt. As ever Headwater's arrangements ran like clockwork and the route directions easy to follow. The side trips to Segesta and Erice were a real bonus. The final walk up Monte Monaco was a bit of a disappointment and just a slog up and down in 34C but appreciate it was a last minute alternative because the Monte Cofano route was closed. If it doesn't reopen perhaps other options could be offered. The hotel In Scopello (La Tavernetta ) was excellent and we loved Marettimo Residence which gave us the choice of eating out or stocking up the fridge with local goodies and staying in. The B&B for the final two nights is very isolated and as we are not great fans of set menus and communal dining was not for us. However, there is no denying that Baglio La Luna is quirky and full of character and we were lucky to have a huge sun terrace (room 4!) and our time there did not detract from our enjoyment of the whole trip. Another great holiday with Headwater.
The host Stephano was brilliant in all respects. The breakfast was limited in choice. Evening meal was traditional to the area. Accommodation was a bit basic . Walking was excellent and was able to be adapted to people’s needs. The extras were a treat, eg spa visit, cookery lesson and olive oil lecture.
We have had a number of cycling holidays with Headwater but It is our first walking holiday. We were pleased to have chosen a single centre holiday in Bad Ischl and appreciated all the support that the reps Gill and Colin gave us which extended beyond their remit. Even though we happily sort our own walking routes in the UK we thoroughly enjoyed the range of walks available - some of which would have been difficult for us to find ourselves and the updates giving us information about which areas to avoid because of snow cover (unusual at this time of year) were invaluable. Overall, we had an excellent time.
We had a excellent walking holiday in the magnificent Austrian Lake District. The weather was kind and we walked every day up into the hills and mountains and were rewarded with spectacular views of the lakes,forests and snow capped mountains. Must give a special mention to our guides Colin and Jill who’s briefings and tips about the walks were excellent, went out of their way to keep in contact via text and helped to make this holiday special.
We wouldn't have done this type of holiday if it hadn't been packaged by some one else. It felt like good value for money. I can't think of anything that I would have wanted to be different.
Our third cycling holiday ,great fun as always, and nice to travel around another different area.
Great holiday. The route was full of contrasts between the coast and rural inland areas. We preferred the inland areas with the olive groves, stunning wildflowers, trulli and drystone walling. The coastal sections were tainted by the amount of rubbish everywhere. The routes were generally quiet. Sufficient challenge provided by hills and length of ride to make the cycling interesting without being exhausting. In the countryside motorists were considerate to cyclists.
We used the GPS in conjunction with the paper instructions. Be aware that your phone may overheat and shut down. The screen can be hard to see in bright sunlight. The battery may not have the capacity to last the day so you need to have a backup/charger. Excellent organisation from Headwater and the local operator - Antonio.
Superb a real sensory experience.
Excellent accommodations, beautiful hiking trails, and amazing food and wine.
The organisation of all elements of this holiday was excellent and especially from headquarters who realised I had omitted to arrange the air travel; the guide at the start of the hoiday was clear about what to expect and very clear in giving information re- the GPS, but I am glad I also had paper back up since it is impossible to realise that the batteries are fully charged.
Superb locations, superb hotels and even better food. We will certainly return.
Excellent holiday, well worth visiting this area, locals very friendly and we especially enjoyed the wildlife and tranquility on our varied walks.
A very enjoyable trip with generally easy walking, albeit on a lot of paths and roads with no shade. Some of the directions are a little ambiguous whereas others are detailed and completely accurate. Very little was open though even in late May, so we soon learnt not to rely on a cafe or bar at any of the towns/villages. Good hotel with friendly staff and good food.
Walking mixed, not Headwater's best. Not much variety. One of the very best hotels Headwater has provided. Very friendly and helpful staff, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and Gozo people generally.
Very pretty walks and interesting culture. I would suggest visiting later in the year rather than late May as the resort areas were not open and the weather was cool and at times very wet. The hotel on Marittimo is not geared up for out of high season use and was cold and rather basic. In hot weather it might be lovely. A lot of restaurants and shops were still closed.
This holiday was as advertised in the brochure. The countryside was beautiful, the food in the hotels was very good (we were given vegetarian options in all the hotels). We appreciated having the rest days which one of our party used to do watercolour painting, whilst others visited nearby towns, including Venice.
Good holiday but probably dependent on the weather as heavy rain will prevent some of the walks through the vineyards etc..
The holiday was about as good as it gets, especially the accommodation and food, which was often provided in nearby restaurants. The only worrying glitch was a vey late cancellation of our flight from Gatwick to Turin. Morgan at Headwater dealt with this efficiently and quickly arranged an alternative flight from London City to Milan.
Good journeys both ways without rushing. Lovely riding around Lake Constance with plenty to see on our days off.
Beautiful countryside, friendly, full of culture and excellent food and wine. Cycling not too onerous but there are some hills which are well worth it for the view.
This is an amazing location with varied and fabulous walks. We went in May so there was alot of snow on the higher routes which meant we could not do all the walks planned. However the hotel advised us on alternatives and we had 6 stunning walks against a backdrop of beautiful snow-capped mountains and mostly had the trails to ourselves. A truly memorable holiday and I would love to return to do the additional routes. Thankyou to Headwater and the team at the Alfa Soleil.
We had a wonderful walking holiday on the Amalfi coast. The hotel's were well chosen for their stunning views, food and comfort. The 2 extra nights in Sorrento ment we had plenty of time to visit Pompeii and enjoy Sorrento. Well done Headwater
A truly fantastic holiday. The distances walked were slightly longer than those documented but it was well worth the effort.
The food and wine for the whole week were excellent and the castle was the highlight from an accommodation perspective.
I would thoroughly recommend this trip. Greg, the local rep was very helpful and very helpful when one of our party was ill.
our self guided cycling holiday was organised perfectly despite our booking at short notice. Fabulous scenery of Julian Alps and the Alpe Adria exceeded our expectations. Everything worked perfectly. Worth noting that as some gravel cycle paths are quite rough and potholed, progress on these is much slower than when you are on a good surface.
This is the second time we have visited the Finca, this time with friends to whom we recommended the holiday. It was a first class experience from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Sue , Gordon and their team at the Finca were very welcoming knowledgeable and interested in all aspects of our days , they clearly loved the countryside and wanted us to maximise our experience. Our guide, Rafa was brilliant and added to the whole experience. The cuisine was also brilliant and in itself enough to draw us back!
Thanks to all involved....
A beautiful place...
Overall, a very good holiday. As I hadn't been on a walking holiday before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Given the location I expected slopes, and from photos realised that paths could be rough, however the walks were more challenging than I expected and I would not describe them as easy. In particular, on the last day we had a long steep, scrambly stretch up a fire break where I needed the guide to give me a hand in places. None of the walks are that long, but it was the terrain was quite difficult in places. However, Rafa the guide was great, and the vistas were great (when you weren't watching where to put your feet)! Some of the paths were narrow with prickly plants that were difficult to avoid, so long trousers would have prevented my legs getting scratched - mainly on the first and last walks.
On arrival, the photo of the cafe where we were to meet the taxi driver did not tally with the actual. A little map would have been helpful. The actual transfer takes about an hour - the first half along the coast and the second half going up the hillside on narrow winding roads with precipitous drops but Maria, (my taxi drive both to and from the airport) was an excellent driver.
The Finca was a delight, with lovely gardens. Don't expect TV's or telephones in the rooms, which are simply furnished, but clean and I found the bed comfortable. Meals were taken altogether around a long table. There were eleven of us in the Headwater group and we filled half the 14 rooms. The other rooms were taken by a group of artists from Canada on a painting course. Overall the food was excellent (although I wasn't too keen on the buffet meal one evening). Most nights at the Finca there was no choice of menu, with the exception of one night when it was a choice between two white fish for the main course, although vegetarians and dietary restrictions are catered for. Two evening meals are at local restaurants and we were then asked to make our choices before going off for our walk that day.
I didn't go on the trip down to Malaga as I had picked up a blister on the first day, so I stayed at the hotel and read. Although I was the only one staying in the hotel, Alison arranged for me to have a salad for lunch, and Sybil the dog came and kept me company for a while!
I was travelling alone, and was the only "solo" walker. I may have been very lucky, but my fellow walkers were all very nice and I never felt left out or uncomfortable in any way because I was travelling alone. The whole group seem to blend together very well, yet there was still time to sit alone if you wanted to.
Overall I was very happy with the holiday. I would have liked more time wandering around the white villages themselves, as opposed to seeing a little bit of them at the beginning or end of a walk, and I really would have liked to hear some Spanish guitar music sometime during the week. I also tried to book a massage (as advertised by the hotel), but apparently the lady who does it won't come for just one person.
Good combination of guided walks and sight seeing. The driver for the transfers was very obliging and helpful.
We have been on a lot of Headwater holidays but this one was the best yet. Superb hotels, wonderful food and lovely walks. Phaedra and Paul deserve a special mention for their charm, efficiency, punctuality and attention to detail.
We had a great holiday in Madeira- the walks were varied and well planned, allowing us to see different parts of the island. The accommodation provided was excellent too- very comfortable, and good food. We would definitely recommend this trip with Headwater.
Morgan did a wonderful job looking after us! And headwater was so well organised-we really loved our holiday Thankyou; will definitely travel again with you!
Menorca is a pretty place with lots of history - the Menorcans are rightly proud of this. The walking is not too strenuous, but there are some coastal areas which are not suitable for people with vertigo. The views are magnificent. The hotel rooms are separate from the restaurant - if you go in shoulder season, you will need something warm in the evening. The hotel staff are delightful and nothing is too much trouble. You will get to know the main road down the spine of the island pretty well!
The Camino from Sarria to Santiago do Compostela is a pilgrimage rather than a conventional long-distance hike. If you would like to share an unusual, fascinating and historical experience with fellow travelers from all over the world (and of all faiths and none), you will probably love it. I have heard people complain that it is rather crowded. If you see that as a disadvantage rather than a positive part of the experience, then perhaps this is not the right walk for you. The walking itself, for anyone of moderate fitness, is not at all challenging, and the way-marking makes it impossible to get lost. As I say, this is a great, historic pilgrimage, but not an escape to the wild.
Excellent walking on spectacular coastline
Quality of walking not quite as good as previous years, but we still had an enjoyable holiday. Grading of the walking was closer to a 2 rather than a 1.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback; it is always a great help to understand how we can improve and whilst it is not always possible to be precise about how easy or difficult an activity will be, our activity ratings have been carefully designed to give you a practical guide as to what you can expect. When assigning an activity level to a holiday we consider factors such as gradient, length of walk or ride, and also the terrain or road conditions.
Arriving late into the evening we were made very welcome with room service which we were not expecting. The rest of the holiday was excellent only 2 afternoons of rain which was unusual for Gozo in May. We did all the walks detailed on the notes and only missed out on 1 part of 1 walk due to the gradient of the climb. Would definitely recommend visiting Gozo if only to stay at the hotel as it is located looking over the cliffs and Malta in the distance. The hotel was definitely worth its 5 star rating.
This was yet another excellently put together, self guided walking holiday - our 6th with Headwater. Staff & brochure provide excellent & accurate descriptions of venues & accommodation to allow an informed choice. The walk notes are very detailed &; accurate &; totally relate to what is on the ground. Over the years the standard of Headwater accommodation &; food has really improved yet it remains extremely good value for money. Walking on Gozo was a delight in May spring sunshine ( albeit some rain!) &; the coastal paths along dramatic cliffs were surrounded by flowers.
Hotel Ta Cenc has an amazing setting with views across to Comino &; Malta. I can recommend upgrading to a Trulli room for just more space given you are there for a week - No 133 looked directly out over the cliffs. Every evening there was a 4 course meal with 4 different choices of each course - all freshly cooked & well presented.
I would also recommend a stopover in Valletta - one night there gave us a full afternoon, evening & following morning to explore.
( a slight hiccup on arriving at our Valletta hotel with no booking found was very quickly sorted by Headwater who were at the end of the phone & kept us informed at each stage)
Flights & transport all went to time.
Look forward to our next holiday with you.
Excellent holiday which more than met our expectations. Stefano went over and above to make us feel welcome and give accurate and useful information about our walks. The cooking and spa were fun alternatives to walking each day.
Excellent organisation, accommodation, enjoyable walks and fantastic local rep. Would not hesitate to use Headwater again.
The first night in Leon is an enjoyable experience, in the evening the streets are very busy with everybody out enjoying themselves, get a seat, get a beer, and sit and watch the world go by.
The first two days are the most difficult, uphill on unmade paths, once you pass from Leon in Galicia the paths are much better, made up with gravel and it is possible to progress at your normal walking pace. The first two days are also a delight, being high up with beautiful scenery, and looking down on eagles soaring below is a real treat. The spring flowers were stunning.
All along the route the local people are welcoming and happy to see you,. Your fellow pilgrims are a huge multicultural gathering of people from all over the world, and it is a pleasure to be a traveller on El Camino
The hotels are good, very comfortable, with good staff, and are very very clean and highly polished, a pleasure.
The connections, the taxis, the baggage moving all worked perfectly and reliably
All round a very happy and enjoyable experience
Thank you.
Puglia is a great place for cycling, and the food and accommodation were excellent. We used ebikes, which were revelatory for us, opening up the possibility of resuming cycle touring which it seemed our knees had put beyond reach. The GPS navigating system, while not perfect, did allow much easier navigation than with paper maps and written instructions, making for a more relaxing holiday.
Good to have our own relaxing and private space with sea view. Magical coastal walks. Abundance of flowers. Regular and efficient buses to all parts of the island.
Well chosen hotels, in stunning locations. When things went wrong, due to bad weather and hydrofoil cancellation, Headwater Holidays seemlessly organised excellent alternative accommodation and travel plans.
A great welcome from the holel that continued through out. Excellent variety of walks on the charming island of Menorca.
A fantastic area in which to walk. Tony and Ludmilla have gone to great lengths to make this a good trip and are both extremely welcoming and helpful. I would say that they are some of the best reps we have come across in many years of travelling. For us the distances were just right. All the arrangements worked like clockwork.
The breakfast in the hotel Mira Sagres was not the greatest with no hot choice and the croissants were rather stale. However, the staff were welcoming and the hotel provided the best shower of the hoiday. The food in Pedralva and in Lagos was really good and the breakfast in Lagos was superb. The staff in Pedralva were great fun. At the Pousada hotel, the staff gave me a gorgeous piece of cake to celebrate my birthday, which was excellent and really helped to make the day special. We didn't find the staff at the Memmo Baleeira very friendly and the service at the evening meal on the first evening was poor.
An interesting programme with generally good accommodation. Service at hotels mostly good except for overcharging at Grasmere.
The weather wasnt brilliant because we went in early May. However, we did enjoy the walking, which was a challenge but not too difficult.
Finca el Carrillo is a little paradise. Our walks took us round the white villages and up into the hills. We saw many butterflies, flowers and birds. We even heard a nightingale. We also enjoyed local cuisine. Our day in Malaga was an opportunity to see some wonderful art at the Carmen Thyssen Museum also the Picasso
A great way to explore the hills of Andalusia, if you don't mind walking with the hotel dog bounding around.
Beautiful walks. Guide was good in assessing group ability and provided challenging walks. The hotel was fabulous. I have never stayed in such a wonderful place with such good food and facilities.
The whole trip was amazing, reps Jill and Colin were very attentive and knowledgable. Hotels were well picked and varied so we experienced castles to little boutique hotels. Really enjoyed the trip.
The towns in this region are welcoming, interesting and attractive (especially Alberobello), all the accommodation was excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed the cuisine and the wines. However, as the scenery is mostly olive groves and dry-stone walls, and the area is sparsely populated, the rides from place to place are less varied and hence slightly less interesting than other locations offered by Headwater. The most enjoyable ride was the "loop" from Alberobello through Locorotondo and Martina Franca.
We like Headwater
Lovely location and hotel. A beautiful area that I would visit again possibly with a car. Eating out is cheap and convenient. Walks and rides quite challenging due to the hills and flights of steps. The routes do overlap somewhat.
This is a lovely part of the world and we really enjoyed our holiday. The rating of 1+ for some parts of the walks was for us under rated - on one walk the local signs showed the walking route to be 3 boots! However, we appreciate that the rating of the holiday overall has to be based on the full week. Anyone thinking about this holiday should be sure that they can cope with regular and sometimes quite steep ascents and some fairly narrow paths. The accommodation was varied and we really liked the changing hotels in Sagres which broke up the holiday. We would advice people on the holiday to not ask for a picnic lunch from the hotel Lagos - this was very expensive (€12 per person) and was basically a sandwich on stale bread - very disappointing. If Headwater could possibly make a deal with hotels where guests could pay for a picnic but actually just make it themselves from the breakfast buffet then that would be better - particularly at that hotel as the breakfast was excellent. This was not our first Headwater holiday and we would be very happy to book with them again as the local support and service allows you to feel fairly independent but with the assurance that support is on hand if needed.
Another fantastic holiday with Headwater
We completed the ‘Walking the Argarve’s South West’ holiday in late April/early May. The weather was mostly perfect for walking and we had a wonderful holiday, well supported by Tony and Ludmilla the local Headwater reps. Tony’s walking notes were clear and easy to follow with helpful suggested options and the hotels were well located and well chosen. Such a beautiful landscape with so many picturesque sights and views. We also saw a fantastic selection of wild flowers, including orchids, and the area proved excellent for bird spotting too.
Our two hotels in Sagres were really lovely, but the outstanding place to stay for us was the Aldeia de Pedralva where we had a super one bedroom little character house to ourselves for two days in this beautiful tiny village. Breakfast and dinners at the hotels were mostly excellent, the sole exception being the most meagre of breakfasts in the hotel at Vila Do Bispo. The breakfasts at the Costa d’Oiro were truly exceptional with an amazing selection. We also had some yummy fish and seafood dishes as various restaurants during our stay in this wonderful south west corner of Portugal. Overall another fantastic holiday with Headwater.
Martin and Sandy, Sidmouth, Devon
My wife and I holidayed in Puglia in April, and are fair-weather cyclists. The grading we believe is more akin to 2 rather than 1+. The weather was sunny and warm; cycling in the higher temperatures expected later on in summer would have been tiring. Although there was one hiccup with a bike, the matter was resolved and the rep. helpful and attentive. Accommodation good throughout and at times pleasantly quirky.
Stunning scenery, with views you cannot capture on camera. Electric bikes essential unless you are extremely fit and able to cycle up hills easily.
The hotels and locations are very good, the optional riding days are also worth doing.
All but one of the restaurants was very good with lovely food and good service.
The reps,Phaedra and Paul were very helpful and friendly.
This a lovely part of rural northern Italy, highly recommend.
The Headwater walking holiday in Bermuda is an excellent way to see the beautiful coastline, explore the various historical sites and travel on the local buses and ferries. The Coco Reef Hotel is a good base for the holiday, staff are friendly and keen to please.
Great fun, good instruction for beginners, and we were lucky to have amazingly beautiful weather, if a little icy at times.
Very enjoyable holiday. The hotel was excellent and traveling around the island was so easy thanks to the great bus service.
Lovely way to visit the real Portugal and experience the incredible friendliness of the local people.
Stunning beaches, great hotels, generous, helpful people, the unseen Portugal
Very interesting walking holiday. Hotel accommodation extremely good.
We had a lovely 5 day walking holiday, no problems and would like to say a special thank you to Ludmilla and Tony and the staff at Pedralva.
This holiday exceeded my expectations. Excellent doesn’t do justice to this holiday.
Lovely hotel and location on a fascinating island, On the upper range of a one-boot as quite a large amount of walking on stony or concrete paths. A good Spring break as there were beautiful flowers out. A good holiday for cat lovers as the hotel has a number of friendly cats roaming around. We would recommend the upgrade to a Trullo room as this was light and more spacious.
Good location to enjoy this beautiful natural park.
Wonderful hotel, staff and food/wine! We had inclement weather including snow, so early April may not suit everyone. Driving was easy on good if winding roads. Our last night had clear skies, and we were lucky that the hotel could provide an English speaking guide to show us the stars etc via the observatory - not to be missed! Only real issue was the Europcar booking process which was confusing and over complicated. Petit Precios hotel in Madrid was fine, but rooms facing the street were a little noisy.
Make sure you download the walking notes. Don't leave home without them.
Our trip to Madeira allowed us to experience the beauty of the island through the diverse walking trips and sightseeing days. Our accommodation was superb at all three hotels and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The local firm used to transport us to and from our daily walks are to be complimented as the drivers were wonderful. Headwater helped us have an unforgettable holiday to mark our silver wedding.
The Hotel offers a lovely experience - a real family feel and the food was fantastic. The guides were amazing, very caring and professional - some of the best guides I have ever had.
As far as Venabu is concerned, if you are going cross-country skiing, while you don't necessarily have to have skied before, though it helps, you do need to be reasonably fit. Cross-country skiing is not hugely demanding, but you just wouldn't enjoy it much if you were continually out of breath. It also uses muscles in your legs that you don't normally use, so you need to be prepared for some initial degree of discomfort if you've never done cross-country-skiing before.
Secondly, alcohol in Norway is extremely expensive, and so people would be wise to make the most of the duty free at Oslo airport or elsewhere. Venabu hotel makes its own beer, which is toothsome and not too dear, but wine there was about £30 a bottle. That's just the way it is in Norway.
The staff who take out the Headwater visitors on the skiing trips are extremely good. The main rep, Robert, is a very good instructor, but I had a particular good experience with Joy O'Flanagan, who has a real gift for instructing newcomers to cross-country skiing.
The hotel has a mid-week Norwegian banquet followed by some local music and dancing. These things are normally excruciating, but such is the evident goodwill of the family that run the hotel, and their genuine concern for their guests, that you can't help but enjoy yourself.
I tried the snow-shoe walk over to the frozen waterfall. I had never used snow-shoes before and it was fun to poddle along on the snow wearing a small platform on each foot. The local snow-trolls still can trip you up so you need to watch your step when you're using them. But falling over was part of the fun.
There is a good supermarket half a mile away from the hotel. It sells everything you could possibly want on holiday, except hard liquor (only available in certain government-run shops).
The hotel is warm and comfortable and unpretentious. There is a library if you just want to take some time out from exercise. There are good walks all around. The air is wonderfully fresh and clear and you feel very well. The hotel is family-owned, and you can see that the family who own the hotel really care about their guests. Caring is not something you always see in hotels, but if you feel that the staff actually care about their guests, you're much more likely to return. They clearly do have a lot of loyal guests who come back year after year. That really says something about the holiday experience - not to mention the excellent food. And the chef's from Liverpool, by the way.
This was one of the best cross country skiing holidays I have ever had. Hotel and terrain excellent, guides superb, everything worked wonderfully. Thank you so much.
Beautiful location, plenty of ski trails for all levels, comfortable family run hotel with fabulous food and helpful knowledgeable ski guides. Nothing is too much trouble and every effort is made to ensure your comfort and enjoyment of the trip.
Excellent holiday. The international team of guides and ski teachers are experts and keen to share their knowledge of cross country skiing that add value to the holiday experience. They were relaxed and professional in their approach and were outstanding. The hotel accommodation is very comfortable and there is a relaxed atmosphere. The food served in the restaurant was delicious. Every meal time (breakfast, lunch, dinner) exceeded expectations. A variety of delicious dishes were serviced to satisfy all tastes - the hard bit was making a choice. Awesome!
Our trip was excellent. We have taken many enjoyable Headwater holidays and this is one of our favourites. We cycled through beatuful Spring countryside with flowering orchards and wildflowers. The accommodation was delightful and made the most of the historical features. The food at the Masseria was amazing. The local people were friendly and spoke a lot of English.
Excellent service from Headwater throughout, representatives Tony and Ludmilla most helpful and ensure that everything is organised and correct for a great experience and a holiday with no worries. Ideal hotels, lovely countryside and coast with options for routes to suit the individual, and with the GPS app you can't go wrong. Highly recommend.
Excellent holiday, great location, and fantastic food...
The hotel, location, accommodation and great choice of buffet food makes this an excellent place to come for cross country skiing. It was my first time here and new to cross country skiing. Though I enjoyed the skiing it didn't grab me as it did to many of the clients who have returned many times. There isn't much else to do if cross country skiing is not for you so bring books to read and a tablet so you could watch movies. The extra activities such as snow shoeing and sleigh ride could cost a lot less.
The ski safaris are excellent - if you do not go on these the guided ski tours all come back for 1pm in order to have lunch in the hotel. We paid extra for a better room which I would also recommend as some of the accommodation is very basic
Great holiday, we traveled as a group of 4 with different skiing abilities so the mix of guided tours and ski safaris suited us. The guides were excellent and the hotel food stunning.
Excellent skiing area and accommodation, fantastic buffet food. The hotel provides its own guides who take you out on guided tours. The guiding was very good but there was no particular tuition for improvement. The emphasis is on off piste so you are given mountain skis with metal edges and boots which are heavier but really come into their own when you do go off piste and are excellent there.
The hotel / skiing centre is very well managed, with helpful staff and a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The support for skiing and other activities is excellent and uses encouraging and well-qualified guides. It caters well for both absolute beginners and experienced skiers.
We had a great time -The other members of the group were friendly and we had enjoyable walks and meals together. Gordon and Sue were so lovely . They were very knowledgeable and helpful both as guides and also as hotel owners.They have built such a great hotel ,both comfortable and efficient .I understood why so many of their guests return.
Very enjoyable with good company, good accommodation, lovely walks. A little more attention to detail with joining instructions would have helped.
A relaxing walking holiday in attractive and unspoiled coastal scenery. The detailed route maps and waymarking were superb. The Atlantic cliff views and wild flowers provided numerous photo opportunities.
We had a very good holiday being well looked after from the moment we arrived. Ludmilla and Tony are a credit to Headwater and looked after us really well. Walk notes were well written and easy to follow. Time distance of each walk were accurate. We passed on a couple of updates to Tony who dealt with them immediately. All pick ups and tranfers were on time.
We would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone wanting to viist the Algarve.
Ski guides/instructors at Venabu Fjellhotel are kind, experienced and inspiring. They can adapt to the individual’s needs while still catering for the group as a whole. The hotel staff are helpful and accepting. The number of repeat visitors is testimony to the stellar quality of this trip.
Excellent location and food
Venabu is an excellent centre for all ages and abilities as many of the routes are gentle but more adventurous safaris available
Great winter holiday experience
Wonderful area to cycle in - varied terrain and scenery. Made harder by winds but did anticipate this. Very relaxing few days. Was great to know we had support from Tony and Ludmilla if needed. A lovely way to discover this area of Portugal
A great weeks skiing in beautiful surroundings with great guides. The hotel is traditionally Norwegian and the food is fresh , wholesome and delicious. A great ski holiday.
Great skiing from a lovely hotel with excellent food.
Another great week at Venabu, looking forward to next year
A very enjoyable skiing experience which is different from the Alpine resorts with amazing food and personal attention.
A great adventure in Norway.
A great holiday. A very comfortable and welcoming hotel, with excellent buffet meals. The skiing was well organised and accessible to complete beginners like us. We were out skiing on the trails within a couple of hours. A good variety of other activities from dog sledding and snow shoeing, to an art tour of the hotel. I can understand why people return to Venabu year after year. It is a beautiful and peaceful place.
A truly wonderful holiday in a beautiful setting with friendly and helpful staff and instructors.
Amaseballs. Mmmmmm fooood
Beautiful location, very friendly and relaxed staff on site, amazing food, excellent ski instructors/guides.
This was an amazing last minute holiday. I am a single lady and was slightly apprehensive at going abroad on my own. The Headwater team assured me other single travellers were on this trip so no need to worry. The Headwater team were honest with their feedback (they had visit Venabu Fjellhotel). The staff were great, the ski instructors very patient with the newbies. There were many returning people to this hotel on my visit. The tracks and trails from this hotel door are amazing, keep a look out for the trolls in the forests!! Take the snow shoeing tour to the frozen waterfall and do the night time ski experience. An amazing week, lots of clean fresh air, many calories burned but needed to due to the amazing cakes on offer every lunch and dinner. I can highly recommend this trip..
Having stayed a the same hotel for 12 years it's like going home - very welcoming family and staff
Awesome holiday. The guides at Venabu are fantastic - full of enthusiasm and encouraging. Teaching was great and kit good quality and clearly well looked after. The hotel is good, some rooms in need of updating, but clean and comfortable. Very friendly and the staff are really helpful. Stunning location l
Very enjoyable holiday Jan/Feb 2019. Great weather apart from 1 day of thunderstorms, not at all humid and lovely temperature for walking. Hotel was just as described, with excellent food. Worth bearing in mind that the hotel is very quiet in winter (we had the breakfast room to ourselves most days, and just a couple of other tables at dinner). As previous reviewers have said, this is more of a sightseeing holiday on foot, but very enjoyable. The walks vary in length (and are very flat) and some are quite long (we managed 30,000 steps one day) but there's lots of flexibility with the local buses (which work very well). A good trip for us to get away from the UK winter, followed by a few days in Miami on the way back.
Excellent holiday, range of skiing available you could ski all day if you wanted to or just the morning and then relax in the afternoon
Headwater response:
We are so pleased to read that you had an excellent holiday.Thank you for taking the in sharing your experience and hopefully we will be able to welcome you back to another fantastic Headwater holiday in the future.
A glorious setting, great skiing, wonderful hosts and fantastic food.
A fantastic trip, stunning scenery, great hosts and wonderful food.
It was a great introduction to cross country skiing and we look forward to going back again to Venabu
This was one of the best trips I've ever taken! The hotel was perfect, the food was great (which was good since I was so hungry after skiing most of every day), the guides and group ski tours were perfectly suited to the ski level of the group. I can't think of a single thing that could have been better.
Excellent again.
A great cross country skiing experience. Lovely hotel, beautiful location, great food and well organised ski guiding.
Wonderful location and lovely family run hotel.
Great guides to take you out everyday to explore the vast area which is truly stunning and so quiet.
Nordic skiing is really hard work, but it was very well worth the effort. The hotel was clean & comfortable, the food excellent & plentiful & the staff friendly & helpful. The situation was spectacular & the guides very knowledgeable. A holiday experience well worth the effort.
A warm friendly hotel in an area which provides skiing for all ability levels .
This is an excellent venue for x-country skiing - this is now our third visit in a row to Venabu. You cannot fault the skill and enthusiasm of the team of ski guides and the friendliness and helpfulness of all the hotel staff.
Headwater response:
We are so happy to read that you had an excellent holiday to Venabu. Thank you for your kind comments regarding the Ski guides and the friendliness of the hotel staff.
Great experience. Instructors friendly and helpful. Attentive to individual needs. Food plentiful and nutritious. Graduated activity levels adjusted to day to day conditions. Hotel friendly and relaxed, and popular with Norwegians as well as international guests.
Bermuda is beautiful and interesting if you like history. There wouldn't be time to see everything and hike every day. I chose the things I wanted to see and organised my walking around that.
Brilliant but for one small issue
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback regarding your holiday. We are delighted that you had a great time.
The holiday package did change this winter, in that snowshoeing is now payable locally as opposed to being included, as in previous years. All of our documentation and website has been amended to show this, however we do appreciate this can be overlooked and I do understand the change was a disappointment to you and for this we apologise.
I do hope you’ll enjoy more holidays in Venabu for many years to come and thanks again for sharing your holiday experience.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Excellent week in this traditional Norwegian hotel with the usual experienced and friendly ski guides.
Venabu is the ideal location for cross country skiing. Robert and the other ski instructors are excellent. They have an in depth knowledge of cross country skiing which they readily share. There is a good mixture of skiing on the loipa and in the forests and across frozen lakes. The night sky is memorable including lying on your back looking at a fantastic starry ski with a hint of the quot;Heavenly dancers & quot;. You normally have a choice of skiing at three different grades. The hotel is comfortable with really considerate staff. The food is fantastic especially the porridge. If you enjoy cross country skiing go.
Headwater response:
We are so pleased to read that you have enjoyed your holiday. Thank you for sharing your experience in Venabu and I do hope that we are able to welcome you to another Headwater holiday in the future.
Many thanks
Customer Service
The hotel at Venabu is an absolute delight. Family owned and managed, it combines Norwegian rustic charm (think life size trolls relaxing on a sleigh in the reception) and homely comfort (log fires, pepperkaka, sheepskin throws over armchairs and sofas) with really top level cuisine. Every meal was delicious and plentiful: we thought the buffet style worked really well as there were so many tempting side dishes to sample. The skiing was brilliantly organised and taught, with expert and friendly teachers, amongst whom Robert was a particular star. Sure, our bedroom was small...but the shower was spotlessly clean and the bed was very comfortable. We have no complaints, just praise and thanks to all at Venabu Fjallhotel.
The holidays and accommodation are very good
A magical winter holiday in a friendly hotel with superb ski tuition and wonderful food. A great escape!
it was one of the best holidays I remember. I cannot wait to go back.
An excellent introduction to cross-country skiing in a beautiful location.
Perfect place for resting and relaxing, whilst giving opportunity to recharge your energy. Gozo is great for walking and the climate was just right, Ta Cenc was a wonderful place to be over the christmas period.
We had a good walking holiday. However I think Gozo footpaths etc need to be developed with better planning and signposting. A lot of the walking was on road, it would be beneficial if more off-road walking could be planned. Overall, Gozo is a good place to visit.
An very enjoyable week of walking based at an excellent hotel. Although Gozo is a small island there is enough variety for a one week holiday.
Having a "winter' cycling holiday is a great idea, and going through the Algarve during off peak season was a wonderful way to see the region. We really enjoyed going off the beaten track, through lanes and villages, and staying in interesting places like Pedralva (but a note of warning - its colder there than anywhere else in the trip so bring warm clothes!). The bikes were excellent! In spite of the sometimes quite rough terrain there was not a single puncture nor any issues! As usual, the trip was well organised, the accommodation and food very good, as we now expect from Headwater. The Ride with GPS is also brilliant and makes navigating a loss less stressful. Thank you for yet another great holiday!
Very well organised. Local guides very helpful.
The holiday was very good the free bus & ferry pass excellent,we found the notes accurate the map also good but large,because we are getting older we reduced some of the walks which worked well,allowing more swimming time. The people were very friendly and would stop if we looked lost. Overall a very good holiday well done Headwater. When we booked I was looking for maybe a different way to Bermuda I got no help from the sales girls, so we stayed with your holiday guide.
The highlight of the holiday was most definitely the hotel. We were made to feel like old friends, even by fellow guests who weren’t part of our group. We’ve never stayed in a more relaxing hotel. The guide was excellent and the walks, particularly the last one into the mountains, where delightful. The accommodation was excellent as was the food.
A lovely week walking in the hills of Andalucia, based in a great little Finca. Wonderful food and friendly, helpful staff making for a very relaxing stay. Nice to have a day off in Malaga which has lots to see. A fabulous walking guide in Judith who although Dutch lives locally so knows the area very well. Would definitely recommend the week for gentle walks, great food and hopefully good weather!
Finca el Cerrillo was a beautiful property, with everything you could hope for. There was only 14 rooms but the outside space, with so many tucked away seating areas, was incredibly spacious. Dinner each evening was delicious. Our hosts were friendly and welcoming, and the staff always smiling and helpful. Judith, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very easy to get on with. She helped to make our walks a real experience.
Just as advertised, and just what we needed
The general topography of this holiday was less interesting and exciting than experienced on previous headwater walks, but we did thoroughly enjoy the holiday.
Good location, comfortable hotel, nice spa.
Stefano and his staff at La Pietriccia did everything to make our holiday successful. We got what we expected, and more! A return trip is called for, but when it's not raining!
If you are actively fit and prepared for physical challenges then Headwater has well documented self-guided walks with well organised hotel accomodation and transfers to support your hiking holiday.
A well-organised holiday with generally good 4-star accommodation (one specific difficulty was dealt with promptly and efficiently) . The grading system was very accurate for first-time cyclists. Equipment provided, the local support and the initial briefing were also excellent.
We were very impressed with the service provided by Headwater from start to finish. Ludmilla, the local rep, was very helpful and gave us lots of advice about each days walking. We got the bus into Lagos on our rest day, which was also very enjoyable.
We have never been on an organised holiday like this before, but wouldn't hesitate to book with Headwater again.
Just returned from walking the Algarve's south west coast, beautiful walks on the west and south coast, and we stayed in lovely hotels. Views stunning. Good food. Tony and Ludmilla were great reps, lots of support if needed, and met up with us at the beginning and the end of our holiday. Most walks do not have much shade, we had good weather for walking, warm but overcast. We felt it was a well planned holiday, even returning to Sagres during the week, gives you a different perspective of the coast. Thank you, Headwater, once again, a lovely holiday!
This was our first Headwater cycling holiday and it was excellent in every way: choice of routes, route guidance (especially Ride with GPS), type and quality of bikes, location and quality of hotels, and transfers to/from the airport and luggage between hotels. Special mention of the local reps, Tony and Ludmilla, who were always friendly, helpful and efficient, with the right amount of advice at the right time. We are both over 70 but had no difficulty with this grade 2 holiday in the 'real' Algarve. We were lucky with the weather in mid October: 20C and sunny during the day but heavy rain at night. Waterproofs essential at that time of year. All in all, a memorable holiday.
This was a most enjoyable walking holiday. The walking was stretching without being gruelling. The three hotels used were really good. And the Portugues were very accommodating and the food delicious. We made some new friends and felt well looked after from start to finish.
In a beautiful area of Portugal, with walking each day enough to be testing but not exhausting. The hotels were all good and we enjoyed the company of other walkers. A very enjoyable holiday.
Really enjoyed the holiday but felt some of the walks didn't quite match the holiday description of "Algarve's Wild West".
The clearest and most comprehensive walking notes we have come across, taking us to lovely places with stunning scenery and lots of history. The hotel was of a very high standard but the choice of vegetarian food was limited. The customer service offered by Headwater was brilliant with very quick and efficient responses. All the arrangements worked like clockwork.
Very enjoyable. We were lucky with the weather as although we had one wet and windy night and also a whole day and our ferry back to the mainland was cancelled, the agent managed to adjust itinerary to enable those of us with a later flight on last day still to be able to do everything. Although we missed the spring flowers and possibility of seeing orchids - we had Autumn Heather and Rosemary in flower in abundance on some walks. I did feel that the local agent should have checked on the ferry website that our ferries to and from Marettimo Island were running and been pro-active in telling us what we should do when the ferry was cancelled. Some of us found out by checking the website ourselves but unless you met someone who knew we were left in the dark as the hotel reception didnt let us know and we were all in different parts of the hotel.
Two of us went to Lorenzo island for the day which worked out very well although the coastal walk notes back from the cave to the ferry were poor and misleading. It added to the variety and we were glad we had gone.
Overall a good mix of walking, archaeology and culture and weather not too hot for walking - although we were lucky that the wet and windy spells didnt disrupt our trip more.
A good group of people and it was nice to meet them at some meal times and bump into them sometimes on the walks.
Interesting and varied trip.
Another excellent trip with Headwater, this time to a splendid Agriturismo in Tuscany, with excellent facilities, a great location for walking and superb cooking. Additional features included a cooking lesson one afternoon, a spa visit and a very enjoyable wine/cheese/salumi tasting in town. Thanks to Stefano and his family and friends for a very warm welcome and a most entertaining time!
The Hotel Zuhayra is brilliantly situated to explore both the white town of Zuheros and the mountains that provide the backdrop. The walk via Luque was excellent and we also enjoyed the easy choice of the Via Verde, walking on a disused railway line (a great option for cyclists too with well over 100km of level routes available). We were amazed that it was a Rural 2-star Hotel and wondered how much better it could have been had it been 3 or 4-star. As such it was excellent value for money [the food was at times, a bit disappointing and the choice was occasionally limited or there was no choice].
A great holiday - excellent planning and support and a wonderful location which combined beautiful countryside, a rustic rural Spanish locale and very enjoyable walking.
Walking the Camino was a lovely experience. Having the luggage moved everyday and prearranging accomodation and meals took away the stress of travelling.
Barry and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience in Provence cycling with Headwater. The only difficult thing was to get a good cup of coffee!
The stunning south-west coast of Portugal is an excellent choice for a walking holiday, with the best accompanying notes we have come across in all the Headwater holidays we have taken! Brilliant that different length holidays are available, making the area attractive to more people.
My wife and I have just returned from a 10 day self-guided walking holiday in the Algarve. From start to finish, the organisation and support from our two local reps Tony and Ludmilla was first class and we stayed in five different hotels during our stay all of which were good value. The walking was generally quite easy and usually covered about 10 to 14 miles per day with optional rest days at each location if desired. Several days were spent walking along the coastline which was never less than spectacular.
Lovely walks, any uphill sections were well rewarded by fabulous views. The reps were wonderful and hotel staff all very helpful and friendly.
We enjoyed the holiday immensely thank you.
An excellent holiday all round with superb accommodation and really good food. The countryside is stunning and the walks were very enjoyable.
This is a brilliant location for cycling. We chose it because we have both had hip replacements in the past year, but even so, we would have liked one or two more challenging days on the bike. We doubled up some days and went “off piste” a couple of times. Italian cities, other than Venice, are very cycle friendly. James Robertson is a superb rep for Headwater, hands on in his teaching us to use the bike Satnav. He did not crowd us and was always there when he promised. Good guy.
We had great service booking the holiday and that was more than matched by the service from Greg at Calella de Palafrugell. A good selection of walks and cycle routes were available and good local knowledge to tailor trips. We had a great time exploring an area we knew very little about.
This is the third time that we have travelled with Headwater. Their choice of hotels is excellent, the walking notes are accurate ( but don't try to second guess them) in wonderful locations.
Well organised, good value, good range of accommodation
A great way to explore a little known corner of this interesting island
Amazing trek, walk of the Gods the highlight, few inaccuracies in the walking notes so make sure you read the map as well
Enjoyable rides, more challenging than expected remember French towns close on Sunday especially off season!
The Porto cycling trip was a brilliant holiday for the 4 of us - easy cycling through interesting countryside alongside the coast, great food and good accommodation. We were really lucky with the weather - blue skies all the way although the evenings were a little chilly and it was pretty windy at Costa Nova. As a bonus we saw flamingos and storks along the way! The only disappointment was building work going on next door to our last hotel which made sitting on the balcony a less than relaxing experience. But Headwater responded promptly to our concerns and we were treated to a couple of free bottles of wine to help make up for it, which was appreciated.
A generally enjoyable first visit to this attractive island with varied and undemanding walking on offer. Also, the historic centre of Ciutadella is charming. We were delighted and disappointed in equal measure with our hotel. The welcome, quality of service and the comfort of the lounge and bar areas were excellent. Our bedroom was comfortable enough but let down by a lack of storage space and a serious level of noise transference from adjoining rooms. Breakfasts were excellent but we felt the evening meals were somewhat mediocre considering the quality of the hotel, and the dining room though ideal for summer visitors became cold and draughty when it was windy.
For us this was the perfect combination of quite challenging walks and the opportunity to visit villas, gardens, monasteries en route. The Euganean Hills were a delightful landscape of vineyards ,woods and olive groves. We also particularly enjoyed visiting Vicenza on the way back.
Having undertaken guided walking holidays we wanted to try a self-guided trip which would enable us to set off, stop and finish when we wanted (later start, more and longer stops) and this was perfect. We did three days walking with a day of rest between each walk (altho' ample instructions for further walks were provided). Our luggage was transported seamlessly from one hotel to the next and the hotels were first class both in situation and service (the food was excellent). In addition we tacked several days onto our trip to make a short city break and all arrangements for travel and accommodation were dealt with seemingly effortlessly providing us with a superb holiday experience.
One of our best Headwater experiences. The welcome at the hotel in Montforte was good but when we arrived at the Palazzo there was no one to ask about the lack of tea making facilities so we had to go down to reception in Giardino. It would also be good if the bar at Palazzo opened for drinks rather than being firmly closed
A quiet but attractive area of Northern Italy well worth discovering.
5* location, 5* beautiful Finca with endless hidden terraces, where you could relax in peace if you wanted to. Lovely swimming pool. Food was exceptional throughout the week, including lunch tapas stops out and evening restaurant meals,. Best of all were the Finca meals. Wine was flowing and , if you wanted, you could purchase further drinks before meals from the Honesty bar. I found the walks accurately marked at 1+ and, at 67 and only recently having become a walker, I thought they were perfectly doable unless you had mobility issues, in which case, choose a trip which doesn't include rugged mountain tracks. The guide, Nick, gave us background geography and history, while walking, and many thought that was a welcome addition to some other trips they had been on. There were only 9 of us and I think, again, that that is what made the trip so enjoyable. We could chat to different people on the walk and evening meals were all the more pleasant because of the smaller group. Sue and Gordon, who run the Finca with help, provided an exceptional experience. They put themselves out and were charming but unobtrusive. I think I was very lucky to have chosen this trip as my first walking experience away on my own. It was a brilliant week and well worth every penny.
EXCELLENT WEEK AWAY, GOOD COMBINATION OF WALKING, SIGHTSEEING & RELAXATION IN PRETTY SURROUNDINGS
We had a great time on our cycling holiday in Catalunya. We enjoyed the cycling and also enjoyed the sightseeing in Figueres and Girona. Not a lot to see in Figueres but the Salvador Dali museum is not to be missed. Not a lot of good restaurants in Figueres but we found the tapas bar El Asador was brilliant. Greg, our rep, was brilliant, nothing seemed to much trouble for him. We also liked the navigation app, it made route finding so much easier, even though we did have the printed notes as well.
We added 2 nights on to the end of the holiday in Calella de Palafrugell, and enjoyed some lovely coastal walks.
Great experience to walk the 100km+ on the camino
A great cycling holiday .. would recommend either end of the season as Croatia looks as if it will get full in peak time with RV's and people. So best to go when quieter and cooler for cycling. Bruna is great ..take her advice on road section to Porec as road is steep , very narrow and with a lot of vehicles is dangerous. Please check the distances as given in the notes, for example in one place it says continue on road for 2Km but it is much nearer 4.
An excellent opportunity to see the Istria region and visit quiet but beautiful villages. Cycling can be a little challenging on some days, but well worth the effort
Excellent holiday we connected with your other clients and walked as a group of six and made our own
Camino Famílily. Very helpful before set off. Great accommodation and food. Some confusion with notes for arrival at hotels! - we could provide you with better notes!
Brilliant hotels, great food, wine and beer. fabulous scenery good weather (could have done without the mosquitoes), fine bikes, excellent rep BUT you are let down by the quality of the paper cycling directions which were in places totally inaccurate. If the holiday is going to be based around an app on a smart phone then make that clear. We have been on several cycling holidays in Europe and are experienced at following directions but on each of the first four days we had instances where the directions made no sense. By the fifth day we had lost confidence in them and didn't go on the last round trip. Some of the inaccuracies were just irritating but at least two were very concerning! I have details of the main inaccuracies if you are interested. It's a shame because we both enjoyed the holiday and with better directions would certainly have gone with your company again.
The briefing by the reps about the bikes and the Ride with GPS app was very good. The route notes were also useful. The bicycles were excellent. The ladies needed the electric bikes in the Dordogne because they had not done much cycling preparation beforehand. The meals at each hotel were very good. The countryside was beautiful and there were many interesting sites to visit.
Following the maps provided for the days trips was hard as there was insufficient information on them. The places signposted on the route did not appear marked on the maps. That is the only grumble we have otherwise it was very well studied and planned. Good.
Very enjoyable , good accommodation except for the hotel Porto Christal. This was a last minute change to the original tour. The location was not ideal and the food was terrible. There were a few hiccups starting with the meet and greet at the airport, which did not happen until we made several phone calls to the emergency contact but all problems were dealt with very courteously and all members of staff were extremely caring and helpful.
This was a wonderful holiday in all respects. We loved the family atmosphere at La Pietriccia, everyone was very friendly and helpful and the food was delicious. Stefano is passionate about the food he serves and was very happy to share his knowledge and expertise. He also helped us to amend the cycling routes to avoid some of the more difficult terrain, which was greatly appreciated. We expected hills but steep gravel tracks were challenging until we swapped to electric bikes for the last two days and it was a completely different experience. We would wholeheartedly recommend this holiday.
Very scenic tour. Gentle easy cycling, definitely not challenging. Good food & wine with friendly welcome along the journey. Very efficient baggage delivery service.
Ride with GPS took a while to download before the trip but was very worthwhile & worked well.
The base location of the holiday in Calella de Palafrugell was excellent and the town itself had many restaurants and cafes. Hotel Garbi is a lovely hotel with very helpful staff and is located a few minutes walk from the town and beach. The walks are very straightforward with easy to follow route notes - the additional availability of GPS files compatible with a smartphone provided added reassurance to avoid taking wrong turns. None of the described walks are too strenuous, although care is required when following some of the coastal paths. From all of the walks available those along the coast were most interesting with tremendous views over the sea and rocky coastline. We found the reps very helpful during the holiday in advising us on the walks outlined in the route notes as well as suggesting additional routes that we might want to try out. Overall we were very happy with the holiday and would recommend it to other travellers.
Everything we had hoped for. The selection of location, hotel, routes were all spot on.
We stayed at Ta' Cenc on Gozo and did the six walks recommended based in the one hotel in late September 2018. The hotel rooms are all on ground level surrounding the 3 pools and we ate outside under the massive ancient Carob tree. The walks were accurately described and we enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of finding the next turning. We only went wrong once on the very first morning through hubris, swiftly learning to read the instructions carefully after assuming there was only one supermarket in the town and forgetting to read the name properly. The weather was hot and humid on the first two days and water and sun cream and headgear are essential. As is mosquito repellent. My wife was & bitten to death &, probably while eating our evening meals. Owing to the locals' penchant for shooting there were disappointingly few birds to be seen though we did spot plenty of Sardinian Warblers, a Honey Buzzard, a few Blue Rock Thrushes and a Tawney Pipit. It helped to have an appreciation of the various forms of limestone. Two of the walks are quite short and could be combined if necessary. Highlights for us were the locality around the hotel, Ta' Cenc is a nature reserve with fabulous sunsets and ancient cart ruts and dolmens scattered around. The local bay at Mgarr in Xini is great to swim, snorkel and dive off the rocks. The hotel minibus will take you there and back free of charge. The island bus service is superb, punctual and cheap. The Inland Sea near Fungus rock is also worth swimming in and take the boat trip through the cliff to the sea: the light filtering through azure water is stunning in the caves. The local cafe there had welcome and cheap beer and sandwiches. Marsalforn (not on a walk) is worth a visit as are the salt pans along the coast from there past Xweini Bay where we bought sea salt from Leli, who recently featured looking bemused on The Apprentice. Other must sees are The Citadel in Victoria and the ancient temple at Ta' Kola which can be combined with a tour of the restored windmill on the same ticket. All in all we loved it.
All in all a good walking holiday, the walks were all generally very peaceful and unspoilt although they were probably a bit tougher than we anticipated but not excessively so. The welcome briefing at Scopello was very good but unfortunately due to flight arrival times had to be held on the morning of the second day which meant we didn’t start the Zingaro walk until 11am which is a bit late as it gets very hot and there is no shade worth talking of for the first 2-3 hours, that said it’s a great walk.
The accommodation is comfortable enough without being luxurious but is well located and the breakfasts perfectly good.
The side trips to Erice and Segesta were very good, take the cable car up to Erice from Trapani , unforgettable views.
We added 3 days in Palermo to take in the city which is wonderfully atmospheric, recommended way to finish off a lovely trip.
Excellent holiday, food fantastic and Stefano was so enthusiastic about his cooking and the environment
Lovely hotel with super friendly and helpful staff, especially Antonio the manager. Good food and the picnics are very good - a very large sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit, juice and water. You wont go hungry! The walks are great and we did them in the order that was recommended in the walking notes. If you want a day off from walking a day trip to Cordoba is well worth it. All the logistics went according to plan and we had an excellent holiday.
This is our second holiday with Headwater and both have been excellent. We enjoyed cycling Piedmond and the high standard of accommodation and food that was on offer. The two nights spent in every stop over is a great format giving one time to explore the area. Some of the cycling was challenging which we expected but were able to complete it successfully. However we feel the grading could possibly be reviewed and changed to a 2.5 We went in the third week of September and the weather was wonderful. Thanks to Headwater and also to Greg and Laura for all their advice and information on each village that we stayed in. Jim/Anne Sandy/Janet
We thoroughly enjoyed our gourmet cycling holiday in Piedmont. Everything was well organised. The scenery, the food and wine were all excellent. The Hotels were all different and very comfortable . All the hotels and meals were of a high standard. We were very glad that we had electric bilkes. We would have struggled on the very challenging hills in the beautiful weather, and would not have enjoyed our holiday so well. Unless very young or fit I would recommend e bikes. You will still have plenty exercise to earn your dinner! Although quite an expensive holiday it was good value for money.
If you just want to hike / trek without driving, this is definitely a good choice. However, it would be nice for Headwater to pick a hotel close to the village such that guests can easily stroll around on the rest day rather than book a taxi in order to go some places.
A great holiday away from the crowds at a quiet time of year. Paddling was easy most of the time with some interesting parts where the river ran shallow or faster. Hotels and food were great with some characterful hosts.
A very good holiday ,well organised and covering an interesting area of Portugal. Bikes were very good and we appreciated the port wine tour and the wine tasting sessions that had been arranged.
On paper the distances seem a bit daunting but in reality lovely gentle cycling with some spectacular scenery.
Brilliant! Fantastic guide (Nick), food, The Finca and hosts. Great company in our walking group.
The Finca was first rate , and an ideal base to return to after a days walking. The walks were challenging and interestingly brought to life by our guide. An all round holiday experience
An enjoyable week in an area of outstanding beauty. The hotel and food were excellent, and the fact that the cable car and bus pass travel were also included made this very good value for money.
We really enjoyed our self-guided walking holiday in the Dolomites because the possibilities each day were endless. With the hotel as our base and the excellent walking notes we were able to plan a varied programme. Having a bus/train pass and the timetables made planning easy. The local roads up to and above the tree line enabled days of walking amongst the peaks a real pleasure, with rugged, stunning mountain landscapes all around. The footpaths were almost empty and the peace of sitting in a high altitude meadow hearing only the birds and distant cow bells was truly relaxing. In the evenings we enjoyed the company of other self-guided holiday makers. The food at the hotel was excellent and the accommodation excellent. We would wholeheartedly recommend this holiday.
This holiday was a great way to enjoy the Tuscan landscape, food, wine and local people. Really enjoyed the local countryside, villages and towns and came away feeling relaxed, well fed and keen to visit the area again.
Surpassed all our expectations because we were the only canoes on the river. Great river, great hotels and helpful reps.
Our holiday ticked a lot of boxes for us as it involved exercise and was outside in beautiful nature, we also visited charming and traditional French villages. All of the staff were welcoming and helpful and the bicycle routes were perfect for us as they were mostly through vineyards and olive groves, so that the routes felt safe.
This was an excellent holiday through lovely countryside. The route was hillier than we had expected for a 1+ bike rating but the day mileages were short so it evened out. For those of us aged over 70 and with a temperature of 33C, the climb out of Caromb on Day 4 was indeed memorable! But there were some lovely long descents to compensate.
We had no problems finding coffee and lunch stops as there were lots of bars and cafes en route, even on Sundays and Mondays.
Accommodation was mixed, as always with Headwater, but every hotel had its excellent upsides.
We spent two extra days in Vaison and took the bus into Orange on one of them to see the splendid Roman theatre there. 10:03 from the top of the road beyond Tourist Info, the journey takes an hour and there are buses back at 16:15, 17:15 and 18:15.
Enjoyable and worry free as everything happened exactly inline with the planned agenda
Overall we had a really good week in the Euganean hills; the weather in late September was a bit warmer than we had expected and this made the walking slightly more strenuous and the insects were numerous - take plenty of repellent! The accommodation does vary quite a lot; the Villa Lussana is excellent, everything works and the food and service are all you could hope for. Il Feudo is fairly basic, though the staff are friendly. Villa del Poeta was very good, excellent food and service however they do often host weddings at the weekend which can be noisy. Our least favourite was the Belvedere.
The walking is very good and the directions generally ok though we found having a GPS device useful at times. James our rep was extremely helpful with transfers, advice and updates on routes. There were plenty of suggestions for rest days - our favourite was visiting the Villa di Vescovi from Teolo.....where we were able to use our National Trust cards; the villa is magnificent - but check opening hours as its not open every day.
Some walks on this holiday were slightly more challenging than anticipated, but perhaps that reflects our age and fitness. The fact that most walks require a taxi pick up at the end does add a little pressure and reduces the time available to stand and appreciate the surroundings. We learned that we prefer open-ended walks that end at hotels so that we can walk at our own pace. When walking in an area for the first time you don't really know how long a walk is likely to take so having to pre-arrange taxi pick ups was an added anxiety for us.
A compact week of relatively straightforward walking of moderate difficulty. The itinerary was accurate, as were all pickup/transfer timings.
GPS application for navigation is excellent. But ensure you have backup battery
An excellent range of spectacular scenery around lake constance
This is a good holiday and Insel Mainau is a must. Could not see much purpose of Friedrichshafen if you are not interested in the Zeppelin - arguable an extra day in Konstanz and a longer cycle on cycling day 4 as others recommended the other island nearby, Reichenau, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. My disappointment was how much of the cycle route was away from the lake - there were plenty of non-cycling footpaths nearer the lake and these would have been lovely - my love of suburban housing estates is limited. The Cycle providers were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. Nevertheless, some superb places to visit and interesting things to see - huge orchards laden with apples, storks, herons, red kites, large and small fish in the lake, grape picking to name but a few.
First half of journey was through magnificent mountain scenery on well maintained and exciting trails, including old train tracks, tunnels and bridges. Would liked to have spent longer there, but the latter journey to the Adriatic is an enjoyable contrast, culminating in a dip in the sea.
Wonderful area, ideal for walking with hotels of character and many places to visit.
Enjoyable walking holiday with suitable options provided.
Beautiful situation, friendly staff and great food, with access to some lovely walks - similar to walking in the Lake District so bear in mind the effect of the heat!
Well organised and interesting range of accommodation. Interesting routes and good navigation aids.
Excellent but a bit hillier than expected.
Well organised and stress free holiday
This was our third walking holiday you have organised on our behalf and we have enjoyed all of them. Accommodation has always been good and standards generally very high.
All the drivers/taxis employed were all well turned out, helpful and on time.
Our first Headwater holiday: beautiful, fascinating countryside, and comfortable, friendly hotels with superb pools to relax in at the end of a day's walking.
A lovely combination of stretching but not impossible walking, lovely unknown countryside, and fine food.
A great (mainly flat) ride with wonderful cycling past the Atlantic Ocean and, as always, interesting hotels and meals.
Great hotels. Very good food,easy cycling and we had magnificent weather. Met very friendly locals.
Headwater offer a quality experience, using excellent hotels, good bikes and gauge the difficulty of the cycling very well...well done Headwater!
A quiet, remote area of Spain yet full of interest. We visited three outstanding cities, all within driving distance - Avila, Sevogia and Salamanca. We interspersed these visits with walking days in the remote and beautiful countryside around the hotel. The hotel provided picnics which were delicious and the hotel food and local wine was outstanding.
Excellent experience with outstanding food and accommodation, a gastronomic delight
We had a wonderful holiday. Tuscany is beautiful and La Pietriccia a little gem. Stefano (the owner) runs a highly efficient setup with his helpful and friendly staff. He is one of those rare men who can multi-task (!) whether it’s reorganizing our cycle routes, finding new routes for others, briefing groups, getting bicycles mended, cooking and so on and all with a smile and quick wit. We were impressed that groups were given GPS locators in case they got lost and so clearly a lot of thought had gone into making the best experience for guests. I would thoroughly recommend this holiday.
The holiday did exactly as described. This is an easy but highly enjoyable cycle.
This was our first single centre cycling holiday and was chosen because I have been troubled with a leg injury and we felt my wife could cycle if I could no. As it worked out we cycled every day! Our reservations about a single centre were quickly dispelled. The accommodation is run by a marvellous family who have created a wonderful ambience. After the cycling we relaxed in the grounds, cooled off in the pool, and finally dined on the full Italian evening meal. We are both vegetarian s and one gluten intolerance. The food was the best we have had in Europe.
The presence of a local rep was reassuring and James was always available but never intrusive.
If you want a Tour de France this holiday is not for you, if you want enjoyable cycling with time to soak up the local environment go for it.
Well done Headwater.
A wonderful adventure. Challenging cycling through stunningly beautiful countryside. Ending each day with fantastic food and wine in very comfortable hotels.
The Hotel Bergrose was a superb choice with a very spacious suite and superb meals every day. The quality of service was excellent in the hotel. The Headwater reps Colin and Jill couldn't have been more helpful. The bicycles provided were of a very high qualty. The holiday far exceeded our expectations.
A great holiday. Beautiful area with plenty of opportunities for various activities including superb walks. One of the best Headwater hotels we have visited. Helped by excellent company of other Headwater clients. Always have enjoyed Headwater holidays and this is one of the best.
This was not just a fantastic location for a walking holiday - buses/trains cable cars within easy reach, but an amazing hotel as well - both in therms of location and view.. Although only allocated 3* the food and service were simply exemplary - 4 course, exquisite meals each night using local produce and very imaginative menus. The ability to make your own lunch pack up each day was great and not something we have seen before. This is a hotel that goes the extra mile (well kilometre) and so deserves to be successful. A real gem!
Excellent holiday. Stunning scenery and great walks. Every day seemed to offer something different. Challenging at times but nothing over and above the ratings provided. Excellent, detailed and easy to follow route instructions.
Spectacular part of the world. Excellent walking with very accurate route notes. Hotel was perfect - great service and brilliant food every night, with a great choice of wines ( including local wines). We will definitely return as there are many more walks.
This was an excellent holiday and the 3 days in Marettimo were just THE BEST!
This was a wonderful experience of rural Tuscany in a delightful Agriturismo with fantastic food and staff who made you feel very welcome. Stefano was very helpful in organising our walks and tailoring them to suit all abilities. This was one of our best holidays and we would really recommend this lovely corner of Tuscany.
Flexibility of walks during the week was a real positive. Hot days were catered for by Stefano and option to not walk at all was great. Additional Wine tasting, cooking and Spa gave good variety as well
A glorious experience of real rural Tuscany in every way. The staff made you feel part of the family and Stefano in particular made sure every aspect of the holiday was tailor made for each person. Couldn't have been better.
First time with Headwater, didn't know what to expect , had a fantastic time, thought the moderate title was a little under exaggerated , there were some steep climbs but overall we had a laugh getting lost a few times but always found our way to the next hotel, didn't feel guilty eating all the lovely food and drinking the best procecco as we had earned it. Will be booking again in the future but
With less hills.
A beautiful location for lovers of alpine walking.
The hotels were in general well located. We particularly liked Sa Punta and the food here was very good. The cycling tracks were mainly gravel or sandy and a bit rutted and could be quite tricky in places and one had to keep one's eye on the track rather than the scenery but that may be because we are not used to cycling off road. The route takes you through some lovely old towns and villages the highlight of which was probably Pals. Despite our initial reluctance, we were pleased that we used the GPS route guide as it would have been difficult without it to navigate the tracks. The area is spectacular and we would definitely consider re-visiting Catalan.
A mixture of excellent (hotels) and fair (cycling). The cycling was only spoilt by really rough tracks, demanding too much concentration on the riding hence missing the surrounding landscape and features.
Pleasant rides, but a fair amount on relatively busy roads. Good and varied styles of hotels.
We had the best cycle briefing ever from Nick, the Headwater rep, who was friendly and professional. All the hotels were lovely to stay in with great food and beautiful swimming pools to relax in at the end of the day's cycling. We were warned about the steep climb at the end of day one and maybe, given the hilly nature of the Dordoigne area, we should have anticipated the hills. They were quite tough going in places. The GPS made finding the way easy .
On the down side, some of the rides were a bit dull. We cycled in Umbria last time and enjoyed it more; great architecture, villages and generally more fun. The French drivers all give you room when passing but pass at high speed and most of the cycling is on roads, not cycle paths.
I will save up for another Headwater holiday though but will spend a little more time looking at the area first. Lovely weather!!
Excellent routes and good hotels, good reps
Wonderful holiday in a beautiful region with an excellent and charming rep. Marred by the anxiety for me (Jane) over the working of the new app, battery running out before reaching the destination and the lack of good and accurate back up directions. The apps need a bit of tweaking but will be good. Attachment to bikes need to be stronger and visible in strong sunlight.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback. Overall it looks as though you had a lovely holiday . The team at Headwater are constantly reviewing what we do based on our customer feedback and can assure you that all that you have mentioned have been under review to improve.
In all good holiday if you enjoy cycling.
Wife says it was the best holiday of her life, one of my best. Accommodations were just right - small enough to be intimate yet with all the conveniences. Advise to bring an electrical adapter - one hotel was without one/one hotel gave us an extra to carry for the remainder of the trip. River was a little low in September but we didn't bottom out anywhere. The weather was about perfect - very safe and beautiful -- almost a float trip with some mild rapids thrown in. Would highly recommend others to check out the cave at La Cave - really worth the side trip - take a cab, it's worth it. And the bike path from La Villa Romaine on an old railway line, even walking, shouldn't be missed. Overall quiet and relaxing. Our first trip to Europe -- we passed on the big cities (except for London) and glad we did - though we would probably have enjoyed a couple of days in Toulouse if we had the time.
An excellent way to see a lovely part of Croatia.
A good combination of sun, sight-seeing and cycling. The cycling was rarely strenuous and was a good way to see this very attractive part of Croatia.
Fantastic holiday. Great locations, especially Rovinj, which is fabulous, we really want to return there. Cycling was the right level of distance and slopes. We are already booking next years holiday with Headwater as we loved it so much.. Only negative was the very wordy, and sometimes out of date route notes. A little map would help and they should be checked more often. Would definitely recommend this trip.
Our cycling holiday in the Luberon was typical Headwater style. Friendly rustic hotels, minor road routes, places to visit, great scenery and great local food and wine. Other cyclists on the same route were great company when we bumped into them.
Wonderful walking in picturesque varied countryside with many historical features. Ample shade. Hotels luxurious and/or extremely comfortable with delicious food.
Another excellent holiday with Headwater. Our Manager James was one of the best we have experienced with Headwater. Nothing was too much trouble and he provided very useful information at our introductory meeting. Hopefully we will be fit enough to embark on another walking holiday with Headwater in future .
Hotel choice's were all good except for one ( Punta Campanella Resort). The text provided for the hike directions were excellent and we would definitely have got lost without it. All transfer pickup's and baggage delivery between hotels were on time which made the whole trip a absolute pleasure. Overall a well organised holiday which I would highly recommend to anyone wishing to hike the region.
An enjoyable holiday. The weather was marvellous. The accommodation was very comfortable. However, our experience was marred by my wife’s injury. Positano was very busy.
Great way to explore a region little visited by Brits. Despite no Headwater rep and notes which show their age (and accuracy) the maps and general set up for cycling made this a great holiday.
We had a very good time and were very happy with the planning, accommodation, itinerary etc.
Absolutely lovely, easy cycling through the beautiful Veneto countryside.
Staying at L’Albara was a real treat especially the invigorating swim after each day’s cycling.
James was very pleasant & obliging.
Please tell future clients to pack water bottles & a variety of snacks as there are no shops & very few cafes en route. Local supermarkets are +1.5km away from L’Albara.
GPS cycling worked well.
Scenic cycling through a wide range of terrain. Good options to reach off-track sights. Nice sense of achievement to cycle from the Alps to the seaside.
Absolutely breath taking scenery, couldn't recommend this holiday highly enough. Do make the effort when in Tarvisio to cycle to Arnoldstein & take the chairlift. The hill to get to the chairlift is very very steep, I walked, but my husband who is a regular cyclist did manage it. What a view from the top. The accommodation throughout our holiday was lovely. We would recommend this holiday. At the end of our holiday if we could have gone straight back to the beginning we would have cycled it all again!
We recently returned home from the Austrian Lakes activities holiday based in Strobl. Pre holiday information given by Headwater was informative and helped us to get the most out of our trip. All communication with Headwater head office was clear and promptly given. The reps in Strobl, Colin and Jill, were friendly, enthusiastic and determined to make sure we got the most out of our holiday. Despite the weather, we had an amazing time in the Wolfgangsee region. The area is stunning and there are several great day trips within walking, cycling or public transport distance from base. The family run Hotel Bergroße was like a home away from home, with relaxing gardens and a beautiful, varied breakfast and dinner menu. We would thoroughly recommend this holiday for anyone who loves outdoor activities in a relaxing, unspoilt region. We decided to extend our stay by 2 further nights to explore Salzburg in more depth, which was well worth it.
A great location for a variety of outdoor activities, also with attractive local towns. We enjoyed all the recommended cycle rides and walks we did. On the more rainy days local bus and boat services were very helpful, and they also extended the range of possible cycling and walking trips. The Bergrose hotel was a beautiful and relaxing base; the view from our room was stunning, the food was outstanding, and the family running the hotel were eager to please. Reps Colin and Jill could not have been more helpful.
A brilliant service. Absolutely stunning.
The fine detail of choosing the hotels is excellent. Your website is easy to navigate and find fine details of holidays on offer.
I would throughly my reccoment Headwater to anyone wanting a specialist holiday.
Zuheros is a lovely, very quiet village in the Andalucian hills. The villagers offer a friendly "Buena Día" when you pass them in the street. The hotel Zuhayra offers friendly and helpful service.
Lovely cycling through varied terrain; but be prepared for a good few sharp climbs. The hotels were well appointed and the food was generally delicious. Although the location and development of the Castell D' Emporda was unique, for us the better hotel was the Sa Punta where we spent two lovely relaxed evenings.
This was our first self guided cycle trip and the first with Headwater. Cycling in groups with a leader, mini bus etc is becoming more demanding This cycle trip was enhanced immeasurably with the audio GPS navigation app, which meant not having to pour over maps or follow route directions at every turn. The route on this trip has been very well planned on beautifully quiet roads or tracks and passing through interesting villages and some lovely scenery. Initially, we thought the hybrid, flat bar bikes were too heavy but they proved to be ideal on the well-maintained tracks. There was only one stretch of approx 3 miles on a fairly busy road and that is when cycling into Girona but it's nothing to worry about. To our surprise, we found the average Spanish motorist pretty considerate and prepared to give cyclists a wide berth when overtaking or at junctions.
The hotels were very good with excellent service, quiet rooms, delicious breakfasts and safe parking for the bikes.
Greg, our rep, was spot on right from the start, giving reassuring advice on using the GPS app, what minor problems to be aware of and any adjustments the bikes.
It's a leisurely cycling holiday to be highly recommended. We have enjoyed cycling with groups for many years in lots of places throughout the world but self guided trips are much more leisurely and gives the rider the opportunity to appreciate the scenery, to stop whenever you wish, to explore some of the major sights and small villages etc.
Enjoyable, well organised
We went on the PIedmont Gastronomic cycling 2 years ago so had a good idea what to expect this time. The accommodation was all of a very good standard and well chosen. All the accommodation had bags of character and made a fantastic change from staying in standard generic branded hotels. The cycling was easier than Piedmont but still a challenge in 30 - 32 degrees. Although, the bikes are fitted with non puncture tyres, we unfortunately suffered a puncture! We were unable to complete a roadside repair due to a combination of the extra thick tyre walls and flimsy tyre leavers supplied. However, Antonio from the support team quickly came to our rescue and we were soon back on the road. Overall, a very stress free, enjoyable holiday, cycling through beautiful countryside one moment and along side the Adriatic the next. Also great wine, superb food and lovely sunshine.
First class.! From the moment we spoke to staff at the London Destinations show in February, through to the first enquiry, booking and follow ups; it all went very smoothly and we had a great time including being upgraded in three hotel to Suites!!
Really enjoyed the cycling almost all on excellent cycle tracks away from cars. The hotels were great a nice mixture of smart classy places, mixed with some lovely homely, welcoming and well - thought out smaller places.
A great family holiday based at an ideal location for cycling in the valley and close to public transport for days out on the bus. Lovely quiet hotel just outside Strobl - the restaurant was excellent. There was so much to do, that we could choose each day to suit the weather.
Wonderful trip! Everything was so well set up for- transfers, trip notes etc. The walks themselves were stunning, and it was amazing to jump into the pool at the end of the day. A great way to see the Dordogne and experience a different part of France.
Excellent experience, so many lovely places and the accommodation was really good. Some of the hills were tougher than expected, but not impossible. The service from Donna when booking was outstanding. Great way to see Puglia which is largely unspoilt by tourism and the wine is fabulous. So many more memories than just a beach holiday,
Varied, interesting holiday. Easy cycling, but bikes a little heavy and saddles not as comfortable as usual. You can catch an earlier train from Munich than the one stated on the ticket, although Headwater advised otherwise. We did check with a guard before travelling. All the breakfasts were great. Typical Austrian fare is a little heavy, especially the dumplings! An extra night in Passau meant that we could enjoy the organ music at midday and we thoroughly enjoyed our extra nights, two, in Vienna.
We enjoyed good weather, varied interesting levada walks, friendly staff and very good hotels
This was our first hiking holiday with Headwater and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Despite the changing weather, we were able to choose a suitable hike for each day because of the range of hiking notes supplied by Headwater. The Park Hotel Bellevue was excellent - friendly and helpful staff, comfortable rooms, convenient location (especially for trains and buses) and amazing food. We paired this holiday with a cycling trip (Dolomites to Lake Garda), which started in the adjacent town. This gave us an extra day of hiking as our transfer between hotels took about 10 minutes by taxi. We would highly recommend this holiday.
VERY NICE HOLIDAYS!! Nice cycling, with wonderful food and wine.
Excellent holiday. Easy cycling. Lovely scenery.Garmin makes a huge difference and avoids regular stops to review maps. Very good standard of hotels. Food in general excellent especially Restaurant in furadura. Furadoura and Praia de Miras bit busy and touristy but can easily escape on bikes. Aveiro is atmospheric with lots of good restaurants and cafes. All in all, great holiday
Lovely area, great hotels mostly, very enjoyable
This was a really good holiday, the cycling was challenging in the heat so we would recommend early morning starts or later in the day cycling! Stefano the agritourismo owner could not have been more helpful and informative, the hotel was charming and all the staff very good and helpful. The food was really excellent and we would definitely recommend taking up the option of the wine and food event in the local town. Have already recommended this holiday to friends.
A brilliant week at Hotel Bergrose. We were lucky with the weather so followed most of the self/guided cycle routes provided. Route instructions clear on all but one ride (feedback given to rep). Brilliant rides in nice scenery. Loved the ebikes - we had a puncture at one point and the hire company were out to us within15 mins with a replacement.
Colin and Jill, our reps, were excellent. Helpful and informative and put themselves out to tinker with the bikes as needed.
Fabulous experience which we recommend to anyone wondering whether to try a cycling holiday.
An excellent holiday set in wonderful scenery with plenty of relaxing walking and cycling to choose from throughout the week. The hotel food, service and comfort were all fantastic. The reps Colin & Jill couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. This was our second visit to the area with Headwater and we will, no doubt, be back again.
An excellent and varied exploration of the Vaucluse region of Provence, with opportunites to visit ancient Roman ruins, mediaeval villages and legendary Cotes-du-Rhone vineyards.
Fabulous holiday, beautiful scenery and towns, bikes were fab and transfer of luggage excellent. Trip notes were a little confusing in some places and we weren't the only ones that came across this problem, Google maps did come in handy on these occasions. A few more busier roads than I expected but none of these issues prevented me from such a wonderful holiday experience.. Having the extra night in each town enabled us to enjoy and explore the towns that much more than if we had only had 7 nights. All in all a wonderful holiday, would definitely travel with Headwater again and Donau Touristika.
We would highly recommend this holiday. The cycling was easy and interesting, the hotels were comfortable and welcoming and the dinners were delicious. Cycling every second day gave us the opportunity to really explore the towns we were in and we appreciated the notes in the regional guides. The only criticism we have was that the route notes were confusing and usually unnecessary as the journey followed a well signposted cycle route around the lake that was very easy to follow.
Enjoyable, comfortable rides easily achieve by two 70 year olds. Accommodation very good although food somewhat variable.
A lovely way to explore this beautiful and historic area of France while building up a good appetite for a classic french meal
Faultless.
An amazing holiday exploring a hidden gem surrounded by beautiful vineyards and hazelnut groves. The walking routes were easy to follow a bit like being on a daily treasure hunt and we felt extremely rewarded to be greeted by a range of luxury hotels nestled on sun soaked Italian hills. Most days we managed to cool off in a pool usually with hardly a soul in sight. The gastronomic dinners were simply out of this world full of fresh ingredients and plenty of surprises. The wine, although not cheap, was truly exceptional ... the best we have ever had. This was quite simply the holiday of a lifetime for those who enjoy the finer things in life.
Wonderfully tranquil cycling by the lagoons, and through forests. A great holiday from start to finish - very relaxing!
This was an excellent holiday - everyone enjoyed it, including both teenage daughters (16 & 13). The hotel was superb - delicious food, helpful staff, spacious accommodation which was really beneficial as we travelled as a family and stayed in a family suite. The location and scenery of this holiday were breathtaking. I also cannot fault Colin & Gill from Headwater - they were so friendly, helpful and really did go over and above to help us (especially with the loan of a travel adapter). They were also very knowledgeable about the area and the local attractions which really made planning our stay very easy.
A superb introduction to walking in the Swiss Alps. Great use of cable cars/gondolas to allow access to higher level walking experience. Fabulous food and friendly service at Alfa Soleil
Headwater were very accommodating to us, helping us to arrange our walking holiday to slot in between our plans to visit other areas in the same country during an extended stay. It was all very easy and everything worked very well. The hotel was lovely and in a great location. Our holiday was well organised and we had a very enjoyable time.
Superb experience for family activity holiday; we loved it
Fantastic route, fantastic hotels, fantastic holiday. Thank you.
Really enjoyed the holiday and out rep Mark was extremely pleasant and helpful. As we were 4 ladies we had requested twin rooms and this was confirmed by Headwater. However this was not the case in three of the hotels which provided double beds with single duvets. This was a 1+ cycle and we had elected for electric bikes which proved to be the right choice.
Headwater's Lake Konstanz cycling holidays offer two options, namely one with rest days and one without. As an occasional cyclist with a desire for travel and experiencing the scenery and culture of the route, we chose the option with rest days. We cycled on only one rest day (around Reichenau island) and often took ferry trips on other rest days. Ferry trips on the Lake offer a fabulous experience. Having seen airships on nearly very day of the trip it was a "must" to go to the Zeppelin museum in Friedreichshaven. Stand-out location - Stein am Rhein. It is absolutely beautiful, but also explore the back streets as well. Headwater provided a vast amount of pre-travel literature. Worth re-reading their location notes before each day's travel. The route notes were extremely detailed. We mostly used them to leave our hotel and find the marked route, and then find the hotel at the end of the day, and occasionally then as back-up. DONAU provided a more compact booklet, which combined maps, culture and route notes, and fits in the DONAU provided handlebar bag. However the route is so well marked (signposts and ground markings) and popular that you rarely need the Headwater route notes while cycling. The 4* hotels were air-conditioned, comfortable and well-located. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and completed the circuit with a sense of achievement and enjoyment, made all the more real by going up the Pfander cable-car in Bregenz at the end of the trip and looking back at the whole Lake and the places we had been!! All in all - a great trip.
From Passau to Vienna is an unforgettable experience. Impossibly beautiful countryside, vineyards and medieval villages are only some of the highlights you enjoy on level cycling paths and quiet streets. If history, art or music is your thing, there are also countless opportunities to indulge during stays at Linz, Milk and of course, Vienna. Our only question mark came at the end of the trip, when we felt that more time should have been scheduled in this incredible city and less time apportioned to Krems and Tullin.
Location/routes are excellent as is the food and value, just a shame many of the bedrooms are so basic
We had a relaxing week in the Dordogne, with cycling and beautiful food every day. The routes, although appearing short, are very hilly in places and are not to be taken lightly. We really would recommend kayaking on this trip, as there were lots of opportunities alongside the cycling and it added a great extra dimension. There are lots of ancient monuments and castles to explore, but simply soaking up the medieval architecture is a treat in itself. In August, it was nearly 40 degrees so be prepared, and get the cycles done early, so you have time to relax. Try the local vin de noix, and all the lovely cheeses and meats. After all, you will cycle them off! And do NOT forget insect repellent!!
Impeccable organisation - everything arranged to perfection!
We are a family of six, with kids 18, 15, 13 and 10. All of the cycling is completely doable on this route, with the longest day being the nicest cycling day that we have every done. We stopped at waterfalls, swam in rivers and generally glided down hill for about 50km! Nice and varied route, but the early days were my favourites up in the mountains. This is our fourth Headwater holiday and we always enjoy them immensely. The guide (Miroslav) was fantastic, really detailed induction all of which was helpful, came and changed a bike for us very promptly, and tried to help us with flight issues too.
A super family break with relaxed canoeing and more challenging cycling. The pool at every hotel was very welcome, the bag transfer service slick and efficient and nothing was too much trouble for the reps. Chateau de Monrecour was a particular highlight, as was trying the via ferrata above the Dordogne!
Excellent holiday in the Swiss Alps. Scenery stunning and enough accessible walking for those of average fitness for at least 5 days - easily more. Notes were helpful and clear. Accommodation excellent - get a balcony room at the front of the Alfa Soleil Hotel for stunning views every morning - worth the extra. Food is very good/excellent and far beyond what you would expect from a 3 star hotel. The picnic system works well as you will be spending 4 - 7 hours a day walking. Easy to add more distance to the walks and well signposted hiking trails mean you are not restricted to the walks provided. Kandersteg is slightly less touristy than Murren and similar resorts, but the mountains in this valley are, perhaps, slightly less dramatic.
Given that Switzerland is notoriously expensive - this holiday represents very good value for money.
Wonderful French culture, cuisine and canoeing down the Dordogne river, enabled by an excellent riverside support team at Headwater. In a word, superb!
Avoid taking this holiday in August. We loved the holiday but it was too hot.
Great holiday , very relaxing , walks well written and organised , made our first trip to the Lake district memorable and we will be back.
Super location - was concerned that being in a single location might be limiting but there is a wide range of different walks on offer.
We travelled as a group of 6 friends . Unable to get first hotel as booked. Very well organised transport. Very surprised Porto Bay Serra Golf had no air con. Helpful staff but over stretched.
Ireland is stunningly beautiful. Cycle paths were quiet. Accommodation was fantastic with very friendly and helpful Irish hosts who made you feel most welcome.
Enjoyable easy flat cycling, very scenic. Lovely hotels in Germany and Austria with air conditioning which was needed as temperatures were in the high 20's / low 30's.
As this was our first cycling holiday we were apprehensive especially regarding the train transfers from Zurich airport to our destination but with the excellent information provided with train timetables and platform numbers from Headwater we were able to travel with confidence by train to our first destination of Bregenz at Lake Constance. We enjoyed a fabulous holiday and would highly recommend Headwater to make all travel arrangements.
Stunning weather helped make this a memorable walking holiday in the beautiful Swiss Alps. The food and staff at the Hotel Alfa Soleil were excellent.
Very well organised with comprehensive walking guides and maps, more walking options than days which was good, walking guides may benefit from a diagrammatic form of ascent and descent.
This was our eighth hike or bike with Headwater. We have enjoyed them all, but it was my first time to Ireland and I am absolutely in love! The hikes were incredible with outrageously beautiful views. The walks aren't particularly hard, but they are long and without stayput days to rest, it is tiring. If I were to do it again, I would opt for in a few extra stayput days here and there just so I could sleep in and spend more time exploring the villages. The local people were friendly and helpful - go sit at the bar in any pub and you will make instant friends. The little villages were fun to explore. The food was great and I really did not expect that! One thing to note... make sure your rain gear is working - get in the shower with it before you pack and make sure it is still waterproof! It rains a lot in Ireland and you are bound to get a shower now and then - even a cloud burst that lasts just a few minutes. We had two and they were actually a lot of fun! But the weather is wonderfully cool even when sunny and even the rain is just part of the experience. I would go again today if work didn't get in the way! It was wonderful. I think it is my favorite trip so far!
Lovely accommodation, great food and gentle cycling.
Lovely cycling holiday with changing landscapes from Lake Bled and the Mountains down to Grado by the sea. Opportunities to swim in lakes, rivers and the sea. Mainly well signposted dedicated cycle paths. Excellent Hotels and food. Definitely recommend this trip!
perfect cycling holiday for newcomers/occasional cyclists
Great walking in a lovely area. Accommodation excellent; allowing us to relax in comfort after a long day's walking. The Headwater team are excellent; everything (all booking arrangements, support from local guide) ran perfectly smoothly.
An all-around enjoyable experience. Rep, Karen, was really welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable which was a great start. The Wordsworth Hotel was comfortable and spacious,with great facilities, food and service - a great start to our holiday. The Queens Head Inn was a great choice of accommodation and the room was perfect - a fabulous place to end our holiday as the upgrade was great. However The Lakeland was a disappointment as the room was supposed to be an upgrade but fell very short. No space or facilities. It was incredibly impersonal with poor service. The staff were more interested in their shop customers. We are still waiting on the toast!
The walks were well graded, with excellently detailed guidance notes. There was room for subjectivity at times but back up maps sorted that.
Transfers and parking was straightforward too.
Booking staff were very helpful, pleasant and patient. I would recommend Headwater Holidays as everything went so smoothly, the walks were most enjoyable with beautiful, not too remote routes that were also not too inhabited.
Lake Constance cycling — super holiday excellent hotels and meals ... relatively easy cycling with option of electric bikes ... highly recommended
The arrangements, hotels and restaurants were all excellent, with some meals even better than expected, and everything went without a hitch so we had a terrific time.
Fantastic family holiday. A beautiful area with so much to do. Bicycles provided were excellent quality.
Fantastic .. beautiful area
Excellent holiday - in every respect - beautiful Alpine scenery, first class bicycles and first class accommodation and food. Jill and Colin were responsive to any slight problem and gave us loads of ideas for trips etc in case the weather changed. Enjoyed the visit at Bad Ischl to the Kaiservilla but particularly the Photo Museum that Jill had suggested. They really went the extra mile!
Epic walking holiday in Switzerland, a week of gentle hiking at our own pace with the most superb mountain and lakeside views
coupled with excellent accommodation, service and a la carte food at the Alfa Soleil Hotel in Kandersteg. It was was wonderful.
Wonderful holiday - one of our best. Great walks - varied and accurate. Organisation by Headwater was good. Would certainly consider going with them again.
The Dolomites are a spectacular walking destination and there are a range of different walks on offer. The notes for each are extremely detailed and all information os provided, even down to exactly which bus to take and where to get off. The descriptions en-route are very detailed and the local signage is great. The scenery is superb and the range of walks is excellent - I would definitely recommend this self-guided trip with Headwater to anyone wishing to walk in the Dolomites. Gondolas are an additional cost. Returning to the Parkhotel Bellevue every day is a treat. This family run hotel provides extremely attentive service, the food is quite simply delicious! And relaxing in the spa helps ease those tired muscles or sore feet. If you are thinking of the Dolomites then I would definitely recommend this trip and this hotel. Headwater were extremely helpful in planning our itinerary given we were travelling from different locations and adding on our own independent stay in Italy. It was no hassle to consider the different flight options available to us. All information communicated was detailed, relevant and reliable. Headwater are extremely competent and professional and put together great itineraries.
A wonderful holiday to see a picturesque side of the dordogne region
We enjoyed the holiday overall, but felt that it wasn't the most picturesque, having been on various other cycling holidays like the Carinthian Lakes. We did not enjoy the long day's cycle under and around motorways and through endless tunnels, some of which were pitch black and pot holey. Miroslav and his team were excellent and replied to my emails very quickly. We would really have appreciated getting our bikes and having the briefing on the first day, particularly as we arrived very early and could have cycled around the lake. We had our briefing at 0930 on the second day, which meant that we couldn't start cycling that day until 11am, and it was really hot. The other disappointment was that the Hotel Triglav did not have an outside seating area, apart from the small terrace for dinner. We absolutely loved Lake Bled and it was wonderful to have a day on the beach in Grado which was delightful.
We spent a really good week in the Lake District walking from village to village. Having our luggage transported from place to place was a real luxury. We were a bit unsure about how our children would cope with the walking. But this proved to be no problem at all, and they were ahead of us most of the time. The one day that we hadn't done our studying of maps and walking instructions properly, we managed to get lost. So, do your homework before leaving the house! We all really loved the last stop on our trip: The Queen's Head Inn, Hawkshead. Great team running the place and the food was amazing! Would travel with Headwater again if we have the chance to do so.
An fantastic way to see the region with a host that makes you feel like you're home
Relaxing, peaceful cycling in the Italian sunshine; great home-made food and wine at the agriturismo.
Great varied holiday with beautiful scenery in the mountains and easy cycling in the main. Nice hotels, friendly welcoming staff. Cable car trip at Camporosso was fantastic on our day at Tarvisio. Route easy to follow using FVG1 signs with occasional reference to the written notes. Bike panniers were very good and bikes comfortable. Havng to change flghts in Germany made for a long journey at each end. Everywhere we went was very cycle friendly and lots of people out cycling on the route. All in all a lovely holiday.
The area was fantastic for walking and cycling with the added bonus of being able to swim in the lake. All the activity off set the 5 course evening meals which were beautifully presented, the perfect size and always delicious.
An excellent base for a single-centre holiday. The meals at the picture perfect hotel were a highlight (vegetarian? - not a problem), but it’s location set amongst meadows just a short stroll from Strobl and the lake shore was excellent. Our hosts, Jill & Colin, couldn’t do enough for us, including additional suggestions of routes and day trips to consider. There’s so much to do in this area that the bikes are almost superfluous - walking, swimming, canoeing, wake boarding, parasailing, paddle steamers, cable cars, funiculars, buses and trains. The only thing in short supply is the time to do it all!
This is an excellent holiday in that you are located in a quiet valley with mountains all around and easy access to them via public transport and cable cars. There is a good range of walks of different grade ( not all of which are advertised by Headwater). the tourist information locally is excellent, the people are friendly and the Alfa Soleil hotel is a good base (with excellent food!). However, Switzerland is expensive! But the all-inclusive nature of the Headwater package overcomes this - it's good value!
Very enjoyable walking holiday. The only issue we had was the walk to Blausée which was not a good walk and a very long uphill Walk on the way back. We caught the bus but did no have the right bus pass with us. It would be worth putting in the notes that the
Card used for the lift pass is also valid for the buses.
Lovely scenery and easy cycling (even for less experienced cyclists).
A very good holiday package around a great lake for cycling.
The holiday overall was very good, with some excellent and some distinctly average hotels. The holiday overall is about the activities and the surroundings that you are in and in this respect the holiday was excellent. The reps were excellent and no complaints there at all. The quality of the equipment was excellent and the introduction to the use of was also excellent. Two things to note, the walk from the river to the hotel in Souillac does take the a while and although flat, carrying all the equipment and if you have young ones is a task in hot temperatures. Secondly the position of the hotel in Sarlat is stunning for the views but is overall poor and is situated as stated out of town. After a hard day walking or cycling, to walk into town and and back (back is uphill and 2.8 k ) is not easy in heat, and the hotel said that it was almost impossible to get taxis to do the short distance (for them) to and from the hotel. These two things aside the holiday is a good one and we would reccomend to others and Headwater are a good company, we have had two holidays with them now and would use again. To clarify the earlier statement about some of the hotels being average, we have had several of this type of holiday with other companies as well as Headwater and they all seem to throw in one hotel that is a bit of a let down, we are now used to this and it becomes a bit of a game to guess which it will be. As with this type of holiday you are only in one place for a couple of nights before moving on you can put up with a poorish hotel as you are not spending that much time there, but if you like top notch all the time then research the hotels closely.
I thought the hotel was excellent and Dobbiaco was a good base for exploring the north eastern Dolomites. The walks were interesting and well-described. The best walks required public transport which I found to be convenient and reliable though sometimes crowded.
Excellent holiday in beautiful countryside. Even though we walk regularly the walks were on the tough side for two people over 75,! The plus sign after the 1 was obviously very significant! There was however scope for visiting nearby cities or exploring the countryside by bus instead of doing all the walks. We appreciated a short alternative walk for the last day. This holiday was recommended to us by a couple we met on a previous holiday. It took us 3 years before we booked it but were very glad that we eventually did.
Headwater have always provided very, very detailed walking guides and we can always rely on those notes - never a tree, a gate, or a stone out of place!
On our arrival we were upgraded to a lovely room, (the Manhattan), it had great views, with a balcony overlooking the mountains. The room was very spacious and had a nice sitting area. The hotel was quite spacious with plenty of inside and outside sitting areas and a bar. The staff were always helpful and friendly and I felt they wanted to make our stay enjoyable. Daniel is particularly helpful with any problem.
There was a good choice of food from the menu in the evening,both meat, fish and vegetarian options and many chocolate deserts. Our picnic lunches were exceptional, with fruit, nuts, salads and enormous baguettes of many varied fillings. I would highly recommend these if you are walking all day. The walks are very good. We wrote in their book where the instructions could be improved/updated.
Very good but we took time to adjust to the mobile phone app instructions and the volume on the app was too low even with the phone on highest volume. We would prefer bike computers and detailed maps as this is what we are used to.
Excellent holiday. Colin and Jill were great, very knowledgeable and helpful.
A fabulous week. Loads to do but very chilled and unspoilt region of the World
We would very much recommend Classic Swiss Alps Walks to anyone who enjoys walking in superb mountain scenery. The hotel accommodation and food were excellent to complete a terrific holiday.
Was a first-timer both to Headwater and Madeira. Thought walking would be the best way to get to know the island. There wasn`t a small group holiday so decided to go for self-guided holiday. Apart from the issue of the single-supplement there were no problems. Everything went smoothly throughout the holiday and I was in a position to contact Eduardo the local rep at any time if I needed too. Hotels were excellent in terms of location and food, and service. Especially enjoyed Madeiran specialities such as scabbard fish with bananas! Route notes and maps made the walks simple to negotiate. Good variety in the walks, though three levada walks was enough and glad I took the St Lawrence Peninsula walk as my optional walk as this covered very different terrain. Although I travelled on my own met up with other Headwater walkers on both the walks and in the hotels and enjoyed their company. Of course, the excellent weather helped immensely and walking in the clouds on one of the levada trails was a welcome break from the sun. Last 24 hours in Funchal was great way to end the holiday with sightseeing in the old town, and cable cars to the Tropical Gardens and Botanical Garden. Can recommend the holiday both to single travellers and others. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back for more with Headwater.
Its great to have everything done for you, and someone on hand to deal with problems or issues that arise. Cycling planned routes enables you to see far more of the country and its interiors. if you like the idea of activity during the day and chilling during the evenings and nights then this is the type of holiday for you.
All agency staff were terrific giving good tips for eating out and places to visit. The trips were well organised and the bikes were fine. Everything promised was delivered. It was nice to meet other people on the same trip and a good balance between your privacy and some interaction.
beautiful area for cycling and easy to manage distances
Our first trip to Provence. Lovely walking, hotels and food. It was hot!
My friend and I booked our Literary Walking in the Lake District Holiday as a celebration of our 50th birthdays. From the moment I began inquiring via email to the moment we left on the train out of Windermere, we felt valued and respected. Our booking experience was great - Joanne answered all my questions clearly and patiently. Transfers from the train station went smoothly and our taxi drivers were great. Every accommodation was clean, comfortable and unique and all the food was wonderful. Our printed directions were amazingly detailed and accurate - we had no issues finding our way around and the maps were very helpful too. Karen Wigglesworth was very friendly and genuine. She gave us plenty of information and suggestions to make our holiday the best it could be. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would do it again in a heartbeat! If only we could book every year! We were also extraordinarily lucky with the weather - a heat wave the Lake District hadn't experienced in years! Beautiful scenery, uncrowded trails, varied terrain - it was all wonderful! Thank you for helping make our birthday celebration unforgettable!
We have traveled widely in Europe and further afield with the experiences of this holiday rating as good if not better than any others. Well done Headwater.
Our visit visit to the Dolomites, it won't be our last. Lovely area and first class support all round.
Very varied and beautiful scenery, excellent and varied hotels. Really enjoyable holiday.
Route notes generally very clear, just got a bit lost a couple of times.
An excellent opportunity to see areas in depth on walks with very good arrangements and comfortable accommodation.
Marvellous area . Notes for cycling extremely poor . The hotel at Roussillon CLOSED at 8.00pm .and had no gin and no beer . It was like a travel road house !
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback on the cycling notes which have now been revised. The Hotel in Roussilon is only a short walk from the village centre where there are bars and restaurants to enjoy and as the hotel is small they tend to stay open when the demand is there.
We were very satisfied with the care and attention Headwater provided at every point of contact from booking through to during our holiday. As far as the trip experience we were somewhat disappointed with the route as many stretches were just an easy pleasant pedal but with not much to see or do along the way. It wasn’t until after Melk that the route charmed us all in all though headwater is great at creating just the right mix for an active holiday
June is probably too late for the recommended walks. Due to heavy use of the beaches it was not possible to take the car to the starting points of the coastal walks which meant we had to change the route. The latter was fairly straightforward as the cami way signs are excellent. Driving in Menorca is easy however the side roads are very narrow with high stone walls up to the verge. We had a polo which was very good but I thought a Fiat 500 would have been easier. The Hotel is very good and the staff very friendly and helpful. We were disappointed in the dinners which were a set menu. Two meals consisted steak and pork both of which were extremely tough and not enjoyable. The breakfasts were excellent and the wines very good and well priced. We would be pleased to return to Menorca.
This is a brilliant holiday to suit everyone with lots to do and the flexibility to do it as and when - walking, cycling, ferry boat trips, cable cars, lazing in the garden by the river etc, all surrounded by beautiful scenery. The infrastructure for getting around makes cycling a real pleasure. And at the end of the day there's the welcome spa and delicious food waiting. Colin and Jill are excellent reps and help to make the most of the area by their knowledge and love of this part of Austria.
Excellent holiday
An excellent holiday with all the arrangements working like clockwork. The notes for walks were very well prepared. We had a most enjoyable time.
A picturesque part of France, with vineyards and Lavender fields, Ochre coloured soil, and Rose wines to complement flavourful food. Heaven.
A lovely trip. Easy cycling, attractive scenery, good bikes and excellent accommodation. All this plus good weather and wonderful companionship made this my best-ever Headwater experience.
James was the best Headwater representative that we have ever encountered. His knowledge & summary of the area was excellent. The bikes, bag collection & transfer excellent. He could run the company! Thank you for one of the best holidays ever. We will be back for another Headwater holiday.
We enjoyed our holiday, the hotels, Locations were great and the food too. The canoeing was good but I feel it was a bit too isolated on the river for us.
A very enjoyable cycling holiday. The route was well researched using very quiet roads whenever possible, passing through lovely and varied countryside with stops in all the interesting hilltop villages. The hotels were all very comfortable and meals where provided were excellent. Our guide Mark was knowledgeable and couldn't have been more helpful.
Excellent holiday
A great introduction to Portugal away from the Southern tourist areas.The cycling was just far enough to deserve the evening meal but not exhausting .Hotels varied and swimming pools excellant.
lovely trip cycling mainly on flat coastal cycle paths visiting interesting places on the way Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra, a real relatively undiscovered part of Portugal overall a great holiday would highly recomend
The countryside and views were like out of a fairytale. Sheep grazing on the hills, beautiful cottages along the way and fragrant woods to walk through. This holiday is for anyone who needs to slow down and forget modern life. The quality of the food and beer offered at various pubs along the way made it even better!
Outstanding holiday in a part of Italy we've only driven through in the past on the way further south. The walking was not too strenuous, though the temperature and inevitable hill at the end of every day's walking added to the challenge. The hotels and restaurants were all excellent, and local wines helped remove the pains of the days walking. Very friendly staff in all the hotels and restaurants visited.
The reps - Luke and Eleanor - were excellent; very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, adjusting their schedule to fit in with our changing requirements. I came home totally refreshed, half a stone heavier and already looking forward to returning.
This holiday is described as 'gastronomic' and it certainly delivers. The fine food and top quality wine mean that every meal is a delight, although visitors will need to recognise that Barolo and Barbaresco wines have a hefty price tag.
The holiday exceeded expectations. The walking and cycle instructions were generally spot on. The GPS for the bike was wonderful and easy to use and follow. The bikes were new or nearly new and in exceptional condition. The proposed day activities which we followed were excellent. The scenery was gorgeous. Four of the six days were quite exerting so a reasonable fitness was required. It was a level one holiday but that didn’t mean flat and level! The hotel Garbí was excellent although having such great views did mean it was a very steep walk to the hotel. The rep, Greg was extremely helpful too and we felt we could rely on him should an emergency or accident arise (it didn’t!) All in all well worth the money and as a result we’re looking at booking another holiday with Headwater. Well done.
Expert arrangements that leave enough flexibility for individual nuance.
Well planned holiday. Cultural notes and cycling instructions excellent. Picture book countryside, very high standard food offerings everywhere. Our rep James was lovely and helpful.
Memorable holiday. Will definitely travel with Headwater again if still able to . Had a splendid holiday with HW also about 15 years ago cycling through Umbria.
Beautiful countryside, dramatic coast line, wonderful walking often with historical interest. Brilliant located hotel and tremendous service. First visit to Menorca, fallen in love with this friendly beautiful island.
Wonderful experience.We are both now in our 70s and wondered whether this was still for us.The Danube route is easy to follow and passes through ever changing scenery.The hotels were a great in themselves and we had some very good food..breakfast was always exceptional.The transfer of our luggage was exceptionally well handled
Thoroughly enjoyed cycling in Croatia - a great way to experience this lovely part of the country. The hotels were all gems and the itinerary allowed us to see and do everything we wanted to. Headwater always gets it just right! The cycle routes aren't as well-established as some we have followed in France and Italy but it appeared that they are being improved, for instance a new stretch of coastal path designed for both pedestrians and cyclists had just been completed.
Great holiday.
Our holiday run smoothly, hotels were good and the cycling was very enjoyable.
Slightly tarnished by the poor weather (which obviously you have absolutely no control over!) but felt we couldn't fully appreciate the scenery/picnic opportunities etc
The most relaxing active holidays you can have.
This is our third holiday with Headwater and we very much enjoyed our experience. The Barolo Gastronomic cycling trip in Piedmont was excellent with amazing countryside.
A beautiful trip through the Julian Alps visiting places I had never really heard of. Stunning and varied scenery from the mountains to the coast on largely safe cycle ways. fabulous hotels and food.
We have been on 9 Headwater holidays and enjoyed them all but this one was the best. We really enjoyed the scenery in the Julian Alps. As we headed south we cycled through interesting countryside and visited places we would never otherwise have seen. The hotels were all very good, with friendly and helpful staff. The holiday definitely lived up to its “billing“ in your brochure.
Another enjoyable holiday and we are keen to do more.
We have done two walking holidays with Headwater and both have been excellent. The walking instructions and directions are clear and they often add useful additional information about the walk you are on.
A well organised break with great walks and excellent accommodation. 5* food at a lovely 3* hotel.
We really enjoyed our walking in Sicily. The notes were clear and good with adequate warnings about some trickier paths to negotiate.
We especially liked our stay on Marettimo as well as the walking there. Filippo was a friendly informative rep from the agency in Palermo and we had excellent help, support and advice from Nicola the local driver who arrived punctually and drove us carefully for all our journeys. One of the best Headwater holidays we have had.
The holiday exceeded all our expectations! Headwater had organised everything perfectly and there were no problems at all. The hotels were all extremely comfortable, most had large grounds for you to spend time in. The swimming pools were a welcome treat after a day of walking. Breakfasts were all delicious, with a large variety of food to choose from. The instructions for the walks were well explained and my daughter and I had no problems following them. We walked through magnificent scenery, and visited beautiful old towns. I would highly recommend this walk and Headwater. I will definitely be travelling with Headwater again in the future.
Wonderfully organised and relaxing holiday, apart from the challenge of walking every day, which is what we paid for!! Thank you!
Our first time to Puglia and we loved the rural relatively undeveloped charm of this part of Italy! Acres of cherry, fig and olive orchards, a pretty coastline and towns with narrow streets and ancient buildings that have been there for centuries.
Fantastic Holiday with 'Wow!' locations and good accomodation.
A good description of a one wheel cycle holiday for those not normally cycling. Lovely hotels. There could have been more 'human' contact from a rep. We received one phone call asking if we were ok but saw no-one from the Introduction until pick up time at the end. Had a good time though.
Beautiful lake with some great cycles - different scenery every day. Perfect iced coffees and strawberries for sale on the way.
We enjoyed our holiday in the Euganean hills. Even at the end of May/first few days of June, the temperatures were pushing 30 degrees most days, which made the walks a little more demanding than we had expected, but as occasional walkers there was nothing that pushed us too much, however we used walking poles and would not have wanted to be without them. The scenery was magnificent and the views were always worth the effort of any climb.
Accommodation and food was of a good standard, particularly Hotel Villa del Poeta, where Carla and the restaurant staff provided outstanding service to match the excellent food. The only downside to Villa del Poeta is that the restaurant is closed on a Monday and if James hadn’t been kind enough to ferry us to and from the (very good) local restaurant that provided dinner that night, I don’t believe we would have enjoyed the walk back in the dark, as the hotel is a little way outside of town.
A mention should also go to Villa Lussana for excellent comfort, food and hospitality. As others have mentioned it is a pity about the motorbike noise from the cafe opposite, although we were there on a public holiday weekend, so perhaps our experience was not typical.
Route notes were generally very good but it was a pity that the route shown on the map provided was not totally accurate, causing a little doubt and confusion during one of our walks.
An adventure and yes, it certainly provided "contrasts" of Puglia. We found Italian people (including drivers) friendly and very accommodating, they made us feel very welcome, especially the farmer who brought us 2 ice cold bottles of water and offered us a shaded bench in his garden to eat our lunch!
A delightful holiday in the Veneto. L’Albara provides comfortable, relaxing and welcoming farmhouse accommodation and the food is excellent. The region offers plenty of opportunities for interesting visits and the cycling is predominantly flat and on very quiet roads or cycle tracks. We cycled to Este and Padova, which although long rides were worth the effort. If you go to Padova a visit to the Scrovegni Chapel is highly recommended - book in advance on line to be sure of getting in. The Palazzo Bo is also fascinating. James our holiday rep was very helpful, especially in helping with the App for the rides. We made our own way to Mestre railway station having spent a few days in Venice and the travel arrangements arranged by Headwater all worked perfectly. A lovely holiday.
A well balanced holiday. A good insight into Slovenia, and the part of Italy South of it. Worth researching the areas that you will travel through as they have survived some amazing changes. The cycling at the start of the holiday was more interesting than the last few days but there were still some wonderful sites to see. We had a great holiday!
This was a great introduction to walking in Switzerland.
Stephano was a wonderful host, couldn't be more welcoming or helpful and we had a wonderful Tuscany experience. Had time to soak up the wild flowers , butterflies and wonderful aroma of the countryside.
The two weekest points were 1) - The arrangements with B.A. Both the Outgoing and Return journeys failed to allocate adjacent seats and the initial lack of a Boarding or Check-In document for the Return journey did cause us some concern. and 2) Details for the suggested walks for 5 days were quite difficult to follow.
Great easy cycling for the most part amongst beautiful countryside with interesting places to visit all along the way.
This was a very relaxed holiday, all the hotels were in the countryside where the views were lovely, the air clean and the environment quiet and peaceful.
Good organisation, bikes excellent, hotels well chosen, guidance and maps very clear. Steady and easy cycling between 25 and 35 miles each day. We didn't use the train but carried on cycling right into Vienna - magic. We really enjoyed our non-cycling days too, all in well-chosen places. A great holiday.
Didn't really like Madeira - we knew it was an elderly destination but not quite so starkly. This should be advised. Funchal has little to commend it. Conclusions partly influenced by poor weather and a fall on a levada which laid me up for most of the week but have tried to take that into consideration.
Always interesting, off the beaten track and a chance to meet the local population and enjoy the quiet and peace of the countryside.
A great holiday; a wonderful way to see unspoilt parts of this popular island holiday destination. Would love to return and explore more on foot.
This was a most enjoyable holiday. Piedmont is a beautiful area and was especially lovely in May when we visited - all very green and fresh.
We had a fabulous week's walking through vineyards, orchards and hazelnut groves. The scenery is beautiful, the people friendly and welcoming and the food and wine superb. The walking itself was very enjoyable and not too difficult, and there were plenty of places along the way to stop and rest if we wanted to. The walking notes were excellent and our reps, Luke & Eleanor, were brilliant and helpful.
We had a wonderful time , bar the lack of working air-conditioning in 1 hotel. We met friendly helpful people on our trip, and enjoyed the wonderful and rugged scenery.
A really enjoyable holiday on a beautiful island and staying at a lovely hotel
Headwater has never disappointed. We have travelled with Headwater at least 6 times. The hotels are always full of character and the food good. We had a problem with a persistent puncture and Mark came twice to fix. I left a necklace in one of the room safes. All the hotels replied promptly. It was found at Chateau Mazan who sent it back very effeciently and quickly
Very good but you are not cheap.
Although graded as "easy", there was a particularly "challenging" prolonged uphill stretch to reach Teolo, where I had to get off and push but Teolo was so worth it. The Villa Lussana provided the best accommodation and vegetarian food on the trip. It was good to have a variety of individual styles of accommodation.
We are not into Apps and downloads, so our Rep provided us with excellent detailed written route instructions, having just recently cycled the route himself. We enjoyed meeting up with other cyclists for the 2 nights spent at Villaganzerla and with 2 walkers at Galzignano. I am not a competent cyclist and it had been some time since I was on a bike, so there was a certain sense of achievement at having completed the route unscathed!
Madeira is a fantasy island, with outstanding scenery and interesting walking. Some of the walking is challenging: almost the only flat routes are the levadas, and the hills are steep. The levadas themselves have spectacular views, and whilst level are sometimes testing as they can be narrow and uneven, but ultimately extremely rewarding. In May the weather is mild but some rain can be expected, so a waterproof jacket is essential. The Headwater hotels are all excellent, and people in general are friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommended.
From the start to the end this was a very relaxing holiday, every day somewhere new to visit, great hotels and swimming pools, and lovely food.
Excellent - well organised - good hotels
Very enjoyable holiday
an excellent location for an easy cycling holiday with many options to vary the length of the cycling day due to the number of stations close to the route.
We found the Trulli house rather dark, cold and uncomfortable but an experience. i would suggest that the tour only offers one night there. Eating well at night proved difficult, everywhere was booked the first night and the we did not know that Tuesday evenings is the night restaurants close there, so that night we has almost no choice along with most of the other tourists there.
Excellent walking in unusual destination . Brilliant accommodation
Wonderful tranquil location and excellent helpful staff at the hotel. Walking notes provided are very out of date however and we would recommend using the hotel walking notes instead which are very detailed.
Beautiful hilly countryside and plenty of variety of terrain on the walks. The best Prosecco ever! We recommend an extended stay in Venice.
Walking routes were about right distance. Temperatures were ideal for walking. On a few routes the paths were very rocky so a bit hard for a while.but generally quite comfortable. On balance 10 days with 3 stays in Sagres was probably a bit long in one place. I would recommend 8 days as length for this holiday.
We loved cycling this part of Portugal. At this time of year wild flowers were everywhere, enhancing our coastal and country rides The 2 headwater reps were really helpful and considerate in ensuring that we 2 technophobe senior citizens were able to fully enjoy the benefits of the Ride with GPS system. ( We had been provided with paper route guidance as back up but thanks to the reps this was not really needed) The rides were slightly challenging for us but we loved the coastal views and villages as well as the countryside - staying in the reclaimed village at Pedralva was a great experience, including the local bread stew We have enjoyed several Headwater cycling holidays in the past and we feel the standard has just continued to improve.
Headwater came through as a very ambitious counterparty. The planning and execution of our tour was professional, excellent route notes and good accommodation.
Enjoyable walking with impeccable backup. The icing on the cake for us was exploring fascinating villages on the non-walking days.
Contrast of Puglia - just as it says - contrast in accommodation, cycling inland and to the coast, food different in each area - perfect mixed holiday
We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Menorca. The walks weren't at all challenging but can be sometimes rocky underfoot. The wild flowers in May were exceptional, the coastal views were stunning and the weather was ideal for walking. We completed all the walks except the Mahon city walk and enjoyed all but the Punta Prima walk had long stretches between two high walls. We extended our stay to 10 nights which allowed us to do an extra walk of our own in the natural park of Es Grau. This we would definitely recommend as it is so unspoilt. Park at Es Grau and call for a taxi to Favaritx and walk south back along the coast to Es Grau. This was one of our two favourites, the other being the north coastal walk. The hotel was charming, the staff helpful, the food was excellent quality but the choice was limited to two per course as there was no a la carte in May. The last few miles of driving to the hotel is reminiscent of those narrow Cornish lanes with high rugged stone walls and blind bends.
Really enjoyable way to experience local cultures and get ‘off the beaten track ‘ good local representative support .
Very easy enjoyable cycling with no pressures. Lovely ocean views.
Excellent holiday. Very helpful and friendly Headwater staff. Be honest with yourself with regards your fitness for long uphill rides
We had a lovely time, there were 8 of us that booked together and we loved the walk! The scenery was gorgeous with the most beautiful wild flowers everywhere.
We had a good holiday somewhat marred by poor direction notes, that were unclear and didn’t contain enough distance references. Also the choice of accommodation and scheduled rest days wasn’t given much thought and could have been much better.
My wife and I really enjoyed our first Headwater walking holiday. Italy always delivers wherever we go and being steered towards some seriously good dining experiences was excellent. We had a couple of inclement weather days but not really a problem other than the odd bit of mud. The only slight negative was our meal at Villa d’Amelia on the first night was excellent but eight days later we were a little disappointed the menu was repeated and perhaps not quite as well executed. It was still very good though.
Our reps, Luke and Eleanor, went out of their way to ensure we were enjoying ourselves and seemed to enjoy sharing everyone’s feedback. We met several personalities on the way and as such, have made some very good memories. Thank you Headwater and particularly Luke and Nell :)
Headwater were extremely professional. Everything ran smoothly with pick ups, accommodation and trip notes. The trip notes on the Day 3 (Amalfi Coast Walk) which was substituted for the Walk of the Gods (officially closed) were a little confusing and unclear but that is the only complaint we have. The drivers were fantastic always on time and very helpful and friendly with nice clean vehicles.
Headwater is a very professional company to deal with and our holiday more than met our expectations,we enjoyed every minute of our trip to the Amalfi Coast and we look forward to our next Headeater adventure !!
Great food, beautiful scenery, cycling level wrong it is tough, some routes not good. not enough choice, but overall enjoyable holiday.
Well organised, reps were lovely and very helpful.
A good concept for a cycling holiday and overall, a lovely and enjoyable time. Fabulous scenery and well selected routes to follow.
Very well planned and organised by knowledgable and helpful staff. Route notes generally accurate and helpful, although the wording can at times be confusing and imprecise as can some of the distances between way marks. The degree of difficulty on some days is under estimated and had we not been as fit as we are,we may have struggled with some of the climbs.. The local reps were superb, always charming, helpful, patient and totally reliable. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them. All of the hotels were excellent and two in particular were superb, both in terms of the cuisine and the rooms that we were accommodated in. However, in two hotels the menu did not change from day to day, and therefore, as non meat eaters we were limited to having the same meals on consecutive evenings; particularly as there were no vegetarian options and only one type of fish (which my wife does not like) available. The walk routes were glorious, beautiful scenery, varied terrain, and wonderful spring flowers (particularly many and varied orchids).
Great walking in a beautiful part of Portugal. Stunning beaches and a landscape carpeted in an array of colourful wild flowers. The most enjoyable walking holiday we've been on! The route notes were excellent. Tony and Ludmilla were perfect reps, happy to accomodate any changes we wanted, were very attentive and a great source of local information, couldn't have been more helpful.
This was our third self guided cycling holiday with Headwater and the easiest to navigate using GPS. The bikes have 24 gears and are very well maintained with good support if required from local agents. The hotels are all fabulous with amazing food, we lost count of the number of Portuguese custard tarts we ate! The itinerary was well designed with a great start in Porto (Port tasting arranged) and a break mid week if desired in very scenic Aveiro. The cycle paths are amazing, very well maintained and mostly far away from roads and the route around the numerous lagoons and pine forests were uplifting. We would definitely recommend this trip, the cycling is easy giving time to admire the surrounding scenery with the Atlantic Ocean waves in the background.
Cycle route is definitely more than 1 bike
An experience to treasure. Learned about the people and the area; enjoyed seeing how the farm was organised and how the 'slow food'/organic methods benefit the community.
Fantastic local produce including the wines. Walking routes were challenging but offered a real sense of achievement. Such a beautiful, sensuous region. Did not want to leave!
The walk from Leon to Santiago started as a series of walks but developed into a pilgrimage of sorts as we and the walkers around us (who we'd bump into regularly) were immersed in the journey that so many hundreds of thousands of people have made for centuries. It was a wonderful feeling when we arrived in Santiago di Compostela
A good walking experience in a scenic environment.
This holiday far exceeded my expectations. The hotels and restaurants were all first class, the scenery spectacular and the walks enjoyable but not too demanding. The Villa Beccaris is possibly the best hotel we've ever stayed in.
A fabulous region to walk and appreciate the countryside, weather, people and location of fairytale castles, sumptuous hotels and Michelin food. Service and attention to detail couldn't be faulted in each hotel and restaurant and knowing the lovely Headwater couple who,looked after us were always on hand if we needed any help.
We had a very enjoyable walking holiday in Northern Italy which was absolutely stunning. The walks were varied and interesting and notes clear.
The hotels in Fazana and Rovinj were lovely, as were the staff, and the hotel in Pores was good. All were very well placed within the towns. We were disappointed with the bikes that were presented to us. Luckily we had taken our own saddles and pedals otherwise the bikes would have been more uncomfortable. I found the gravel tracks to be very difficult to ride on and this spoilt it for me. My husband was not so bothered. The country lanes were lovely to cycle along. We were both surprised that we were advised by Bruna to have a transfer along a section of the road that she considered too dangerous for us to ride on. The road was too narrow and the gradient was too steep. This was not reflected in the travel guidance which led us to believe that this a gentle 2K uphill ride. Basically, this is not a ride for occasional cyclists. We cannot praise Bruna enough, she was fantastic and really looked after us.
The holiday was excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it. Well organised, fantastic accomodation. Will definately book again through Headwater
For the money, the holiday could have been longer. 3 hotels of which only 2 provided evening meals. In previous years we have had 4 hotels and an additional days walking. Route notes very good and local information.
A very enjoyable holiday walking through beautiful unspoiled countryside with abundant wild flowers and endless lemon groves and olives. The walk descriptions were very detailed, the hotels of a good standard and the transfers punctual with good quality transport. The customer service provided by Headwater was excellent.
Excellent package, walking one day, then day free. Good walks with excellent instructions. Delightful part of Europe to walk in.
Hotel Costa D'Oiri, Lagos was disappinting. Your information said "spacious rooms", ours was the least spacious of any of the hotels. Also "outdoor and covered pools allow swimming throughout the year. The covered pool had its cover pushed back, so it was too cold to use. Choice of food very limited.
This is an interesting journey with some urban routes in Porto and fairly flat and varied tracks along the coast. The pace is relaxed with well spaced optional rest days. The local reps. were very efficient and helpful if you have any problems. We would strongly recommend adding an extra night at Coimbra, which is a most interesting city, and a visit to the old University there. The Sat Nav was very useful.
Our party of 10 really enjoyed the Puglia cycling trip. The route is well chosen and delivered comprehensively by the GPS app. Logistics re luggage and bike support were excellent. Accommodation choices were spot on. We felt privileged to stay at these impressive locations and found a very warm welcome at each.
5 star holiday experience . Excellent hotel , location and walking experience.
Friendly, welcoming hosts in a beautiful location. Wonderful walking with Gordon and Sue.
A thoroughly enjoyable, relaxing time in beautiful surroundings. Congratulations to Sue and Gordon, and their team, they are wonderful hosts.
Amazing Spanish venue giving a true insight and feeling to old Spain (well away from fish and chips!). The Finca has been beautifully renovated to offer individually laidout room with plenty of quirky outdoor spaces (including a tree house with bar). The hosts are very welcoming with great enthusiasm and knowledge. The walks were well thought out with plenty to see.
Finca el Cerrillo is exceptional. The care and tought that have gone into the walking programmes is impressive.
Information provided by Headwater both on the phone and in written documents was thorough and informative. The choice of hotel was excellent - quiet rural situation with friendly staff whose customer service was of a very high standard. Walking notes were reliable and detailed. Road directions were accurate. This was our first Headwater holiday and we were impressed with how little we had to rely on our own research to accomplish the visits we made. Plus, we were bowled over by Menorca in early May - beautiful meadows of wild flowers, birdsong, relaxing and quiet beaches/walks. A heady mix.
We enjoyed the walks and beautiful scenery of this holiday, especially our stay on Marrettimo was a very happy one.
Stephano was an enthusiastic host and made us feel very welcome. He was very keen to please as were the other members of his family who are involved in the farm enterprise. He shared his passion for the region and for local living, telling us all about olive oil, bee keeping and wine making amongst other things and we learned a lot! The walking was excellent and the food was very plentiful and delicious....in fact we had to ask for small portions as we couldn’t keep up with the four courses!
A great holiday!
Fabulous cycling amongst Spring meadows. Fabulous flowers, rugged coastline and interesting villages.
We had a lovely holiday in Madeira. The walking was very enjoyable, if a little hilly at times, but worth it for the fantastic scenery and views. All the hotels were excellent with good food. We really enjoyed our rest day in Funchal at the end of the holiday, especially the toboggan ride down from Monte!
As other reviewers have stated, the levadas are interesting walks but often you cannot see the views due to high vegetation or needing to keep a close eye on your footing due to being on the edge of a steep drop - so after a while some parts felt somewhat tedious. There were quite a lot of long steep ascents & descents.
We only stayed in two hotels. Hotel Porto Bay Serra Golf was really lovely - the room, the food & service were excellent. The final hotel, Quinta da Bela Vista, is set in a good location overlooking Funchal. It has a lovely pool & bar area that is nice to sit in the evening. This hotel is on a half board status - the evening meal is a 5 course set menu with no choice offered at all. We found the food very average. Whilst we were there, people who used the hotel restaurant in the evening were of a very much older age group (we are not young - in our late 50s) & the ambiance was really very quiet & subdued. We decided that on our second & final evening we would not eat in the restaurant & preferred to go somewhere with a bit more atmosphere. Breakfast was not subdued, more of a mixed age group with people chatting etc.
Unfortunately we did experienced some frustrations with the local agent Headwater use. Briefly, these were some of the issues: being dropped off in the wrong location for the start of a walk & not knowing were we were & needing to walk an extra 2k to reach the start; a driver trying to take us to a levada that was closed even though we were advised by the local rep at the start of the holiday that it was closed - we advised the driver it was closed but he told us it was not, however, it was closed; agreeing a time of pick up with the local rep but the driver not being advised of this so arrived 30 minutes late.
Our holiday processing along the French Way of the Camino de Santiago at the beginning of May was a joy. We were not quite knowing what to expect, as some people had said that the Camino and Santiago itself were pretty busy and commercialized. How wrong they were! We loved the enchanting unspoilt villages and tracks we passed along and the places which we stayed at were a delight. Full marks to Headwater for winkling out those excellent choices. As indicated on the questionnaire, all were good but some were outstanding. Our hosts were generally highly helpful and, even if they didn't speak English, made every effort to please us through our pathetic Spanish. (Charming Fernando at Rectoral de Lestedo even presented us with a voice-recognition translating app on his mobile - conversations became quite fulsome!). The Pazo Santa Maria was the jewel in the crown - I could have stayed for days! A brill holiday - which I've been exalting since our return, thank you. Catherine Parkinson
A great well organised walking holiday, challenging but not too tiring.
Great holiday - excellent cycling on cycle tracks along the coast and inland around lagoons teeming with birdlife. The hotels were all of a very high standard and a great choice of local restaurants when we weren't eating in the hotel. A full briefing by the agency rep before we set off and maps, directions and Garmin all provided, including suggestions for coffee stops and lunches. the best cycling holiday we've ever been on.
Everything about the holiday was good, the hotel, the company, the food and the guides had an excellent knowledge of the environment. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable week.
Friendly, helpful, engaging and committed to ensuring a successful holiday experience.
When a walk had to be changed because of a landslide, both the local agent and people back at Headwater took trouble to get in touch and suggest a new route: very thoughtful.
This is exactly the kind of holiday that we enjoy, with a high degree of freedom to do your own thing and a variety of levels of walking. All of the stress of travel is taken away by extremely good and courteous drivers and advice. The accommodations are always interesting and the evening meals when provided as part of the holiday were delicious.
Beautiful countryside, outstanding walking, very kind and hospitable people. Staying in such a variety of places enhanced our enjoyment. Tony & Ludmilla were excellent reps, always there when we needed them but never intrusive. Tony’s walking notes were superb and the additional optional walks for the free days really added to the enjoyment of our holiday. We totally fell in love with Portugal and would do this same trip again as we enjoyed this holiday so much.
Lovely hotel in great location for cycling. Tracks were quiet and we rarely had to use roads. Hotel staff were very friendly and breakfasts were a good varied selection of stuff. Greg was very helpful, punctual and good humored. The bikes were set up well and the panniers complete with tools were brilliant. The saddles were suited to soft cyclists too rather than racing style saddles that cripple you after a few hours. We managed 2 days cycling 30km rides and were surprised to find we could still walk normally afterwards. The GPS ride app worked pretty well, but we noticed 3 or 4 directions were slightly out of date or took us down one way streets the wrong way. Overall we had a great cycling holiday and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys cycling along country lanes in the sunshine.
A complete break, involving some challenges but much relaxation. A new part of Europe to us, we were welcomed.
This holiday provided a wonderful experience of Sicily off the main tourist trail. We found April was a fantastic time as it was early in the tourist season, not too hot and the spring flowers were out. If you want to swim along the way you might want to go in May.
Quiet location, offering a variety of challenging walks. Abundance of wild flowers and birds (in April). Excellent hotel, very welcoming and brilliant choice of good local food. Friendly and helpful staff, especially the taxi service.
Lovely to see a bit of Spain away from the main tourist areas.
Two of the hotels were very good with sensational food and good service
The cycling was through some scenic and interesting areas
Fantastic walking in a peaceful part of Portugal, but then we were there in April not the peak summer season. Tony and Ludmilla provided the perfect start to the holiday and the reassurance that they could be contacted if we needed support. The suites in Hotel Memmo Baleeria were worth the extra because the standard room we had on the first night was rather small.
Gentle walking in beautiful scenery. Nick was an excellent guide, and the Finca is a lovely, homely place to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Following receipt of the excellent documents describing the holiday in full we were extremely excited. If anything we were a little worried that we had too high an expectation but this certainly wasn't the case. The holiday was every bit as good as we expected. Even the weather was perfect. Everything was arranged so well and the people looking after us from the owners to the staff were excellent.
Gozo on first visit - walking was the best way to see the Island, its archaeology and meet people
Far from the madding crowds in clean air
The Sierras Subbeticas was a lovely verdant limestone area to explore in depth using the excellent Hotel Zuhayra as a base. By the end of the week we had criss crossed it in various ways but without unduly repeating any area.
An excellent cycling holiday for those who enjoy fine scenery and want to avoid demanding gradients
We were very well looked after and everything happened as we expected it too.
Lovely springtime break with fantastic coastal scenery and wildflowers; plus lemon sorbets.
The perfect place to go for cross-country skiing! Incredibly beautiful landscape with lots of very nice trails and off-track opportunities. The hotel is very well located. There are trails going off to every direction! Food is excellent and the staff is friendly and very helpful.
A good location to try cross country skiing for the first time in a beautiful location.
Overall highly enjoyable
Excellent flexibility for a walking holiday which can be adapted to include very good public transport if walks considered too long.
Arrangements were expertly taken care of and we simply relaxed and enjoyed our holiday.
As 1st time XC skiing this holiday was the perfect introduction with hotel, equipment, & instruction all first rate
An excellent introduction to a cycling holiday abroad. Everything was made simple and the bikes provided were superb. Easy to follow notes and fantastic accommodation at the end of each day. Would definitely recommend to others.
Great location for a walking holiday. A lovely island, very friendly staff. The hotel was particularly helpful and the service was excellent. Very useful courtesy bus service. This is a lovely island for walking in springtime with beautiful wild flowers and pleasant early summer temperatures. There are lots of choices for walks and it is easy to work out alternatives to those suggested. Great picnic available from the little cafe near to the main bus station. Buses run on time and are cheap, we would suggest buying a bulk travel card as this makes travel to anywhere on the island an easy prospect
This was the first time I had traveled on my own which I was anxious about, but any worries were dismissed on arrival at the hotel - with all 9 Headwater guests sharing the same dinner table. We could all 'dip in and dip out' of eating together - very flexible. The food was superb - and dare I say it too much!!!!
The ski guides were excellent, and timings of routes accurate, - it was also lovely to have the flexibility of switching between longer and shorter trips during the week.
It was a positive experience and one which I will definitely repeat, thank you so much.
What a place.
Location is ideal - a large, hilly plateau with 150 km of trails, most with tracks regularly refreshed. With Rondane National Park on the edge of the area, it gives great views and a chance to go visit. The hotel is not alone, there were a few discreet chalets around with access roads but we were there over Easter, &;the busiest weekend & and it was quiet.
Instruction and guiding is good. Dedicated and experienced, the guides take you on great circuits. The safaris had finished for the season but the 4 hour trips each morning were ample to satisfy our exercise drive. The afternoons are available to go out on your own and navigation is dead easy. Sometimes you need to ask the guides for tips on technique if you want to improve, that could be more forthcoming. The ski waxing rituals were explained on the first morning but there could have been more checking that you did it properly on subsequent days. It's a real pain when you start sliding back when you are most tired.
Accommodation is superb. It's an old hotel that has been well maintained, we had an older room that was basic but good - a fantastic view, a great shower and a good double bed, they have only a few, ask for it. There's a big communal lounge for relaxing at any time, with a piano player too. The food was excellent, 3 hot buffet meals a day with 3 courses, or as many as you like, difficult to resist. They stage a Norwegian night with preserved meat and fish that was fantastic, some brand new flavours.
There are are add-ons:- massages (excellent); pilates (not too hard); yoga (not great) and a felting workshop which was poorly taught with nothing in English.
People come back here again and again, with good reason.
We had 5 days of varied and interesting walking. The route notes were easy to follow. The walks at the overnight stops were well worth doing especially the fabulous walk from Pedralva back to the beach. It was easy walking, nothing too taxing. It was worth having my woolly hat though, for protection against the wind, which was quite strong at times. We think that the combination of a linear walk with a 2 night stop in one place is a great model.
This was a great holiday - diverse for walking and accommodation with beautiful countryside, woodland and coastal walking.
Walking not too strenuous but plenty of scope to do more if you wanted to. It was a little windy & cool at times, worth bearing in mind for clothing.
All of the accommodation offered something different and they were a pleasure to stay in.
All of the arrangements worked really well (which was in part due to the hard work of Ludmilla and Tony who were both helpful and friendly and very knowledgable) and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Up there as one of our best Headwater holidays (and we have done quite a few!).
Excellent place to visit for walking, history and culture. Bit disappointed there were not many birds.
A very well-thought-out mix of locations and walks, showing us a lot of what beautiful Madeira has to offer. All three hotels were excellent; our favourite was Quinta do Furao, the first one, with its fantastic view along the NE coast.
Well worth it! Fantastic location for cross country skiing, wonderful food, comfortable accommodation. Be prepared for quiet evenings. Excellent guiding, northern lights if you’re lucky!
Wonderful location for a peaceful holiday. Too many people so no individual attention , therefore after day2 we skied on our own instead of joining a group ski - noone noticed !
Food was delicious and plentiful but it was luck of the draw where you could find a seat every mealtime.
The hotel was excellent with friendly staff. Springtime is probably the best time to go due to the abundance of flowers and before the summer heat builds up which makes walking much harder.
The holiday met all our expectations. It was well-organised and allowed us to enjoy the island in all its beauty. We look forward to our next adventure.
Pleasant walking with some good sunshine while UK still dismal. Great for wild flowers in spring, might be less attractive later in year.
Excellent hotel in a superb location. The trails were well marked and extremely well maintained. The skiing conditions were as good as you'll find anywhere. Extremely pleased with the holiday and we will be coming back.
The usual excellent experience at Venebu; hotel, food, snow, skiing and ski safaris all made for a wonderful holiday
Excellent food and well led skiing.
Excellent trip, great skiing with excellent conditions. The hotel is superbly located - excellent ski trails, good equipment and good guides. The food is very good too. this was our second trip, which was as good as last year's trip - and I have no doubt we'll be there again next year.
Excellent location for cross country skiing. Bedrooms basic and could do with updating but the hotel was otherwise excellent. The ski guides were superb.
Venabu is a great location for both novice and experienced nordic skiers. The staff, facilities and food are all excellent and help you make the most out of your holiday. I have no hesitation in recommending a Nordic Ski holiday in Venabu to anyone who wants to try this wonderful sport.
Easy walking. The coast was spectacular, the inland areas pleasant though much of the walking was along broad tracks that were not particularly interesting. We enjoyed staying at Pedralva - a very imaginative concept, and picturesque village. Ludmilla, the Headwater rep, was very helpful and knowledgeable. Thanks also for making the .gpx files available prior to leaving; navigation was easy enough, but they provided a useful check on occasions.
For UK travelers, make sure they take a lot of money. At least 3 times as expensive as this country. In our hotel, when not 'happy hour' £ 14 a glass...beer £12 for a small bottle. Therefore forced to go to a small supermarket. Cheapest bottle of wine £11. even then.
Venabu is the perfect location for cross country skiing. The snow quality is predictably excellent. The plateau is surrounded by low mountains and offers easy gentle track skiing as well as more adventurous long distance and off track excursions. The hotel is comfortable and relaxed with superb food. Guided tours return for a late lunch but there are facilities for taking out a packed lunch for those wanting independent all day tours. The guided tours are graded and flexible so that everyone is accommodated from complete beginners to fit experienced skiiers looking for a challenge. The tours are personalised to allow for differing degrees of experience and fitness. The tracks are well maintained and signposted so that it is safe to ski alone if preferred. It is significant that most of the guests, including those who have developed their skills in other centres in Norway (even Kvitavatn!), now come back to Venabu year after year.
An excellent, well-planned holiday in a delightful, friendly hotel with excellent food. First rate ski and snowshoe walking guides and your day is as energetic as you choose. Good yoga and Pilates classes available too
A dramatic and varied coastal walk with superb bird watching opportunities. An excellent way to savour the culture, food and history of the region.
Brilliant cross country skiing in a fantastic location.
This was our first experience of an organised holiday. It was great to be collected/met at the airport and to have the overseas team always on hand, as far as making life easy getting around. There was certainly an older demographic than we expected, which although we were comfortable with, didn't make for such a great time at the bar, or dinner.
10 out of 10
Wonderful first experience of cross-country skiing, very warm welcome and excellent food.
A great experience, excellent guides and attentive hotel staff. Good fun.
This beginner cross-country ski holiday in Venabu was excellent - great skiing, great scenery, great accommodation, absolutely superb food, & the availability of pilates-yoga sessions 3 times in the week really helped with the groaning muscles. Loved the snow-shoe day trip too.
This is our second visit to Venabu and it completely lived up to the expectations set up on our trip last year. The welcome and service from the owners and staff of the Fjell Hotel was outstanding. The tuition and guiding for x country skiing is really excellent and caters for all abilities and is very ably led by Robert and his team. The Pilates classes offered in the afternoon were a bonus and really well taught by Joy. Venabu is a magical place and we intend to return in the future. Thank you for a wonderful holiday.
The trip was everything I'd hoped for, apart from no clear skies or Northern Lights sightings - excellent ski tuition from a 'zero knowledge' starting point, amazing food, generous hospitality. The only thing I craved was a hot tub...
Really enjoyable. Very friendly staff and fellow travellers. Fantastic food and scenery
Great experience for cross country skiers of all abilities, including absolute beginners. Skillful tuition matched to abilities and fitness. Experienced encouraging tutors. Great for people travelling alone, in pairs or groups. Friendly, welcoming obliging hotel staff. More food than you could wave a chef at.
Venabu is a wonderful location ,great skiing and food. It was my second holiday there and will definitely go back.
I first visited Venabu in 1994 - in the early days of Headwater. I have returned most winters since then - always booking with Headwater. I have never had cause to complain about anything to do with the hotel, destination, or quality of ski guiding. It is the most complete package of perfection from start to finish.
The routes were excellent; a mix of terrain and stunning scenery. We enjoyed the off-road sections particularly the optional coast and river valley route on our free day at Pedralva. We went in January and whilst the roads were very quiet it did mean that many cafes and restaurants were closed and the hotels were quiet. The weather is changeable at this time of year. We had one day of wind and steady rain but we went prepared for variable weather so this didn't spoil an enjoyable day cycling. We would like to do this route again in the Spring when the flora is in bloom and the birds are migrating.
Wonderful location, plenty of ski trails, able to ski from the hotel
Quite simply the best short holiday I have ever had. Wonderful location, great snow, delicious food and excellent company.
Great package of excellent tuition, ski gear, programme and comfortable family run country hotel
A real experience of winter in Norway, and an antidote to grey January in the UK.
If you enjoy staying somewhere remote, where the welcome is genuine, the food is wholesome and delicious, and the accommodation is comfortable and homely, then Venabu fits the bill. On top of that, there are extensive trails to explore, the scenery is stunning and the skiing tuition and support is excellent.
Thoroughly enjoyable relaxing holiday . Ideal for taking away the winter blues. Comfortable, well organised stress free booking travelling holiday. Thanks
In a word, EXCELLENT. The Finca el Cerrillo provided comfortable accommodation in a wonderful location. Surrounded by beautiful gardens with excellent views across to the nearby (white) village, this was a great place to relax. Breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals (two at local restaurants) were all delicious. The hotel owners, Sue and Gordon Kind, were welcoming and attentive hosts, keen to make sure that every guest felt looked after. Our walking guide, Elaine, was first class, leading us at the right pace for the group, and informing us about the local area, history and wildlife. The walks were typically 4-5 miles in length, and correctly described as 1+. Nothing too challenging, but with enough ascent and descent to keep us active for a few hours each day. I greatly enjoyed the trip to the caves at Nerja, the visit to Theo's bar, and the journey by 4x4 up into the mountains to start the walk on the final day. All flights and transfers went well, including Headwater offering alternative flights very quickly and efficiently following the collapse of Monarch. As a single traveller this was a great opportunity to meet with some interesting and sociable fellow travellers who all got on well together. Overall, I would highly recommend this holiday.
Hotel the highlight of the holiday as it is in a stunning location. Quite remote but a good bus service and local taxis if you haven't hired a car. Walking notes disappointing, not detailed enough if you haven't got GPS. Walk descriptions do not provide accurate description of the terrain.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs McLaren,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback. It was great to see you had an enjoyable holiday overall. We were however sorry to read you felt the route notes required more detail. This is the first time we have received this kind of feedback, however please be assured we realise we cannot afford to let our high standards slip, so with this in mind, we will review the notes on our next resort visit and ensure additional details are added as required.
We would like to thank you for choosing to travel with Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service Team
This was our first holiday with Headwater, and would have no hesitation in using again all staff were extremely helpful and efficient. It was lovely to be met at the airport and have all our hotel and luggage transfers organised. Selected hotels were excellent.
An excellent cycling holiday which brings you the delights of the western Algarve coast and hills behind Lagos. Fantastic scenery, super hotels with the delights of local food. The sardines in Salema were wonderful. Pedralva is a real find. All well delivered by the Headwater team.
Excellent short break in a beautiful region of France. Just the right balance if cycling and relaxation with my teenage daughter.
Pretty good.
A great experience of authentic Portugal with great views and easy walking
Great cycling on quiet roads. Hotels were very good and evening meals at half board hotels were sensational.
Walking along the coast is lovely, interesting old towns inland. The standard of hotels was mixed.
from the time we landed we were looked after until we got back to the airport.all went very well.welldone headwater
Three days' varied walking and three totally contrasting hotels, each with its own particular attraction. Couldn't ask for a better introduction to the Algarve.
Couldn't fault the arrangements, all worked very smoothly. Our rep Ludmilla was superb, walking notes were very good and easy to follow, accommodation was excellent. Even the weather stayed good. Couldn't have been better.
Most enjoyable variety of walking on a lovely island. Weather in October was wonderful...... ideal for walking.Driving around the island was a delight despite the manual left hand drive car! Accommodation was ideal in peaceful, relaxing setting.
Cycling through the Veneto area allowed us to get a feel for rural Italy and the people who live there, as well as to experience the history of the area. The route takes you primarily through farmland and, since our trip was in October and after harvest time, many of the fields were plowed so we missed some of the greenery that probably characterizes the area in summer. We enjoyed visiting Vicenza on one of our non-cycling days and also had the opportunity to take a bus to Padova, a larger and more modern city than we thought. Sarah was attentive to our needs throughout the trip.
Our holiday was good fun, route notes were excellent (we didn't need the area maps at all) and the food and wine in Catalan was fantastic and affordable. Our rep Greg was helpful, practical and caring. One of our group couldn't do the walking due to a hip injury and Greg went out of his way to ensure she was able to get from A to B on our hotel to hotel walking holiday. The hotel staff were super helpful and couldn't do enough. This is our fourth trip with Headwater and we'll be looking again for next year.
One of my best holidays. Good company (others on same holiday). Nick the guide was excellent too.
Exceeded expectations in accommodation and general arrangements & attention to,detail. Walks were good. However needs,to be made clear these are not gentle strolls and a degree,of difficulty is involved
A well chosen rural, village based location for an experience of the real Spain. The Finca el Cerillo takes some beating,and we would recommend every aspect of the holiday, the experience was only positively added to by the whole location team. Thanks to all.
Beautiful countryside and views and challenging walks. Also a great opportunity to visit the historical sites at Segesta, Erice and Levanzo
Fantastic views. Marittemo an island paradise! Organisation excellent
A great way to experience Sicily and its individuality. The scenery on the walks was breathtaking and we enjoyed the opportunity to visit the caves on Levanzo and see Segesta and Erice.
We were made very welcome and comfortable by the hotel staff, taxi drivers and locals. The walking was very pleasant, despite the unseasonally high temperatures, with wonderful mountain views and plenty of wildlife interest. I would not advise some of the more remote walks to people who are not experienced hill walkers with good navigational skills. Owing to the lack of large scale, high quality mapping for Spain there were a couple of places where we were unable to find waymarks and strayed off the intended route (and hence needed to resort to GPS for assistance). A number of earlier guests made comments about this in the hotel log. Despite that we had a wonderful holiday and we hope to return in a later Spring season to enjoy the mountain flowers.
Headwater response:
Dear Dr Banyard,
Thank you for taking the time to write in with your post-holiday feedback.
Firstly, we were pleased to read you had an enjoyable holiday overall and found the Hotel staff and transportation providers welcoming. We have passed on your comments.
We were however sorry to read you encountered difficulties with some of the way marking. Please let me reassure you, we do review all of our route notes seasonally, however, we do realise areas can change during the season due to weather conditions, construction and route updates. With this in mind, we will review all of the feedback received in this area and updates made as required.. Thank you for bringing this feedback to our attention, as it allows us the opportunity to continue to improve our holidays for future customers.
In closing, we would like to thank you for your continued loyalty and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Excellent holiday. Varied scenery, good bikes, lovely hotels. Each ride was like a mini adventure. We loved it.
Really enjoyed our walking experience in Madeira. Good variety of walks in good weather and magnificent scenery. Enjoyed staying in three locations in three very different hotels. Good choice of hotels and they all had good facilities.
We had a lovely holiday. The weather was perfect, the area very beautiful and interesting and the hotels were good, but we found the bikes very heavy and poorly geared for the fairly hilly nature of some of the routes.
Beautiful places and great hotels. The walking is quite challenging but with clear directions.
A wonderful way to see the real Costa Brava and get to know Catalunya as a region. The holiday was well constructed and well organised. The instructions are not fool proof but that is half the fun!
We loved the mix of level 1+ easy walking (our level) with interesting historic sites, and nature conservation sites in an unspoilt beautiful landscape, and a good public transport system. Also the quality, comfortable hotel with excellent food and good friendly service in beautiful surroundings. The hotel staff could not have done any more to make our better. We would go on more similar holidays.
We have only explored a small corner of Sicily, but were completely bowled over by the scenery. The walks were varied, although be aware that many are stony and require care when descending, but definitely worth it for the views! It was good to have the experience of staying on the mainland and on Marretimo. I would highly recommend the optional trip to Levanzo. .We visited the grotto, which was fascinating and walked back along the coastal path which had some fabulous views. The food was delicious - if you like seafood! Our driver Nikola was incredibly helpful and informative. he even arranged for us to have a day in Castellamare, as our flight was not leaving till late that evening.
This holiday lived up to our expectations - although it was not cheap.
Lovely walking - challenging enough without being exhausting - in a delightfully different landscape surrounded by vineyards, orchards, olive groves, farmland and woodland. On one of our free days we enjoyed a splendid day in Padua (travelling by bus from the bus stop two minutes walk from the hotel!) as well as a gentle Saturday morning strolling around the market in Este, punctuated by coffee and lunch stops in the cafes around the Square - so relaxing. We started the holiday with an amazing two day stay in Venice, which made the quiet lanes and wooded paths of the Euganean Hills a wonderful contrast to busy tourist packed streets! Thank you Headwater and well done.
Headwater provide good all round holidays for active people. Their staff both in England and abroad are efficient, but I would suggest you be careful before you decide which level/grade of cycling holiday you chose. I have done 8 Headwater holidays and I think this one in Puglia should have been rated a 2 star, not lower. It was quite challenging in places - not too much so but this needs to be noted.
An excellent introduction into cycling holidays that we will be certain to repeat.
professionally organised, good hotels in the main with excellent food. Local tour staff were first class, Jude and Tim were thoughtful, considerate and extremely helpful in every way. They provided excellent service and delivered a slick, personal service. The cycle routes were well mapped and very sensible quiet roads providing superb countryside views and charming tiny villages. The river canoe trips down the Dordogne were a highlight, so peaceful and the most relaxed activity we have ever done.
Well-structured walking trails. Civilised, one-day rest days between walks. Good food and wine.
Cycling in lovely countryside with places of interest to see. Evenings spent in comfortable hotels with good local food.
This was our first cycling holiday and we will certainly travel with Headwater again. The GPS and route notes worked well together.
This was an excellent holiday, easy cycling and great hotels. Local rep were very good.
Thoroughly enjoyed our trip.Especially the wildlife and scenery along the way.We also appreciated the food-the lovely fresh fish.We always felt welcomed by the hoteliers and local people.
We were very pleased to meet up with fellow Headwater travellers too.
Thoroughly enjoyed our Austrian Lakes holiday. Would not hesitate to book through Headwater again
Great experiences that add to your life whilst there and cultural influences to enhance your life when you return home. We have always left wanting more, but not necessarily the same.
It was extremely hard to find fault with anything.
'Excellent ' all round.
Hotel, walks, routes just fantastic.
Fabulous holiday in a perfect location.
Excellent , few errors in information re places visited. Above strange error in travel arrangements. Otherwise great holiday.
A perfect way to experience nature and culture in this region of Provence.
Headwater could provide water bottles and helmet options for travellers outside Europe. We were fortunate previous visitors had left 2 helmets for our use this visit.
A well described holiday in terms of the scenery, walks etc. Particular high points are the chances to visit the gardens of Villa Barbarigo, Villa dei Vescovi and the cities of Padua and Vicenza
Sarah is an outstanding rep. making sure that everything worked smoothly.
Puglia is a beautiful région which, in September isn’t crowded with tourists. The food and wines are delicious and the locals are very welcoming.
Headwaters holidays came highly recommended. We could find no fault with the trip. Our scoring of the recommended hotels was 'excellent' but where we marked 'good' it was usually because the other hotels (breakfast) were exceptional.
It would have been a good idea (on our last day of cycling,Tulln-Vienna) to suggest cycling on the south bank & visiting Klosterneuberg then crossing on the small ferry (we noticed) to the North bank to join the Donauinsel. It is not a criticism by any means. We didn't opt for any of the train/ferry alternatives suggested although they were very useful options.
Cycling into Vienna on the Donauinsel was a joy, imagine cycling into the heart of a big city on a traffic free (20km) island, on the Danube, it was truly amazing! Thank you.
This was our first cycle holiday on a supported basis, as we usually travel alone. Very good experience and we felt we were left on our own as much as we wanted and yet knew luggage etc was well organised. Arrangements for transporting us and luggage was very good. All Minibus drivers were interested and interesting. Good conversations and pleasant company. Cycling was not demanding and the scenery was just perfect, in fact we will return to Slovenia. Just a perfect location and not one bad word or thought about those Slovenians we met. Great advert for their country and for Headwater.
Lovely cycling along quiet lanes, hilltop villages, olive groves.
This was our 8th cycling holiday and was certainly the most dramatic in terms of different scenery. From the snow-topped peaks of the Julian Alps through the fertile vineyards to the sea was certainly an unforgettable experience and the 65-km run from Tarvisio to Venzone was eminently easy with a more than 500-metre drop in altitude to assist! As pensioners, we were concerned that this holiday might be hard for us but we had no difficulty at all and it was certainly a lot easier than Headwater's previous Lot Valley and Jura routes.
We were unfortunate in getting a spell of 'very unusual' September wet weather. On Day 3, the wind-lashed rain and temperature of just 3 degrees persuaded even the hardiest of us to travel in the van and the excellent Miroslav was happy to organise this, even stopping off to ensure we didn't miss the planned Alpine Museum visit. We used the rest day in Tarvisio to retrace the route as far as Kranjska Gora so we didn't miss much at all (and we could admire the snow not much higher than us!) Again, on Day 8, we got very wet between Udine and Palmanova but we had turned down the option of taking the train as we had assumed, wrongly, that it couldn't rain all day.
The hotels were varied in their accommodation and comforts but all were clean and welcoming (particularly at Palmanova where the arrival of 10 very wet cyclists was just greeted with laughs and loads of towels). Breakfasts were usually excellent as also were the supplied dinners.
The route notes could do with some improvement (as noted by most people in the Grado blue book) but the FVG1 signs were all that we actually needed.
Good - we had a great time, the weather was good in the latter part of the week.
We had a great holiday returning to Menorca after ten years. We thought the hotel was great, in a beautiful setting, extremely friendly and welcoming, and really well looked after; a peaceful oasis to return to after a day out walking.
Impressed how Headwater central office handled our very, very last minute request to insert us in their North Italy Piedmont Walking tour.
A wonderful holiday with no issues or problems with our itinerary. Headwater got things right with a very light touch.
This was the first time that we've tried a single-centre cycling holiday and we're now hooked. The potential downsides would be if you don't like the accommodation you're stuck there for the whole week (but the accommodation on this holiday was perfect) and the cycling might be repetitive if there aren't enough different directions to go in (but on this holiday the cycle routes went in all directions with only a few short stretches repeated). The upsides are not having to pack and unpack every couple of days, you can pick and choose where to go each day (and in our case skip a day when the weather was against us, and then double-up on a later day to make sure we didn't miss anything) and you feel like you're really getting to know the area that you're in. The RWGPS phone app is a fantastic new addition; it didn't matter who was in front as we both heard the same instructions, and afterwards you can see exactly where you've cycled - even down to the detail of where one of us was chased by a wasp around a car park! To top things off, this was the best place we've ever stayed abroad for understanding vegetarianism - no need to worry that a bit of fish or chicken might creep onto the menu. Overall, a great holiday!
Thoroughly enjoyable week of mixed canoeing and cycling. We had intended walking days too, but found there was so much we wanted to see cycling was the only way to encompass as much as we could. Canoeing down the Dordogne was truly serene and magical. Most accomodation and food really excellent.
Well planned and important detail given. friendly and helpful advice both here and in Sicily. Need shoes to wear in most coves for swimming. Reserve closed when Sirocco wind is blowing in case of further forest fires.
Voucher for evening meal much appreciated. Great mediterranean food and local wine.
This was our third visit to Zuheros. The hotel is an excellent base for a walking holiday and the walks are challenging enough to feel that something has been achieved.
It was a great opportunity to take part in activities I might not otherwise have tried. You can only get the magnificent views of the Dordogne river that we had from a canoe.
Well thought out walking routes with meticulous notes to ease the way. Individual hotels with character and good service and food. The Representative's briefing was thorough and very helpful.
This was a fantastic holiday! In fact it was our best ever holiday. It was full of contrasts, starting with beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia and then through into Italy on very safe dedicated cycle paths stopping at great hotels. The route was either downhill or flat as we cycled down from the alps towards the Adriatic coast. The scenery was marvellous and the people we met were very kind and friendly. Weather was mixed, including four days being cold and wet but overall it was all very very good!
The Julian Alps cycling holiday is an amazing trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone. The cycle routes are amazing through the Alps and down to the Adriatic and for approximately 95% of the time we were on traffic free routes, away from cars in the beautiful, peaceful countryside.
True Italy! Amazing foods, sumptuous wines, breathtaking scenery and warm welcoming locals. Our excellent guides, Laura and Greg helped us get the most out of our time walking through the Langhe region which we can't recommend highly enough.
'What perfect memories are made of'
Sarah was an excellent rep and we felt like friends from our first meeting. We liked this area very much. The walking was not too challenging, but varied. We can highly recommend Padua by local bus.
Well-organised holiday, drawing on deep experience of the area, tried and well-tested, excellent hotels, supported by great staff.
The Amalfi coast is an excellent place for fantastic walks, good food and great scenery. Headwater planned a great itinerary with detailed walking instructions. Thank you.
We enjoyed the whole experience. The weather in September is delightful and the hotel is clean and comfortable. The walking is lovely in the valleys and very rewarding with beautiful views from the tops of the mountains. The driving is very easy around Hoyos.
We had a great holiday. The cycling was really good fun. The navigation system was brilliant. Most hotels were of a good standard and many were quirky and interesting
We really enjoyed the cycle from The Julian Alps to the Adriatic. The scenery was stunning , it felt very untouristy and we got to see the real Italy. Every location was an interesting place to visit and we loved the variety of moving from place to place. The cycle paths were excellent as we're the route maps. We will definitely be booking another cycling holiday with Headwater!
Excellent holiday, Great route even though we were not blessed with the best weather. The hotels were great , so were the bikes and the luggage was transported without any problems.
Excellent weather & hotel. Walking just right with few little challenges. Gozo bus service made it so easy to cross the island for walks. Our first 'independent walking' but instructions made it easy.
We enjoyed Maretimmo ,although unfortunately were unable to get there as planned because of high winds .There is not much to do in Scopello if you cannot access the Zingaro walks . I would not offer extra nights there .
Very well organised, with excellent directions and achievable distances to cycle daily. Cycles very good condition, well maintained, clean and comfortable to ride. All staff willing and able to support if required.
An excellent well thought out holiday, that undoubtedly made the best of a beautiful region whilst taking into consideration finding pleasant roads, interesting places, well-placed rest stops and good hotels. The route app on the phone made navigation really easy.
We have enjoyed at least 10 Headwater holidays since our first ride in the Loire in 2002, and the Gastronomic Barolo would have to be one of the best.
We have enjoyed at least 10 Headwater holidays since our first time cycling in the Loire and as we have travelled all the way from Perth in Australia, we obviously love our Headwater experiences. Gastronomic Barolo Cycling is probably the best in terms of countryside, scenery, accommodation, fantastic cuisine and helpful rep. But I suggest that grading of 2 bike is misleading as countryside is very hilly indeed. Thank goodness that my husband and I who are fit but 70 and 72 chose ebikes! Another couple in their late 60s struggled each day with the steep terrain and had to spend much time pushing their bikes. The weather was perfect for riding but it would have been very difficult if the temperatures were high. Another couple on the ride who are serious cyclists who ride regularly found some sections very difficult. Overall it was a great ride for us as it showed how enjoyable ebikes can be as we still got plenty of exercise to justify eating the amazing 4 course meals; enjoying the famous local wines and enjoying the company of fellow Headwater travellers.
A truly gastronomic experience! An excellent introduction to the food, wines and culture of Piedmont. The cycling was sometimes frustratingly hilly but that is the nature of vineyards!
Distances appear long, but cycling is really easy and distance is not an issue. All on dedicated tarmac cycle paths.
We had been recommended Headwater by close friends and were not disappointed
We enjoyed the walking and the general ambience of our holiday experience in the Venetin Hills. Sarah, our guide/rep was particularly helpful and patient. She was prompt and attentive. The only thing we would suggest changing is the order of the walking, to do the holiday day in reverse rather than starting with the longest day's walking.
Fabulous locations, cycling mainly flat through breathtaking scenery, varied and unspoilt landscapes.
Good locations, excellent hotels and very relaxing.
A pleasurable experience cycling in Puglia
This was our fourth Headwater cycling holiday. All have been good, and this was at least as good, if not better, than the others. Contrasts of Puglia is an accurate description, and we feel we have got to know something of a previously unknown part of Italy. We enjoyed the routes, the accommodation and the food and wine of the area. We met some very friendly and courteous locals. We had a week of perfect cycling weather. It was a really good holiday.
excellently located hotels good value for money and a delightful way to visit 3 countries.
An excellent way for parents to holiday with teenagers: the right balance of activity, being together and opportunities for a feeling of solitude.
A Headwater cycling holiday is by no means a cheap option. . Given the quality of the bikes, the route notes and suggestions for 'rest' days, however, we rate these holidays highly and feel safe and supported throughout. The fact that we have just completed our 5th holiday with the company must surely indicate our overall level of satisfaction! Keep up the good work, Headwater. Nothing quite compares to the freedom of travelling by bike. It's liberating and quite intoxicating!
The early part of the holiday in the mountainous areas of Slovenia and Italy was spectacular. We loved being away from busy roads and using the old railway line dedicated cycle paths. You can't beat Italian food!
We enjoyed Verona and the walking around Dobbiaco. Dobbiaco is a very good centre to walk out from, with good bus links to different starting points. The Bellevue Hotel is super. This is the second time we have stayed there and we were not disappointed. The one down side is the return via Venice Marco Polo. Once the check in is open ( there was no baggage drop) it is just a procession from one queue to the next.
Most enjoyable holiday cycling through beautiful quiet countryside with stunning views. There were plenty places of interest from Chateaux to Caves. The food and accommodation was of a high standard. The Vielle Auberge in Souillac could have been more comfortable but we forgave it for the food.
After reading previous reviews, we hired electric bikes this year. This was a good decision as, although we still had plenty exercise, we enjoyed each days cycle without feeling terminally exhausted. We saw more as we always chose the longer route. It is a very hilly region and definitely a grade 2 cycling holiday.
Enjoyable holiday in pleasant area using friendly hotels with meals. Impressed by knowledgable and flexible arrangements for bike provision and set up. Luggage transport worked well and trouble free. Cycling mostly on dedicated well maintained cycle paths or quiet roads. Navigation generally straight forward. Distance and terrain matched expectations of grading. Some interesting sites en route and at stayovers.
Although we have been very many times with Headwater, this was a last minute booking due to a health problem. The assistance of the Headwater staff could not have been better, Thank you.
However we do have an issue regarding our bill from the Chateau Mazan and we will be writing to you separately to seek your opinion.
Wonderful hotels, exquisite food and a friendly warm welcome from reps and hoteliers. The cycling was challenging at times but the uphills rewarded us with stunning views and we felt deserving of our gastronomic delights!
Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling lived up to its name as there is an opportunity to visit many villas in this area. We travelled during the grape harvest season and it was interesting to see both hand picking (especially around Cortela) and mechanical harvesting and to taste wine near Cortela. Sarah Hall is an excellent rep with 10 years experience and knowledge of the area and the routes. She keeps the bicycles in immaculate condition, and provided a comprehensive briefing and was always available if needed. The Villa Lussana Hotel was our favourite with wonderful views and delicious meals. We should have done more research on sights to see in Padua and Vicenza to make more use of the day trips. We added 3 nights at the Hotel Kette in Venice which was in a good location but very touristy compared to the relatively quiet and non-tourist cycling. Great trip overall and easy to add to the Coastal Croatia Cycling as we did that trip first and caught the ferry from Porec to Venice then on to Vicenza.
Some lovely walking in spectacular mountain scenery, staying in a very comfortable hotel full of character. Some walks (and buses) were very busy even at the end of the summer season. Walking notes were excellent (the one exception was on the NemesAlp walk return to Moos where a new (?) ski lift was not mentioned - this caused some confusion to us and others.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Hickling,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. It was great to see you enjoyed the walks and the spectacular mountain scenery.
We would also like to thank you for highlighting the route note discrepancy; we have updated the notes to include the new ski lift, thank you for pointing this out. We are sorry for the confusion this caused you.
In closing, we would like to thank you for travelling with Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Lisa
Excellent routes through lovely rural Italy. First &I last accommodation very disappointing because we thought we would enjoy basic country accommodation &I enjoy the food & wine of the area - we felt this was not the case at this accommodation. Food &I wine at Il Feudo were very poor - accommodation not good - rooms hot &stuffy - noisy -bed not comfortable & very poor lighting.
There was a weakness in the bus and train transfer information!
Coastal Croatia Cycling was a great holiday, in an interesting and scenic coastal area and we followed it with the Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling as it is easy to get a ferry from Porec to Venice (prebooked on line). Bruna was an excellent rep, providing a thorough and useful briefing at the start and a debrief meeting at the end and was very contactable if needed. We took up her offer of a lift across a busy section of road in the last week of the Croatian school holidays and a detour to view the Lim Fjord on Day 6. The stone/Kazuni houses were well worth visiting on Day 3. Note that if you really want to visit the Jama cave on Day 7 in a busy holiday time you may need to book ahead or wait 2 hours for a tour. Swimming is possible on many of the days, however the beaches are stony/rocky so beach shoes are required and are available to buy in Fazana near the hotel for only about 10 Euro. This was our 3rd Headwater cycling trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
A fantastic holiday all round; great bikes, great route through 3 contrasting countries around the Bodensee. A wonderful opportunity to travel by bike and to explore at your own pace and under your own steam. A unique experience !
We thoroughly enjoyed our Porto Coastal cycling holiday and thought the organisation and planning was excellent throughout. The hotel accommodation was very good and the varied itinerary enabled us to explore both the interesting towns and delightful countryside of the region.
This holiday on the surface appeared quite expensive when we booked it but proved to be exceptional value for money. Taking into account everything that was included in the price: flights, trains, accommodation, meals, local bus/cable car passes, and knowing the cost of things in Switzerland, the price for the week is excellent value for money. Food at the hotel is on another level, every night was at least 4 courses of some of the best tasting food I've ever had. Very friendly and helpful staff. The town is very picturesque and surprisingly quiet at nights. This was our first time hiking outside of the UK, and I think I'm going to struggle to find anywhere nicer for our next adventure outside of the UK, but would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone looking to venture into Europe for a hiking trip.
Excellent holiday, wonderful accommodation and food. We could not fault the reps who were extremely helpful.
Great cycling, fabulous food, quiet roads in a busy area, plenty of local places of interest, well done Headwater.
Fantastic holiday, great service from Headwater at home and at destination.
Hotels were all superb
Cycling was good although couple of the routes were bumpy and hard going (saddle wise!)
The wine tasting was a highlight!
The bikes were very robust and trustworthy.
Nice area though hillier than we expected when we booked. Well maintained bikes, though rather heavy. Good food. We were lucky that we had a cooler than average week for August.
Great family holiday with views second to none. Highly recommend the location and activity.
A relaxing holiday with positive together time as a family - nothing gets everyone working together as well as arguing more - than getting lost in the Dordogne countryside an hour before lunch !
Ideal location for walking. Beautiful scenery and excellent accommodation
This was our second visit ( the first 8 years ago) to Austrian Lakes Activities. We were lucky to have fantastic weather which helped. The area has outstanding scenery and views. Gentle cycle routes are not too long so you have time to explore the area and actually get to see/ do things things and not feel you are spending all day on a bike. We love the area which is why we went back a second time and were not disappointed. The Hotel is in a great location with a bus stop at the end of the road - very handy if you want a break from the bike. Hotel staff very welcoming and friendly and rooms very comfy and quiet with lovely views of the mountains. We have done several Headwater holidays now and continue to be impressed. Reps are great. Very helpful.
An enjoyable way to experience part of the Camino with a mix of accommodation to stay in along the way and the opportunity to walk along several interesting parts of the route.
The holiday in terms of the arrangements was fine. The bikes were handed over to us with no problems and were of excellent quality. Unfortunately one of my fellow bikers had a puncture. The process of dealing with getting a replacement bike was very easy, a phone call was all that was needed to achieve this. The itinerary was excellent. The amount of travelling time was about right bearing in mind that I am not a regular cyclist. I feel that the itinerary was a bit ambitious for the time we were there as we did not have time to explore some of the places we passed through. The other main thing is that the panniers on the bikes were not of the best quality, they were old and after we started the trip I found a small tear in mine. Perhaps you could look at more substantial panniers rather than the material ones we had. All in all a very good experience.
very well organised
Enjoyable cycle rides, in beautiful coast and countryside, well within the capability of the averagely fit (with the exception of the section around the fjord). Bikes well maintained - rugged but a bit heavy. Bruna was an excellent rep and provided a transfer to avoid having to cycle the fjord road. Good standard of hotel accomodation. Would recommended this holiday.
Lovely area with a good variety of walking, cycling and sightseeing activities. Hotel Bergrosse is excellent with fabulous food, large, clean and comfortable rooms and a lovely pool and spa area along with the gardens.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and would recommend it to other travellers.
Canoeing in the Dordogne. The most picturesque river and so quiet ( even in high season). The beautiful countryside was dotted with amazing chateaux and the food at each hotel was superb - a gastronomic delight. The canoeing was straight forward and the map instructions were good.
The hotels we stqyed in were in the most delightful medieval towns which were so well preserved. It was like staying in a fairytale town.
We really felt that we were part of France - so few foreign tourists as this was a place that the Fench go on holiday so we were really immersed into the country.
Our reps (Jude and Tim) were excellent as always available if needed
We had a great experience with Headwater, cycling the hill-tops of Provence in 35-40C heat. The Reps were great;, the bikes eminently suitable for the route; the hotels generally good; the food superb; and we both enjoyed the few days that we had.
A very enjoyable experience, beautiful scenery and amazing food.
We really enjoyed our trip to northern Spain. All travel arrangements worked well and we were very impressed by Greg, our rep, who met us at the station and couldn't have been more helpful or welcoming. All our hotels were clean and comfortable but the Castell d'Emporda stood out. Beautifully situated on a hill overlooking a patchwork of fields, it's a modern hotel (our room had one glass picture wall with wonderful views) situated in an old castle. The restaurant is relaxed and breezy and the breakfast buffet was truly awe-inspiring. All the walks worked well, although we would have appreciated a bit more shade on the hottest days! We're looking forward to our next Headwater adventure!
Austria is the perfect place for cycling as there are dedicated cycle paths everywhere. The scenery is spectacular. Plenty of opportunity to swim in the lake. Sightseeing opportunities were good and I highly recommend a visit to lovely Hallstadt. The electric bike provided by Headwater was a real boon and enhanced all the cycle rides. The weather was fantastic which added to our enjoyment of a perfect holiday.
Good walking holiday in the Dolomites
Happy paddling on some quiet stretches of river in a beautiful area. Plenty of pools, good food, and all arrangements taken care of.
At the end of a busy academic year two teachers find this the ideal way of switching off and relaxing. All we have to do is pedal by day following pre designated tested routes, often along traffic free cycle paths , then feel fully justified in eating wonderful meals we know will be waiting for us at good local hotels, all booked and waiting to welcome us.
Headwater never fails to deliver in putting together a great cycling trip. The holidays offer wonderful variety in terms of the scenery, locations and things to see and do . They also provide places to stay which are varied , high in quality and usually with a unique charm. Added to this the level of service provided by the staff both at head office and the reps on site is first class. This explains why so many of us return to book with Headwater time and time again!
Lovely area, easy cycling, good food and lovely hotels! Hotel Tuttorotto deserves a particular mention. It is a very special place, the staff extremely welcoming and breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea was fantastic.
The cycling holiday to Northern Croatia was a joy. Knowing that your bags were in safe hands and that they would be delivered to the next destination was fantastic. It meant you were able to cycle at your own pace, take in all the sights and scenery, take a dip in the water at your choosing and as many times as you like and stop at a restaurant for lunch along the ways was just the best. A really wonderful holiday.
Brian McAlea, Belfast
Wonderful again!! Our fifth holiday with you & again it was perfect. Perfectly organised routes so that we didn't need to see our great reps from start to finish! Beautiful, well considered hotels which all had really positive things to say about Headwater guests!
The cycle around Lake Constance was an opportunity to experience different weather situations from the comfort of your bike, to see lovely villages, local areas and explore to your hearts content.
Absolutely fantastic! Hotel and food excellent. Family run and very very good. Colin and Jill the Reps could not have done more to make our holiday more enjoyable. Always on hand to help and so kind and caring. My daughter fell off her bike and we had to get a lift back to hotel and leave her bike . They went and collected it immediately and serviced it and even texted every day to see if she was ok. A truly lovely couple and an absolute credit to Headwater
This was an excellent holiday - just like our previous 3 Headwater holidays. The staff at the Bellevue were friendly and helpful and the meals were of a very high standard. As well as having a mountain view our room also overlooked the railway but this was not an issue, the trains were very quiet and we were not disturbed by them. The walks were varied and the scenery was outstanding- some stunning 360 degree panaromas and some delightful meadows and pastures complete with some very gentle cattle and their melodic bells. We could easily have spent a few more days here, there was at least one walk we did not have time to do. We took this holiday in late July and we were grateful that we had packed several layers, we needed them as we climbed up to the views and on a couple occassions I regretted not having brought my gloves! Our previous Headwater holidays have been rated as 2 boot and we can see why this holiday was rated as a 2+ boot, however the extra effort was well worth it as the views were exceptional.
Ann and Nigel Carrington Brook
An excellent experience in a lovely part of France.
We all throughly enjoyed our cycling in the Veneto. The food and accommodation were excellent as was the pool at the end of the day! The family were extremely welcoming and we enjoyed out trip around the farm. Sarah couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. The routes were well planned and the gps talking to us made our journeys easy, without having to look at a map all of the time.
A small group of us have been taking a cycling holiday together for 15 years, This was by far and away the best, the food, the hotels, the people, the cycling and the scenery combined it to make it a wonderful experience. We will be recommending to our friends.
This is our third trip with Headwater. The organisation was excellent and the hotels all superbly located and of a good standard. We enjoyed the route immensely, cycling in beautiful countryside with a good mix of mountain and lowlands and coast with amazing scenery.
This was a wonderful holiday, the best of several good holidays that we have done with Headwater. The variety of landscapes, routes, and hotels, taking us from the stunning landscapes of Lake Bled and the Julian Alps down through the plains of Friuli Venezia Giulia to the lagoons and coastal islands around Grado, with a variety of fascinating places to visit en route, provided for a wonderful experience. The cycling was superb - the majority on cycle tracks and lanes, with the sections on the Alpe-Adriatica long-distance route often being of a very high quality - sections are gradually being improved and tarmacked each year & hopefully it won't be too long before some of the remaining gravel sections are renewed. My anxieties concerning 'too steep uphill/too steep downhill/too long distances' proved totally unfounded. The local agent, Miroslav, was wonderful. His briefing was thorough, full of advice and illustrated with images on his laptop. We were able to easily contact him when necessary - as on the day that it looked as if thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast would continue into the afternoon, thus would making cycling difficult - he was able to advise on alternatives; in fact the B&B owner had already produced a train timetable and driven Gordon. to the station to show him the route & correct platform, how to get tickets etc - typical of the friendliness and help received throughout the trip. Miroslav also suggested and organised for us to spend a few hours in central Ljubljana before returning to the airport. We also took the train to Trieste from Udine, an interesting city and well worth the visit (having arrived in Udine earlier than expected, by train, the previous day). Thank you Headwater and Miroslav for setting up such a fantastic holiday!
Cycling the Istrian coast was a prefect holiday. We were able to enjoy the right mix of cycling, swimming and relaxing at the beach. The side trips to small towns were well worth it. The food and wine is excellent. A highly recommended holiday.
A very enjoyable holiday which surpassed expectations. Bikes, Information, Logistics, Food and Accommodation were all very good. The price is on the high side and we booked extra nights and travel ourselves as the additional charges from Headwater were too steep. Would recommend to friends.
It was great to stay in one place all week and not have to move on to different hotels. Also we liked the accommodation with swimming pool and the food was fantastic
The cycling was easy and enjoyable. We will probably hire electric bikes next trip which will open up a bigger choice of cycle rides
Exactly as it said it would be. Well organised. Efficient. comfortable.
This was our 7th Headwater cycling holiday and by far the best in terms of overall satisfaction - cycling, routes, variety of countrysides(not circular), choice of hotels, prearranged dinner and personally arranged dinners. Previously we have booked gastronomic itineraries but this holiday surpassed our expectations.
Excellent week in the Alps walking was outstanding and a great range of walks provided as we were quite ambitious and was able to adapt the walks to suit our needs to be more challenging equally loved our couple of days low level descriptions were accurate but the paths were marked so well that we never used our compass skills!
absolutely lovely - from the helpfulness of the guides to the assiduity of the hotel staff - and the general friendliness
The Barolo is an amazing place with beautiful scenery and excellent food. The locals are very friendly and helpful. The hikes are easy and short compared to other 2 boot holidays we have been on. I think this is necessary because the days start out cool and get very hot by late afternoon. Go in the early spring or late fall if you can, but July wasn't too bad either. Three of us traveling together were from the deep South (USA) and had no problem with the weather or hills. Two of us were from the Midwest (USA) and weren't quite ready for the heat and hills, but had a truly fabulous time being together any way.
There is a huge music festival called 'Collisioni' every July. Sadly we booked during this time without knowing it. It affected which hotels we could stay at and our enjoyment of the village of Barolo. 12,000 people descend on the area during this time. Don't book during the festival! One can expect a hiccup in plans from time to time, but by booking through Headwater, you can rest knowing they will do whatever is possible to take care of you! And they did! Thank you Headwater!! Headwater is the best! For this reason, I look forward to booking our 8th Headwater vacation soon.
Our reps, Greg and Laura, were outstanding giving us lifts as requested from our substitutionary hotels (which were quite nice) into the villages where we would have stayed. Not quite the same experience, but they made it a lovely one. In driving us to and fro, they took us to extra sights and offered to stop and let us take pictures as desired. They were awesome!
Beautiful, varied scenery. Easy cycling most days and some fabulous places of interest, especially if interested in Roman history. The mosaics at Aquilea were fascinating and the audio guide was most interesting. The proprietors of the B @ B at Venzone were so helpful and kind. One of the valves on the tyre of our proved faulty and resulted in a flat tyre. They drove us to a neighbouring town to a cycle repair shop to try to get it fixed. Unfortunately it was a Monday, so all the shops were shut! Miroslav came to our rescue after a couple of hours.
its a great way to see places in an area of a country, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying different foods, whilst achieving a level of exercise and time to relax
Excellent route and great scenery
We last took on a headwater holiday15 years. Now we have an 8 year old daughter and 11 year old son. The dordogne was lush, warm and beautiful. The reps were helpful and knowledgable. The hotels were very french with great food. The activities were well balanced with relaxation at the pool. Super holiday i hope we dont wait another 15 years.
See the inside of the country without the hassle bussel of roads and busy towns plenty of fresh air and excellent hotels and refreshlng swim when you arrive
one of the best cycling holidays we have been on. Great cycling and relaxing swimming in warm seas.
Croatia is a beautiful, welcoming and friendly country. We were told by locals that we were mad attempting to cycle in high season because it is too hot and the roads are too busy to be safe. Yes it was hot, but there was a good breeze and much of the cycling is on quiet back roads or off-road. We enjoyed exploring on our bikes and felt safe. There is one stretch of dangerous road on the way to Porec that our rep told us she would not allow us to cycle and would drive to pick us up and take us to the other side. She does this for everyone, this could do with being updated in the notes. Fazana and the first hotel were superb, Rovinj was very different but again beautiful and the hotel was quirky and fabulous. The trouble was that the further we went the more touristy and busy it became. Porec was fine but too many tourists and a very ordinary hotel with mass produced breakfast was a bit of an anticlimax at the end of the route. It may be worth Headwater looking into running this holiday in reverse so that it ends on a high. This having been said, it was a fabulous holiday, the crystal clear turquoise sea round every turn was beautiful to swim in, we swam in the sea every day, it was a fitting reward at the end of each cycle ride.
Croatia lived up to all expectations and we would be more than happy to return. Everything about the holiday was first class but it was Bruna that stood out for us - she spent a lot of time with us and came to pick us up to avoid a very dangerous road.
active, cultural, sociable, reasonably paced , good relaxation Thank you Headwater
We had a very enjoyable holiday, the hotel was good with an excellent restaurant, the quality of the food was first class. The walking was varied, the scenery was beautiful and we really appreciated that the holiday included a local bus and gondola pass.
An excellent area for a walking holiday. Superb scenery with a well situated hotel. Food is first class.
Invigorating trip, great organisation, will use Headwater again.
Beautiful island, very welcoming people, excellent standard of hotels.
Very well organised and effectively managed, with the odd surprise/challenge e.g. Tour de France promptly dealt with, worked round.
A great holiday, virtually traffic free rides, excellent food and lovely scenery. A brilliant combination of cultural cities (if you wish to visit them) and rural isolation. However, consider the best time to go - the temperature hit 42 degrees & humidity was very high which made cycling difficult (4-13 July). We were the only guests at our first three holels and owners told us they consider July to be low season due to the heat. If you were expecting to meet other travellers you could be disappointed. On the other hand places of interest were not crowded & we didn't need to queue with the exception of Venice.
The addition of a fully functional cycling app completely transformed my overall enjoyment of the cycling. So much easier to download map and receive voice activated instructions, also phone holder supplied. Inclusion of trip meter complimented use of app. HW - please include these on all your holidays if possible. Our second time in this region, the hotels are of good standard, clean and very helpful staff. We added additional days at hotel Garbi to enjoy the local area **A visit to the Calau tapas bar is a must in Calella be there for 7:30 ish and you should get a table (July), after 8:30 you may have to wait for an hour +. Only other recommendation for food is La Tasca in Girona. The bus tour in Girona is a bit of a waste of money with minimal information via head phones and spent most of the 2 km trip waiting at pick up and drop off points on the circuit. If you have time a cycle to Pals it is well worth the effort (about 25km round trip) we used the app for the first days cycling towards Begur for directions and turned off to Pals * the road into Pals has cycle lanes. Overall, very enjoyable cycling and in our opinion the first days cycling was the most strenuous after that the rest is reasonably easy for the grade.
Lake Constance cycling is the ideal holiday -- exercise (though not too much), sunshine & warmth, nice scenery, variety (three countries), and excellent accommodation, food & drink.
Excellent holiday. This is our second year as there are so many exceptional walking options from the hotel using the extensive free lift and bus pass.
We had a fabulous time in Piedmont. The hotels were outstanding and the restaurants superb. Being more used to walking in the mountains we hadn't expected to enjoy the route as much but the wave like vine clad hills, pretty villages and lovely views across the Langhe and to the Alps were very satisfying. We can see why the region has been given a UNESCO rating.
Croatia is a wonderful country and everyone was really friendly and helpful. Bruna, our local rep, made the holiday. She gave us a lift up the busy steep road by Lim fjord and took us to a wonderful viewpoint which we wouldn't otherwise have seen. I would actually say it is a 1-2 bike standard rather than 1 bike
other than wrong hotel ..ACE
After three outstanding trips with Headwater previously (twice to Italy, and once to Spain), we were wondering whether our 4th excursion, 'Venetian Villas and Vineyards Cycling' could possibly live up to our high expectations. We were looking for an interesting and relaxing break that would immerse us in the Italian culture and suit the mixed cycling abilities of our group (two couples). This holiday managed to satisfy us all. While most of the routes were relatively flat, there were a few more challenging hills and options along the way. Highlights (just to list a few) included exploring the neighborhoods and museums of Vicenza and Padua, getting lost in the maze at Valsanzibio gardens, taking in the view from Villa Lussana after an exhilarating cycle up to Teolo, and the welcoming family atmosphere at L'Albara agriturismo (not to mention delicious meals they conjured up from homegrown produce). To surprise one of our party, we requested a birthday cake along the way. Our rep Sarah wisely chose Villa Lussana as the place for the surprise, and their experienced chef produced an amazing fruit flan right on cue, which helped make the event very special and memorable. There were a couple of slight disappointments - a room 'upgrade' that was of a lower specification than a standard room, and as seasoned Headwater fans we missed the detailed route notes that we've had every other time - but these are only minor niggles that did not detract from what was otherwise an excellent holiday, and great value for money. Thank you, Headwater, and we look forward to our next trip with you - wherever that may be!
An excellent trip for the novice of 'non hardcore' cyclist. Route and cycle paths are excellent - scenery stunning. Accommodation good considering where the route goes.
Toblach was a pleasant little town and a great location base for walking in those spectacular Dolomites. Hotel Belvue fitted the bill well, with charming , helpful management and staff - though they occasionally seemed a little overstretched at mealtimes; but this is a minor quibble. our 3rd floor room (a suite with balcony and a view up the valley) was excellent. i would go again.
Wonderful walking week (despite the weather on some days!) in a fabulous part of the world.
Friendly helpful and professional.
A gentle cycling experience along the Danube and through the Wachau vineyards, with options to shorten the day's cycling by using boat, train or minibus if desired.
A chance to sample another country's culture and experience the landscape on an excellent mode of transport
From the moment our agent Antonio picked us up from the airport we have been looked after so well. The cycle route and accommodation was carefully thought out. My only concern is that the cycling in my opinion was not for beginners as there were some quite challenging inclines on a few busy roads. Overall a tremendous experience.
We thoroughly enjoyed the stunning scenery and the experience. The cycle paths were excellent and the route was very well signposted. We enjoyed the suggested days off . This was one of the best Headwater Holidays that we have been on.
The whole holiday exceeded our expectations. Hotel wonderful and the scenery absolutely magical. Food at the hotel was world class and the staff went over the top as a daily norm. Your reps were excellent and very helpful and we would certainly recommend this holiday to anyone who likes travel and cycling. The weather was fantastic and at times a little too warm for us pensioners to cycle too much, thank goodness for the ferry and a lift back home on one occasion.
well placed in a busy valley with three cables card within a mile from hotel. So life and peace.
Fantastic walking in magnificent scenery. Excellent hotel.
Our holiday in the Italian Dolomites was amazing. The hotel accommodation and food were absolutely excellent and the staff helpful and friendly. The walking notes were very accurate and comprehensive and it was very helpful to receive them ahead of time. We found some of the walks challenging but it was very very hot when we were there. Good excuse for a long cold beer when we got back to the hotel though ........... :-) The hotel has a lovely spa but unfortunately we didn't have the time to partake of the facilities.
A great tour around a wonderful area wth everything from beaches to early churches and ancient ruins.
Portugal is an amazing country for cycling, lots of dedicated cycle paths, incredibly friendly people, quiet roads, beautiful scenery. The Porto to Coimbra trip had varied cycling, most of it very easy on flat surfaces. It was a nice mix of coastal cycling and countryside cycling, and every day was different. A couple of days the cycling was on roads, but these roads were never too busy, and in general the motorists were polite and aware of cyclists.
We like the Headwater cycling format to the extent that we cannot remember the number of holidays we have been on.
Easy walking in an attractive area. First class hotels, all with pools.Standard of food in the local restaurants was high. Good to be able to visit Avignon and Marseille as add ons to the holiday. Very hot, even in June this year.
A magical week exploring this tranquil and refreshingly untouristy area of Italy, with the added bonus of being able to spend city days in Padua and Vicenza. Torn between wanting to tell everybody and wanting to keep it a secret so it remains unspoilt!
Lovely locations, great hotels with well thought-out cycling routes that took us to parts of the beautiful Istrian peninsula that other visitors would never see.
Wonderful holiday, well organised but not obtrusive. Fabulous food in beautiful surroundings. Kayaking down the Dordogne was so beautiful. Will definitely book with Headwater again.
Incredible 200 km of beautiful countryside, cuisine and culture of Provence! Loved every minute despite 35° heat and 35% elevation. La vie est belle!
Despite being of the same modest grading as our two previous HW cycling holidays, this was significantly harder, because of the heat (over 34 degrees) and some long uphill stretches, especially on the Lafare-Vaison day. However, it was worth it for the lovely scenery, the downhill bits, and the hotels, two of which had lovely pools, and some excellent food, especially at Hotel Montmirail (if only it had air-con as well!) and at La Dame d'Oie at Pernes. Plenty of opportunities to sample the Provence Rose, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Gigondas wines. The archaeological sites and mediaeval town at Vaison la Romaine are well worth the 'rest' day.
Good balance of cycling and rest times creating a relaxing holiday.
A superb blend of countryside cycles and splendid evening meals. Our local representatives Greg and Laura were consistently helpful; rescuing our bikes when needed, and proactively working out a new route for us when they realised a car rally would make the original journey planned for that day impossible. The restaurants were varied but all delightful. The unanticipated June heatwave made some of the uphill stretches a little more challenging than might be expected from its grading
Surprisingly easy going for the independent traveller, yet adventurous, with a touch of comfort
Fabulous scenery, hotels, food. Cycling easy on days that had to cycle - slightly more challenging when on 'rest days' Up to St Gallen and the Rhine Falls but still easy to complete. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
Dordogne is utterly beautiful, medieval chateaux rising from open woodland dotted with ancient villages. We hit a heatwave, so cycled rather than walked. Excellent maps (but read their key!) allowed us to discover our own way sometimes. The two days canoeing — we chose an open two-person canoe — were a revelation: clean river, beds of long green weeds flowering at the surface, home to dragonflies; real bliss, with occasional bursts of not-really-threatening adrenalin as we avoided shallows and bridge pillars. (Hard-working) Tim and Jude created a lovely laid-back, friendly, helpful feel for the 8 days. Hotels and food were superb.
Beautiful region, lovely hotel with great food and superb walking - aided by exceptional weather. Switzerland is quite expensive but we felt this holiday was great value for money.
An extremely enjoyable holiday. Walking was at times tough due to the temperature, in the mid 30s, so perhaps May or September are better months for this holiday than June? The hotel was wonderfully situated. It was so relaxing and the staff polite, efficient and helpful. Would recommend taking out insurance for damage to car as some roads, especially the one to and from the hotel, were narrow and bordered by dry stone walls. However, we did manage to deliver the car back to Mao scratch and dent free!
We found Nuno, the local operator from A to Z bike tours especially helpful, but we've also had a good experience with Headwater in Italy. The riding was mostly very flat and easy, but we hit a heatwave at the end, so maybe that was just as well. Porto is fantastic and Aveiro is nice, but the rest day in Praia de Mira isn't needed and it's not a very beautiful or interesting place. Neither is Furadouro. In fact we enjoyed riding through villages and nature reserves much more than along the coast, which is quite developed. We loved the hotel in Curia most of all, because the building is so unbelievably beautiful, it's like stepping back in time. Coimbra is also interesting and worth spending an extra night. We dealt with the heat by starting early and arriving at our destination for lunch.
We had a fab holiday. Everything went perfectly. The trail was so pretty and interesting and not as difficult as either of us expected. Austria was lovely. We left Passau and saw the different waters of the rivers Danube and Inn merge. Soon afterwards we were in the countryside, cycling by the Danube and along verges and meadows of wild flowers - scabious, chicory, vipers bugloss, clover etc. It was fascinating to see the scenery, the agriculture and the Danube change as we progressed. The villages were picture-book pretty, each with their own history. The towns we stayed in were all delightful - Linz, Melk, Krems and Tulln. Schlogen was quite lovely on a meander of the Danube, we watched the light change on the water and cargo boats go up and down river.
This was a first rate cycling trip, with overnight stops at interesting places. Excellent weather helped tremendously and allowed full enjoyment of the amazing mountain scenery as we passed through the Julian Alps. With large sections of the route on an old railway line, it made for relatively easy cycling. The hotels were very varied but quality standards were consistently high. We enjoyed all the overnight stops but especially that in Palmanova, such a fascinating small town.
Having done several Headwater holidays over the years, we would give this holiday our highest marks for variety and quality.
Terrific fun, with easy cycling in variety of scenery on generally good surfaces, although some were challenging. Nice people everywhere and two great towns in Porto and Aveiro. Mainly excellent food. Incidentally, you missed out our hotel in Aveiro from your survey above, which was by far the best all-round quality on the tour.
The Dordogne is a beautiful area. Good routes on quiet roads but testing hills! Accommodation is very good and the food lived up to the expectations as advertised. If anything the four course evening meal every night is too much but no doubt others will disagree! We felt the grading system was slightly underrated as at times the hills were testing given the very warm sunny days we enjoyed. Overall a lovely week in a lovely part of the world. Thank you
Good...as usual. Walking was significantly, though intermittently, above grade one.
Lots of fun and good exercise with a reward of a lovely meal at the end of the day!!
A delight for birdwatchers and botanists in spring and early summer. Lots of opportunities for photography. Walks were flexible in length and difficulty. Car hire essential.
Perfect for a relaxed walking holiday. Routes took us through lovely and contrasting scenery in a part of Spain that we would probably never have thought to visit. So glad to have discovered it.
Very good, well signposted walking routes in a beautiful area of Spain.
Summary: beautiful area for walking with vineyards, olive groves and wooded hills to explore, totally unspoilt, no tourists and very friendly locals. Interesting villages and nearby historic towns to visit. We would love to return to this little known region.
Turquoise waters, ancient tracks and historic gems , all from a superbly restful hotel in a fabulous rustic setting --what not to enjoy?
Relatively easy, but varied, walking, glorious coastal scenery and beautiful sea swimming. The scenery, archaeological remains, and plentiful and varied bird-life made the walks very interesting. Good accommodation with exceptionally helpful staff. Slightly hair-raising driving on narrow roads around the hotel (a little car is good!). Generally relaxed and helpful atmosphere. Wonderful seafood.
A perfect mix of activities based in the most welcoming family hotel within an exquisite setting of water, woodland, pastures and mountains. The evening meals are a gastronomic tour de force without being at all heavy; the chef and his son are true artists who can conjure colours and tastes in perfect harmony - quite exceptional. We had memorable walks, cycle rides, visits to historical sites and swims and were reluctant to leave.
Walking enabled us to see parts of the Lake District we would never have seen in a car and the literary connections gave much added interest.
A holiday should be restful with the minimum stress and this holiday ticked all of the boxes.
The only sour note came when we ate at the restaurant attached to the Hotel Bela Vista and the head waiter seemed surprised that we required a dairy free meal although we had mentioned this to reception when checking in. His response was that there was only one dish on the a la carte menu that was dairy free, which was disappointing and did not reflect the positive and more flexible approach of the other places that we ate, notably the hotel's other restaurant!
Of our 3 Headwater cycling holidays this was the best. The accommodation was better and the cycling was the right amount although we skipped the circular route around Alberobello. The hard copy route guides were better than previous ones and the GPS app with the handle bar bracket worked brilliantly once one had sussed it out. We were fortunate that the bracket was just big enough to hold our phones; it was not big enough to hold the larger smart phones.
This holiday is well organised with reliable backup available if needed. Although we were initially sceptical we found the Ride with GPS system was good when the printed out notes were ambiguous! It would be nice to have more descriptive notes on points of interest on the itinerary. The cycling was varied and on interesting and not too hilly routes often with lovely views to enjoy. We were slightly disappointed with the quality of food, apart from at the Villa Lussana, as it didn't live up to our expectations of what we have enjoyed previously with Headwater. Also breakfasts could be a bit variable in what was offered e.g. in the Belvedere Resort ai Colli there was a 5 Euro extra charge if you wished cheese or cold meat or eggs while in other hotels these were included. On the whole we were made to feel very welcome but I would certainly recommend bringing a travel kettle if like us you enjoy a cup of tea as they clearly do not understand how to make decent tea and also charge a lot for it! Air conditioning is an absolute necessity and it was also of variable efficiency in the different accommodations, actually blowing the lights in the L'Albara Agriturismo when we tried to turn it up a little. However each place had different pros and cons e.g. L.'Albara had wonderful baking and fruit and the freshest lettuce straight from the vegetable garden even thought the main courses were pretty dire! We also had the best Tira Misu I have ever tasted and the pool was a real bonus! In summary a great holiday so long as you are prepared for a variety of accommodation and standards of food,
We really enjoyed walking in the Catalonian countryside in the spring time. The towns and villages were delightful. The food and wine was great. The people in the hotels were super. It was all good.
We are members of a Nordic Walking Group in North London and when we mention that we were considering a walking holiday a couple of the members enthused about Headwater. We are so glad that they did. Really good advice and guidance.
The walking guidance notes were amazing providing every little detail of the walk, much better than any of the maps.
Apart from the very disappointing hotel in Punta Campanelle the accommodation was very good. I would strongly suggest a change of route away from that Hotel, or accommodation in the village immediately before arriving at the coast.
We will definitely look to have a holiday through Headwater again, but we will definitely research the hotels first.
Many thanks
Robin
This was our fifth holiday with Headwater - four of them walking holidays. All have been absolutely excellent but this Provence holiday was probably the best of all. The area was spectacularly beautiful and the walks testing enough but not too testing in view of the hot weather we experienced. As ever, the arrangements were superb and the choice of hotels excellent. All of a very high standard with lovely staff, good breakfasts and great swimming pools. Evening restaurants were a mix of Headwater selected and our own choices. We ate and drank well throughout the week. The reps James and Beckie were delightful and helped us whenever necessary. My wife and I were sad to be coming home and will be with Headwater again next year. No better compliment.
Walking in Menorca seems to be nearly entirely on coast paths, with very few inland walks. That means linear walks, so unless you have two cars it's a matter of 'there and back', or a longish taxi ride. That said, it's a beautiful island, mostly unspoilt. Passing other cars in narrow lanes with dry-stone walls and thorn bushes can be nerve-wracking. We did four of the five Headwater-recommended walks, and would recommend Son Mercer de Baix for it's inland variety, the North Coast trail for its scenery, and Macaretta-Turqueta for beautiful coves. Also worth doing Cuitadella and Mao (on last day) town walks. Morvedra Nou is a delightful hotel in a very quiet location, with friendly and efficient staff. Standard room was clean and comfortable, but small, although with an outdoor terrace that was lovely in the evening sun. The dinner options included in the HW package were slightly unexciting and perhaps we should have spent a bit more on Menorcan specialities a la carte. House wines are OK and very reasonably priced. We had no difficulty finding restaurant/cafe lunch stops on our walks. Overall, a very enjoyable week.
A gentle introduction to the Veneto Plain based at a very welcoming agriturismo.
Rheine falls very busy. Should offer stop en-route for rail and more options for long journeys (over 300 miles). Make sure camera charged up every night. Allow time to explore en route on bike. All locals very friendly in every country and willing to talk. All to easy to eat and drink too much. Hotel staff less likely want to speak English.
Very friendly and approachable reps. Nothing too much trouble. Good support with cycling information.
Really pleased we chose this tour. Fantastic location, food and wine. We were lucky to have great weather and tour reps (Laura and Greg), that certainly helped. The cycling was tough at times in the heat, so glad we had water and could top up at fountains. Invariably there was a tough hill climb to the hotel destination, Peidmont is all about hill top locations, however the reward of a nice room, shower and dip in the pool made it worthwhile before dinner. Hotel staff were friendly and welcoming. We would do a similar tour again without question. Thanks Headwater!
We didn't receive the trail instructions in advance. Sarah had a spare copy which she updated for us and rearranged our return rail journey to a more friendly time. Since we couldn't get a flight on a standard join day, and the Venice hotel was unavailable we stayed In Venice Mestre for a night. Not a sparkling town. I am not a fan of Venice, but my wife hadn't visited before. The Italians are rebuilding Marco Polo airport and there was heightened security--a modern travel story. The peace, and relaxed way of life in the Euganean Hills plus a very good rep made the holiday.
very enjoyable. standard of hotels excellent. scenery beautiful. We learned a lot about undiscovered parts of Portugal.
I would have done away with the day to visit Malaga, instead put in another walk. The return flight was a mess because of B.A., nothing to do with you but it put a damper on future plans.
An excellent introduction to the area with a wonderful guide.
It was a five star Holiday.
Our first attempt at a walking holiday and this week in Gozo was spot on - an introductory but interesting & varied level of walks ('one boot'); a very pleasant hotel with an excellent level of service and very efficient and friendly admin by Headwater
I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and the guide notes for the walks were excellent.
Very nice and interesting to discover this part of Spain - nature, history, quiet beaches.
Excellent Experience. Charming area. Very unspoilt - had a real italian feel.
Headwater are a very professional company even when things go wrong they are very quick to sort them out . We travelled with last year to Cataluna an area where you have your own representatives , this was not the case for Lake Constance , we were not met by any rep for the company only the hotel receptionist .as we had travelled with you before we were
Comfortable with that bit if we hadn't I'm not sure we would have been so confident .the guide had obviously been translated from German to English and was not terribly accurate
Some of the time .
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in Puglia. We were very pleased with all the accommodation. The route took us through beautiful and vary varied countryside from olive groves and cherry orchards to coastal villages - in other words truly 'contrasts of Puglia'. The people we met were very friendly and helpful and the drivers considerate giving us a warning beep before overtaking. The food and wine on offer was generally locally produced and we felt it was an important part of the Puglia experience. Travelling mid-May meant, however, that the weather was much warmer than was currently the case in England and therefore we found cycling the uphill stretches in 24 degree or higher full sun quite challenging and it gets warm early in the day. We cycled last year in the Veneto - level 1 - and found the Puglia holiday - 1+ - much more difficult with some very steep hills and some very hilly sections. We are all year cyclists not averse to hills but we are over 65. The people we met were very friendly and helpful and the drivers considerate giving us a warning beep before overtaking. Overall it was an enjoyable adventure with lot to see and learn which is what we look for in a cycling holiday. .
Excellent holiday overall. Well organised with great staff. Many thanks.
Quiet, sunshine, heat, beautiful countryside and small towns - wildflowers and birds, hills, views - good food, good local wines, friendly people all in a hidden corner of Italy. What's not to like? It was a real treat.
Extensive coastal walks, quiet roads and peaceful traditional villages.
For me personally it met my expectations. Walking, time to relax and unwind each day with a relaxed evening . The. Cuisine was excellent and offerred an ideal choice of local food/dishes.
We have now done 8 walking holidays with Headwater and we have never been disappointed. This was no exception. There were some niggles more to do with the French footpath designations and markers than walking notes, but the region is awesome, the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse stunning. We would return to this region but would come by car as there is so much to see. Having a car means on stay put or rainy days exploration is possible.
There needs to be some more communication with hotels as to willingness to make picnics. It is fine for the notes to say ask them to provide a picnic but if they they don,t and you have not been able to buy food because village has no shop ie Les Imberts then you have a 8 to 9 mile walk with no food!!
Though it is occasionally nice to visit other restaurants we felt having to pay for 4 evening meals with what we have paid for the holiday seems a bit steep certainly compared to some of our previous experiences
Overall we still love the Headwater experience
Great all round but the last hotel in Santiago de Compostela (Hotel Virxe de Cerca) was wonderful. Fantastic location and everything about the hotel was just lovely. We had a couple of extra nights here and it was a great end to the walk
The walk suited us and the various views were amazing
Menorca's surprisingly flat, especially round the coast where most of the walks are located, so ideal for gentle walking - not for hard-bitten hill-walkers! Easy to traverse the length or breadth of the island by car in a hour or less, but watch out for minor roads on the Kompass map which prove to be private or little more than an overgrown bridle path. Much of the island seems untouched by tourism, which is delightful, but don't expect to find a cafe wherever you stop. Many things are still free to visit. People and climate very friendly!
Excellent holiday in a truly beautiful part of the Dordogne. Extremely comfortable hotels with some fantastic cycling and so many varied places to stop including villages, chateaus, gardens,caves etc which meant every day was a different experience. However, a word of caution. If you are not a reasonable cyclist consider an e bike or choose more direct routes between hotels which avoid some good hill climbs.
We really enjoyed the trip and were completely satisfied.
The holiday is an excellent combination of interesting, good length walks, fine hotels and great food. The lack of restaurant facilities at the Renoir was more than made up for by the quality of the food at the nearby Bistro L'Octroi. The finest food was undoubtedly at the Hotel Les Glycines but all were very satisfactory. There was plenty to do on all the rest days and we would particularly recommend visiting to Marqueyssac Gardens in Beynac, the museums dedicated to the amazing pre-historic finds around Les Eyzies, and lounging by the pool at the Laborderie.
A magnificent holiday, well organised and all Headwater staff were extremely helpful. The hotels were very comfortable and the food (my God the food!) was astonishingly good. A holiday where we ate as much as we liked and still lost weight! Even though our holiday was rated as easy the walks are challenging and we very very glad of our equipment and a walking pole each although my wife was not keen on the way I whirled around near her head at times. The trees, flowers and bird life were at their very best in May. Nightingales, Cuckoos, Cirl Buntings, Bee Eaters, Hoopoes, Serins, Crested Larks... bring your binoculars. If I were to be picky then on the day 2 walk to La Bisbal we took the longer route (our default decision) which added an extra mile or two through similar countrisde and could have been omitted giving longer at the very pretty last 2-3 miles through villages and farmland. The circular walk (a) on day 3 was lovely, Monells a good place for a coffee and very cheap (coffee, tea and ham baguette for under €5). Day four's walk was great to Pals, villages en route very attractive. We then trekked up the rock path to the observation point at Quermany Gros which turned out to be rather lower in elevation than the castle at Begur and possibly my wife would have said ' I hate you' a bit less often if we'd taken the low road. The kilometre climb up soft sand dunes after this meant we crawled into Begur slightly delerious. Fortunately the Hotel Rosa, though not as luxurious as the others has the most superb restaurant, the owner is the chef. We ate enough to compared with that Vicar of Dibley episode in which Geraldine has to eat 3 Christmas Dinners. Day five's walk was lovely. Day six we actually got lost twice (our fault) due to failure to follow instructions which were uniformly excellent. From Sa Tuna we rebelled and followed the coast path GR92 but I'm not convinced it was 'better'.
Our only slight grumble was that we would have missed the train connection from Barcelona Sants to Flaca even if our Ryan Air flight hadn't been delayed by 20 minutes. We sprinted through immigration and got the train from T2 but they only run every 30 minutes and we missed our connection by 15 minutes. The station ticket office man couldn't have been more helpful but intransigently refused to honour our pre-booked ticket meaning we had to fork out an extra €19 for 2 singles. Can we claim this back?
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Evans,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your wonderful review of this holiday. It sounds like you had such an enjoyable holiday that you will treasure for years to come.
We were however sorry to read that you missed your train due to tight connection times. I will be in touch to refund this amount. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused at the start of your holiday, however are delighted it did not affect your holiday overall.
We would like to thank you for travelling with headwater this summer and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
A very well thought out itinerary, with great walking in National Parks and on a peaceful Island. The hotels were lovely and the staff helpful. Transport between the hotels and to the start of our walks as well as for sightseeing all worked like clockwork.
Walking is a great way to see a country. Headwater, make the experience easy by removing the hassle of booking hotels and moving bags around. The local information is good and maps walks are generally pretty god.
Gentle walking in stunning countryside. We went in May which risked wet weather (we were very lucky to have great weather). The Lake District does get very busy in the summer, so we're very happy to have had a nice quiet holiday.
Snow capped mountains, woods, fields and flowers and wildlife made every day interesting
Our third visit to the Finca. As always great - although the mixture of guide/companions made this possibly the most enjoyable visit yet. As always the Finca is a superb centre for the holiday; and Elaine is an outstanding guide in all respects.
This is the fourth time my sister and I have been to Finca El Cerillo. Its setting, garden and swimming pool are outstanding and the buildings have been adapted imaginatively to make comfortable en suite rooms. Staying there feels like staying in an idiosyncratic country house where nothing is too much trouble. Food is delicious, the welcome is exceptional, and suggestions for improvement are genuinely welcomed. The walking is great too, and very well guided. We like the practice of sitting with fellow guests at supper and on each occasion have found them congenial. Very few exceptions!
This holiday has a delightful base at the pretty finca run by Gordon and sue and their friendly and efficient team .Their commitment to making your holiday as enjoyable as possible includes excellent guiding, delicious food within a relaxed , comfortable atmosphere. Walks seem to be adjusted to match the weather and overall ability of the group. The inclusion of meals out in the local restaurants etc meant we really felt that we were experiencing the Spanish cuisine. Great fun in a lively group. Thank you!
Stayed in some delightful places, especially Baglio La Luna where the location was magnificent, views, relaxing areas and we were so well looked after. Changes in arrangement occasioned by bad weather were efficiently and effectively carried out. All arrangements for meeting and dropping us off worked well, pleasantly and without fuss.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Secrets of Sicily Walking holiday in early May 2017 which certainly reached all our expectations. The hotels we stayed at were all very well chosen and we particularly enjoyed the Marettimo Residence and the Baglio Luna at San Vito lo Capo which was fantastic. All the arrangements went well and the walks we did were lovely and easy to follow using the excellent detailed notes provided. We saw so many lovely wild flowers and birds and the views were wonderful. Overall we would have no hesitation recommending Headwater walking holidays and we are looking forward to choosing another of their walking holidays next year.
Algarve Wild West walking exceeded expectation. Floral environment on all walks was dazzling. All walks easy to follow as marked and described in written guide. Two boots was just about correct.
Headwater offers self guided holidays, but with the benefit of sorting all the travel arrangements.
Some great walks along Portugal's beautiful, unspoiled and dramatic coastline with an excellent choice of hotels for good food and comfort.
A lovely holiday, we enjoyed every moment. The coastal scenery was spectacular, the countryside lovely - full of wild flowers. The accommodation was excellent and the stay in Pedralva was a great experience. We enjoyed the food and the local people we met were all very friendly. Our Rep ,Ludmila, was very friendly and efficient.
We had a wonderful holiday. The hotel was very comfortable (we did have a free upgrade as the hotel wasn't very busy). The staff could not have been more helpful. The walking was very varied and we were blessed with beautiful weather.
It was one of the best walking holidays we have had. The hotel was superb with wonderful staff and food. The walking was excellent with varied terrain and scenery. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
This was a door to door excellent holiday and experience.
This was a beautifully organised and well balanced holiday. Plenty of variety and choice, especially the walks. The weather in that first week in May was perfect for walking, warm and sunny with a cooling sea breeze. The highlight for us was the walk in the Zingaro National Park where we saw eight different wild orchids. And the little square in Scopello was so nice to sit in with a beer and watch the world go by.
Marettimo was delightful. We loved our accommodation which had a terrace overlooking the olive trees and gardens and got the evening sun. The little town was interesting, the restaurants were varied and the fish delicious.
By the time we got to the Baglio la Lune, our last stop, we were totally relaxed and happy to gaze at the setting sun in the evening after our supper on the terrace.
.Although each place we stayed was very different, they were quite close geographically, which helped us to orientate ourselves and kept travelling to a minimum. Our driver was utterly charming, always reassuringly early and very helpful. Thank you Headwater.
'Wonderful holiday! Delightful (and very) varied accommodation, excellent food and terrific sights and smells in some wonderful countryside. But this can be a physically demanding cycle tour, so do ensure you are prepared to cycle - or push - your bike up some stiff hills.
Thanks to all at Headwater and, in particular, to Ludmilla.'
At times the walks through the levadas were rather tedious because the vegetations blocked all the views. All the transfers worked really well.
The Finca was excellent with varied & tasty food & comfortable rooms. The splendid location & walks were accurately graded & Nick the guide was very knowledgeable. He adjusted his pace to accommodate the slower walkers on the steep terrain. The programme was varied, but the days in Malaga & Nerja were not 'rest' days (this is not a criticism, but an observation)
Easy walking, good hotels, mixed weather.
We enjoyed a wonderful week's walking which exceeded our expectations. The landscapes, birds and flowers were exceptional and we particularly enjoyed hearing the nightingales singing in the gorge. We were very lucky to be able to see some of the Easter celebrations too. The hotel was very welcoming and offered excellent service and delicious food.
We found this a very enjoyable April holiday, aided by lovely weather. We are only occasional cyclists, but we found the cycling quite manageable although a little challenging on the first day in the saddle. We were the first couple on this revised tour, and the first to use the route notes and did get lost occasionally. However, there were many cyclists around and someone always stopped and helped us get going again. Very friendly and helpful people. The hotels were generally good and well located. Figeures and Girona are very pleasant cities with plenty to do and see on the 'rest' days.
The walking tour was a great way to really explore the countryside. It was comforting to know there was someone there if we got terribly lost or hurt.
A lovely part of Portugal to visit and a great holiday.
weather--service--hotels--people--could not ask for any better..this last ride we had gps on the bikes.but sometimes lost signal
Great fun and the best possible place to learn cross country skiing
Quite simply the best holiday we have had in several years. Great food, great scenery, helpful staff, activity and brilliant weather. Just what we needed. Thank you
Beautiful walking in unspoilt limestone scenery. Fantastic bird walching opportunities. Comfortable hotel with hearty picnics and interesting evening meals. Antonio ensures that all aspects of a Headwater holiday are arranged with great efficiency.
Superb views when walking as well as lots of spring flowers and wildlife to enjoy. Excellent hotels and informative reps to help with local knowledge.
A thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing holiday. We booked for the beginning of April hoping for good walking weather and lots of spring flowers - it turned out to be an excellent choice.
An ideal time to visit this area and enjoy the spring flowers and butterflies which are abundant on all the walks. The weather was perfect for this type of holiday and the hotels very good. The GPX tracks supplied were very useful.
This was the first week of the season and it was cold for three days. The hotel bedroom had heating but the bathroom did not. The communal areas of the hotel were cold. Obviously accommodation in this area is designed to keep heat out. If the weather is not good there are limited opportunities here. especially as the local museum was shut for refurbishment for the whole season. The hotel staff were very helpful and friendly. We found the walks quite challenging, the directions were mostly good but on one occasion (the end of the Ermita walk) the alternative route back to the hotel was impossible to find. The path was completely invisible and we had to walk back along the road. The scenery, birdlife and wild flowers were wonderful. We hired bikes from the hotel one day and cycled along the Via Verde (disused railway track) which was easy cycling with interesting views. Another day we took the bus to Cordoba which was cheap, reliable and well worth while. We enjoyed this holiday but felt that overall both the hotel and the village were not places to be If the sun isn't shining.
Venabu Felljhotel was excellent. What it lacked in glamour was more than made up for by the quality of the food and the excellent staff and ski guides who were so friendly and helpful. The whole experience was wonderful. My first snow holiday and I would definitely go again.
Fantastic location to learn cross-country skiing. The hotel, staff, food, skiing instruction and guided tours were excellent.
Venabu Fjellhotel is the perfect cross-country ski destination. Headwater really know what they are doing by organising the logistics of this holiday - we highly recommended!
Excellent accommodation & location, good guide & good variety of walks.
The finca el cerillo was in a spectacularly beautiful place. On top of this the owners and staff were delightful and highly efficient. The food at the finca was quite superb and the arrangements at local restaurants were very good too. Elaine, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable, kind and thoughtful. The whole week was filled with interesting walks, history and culture, and was wonderfully managed. It was like staying as a house guest with very kind friends. We will definitely look at Headwater holidays again.
Lovely walks covering a substantial part of Gozo. A great mixture of coast, countryside and villages with excellent scenic views and local interest.
A challenging cycle experience in variable weather, with far reaching views at the end of Europe.
The toughest Headwater cycling holiday I have been on, due to the preponderance of off road some of which was quite rough and steep, plus the fact that for two and a half days of the three days cycling there was a strong cold headwind, therefore I think the grading should be changed.
We could relax because everything ran like clockwork. We were very lucky with our walking companions, we enjoyed thier company and navigated and ate together every day.
Venabu is a well run and comfortable hotel. The skiing programme was well organised and thought out catering for different levels of experience with a choice of tours offered each day.
Excellent holiday for first skiers. The guides were brilliant and the hotel kept us well fed.
The holiday at Venue totally lived up to 'the promise'. The skiing was excellent due to the location and the professional ability of the guides. Great holiday to go on ones' own as everyone is there for the same reason and generally with a similar background in terms of fitness and interests. When not skiing the Fjellhotel provided excellent food, a very welcome sauna and even yoga classes. With everything included in the cost the holiday was extremely good value for money. Would definitely return without question.
Stating at Garb--Salt pans--Marlsaform then bus to Victoria. The walking instructions for the Azure window are not that clear and could be improved, easy to end up on the cliff path which can be a bit scary if it's a little windy. The hotel could sell bus passes, rather than having to go to Victoria. The three bays walk from Quala and ending at Ramla is an excellent alternative. Get the bus from Ramla to Xewxija and walk back to hotel. The small cafe by the main bus station in Victoria offers a brilliant takeaway salad, sandwich and is very cheap
Very comfortable hotel with a very good, plentiful, and varied daily buffet. The guides were very thoughtful and trips they arranged excellent.
We had a brilliant energetic holiday. We went on the advanced week which we were slightly apprehensive about but we found we were at the right level to take part in all the off-track safaris having previously done 2 and a bit weeks of fairly intensive cross-country skiing in Austria, Finland and Norway.
Our double room in the East wing was older and less posh but was perfectly comfortable, everything functioned correctly and was spotlessly clean, and we had a lovely view north over the lake to the mountains beyond.
The hotel food was excellent, a vast spread for every meal, free tea and coffee in between, and a variety of hot drinks to take out skiing (bring a flask). Headwater travellers were allocated two tables in the dining room, giving good opportunities to get to know fellow travellers at mealtimes.
The hotel staff and ski guides were friendly and helpful and the ski safari tours were very good, being varied and well-planned in terms of guests, terrain and weather. Several of the guides live at the hotel and were happy to answer queries even when 'off duty'.
We would definitely recommend this holiday.
Lovely walks with lots of variety. We particularly enjoyed the coastline. Our rep, Ludmilla, was very welcoming, personable and helpful.
Gozo is a small, friendly Island with dramatic coastal walks, a lush, flower-filled interior and beautiful churches. Headwater's excellent walking guides combined with Gozo's efficient bus service enabled us to easily visit nearly all of the Island. The Hotel Ta Cenc was a very comfortable base. The only down-side to Gozo is the 'traditional' shooting and netting of small migratory birds. Avoid the shooting season and you will enjoy a lovely holiday with relaxed walking.
A very good holiday but in all honesty Bermuda is not really a walking destination. Once you accept that this is really a sight seeing holiday on foot and that most of the walking will be on roads it's fine. Fabulous coast and beaches and excellent accommodation.
Very enjoyable holiday. Booking process easy and efficient. Transfers via ferry very well organised. Hotel was comfortable and staff extremely pleasant and helpful. Walks as per grading with options on some and they took us to all the island's attractions.
Venabu is an excellent Cross Country skiing holiday for anybody from beginners to experienced skiers. With a good network of tracks right from the door, plus guides with the knowledge and skills to teach beginners or lead off piste tours. This is backed up by a comfortable hotel with excellent food.
Regular visitor to Venabu. Great skiing, good international friends, good guides and good food. What more do you need?
Excellent centre for cross country skiing, both on and off trails. Could ski with guided group or without guide. Very comfortable hotel with friendly atmosphere and staff, and wonderful food.
Venabu is an excellent location for a cross-country skiing holiday. The hotel is very comfortable, the food is excellent, and the welcome from the family is warm and genuine. There are ski trails and tracks to suit all abilities, and plenty of guides are available. The equipment is good quality, with metal edged skis which are suitable for tracks and off-piste. We had a wonderful week in Venabu and I'd happily go back tomorrow and do it all over again! We had learnt to ski while living in Sweden 40 years ago and had not been on skis since. We had no idea if we would remember any techniques. On the last day I did a 25km 'safari' and my husband did 17km before lunch, so we felt very pleased with our progress!
Good: - Hotel, food, weather, X-country skiing area, ski team guides and ski prep. organisation. 'Wicked' VIEWS.
Good but if we followed the walks exactly , they were not long enough for us given that the terrain was not at all demanding. However we did manage to add on extras each day which made the walking better.
Portugal in February - quiet but not deserted, good walking and perfect temperature and conditions.
For an off season break, the Ta Cenc Hotel has outstanding staff, attentive and helpful, good food and away from it all peaceful location. A few too many walks on roads, but the coastal ones were marvelous.
My first holiday with headwater - well organised and good service from agents. I travelled alone, and found the whole thing a very easy intro into x-country skiing. While Norweigans of all ages are skiing, my group was definitively middle aged and up. Staff at the hotel were ready to engage & just overall very pleasant. Guides were also easy to get on with altho I would add that while all were very knowledgeable & helpful, some were not so good at actually instructing. If you're a competent downhill skier my advice would be don't go in the beginners group, you'll be bored within 30mins because you already know what skis and poles and balancing feels like. Groups were large, if you want to experience space and peace going off by yourself or with some buddies in the afternoon would do the job. There seemed to be a good choice of equipment, I was able to change my boots after a day or so to get ones which were more comfortable. Also seemed to be in good condition (judging by the boots being clean, newish, not smelly in any way!). location of hotel is excellent for skiing out either in the groups or alone. it's as beautiful as you hope for. And handy to be able to walk down to supermarket. Meals are a buffet - the food was plentiful, delicious, and varied particularly if you eat both meat and fish. I was surprised how good it was, and lots of new things to try - the description given by Headwater of the fermented fish is offputting, but really it's not scary as long you don't stick your nose right into it! Like everyone says booze is pricey, and there's no common area to drink your own with other people (not that's allowed anyway...). I was in a double room in the older wing and it was disappointing: heating which wasn't reliable, thin curtains you could shoot peas through, duvet was short so it would cover feet or shoulders but not both (I'm 5'8'), an open electric bar heater in the bathroom, the shower curtain sticking to your legs scenario, no products except showergel - not even the ubiquitous 'bonnet de douche'. Having said that, I wasn't spending much time in my room but if there were two people it would be a bit of a squeeze finding room for clothes towels etc. Decent quality towels though. There's a separate ladies sauna and if you're prepared to walk over the corridor, up some stairs you can cool down on a tiny deck. Nice.
Headwater response:
Dear Ms Arnott,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your holiday questionnaire. Please be assured we value all of the feedback we receive, whether complimentary or constructive and use this to help us improve and develop our holidays for the future.
Firstly, it was great to see you enjoyed your holiday overall and found the service and organisation good. We were however sorry to read there were areas of your holiday which did not meet with your expectations. We have discussed your comments with our hotelier; she was pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay and would like to provide an update on some improvements they have made. They have installed new heating systems in the East Wing bathrooms. They have also added new soft furnishings to these rooms. They do not provided toiletries, with the exception of body wash, as they have found that most customers prefer to use their own hair products.
We have removed our description of the trout dish, which they serve on the buffet. This is a Norwegian delicacy and worth a try. We are sorry if our description was off putting, this was not our aim.
In closing, we would like to thank you for choosing to travel with us this winter and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Great place to experience cross country skiing with excellent instructors who ensured the holiday was enjoyable yet challenging. Fabulous location with memorable food .
Another great trip to Venabu, everything up to the usual standard. I particularly like the inclusion of Pilates and Yoga sessions, along with the option of booking a massage. Good for tired muscles!
Very relaxing and your able to do things at your own pace
This holiday delivers in all respects.
An excellent holiday for cross country ski beginners. Fabulous location. Great food. Small group. Helpful instructors.
This was a brilliant holiday away from the crowds, aggro and danger associated with downhill skiing. I seldom go away alone but the company of like minded people was great. Food excellent, location brilliant - what more can I say. Cross country skiing is hard work - you need to be fit to enjoy it.
I was fortunate to have absolutely perfect weather and low wind levels for my cycling trip to southern portugal.. a very enjoyable experience and would definitely do a repeat.
A great holiday. The skiing was excellent and the quality of the guiding superb. We were really lucky to have great weather. The extra activities available by the hotel (snow shoeing, night skiing, horse drawn sled ride etc.) really added to the experience. The food was plentiful and, as vegetarians, we were well catered for - although the food was a bit richer than I am used to. I really liked the fact that we did lots of off-track skiing. The final day's trip to the hut was a real highlight. The hotel is traditional and some of its rooms are in dire need of an upgrade - that said, the staff are great, it's a good location and the beds were comfortable.
We spent Christmas in the Fjellhotel at Venabu and learned to cross country ski. The tuition and guidance was excellent. The area is perfect for skiing with well maintained ski pistes, ski runs and signposts which clearly show distances travelled and points of interest, it is a really beautiful and unspoilt area. Maps are supplied so it is impossible to get lost, well thought through. The ski guides are excellent, friendly and versatile. The food is exceptionally good with many healthy options and cuisine for all tastes. Our only disappointment was the room for which I had paid an upgrade after taking advice from a Headwater representative by phone before booking. It was very tired and drab, poor decor and no facilities as advertised, such as Minibar, Hairdryer, TV and Wi-Fi. (Wi-fi is only obtainable in the main lounge of hotel). I checked twice with reception, that this was indeed an 'Upgraded room!' I would advise taking a head torch to
read/see clearly for cards/hand crafts, as the lighting in the hotel lounge is very poor and there are 18 hours of darkness at this time of year.
Bermuda is a delightful place and absolutely ideal in November: lovely climate, beautiful beaches, historic interest, luxuriant vegetation, helpful people, more British and Britain. There is even a Marks & Spencer. and an excellent hotel.
Excellent hotel, great walks with an excellent local guide, and super company. There were gentle walks in the early days building up to a lovely long last day hike in the mountains. Good local food and opportunities to sample local bars and restaurants. A couple of excursions to Nerja caves and Malaga old town added variety to an excellent week.
A combination of great walks in a beautiful place coupled with an outstanding hotel made it a week to remember.
Excellent service from start to finish. Quality accommodation. Gozo was a lovely island & we managed to explore every inch with the information provided.
Bermuda is slightly off the beaten track, the air temperature is good for walking but also swimming etc. Bermudans are exremely friendly and not once did we feel threatened or have to stop people trying to sell us goods.
Hotel Ta' Cenc is comfortable and friendly. Gozo is a good winter walking destination varied walks and very friendly locals. Excellent local bus service. The Citadel in Victoria was well worth a visit (allow several hours). Disappointed to see so much bird trapping activity on the coastal walks (perpetrators not quite so friendly).
On Malta we explored Valetta (busy and pricey) and Mdina / Rabat (not as busy as expected) worth seeking out the catacombs in Rabat.
Hotel Grand Excelsior large and somewhat impersonal, food and drink in the hotel is expensive. A lot of roadworks nearby at present and a stiff walk up into Valetta centre (where the outside catering opportunities are).
Everything about this holiday was top class. From the accommodation, the food, the walking, the guide, the transfers to the hotel staff. Most of all the company of the other walkers. Compliments to all concerned.
5 star hotel rating is over generous, though location is superb. Lounge, multiple pool facilities, and ambience are good. Plumbing is of sixties origin and need upgrading. Food of good quality and well presented. Al fresco eating would be unpleasant if you had a cat phobia, though indoor dining was always available. Hotel courtesy bus proved very useful and was complemented the excellent public service buses. Walking was enjoyable and not too strenuous. As birds were migrating, finch hunting was evident on most clifftop walks prompting frequent shot gun blasts and diversions round bird netting traps. Overall a good location for walking with a variety of routes and places to visit. .
Fantastic holiday. Walking and talking with friends in spectacular scenery is a truly great experience. The whole trip was seamlessly organised and and executed by Nicola and his local team.
Very good indeed and very well organised but as we're we're the last week of the season many restaurants and bars were shut particularly on marritimo- I think we should have been told about this. Other than that an excellent holiday.
Accommodation varied.... food in restaurant in Scopello great. Food at La Luna great.
As was very end of the season nothing was open on Marretimo. There were 2 restaurants which only sold fish so not much choice.
Walks were fantastic. Apartment basic but functional...good breakfasts.
The 2 taxi drivers were first rate, very good English, helpful and informative.
I felt safe travelling totally alone and venturing out on my bicycle by myself, secure in the knowledge that assistance would be readily available if required. Happily this was not needed but it made a huge difference to my piece of mind. I hope that Headwater can extend its leisurely options to include other trips. The travel notes routinely described inclines as 'gentle'. Some of these gentle inclines were about as much as I could manage. I now wouldn't attempt any cycling trips in the catalogue beyond 'leisurely'. The hotels were delightful, El Castell d'Emporda being top of my list.
Fantastic experience walking Madeira. Even on a cloudy day it is an amazing place. Headwater arranged everything effortless. Amazing how the drivers were always there on the dot! Very reliable at all times. The levada walks were easy walks - except if you haven't got a head for heights...Good variety in walks and great that Headwater could provide more walks if you wanted to walk more. For example on your free days.
Will book with Headwater again - a no brainer!
We did the Classic Catalan walk as a short break at the end of the season, in October. The mixture of 15/17 kilometer walks, historic towns, seaside and forests, with comfortable hotels at nights, and luggage transported from place to place, was just right. Just what we needed.
Easy walking over gentle countryside with spectacular coast
The notes were very detailed,accurate and all the paths well-marked locally; that made for a very relaxing walking experience. The hotels, whether grand or more humble, exceded our expectations; The Castell d'Emporda was a stunning place to spend our rest day, the food and friendliness at Hotel Rosa was great.
We have had a wonderful holiday with Headwater. Everything was well organised and thought out. We have cycled through gorgeous countryside, with great scenery and the majority on quiet country roads. Perfect as always somewhere nice to stop and have lunch on route and cheaply, eaten miles too much but then have cycled it off 🙂
Nothing to worry about, great accommodation in wonderful locations,excellent walks
Cycling is a great way to experience a country
Takes you on new journeys
We have always found Headwater to be a most professional company in their approach and this holiday proved to be the same. However, due to both of us coming down with a nasty cold virus virtually from day one, we also found a caring and flexible company in the Local Agent who offered helpful suggestion's and bike transfers on bad days. Now in our September, years this was important and will bring us back to Headwater in the future.
Lovely views, lovely walks (accurate maps and grading), lovely hotels and a lovely rep (Ludmilla). It was a great holiday with the two nights in Pedralva and the walk to the lighthouse on the last day as the absolute highlights.
Lovely holiday - the northern Portuguese seemed very friendly and welcoming of tourists.
Excellent holiday but, perhaps, not so much n the shoulder season.
A wonderful walking holiday in Madeira. A great insight of the island. Headwater took all the work out of the travel and holiday arrangements and left us to enjoy ourselves!
A good week in the north-west corner of Sicily. The holiday cleverly combined walking (and swimming) in the Zingaro nature reserve and on the island of Marettimo with visits to the archaeological site at Segesta and the hill-top town of Erice. Transfers for our group of six were provided by our helpful and informative taxi driver, who made sure that we enjoyed our visit to the area.
quite challenging cycling on day one for the over70s - entirely our choice made enjoyable by rescue and advice from Tony and Ludmilla - absolute gems throughout - electric bikes would be a good option on this holiday - easy enough to avoid the offroad stuff if that is a worry with them - overall an excellent holiday with spectacular beaches and coastal views
Excellent hotels, and food .
Extremely well organised .
Reps very helpful.
Cycling tough !
We had our first holiday with Headwater this October in Portugal. We had never been on an organised walking holiday before, but any concerns we might have had , e.g. getting lost,were soon abated. The route maps were excellent and easy to follow. The timing of each walk was accurate, so we were able to pace ourselves accordingly. We often walked the whole day without meeting a soul except at the beach, where we could watch surfers in crashing waves. The range of accommodation was excellent. We enjoyed our stay in Pedralva and were lucky to have a a cottage with a large patio.The hotels were in great locations and all very comfortable. Ludmilla and Tony were very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. We had not been to Portugal on holiday before. We will be back!
Good value for money. Lovely walking. Beautiful island.
This was our first holiday with Headwater which did not disappoint. The scenery was beautiful, with the contrasting coastal and inland areas. We particularly enjoyed visiting all the medieval villages along the routes, especially Pals and Peratallada, although finding places to stop for refreshments in the smaller villages was sometimes rather hit and miss. The weather was lovely and warm, ideal for cycling, and the route notes were good for the most part. However, some of the forest tracks were a bit harder to cycle along. As regards accommodation, Hotel Sa Punta deserves special mention for its excellent service, superb facilities and the most delicious food of the holiday. Our reps Olivia and Brian gave us great service too. We have been on cycling holidays with other companies before and they provide a small front pannier on the bikes, so perhaps Headwater could consider doing this also.
Nothing compares to an active holiday, exploring local culture at your own pace!
This was our first holiday to Madeira and fortunately enjoyed perfect walking weather.
We enjoyed the Levada experience very much but the Sao Lourenco Peninsula walk was definitely a highlight. Our last walk into Funchal was disappointing but appreciate it had been changed because of the summer fires.
The hotels were delightfully varied. At the Quinta do Furao we enjoyed live music and an outdoor hotel buffet/barbecue on our last night. At the Serra Golf we found ourselves upgraded to a lovely suite! Staying at The Bela Vista is like stepping back in time to 'Colonial days'. Silver service is a fun experience. The waiters were a little surprised when my husband asked for beer rather than wine! But they soon got used to him. We cannot fault the food and service at this hotel. Although the hotel is out of Funchal we did find the local bus service and hotel minibus service worked well.
Overall a wonderful holiday.
A lovely holiday apart from the Rep. She did not understand what headwater holidays involved at all and was only interested in promoting what she could book.
Very enjoyable holiday in a lovely part of Sicily. Perhaps we should have gone in April/May rather than October to see the wild flowers particularly the orchids on Marettimo. Several days were rather hot for the walking! Not such a variety of bird life as expected but there were a very large numberof robins on Mareettimo - not sure why! Good hotels and, in particular, Daniela was very welcoming and looked after us well, with good food, at the Baglio La Luna. Flights via Rome meant leaving at 3am on the way out and 4am on the way back. Good service from the local reps and Niccolo was a very careful and attentive driver who gave us good advice and made sure we had the right instructions and departure gate for the hydrofoil to Marettimo.
Great to see a less explored side of Sicily.
Everything was well thought though, GPS, local mobile and bike equipment. Very relaxing and enjoyable holiday
One meal was appalling, and throughout the cooking was at best uninspired.
In the rooms, the shower over-flowed very quickly onto the floor. this resulted in a very slippery and potentially dangerous surface.
There were so many flies outside and in! No fly-swatters made available.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Tucker,
Thank you for taking the time to write in with your constructive feedback. We were sorry to read you encountered maintenance issues with your room, the hotelier has assured us this has been resolved; unfortunately, they were unaware of this issue and are sorry this was not resolved during your stay. We will continue to work closely with the hotelier to ensure they deliver the high standard of accommodation our customers expect.
Despite these issues, we hope you had an enjoyable holiday overall.
We would like to thank you for choosing headwater this summer; we look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
We had a very enjoyable trip, with great walking in beautiful locations, meeting interesting people, eating some delicious meals and we appreciated having our luggage transported!
Have been on a few of your holidays and they have always been very very good.
Excellent holiday with varied scenery. The 1+ rating is about right. The walks are too long for a 1, but the terrain is not difficult.The timing of the arrival of the plane into Barcelona gave insufficient time to make the scheduled train so we had to wait an hour for the next one.
We did have a good holiday but experience could have been much better for reasons stated above and below.
Lovely place to stay, great food. Wine a little expensive at the farm.
Good healthy weeks holiday
High standards.
Lovely holiday with great food. Elaine was an excellent guide and very informative.
The Finca was excellent, as were all meals. Our guide Elaine was fantastic,the walks not too long, the week was fun.
This was my second visit to the finca - my first was in November when the weather was poor, and I wanted to see what it was like in sunshine. I was not disappointed - I would recommend this holiday to everyone who enjoys walking, eating good food and drinking wine!
The scenery at the destination was absolutely spectacular and will remain in our minds for a very long time - starting with the view from our hotel room!
An absolute must holiday for anyone who likes to have just the right amount of exhaustion, excitement and adrenalin in one day, with the facilities to relax and recoup overnight at the hotel, ready to do it all again the next day!
Being provided with maps and suggested walks before our holiday started meant we made the very best use of our time. Definitely had a WOW factor holiday
This was a great way to explore the Euganean Hills , we travelled in late September and the weather was perfect for walking. The holiday is a great combination of walking and rest days and our rep ,Sarah, had plenty of good advice on what to see and do.
We really enjoyed the holiday, the scenery was amazing. Our hotel the Bellevue was comfortablle and clean, the staff friendly and helpful but not a lot to do on an evening, we sought out a couple of places in the town towards the end of the week but as we were on holiday right at the end of the season it was very quiet. The menu choice didn't have a great deal of variety/choice and did forgo the evening meal on some nights or went out beforehand as we has walked all day and we're quite hungry! (We are slightly buillt but did feel on some nights that we were stilll hungry).
The spa in the hotel was lovely and we did use the pool and steam rooms but only on one evening when we returned early enough to use the facilities before dinner.
The walking guides and maps were very helpful an on the whole accurate, some of the gradings for the difficulty of the walkes were not accurate some walkes described as Two boots had long or steep inclines and descents on rough ground and I did feel a little mis guided on one or two occasions but the views from the top soon made you forget asbout the effort it had taken.
The arrangements made at our request worked really well and the flights and transfers were efficient and convenient.
A lovely holiday just a little too quiet on an evening.
Absolutely brilliant, all the walk instructions easy to follow and the hotel acomodation and scenery magnificent.
Easy pedalling in the sun with local cuisine and a great chance to be somewhere where English is hardly spoken!
Once again, we had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday! Great walking, wonderful locations for our accommodation, excellent food and drink, and as a bonus the company of other like-minded walkers at various points during the week. Excellent route notes and planning - it is definitely what we have come to expect from our Headwater holidays (this was our 10th).
Great hotels and views. Walking infused with smell if hot pine and wild lavender.
A pleasant way to experience 'off the beaten' track regions through a very manageable itinerary and allowing for a high level of independence whilst in the comfort of knowing the back up is there if required. The quality of both bikes and hotels excellent - would use Headwater again.
Mostly excellent, but disappointed there were more main roads than on previous cycling trips with Headwater.
In our opinion Alberobello should be dropped - too much of a tourist trap and not a 'Headwater' type destination.
Headwater Holidays are always an interesting and memorable holiday. The variety of accomodation combined with cycling or walking abroad is a winning formula whether you travel as a couple or with fitness minded friends. We have tried over 10 destinations now over the years including the canoeing down the dorgogne and every combination has been wonderful. The guided walking gives you a chance to see and learn about areas of europe that are off the beaten track and you feel like you are experiencing the real country.
Quinta do Furao was lovely, very welcoming staff, a stunning location. The walk along the coast from the hotel was amazing. The local representative, Eduardo from MB Travel, met us to discuss the week's walks and was very helpful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Serra Golf was a beautiful building, but the staff took two days to sort out our lack of hot water (we had a room in the old house) and had forgotten to provide a packed lunch on our morning of departure.
The levada walks were splendid - breathtaking views around every corner. The guide notes were good, but we could have done with a few more arrows or signs on the path. On the last walking day we had an alternative walk due to the forest fires of previous weeks. This was not nearly as good as the previous walks - I am sure there are other walks available.
Quinta da Bela Vista was a a lovely hotel set in beautiful grounds - a long way from the centre of Funchal and the hotel shuttle bus does not run on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. There are local buses into town. Five course dinners served every evening, but after a day's walking you just want a big bowl of something on the table.
Many thanks to Headwater staff for their efforts to arrange our holiday around our preferred dates.
Very enjoyable holiday overall, staying in good quality hotels. We did find some of the walking a bit more challenging than we had anticipated. It rained on the day we did the Path of the Gods which made it slippery and therefore extra care needed to be taken. We were warned about the 1,000 plus steps down to Positano but maybe more warning about the descent to Marina del Cantone would be helpful for future walkers.
The guidance notes were very accurate on the whole with one or two minor errors. We didn't get lost.
The taxi drivers were all very pleasant and punctual and we had no problems. Our only criticism is that we were not contacted by a local rep. at all. This may have been because we were slightly delayed on arrival ( only half an hour). We also had to confirm our final taxi pick-up ourselves (via the hotel) as this hadn't been communicated to us in advance- a slight worry on the day before we were leaving.
A healthy way to explore a new part of the world, if you want it to be! Very easy to reward oneself after a cycle with fine wine and food, but after all it is a holiday! Travelling self guided allows one to be completely flexible, but others might prefer to have a leader to avoid unnecessary cycling, should one take the wrong route.
Would certainly recommend this type of holiday for a group of friends.
Great cycling holday for those that want plenty of excellent scenery without too much effort - routes were easy to follow and a good 1 bike holiday. The only slight downside is the accomodation is quite remote so after the evening meal there is no where to go, but of course lots of chatter about the days experiences with fellow guests.
route notes could be better but otherwise great scenery and people
We had promised ourselves a return to the Finca since our first brilliant experience a few years ago. We were not disappointed. Fabulous food, walks, & company in a glorious spot....we will return.
This was our second time with Headwater. We really enjoyed our holiday. The walks were well chosen and so were the towns where we stayed. The Amalfi coast is stunningly beautuful. Some of the popular walks can get a bit busy - there seemed to be a lot of Americans everywhere. We stayed in 4 different hotels and they were all different in character. The highlight was La Conca del Sogno, a family run hotel in a cove with a beach. Would certainly recommend this holiday.
The Heart of Veneto cycling tour was a very positive experience for us. The rides were interesting, the distances appropriate and the cycling notes were very clear. Sarah, our Headwater rep, was very helpful and approachable. L’Albara, our Agriturisimo accommodation, was perfectly fine, the farm interesting and the meals delicious but there wasn’t a lot to do in the evenings. Happily, we became acquainted with 3 friendly, fellow cyclists from Britain and at our dinners every evening we shared the day’s experiences amid laughter and lively conversation. We would definitely choose Headwater again but would choose a tour on which we would stay in a different place every evening,
An excellent location, with good views, well appointed rooms and excellent food. The guide Nick was very knowledgeable. We would repeat in a different season to see the wildlife.
Our holiday experience was fantastic! We loved walking in the mountains and hearing the sound of cow bells everywhere we went. It was easy to get around on the buses and trains, and the mountain trails were varied and interesting. The lakes were a beautiful colour, and the scenery was stunning wherever we went. The food in the hotel was outstanding, with a 5 course dinner offered on each night of our stay. The hotel's spa facilities were also excellent. I had anticipated a busy hotel with lots of Headwater customers, but apart from me and my friend there were only a few other hotel guests. This meant that the dining room was very quiet and lacked a bit of atmosphere, but the staff were very attentive and looked after us really well. I would definitely recommend the Dolomites to anyone who loves to walk amongst stunning scenery. The most popular trails are obviously busy with other visitors, but it is easy to find quiet routes and paths as there are so many walks to choose from.
Absolutely fantastic, superb hotel a jewel in the island, delicious food well prepared, excellent staff. Beautiful hotel! So many varied and interesting walks away from the tourist areas. One of the best holidays we have had!
We will be returning one day to complete the other walks around the island. Just wish we had been able to stay longer.
Provence is a wonderfully scenic area and walking independently and at your own pace is a great way to experience the history and the variety of views. The Headwater formulae works excellently!
You have improved the standard of hotels used and Laura and Tim looked after us very well.
Great holiday. The cycling was easy with the odd tougher bits but they were short lived. Varied scenery with coast and countryside. The notes/directions were at times diddicult to follow and really need updating because signs have fallen down or gone altogether and new roads have been built with new layouts so the notes are out of date. Monopoli is really lovely Palazzo Indelli is well situated right in the pretty main square. The rooms vary so if you are booking a standard room ask for the larger ones at the back of the hotel because the one we were given at the end of our trip was tiny and noisy being on the side at the front. Corte Altavilla is nice too but the staff on reception were unhelpful and grumpy. I am a coeliac and despite telling them in advance it was the only hotel that did not provide anything for me at breakfast other than fruit. The restaurant in the hotel for the evening was very good. Alberobella unfortunately has rather sold its soul and is very over commercialised. The Trulli are nice but we would have preferred some outside space as they are rather dark. Masseria Salamina is fabulous we had a huge room and you really feel like you are staying in a castle. The swimming pool was lovely and we really enjoyed our stay here. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable trip and we are now looking for another one!
A wonderful taste of Provencal scenery, wine and food!
Another fantastic Headwater cycling holiday! The scenery was amazing, hotels were all high quality and in excellent locations. The cycling was undemanding and very enjoyable, linking up lots of interesting and attractive places. We are already thinking about next year's holiday!
The coastline in South West Portugal is stunning and the national park unspoiled .Most days we only saw other walkers and surfers The walks were well planned and came with easy to follow instructions.The way-mark signs were also good. Ludmilla and Tony, the Headwater representatives were excellent.and we felt as though they were there just for us ,even though we knew that they had other guests to look after. .The food and accommodation was ,on the whole ,of a high standard. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this holiday to other walkers. They wont be disappointed. It far exceeded our expectations!
Great hotels, exquisite dinners, well-described walks
Great Fun. Lovely area and great cycling.
Lovely coastline easy cycling
Despite being in a National Park, this was a less rural holiday than we were expecting. While some of the routes are rural in nature, you are never out of sight of a dwelling and you are on, or next to, or crossing, busy roads quite a lot of the time. Italy is also home to a plague of noisy motor bikes and scooters but I guess this is part of the culture! That said, the hotels and the food were mostly very good. We did an extra two days in Teolo which worked well and gave us two days in Padua (easy bus ride) as well as a pleasant local hike. Rep Sarah was as good as we had been led to believe and gave us a most detailed briefing. Her route notes were also excellent.
The two holidays we have had with Headwater were extremely enjoyable. Our first was a walking holiday and the second was a cycling holiday.
Suited us well as a mixture of cycling plus time to relax. We cycled each day and were pleased we visited the suggested towns. Pools at the hotels a great advantage. Always a gamble finding a lunch venue in unknown villages but we never had a bad meal all week.
I think we found only two signposts missing but it was easy to work the route out.
Fairly trouble-free
Good pre-booked accommodation, excellent notes and seamless baggage transfer between locations meant that we could focus on enjoying our cycle ride along the Danube. We would have no hesitation in recommending this holiday to potential future travellers.
Organisation was excellent unfortunately the route notes were poor leading to us losing our way a couple of times. Luckily the guide was very knowledgeable. She talked us through the section through the Fjord. Once we decided not to cycle that part she kindly agreed to transport us for this section. The route description of the Fjord did not include that this was a busy section with very limited space and no where to push the bikes if we decided that we could not manage the hills. A real omission of Headwater. Our middle hotel room while being comfortable had a locked interconnecting door. Unfortunately the only small child in the hotel was in the next door room which meant that we could not sleep in once the child was awake which was very early. The other two hotels were excellent
A very comfortable stay in a lovely hotel with good walking on varied terrain in mountains close to Madrid yet unknown to us before we arrived.
Excellent holiday in little known area of Spain.
Very varied walking in a lovely area. The walks were of the right length with good descriptions. We had good advice from Teresa. This was not an area we would have gone to without you as we had never heard of it. In September it was quiet with very few other tourists Spanish or British. We had one cold day but otherwise it was good walking weather.
This holiday has given us the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful villages in Provence under our own steam and away from the crowds you'd find on a typical coach trip The exercise of cycling during the day is a great appetite-sharpener for enjoying some excellent food and local wines in the evening.
Hilltop villages of Provence
This was an excellent holiday, lovely scenery and good hotels and we had a lot of fun. Days 1 and 3 are quite challenging and justify the 2 bike plus rating but the other days are not overly taxing, and there is no shame in pushing your bike up the hill into Gordes! If you start the cycling bit of this holiday on a Sunday there is an excellent market in Isles sur la Sorgue where you can get picnic supplies...although pushing the bike through the packed town was a bit challenging.(I would give this holiday 5 stars)
Vineyards of the Vaucluse
Pleasant cycling through some enjoyable countryside, and lots of good wine! Le Grand Jardin is one of the loveliest places we have stayed. The food at Castel Mireio was delicious and the service (unlike a previous reviewer we didn't find it slow) and welcome very friendly. We are not quite sure it merits anything higher than a one bike rating - some of the distances for full days cycling were a bit short (but we had done 'Hilltop Villages of Provence' the week before so this may have coloured our view). It is not a very touristy area (apart from Vaison la Romain) so many places you visit are quite quiet.
(I would give this holiday 3 stars)
A fantastic location with plenty of variety in the walks. If you want a break from walking there are opportunities to visit to local towns/villages, or to relax at the hotel. Be prepared to deal with high temperatures, even in September!
This is a most enjoyable walking holiday. You see some spectacular scenery and stay in some lovely places. In September the weather was hotter than we had expected which made the walks quite demanding, but the excellent notes provided by the guides meant that we never got lost. Most of the hotels were excellent, but while the breakfasts at Costa d'Oiro were good, the dinners were not. There was little choice and the main courses were of poor quality.
Excellent route with just the right amount of easy flat cycling and some more strenuous hilly sections. Beautiful part of France with plenty to see and do whilst cycling. Lots of good lunch options too. Another well put together holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Very positive experience.
Interesting series of landscapes/urbanscapes travelled.
Excellent birdwatching along the way.
Very good hotels selected.
Our 9 days on the Porto to Coimbra cycling holiday was overall a very enjoyable experience. For those who are not regular cyclists, the first 4 or 5 days, the cycling is along very quiet cycle tracks and mainly flat. The weather was not especially favourable for the first half of our stay, but good cycling temperature. On the other hand, it only rained on the day off and not for long, or at night. We were near the Atlantic coast most of the time, so we didnt get to see the beaches bathed in warmth and sunshine. We cycled along a lot of lagoons and saw flamingos which was exciting and one of the other couples doing the same holiday, was an avid birder and apparently crossed off most of the birds on his list.
Porto is a charming town and the first restaurant that Headwater booked us in for our first evening meal was terrific. Furodouro, the 2nd night's accommodation, hasnt that much to offer, apart from a nice beach and a most welcoming Manager and a lovely indoor pool. The accommodation itself is very
light and spacious.
Aveiro is also a pleasant town, a miniature Venice. The reception recommended a fantastic fish restaurant on the opposite side of the canal, called Mare Cheia, very regional. Excellent hotel, and next door to the Art Nouveau Museum, which is a bit quirky.
The Macarico Hotel in Praia de Mira has a lovely pool on the rooftop. The restaurant, for which you are given Vouchers is good, once you know how and what to order. Not many of the waiters speak English.
The Curia Palace Hotel is extremely grand though not quite as luxurious in its features as we have become accustomed. However there is a huge pool and on the other side of the pool wall, a field with fairly tame fallow deer. The hotel dates back to 1926 and is very much a heritage hotel, with swing music playing in the background at breakfast which is held in a vast ballroom or banqueting hall.
The last hotel in Coimbra is very modern, and you virtually have your own personalised lift. We encountered the only mosquito of the whole trip there! Lovely pool, and it is about a 20 minute walk to the train station, and probably less up to the main part of Coimbra.
The weather and the scenery improved vastly once we headed away from Mira. There are some quite steep hills on the last leg to Coimbra, but we saw electricity pylons layered with nesting White Storks.
The local guides were extremely helpful and well informed. Their walking routes and descriptions were excellent and full of interest. The whole area was very scenic and with a good variety of wildlife.
Was exactly what it said on the can! - it fulfilled our expectations.
A very enjoyable cycling holiday exploring the less known areas west of Venice.
Had a great week's walking in Madeira, the walks were very clear and the transport well organised. The first walk of the week was the hardest, a lot of up and steeply down but fantastic scenery and glad we did it. The lavada walks were lovely and really enjoyed the tunnels. The hotel in Funchal not a five star, the allocated rooms have no balcony which you need to access Wifi or like us you have to stand by window, not ideal after a long walk. The first two hotels were great, very friendly with great service. Overall an enjoyable holiday.
Everything went very smoothly, no hitches, excellent hotels and some good cycling.
Excellent. The best cycling holiday we have done. Fantastic scenery and excellent food.
Stunning scenery, good food and wine and safe cycleways
As occasional cyclists we found the cycling very manageable on a mixture of Tarmac and gravel tracked routes. The coastal scenery was stunning and the three different locations provided a good variety of places/shops/ancient sites to explore.The standard and location of the hotels was very good enabling easy foot access to a reasonable range of restaurants for which Tripadvisor proved useful. Everyone was friendly and our holiday aided by good weather was a great success.
The cycling from Passau to Vienna was a wonderful experience. We were sorry when we had to hand back the bikes as we enjoyed the cycling so much. The holiday was well planned with two day stops so that we had time to explore the beautiful towns en route. Everything was well organised and supported.
The holiday certainly lived up to its name: Contrasts of Puglia. We enjoyed beautiful places both in town and in country. Weather conditions ranged from bright sunshine and blue skies to thunder-storm deluges --- but with the offer of alternative transport on the wettest days. Italian food was wonderful. Overall, it was a memorable week, and we are looking forward to a next time.
Excellent way to experience the beauty and friendliness of Croatia and in particular the Istrian coast. Bikes excellent and fit for the sometimes stoney cycle paths. Not as daunting as we had envisioned bearing in mind we are both over 70. Rep excellent and very helpful. All accommodation is well chosen and perfectly located. A cycling holiday with an emphasis on the holiday aspect.
We had a great week touring Piedmont on our pushbikes Most of the days rides were quite challenging with some steep climbs but fortunately the distances we travelled were quite short We were blessed with fantastic weather in September so the secret was to set off promptly after a great breakfast each day to get to your destination before mid-afternoon and the hottest part of the day
The standard of hotels is very good although the air conditioning in a couple of them was not really very effective The hosts & locals were all very friendly whenever we stopped or needed directions The pre-arranged meals were all of a high standard and there are plenty of excellent places for lunch on the routes
The roads were always pretty much traffic free with occasional tractors & trailers passing laden with grapes
The guest exclusive secluded pool at the Albergo Castiglione deserves a special mention & I will remember our picnic lunch by the pool brought down by the hotel owner & two beautiful daughters on a baking hot day for a long time
All the route plans were accurate & realistic with several options on some days The bikes themselves worked well and the support team Dan & Cat were discreet but attentive
Finally the food, every meal was enjoyable ranging from a delightful local trattoria in the village to the award winning castle. No matter how hard you try I suspect you will eat too much of it! All the hosts seemed happy to advise you & would often let you drink it by the glass rather than the whole bottle if you wanted
This was an excellent holiday & I think reflects Headwaters long experience in organising these sort of trips Well Done
This holiday is as described. Cycling more difficult at start but definitely got easier. The hotels tended to be on the edge of villages but this didn't matter too much as they had lovely swimming pools and the weather was very hot and sunny.
Overall - excellent.
Lovely holiday in beautiful part of world
Puglia is a fabulous area of Italy. A great variety of terrain with scenic routes.
We have been on a few other trips with headwater and this was our least favorite. There are a number of problems with the instructions. The area is not as scenic at the time of year we rode as others. The distances are quite short with little to do once the ride is over. There are things that need to be thought out and tips and pointers given such as availability of taxis to St. Remy and restaurant/store availability. Still a number of bugs that need to be worked out.
Very pleased; we really enjoyed it!
Excellent base, fantastic views
Overall an excellent holiday with good accommodation and choice of walking routes
We thoroughly enjoyed the entire set-up of this holiday. Our companions in the group were friendly and good company. The walk was spectacular with some of the more boring bits done by vehicular transfer. We were also extremely luck with the weather, it only rained once for 5 minutes! We felt a real sense of achievement when we arrived in Santiago de Compostella.
Exercise, fresh air, excellent food and drink and, as ever with Headwater, getting to know a new area pretty well.
The website does not make it clear that a lot of the cycling is in built up areas ,which was disappointing and unlike our many previous Headwater holidays.Although all the hotels ,apart from the one in Curia ,were outstanding, I would not recommend this area for cycling.
Beautiful verdant area to walk in. Fantastic views. Lots of options for rest days.
While this walk was quite challenging in places, partly because of the high temperatures in early September, it was thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying. It was very well planned and the gastronomic aspects were excellent and exceeded our expectations. This is a much under-rated part of Italy and very well worth exploring. The views, the wine and the food are outstanding.
Croatia is a lovely country but the cycling routes were not good. A lot of the routes were on busy main roads up-hill with lots of heavy traffic. The cycle paths were mainly shingle and quite dangerous and very dusty. One cycle path (shingle) had a quarry in the middle of it and heavy quarry lorries were using the cycle paths - nowhere to escape - and dust everywhere. The hotels were good. Some of the cycling was through popular beach side areas and therefore one had to beware of pedestrians/children, etc. All in all, although there were some lovely villages en route, cycling on the roads with no views was not worth it.
A beautiful area of Spain particularly the coastline with some wonderful accessible walks . Longer walks can be challenging on the warmer days !
A really lovely week touring a rural area of Provence. The scenery within the Luberon valley, protected by the two wooded and rocky ridges was delightful, shame we missed the lavender in bloom (late August) but the fruit trees and vineyards were pretty scenic. The grading is fair, one or two climbs to the hillside villages worth it for the views and a welcome cool drink! Accommodation on the whole, whilst modest, was acceptable, the highlights being the pool at Les Mas de Senecole and the 'Country Home' lounge at L'Hermitage. Not terribly taken with St Saturnin les Apt as a stop, either as a village and particularly unimpressed with the Hotel St Hubert. Routes well planned on country lanes and bike tracks but still offering interesting stop off points - we loved the Caves at Thouzon, not least for its cool temperatures on a hot day! Great reliable support from reps Laura and Tim.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Holt,
Thank you for taking the time to write in with your post-holiday feedback. It was great to read you enjoyed a lovely week in Provence.
We were however sorry to read of your disappointment with Hotel St Hubert. Over the course of the summer, we monitor the feedback we receive from our customers. We then use this feedback to help us to improve our holidays for future customers. With this in mind, we have made the decision to change this hotel for the 2017 season. We are sure you will agree, this will help us continue to enhance this holiday.
We were pleased to read you rated our reps support highly. I am sure they were delighted to read your comments.
In closing, we would like to thank you for choosing Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
We enjoyed our holiday, hotels and food were good, people very friendly and helpful, not a particularly scenic route but pretty good for non-cyclist as very flat.
Cycling was mainly along flat cycle ways and quiet roads although some of the cycle track surfaces were a little bumpy. The hotels were a very good standard, meals, whether taken within or outside the hotels, were very good, especially the fresh fish dishes. Porto was well worth seeing and an interesting city. A bus trip to Costa Nova from Aveiro is worth doing to see the pretty painted houses. The cycle along the estuary and nature reserve was very enjoyable watching out for flamingoes and other seabirds and we were lucky to be doing this at low to half tide when the wading birds and lots of local fisherman, digging for cockles and clams, can be seen. On the beach at Praia de Mira we were lucky enough to see the local fishermen hauling in their nets full of sardines. The final cycle from Praia de Mira along the water canals was a lovely cycle too.
Perfect. What far better than we could have imagined. The accommodation, food and quality of the cycles were all excellent.
A very enjoyable holiday , beautiful countryside cycling though the vineyards on small country roads , Provence was stunning , great views good food and wine one of the best Headwater holidays we have done
You will not find a better hotel than the Bellevue at Dobbiaco and the excellent local bus and train services give you access to some of the most spectacular areas and walks in the Dolomites
Anyone of reasonable fitness can walk the Camino, but maybe you should consider grading your Camino walking holiday. One grade for people who are not really used to walking distances and another grade for people who have come to walk at least 25 - 30 km per day. Most of the walkers had booked hotels and albergues in towns and villages. Walkers like to meet up with each other in the evening and share experiences. At one place the hotel pick up was 1 hour 15 minutes late from the agreed time, with no apology or
If you like being outdoors and lots of exercise, this is a perfect balance to stay active and work up an appetite to indulge in the gastronomy and wine. Compared to the South East of England the lack of traffic and potholes is wonderful!
Le Langhe in Piedmont - one of Italy's best kept secrets - a mecca for food and wine lovers, with breathtaking scenery.
Cycling from Slovenia was a great experience. Dependent on flight times though, I would suggest just one night in Ljubljana and an extra night in Bled. I agree with other reviewers, that it would have been good to spend more time in Slovenia. The local agent was very helpful and gave us a full briefing using his computer which was very helpful. This was the best briefing we have had from a Headwater 'agent'.
The cycling spectacular and easily the best scenery we have had on any Headwater trip although the cycling was generally easy (this was good!) - even on the long days. The parts of the cycle on old railway lines were particularly good - and easy, due to shade despite it being hot. I would actually grade the hotel as 1 not 1+
The Veneto cycling was not as spectacular as our previous week. We enjoyed it though. A good opportunity to see a different less touristy part of Italy. We particularly enjoyed staying in the agriturismo which are friendly and welcoming.
This was our first experience with Headwater. We were extremely impressed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our local Rep Sarah was helpful and informative. She knew the area extremely well and had clearly worked hard to develop helpful contacts and provide useful and interesting information about the area we were cycling in. She provided excellent notes and maps and obviously had good relationships with the hotel owners which helped us to feel cared for and welcomed. Sarah is literally the best holiday rep that we have ever encountered. We are full of admiration and gratitude and will definitely book with Headwater again.
Great holiday overall. L'Albara lovely place to stay, family very welcoming and evening meals and wine delicious. Hannah also very delighted to have cake for breakfast every morning!
Transfer from MarcoPolo to Venice mestre and then train to Vincenza quite tiring and a bit stressful.
Probably worth suggesting at booking the option for a taxi transfer ( I know this is mentioned in the brochure)
This was undoubtedly the most spectacular holiday of our 15 with Headwater. The scenery coming down from the Julian alps along the line of the old railway was unsurpassed.
Outstandingly beautiful area with plenty of fantastic walks. The location could not be better and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The hotel was great with very friendly and helpful staff. The food was excellent - varied, tasty and creatively presented. We had glorious weather for the entire week so we were lucky and could get out and about every day. The information provided by Peter and the other staff was very useful and helped us to get the most from our time. We liked the packed lunch buffet which really helped given the prices of things generally. Similarly the transport pass which gave us free travel on cable cars and buses. Getting there and back was easy and travel very smooth.
The only slight downside was that our room was rather small, particularly the bathroom which was very cramped, and generally not as luxurious as other Headwater hotels we've stayed in. I realise that Switzerland is a very expensive country and this holiday is very good value so it's probably a compromise to keep the holiday affordable. It certainly didn't spoil our stay. We had a wonderful time - thank you Headwater and Alfa Soleil.
We had a fantastic time on the Classic Swiss Alps walking holiday. Everything was organised for us - from the flight to the journey to the hotel and details on the walks. The hotel staff were all very friendly and extremely helpful. The food was the surprise of the trip, it was delicious!
The walks and the scenery was spectacular, and the suggested routes were all brilliant. There was also enough flexibility in the suggested guide to vary the hiking to your level of ability.
Overall, we had a brilliant time!
Great all round experience
Very good, but next time would try a higher grade of route
We were initially nervous about a holiday which was managed locally by an agency other than Headwater. Our previous experience had not been great. However we need not have worried. Donau Touristik were hugely well organised and the bikes were excellent. The cycling was just about the flattest we had ever experienced and, partly because of the excellent weather, partly because of the excellent food and accommodation, this was as enjoyable a holiday as we have ever had.
A couple of small blemishes. At Bregenz on the first night we were served only a three course meal instead of the advertised four. (We only realised subsequently about this when we returned on the final night).
Hotel Buchornerhof was not in the same league as the other accommodation. We were served the wrong food on one evening and the air/conditioning leaked. The staff's hearts did not seem to be in their work as it was in the other hotels.
One warning - wine in the hotel restaurants (especially the Swiss ones) is very expensive indeed.
These are small gripes. It was a great holiday and I'd do it all again anytime.
The ride down from Bled to Grado was a great trip. Except for the two short days at the end of the trip our days were full of wonderful scenery and beautiful towns. The majority of our hotels exceeded expectations being in great locations with good service and food. Stopover destinations were interesting and Udine, Palmanova and Grado were especial delights. Support from the Slovenian team was good and as usual the Headwater experience was one we will repeat.
Headwater provide gently active (this interpretation depends on one's level of fitness and expectation!) holidays in comfortable, interesting hotels and places. The restaurants vary, some are better than others, but in general they reach a very satisfactory standard. I think they are a great way to spend time exploring an area but with always the fall back of a pleasant hotel.
We had a lovely cycling holiday on the Cotes to Ventoux tour. The reps were great in picking us up and explaining about the bikes and timings etc. The hotels were lovely especially the first 2, which had the best food too! It was nice cycling along at our own time and the notes were good in explaining where to go so didn't get lost.
Amazing food, a warm welcome and wonderful hill top towns and rolling scenery worthy of an Unesco designation.
We had a wonderful mixed activity holiday cycling and canoeing down the Dordogne knowing we had excellent food and drink to look forward to after a hard days work. Pure bliss !!
Beautiful quiet region of Italy. Family at L'Albara are very welcoming. The food is excellent. A real get away from it all experience. This is our second visit and it was just as good the second time. Would happily go back again.
A superb holiday, tailored exactly to our needs and specifications. Our reception from our reps, Luke and Eleanor, was outstanding: nothing was too much. Very personable and up-beat - exactly what you want on holiday. Headwater's hotels are second to none, in perfect locations and with wonderful facilities. I can not recommend Headwater holidays high enough.
Very good cycling with very few up-hill stretches, lots to see and do en route - we would gladly do the holiday again. Bikes were comfortable and easy to use. The routes are largely on cycle paths that kept us feeling safe from traffic. All the hotels made us feel very welcome. Everyone seemed to understand pidgin Italian or German, or English so communication was rarely a problem. M Tours reps were reliable and helpful.
Great hotels and food - a great trip in a beautiful region..
Good summer walking in a lovely valley. Not as spectacular as the Jungfrau region, but impressive. Great to have passes for most (but not all ) of the walks. Good cooking at Alfa Soleil, though watch out - heavy handed in cooking with cream.
Even in bad weather there are walks one can do.
A perfect holiday for cycling softies, we loved the fact that most of it was on beautiful scenic paths, (we certainly wouldn't have enjoyed cycling on Italy's busy roads). We loved the days in between visiting historic villages and sites and really enjoyed the changing landscape as we descended from the alps in Slovenia to the coast in north east Italy. The handbook provided by Headwater was very useful when looking for things to do and visit on the non cycling days.
The booking process was simple and supportive. The holiday exceeded expectation; not something I have said before. The accommodation was superb, food wonderful, welcome huge and help available when required.
The countryside was pretty and the places we stayed in had narrow, windy roads barely wide enough for a car which were intriguing to explore. Snorklling was fun and there were fish to see from waist height just standing in the water. The cycling was not overly challenging but the heat had to be managed with plenty of water and early starts.
we loved it. you make the right choices. you care for detail. you are committed and reliable. you do all the hard work. we just turned up and paid. great!
Wonderful way to see a country on a bike, real sense of achievement when you arrive at a new destination by bike. A fair amount of exercise - not too strenuous, but much better than sitting on a sunbed all week.
An unforgettable experience travelling in rural Portugal, getting to see sights other holidays don't offer, off the beaten track, just the right amount of effort for cycling. Excellent choice of hotels, although not the best views! Very good help from rep and good support offered. Nice to know the baggage was taken care of although we arrived before it at one location and it was 5.30pm before they arrived! We could cycle the route at our own pace and felt secure in the knowledge that we were being taken care of and knew where we were going with very good instructions and maps.
Great fun, lots of fresh air and lovely food.
This was our first cycling holiday abroad so we were looking for a central base from which we could explore on a daily basis rather than living out of suitcases. With hindsight I'm not sure we could have chosen better. The accommodation was superb (in particular Angelina's cooking!), the cycle routes of the right length (such that we had time to ride the mornings and relax in the afternoons) and there were opportunities to visit Vicenza or go further afield.
Thoroughly recommended.
Our party consisted of Grandma and Granddad (late 60's), Son (48) and Grandson (10). We were all more than catered for and thoroughly enjoyed our activity holiday. We had an informative break down of the area from our reps, Colin and Jill and the map we were given + bus timetables were very useful throughout the week. Our bicycles were easy to ride and comfortable.
Our first outing was on the afternoon of arrival when we decided to visit the nearby village. There were very few days when we didn't use the bikes to visit nearby towns and villages and the routes were usually flat and safe for our 10 year old. Our grandson particularly enjoyed the toboggan run but warns other would be enthusiasts that it is possible to fall off!! He was, however, proud of his scraped leg! Got straight back on and finished the course.
The grandparents tackled the cycle ride to lake Schwazen which included a steep climb. We walked some of the way as it was very hot - but we made it and were very proud of ourselves especially as there were many people overtaking us on electric bikes! (a good idea if you are not used to cycling). We particularly enjoyed our day at the Salt Mines, using the local bus and train + a ferry to get to Hallstatt (a stunning place). The salt mines were great fun and a unique experience. We also visited the Ice Caves (by local buses) - also fascinating.
The boys hired an eco boat and also sampled tubing on the lake. Crazy golf and the train up the mountain was fab + the cable car up Katrin. The walk down the mountain was pretty tough, though out 10 year old completed the whole day without a murmur. Catching the bus back outside the Spar on the main road was a good idea as sustenance was required!!
Last, but not least, the hotel was superb - so friendly and the food was spectacular! Thank you Headwater for a great holiday, though we did need a rest on our return.
Quite demanding. 9 days is a long walking holiday.
Our trip we booked through Headwaters for a stay in Kandersteg, Switzerland at the Alfa Soleil was the highlight of a few weeks spent in Europe. The hotel was wonderful, and the hiking suggestions from Headwaters were great and provided us with all the information we needed to do some great hiking on our own. They scheduled our train trips and everything worked just as planned. It was great to have a home-base from which to do a lot of different hikes in the area. We were very pleased with our whole experience!
the provision of laundry local laundry services would be much appreciated.
Very good.
We've done several similar cycling holidays in Europe and this was up there with the best.
This was our third cycling holiday with Headwater. Our first and second were excellent, but this was the best ever. Indeed this holiday now sits on our list of best holidays ever.
Everything about the trip excelled. The bikes were new, comfortable and well set up. The hotels were all excellent, each offered a first class welcome and service. Whilst being very different, from large chain hotels to small family units typical of a B and B, each was special and offered a memorable experience. But most of all what made this holiday was the cycling. The Alp Adria trail is something to behold. 200 miles of dedicated cycle track. Track that is off road for most of the route and as wide as a country road. Because of this the cycling was stress free, and you were able to take in the magnificent countryside in all its glory. Starting in the mountains and finishing at sea level meant that a good proportion was downhill.
The scenery all the way was outstanding. From the mountains of Slovenia, Kranski Gora being particularly memorable. To the salt water marsh areas of Grado. The contrasts were astonishing. The towns passed through were every one interesting with their own history (ancient in most cases). Also very quiet which suited us. Even in July/August, you never felt like a tourist. You just fit in to their normal life.This meant that we were also afforded the opportunity to practice our languages (most spoke English when needed).
We added two days to the end of our trip in Venice. What can be said about Venice. NOthing except that it needs to be on everyones Bucket list.
Overall a fabulous trip, We recommend unreservedly to anyone contemplating a cycling holiday but are maybe not in the best of shape, right up to an experienced cyclist. There is something for everyone on this trip.
I hope this comment communicates how much we loved our holiday. Thank you Headwater for introducing us to this part of the world and to the Alp Adria trail. The rest of Europe, indeed the world should take a good long look at this piece of engineering,it should be a model to all and duplicated by all.
Chris and Liz, Cardiff
Headwater response:
Dear Dr Wigham,
Thank you for taking the time to share your holiday experience with us, it sounds like you had a memorable holiday. I am sure your comments will inspire future customers to try this holiday and hope they enjoy it as much as you did.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Croatia and the Istrian Coastline are a gem and offer a variety of historic and scenic opportunities.
Headwater never fails to please. We have holidayed with them on three occasions now, love their routes, their choice of hotels and attention to every detail.
Our Headwater walking holiday contained the perfect mixture of beautiful and challenging walks with comfortable hotels and delicious French meals. We felt we were able to escape from the well-trodden tourist trails and really explore the countryside, knowing our luggage was being taken care of and there would be a crystal-clear swimming pool awaiting us at the end of another hot day.
An ideal combination of mild peril, moderate exercise and gluttony, in lovely and interesting surroundings.
Being able to easily visit several locations made the holiday much more interesting, and so nice not to have to think about where to park the car. Electric bikes gave us so much freedom to see more things at our age (66 and 76!)
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. Quite sad when it finished. Could easily have kept going
The routes were lovely, mostly on cycle tracks which was great and well planned mileages.
Especially enjoyed Slovenia. Would like to go back.
Hotels generally of a very good standard although next time we would make requests eg. for a quiet room or room with good outlook
I had a fantastic week on the Austrian Lakes Adventure. Colin and Jill were very welcoming and happy to help at any stage of the holiday. The family run Hotel was also brilliant! Rather than a standard room which I was expecting, I had my very own suite including window seating and table, sofa, en-suite, balcony and ample storage. Their buffet breakfast and 5 course evening menus were always first class too. I really could not complain! As for the hiking and cycling, there were numerous notes provided which gave flexibility and choice dependent on the level of ability I was looking for. This was a great way to visit the local area and integrate with local culture. I also incorporated a day trip to Salzburg by bus. Unlike the UK, this was very easy to organise, and stress free! This was a beautiful area to visit and will highly recommend to my friends and family. Thank you all.
Kandersteg is the most perfect setting - the beauty of the mountains, lakes and meadows is breathtaking! The walking options are fabulous - but remember to take your poles for those steep downhill sections! The staff at the hotel were welcoming and so helpful - a real plus. A wonderful holiday!
Superb holiday that we thoroughly enjoyed! It rained quite a bit - but don't let that put you off. The scenery is marvellous; out of this world in some places - especially the Dolomites with their marvellously jagged mountains and stunning turquoise lakes. The Drei Zimmen/Tre Cime trail is magnificent and certainly worth saving to last! The hotel accommodation was truly superb with a leisurely 5-course meal routinely included. Too good for us, I have to say! Not many British families in this area. Keep it quiet... do they know what they are missing?
We had a very good relaxed holiday, with Sarah giving alternative choices and lifts on days that were too hot to walk the whole distance
Sarah is an exceptionally good rep
Thankyou
As a family of six, headwater is a great holiday choice for us. We enjoy spending the time together and the activities give us a shared focus and shared sense of achievement. The children age between 16 and eight, and they all enjoyed the holiday. It challenged their palates as well as their legs, as most of the hotels don't offer kids menus, but this worked out fine and they all discovered things they didn't know they might like. Canoeing was harder work than expected, but such a beautiful way to see the river. I really love headwater holidays, this is our third time and it definitely won't be our last. Now that all the children are confidently able to cycle we will try some more ambitious ones next time.
Great holiday. Our rep Sarah was really helpful and ensured everything ran smoothly. Was sick on first day of arrival. Sarah and the people running the hotel helped me straight away so that I was able to get better and enjoy a great holiday. The scenery is stunning and people so friendly and helpful. Also the food was delicious in every place we stayed. You would pay an awful lot for that standard of food in the UK. We went in July so the weather was really hot in the afternoon so make sure you take lots of shade and water breaks.Was a fun holiday.
Please provide guests with bus stop information in Alba - we walked down to Gallo from Grinzane and easily took a bus there, but weren't sure where to stand, which bus stop, on the way back.... So missed the bus when it did come. Also the air-con on the top floor in Villa Pavesi needs attention! A beautiful room under the eaves, but boiling hot!
Cycling the Istrian coast was such a wonderful holiday for myself and my husband. The sea was gorgeous, some of the routes were a bit bumpy and confusing but each location was so beautiful it was incredible. Food was great in the first two hotels and such stunning locations. We would definitely recommend to a friend and think about going on another holiday with headwater.
Elizabeth was friendly, efficient and helpful tour rep. The food and accommodation were generally superb, especially at Hostellerie Fenelon, where the staff made special efforts with our 9 year old. We particuarly liked reading about the experiences of others in the Headwater Blue Book, which gave us useful clues for what to do on the 'non-canoeing' days. It also helped us plan for the weather which was variable, ranging from very hot to thunderstorms. We would highly recommend canoeing and cycling the Dordogne which is a welcoming and very attractive area of France. Our children really enjoyed themselves. We are glad that we didn't try it with children any younger because after four canoeing days, our youngest (9) was tired! The pools at each hotels were a particular hit. QuercyLand, the children's water park at Souillac, proved something of a lifesaver when we realised that we weren't going to be able to cycle because of illness.
We enjoyed our holiday in the lovely countryside and the cycling routes were scenic but it would have been nice to cycle past some lavender fields as they feature so prominently in postcards and appear in the brochure. We particularly enjoyed the traditional country hotel at the beginning of our holiday including breakfasting outdoors and the outdoor dining and leisure area of Montmirail was particularly nice. It is nice to return from a cycle to a relaxing swim. The food and wine is generally excellent and gives the opportunity to try some regional specialities. We really enjoyed our holiday.
Cycling was excellent, food good, people friendly and reps also very good ad helpful. A bit disappointed with the accommodation at Hotel St Hubert. Rooms were old and quite shabby.
Avoid the hotel at Tulln until they have finished rebuilding it! On the Krems to Tulln day there was no cafe in the village specified in the notes but an excellent cafe was found later on right next to a power station. We thought the cycle into Vienna along Danube island was brilliant and should be encouraged. The local rep persuaded us to ignore the advice to take the train from Ottenshein into Linz so we cycled it and it was awful!
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Bampfylde,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback. We are sorry if you were inconvenienced by the building work taking place at Hotel Nibelungenhof, please be assured, we monitored these works closely and would have changed hotels had we felt this was necessary. However, whilst the outside works were visible, we did not feel this affected the overall stay for our customers, I am however pleased to advise that this work was completed over the summer . We were also sorry to hear you felt the local agent gave you poor advice and you found the route awful. We have asked that they do not make this recommendation for future customers. We have received no further constructive feedback in either of these areas.
In closing, we hope that despite these disappointments you had an enjoyable holiday overall. We would like to thank you for choosing to travel with Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Dobbiaco was a super location as a base for walking. The walks were well detailed and accurate and the views during the walks were quite stunning.
We cycled 5 out of 7 days. Joanna met us on arrival and got us on track. The trails were very easy to manage - the GPS was a superb tool. The scenery was magnificent, and we really saw the hidden Portugal. The cycle lanes were completely segregated from the roads and this made for a relaxed and peaceful experience. Each evening we arrived at our hotel to a warm welcome and our luggage in our room. The standard of all the hotels was extremely high and they were all in beautiful locations. The printed maps and route descriptions were also helpful, and the level of difficulty ultimate ascribed to the cycle was accurate.
Excellent service from headwater head office....even a phone call to tell us train was delayed. Also great service from local reps.
A lovely week of gentle rides on quiet roads through beautiful countryside. At the end of the day we could look forward to a few hours relaxing by the pool at the wonderful agriturismo L'Albara, before a truly magnificent evening meal. We loved every minute.
Great way to explore Italy.
We really enjoyed our holiday. The arrangements were efficient, the hotel was comfortable if somewhat dated (it's years since I've seen one of those beige hairdriers attached to the bathroom wall in a hotel). The food was good on the whole, though with limited choice as is usual for this type of hotel in Austria not everything is going to suit everyone.
The area is great for all levels of activity and the option of returning on the boat after a walk or cycle was great for us with our 7 year old. We have been to the area before so knew it would be suitable for us even if we didn't want to opt for some of the suggested things on the itinerary.
Very good experience despite the travel arrangement errors.
The family activity holiday was ideal for a family of mixed ability. The cycling to Bad Ischi , Saint Wolfgang and Saint Gilgen was suitable for everyone. All the places we visited had a wide selection of coffee shops, bars and restaurants. We also did a number of walks from the hotel. The most rewarding was the 20 minute ascent of the Thersienstein which gave excellent views of Wolfgangsee. A more adventurous walk was the Brustwand Aussichtsweg, although the highlight was probably a beer at the Kleefeld on the way back to the hotel with views up the Postalm valley. We used the hotels swimming pool everyday and on the hotter days you could walk out into the garden to a selection of sun beds. The hotels facilities were excellent. We had a bedroom with a mezzanine which gave 3 sleeping areas. The public areas were very spacious and clean. The food was a modern interpretation of Austrian cuisine that was very well cooked and presentated. However if you thought it a little adventurous they would give alternatives like Wiener schnitzel and chips . Overall the holiday is highly recommended.
We have just returned from an excellent 10 days in France, having never been to this area before, we now are keen to return! The walking and cycling was definitely 2 boot, but worth the climbs. And we really enjoyed the relaxed canoeing down The Dordogne. All hotels were excellent with fabulous food. Sarlet is very pretty and well worth the extra night, although it is a long climb up back to the hotel from the town.
Excellent holiday.
Overall we really enjoyed the holiday and will be looking to book again. We chose the holiday for the gastro experience and really enjoyed the mix of restaurants from Michelin starred to more local / rustic. However we felt that the guide notes could have provided a brief summary of the restaurants to assist with expectations as some were really upmarket requiring smarter dress and had expensive wine, while others were more local where casual dress was acceptable and had reasonable wine prices. We also found some of the gradients challenging and thought that this holiday should have been graded 2 x bicycles+. Finally, we learnt by experience that shops shut on different days and afternoons. Unfortunately, we found ourselves without water on occasions despite reading the notes. For example, on route to Monteforte we did not stock up on water as the guide notes said that there were bars and shops. Unfortunately on arrival on Wednesday all shops were all shut meaning that we had to buy water from a bar at inflated prices. A line in each town description to show shop closing day would have assisted greatly. Hopefully, these points will be taken as constructive to help others as we really did have a great time.
This was our second holiday with Headwater. The first was a group walk about 7 years ago in Tuscany which was outstanding. The hotels, the reps and the food were just as good this time, but the walking was disappointing. The walks were very isolated and much of the time either through boring woodland which all looks the same or vineyards, which also all look the same. I am a teacher and therefore have to holiday during School holidays. Unfortunately we could not find group walks to suit during this period.
One complaint is that in all the hotels we stayed at we were allocated the worst rooms in the hotel by any standards. In Villa Beccaris, for example, we were the nearest room to the tradesmen's entrance. At Hotel Le Torri there was no air conditioning so needed windows open all night. We were given a room facing the street and were woken up very early by traffic noise. No balcony either.
Exxcellent trip,superb reps,only complaint food at Les Pins - an uninspired menu for the demi pension. No choice,poor value
It is worth it! Take up all the advice provided by your reps and live a little!
If you are a beginner cyclist the route is great but the bikes make it feel hard as they are too heavy and too highly geared. Otherwise the route is fantastic and well signed. The scenery is great all of the way.
This was an ideal holiday for our family with three teenagers. The canoeing wasn't too demanding but was fun, and the 'rest' days could be as active as we liked. The Dordogne is a wonderful part of France, fantastically beautiful, and with superb cuisine. All the hotels provided fantastic meals and really good, friendly service. The kids had a triple room in three of the five hotels and these were well-sized, proper triple or family rooms so they had plenty of space.
I would normally put our family holiday together myself but it was wonderful being able to leave all the organisation up to someone else, knowing that all the pieces would fit together. They did our flights (from Scotland) - with dates that didn't match the canoeing holiday - and also car hire for those extra days at a very reasonable rate.
Just be aware that you will have extra costs when you are there. You will, of course, have to pay for drinks with your (half board) evening meal, and these prices varied quite a bit between the hotels, and the picnic lunches provided by the hotels varied between 7 and 10 Euros per person. We could add tips to our card payments at all but one of the hotels.
We have two teenage sons and this was the perfect family holiday for everyone. Combining the activity of cycling and rest days at beautiful hotels and locations, taking in the wonderful medieval villages of Catalunya, farm lands, bays and beeches. It was the perfect way to explore more of the region.
Overall we found the holiday a great break for us. The route, notes, hotel locations, things to do etc all added to the enjoyment. Everything was well explained and set out for us.
Thoroughly enjoyed my holiday on my first visit to Portugal. Excellent service from local reps. Great hotels. Ebikes fun. Delicious food, wine and port. Loved the routes.
Good .Poor room in the hotel Carrie Porto small room small window looking across a narrow ally straight into a derelict building.This room should not be let in this state.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Mathias,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. We were pleased to see you had a good holiday, although, we were sorry to read of your disappointment with the standard of room you were allocated at Carris Porto Ribeira. Since receiving your feedback, we have asked the hotelier to ensure they do not allocate this room to future Headwater customers. Whilst we realise this does not affect your holiday, we do hope it goes some way to show we take our customers feedback seriously. We would like to thank you for your continued loyalty and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
We had a fantastic week cycling in Catalunya, food, wine and people were great.
The quality and variety of walking was stimulating and typified the beauty of the area. I travelled in early July and the flower meadows were among the most abundant I have seen in Europe. The hotel offered well cooked and interesting menus (excellent pasta) and a good accompanying wine list, with friendly, helpful staff.
Wonderful high level walking with dramatic views and an amazing variety of wild flowers during the day, and a very comfortable hotel with superb food in the evening.
Very well organised holiday - excellent helpful Portuguese reps looked after us well throughout. GPS was a very successful means of not getting lost en route. Hotels all good, although 2 out of 4 gave us rooms looking at blank walls. Some time is spent riding on roads, though we used footpaths where available, and there are dedicated cycle paths for the majority of the route. Some interesting coastal scenery. Riding through the lagoon wasn't as spectacular as we'd hoped as much of the the cycle path was rocky and potholed and you had to concentrate on the path surface immediately ahead to avoid falling, rather than enjoying the scenery and wildlife. All in all though, a very enjoyable holiday.
Wonderful holiday - excellent hotel in an amazing varied area for walking with stunning views round every corner. The buses and lifts - free with the complementary pass - make the high level walks (and/ or restaurants) so accessible. One of our best holidays ever and we will be back!
The walk notes were very good, although some local information with them would have improved the experience. There was 1 mistake we found for the Strudelkopf walk where after leaving the Hotel Hohe Gaisl you reach a stream '...after just 350m' should read '...after just 35m'. This caused confusion as the official path has been diverted - correct per the notes (but the old one/route being shown on the map) and the old one/junction is 350m from this point!!
This is a beautiful part of the world. some of the nicest scenery we have cycled through. I think possibly the nicest hotels and food [apart from 2 nights see below] we have enjoyed. BUT it is hard!! There is more climbing on this route than we have experienced before on other 2 bike routes. I think this does need flagged up. The 2 women in their mid 60s found the going very tough on the first day - over 900metres of climbing. BUT our excellent reps jumped to the rescue and produced e- bikes for the 2 elderly ladies! What a transformation - we could enjoy the rides- the views- and our husbands did not have the worry about us! Highly to be recommended on [in our opinion]this 3 bike holiday.On 2 nights we had to travel to a restaurant . this meant we had the same menu 2 nights running -for a non meat eater- the fish was poor. It was not a great ambience. We did speak to the reps about it. the food elsewhere was largely extraordinary and the hotels that only did breakfasts gave excellent breakfasts.
We did not find your new map system helpful. the route notes mentioned names of places that were not on your new maps. Thankfully our reps provided proper maps at our request.
Well planned and organised, good routes accurately described, very helpful staff.
Excellent holiday. The bikes were quite heavy but the cycling was flat and the electric bike was modern and excellent.
If you want a very fine single-centre walking holiday in stunning mountain scenery then Headwater's Dolomites experience in the Southern Tyrol is perfect: varied, stimulating, hard work and very satisfying. As well as the glory of the mountains, the flower-strewn alpine pastures are a botanist's heaven.
An enjoyable holiday cycling in the beautiful countryside of the Dordogne region, visiting medieval towns and villages, castles and gardens. We were sorry not to be able to canoe as planned but nevertheless had a great holiday.
Loved this little known area, which was perfect for easy cycling. Good variety of cycling ; quiet roads, alongside canals and dedicated cycle paths. Sarah our rep couldn't have been better and was always working hard for us to get the most out of our holiday. Loved Albara, which had a pool which was a bonus in our hot weather (30s). There is another holiday option to stay here as a base for week, I would think this would work well , as it was our favourite stopover out of the four we stayed at. Food and wine excellent all the way round and plenty of places to stop enroute.
This holiday was good and the temperature for walking was very comfortable, but it would have been lovely to see the sun more, and the spectacular views, which were sometimes covered by mist and low cloud. I was not very fit at the beginning and felt exhausted and sore after two days, so chose to miss the walk on day 3 and go with the bags to the next hotel and have a day resting, and reading by the pool. (The Porto Bay Serra Golf has a spa with treatments, and it is possible to book a leg and foot massage!). The walks were dominated by levada routes, so less varied than our previous walking holidays with Headwater, so it was really worth going on the San Lourentco peninsula walk which was wonderful.
A marvellous combination of: exercise and relaxation in wonderful locations, staying in top hotels with everything superbly organised.
We had a fantastic holiday, The scenery, food and accomodation were great. Although we are both pretty fit my wife isn't such a keen cyclist but she really enjoyed this. The reps were really helpful when my wife wanted to swap to an E-bike towards the end when it got really hot, and now she wants to go again which I never thought would happen! I would really recommend this holiday and the E- bikes for those less enthusiastic about cycling
Generally an excellent service but based on past experience will only go for future holidays with you where a Headwater rep is involved rather than an agent
A very well considered walking route with accurate and detailed route notes which helped to make the holiday very enjoyable. We opted to stay an extra night in one of the suggested hotels which worked out very well. We liked the independence and choice of pace the holiday presented even though we had the full back up of Headwater representatives there if we had needed them. The rating of 1 boot + for the Catalan Classic tour was appropriate as was the 'at a glance' write up in the brochure. Overall this walk/holiday fulfilled our expectations and introduced us to a lovely part of Spain.
We had a wonderful time - excellent hotel, interesting food and superb walking. If you like wild flowers, it was a stunning to see the variety and colour on display. It is a reminder of what we have lost with our 'improved' grassland and factory farming. What was nice was that we could tailor each day's walk with the help of the hotel staff according to how strenuous a walk we felt like and what the weather was like in various parts of the area.
The Classic Swiss Alps walking holiday was a wonderful blend of a comfortable and welcoming hotel and varied walking. As a single centre holiday it was good to be able to access amazing scenery very easily and close to the hotel. The walks could all be tailored to suit ability, weather and level of energy by extending or shortening the suggested itineraries. The map was a great help in addition to the written descriptions. We were there at the end of June just before the hay cut in the village fields so saw the myriad meadow flowers before they were harvested, a process that was also very interesting to watch. The higher alpine meadows were the best we have ever seen anywhere and the waterfalls were impressive, fed by the melting snow. Kandersteg, where the holiday is based, is well served by trains and this was our method of transport all the way from England.
This was our first cycling holiday, we are both reasonably fit but not regular cyclists so this was an excellent introduction.we found the routes fairly straight forward and enjoyable with the route notes easy to follow as long as we didn't read too far ahead (short term memory problems!). All the hotels were very good in their different ways , we ate well everywhere but the stand out food was at the Villa Lussana in Teolo. unfortunately we missed the ride to Teolo because of an extremely heavy thunder storm but Sarah our Rep picked us up and transfered us. The day wasn't wasted though, we were able to do a lovely circular walk later on in the afternoon to set us up for the first of our fabulous evening meals there. We took a bus into Padua on the rest day, well worth doing, we visited the Scrovegni Chapel and the the University to see the anatomy theatre. The two nights at the Agritourismo L' Albara were very convivial and the pool was lovely. To sum up, we had a great time, Sarah our rep was extremely helpful and helped make our holiday .
Wonderful relaxing holiday
Bikes excellent. Lunches en route excellent. Accommodation a bit mixed.
Madeira was a beautiful location. Weather in June was pleasant. Hotels and food good.
Walks varied and interesting. Overall a good experience.
Great cycling location with generally very quiet roads, beautiful countryside and pretty villages perched on hilltops - definitely a great way to explore the region - you can smell the lavender fields and really enjoy the countryside. Both Keith and Claire were excellent reps - really friendly, helpful and flexible in every way. The food at Dame L'Oie in Perne la Fontaine was superb as was the food at Hotel de Sable. Quality of the bikes was very good. The itinerary for the rest day at Maubec was a little underwhelming as we felt the villages weren't that picturesque with few options for coffee/stop-offs and only managed to get lunch at the last stop in Robion. We would have preferred to go back to Lacoste and Menerbes which we had whizzed through the day before.
The cycle tracks in Portugal were good and holiday would suit people new to cycling holidays
Cycling through wonderful rural landscapes; visiting beautiful hilltop villages
We had two varied weeks in France, interspersed with the 8 day walking holiday. I think we have come to the conclusion that staying based in one hotel (i.e. Kandersteg) is probably better for us than walking from hotel to hotel. We missed having a car on our 'rest' days in order to explore the surroundings. We also found 23kms rather too much for us! We got lost a couple of times following the instructions - better signposting in Switzerland! However, the food, wine and the beautiful countryside was much appreciated. Not often one walks only hearing birdsong and nothing else!
Thanks Headwater for all your arrangements.
Generally, very enjoyable - superb part of the world to explore; ideal time of year (our trip was not peak season); great to burn some calories during the day, then enjoy some fine food and drink in the evening; good mix of like-minded people.
Good varied walking, with clear directions. But we were pleased the weather was not hot because, aged about 70, we found the walking days quite full. Timing was as predicted though torrential rain had turned some of the tracks into an obstacle course.
Hotels were excellent, all very special in different ways. Chateau de Monrecours is magnificent, feels very expensive, with a talented chef and friendly helpful Maitre d'.
Monrecours and Les Glycines provided special menus for Headwater, Meysett and Laborderie scored by saying 'here are all our menus, have what you like'!
Nearly all staff spoke very good English.
Despite one of us not being able to walk very far we still had a lovely time. The hotel was in a lovely place and was a most relaxing place to stay.
This was not our best holiday with Headwater the weather in the Dordonge was just awful and we had to contend with a train strike none of which Headwater could have done anything about. We dried out on the last three days in Sete which was lovely. Electric bikes are wonderful
This was our first trip with Headwater (recommended by our New Zealand travel agent) and we are very pleased with our choice and will definitely look at another cycling trip in the future- most likely in France. We were particularly impressed with by the friendliness of all the hotel staff we encountered - and their helpfulness!!
well organised and helpful
Well organised and great routes. Accommodation usually gives more of a local flavour than big anonymous chains.
We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday in Menorca. The weather was extremely hot all week so we often shortened the walks which is easy to do as many of them are linear walks. Although most of the walks are coastal there is plenty of variety. The hotel is absolutely lovely, in such a peaceful location with beautiful gardens. We had a very warm welcome on arrival and the service throughout the week was consistently good. All the staff were helpful and polite and nothing was too much trouble. Our accommodation, the gardens and all public areas were kept spotlessly clean and the food was good and plentiful.
We went for a canoeing holiday. which didn't happen.Obviously, Headwater were completely blameless.We made the most of it, with excellent help from Elizabeth (our Rep), by walking. This area, especially at this time of year, wouldn't have been my choice for walking. For us,this was a very expensive walking holiday.
The 'multi-choice' approach to answering disguises the variable nature of the accommodation and cuisine. The route notes (for cycling) were written in almost narrative style and A4 landscape which may be appropriate and helpful to walkers but were cumbersome and awkward to follow for cyclists. Some defences were clearly lifted from walking notes e.g. references to maps not available to cyclists.
Varied walking in superb countryside through pine forests, cherry orchards, lavender fields and vineyards, all of which which gave us a wonderful experience of Provence in all its glory
A break that takes you off the beaten track to meet the people who live in the region, rather than just other tourists. A holiday that slows you down to the speed you can cycle including the most amazing 60km down hill ride!
We found the holiday extremely well organised, we had no problem with arrangements from start to finish despite the problems France are having at the moment with strikes. The reps Jon and Neu were the best we have experienced on any Headwater holiday, they worked hard to ensure the experience was as good as it could be. We were also impressed with the bikes, which were easy to operate and very comfortable.
A perfect way to enjoy the splendours of the Amalfi Coast from a perspective impossible for holidaymakers tied to the roads. The routes were planned so that each day's walking was different - from rugged cliff paths and breathtaking coastal scenery to peaceful lemon and olive groves and friendly villages. While this holiday does not have the same amount of walking we have had previously, we welcomed the days off as an opportunity to catch the ferry over to Capri and visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. All our 'standard' rooms at Amalfi, Positano and Marina del Cantone had wonderful sea views. We upgraded to be sure of a sea view in Sorrento and were booked in to the fabulous Belair Hotel - would really recommend this - and indeed the whole holiday.
Superb cycling location with generally very quiet roads, beautiful countryside and pretty villages perched on hilltops. The reps were really helpful in every way and we enjoyed our time with them. Whilst staying at the Hermitage hotel we ate in the local town at the restaurant - Dame L'Oie which was superb. At Vaison la Romaine we ate at La Barantavelle which was a wonderful meal and far superior to the alternative restaurant in the Old Town. The most disappointing was Castel Mirei as although the owners were very helpful, both breakfasts and evening meals were very poor with extremely slow service and the room was very 'tired' with traffic noise from a side road interrupting any peace. There is however a decent sized pool and small cool sitting room with cold drinks to purchase which were very welcome.
The cycling instructions were generally easy to follow though we would welcome more distances being included between turning points and perhaps a small trip metre on the bike which we have had on other holidays with one of Headwater' s competitors.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Ramsden,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. Please be assured, all of the feedback we receive is valued and used to help enhance our holidays for the future.
It sounds from your feedback that you had an enjoyable holiday and made the most of your time in this region. We were pleased to see you found the service provided by our reps useful and enjoyed spending your time with them.
We were however sorry to read of your disappointment with Castel Mirei, whilst we agree there are a number of great features to this accommodation, we have taken the decision to replace this hotel for the 2017 season.
We are also making some exciting changes to the way we produce our route notes.
Over the past couple of summers, we have received many requests to make the notes electronic and downloadable so customers can use them on their smart phone or tablet device. We are going to trial this in the cycling resorts that feature experienced Headwater reps, and for all of our new cycling holidays. Then once we gain feedback, we plan to roll this out to other resorts for future seasons.
We will, of course still provide hard copy notes for any customers that prefer this style and for our non-rep regions.
We hope you will agree, these changes will help to continue to enhance this holidays for the future.
In closing, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued loyalty, we look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Another excellent self-guided walking holiday from Headwater. Everything was up to the very high standards we expect from them. The entire 8-day holiday was a delight including the visits we chose (Padova, Monselice) on our days off. We chose to walk the suggested options for our last day off. The weather was poor but we had a fabulous 'extra' day of walking.
This area of the Vento is so beautiful and the walking around the Euganean Hills was terrific. Sarah our lovely rep was superb. Thank you Headwater.
This is the second holiday package organized by Headwater and both experiences have been simply great. We love you guys! Thank you so very much!
We've noticed Headwater doesn't have a package for Greece, please do so! Let us know about it.
Great cycle holiday on easy cycle paths with quality bikes and excellent hotels.
A very good experience with lovely location, accommodation and scenery.
We were very pleased with the walking routes and overall package, plus interesting days out in Cordoba and Malaga. The hotel in Zuheros was slightly 'simpler' than we'd normally choose but they worked so hard to provide excellent service; taxi was great too. A well planned holiday in an area we would not have discovered apart from through your brochure - we rate Headwater highly.
A very good trip. Where scores have been less than excellent this is because I think the hosts could welcome guests with an offer of drink after a day of exertion - including making tea/coffee available. At times the hosts were not visible and when they appeared it felt awkward asking for a service of this kind with the exception of Pazo Santemaria and Casa los Semoza (the latter had a bar). Some of the accommodation may not be conveniently located so meant waiting around to be picked up. An arrangement whereby the guest could have a taxi as he/she arrived at collection point would be better. Also in some places it was cool/damp weather and bed linen felt a little damp. Heating not always switched on (noticeable feature when one is tired) and I had to ask at one place for it to be put on as I was quite uncomfortable. However, luggage was always transported exactly which was reassuring. Blanca the guide in Leon was excellent and Headwater have made a very interesting programme of accommodation - full of interest/quirky and beautifully located. Thank you.
The holiday, although accurately described etc,, the reality exceeded my expectations! Thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The meals, wines, and accommodation were all of a consistently high standard - without pretension or ostentation - a testament to the Italians respect and belief in the quality of their products. The countryside and people were also amazing, acts of kindness from strangers showed me several times what it means 'to go the extra mile'. The cycle routes are well designed, as is the holiday that alternates cycle days with rest days.
This was our third trip with you and all have been most enjoyable - the right length of walks and the grading worked out fine.
1/ Never give up the Morvedra Nou; one of the most relaxing and enjoyable hotels we have stayed at. We had a junoir suite with a patio overlooking the pool - the best in the house.
2/ I know this was only a grade 1, but any experienced walker could have done a lot more. We spent some spare time on the beach. Would not be so good at high season, would be too hot and crowded.
3/ 'Would you take another holiday with Headwater?' - I think we have done them all. at least at grades we can manage now. I am well in the 80-90 bracket - not in your age scale! - but I think we started with Heaswater in 1998. I have all the notes and paperwork in boxes in the attic.
4/ I was worried about French Air Traffic Control industrial action, but we were notaffected.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Emerson,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. Please be assured we value all of the feedback we receive and use this to help us continue to improve and develop our holidays for future customers.
It is lovely to see you continue to enjoy your walking holidays with us; we value your loyalty dearly and look forward to welcoming you on your next holiday.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team
First visit to the Algarve and first cycling holiday. Hard work for a couple of days but the rewards matched the effort. Lovely locations and hotels had top quality staff. Our two reps were lovely and incredibly helpful. We have used Headwater only a few times over 20 or so years, but every time the holiday has been special. That is why we have always looked them up when considering a trip overseas.
This was an interesting area of Italy and our holiday passed all too quickly with the usual Headwater mix of cultural visits and, of course cycling. The routes were well selected and mostly on cycle paths. Food was great. We didnt visit Padua, Vincenza or Venice as we preferred to explore the countryside. Otherwise the holiday was pretty much as described in the brochure.
Madeira is an excellent year-round easy walking destination. The custard tarts are to die for.
Beautiful Island and walks. Morvedra Nou is a lovely small hotel. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The breakfasts were very good, continental style with plenty of choice. The evening meals were a bit hit and miss unfortunately. You are given the menu in the morning and there is a choice of two of each of the courses. Choose wisely!
The walks are strenuus enough that we felt a glow of achievement on finishing each one, but not so difficult that we sruggled as occasional hikers. The mix of agriculture and woodland walking surrounded by birdsong is wonderful.
Adding an extra 3 nights in Venice staying at the Hotel Kette made the whole holiday one to remember for many years.
Bermuda is a first class holiday destination. Walking round much of the island is a great way to experience the culture of the island first hand. Headwater enabled us to do that.
I am really happy with Headwater in all aspects except, perhaps, the standard of accommodation (at times). Although, in this instance, you do advertise that the hotel's accommodation will be a standard room, there are no definitive descriptions of standard compared to other rooms/prices. The room we were offered would have 'sufficed', but when staying for a length of time I think it is evident that a more comfortable room with more amenities would make the holiday that much more of an enjoyable experience. That is difficult to deduce from your literature. (We upgraded at El Milano Real as soon as we arrived).
When using your company in the past (on Inn-to-Inn walks) there have been other instances where we have felt a little let down by the quality of hotel.
Excellent holiday, cycling is the perfect way to explore. We enjoyed it all - some freedom, some things sorted out
A most enjoyable holiday in Provence - beautiful surroundings and the villages could always serve great coffees! Good to have a chance to explore locally on alternate days, on the bus or on the bikes. Excellent accommodation and support from Jon and Neu.
Headwaters choice of hotels / restaurants resulted in us having some superb meals.
We had a wonderful weeks walking, the hotel was in a lovely hill top village. The walking was good in wonderful scenery with beautiful wild flowers and birdsong.Antonio and his staff looked after us really well and we also enjoyed our day trip to Córdoba. This was our twelfth trip with yourselves and one of the best.
Our first cycling holiday and it will definitely not be our last!! Cycling through Catalunya was a real treat, beautiful peaceful countryside, wildflowers were so colourful, medieval villages to explore,lots of restaurants choice for coffee or lunch and then to end the day great hotels and delicious food. What's not to like?Highly recommended.
Fantastic walking, great variety. Very enjoyable holiday. One of our best Headwater holidays.
Peaceful location, excellent coastal and inland walking away from the crowds
Very well organised trip. Varied walking; enjoyed walking along the levadas but views often restricted by trees. Misty on some days so some high level walks would have been good.
This was a great holiday, well organised, excellent communication, excellent rep who was very helpful, great route notes, good quality bikes and gives you an opportunity to visit some fantastic places on the Istrian coast in Croatia and see some lovely sights.
My only concern is that some of the routes, in my opinion, are quite dangerous, especially the unsurfaced roads and gravel tracks. If you have no experience, or little experience of cycling, this holiday I would suggest is not for you. Even as a regular cyclist I found some routes difficult and challenging. If you struggle with heat, I would suggest not choosing a holiday in July/August, but go for May or early June. You could be spending 4/5 hours out in the heat on some days.
However, if you love cycling, then this holiday is perfect and first class, a great company to go with as everything was organised as advertised and I would throughly recommend it.
Adventure before dementure!
Great holiday with truly excellent food and accommodation! You really should take the detour to Novello Junction on day 6.
The Morvedra Nou was the kind of friendly, family run, quality hotel that we always hope we'll find but all too rarely do. The rooms may be compact for some people but we were very comfortable, especially given the spacious private terrace. The food was good, fresh and well presented. We were very happy with the choice of two dishes each day, though would have liked the chance to try the cheese for which the island is famous - either as an alternative to dessert or as an extra small course. But we would thoroughly recommend the hotel and the programme of walks, which were all surprisingly different, considering this is a small island. It was our first trip to Menorca and we found the holiday perfect for those who like an active morning and lazy afternoon!
we were disappointed, Some of the walking was below expectations, there seemed to be a lack of continuity and some of the food left much to be desired. The catalogue entry was a bit ambiguous.
What a great way to see the Amalfi/Sorrento peninsula. The walks take you through stunning scenery away from the roads - areas that you would definitely not see from a car or a bus. The Walk along the Path of the Gods is breath taking. You also get the opportunity to see a wonderful array of colourful wild flowers. Don't miss Ravello and the two villas with their stunning gardens. The walk back to Amalfi from Ravello is very interesting for its industrial archaeology.
The Capodimonte and Luna Convento Hotels were particularly luxurious and we had great sea views. The food in both was very good with plenty of choices.
We had booked 2 extra nights in the Capodimonte and were told before leaving the UK that we had half board on one of the nights so we were delighted to find that in fact the price we had paid included dinner on all four nights.
Pompei and Heraculeum are very interesting and a must. If you are going to see them by train from Sorrento, it is a good idea to go early afternoon rather than morning as the trains and the sites are less busy then.
Headwater take note:that we did see a snake crossing the path before Massa Lubrense. My husband said it was only about 2 feet long but I think it was more like 6 feet!! It was jet black. The internet says that this type is completely harmless and in fact is a good garden aid as they eat pests.
If visiting Massa Lubrense on your way to Sorrento, it is worth walking right down from the main square to the terrace overlooking the sea and going down the steps to the restaurant 'Il Cantuccio'. It serves great food in a shaded terrace adorned with colourful flowers and with wonderful views of the sea and Capri.
All in all - what a great holiday!
Janet Hewson 31 May 2016
Excellent cycling along the Atlantic coast, lovely hotels, interesting area to explore. The Furadouro Hotel was outstanding - welcome, food, swimming pool, rooms all superb.
A very well organised holiday giving us the chance to visit places we would not have otherwise seen.
We had tried to book this particular holiday in previous years but the dates didn't work out. It was well worth the wait as it has to be one of our best Headwater holidays - and we've had quite a few. Piedmont is a wonderful place to visit, the walking was as expected - it's a hilly place! The hotels were all good and all had their own special elements. We enjoyed eating in different places each night- and what an excellent standard of food was on offer.
Splendid trip - delightful area, some very well-selected places to stay and eat and excellent logistics from our two guides, who were great fun to be with. This holiday really delivered what was promised on the website and is a great way to explore the area.
It was great to have such a complete break and while we didn't it the support available from the rep it was reassuring to know that assistance was only a call away. We particularly enjoyed moving on from town to town and having the rest day in between walkis created a great deal of variety as we got to see other towns. We particularly liked Villa Lussana and the food was really good there - it was also the first walk we didn't get lost on so there was a great sense of achievement in arriving there!
Accurate description of contrasting scenery and cycling. Very quiet roads and plenty of flowers and birds to see.
A beautiful area with quiet lanes and roads. Lovely villages, small towns and views. Super coastal locations, fantastic varied scenery and marvellous bird life and wild flowers. A fantastic holiday!
Thoroughly enjoyable holiday in a beautiful unspoilt part of Southern Italy. The people here are incredibly friendly, not just in the hotels but everywhere. The cycling wasn't too strenuous and the 7km descent into Capitolo was exhilarating ! All the hotels were of a very good standard. Enjoyed staying in the Trulli house even though Alberobello can become very busy with day trippers but our favourite place was the Masseria Salamina, (keep some space in the luggage to stock up on their excellent home produced extra virgin olive oil) ! The food in this region is wonderful with a good choice of restaurants at all the locations except Prezze di Greco where the evening meal is included. This was our 12th Headwater cycling holiday and it lived up to expectations.
No comment - the unseasonal weather curtailed cycling on one day (thunderstorms) so this did affect the overall holiday experience with another day that was also wet.
We were very lucky with the weather and this is important when on a cycling holiday! The accommodation was varied and highly suited to starting and ending a days cycling. We loved the routes which were through beautiful countryside ( isn't this lovely! I kept saying) and which provided us with convenient coffee and lunch stops. The cycling was spot on for a 1 cycle ride but it also offered more hilly routes is we wished to challenge ourselves. We soon found we had total confidence in the route notes and once when we went wrong I said - Sarah would never send us down this road! And I was right. You have to be a little flexible - one of our routes was blocked off by a motorcycling event but we were able to use the notes to rejoin the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the delicious local wine. I made friends with my bike and always looked forward to the next day's expedition. Great holiday!
The weather was dreadful for the entire week we spent in Austria. It was cold and rained every day. Several of the recommended restaurants and cafes remained closed because of the bad weather although it was the start of the summer season. We put on wet weather gear and did the walks anyway. It was great - we had the whole area to ourselves! The wild flowers were fantastic. It was a pleasure to come back to the Hotel Bergrose each day because we knew we could swim and sauna before dinner. The food in the hotel was excellent and we were very comfortable there. What could have been a dreary week turned out to be entirely pleasurable.
The holiday notes for Coastal trails of Minorca were pretty accurate. Overall we found the island delightful and at this time of year absolutely stunning with all the wild flowers in full bloom. Very easy to get around and not too crowded. We also were blessed with the weather which was in the low 20 C range
We thought Zuheros and the HotelZuhayra were both charming and beguiling - extraordinarily peaceful and calming - we were very sorry to leave and it took us some time to grow accustomed to the comparative mayhem of Granada . The taxi arrangements in Zuheros were quite remarkably efficient hts off to Maria and her brother - we would return to Zuheros tomorrow if we could = perhaps a progressive walk around these white villages might the na idea
The Camino is a wonderful experience. The walking can be challenging so you need to practice before your holiday. The accommodation was mixed, breakfast tended to be a disappointment. The star of the show for us was Rectoral de Goian. A wonderful place with great food and a sincere welcome. Overall the accommodation is lovely and given the standard that some of the pilgrims use it is pure luxury. The bag transfers and pick ups ran like clockwork.
Extremely well organised , with excellent local representative (Tony) who provided additional information and support without hesitation. Also provided local maps and timetables for my time in Faro which allowed me to enjoy that day, he also informed me about the industrial action at the airport which allowed me to make appropriate arrangements.
This was our first organised cycling holiday and it exceeded our expectations, the quality of hotels were fabulous and we really liked that we had 2 nights in each hotel which gave us time to explore each area. On reflection we would prefer to have had dinner in the hotel halm included as finding somewhere to eat was a real hit or miss and compared to the meals we had in the hotels we didn't find anything better. From our first enquiry with headwater the whole holiday couldn't have gone smoother, Michelle (I think) tailored the holiday to fit our needs perfectly adding in 4 extra days and organising the hotel for two of them. I certainly can't recommend headwater highly enough and have already looking at where to go next. Thank you to the whole team as this has to be one of our best holidays and we have had many! A special thanks to the couple at the bike hire, they were extremely friendly and very helpful.
We are 2 female friends and booked single occupancy of rooms. We felt hotels were well chosen and variable, but all interesting and overall comfortable . We got a bit sick of the Pilgrim 10 euro menu, but also had some superb meals. The walking was excellent, and easier than we had expected. We enjoyed the independence of being self guided. There were a few minor faults in the daily walking guide and we have offered to come in and point them out. We live in Chester and decided to Travel from Liverpool to Madrid and spend a night there rather than at Heathrow. We did find that the schedule on Day 1 was a bit over-heavy. Everyone was exhausted that night. But, overall this was a Brilliant holiday! And May was a very good choice this year.
Gozo & Malta, a great combination for peace & tranquility & great walking opportunities in Gozo at Ta Cenc plus all contrasting attractions of Malta!
Cycling, location, accommodation and especially food were of a very high standard. Local reps were very attentive, and the postcard we received from them before the holiday with their phone number was a nice touch. We travelled from a 'non-standard' airport, and arranging this and transfers through Headwater was more difficult than we expected.
We went for our honeymoon and the holiday was a perfect mixture of challenging cycling with beautiful views, lovely hotels and fantastic food.
We enjoyed our cycling holiday but the weather was terrible which marred our experience. We also thought some of the cycling was a bit monotonous, going through residential areas, particularly at the beginning and would have preferred not to have had to get the train, although it proved invaluable in the end due to weather. The lagoon part was generally nice however towards the end, the path had completely disintegrated and the little bridge had been washed away. It certainly needed two people to carry the bikes down and across. We informed the guide at the end of the holiday. I dont think this holiday would be suitable for families in summertime as the roads get very busy and there were more roads than we had expectred. We thought the route tracking on the garmin was an excellent idea and the best part of following the route. Totally reliable. The hotels were all good though not all were properly equipped to accept bikes, namely the one in Porto and the Hotel Moliciero.
Outstanding food in lovely hotels. Top class local support, advice and guidance. Stunning walks through fascinating medieval villages, shady forests and patchwork quilts of colourful fields.
We enjoyed it and had a lot of fun, but it could have been even better with a few tweaks. Some of the walking notes certainly need reviewing as we wanted to enjoy the walking, not stand scratching our heads wondering if we had the right path. An explanation of the GR markers would have been really useful as we had to find out what they meant by trial and error. Also there were markets or events on some days that it would have been nice to know and arrange our days off to coincide with.
As regards hotels the Monrecour was superb, the labourderie very good and the Meysset OK. Les Glycinees we found varied. The location was great, the room ok. The food at the hotel varied from some of the best ever eaten to some of the worst. Our picnic sandwich was inedible. Generally it did not have the same feel as the other hotels. Also tea or coffee making in all hotels would be appreciated.
Overall very good - excellent walks with very often a choice to extend or reduce length/difficulty. We found most of the walks easier than we expected but maybe that is our own walking experience here in the UK (Dartmoor)
Accommodation good although the beds were cold and seemed damp at our last stop - maybe a problem with being at the beginning of the season while temperatures were still low.
Out taxi driver was excellent, courteous, helpful and always on time.
A great way to see different areas of a country and meet new people.
This is a beautiful part of the world, and the hotel and service were magnificent. Sadly we had terrible weather, with heavy rain each day, further snow on the peaks and biting cold wind. The paths up the mountains were often streams of water and fields little more than bogs. We had gone prepared for variable weather as it was mountainous, but not freezing cold and near constant rain. Teresa and her staff were very accommodating and the food was great. We did see a wild boar, mountain goats and fantastic birds and had a good rest
The holiday was excellent and the walks sufficiently challenging without being too onerous, although some of the climbs are pretty severe and you need a head for heights on some short stretches of the levada walls. If you want superb views this holiday is great but if you suffer any degree of vertigo this is not the holiday for you.
A pretty perfect holiday. Headwater were very well organised and my reps, Brian and Olivia, were totally fantastic - helpful, very efficient and totally reliable. I was walking on my own and they texted me to ensure I had reached my destinations safely. The walks were wonderful and the instructions very clear. Everywhere I turned there was a picture postcard view. This is a wonderful area of Spain to visit - I did the Catalan Classic Walking holiday and walked every day, even though I didn't have to but there was so much I wanted to see. Wonderful that there was always hot water for a good soak in the bath when I got back to my hotel. I didn't want to come home although, to be honest I couldn't have kept up the walking for many more days.
This was a hub Hotel walking holiday enabling us to select the walk to suit the daily weather with the expert and sound advice of the Rep Teresa (hotel owner). Having car hire we were able to spend the rainy day in Salamanca - where the sun shone! The first week in May found us trudging through snow on one walk and waltzing through spring flowers on another. All great fun. Ibex herds added to the entertainment on one of the walks. The Blue Book was up to date with additional helpful comments. Hotel staff were superb as was the cuisine and the views from the hotel.
Had a great holiday. Eleven off us in the party and we all got on well together. No cliques. Wine tasting on the Sunday got us all going.
This was an excellent hotel and Sue and Gordon really looked after us. The food was great and the facilities were super. The walks were mostly good for us although quite testing for me in places. They were relatively short but in my opinion were greater than a 1 boot+ probably more like a 2 boot. My particular problem is that I suffer from severe vertigo and this resort is nearly 600 meters above sea level with very steep winding roads and many of the higher ones had no barriers. The local taxi drivers were really good but nobody should talk to them when driving because they use their hands to answer. Our guide Elaine was excellent and very understanding. However I backed off the last walk because it used 4x4 trucks to go high up, across winding narrow tracks and the walk was a bit hairy too. Don't get me wrong overall it was a great holiday.
Our only criticism is that of alternative departure airport does make a huge difference to the cost. The airline we were booked with is a low cost budget alternative, but we would have done far better to book independently. Any perceived benefit by having a 'package' booking was lost when flights were changed and no explanation or option was offered by Headwater. This is our 6th or 7th walking holiday with Headwater so we obviously happy overall, but the personal touch has been lost over the last few years. It is now much more of a 'package' and we would point that out to friends considering a walking/activity holiday. We have organised our own holidays of a very similar nature and that results in at least a 25% reduction in cost along with the benefit of being an independent booking at the destination - i.e. a higher value individual to the hotel.
A really interesting week in beautiful locations. On the walks we enjoyed the wonderful wildflowers, birds and butterflies and beautiful coastal views. We much appreciated the visits that had been arranged to Segesta and Erice - full of interest. Nicola, our taxi driver, was really excellent - friendly, offering information and always on time and very well organised. The walking was great, well off the beaten track but on reasonable footpaths - all in all, a very good week.
VERY well organised. HIGHLY efficient. Excellent hotels. Hard to beat
An excellent walking holiday with a well chosen itinerary and beautiful scenery. Standards of food and accommodation were very high. We all had a great time.
Walking with confidence and accommodation with comfort.
This was an excellent holiday. The cycling was along very flat routes down the beautiful Atlantic Coast and around the pretty lagoons. Porto and Aveiro were great places to have days off. The hotels were good or very good. We ate some delicious fish and everyone was very friendly and welcoming.
Hotels selected were superb (a higher standard than we would normally select for ourselves - that is one of the real pleasures of travelling with Headwater). Pick ups and tranfers were seamless and enjoyable - it was a delight to hear the drivers laugh! Food through out was excellent. Check out board arrangements - Grand Hotel Capodimonte actually provided half board for the duration of the stay (and not just the first night!) and this included a free salad buffet every evenning. Towards the end of the first day walk from Ravello to Amalfi (after the ruined foundry) there is a restored warehouse called Agricola Fore Porte converted to a restaurant/cafe where you can drink fresh lemon juice - a delightful family run business witha multi lingual daughter. Well done Headwater another excellent holiday!
Very enjoyable, well-organised and good general standard of accommodation.
The standard of the holiday was as good as expected - what really made this holiday so enjoyable was Tony and Ludmilla - their warm welcome, personal touch, and their knowledge of the area was second to none.
It was really great because we made it so. Headwater played very little part. The last walk was inadequately replaced with no warning or alternative. The second hotel was silly. You did not get a proper breakfast you had to pay extra. It was not to the standard of the other hotels was a strange choice. At the 3rd hotel there was nothing to do. We could not walk due to the weather. So this too was a strange choice. There were no reps what so ever. It did seem very expensive for what was provided. The taxi company used was excellent we were lucky to have the same driver 3 times. He really was wonderful with lots of recommendations for us. His name was neillo please pass on our regards.
FANTASTIC!!!
For a carefree holiday with attention to detail and comfort this ticked all the boxes.
Relaxing, interesting and enjoyable blend of easy walking and sightseeing.
An excellent holiday if you are interested in spring flowers and migrant birds. The island of Marettimo was the highlight as was the stay in the tranquil and delightful Baglio La Luna. Our Taxi driver was particularly helpful,flexible, informative and friendly, and always came on time. The flight times could have been better - we had a 4 hour wait in Rome. However I think this could not be avoided. Our highlight was 3 new orchids we had not come across before. All the walks took us much longer than the notes indicated as we spent so much time looking at the amazing flora or this lovely island.
It was excellent from start to finish. Our reps Tony & Ludmila Lewis made our holiday experience special with their friendliness, humour and knowledge. Please pass on our thanks.I am hoping to book a walking holiday with Headwater next year with my friend please send me a brochure
Puglia is a fantastic part of Italy to visit - a real hidden gem - and a perfect location for cycling. We were lucky with the weather and got a good week but the weather in April can be variable (i.e. cooler and wetter than we had). Beautiful countryside and lovely coastline with proper beaches. Excellent food and friendly people, We would go back again.
The walks were excellent and very accurately described and graded. Excellent options presented for the rest days. Ludmilla, our rep, was really helpful and had very good personal knowledge of the area and all the walks. Views were spectacular, especially on the coastal sections of the walks, and the wildflowers and bird-life were both wonderful. The slow-food restaurant at Vila do Bispo (A Eira do Mel) provided the outstanding meal of our trip. Hotel meals were generally pretty good, though the breakfast at Vila do Bispo was rather limited both in variety and quality. The weather was pleasantly cool for walking but, if you want to swim in the sea, you should probably go late April or May!
The pleasure of Headwater is that they do everything to make ensure your experience is exceptional - so it is!
If you go to Sicily with Headwater
You will find they have done all they oughter
You can swim, you can walk
You can eat or just talk
Your holiday will be just what you boughter.
We very much enjoyed our holiday. The walking part was not as good as many we've experienced with other companies. This was partly because of its discontinuous nature - walking the Vermillion Coast with Sherpa gave us a full, continuous walk from the start in Colliure to the end at Cadaques. And apart from the 'Path of the Gods' and the walk from Ravello through the valley with the old iron works and paper mills, it was, in parts fairly mundane, particularly the last section to Sorrento. Our extension enabled us to see Herculaneum and Pompeii, and climb to the top of Vesuvius. We also took trips to Capri and to Napoli. So, all-in-all, the holiday was a great success. However, we would have been prepared to pay more for something that was slightly more interesting - better walks and better hotels. Having said that, the Luna Conventa was magnificent! Although the Capodimonte was very good in most areas, many English people we spoke to thought the quality of the dinner very disappointing.
We enjoyed this holiday enormously although we spent quite a bit more than 5 hours on the walks between hotels so we didn't take the recommended walks on the days in between. The first walk is the hardest.
I could not fault the hotel staff, who were all very friendly and extremely helpful. The walks were beautiful and April proved a lovely time of year with all the spring flowers.
A few suggestions
a) Update your travel notes to refer to the actual kilometre-markers which are now in place
b) Arrange the final leg so that your clients have the option to be in Santiago for the midday pilgrim service in the cathedral
c) The staffing of the Casa de los Samozo was a source of great amusement, somewhat lacking experience, but all was still delivered
d) Hotel Petit Palace was noisy but the location was perfect
But overall the holiday surpassed our expectation and we will certainly consider Headwater again
A delightful few days' walking in lovely, remote, unspoilt countryside. I enjoyed the birdlife and spring flowers particularly. The Portuguese we encountered were personable and friendly and spoke excellent English. My friend and I loved the food and wine - our reward after a day of walking! We got a lot out of what was, objectively, quite a short holiday.
A very beautiful and undiscovered part of Spain. Well worth a visit. Great hotel locations, good food, very good service. We would love to visit this area again.
April was a beautiful time of year to travel to Puglia; lovely weather for cycling and the fields were full of wildflowers, cherry blossom, flowering mimosas etc. Although the cycling was all on roads, they were mainly very quiet, country lanes and we found the Italian drivers surprisingly patient and respectful of cyclists. The route deserved its 1 1/2 bike rating; it certainly seemed a bit more strenuous than the previous '1 bike' holiday we had done and we were very glad not to be tackling it in the heat of summer. This was our second Headwater holiday as a family and we think the formula works well for both us and the children (aged 11 and 13). They particularly embraced the Italian love of gelati!
A most enjoyable holiday - the organisation and transfers worked well and the hotel was a 'gem', friendly and relaxing and with helpful staff. The walking notes were easy to follow although care was needed on some paths where stony. Overall splendid walks in beautiful scenery with many spring flowers.
This was a lovely holiday.The wild flowers were magnificent and the scents of orange blossom and fresh herbs will long remain with us.We enjoyed the variety of different tracks and the headland loop at Amado beach was stunning.The bikes were excellent with especially low gears for those hills,and the tour notes were pretty good. The welcome at all three hotels was genuinely warm and the accommodation very comfortable, except at Pedralva,where the bed felt like a marble slab, and gave us a restless 2 nights. The food and wine was fresh, wholesome and very well prepared.We thoroughly enjoyed this break and came back feeling refreshed and invigorated. We will definitely consider Headwater when choosing our next holiday.
Fantastic service from initial phone conversation with headwater to the holiday itself.
the cross country skiing was fantastic, and there were groups to suit every ability. The ski guides were all friendly and encouraging and the hotel accommodation laid back and welcoming. Overall a great experience.
Thanks for organising a wonderful holiday.
The package provided by Headwater was excellent for the solo traveller as it included everything I needed to try xc skiing for the first time. The group approach made it a lovely week; small groups for skiing at different levels each day meant I always had people to ski with. The hotel is friendly and comfortable and ideally situated in the middle of miles of routes. Will definitely be going back!
Accommodation at Hotel Finca was super and everyone on holiday there were very friendly, especially the five Singapore ladies who we were walking and dining with. They were great company.
This was a brilliant, relaxing holiday and a fantastic introduction to Spain which we had never visited before. Wonderful countryside, a gem of a hotel, lovely food and really helpful staff and walks guide. It couldn't have been better.
Returning!
Many thanks
Outstanding walking area. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Walking notes were excellent, the hotel was very comfortable if maybe a little formal for us. We had no problems getting around the island but it was very windy while we were there and some of the cliff edge walks were a little scary
Madeira is a beautiful, friendly and welcoming island, ideal for gentle exercise and relaxation.
A superb holiday. The walks are out of this world - such a beautiful place, quite magical. The hotels had excellent facilities which is just what you need after a day's walking. Well done Headwater!
Very good hotel with friendly staff and guides, in a fantastic location.
Well organised trip,excellent food, rural location, plenty of opportunities for independent exploration as well as guided activities
Teresa was extremely helpful. The hotel was lovely and the food was plentiful and delicious.
A very nice holiday. The cycling was generally very good. It is a little hilly so is certainly a grade 2. There was a little bit more off road than we expected and one part of this was a particularly bad track which was slow going. Everything else was fine. The accommodation was good.
Great.......good walking , excellent notes and maps , good weather and good support. Requests for extra historical information promptly supplied by Ludmilla. Wonderful flowers, butterflies and birds, ! Food was excellent both in hotels and in the towns and Ludmilla advised us about local perceves speciality...and how to eat them. A good variety of places to eat.
Only suggestion is handrail or handrope in Pedralva cottage ( long flight of thirteen stone steps down to loo.....)
Wonder if L and T might keep a reference book of Flowers and Birds of Portugal in the van they could lend out... or we could consult?
We loved our first experience of cross-country skiing. The ski guides were outstanding, and all staff at the hotel were most friendly and helpful. The food was superb, with a vast array of different dishes at every meal. The skiing area around Venabu is beautiful, with a huge variety of tracks to cater for beginners and intermediates - not being experts, we can't comment on suitability for them. We also loved the snow shoe expedition, and a couple of yoga sessions - both included in the holiday cost. In fact, everything that was needed was included in the price, and it would have been possible to have a good holiday wiothout spending any money locally. All in all, a great holiday.
We had a great time. The skiing was excellent and we particularly enjoyed the guided ski tours which took us to different areas every day. We loved the walk on snowshoes to the waterfall too.
Thoroughly enjoyable, met a great bunch of people and skied in a magnificent location.
Excellent group holiday with good accommodation and very well organised. Wine included was good.
Varied program & walking harder than expected for one boot but lovely. Walking guide lovely & encouraging!
A unique holiday experience that fully met our expectations. Would highly recommend
Hiring a car gave more flexibility and allowed us both to walk following some of the route, especially the Fisherman's Trail and so to see the coastline, as well as having more time to explore other parts of the region. Ludmilla was outstanding in giving helpful, discrete and unintrusive advice
Friendly, well-organised and exactly as described.
Our third holiday with Headwater came up to usual high standards. Our representative Ludmilla was excellent and efficient. Although we had no problems we were confident that, had there been, she would have dealt with them promptly. We particularly enjoyed the delightful village at Pedralva - something out of the ordinary.
Excellent first holiday with Headwater. Nothing was too much trouble. They even arranged for me to see England win the Grand Slam on TV in Pedralva!
Walks were beautiful and the guides were easy to follow.
Enjoyable notwithstanding some poor weather.
Really enjoyed holiday in Bermuda. Beautiful island. Excellent walks. It is an EXPENSIVE destination, and therefore (for us) Special, But we don't regard Coco Reef as meeting 'special'. Fabulous location, but it's a bit tired, could do with freshening up, and no apparent sign of management involvement- maybe that's the Bermudian way? Furthermore its close to a Bermuda College, and during our stay a group of students were also resident, who although decent kids, kept different hours to us, and on 2 occasions kept us awake into the early hours. I don't think hotel management is doing itself any favours by mixing them with holidaying guests.
Restaurant food excellent, but menu needs regular update, a bit 'samey'after a week.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Wallace,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback and for your constructive comments. It was great to see you enjoyed your holiday overall. We were however sorry to read there were areas within the hotel that did not meet with your expectations. Firstly, we can advise there is a new Hotel Manager in place; she has already made noticeable improvements to the feel of the hotel and is keen to work with us to ensure our customers have a great holiday. The latest customer feedback is positive and a good reflection of the improvements she is making.
In closing, we would like to thank you for choosing Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Kind regards,
Headwater Customer Service team
Fun. We enjoyed our visit to Portugal.
Wonderful experience. Excellent location , great tuition great guides
There is no better place to cross country ski than Venabu. Food, accommodation and quality of Guiding is excellent and Line, Robert, Wenche and the rest of the team maintain their standards year in year out. A unique place.
This was a very well planned, smoothly run holiday. All our connections/transfers/taxis operated like clockwork. We were very well catered for and the Finca
had everything we needed for an extremely rewarding and relaxing holiday. Our guide, Nick, was very attentive and inclusive and happy to impart his
knowledge of the area. We loved the challenge of walking in the morning and then plenty of time in the afternoon to chill around the beautiful grounds of the Finca - lovingly developed over the years by our hosts Sue and Gordon. All the staff were very accommodating and friendly. We couldn't have asked for more.
Thank you everyone involved.
The Finca el Cerrillo is a wonderful place to stay in a beautiful location. We were extremely well looked after and the organisation was seamless. The walks were, as stated in the brochure, very gentle and leisurely. We would definitely consider returning especially If some more challenging walks were on offer.
Excellent holiday, well described in the brochure. However I thought the walks were a bit short so there was quite a lot of free time at the Finca. While the Finca is a really lovely place it was a little remote so if you wanted to go into the village/town there was a very steep walk down the ravine and back up the other side. I am sure later in the season the Finca is a lovely place to stay with swimming pool and lots of outside sitting areas but in early March it was a bit chilly. I wasn't too keen on the wine tasting in the morning before a walk. We seemed to spend a lot of time eating. We only had picnic lunches on 2 days which meant a lot of food was provided both at lunchtime and in the evening. I would have been happy to have longer walks and more picnic lunches.
I have been on Headwater walking holidays before (not for at least 8 years ). I now have a partner and I needed to convince him that the holiday would be enjoyable. My partner is in good health and fit but he is 82 years and he was nervous that the walking would be difficult. I persuaded him that a 1 boot would be fine but it was harder that I thought it would be.
When I first telephone Headwater to enquire about the holiday the telephone rep was most helpful so I suggested that my partner telephoned so that he could ask for the information he needed - this time there was a different rep and she was not so reassuring.
However we enjoyed the holiday and will attempt another with Headwater..
The hotel was excellent - beautiful surroundings and facilities. The food was varied and plentiful and you were spoilt for choice with local dishes included. The staff were very friendly and Gozo is a lovely unspoilt place where you felt safe to walk in the countryside and enjoy the wonderful scenery. It was a place to relax and unwind. The walking routes took you through a lot of different scenarios and gave options to visit sites of interest.
Excellent area for xc skiing, and hotel, equipment, staff also excellent
This holiday delivered exactly what it said on the box- fantastic, extensive, well maintained ski-ing area, a friendly sports hotel, likeminded guests, great hospitality, superb ski instructors and guides.
Don't go if you want a modern, five start hotel, but do consider it if you love XC skiing or want to try it for the first time.
Gozo is a small island but packed with interest. We loved the Hotel Ta Cenc, its architecture, location, friendly service and very good food. The walks were excellent and took us from quiet villages to fantastic coastlines through terraced valleys. It was sunny and mild and just what we needed after a very wet and very windy winter..
Gozo is rather small to provide long enough cycle rides. We did not expect wind and would have found it helpful to be told about how windy it can be. It was a lovely holiday with enough variety to keep us interested. The Cornucopia food was very disappointing and the breakfasts unappealing.
Amazing trip to get away from everyday life, relax and enjoy the mountains. Richard was a brilliant guide and teacher. Loved the snow shoeing and husky dogs too. Food was superb and never ending...fantastic. Can't wait to go again
A very enjoyable holiday, that matched our expectations derived from the description of it in the brochure.
Nice hotel with friendly staff. Coastal walking was good. Some of the walks involved long stretches on road, and although there is not much traffic, this is quite tiring.
A holiday in which you get away from the crowds and experience the country intimately, complemented by good food & accomodation
Excellent varied walking on the coast and on the Levada system. Good variety of hotel.
We would recommend a cross-country ski holiday at this friendly. laid-back resort. The area was lovely and it felt so peaceful because we had it all to ourselves!.The food was bountiful, imaginative and always of high quality. The staff were helpful and leaving the resort felt like leaving friends. The tuition was excellent, the ski tours good and varied. The wireless was reliable. The rooms, though small, were adequate for a week. It was useful to have a drying room for damp clothing and the saunas were good and well-used. The transfers to and from the (Oslo) airport were good and reliable.
The guides were fantastic, food amazing. Unfortunately xc skiing is not for us.
Met our expectations exactly - no hitches throughout.
This beginners week in Venabu was in my opinion the perfect introduction to the delights of cross country skiing .
The all inclusive package insulates you from the normal expense of a holiday in Norway in this snow assured area .
The hotel was charming all the staff friendly and we wanted for nothing during our stay .
The room was warm and comfortable , the food plentiful with all tastes catered for and truly excellent .
Our ski instructors,Richard and Siobhan were great .
There wasn't a direct flight from Manchester to Oslo but that is the only downside to this holiday !
I rarely return to the same location for holidays but I can see why people do for this holiday and I think it will be very difficult to
match this experience and overall value , so I might well be back again !
A really good experience - excellent organisation, beautifully located hotel with comfortable accommodation and lots of really good food, great skiing tuition tailored to our needs, huge choice of ski routes and other options such as snow shoe trekking - and other guests in the hotel were really friendly and good company. Hard to beat!
An enjoyable winter break in milder weather with an interesting variety of walking, without being too challenging! The hotels provided excellent facilities for rest and recuperation with good dining and comfortable surroundings and some stunning views in places.
I decided to take a cross-country skiing holiday at the Venabu Fjellhotel after reading the recommendations left by previous visitors on the Headwater website which I fully endorse. The hotel was comfortable with welcoming, friendly staff. The food was wonderful & plentiful - 5 course lunches & dinners with many different dishes to choose from.
The ski tour leaders were excellent.They gave advice on skiing techniques and also explained features of the landscape, plus details of the local flora & fauna which added to the enjoyment of the tours.
I stayed in a single room in the East Wing which was adequate if a tad on the small side. Larger rooms are available in the West Wing for a supplement. Tea & coffee was not provided in the room, but is available in the public rooms at no extra charge.
I met several guests in the hotel who had stayed there before & one person was on his fifteenth visit! I, also, hope to make a return trip to this hotel at some point as it is an excellent centre for cross-country skiing with many kilometres of waymarked loipen from the hotel.
The only improvement I can think of is that it would nice if the hotel had a swimming pool!
Probably the best walking holiday we have had in Europe. A decent walk each day but you could do other things if you wanted. 3 of the five walks were really beautiful and the other two were good. Accommodation was fine and the reps were helpful. The notes were clear and easy to follow.
Can't really comment on standard of accommodation normally offered by Headwater as we upgraded wherever possible. At Costa D'Oiro (where we paid for superior room) we were put in room 3016 (I think) which, we later realised, has to have been the worst of all the superior rooms in that building (ground floor, in the back left-hand corner of the building) - the bathroom facilities were modern but the room itself was very dark and cramped (had a 3rd bed in it so nowhere inside to sit or even to put our cases). The patio was dark & dingy and only got the sun for about an hour or so around breakfast time (which wasn't much use to us as the room was not 'ready' for us to go into until after 1pm). The superior rooms on the other side of the building (i.e. facing the small road) were much brighter and bigger but we were not given the option of changing. We wouldn't have minded a room at the back of the building had it been on the 1st floor level as this would have been much lighter but we very much got the impression that we were put in that room to make it easier for cleaning - i.e. all the rooms to be cleaned were together on the ground floor. The restaurant was closed in the evening so comment re food relates to breakfast only, which was good. I would not stay in this hotel again.
Headwater response:
Dear Ms Swiecicka, Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback, we were pleased to see you had an enjoyable holiday overall, however were sorry to read of your dissatisfaction with your room at Hotel Costa d Oiro. We have discussed your comments with the Hotelier; he was also disappointed to receive your feedback and is sorry this issue was not resolved during your stay. This hotel is not one we normally use for our walking holiday, however we do use it on our cycling holiday and the overall feedback received is good. However, we do appreciate we cannot afford to let our standards slip, so will continue to monitor all feedback received and will work closely with our hotelier to ensure they are delivering the standard of accommodation our customers have come to expect. In closing, we would like to thank you for your constructive feedback and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future. Yours sincerely, Headwater customer service team
Venabu is the best place for cross country ski-ing. No matter what your level of experience is, you will be well looked after and have a great week.
Overall very good , although due to exchange rates Prices are high compared to hotel prices
Although the accommodation is dated at this hotel, it is more than adequate, clean and comfortable. The family welcome, ambiance and excellent wholesome food, makes this a holiday worth repeating.
The teaching instruction we had was excellent and we were extremely well looked after. The guides went out of their way to ensure we had a rewarding and enjoyable introduction to XC skiing even though we were reluctant to go up or down hills!!
This was coming up to our 20th visit to Venabu. For us it is more like 'going home' to see friends and family than a basic holiday. Venabu is a unique destination.
The hotel is really welcoming, and the ski guides and the food both excellent. This was my fifth visit.
Venabu is the perfect winter 'get-away-from-it-all' destination, and great for immersing yourself in learning how to cross-country ski. It was lovely staying in a hotel that is still owned & managed by the original family. The instructors were superb, and really made the holiday for me. We had an American, Richard , and his lovely wife Siobhan with our beginners group. They were so experienced, yet incredibly patient, enthusiastic and encouraging and displayed such a passion in passing on their expertise. It made for a brilliant holiday!
Great introduction to XC skiing. Wonderul scenery, lots of snow. Amazing food!
Family friendly hotel with relaxed atmosphere with excellent food and facilities for Crosscountry skiing
Wonderful holiday in the most amazing,quiet location. Stunning views from the hotel which was run by lovely staff. Will probably go again next year!
Cross country skiing guides were great and patient with us novice skiers! Went out on some great trips.
A great experience trying something new in a fairly remote location in Norway. Ideal for getting away from city life, we really enjoyed the cross-country skiing and found it reasonably easy to pick up (some downhill ski experience does help). The food at the hotel was excellent, including for vegetarians which I wasn't expecting.
An excellent holiday , helped by the weather!
Stress free excellence! I loved every minute of this holiday principally because all arrangements went super smoothly, the hotel staff, accommodation and location were way above my expectations. The week flew and the walking was thoroughly enjoyable. Would I go with Headwater holidays again? Absolutely.
Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, Tony and Ludmilla were very helpful, the route notes accurate and the walks were lovely especially the walk from Vila do Bispo to Sagres-the coastal views were fantastic! All the hotels were very welcoming, but we especially liked Pedralva it is a real gem and the food was great too! There was plenty of choice of restaurants on the days when we had bed and breakfast at the hotels and we found all to be very good value for money.
Bermuda is friendly, beautiful and relaxing. We followed all walks but one and wished we had had longer to do more (the walks didn't leave enough time for visiting museums etc). Coco Reef was a lovely place to stay.
Memmo Baleeira was lovely to stay at and it would have been good to have stayed there longer. Mira Sagres was alright and Pedralva was very basic (food in evening was adequate but you had to be careful what you chose). Walking along coast and in wooded valleys was lovely but could be tedious inland (flat and featureless scrubland at times). Ludmilla was great and very helpful - we like her a lot!
Good combination of interesting but not too taxing walks, four or five hours a day, and pleasant pampering by staying at good hotels with pools and saunas, (very important to soothe any aching muscles!) Local people that we encountered seemed uniformly friendly and helpful and the landscape, whether we were being driven or walking through it, was never less than fascinating and often simply amazing, a combination of peruvian highlands and alpine villages!
Hotel absolutely first rate - fantastic tranquil location; we were very well looked after; food was simple but good. Menorca delightfully quiet when we visited (October) but weather perfect for walking. Walks were straightforward if perhaps a trifle short. We skipped the town walks and added two other walks of our own that I would recommend
1. Santa Galdana to Saint Thomas via GR 223, returning along coastal path - just be aware that to leave Cala Trebaluger you need to use a cave passage.
2. Cala Tuqueta to Plagues de Son Saura (out & return via coastal path - we did not find the green route marked on the map but we did not spend much time looking).
We had an excellent time. Lovely scenery and weather and excellent food. I would definitely recommend doing this either early or late in the season as it was much cooler and less busy. Very few cars on the road and no traffic.
Felt a great sense of achievement after each cycle day. Our 2 boys- age 11 and 13 enjoyed themselves and there was not a single moan of ''are we there yet?!'
Exceeded all expectations. Very relaxing. Party of 10 ideal size to get to know each other. Excellent introduction to Andalucia
It was a good holiday. Just too much rain.
A beautiful part of the world made even more special by great hotels, great food and great cycling
A lovely rural part of northern Italy with a number of quiet country roads, largely traffic free, to enjoy. The relative closeness of Vicenza and Padua gives the opportunity also to experience a number of cultural and architectural delights. Add to this the wonderful food prepared at The L'Albara Agriturismo and this is a holiday to savour.
Can't speak too highly of Sarah - Headwater is fortunate to have someone with such high standards, thoughtfulness and warm personality.. She was very attentive and concerned about a couple on the cycling holiday,one of whom had sustained an eye injury while cycling.
Villa Lusanna was particularly good in terms of welcome, food and friendliness.
Some years ago we did the walking in the Loire valley holiday. The standard of food, accomodation and route notes were much better in the Venetian Hills holiday. .
Very enjoyable. Felt like we had seen and experienced the real Spain, not touristy and commercial. We speak no Spanish and very few people spoke English but we got by and all the meals were wonderful, trying different things. The walks were very good some more challenging than others. We did go wrong but never too badly. Not sure if the mistakes were due to vague directions or just misinterpretation of instructions (we easily go wrong in England!!)
Transfers were seamless - friendly drivers and always on time. Good variety of locations and hotels. We feel that we saw most of the Amalfi and Sorrentine peninsular because of the walks organised for us. And probably saw a lot of places normally not seen. We were a little disappointed that we were the only Headwater clients that week but it was apparently at the end of the holiday season. The weather although warm was unpredictable at times and we had one very wet day on which we had to abandon our walk halfway and catch a bus to our next hotel. The food arranged was varied and delicious. Sorrento was an ideal base from which to visit Capri and explore the historical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum amongst others. We had an and extra couple of days at the Grand Capidimonte hotel which was in a good location to walk down to Sorrento and was the perfect place to end our holiday, it was excellent in every respect.
Although Ta Cenc is a lovely hotel with a great location it cannot be really classified as a typical 5 star/top of the range hotel; the bedrooms/bathrooms are rather dated, there are not staff always available to help/advise. We had to search for things rather than them being provided. Hotel staff were friendly, the food particularly the breakfast buffet and in the restaurant (il Cantra) at the beach were excellent. Having stayed in a number of 5 star hotels this isn't one. However, we really enjoyed ourselves at the hotel and had no complaints.
Gozo was a lovely surprise (the lovely weather helped!) with pretty villages, friendly people and a very efficient bus service. However, overall there is too much walking on roads; we recommend that people use the buses to avoid some of this (a 15 euro pass for 12 trips was great value and we could use it on Malta) There are also additional walks we were told about including one of the best walks we did from Gharb up to the coast and then along to Marsalforn which is part of the coastal walk; there is a brochure called the Gozo coastal walk - perhaps George could have told us a bit more about where to get bus passes, other walks and local information and a bit more about the hotel. Whilst pleasant we had the impression he has done it so many times before he has become a bit stale!
On Malta the Phoenicia is a great location; it has a 5 star appearance but the breakfast buffet wasn't as tasty as Ta Cenc; the serving staff, while many of them, were not too attentive to our needs. It did not have the same friendly feel as the Ta Cenc - there was no personal feel, they were going through the motions rather than making any real effort.
If you want any clarification of the above please let me know; hopefully this 'summary' adds a bit of colour to the ratings above. Overall we all had a really great time and would recommend it to anyone but people need to know what to and what not to expect.
Gozo is a lovely location. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the island and will likely visit again to see more. We'd be unlikely to stay at Hotel Ta Cenc again though ...
Hotel service was a mixed bag - front desk were ok, bar/restaurant were good, housekeeping were good.
Room was poor. Mould on the walls and a very strong smell of damp which was reported to reception but they were unable to do anything and there was no offer of an alternative room. Our clothes smelled of the damp by the end of the week as well. The kettle leaked, and was replaced. A leg fell off the bed, and was promptly repaired by staff. The room and hotel in general was tired-looking and really needs some TLC.
Food in the main hotel restaurant was ok, but we needed a change after about 3 or 4 days. Breakfasts were very good, though. Make sure you try the honey rings!! An evening meal at the Kantra restaurant was excellent, despite the stormy weather.
Charging for wifi in the rooms feels like nickel and diming the customers in the 21st century.
A good holiday with great scenery and enjoyable walks. A notable absence of birds in the Zingaro Nature Reserve (October) but the vegetation was still very green, despite the heat .
An interesting coastal and inland holiday on quite roads and tracks. Visiting in October the coastal locations and hilltop towns and villages are quiet, but the weather was good and ideal for cycling. having enjoyed many Headwater cycling holidays in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, we may well be interested in following-up an e-bike option in the future.
Holiday was well organised by helpful staff. Flexibility on departure airport is a big plus.
Beautiful location of hotel - truly rural. Lovely swimming pool area. The lounge and bar area were comfy and inviting. Our room (junior suite) was very good.The walks were varied and all enjoyable. Wildlife was abundant. October was a great time to go as the crowds had gone and we had excellent weather.
Lovely area, very peaceful with enjoyable walking. Great to visit Padua on our rest day. Added on a day and night in Venice at the end of the holiday which would highly recommend.
Pleasant cycling through mix of peaceful rural landscapes and historic coastal and plateau towns. Although experienced cycle tourists we found the cycling more tiring than expected due to the heat, even in early October, so were glad that the distances were relatively short. Puglian food lived up to its reputation and the local wines recommended by the rep were enjoyable. All the hotels had spacious and well equipped rooms - though we did benefit from an upgrade for the base hotel as the normal one was full. Detailed route notes a great relief after getting minimal and inaccurate ones last year with another company. Unplanned highlight was doing the 7km downhill run while road closed to cars as a proper cycle race came up.! Although not mentioned in the brochure, Monopoli is well connected to the rest of Italy by train, and the station is within walking distance (20 min) of hotel. So we negotiated a reduction in package cost as not needing a transfer to Bari, and made the cycling week the centre of an Italian / French train tour.
Our holiday was the perfect combination of supported and independent: you do have to be prepared to sort out a lot of things for yourself, which we really like. Yet, Sarah was always available if we needed help. The itinerary was thoughtful and had great variety every day. We got a lot of satisfaction from completing all the suggested walks. Our rest days were extremely busy days as there is lots to do in the region - we enjoyed the chance to have these days to explore and do something different.
The holiday was disappointing. Onward travel from Barcelona airport was so awful the thought of having to make the return journey hung over the rest of the period, such that I changed my flight and went home a day early, using bus rather than train. If you use Passeig de Graca station you need to supply the timetable - there is no way of identifying if you are catching the right train (and there's a train every 2 minutes) and it is an awful place to wait.
A fabulous quiet and beautiful area of Spain but within easy reach of some great cities. El Milano Real is a perfect base for the many and varied walks on offer through this unspoilt National Park with its great food and wine and accommodation. The highlight for us was a 'birding' walk with a local biologist who was just superb. The only down side was that we didn't get maximum benefit from Teresa (and Paco whom we didn't see at all) but on the other hand all their staff were excellent. Had to book our own hotel in Madrid as Headwater's was strangely booked although available through booking.com!
Great holiday. Everything just worked. Reps were helpful and knowledgable. Hotels and food were amazing. Cycling up the hills was hard work but all worth it when you reached the view at the top.
Excellent in every respect
The team at the hotel couldn't do enough to help. A decent range of walks nothing too strenuous but just right in the unseasonably high temperatures.
Cordoba was a stunning place to visit so would strongly recommend this on the free day. We enjoyed having the extra days in Granada as a counterfoil to the tranquility of Zuheros.
Lovely hotel on the beautiful island of Gozo. Natives very friendly!
A delightful area, away from the usual tourist spots. An attractive, friendly hotel and village. Varied walks with lovely long-distance views. Care needed on the stony tracks and paths after a prolonged period of dry weather.
Good accommodation, clear instructions and good cycling. Met interesting people. Guides were very friendly and helpful.
Great fun. Our reps were extremely helpful. We will definitely do another walking holiday.
The walking exactly as described in the itinerary. For the intrepid, on the Caldeirão Verde Levada walk it is worth exploring beyond Caldeirão Verde towards Caldeirão do Inferno. The first 1.3k is easy, then there is an ambiguous option of continuing along levada or climbing steeply on well-maintained steps signposted 'Caldeirão do Inferno 0.8km'. We chose the latter. The steps take you up to a much higher level levada and a maze of tunnels and bits of old railway track. There is a yellow and red way marker here that seems to indicate this is the official route. Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore further.
On day 5 we would highly recommend the São Lourenço walk - but do go early before it gets busy.
On days where transfers are provided, it is worth verifying that the driver knows where he should be taking you. On the Caldeirão Verde Levada day we were half way to Funchal before we realised the driver had mistaken our destination.
Quinta da Bela Vista is not a 5 star hotel. It has an air of faded luxury, but they need to focus on the basics like cleanliness and service to earn their 5 stars. The bedroom wing needs a freshen-up - e.g. the faded/stained carpets replaced. The 5-course meal and service in the half-board restaurant was ok, but didn't really live up to expectations. The 'production line' catering was obvious and service perfunctory. Having said that, there are some interesting public areas - the pool/bar, old house and gardens. Having after-dinner drinks and coffee by the pool with views over Funchal was memorable.
The Quinta do Furao and Serra Golf were fine hotels in their different ways.
An enjoyable holiday. Well organised, good bikes, very comfortable accommodation and breakfasts. Croatian coast attractive, and not too busy in September when we went and Croatian staff in hotels and local restaurants all friendly and helpful. Rides well planned, and maps and directions good. I had an unfortunate fall skidding on a wet road, and couldn't ride one day, but the support from local bike hire was excellent, and myself and bike both made it to the end of the holiday. Would recommend as good medium level cycling break.
Excellent, good location, helpful reps, fantastic hotels, good food, well maintained equipment with all necessary ancillaries. It all makes to an active but stress free holiday.
Very good holiday overall, in a very interesting area. Route notes were at times inaccurate and ambiguous, which made the ride more like a treasure hunt!
All the hotels and accommodation were of a high standard and staff very friendly and helpful. Bikes were ok but not as good as the Headwater branded ones that we had in Burgundy last year. We would strongly recommend a Headwater holiday.
An excellent way to see the countryside without the stress of organising all your own itinerary.
1. We felt that the Quinta do Furao hotel was ahead of the others because the staff were genuinely helpful/friendly, the restaurant served excellent locally grown food and typically Madeiran cuisine.
2. One flaw in the route notes was on Day 6 - the 2nd line on the 2nd Paragraph on page 22 - starts with 'At the T-junction of paths, turn right.....' We think it should say 'turn left!' Another (more minor) point is on Page 16 (last but one paragraph) mentioning the Tofa Mini Mercato - which we didn't find but suspect that the name has changed (they were in the process of re-vamping the shop with another name and coloured purple.
3. I would especially like to express my thanks to Donna Webber for her close attention to detail and patience when exploring the flight/accommodation options that made our holiday enjoyable during the period we had available. And also for Emma Glasgow for making exceptional steps in a very tight timescale to ensure that we received the route notes/maps etc through the post that were essential to our holiday. Thank you both.
Peaceful cycling along quiet country road, interesting villages and lovely scenery.
This holiday certainly shows the contrasts that Catalonia has to offer.
We were well looked after in all aspects of the holiday, from the comprehensive introductory talk, which was both entertaining and full of useful bits of information, through the well-planned and comprehensive route notes, to the excellent accommodation and surroundings of the rides.
Very well organised lovely places to visit !!!!
Superb - staff & food at Hotel unsurpassable. Italian Maps not up to OS Standard (no surprise there!). You should have noted the new (2014) skilift available to take walkers down from Klammbachhutte (or a 20 min walk from Klammbachhutte) saving 4km of descent out of 5.6km.
Mountain Hut food was way higher in standard than we expected
Brilliant Holiday!
Headwater Holidays always provide excellent care and services, and value for money vacaions is well chosen resorts and hotels. The only thing left to chance is the weather.
From the first contact with Headwater until we left our Hotel the service was excellent. The Hotel was small, comfortable and the staff very friendly. The walking notes were fantastic, and the walks took in some most wonderful scenery. Cannot fault the holiday at all. Thank you.
Disappointing
Wonderful, all walks easy instructions to follow with small useful details personally put in by Lucy the Rep who was full of good and helpful advice. Locations all good. All hotel staff spoke good English which really helped as we do not speak a word of Portuguese. Food good. All transfers spot on, nice friendly drivers who gave local history as we traveled. Although a walking holiday, found it very relaxing as we walked at our own pace and all the walks different so plenty of scenery to stop and take in. This was our 1st walking holiday and regard it as a total success, extremely happy with Headwater and would book with them again.
This was my fifth cycle holiday with Headwater, and it was the most enjoyable. The cycling is very easy, and the route is very clearly marked, so there is absolutely no navigation skill required. Unlike some of the tours in rural Italy or Spain, there were numerous, widely-varied eating establishments with long opening hours right along the cycle path.
The cycling path is flat, but it passes through some varied and hilly terrain. There are opportunities to make short (and possibly hilly) detours to see some pretty villages and interesting sights along the way. One very moving side trip is to do the short day trip (about 50 km round trip from the hotel at Linz) to the memorial at the former Mauthausen concentration camp.
The high point of the tour is when it passes through the Wachau Valley, which is one of the loveliest wine growing regions I have cycled through.
I did the entire ride, even covering the short stretch from Linz to Grein, which the normal tour bypasses by shuttle van due to its being thought too industrial. Also, the tour guide recommends taking a train into the heart of Vienna in order to by-pass a slightly grimy and graffiti-covered stretch of the outskirts of the city. I did not find this stretch particularly objectionable, and there is a certain satisfaction to completing the entire cycle path from Passau to the heart of Vienna.
This would be a perfect ride for someone who is uncertain about committing to a bicycle tour. There are river boats and trains that allow one to skip cycling portions when the weather is bad or one is too fatigued. The cycling could not be any easier, and the maps and signs along the way make it all quite fool-proof.
Note that Headwater will supply participants with a spiral bound book that contains high resolution maps for the entire route. This book is easily ignored as the usual Headwater instructions are so well done, but the book does contain some historical tidbits and also suggestions for interesting detours, so it is worth a read.
A note in closing; the Passau-Vienna path is said to be very busy in the summer. I did my tour in late September and the path was wide open. Only the Wachau Valley section had any significant bicycle traffic.
Most enjoyable holiday which was well organised. Hotels were just right for our requirements. Our minibus driver Nicola was superb - always on time and nothing was too much trouble.
Temperatures up to 39 degrees were a bit of a shock in mid September which meant some of the walks were very testing when there was a lack of shade.
Lovely village and some good walking. The vultures were impressive. Maybe more attractive in spring when the flowers are out. All the trvel arrangements worked flawlessly. The food at the hotel was very variable and a little disappointing at times. The walking was all in quite a small area and there was some repetition of sections. But overall it was a very enjoyable trip. Staying in a single location is definitely more relaxing than moving on every day. The bat cave in Zuheros was an amazing place, and a visit to Granada was definitely worthwhile. We were lucky too that our visit coincided with the cheese festival in the village
Fun and adventurous but no planning hassle
A fascinating area of Spain with varied landscapes from rugged mountains, to terraced hillsides with vineyards and fruit trees, gently flowing streams, Pine woods and open flat plains with Evergreen Oaks. Also abundant wildlife with dozens of bird species, wild mountain goats, Black cattle, and horses. Ancient walled cities and quaint villages. All within two hours of Madrid.
A wonderful, unspoilt region. We had no idea that the Costa Brava was so wooded and had so many places of historical interest. Going just out of season, the beaches were quiet and devoid of sunbeds! The number of cycle tracks - albeit somewhat roughly surfaced in places - puts the UK to shame.
Really enjoyable week with everything thought of and attention to detail. Excellent route notes.
We have had a superb holiday, Colin and Jill were very knowledgeable about the area and made useful suggestions with the accompanying literature about places to visit.
The hotel was five star and the food deserves Michelin stars.
The family treated us really well and we have promised ourselves that if circumstances allow we will return in 2 years, we will book through Headwater again
We greatly enjoyed our holiday and got to experience a wonderful part of Sicily, including the beautiful Marettimo Island. The only problem we encountered was that for the first 4 days there was a strong Sirocco wind which meant that the Zingaro reserve was closed, so that we couldn't do the suggested walk on our first day. It would have been nice to have had an alternative offered to us either by your local agent or the hotel. We were also worried what would happen if the ferry back from Marettimo was cancelled (we weren't given any info on this, yet it seems to be a common occurrence) - but in the event this wasn't needed.
well organised travel. route descriptions were accurate and easy to follow. beautiful scenery and well away from the crowds
A wonderful opportunity to have a 'safe adventure!'. Euganian Hills are a beautiful, unspoilt area to explore, the vineyards and olive groves were a delight, and the views amazing.
We had a wonderful holiday enjoying the contrasts of Catalunya, from the sea at the Costa Brava to the rice fields and woodlands inland. The reps Jim and Katie gave us a terrific service, from the introductory postcard sent to us prior to leaving, and the provision of satnav files to make navigation so easy. The hotels Hotel Sa Punta and the magnificent El Castell d'Emporda both exceeded our expectations, and to stay in the tower of an ancient castle was the highlight of our holiday. We have had three Headwater holidays now and will definitely be back for more.
Puglia is a great destination for a cycling holiday. Hotels were welcoming, helpful and of good standard.But you definitely need better arrangements for route checking/updating and translation of self-guiding instructions, which misrepresented a number of key instructions, resuling in errors and distress. You continue to give paper instructions which don't fit the holders. Other companies provide mileometers and satnavigation
This is our 7th cycling holiday with Headwater and once again we have had a really enjoyable holiday.
This holiday does 'what it says on the tin' - provides accomodation, meals & cycling with a rep available as required.
The accomodation was a bit too far out of town for my liking - once dinner was over at 9:30 - 10.00 there was not much else to do.
s a solo traveller, I had several days when there were no other guests to talk to, despite Headwater implying there was limited space avilable when I booked..
Finally, as a non-drinker, I was disappointed in the lack of alternative drinks at dinner: water or water.
Apart from these small gripes I had a great time and loved cycling in the countryside. The food at the accomodation was generally very good and certainly ample quantities.
This was a wonderful holiday. We have done a number of cycling holidays in Italy with different tour operators and this was by far and away the best. Such beautiful landscape, food and wine and so un touristy. We didn't meet a single Brit. The hotels were simply fabulous and Headwater organisation faultless. We are a 70 and 65 year old who for various reasons had not managed do as much cycling this summer as we had intended and the cycling was challenging but we managed it. Hills meant wonderful views at every turn and then a downhill glide, and most hills were very manageable in lowest gear, slow steady pedalling and plenty of stops to admire the views. The distances aren't huge so you can afford to take your time, and with 2 nights at every hotel, you can break up the cycling with a rest day. We enjoyed this aspect, especially as the hotels were so lovely, and it was nice not to be re packing the suitcase each morning. We will definitely choose Headwater again, but this holiday has spoilt me and I shall be looking for another gastronomic trip!!!
We have been on 3 previous Headwater holidays, but this one was the most enjoyable of them all. The cycling was wonderful, though it wouldnt suit those who dislike cycling mainly on flat terrain. The cycle paths much of the way to Grado were amazing and Italy in particular is very much geared towards the cyclist. The hotels ranged from quite posh to comfortable, located centrally and excellent. Four of the dinners were included in our holiday and were very good and not having to go and find somewhere to eat in those two hotels was a fortuitous because of the inclement weather. However we enjoyed having the freedom to find our own restaurants subsequently.
The tour operator was very reliable with excellent English.
The route notes were challenging and there were times when we were directed right instead of left. My husband has offered to 're-write' them since they could be modified to make it much less likely to have to retrace your pedaling.
On our second day, our tour guide asked us if we wanted to cycle because it was raining quite heavily with the forecast of no let up all day. I asked him if there was a choice and he offered to transport us to our next destination in the car. We had no idea that this was an option, but foolishly or not, we declined and arrived at our next hotel, very wet and bedraggled. However we were allocated the most wonderful room, with loads of space to dry off all our dripping clothing and bags. What a silver lining that was. Sadly we didnt see much of that day's route since the rain was relentless.
I would definitely like to do this trip again.
Booking straightforward. Transfer to and from Malaga airport efficient. Great welcome at the Finca. Excellent food including local dishes. Food and wine from local source. The Finca is located in spectacular countryside enabling walks to be varied. Our guide Nick supplied us with information of the area-the history and customs of the local people, the fruit production on the hillsides-avocados, olives, grapes etc.
An excellent holiday.
Why [in no particular order]
wonderful scenery and excellent walking routes
superb group of walkers - we all got on well together, all of us at a similar standard.
great accommodation with 2 very welcoming hosts and their staff
excellent meals at all times - at the Finca and in the villages
a very knowledgeable guide
well organised transport throughout the holiday
A wonderful holiday from start to finish, the accommodation surpassed our expectations and the food was some of the best we have had, especially in the Finca. The air of calm around the place made us relax from the first day, thanks to Sue, Gorden and the rest of their lovely staff. The walks were well led by Nick who was very knowledgeable and made the point of talking to everyone in the group and making sure all were OK as some days it was very hot. Would recommend Headwater to friends without any hesitation, thank you.
It was the first time for us with Headwater so we were slightly apprehensive but everything was excellent but mostly the choice of hotel. We are now looking forward to our next Headwater holiday to Gozo which is already booked.
Headwater take the pressure of organising your holiday off you and have never disappointed us in their attention to detail.
Well-chosen walks in a scenic area with classic limestone features. Can be rocky and stony underfoot in places, but all walks within Grade 2 definition. Arrangements at Hotel Zuhayra are excellent; Antonio was always helpful and the staff went out of their way to provide good, friendly service.
Excellent holiday; very interesting area of Spain to visit. The walks were varied with spectacular scenery. The hotel was well located and there was often something going on in the town square in the evening. Hotel staff friendly and helpful and the food was very good. I know the Spanish eat late but the 8.30pm evening meal was the only downside particularly when we wanted to have an early breakfast so we could start walking before it got too hot. Since Headwater clients have their own menu maybe an earlier sitting could be considered.
A really excellent week - well organised and planned, allowing us to concentrate on the splendid walks. I hadn't been on an organised walking holiday before, but I will certainly try some more of these trips in future, since they allow you to get to places that you might not try on your own.
Really enjoyable, few small comments, maps were hard to read, water bottles ideally insulated, stands of bikes needed, lovely holiday, expensive especially because of euro/sterling exchange
It was well organised, the reps were great and we had a great time. The hotels were terrific, very comfortable, a great selection.
The representatives Katie and Jim made the holiday truly wonderful. They were extremely helpful with nothing too much trouble.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, albeit the weather was a little disappointing. The accommodation was excellent, and the food outstanding. We did not feel that the walking route instructions were as clear or as accurate as those on our 2 previous holidays with Headwater, but no harm done! Would definitely recommend to like minded friends.
Menorca is a lovely island, incredibly pretty and very easy to get around. The Morvedra Nou hotel is in a perfect setting if you want peace and quiet. The gardens and pool area are so relaxing, the bird song is the only thing you'll hear! Unfortunately, we were unable to upgrade at the time of booking, to one of the larger rooms, and although our room was spotlessly clean and had a sunny patio, we did find it on the small side. Not a big deal as we were out walking most days. The walks were excellent, sometimes really off the beaten track, great wildlife and fabulous scenery, quite a few 'wow' moments as we came round a headland or walked through the gorge to the caves. Our only gripe, was the food. Breakfast was fine, plenty of choice but dinner was very hit and miss. There was no comparison to the food photos on the hotel website, and the portion sizes and combinations were very strange. Sometimes the starters were far too big, and the main course would be just a large piece of meat/fish with one small potato if you were lucky (no veg). There was only one evening out of ten, that we both enjoyed the whole meal, which was so disappointing. Honestly, neither of us are fussy eaters, but we have never left so much food on our plates, and not once did anyone ask us about it.
A good holiday we both enjoyed. The hotels were in great locations, most with fantastic balcony views. Transfer between hotels was prompt in clean modern vehicles. The walks came with good route plans, occasional misleading directions, but no great dramas. Went through some fantastic small villages and great views, especially the walk of the gods.
The Italians could be encouraged to look after their surroundings better .The amount of rubbish by the sides of the roads is awful .It's such a shame and detracts from the unspoilt countryside.The historic centres of the town's are really interesting and not crowded.
An Italian adventure. Excellent bikes, fabulous food. Sometimes the instructions were a challenge but generally ok. Accommodation was varied which added to the overall experience, The Masseria Salamina was exceptional. Our rep Dave was a joy .
Very easy and enjoyable cycling through lovely scenery with excellent accommodation and many places of interest to visit.
This was our first Headwater walking holiday, and it has definitely lived up to our expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed the mixture of walks, as well as the cuisine and rest day activities. Jim and Katie are excellent reps, and definitely contributed to our memorable experience. Many thanks!
Excellent experience - very well organised and delivered. All the walking notes were accurate and easy to follow. The hotel is ideally located to access a wide range of excellent and beautiful walks
Lovely cycling trip, local agents, hotels and bikes were very good. The Trulli hotel was interesting, but dark and lacking in facilities.
This was our 5th Headwater holiday. We like the attention to detail and the fact that we can rely on the equipment and the rep. We feel we are in good hands and that we can be sure of everything running smoothly. We enjoy meeting other Headwater customers.
(I have put myself in the 'over 64' bracket, but my son now age 31 has been coming on these holidays with me since he was in his teens, and continues to enjoy them)
This was our first experience of an activity holiday and none of us are experienced cyclists so we chose a grade one single centre holiday, whilst a little apprehensive after a hefty breakfast and a briefing from our excellent rep Sarah we set off on our first ride. The cycling was well graded and the route description very easy to follow, we did not get lost or go wrong at all during our weeks stay, best of all we were able to go at our own pace and explore some lovely countryside. Returning to our accommodation we were able to share experiences with the other groups over a glass or two of the local wines. We never thought we would find a cycling holiday relaxing but have returned home very chilled and despite the exercise about 5lbs heavier than when we started, which is a testament to the quality and quantity of the food. Thank you to all.
Enjoyable; well managed; good variety of scenery and places; lots of fresh air and opportunities to enjoy tasty regional cooking.
Good value and well thought out
Excellent with wide range of walks accurately described and graded. Very good hotel with delicious food and very helpful staff.
We usually travel independently but found that Headwater offered a hotel package more cheaply than we could buy ourselves and there was the additional benefit of the route notes which were excellent. My husband is the navigator of our team, but having tried Headwater, if I ever needed to travel on my own, I would be confident about using their notes and routes which were exceptional. We went to the Dolomites and had superb weather which made for a stunning holiday with plenty of walks to choose from. I would certainly use Headwater again.
A great holiday.. enjoyable as other HW holidays we have had!.
A little too hot...perhaps we should have waited for 2 weeks later in September.
A lovely way to get to know a charming island, in a luxurious hotel. Gozo is easy to navigate around and the paths have been upgraded recently. A very enjoyable and relaxing holiday.
You enabled us to visit a part of Sicily we could not have done on our own. The area was beautiful, the walks good and we enjoyed the company of fellow travellers. Thank you
This is my 10 th Headwater holiday,this time I convinced three friends to walk the Camino de Santiago with Headwater.
Our group of four were very pleased with Headwater and are looking at more holidays with them.
Excellent accommodation. Confidence with the equipment and support. Good maps and route details very comprehensive. Cycling down the Danube is great as the Danube cycleway is either a dedicated path or where it runs along side a road it is separate and safe. An added advantage is that it is flat and well surfaced.
This holiday was superb. The scenery was unspoilt mountainous terrain and pastoral along the river valleys. Well away from tourist areas. A good variety of walks ranging from easy to quite challenging, with very accurate walking notes. We did Rio Tormes, Laguna Grande, Villages of the South to name a few. Saw 45+ species of birds. Weather in September was cool at night but got into low twenties in the afternoons. Typically 7 degrees warmer on the south side of the Sierras. We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and drove down - very pleasant. The hotel was great and Teresa was a wonderful hostess.
September is a poor choice for a walking holiday on Gozo. The interior is typically very hot and humid and the landscape very dry and baron. There are few trees on the island and the sun beats down on you all day. The coast is lovely and there was, at times, a small breeze, but most of the suggested walking routes are not coastal. We were told by locals that the landscape is lovely and green, with lots of wildflowers, around May,and the temperatures more suitable for walking. Ta Cenc is a comfortable hotel but more like a -4 star hotel, rather than a 5 star.
Wonderful holiday through a stunning and, at times, remote area of France with excellent food, drink and opportunity for activity. Very relaxing.
Excellent holiday. The holiday representatives are a credit to the company. We would certainly book another holiday with Headwater!
It was a real fun adventure. The excellent support and hotels allowed for maximum enjoyment.
Excellent holiday overall.
It might have been better to have an extra day in Vienna at the end of the trip instead of a free day in Krems which was not as exciting as Vienna.
The weather could have been better too!!
Lovely locations. There is so much choice of what to do on your spare days.
Although the walks are not too strenuous you do need to have enough food and water with you as there are few places on route where you can stock-up.
Do take your time following route instructions as markers are not always immediately obvious and can become difficult to see or disappear entirely.
Maintained the high standard we have come to expect from Headwater.
difficult to fault,made by extreme helpfulness from local agent,Liberata
Excellent holiday travelling through the Dordogne in a peaceful setting at your own pace and staying at well chosen establishments that provide some amazing standards of food quality relative to their star rating. The friendliness, helpfulness and availability of the reps Keith & Claire was excellent too.
A thoroughly restful holiday through stunning countryside. Excellent cycle paths which take you away from the busy roads and where you can set your own pace. The option to shorten journeys using trains or ferries was useful. Our ninth headwater holiday and one we would take again in a few years time. Switzerland is an expensive place to visit but the half board basis of this holiday offsets some of that cost. Our group of eight ranged in age from 48 to 72 and everyone found it a comfortable and enjoyable cycle. Lots to see and do on the rest days which meant that we packed a lot into each day. The fabulous chocolate, kaffee und kuchen could be offset quite easily which was a bonus!
Excellent except for Marco Polo, slightly long transfer. The area was beautiful walking very good for all abilities.
This was our second holiday with Headwater and again we had an excellent holiday. It was very well organised and the walking notes were easy to follow. The holiday certainly lived up to its name of being a gastronomic walking tour - the food was delicious throughout and all four hotels were very friendly.
The walking was pleasant but suffered a little in comparison to our first hoiday with Headwater (Umbria) as the Dordogne is a busier area than Umbria.
Our top tip would be to visit Le font de Gaume when staying in Les Eyzies - there are a limited number of tickets issued each day and 52 of these go on sale each morning at 9.30am. The receptionist at the hotel suggested we shoud be there by 7.30am, as September isn't peak season and as she predicted we weren't the first, we joined the very orderly queque as nos 11 and 12; it was a magical experience seeing original paintings that are 14,000 years old.
We came home feeling very relaxed and ready to book another Headwater holiday.
The Park Bellevue hotel was an excellent walking and cycling base in terms of its location, the options available and the standard and service of the hotel and its team. The local bus and rail transport and connections were frequent and very reliable and the provided Mobil card was fully utilised. The walks suggested in the holiday pack provided ample options for all abilities and the enclosed maps coupled with the standard of signing in the Dolomites showed there was much more to try if needed. A great holiday, helped by wall to wall sunshine for the first 4 days!
I suggest you place the oldest persons in each group on ground floor hotel rooms. Hard for old guys to lug bags upstairs.
Excellent routes, great hotels, fabulous countryside, lots to see and good food to fuel your journey!
Fabulous family holiday. We were very impressed by the high standard of equipment provided and managed by our two reps Keith and Clare - the kit was immaculate and in excellent condition (especially the bikes, panniers, locks etc). The canoeing was so peaceful with beautiful scenery and wildlife all the way (numerous kingfishers, herons, cormorants, little egrets etc) - the faster water was fun, the daily distances were very achievable. On our 'rest' days we were fairly active and put in many miles (steep hills and off-roading) on our bikes (we bought detailed maps online before we went) however, it would have been very easy to have complete rest and relaxation by the lovely hotel pools. Basically you can be as active or inactive as you feel - would suit nearly all abilities. Fabulous food and wine (although the wine in the hotels was quite pricey). Would highly recommend to anyone.
Dolomites and Venice were spectacular
Excellent hotel, food and location.
A great place to tour on cycles, local people and hospitality are excellent
We as a family have canoed and kayaked in the past. I would have thought it would be quite tricky on the first day if you have never done it at all. I would suggest an hour demonstration for novices to get them try it out.
Fantastic. The whole experience was wonderful. Travel was smooth - the 'local reps (Keith and Claire) were lovely, informed, committed and really, really nice couple. The itinerary was easy to follow and worked very well. Food superb and hotels great. thank you
Wonderful food amazing canoeing in a brilliant location
Overall we had a great time. A few hiccups - BA losing a suitcase! not Headwaters fault (found it eventually) and on the return journey arriving at Barcelona airport to be told they only had two seats - we are a family of four! Eventually found us two more seats but made for a very stressful journey. We did not check in late and online checkin was not an option for us. It was VERY hot 35 degrees. A bit too hot to be honest and we probably would not do this holiday again in August! Go when it is a bit cooler. The area is fabulous and we would go back. The hotels are generally very good. We did have an issue at Garbi. Our first night the aircon was not working properly in our room but we got on with it. On our last night the aircon in the boys' room was not working at all and it was 29 degrees! The suggested remedies as the hotel was full was to a) live with it then b) sleep with the window open and they would provide insect repellent! We rejected both these options and in the end moved the two boys in with us for the night. The staff provided camp beds. We managed but not overly happy having paid for two double rooms. We did mention it to the reps in the morning but as it was our last night there was nothing to be done.
Extremely enjoyable, well organised and busy with an excellent mix of quiet countryside cycling and fascinating places to see and visit.
A fantastic holiday for a family with teenagers. Easy but very enjoyable cycling in stunning countryside.
I joined this vacation basically to walk through some lovely countryside and to see a lot of historic buildings in Spain. That was pretty much what I got. But in addition very enjoyable stays at the hotels where the staff all spoke great English and were really helpful. The guides made some very useful suggestions that saw me undertake day 2 hikes on day 1 and 2 . Good advice for the middle of summer and it enabled me to get back in time about 3.30 to enjoy the wonderful situation of Castell de Emporda. The Coastal phase was beautiful and after the completion of the hike and I stayed a few more days at Begur.
Great Holiday. Some amazing Italian meals.
A great week in an outstandingly beautiful area - as the notes say (and I paraphrase) any slog uphill is richly rewarded with ever more stunning views, and prices at the mountain-top cafes are the same as at the bottom, which is unusual. The weather was hot so we chose to do more cycling than walking to make our own breeze! Plenty of choice of walking and cycling routes and the teenagers were exercised adequately each day! The bicycles were good quality and very well maintained. We took the cog-railway up to Schafberg, walked up (and down) Katrin from Nussensee (which was a hard day's walk) and cycled to Bad Ischl, St Wolfgang, St Gilgen and Schwarzensee - that last one was hard too and we wished we'd taken our swimming stuff to cool off in the glorious lake! We added our own 4-night stay in Munich (including organising our own travel from Strobl and afterwards to Munich airport) and Headwater were happy to arrange our flight around this. We felt that everything had been carefully thought out and researched which meant we could just relax and enjoy ourselves.
A brilliant and well thought out holiday, with super routes and excellent hotels - well worth adding extra days to.
Our first walking holiday and first with Headwater. We had a great experience and will come back. A few errors in notes we will send details to you.
Excellent holiday; fantastic hotel - which would it seems would be hard to book into directly (unless doing so a couple of years ahead). Used Headwater 3 times now which I would not have done if I did not regard them as a good company.
Contrasts of Catalunya is a great route which takes in coast and countryside. We were two non-cyclists and found the routes achievable and well-planned, with thought given to where you could stop and explore different villages. Cycling was partly on quiet roads and partly on tracks - the routes through the rice fields and alongside apple orchards were particularly enjoyable, while some of the sandy tracks through pine forests were a bit harder going. The bikes were well-maintained and comfortable. Highlights on the route were medieval Pals and Begur, while the Sa Punta Hotel stood out for its fantastic service, excellent swimming pool and the best food we had all week. Service from the reps was also great, and they provided helpful map files and instructions on how to use these on a smartphone as well as practical tips. Highly recommendable!
Hotel is in great location, all walks are very close and varied. Hotel was comfortable, our room was old in terms of decor, but others have been recently refurbished. The evening meals were pretty good (mainly meat, very little fish), breakfast was rather bland (limited selection mainly bread). Packed lunch was welcome, but was a sandwich only, which was quite lacking compared to other Headwater packed lunches.
The holiday offered varied activities which were not too strenuous, although you needed some degree of fitness to enjoy them. The support offered by the local reps was excellent as was the food at the various hotels.
This was a fantastic holiday mixing activity through cycling with culture by visiting Vicenza, Padua and Venice. It is great if you want an authentic holiday experience getting the feel of a country independently by cycling along country lanes and canal banks undisturbed by traffic and stopping at local markets or cafes for lunch with the security of knowing that a comfortable bed and good food awaits you at the end of a day. You feel you have earned the glass of wine and the lovely food using fresh local ingredients . The hotels were all different but individual and whilst not needed it is good to know that there is a local rep on hand to sort out any problems. It was 10 years since our last headwater cycling holiday but we were pleased that we still easily coped with the cycling and this holiday was the best mix of scenery, cycle routes, hotels and food out of the other 4 I have had over a 25 year period. Thank you for a great time.
An excellent family activity holiday with a lovely range of hotels and universally excellent food. Chateau de Monrecour was a particular highlight. Look at the cycling routes carefully and plan the day especially with regard to food stops and water refills.
We were a group of 9, who were made to feel most welcome. L'alhambra is in a beautiful setting, and the pool was most welcome after a hot days cycling. The evening meals were always delightful, using produce from the farm, breakfast was however a little un imaginative and we had to ask for eggs-which were then available every morning.
Sarah is very knowledgeable, whether your asking about pumping the tyres, local wine or the times of trains! She quickly found answers to our queries and made calls on our behalf. The wine tour and tasting at Catalunga was the highlight of the week- bigger saddle bags required!!
Having taken 6 walking holidays through yourselves and Inntravel in the French Alps, Swiss Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites, this holiday is the favourite of them all for both my wife and I.
This was a new region for us which offered a good variety of terrain and landscapes. The unexpectedness and beauty revealed as each walk progressed made this a gem of a holiday. Would definitely recommend whole heartedly.
An extremely positive experience, wonderful accommodation and cuisine, superb support from the rep, gorgeous rides offered suitable to our experience, great fun and relaxing holiday had by all!
We didn't think this holiday was representative of Headwater cycling holidays in general. This was our fourth Headwater holiday, and compared to the others (Italy, Spain and France), it was disappointing. The cycling routes were not as pretty as on other holidays, and there weren't so many nice places to stop for lunch or to admire the scenery. This was partly to do with the different culture, of course, but it also had a lot to do with the cycling routes themselves and the hotels. We didn't feel that the usual Headwater support was there, and this was partly reflected in the route notes. Although they were OK, we thought they could have been more helpful and they were at times inaccurate. The cycling was more difficult than we expected it to be, so we were glad to have the option of cutting some days short by using the ferries or trains. Although there were a lot of cycle paths, they were often alongside (or on) quite busy roads.
Excellent Holiday with easy walking and kayaking
This was such a memorable holiday that we will always remember. The countryside is stunning and the walks allow you to take in some superb views of the hilltop villages and vines. Each hotel was excellent, with either amazing views at breakfast, or a welcoming pool or superb menus. The evening meals were an experience in themselves. We are not food buffs in any shape or form but I don't think we have ever eaten so well before in our lives. The walks can be challenging at times although in late July we were setting off with the temperature in the mid 20s which reached the mid to high 30s in the afternoon (take plenty of water bottles!). If you like walking, fine wine and superb food this is the holiday for you.
Would definately recommend this holiday to everybody! The whole package was brilliant.I was a bit nervous at first -never been in a canoe before but after a very short time i was thoroughly enjoying every minute! We loved everything about the whole trip - the region, the canoes,the hotels, the bikes - the reps were brilliant -really helpful and knowledgeable. We,ve had some great holidays over the years and this one certainly ranks as one of our best ones! I took a lot of photos along the way and friends and family were very complimentery about them - seeing what we had been up to!!
Easy cycling, lovely scenery, excellent hotels. Cycles well maintained and maps and route notes easy to follow!
you get to some amazing places using well marked parks and good public transport one of the best walking experiences in Europe
Our reps were superb. Jim took particular care to ensure the bikes were fitted to each individual and this meant each of our party was comfortable throughout the holiday. He had specially removed the bottle holder from the ladies bikes so they would not catch their legs when getting on and off. This attention to detail was much appreciated. He had gone to great lengths to produce a gps version of all the trails and this was invaluable and worked without any problems. I had brought a smart phone holder and battery charger so had a days full battery life. While this would have been sufficient without the notes, the two worked in tandem well and should become a standard on all your cycling holidays.
The bikes would benefit from a small front pannier particularly for the ladies to keep a small water bottle in and a handbag.
Our reps kept in email contact to check our progress and made very helpful recommendations on places to eat and visit on the trip. They put their knowledge to good use so we had an excellent holiday.
A wonderfully relaxing holiday featuring the opportunity to mix a range of outdoor activities in a beautiful part of France with the chance to explore its towns, villages, sights and cuisine.
All the accommodation was good, but the Hostellerie Fenelon, and the Hotel Quercy were outstanding in all respects - superb food and very friendly and welcoming.
Local reps Claire and Keith were also outstanding - available, informative, cheerful, nothing too much trouble, very well-informed - a pleasure to have them as reps
It was our first cycling holiday and both of us enjoyed the experience. The pool was excellent, the bikes excellent, the weather superb, and our hosts Valfrido and Angelina, their daughter Romina and son Frederico certainly made us welcome. If circumstances allowed, for we are both skiers, i think we would certainly entertain repeating the holiday. As we never cycled after 2 pm, we both thought the pool was an essential requirement. As for the food and drink. I can certainly believe it all comes from the farm, as it tasted so fresh, but this means only wine and water are served with the evening meal. Finally the rep, Sarah was organised and helpfull.
This is just a wonderful part of the world for cyclists who like to immerse themselves in a beautiful, safe and friendly place. As you'd expect in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, everything works so well to give you a hassle-free holiday. Everyone was so welcoming, locals as well as people providing service and quite happy to use their excellent English in place of my stumbling schoolboy German.
7 of us shared this holiday. We ranged in age from 10 to 73 and we all had a great time. The wonderful weather helped in this very good location. We were very impressed with the efficient Austrian people,in the delightful Bergrose hotel and all the little farms, ,houses and neat, tidy floral gardens. It was a joy to cycle around. the scenery was spectacular. We particularly enjoyed the lake at Stroble as well as the bike rides to StWolfgang, St Gilgen and Bad Ischl and the ferry to Hallstatt.. The children were always busy and after dinner had a very competitive table tennis match. A very good family holiday!
We loved this walk. Accommodation on the whole was as good as it could be given the isolated nature of some places. We were particularly impressed with the helpfulness of staff at Headwater when BA cancelled our outward flight the evening before our journey so we didn't miss any of our holiday. The arrangements went very smoothly. The weather in mid July was very hot-unusually so according to locals- so if you suffer from the heat, earlier or later might be better!
The travel arrangements/organisation and detail excellent. Two of the hotels were not nearly as good as the rest . In fact the last hotel was way below standard but the food at that hotel was excellent. The rooms were far too small there was no air conditioning and it resembled the most basic accommodation. The middle two hotels were outstanding as was Bregenz but Seegarten again had no air conditioning is not well positioned.
Overall this is an excellent holiday well put together and if the two hotels were improved upon it would be almost the perfect break
We almost always travel independently and avoid package holidays. However, we wanted to do a cycling holiday and were attracted by the idea of being able to cycle from place to place with our luggage transported. Headwater did not let us down - we felt we had all the advantages of independent travel (getting off the well-worn tourist routes, meeting local people and eating regional food) yet had backup if we wanted or needed it. Our rep, Sarah, was outstanding, friendly and knowledgeable and generous with her time. Cycle routes were clear and had plenty of suggestions for detours to places of interest, or to make the day's trip more or less taxing. We liked all the places where we stayed - the two hotels were polished and comfortable, a lovely complement to the country cooking and warm family atmosphere of the two agritourismi.
The arrangements were very good and instructions easy to follow. However, we found the bikes to be very heavy, and the crossbar on the ladies' bike was far too high, to the extent that my husband had to help me on and off the bike as I could not tilt it far enough towards me to get my leg over the crossbar without it falling on me (as it did on one occasion, resulting on me banging my head (thank goodness for my cycle helmet) and skinning my elbow!
...the 3 hotels were very different, but, were all in good locations with quality offerings. the people and staff of Croatia are very welcoming and have no airs and graces about themselves. the bikes are well maintained and sturdy, and, need to be for some of the unsurfaced paths. Rovinj was our favourite place, but, all towns / hotels that we visited were pretty and welcoming.
Booking was not entirely straight forward. I appreciate that we had different members of the party coming from different places - and indeed staying for different lengths of time -and with some dietary requests - but for me there is not the attention to detail that i would expect. I picked up several errors during the booking and invoicing procedures - that were just frustrating. Everything was eventually resolved but not without my going through every detail carefully. Unfortunately when one error arises one has to look even more closely at all the documentation- all of which was exceptionally time consuming.At all times I was dealt with politely, and am grateful for the written apology I received on this occasion .
However if one can push through this - your holidays are just superb.Recognising that we were fairly energetic, Sarah provided us with 2 extensions on the given routes which were just what some members needed. Also, a previous guest, had written an alternative route back on the visit to the lake. That was wonderful but certainly in the 2 to 3 cycle realm - but we loved it.- so there is room to offer this as a more than one cycle if wished.
The hotel pool was wonderful and much used in the very hot conditions! The family at the hotel could not have been more helpful and the atmosphere there was just lovely- marvellous to relax there after the cycling.
For future customers you may like to add that if you have an inordinate wait at venice station there is a great restaurant opposite called Soul Kitchen - who allowed us to sit for 2 and a half hours over a lovely easy meal.
Excellent holiday based in a perfect location for walking. Local transport facilities (bus/train) were first class
Hotel staff excellent. Train noise bad in rooms.
Great hotel locations, very friendly with good service and excellent food and drink especially the abundant and very good value seafood.
This is an excellent hikers holiday with well described routes and terrific scenery. On return the hotel and its chef is first class in providing the ideal evening.
Super holiday, loved the area, and all the hotels. Our rep, Sarah, was absolutely wonderful. She found us a taxi at a good price, she knew all about the area, the bag transfer was done most efficiently, what a lovely lady. She even recognised that we felt more comfortable eating as just a couple, and not in a larger group, and without us asking she organised a table for just us two. How perceptive!! Thank you Sarah.
This cycle trip from the Julian Alps to the Adriatic was really excellent - beautiful and varied countryside, interesting towns and cities on route, well-chosen hotels (and some excellent food) and a very good route using well established cycle track most of the way. The highlight for us was a couple of days cycling on the route of a former railway through the mountains of Slovenia and northern Italy. Miroslav and the team looked after us beautifully throughout. Thank you for a great holiday!
A beautiful but very popular and busy part of Italy. Seeing it by means of a walking holiday is an excellent way of minimising the experience of crowds and seeing parts that most tourists do not see. Many of the views are spectacular and some of the foot paths are not to be missed. The end of June is a hot time and walkers need to be able to cope with that. All of the hotels provided typically friendly Italian service.
Well organised and did what it said on the can!
Excellent from start to finish as usual!
The walking and travelling around the Dolomites was excellent. Unfortunately neither hotel was situated in a quiet location and mosy
y nights we were disturbed. In Toblach there were open air rock music festivals opposite the hotel on the first two nights and on the third night the railway company decided to carry out maintenance till 5am outside our room. We also had two days of gunfire from the nearby military firing range. The hotel room and service/food were,however, excellent.
Our room in Venice was situated overlooking the alleyway leading to the hotel. This was full of people all night and we did not get much sleep. The room itself was very comfortable and the staff very helpful.
An excellent holiday that exceeded our expectations in a fabulous mountainous environment. Accommodation was superb.
Very good indeed. Great location; walks sufficiently (but not too) challenging. Great food. Sometimes bus service arrangements to walk start end points a bit fiddly (we were put off from one of them by this). Easyjet baggage drop and general service at Venice airport (as distinct from the flights themselves which were fine) very poor.
Easy to use and inviting
Delightful easy cycling (totally flat with excellent largely traffic free trails) in scenic countryside. Lots of opportunities to stop for coffe, cake, drinks etc
Exceeded expectations, scenery gorgeous, hotel friendly and helpful staff
Contrasting walks in a beautiful area of Switzerland. The two walks to the Oeschinensee and the Doldenhornhutte are particularly challenging with many steep or tricky paths often very narrow and across waterfalls or shale slopes. Essential to have a head for heights and walking poles. These however were the best walks with terrific views. Do the extension to the Daubensee walk as the views at the final destination are well with it. The Alfa Soleil Hotel is a good 3 star hotel and our junior suite was excellent and worth the upgrade. Our one complaint of the room would be the shower and the sudden change of temperature when running going from very cold to scorching and dangerously hot; we had to be be swift to move out of the range of the spray when this happened. Breakfast is not as varied as other Swiss hotels we have stayed at and there was a huge additional charge if you fancied eggs and bacon. The food overall was inconsistent and not up to expectation following all the reviews and varied from poor ( tough poached chicken and lamb curry one night) to very good on the barbecue evening. However, great value holiday overall for Switzerland which is very expensive. PS the house wine is very good and at 22 Swiss francs per 50cl, a bit of a bargain.
Great food and accommodation. Tough cycling but scenic. Thoroughly enjoyable.
We enjoyed our visit to the area very much, and apart from the luggage problem, we had no real difficulties.
However, we did have one concern that troubled us. On previous headwater holidays, we always felt that we had the reassurance of a Headwater rep to contact in the event of any difficulty, e.g. in the event of an accident, buckled wheel etc.When we asked the Donnau lady what would happen in the event of such a situation arising, (expecting her to say we'd come out to you), we were most disconcerted to hear her say that 'you have a list of Donnau stations around the lake. If you have a problem you must go to them - they will not come to you'.
We had not realised the implication of the arrangement Headwater had with Donnau, that resulted in raising our anxiety levels if anything had gone wrong. We would certainly check with Headwater if booking a future holiday that we had a local rep at hand. If there wasn't , we would not book that particular holiday..
One last point. In places, the fine detail in the instructions was inaccurate and misleading. this delayed us on occasions.
Biking from Slovenia to the Adriatic provided us with diverse scenery and conditions ,which we enjoyed.However it was by no means easy and two 50 km bike rides back to back was fairly challenging .
Lovely relaxed cycles with plenty of 'things' to see along the way. The only difficulty was the route notes which had had the maps removed and left only descriptions and a very large region map. The guides had removed the maps because they were 'confusing' - I suspect that reflects a difference between visual and aural people - we would have been MUCH more comfortable with a MAP - particularly since some of the descriptions in the guide were a little wrong.
Despite having to opt out of cycling, thanks to the help given by M Tours we had a most enjoyable holiday. (We had flu just before departure)
A good mix of scenic, coastal, country and historic town locations for both walking and overnight stays. Introduced us to a lesser known area of Spain. While most of the walking had excellent scenery and moderate challenges, some sections were slightly tedious on tracks/roads rather than paths. However these were marked walking routes on the published maps, and it is difficult to see what alternatives were viable to get you to the next place of interest. No gain without pain! Walking instructions were excellent throughout.
I seem to have ticked 'excellent' just about every question; the reason being that we have rated this holiday amongst the best FIVE we have done in the last 18 or so years. The description 'Gastronomic Walk' just does not do the holiday justice....'MICHELIN' should be added!
We like the freedom of walking independently with excellent meals at the end of the day and the convenience of the luggage being transported between hotels.
We walked through a beautiful quiet unknown part of Italy meeting friendly people in small hotels and rural towns and felt welcomed everywhere.
Excellent equipment, good hotels and lovely route
The welcome briefing was far too long, we expected it to last for about 15 minutes and it went for over 2 hours. We could have read the notes ourselves, rather than having the rep read them to us. The route notes were excellent and easy to follow. Puglia is a varied part of Italy, some parts are stunningly beautiful, other bits less picturesque. Alberobello has been spoilt by the number of tourists and souvenir shops, we would have preferred to stay in Locorotondo, which is a far more beautiful town without the hoards of cruise ship tourists, although staying in a Trullo was a great experience. The people of Puglia that we came in contact with were incredibly friendly, helpful and kind, and the food and wine were amazing. All in all it was a good cycling holiday with lots to see and varied cycling.
It seems that overall the employees and agents of Headwater have forgotten who is the guest and who is the host
Highly recommend tis holiday. Slovenia was new to us. Especially enjoyed all the cultural highlights of Udine, Palmanova and Aquiliea.
After several good walking holidays with Headwater, this was our first cycling holiday, suggested by experienced cycling friends who accompanied us. The route is mainly downhill, but there are some longish steady uphill climbs, and we calculated an average of 50km/day (exc. Rest days) and did 64km on one day. Some beautiful Slovenian/Italian mountain scenery (albeit rarely out of sight or sound of roads) is succeeded by some very interesting Italian town stopovers (Venzone, Udine, Palmanova) and stopping at Aquilieia's basilica is highly recommended.
Marvellous scenery, excellent hotel, notes and route signing very good.
Excellent location and region for walking. Maps and route notes provided were really useful and accurate. Hotel was comfortable and clean with excellent food and a good wellness area which was not used at all by other guests at the time we were there. This was a bonus for us. As we were early in the season, suggested walks were not crowded but we are sure at peak times things could be different. Overall we had a great holiday and will use Headwater again for another similar trip.
Excellent walking area with a wide variety of routes. We made great use of the local travel card included in our holiday which allowed us unlimited travel on both buses and trains anywhere throughout the Bolzano province.
Cycling easy even for us oldies,nice hotels,beautiful scenery and relaxed pace.
A really relaxing and enjoyable holiday giving us the opportunity to visit some lovely areas of Italy.
The Headwater representative was well informed and really helpful allowing us to enjoy our holiday to the full.
Every day was different. The bikes were excellent as was the luggage transfer. The mix of cycling and non cycling days was a bonus and allowed one to explore the local towns. Following a river downstream provided continuity and progression as it made its way down stream.
Great time Well organised and well balanced with activities.
The key to my holiday was the flexibility in booking the travel arrangements via Birmingham. This allowed me access to an excellent holiday using a local airport.
It was a brilliant holiday - everything was well organised and went according to plan. The scenery was superb, the walks were more challenging than expected because of the extremely hot weather (38F one day!) but loads of shade and wonderful views helped us through. Our local rep was brilliant and there was more than enough information from Headwater for us to find interesting things to do on our rest days. All the accommodation was good but Villa Lussana was a holiday highlight. Thoroughly memorable. Thank you!
This was our first visit to Sicily and we thought the Secrets of Sicily programme gave a fantastic introduction to the relatively unknown northwest of the island. We very much appreciated the inclusion of visits to Segesta and Erice en route to our second and third destinations.The great highlight was the walk, on the final full day, around Monte Cofano.
A really enjoyable holiday,in a beautiful area. Take note of the weather forecast in the Veneto - it seems it is often stormy in June. Great cycling but take your own saddle - I have a ladies saddle on my own bike and I never made friends with the one on the bike that was supplied, which, despite being a gel saddle was a generic one rather than a saddle for a women. The bike itself was excellent apart from the saddle problem. Another warning is take high strength anti-mosquito solution, I was bitten badly even though I was using what I thought was a good quality solution - I bought some high strength from the local supermarket and that worked well but I had to make sure I put it on every exposed bit!!
Very easy and relaxed cycling with virtually no need for the notes as the Donauweg is so well sign-posted. Lots to do on the stay put days.
Great walking on good paths. Excellent scenery and wonderful alpine flowers.
Consider Berne as a day off destination.
Great location and excellent Hotel with some fantastic walks for all abilities.
It was a beautiful location and we had some lovely walks and saw amazing flowers. The hotel owner who was supposed to give us some guidance was not as helpful as he could have been. He raced through some information on the first evening and gave us various passes not all of which he explained.After that, he told us about one bus route being unavailable and arranged for us to travel on it when it became available. However when we asked questions subsequently, in particular if a route was Ok, he said it was up to us if we went on it. In fact it was challenging with some landslides on steep mountainside and frozen snow partially covering a fast-flowing stream through which we had to paddle.
The breakfast and packed lunches were great. Dinner was positively gourmet. (Whisper it low, but we would have preferred something simpler with fewer courses so that there was time for a walk afterwards). Mark-ups on the wine in the restaurant were enormous. We were also rather startled to be charged for tap water every night.
Well organised; great choice of places to stay with walking well directed and right amount of effort per day. The Camino is not the most beautiful route we have walked but communion with fellow travellers made it feel special.
Only comment would be O Coto. Finished short walk to Casa de la Somoza by lunch and really not much to do that afternoon. While the hotel was adequate it was not the sort of place you could amuse yourself in for an afternoon. The common parts were a bit gloomy. We went for a walk! that afternoon.
A pity about baggage handlers' strike in Madrid, main problem was that we had our walking poles taken from us in Stansted in spite of the fact that my husband had checked with Ryanair that we could get them through security. This is categorically not true. We had to store our poles in Stansted at cost to ourselves and buy poles in Leon.
Our cycling holiday was just the BEST! I am a non-cycling person, afraid in traffic, and not especially into sport and fitness. My husband is Mr Fit, and cycles quite a bit. This holiday was so much fun for both of us. Well within my capabilities, and although not very demanding, the cycling was enough to keep my husband happy. Can't wait to book another Headwater holiday.
Another good Headwater holiday. We loved the island, the walking and swimming in the sea, but should have gone in May, June was a bit too hot for us and we were surprised how busy the beaches were. It was different getting a car at the airport and driving ourselves to the hotel and, once we had learned how to negotiate the narrow roads to and from the hotel, we loved having the opportunity to explore more of the island and plan our own sightseeing each day in addition to the walks. The hotel is a gem and being able to return to this tranquil country retreat each day and relax on your own terrace or swim in the pool before going for dinner made the holiday for us. The accommodation, food and service were all excellent. There was so much choice for breakfast including local cakes and pastries and in the evenings we enjoyed a good selection of Menorcan dishes served by friendly, attentive and helpful staff.
Great holiday very much as described, good hotel, great food, nice walks.
Accommodation etc extremely good. Hilltop villages attractive although deserted.
The walking through vineyards does become a little repetitive, but last day walking through woods was more interesting.
Good holiday which did exactly as stated. Good food, good wines and walks mainly through vines. Lovely area and villages.
A well planned and run cycle tour through a beautiful part of Italy with good accommodation.
A very good holiday. Some of the roads were a bit dangerous narrow fast and bendy like the road round the fjord. Some of the off road was too rough with big limestone chippings. Your reps were working on different maps to us.
Fantastic holiday all round. Accommodation, food, service etc all excellent if a little bit variable. The cycle routes were well planned and took us through some lovely areas. Would definitely recommend an e-bike for anyone who is not a regular cyclist or accustomed to hill work. The food was very good all round if a little heavy on the gourmet- we will not want to see any more frois gras or duck for a long time! The one exception is the bistro at Hotel Pere Leon - best avoided and easily done with the plethora of good alternatives in Toulouse.
This was an easy ride for us and I would say ideal for less experienced cyclists. Everyone we met in hotels and restaurants was friendly and helpful.
I have been travelling regularly with Headwater for many years. This holiday certainly came up to expectations and I can recommend it wholeheartedly, it was one of the best. Rachel and Peter (our reps) were extremely helpful, always positive and cheerful, a great bonus; the temperature was higher than we had expected for the first week in June, hovering around 30'C and we were able to shorten our walks thanks to their efforts. The hotels were very spacious and comfortable and the food and wine were excellent, truly a gastronomic feast, apart from one restaurant which didn't match the high standard set by the rest of this holiday. Overall this was a great holiday.
It was our first cycling holiday - we both really enjoyed it. Just the right amount of cycling. The suggestions of what to do on the non cycling days were very helpful. Unfortunately we got lost in Potigano - maybe you should recheck the route notes for leaving the old town. One of the highlights of our holiday was a boat trip on the final day on the Yasemin Sultan.
A really great and varied cycling itinerary, including fantastic scenery, sites of historic interest and interesting museums. Mostly traffic free or along cycle paths, starting in the mountains and cycling through plains to the coast. Would recommend adding a couple of days at Lake Bled and exploring the area by bike and foot. The hotel there is lovely with friendly staff and excellent food and Slovenian wines (an education!). Varied accommodation, but all clean & comfortable and in the right locations for a well paced cycle ride. We really enjoyed ourselves and were fully relaxed at the end.
This was our second visit to the Alfa Soleil in Kandersteg. We were incredibly fortunate to receive a double upgrade to their new Loft apartment!! We had booked a new junior suite and we believe we were given this because there were a large party of elderly people staying and possibly some of them had booked the Loft, only to find there was no lift. This really made our week's stay as it was spacious and beautifully furnished giving us room to spread out and to also enjoy the enormous terrace with views all round of the mountains.The weather held up every single day and what with this, and the excellent food provided by Nico, we could not have had a more enjoyable stay.
A first class package in terms of organisation, accommodation and quality of food. The cycling was a challenge in that the temperatures were in the mid thirties and the route notes could be improved.
An exceptionally well designed tour, which includes valuable 2 night stops at the en-route hotels in Linz, Melk and Krems, the first two of which are really interesting to explore. The daily distances were will within the capabilities of these two 68-71 year old occasional cyclists. The Danube routes were well signed and easy to follow.
A superb holiday experience that we will always remember. Headwater's advice & organisation was faultless.
Interesting and active. Enjoyment of meals could be improved by more choices on the menu(at least three including salads). If necessary in a smallish establishment these could be pre-booked in the morning.
HW selection of hotels is VERY GOOD and we always enjoy their slightly off beat locations and warm atmosphere. We know that other HW guests will be like -minded people we can engage in friendly conversation and exchange anecdotes about each walk with in the evenings.
Fabulous combination of hard exercise, exploration, good food and wine.
The cycle route along the Danube from Paschau to Vienna was excellent - easy cycling, well signposted and extremely beautiful. We passed pretty wild flower meadows, dense forested slopes and wide terraced vineyards. The route took in many delightful towns and villages, with their pretty squares, narrow cobbled streets, castles, cathedrals and monasteries. Vienna is amazing and definitely worth staying on for a few extra days! The hotels were in great locations and the meals were very good. Headwater and their local representatives arranged a great trip for us - their customer service and attention to detail was excellent. Thank you!
All the arrangements worked well, the route guides were, with one or two minor wrinkles, very clear and accurate, the maps and information were good, the drivers always turned up on time. The hotel in Sorrento was very centrally placed and convenient for the train station and the ferry terminal, which was important to us.
Overall we really enjoyed it. However we were not quite prepared for the steepness of some of the walks. This is not down to Headwater but rather our own lack of research. The views were spectacular. We also felt that the times given for the length of each walk was rather optimistic even for us who enjoy walking in all terrains.
Having done this holiday 5 years ago it was lovely to return & find everything was as good as last time. The family run Hotel Bergrose is a credit to the Zopf family & Francesca & the rest of the staff are a credit to the business. They also speak excellent English (as well as countless other languages)
The area is lovely & the bike rides & walking a real joy. With spas in Bad Ischal, Salt mines to explore, & cable cars plus the schafgerg railway you are never stuck for things to do.
Beautiful region of France. Didn't see a soul whilst walking and the hotels were quiet which suited us! Representative was very friendly and helpful.
Beautiful area for walking and excellent food and wine.
Everything ran smoothly, with no problems with the transportation of luggage or airport pickup and drop off. The initial briefing by Davide was very thorough and informative. We found the route notes straightforward on the whole but there were a few inaccuracies. Hotels were of a good standard, but we were glad to have taken the option to upgrade, particularly at the Palazzo Indelli where our junior suite had a large terrace overlooking the lively piazza. Having outdoor space at the Trullo was also beneficial. Alberobello is interesting but very touristy and on the leisure day there, we opted to take the train to nearby Martina Franca, via Locorotundo and would recommend this. Italian trains are cheap and easy to use - just don't forget to validate your ticket before boarding! The cycling generally was perfectly manageable, although there was the odd challenging climb. On the last day, we chose to go our own way and followed the coastal route back to Monopoli, rather than go inland. This gave us an enjoyable but shorter ride, allowing us to enjoy the rest of the day in Monopoli.
Well organised , enjoyable and healthy
This holiday took us to a lovely area that we'd never have known about if we'd not come across it through the Headwater website.We wondered how we'd cope with our first mobile holiday, but it all went so smoothly that we had no problems; rather, we found it interesting to stay in 6 very different hotels in 9 nights! Having read other comments and seen the weather forecast, we went prepared for all conditions. Yes, it rained a bit, but it was warm rain without wind - nothing like the Scottish variety and we were lent a giant Italian umbrella in Este for our visit to the market and the rest of this lovely wee town. Because of the Giro d'Italia our first [non walking] day was a bit disrupted but Sarah was able to drop us off in Téolo to see the race [and it's vast entourage] go by. As my husband is a very keen cyclist who normally watches this on TV at home, this was a real treat and much appreciated. We also appreciated that one of her first acts on collecting us from Vicenza station was to offer us each a bottle of chilled water.
Yet again a very enjoyable and successful holiday with Headwater. What a smooth running organisation you are.............efficient at home and abroad............friendly, welcoming and enthisiastic. The hotels in Fazania and Rovinj were exceptional. the staff were not only helpful, but also truly passionate about their work and their country. The cycle rides had been well researched and, apart from one transfer day (Fazania to Rovinj) when the busy roads far outweighed the quiet lanes and tracks, took us through fascinating places. Thank you to all and here's to the next time. Jenny and Paul Newman
The holiday exceeded our expectations. Our rep, Sarah, was extremely helpful and friendly. We enjoyed discovering this beautiful part of Italy.
A beautiful area unspoilt by development. Fabulous food and wine. Loved it.
We all thoroughly enjoyed this well constructed, luxurious walking holiday. Piedmont is a stunning region with few tourists and the best food and wine we have ever tasted throughout Italy. The hotels, restaurants and walks selected exemplified the high quality of the area and overall was excellent value for money.
Thank you so much to Pete and Rachel - they couldn't do enough to make sure our holiday went smoothly and were so enthusiastic and friendly.
A very enjoyable experience overall; the hotel is very comfortable and the food is first class, but some of the directions for walking in the quarry areas in the west of the island are wrong or inadequately explained, so some trial and error was involved.
This is a classic walk which also includes extra interest such as a tour of Leon and the ability, due to transfers, to stay in some lovely establishments. This part of Spain is very beautiful and we walked through lovely little villages and farms. The flowers, particularly on the first day, along the way were stunning. Lots of places to get snacks and drinks. The Camino is so well signposted that there is very little need to consult notes and maps so it is easy to enjoy the walking.
Excellent experience. A privilege to walk through such a beautiful and little known part of Spain!
Although we had to look after ourselves the notes and guidance we were given were excellent. Sensible notes about our airport arrival, car hire, hotel, and walks told us everything we needed to know.
Very good accommodation in interesting buildings; friendly people; interesting towns; remarkable ancient olive trees; some days are very hilly.
Excellent accommodation and staff. Food variable from excellent (breakfast mainly) to indescribably bad for some meals/courses in the evening. English translations of menus were unhelpful. ('Meat Soup' turned out to be a bowl of pasta shells in a chicken stock. Marinated fish was a mystery). Wines excellent. Walks were great.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr & Mrs Sutherland,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday feedback. We were pleased to see that you had an enjoyable holiday overall. Although, we are sorry to see that you did not enjoy the meals at dinner. Ordinarily, this hotel receives good feedback in this area, however, we realise that we cannot allow our standards to slip, and therefore we will monitor the feedback we receive for the meals to ensure we are delivering the high standards our customers have come to expect.
Thank you for highlighting this feedback to us.
We would like to thank you for traveling with Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater customer service
The advertised holiday - gastronomic Barolo walk - sounded rather grand, but appealed as a special birthday present - a walk between nice restaurants in a pleasant part of the world with decent hotels in which to stay over. We were a little unsure about dress code and level of difficulty in the walks before we set off.
Upon being met by our tour guides, Peter and Rachel, we were soon reassured that the holiday would be informal and enjoyable. Our first hotel - Villa d'Amelia - was absolutely fantastic in every way starting with the welcome by the reception staff, the standard of the room and the facilities (including an outdoor heated pool, sauna and steam rooms). The restaurant was on another level - a Michelin 1 star - that delivered great food with special service with an emphasis on the customer as star of the show. This standard set the bar high for the rest of the holiday and our next port of call, after our first walking day, was in Grinzane Cavour staying for 2 nights at an excellent bed and breakfast with outstanding views and eating within the castle at another Michelin standard restaurant (although not yet awarded the coveted star); service here was brilliant - the chef and his wife ran the show with the help of 2 more serving staff and a kitchen brigade. At the end of an exquisite tasting menu with paired wines, the chef introduced himself to each table. His wife was charm itself and chatted and responded to our questions and comments throughout the 2 meals in a very engaging manner.
The rest of the holiday comprised 2 nights in Castiglione Falletto and 2 nights in Monforte d'Alba - both at excellent hotels in brilliant locations - and a final night returned to the Casa d'Ameila. Food could not generally compare with the first three nights, although the restaurant l'Argaj in Castiglione Falletto produced wonderful food in a setting looking out towards Barolo that would be hard to better.
Overall this was a brilliant holiday. The walking was just enough to make one ready for another (!) fine dining experience but not enough to be physically draining. Staying 2 nights in 3 of the locations proved to be a great idea - preventing the need to pack everything up every day and allowing time to appreciate the locality as well as giving an option for a circular walk or resting on the second day.
If you are reasonably fit and active and you like good wine and fine food then this would be a great holiday and my wife and I would thoroughly recommend it. Some of the walking instructions were ambiguous - resulting in a few additional miles being walked - and the terrain would be challenging underfoot in places if wet. We walked at the end of May and the heat on some days was strong; in July or August I can imagine walking being hard work and thirst inducing..
Lovely flat (mostly) easy cycling. Very clean hotel rooms, most with a nice view. Good food.
The warmth of the welcome at El Milano Real was exceptional. Teresa was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the area and the walks. She advised us about matching walks to the weather. The food was outstanding in quality and presentation. The route notes were exceptionally accurate. This was one of our best walking holidays ever.
Very enjoyable introduction to North West Sicily and the Egadi islands. Each location was full of character and accommodation was attractive and comfortable. Particularly enjoyed accommodation near San Vito where owner Daniela is a charming and very welcoming host and gave us a great introduction to Sicilian food. Beautiful views on the walks, especially in Zingaro nature reserve and on Marettimo. High temperature and very strong wind made walk around Monte Cofano a bit of an endurance walk at the end. However, lemon granitas in café at the pick up point and paddle in sea helped recovery.
We were the first people on the Julian Alps holiday. We really enjoyed it. The concept is excellent, and achieved. We did find it quite hard, though we both cycle
(mountain bike) regularly. Some days were long, and hot. I think it was the hardest holiday we've done with you, though my husband thinks some days on the 'Discovering Secret Provence' holiday were harder, because there was more climbing. Don't think it would be for people who don't normally cycle ( though we are getting on a bit).
There was one day which couldn't be done as anticipated, because the cablecar didn't start running on the advertised date, so an alternative had been suggested, and arranged for us. I think this might not affect anyone else though; I think the cablecar starts this week.
Miroslav and Matej were really keen to help, and on the whole experience. Miroslav was a bit concerned that Locanda al Fogolar might not come up to our expectations as it isn't a hotel; but we loved it, and couldn't have been made more welcome, despite Fulvio having very little English, and us having very little Italian
We found that if you don't speak Italian, German is more useful than English in this part of Italy. English is fine in Slovenia.
Later in the year, it could get very hot; take plenty to drink.
First time and we loved it.
It was a very relaxing holiday and the Ta Cenc hotel was fabulous.
Be aware of possible High wind disruption on Island
We enjoyed the walking, loved the hotel in Amalfi which was exclusive and liked the hotel in Positano.
However we were the only English amongst a large tour party of Germans in Marina del Cantone and the Hotel Capodimonte was ghastly, appalling, dreadful and full of low cost package holiday tourists and the dinner in the evening at the hotel made me feel closer to my grave.
Casa Rural santa maria-would have been helpful to know that he would pick up from the town as the extra km was not good on a v hot day.La Posada de Muriel-the hosts had changed! The breakfast of one piece of toast was not enough for a long walk and certainly could not be described as a buffet! Pazo Santa Maria-should have informed us of the most direct way to get to it as it is also a bit out and at least a 20min walk from the track as described.Rectoral de Lestedo-it would have been very helpful to have known that there was no option of drinks(tea, coffee or anything else for the three hours before the meal,which was poor.It would be useful to suggest that walkers go into the cafe about a km before the accommodation as going back doesn't seem sensible and we were ok with water (from the tap)
My 2nd camino walk holiday, a different personal experience but excellent, Galicia & Spain at its very best, Headwater organisation & bag moving en route is superb hassle & worry free,
A most enjoyable week spent on a delightful, unspoilt island with comfortable accommodation and varied and interesting walking opportunities.
Driving on the smaller roads in Menorca can be challenging at times, particularly the fairly long stretch between Ciutadella and the hotel which is narrow,
winding and lined with unforgiving limestone walls - make sure you insure your hire car excess!
Ciutadella is a delightful town to explore and the Menorcan people are charming and very helpful to visitors.
We both found this trip very enjoyable. The walking is relatively easy but very rewarding, and remarkably varied. The accommodation was top rate with good quality meals and excellent service. The location of Quinta do Furao is really great. Taxi collections and drop offs were faultless. In fact the whole trip from leaving home to returning was just perfect. One of our favourite trips.
This was our 13th holiday out of 15 with Headwater and the best yet! You are ahead of your competitors that we have tried.
The location of the trip was ideal.
This was our first holiday of this type and was not sure what to expect, the route notes given were easy to follow we were collected on time at airports/ train stations /hotels. The agents were excellent with a full briefing one in person and one over the phone and both came back to me with requests that I made for additional information.
The accommodation throughout the holiday was of a very high standard, all very clean and with excellent quality of food.
Well done Headwater we will have no problems in booking through you again.
Nick & Sue Carter
Excellent. We enjoyed the combination of great walks during our peaceful relaxing stay at Ta Cenc on Gozo and our extra nights at the Phoenicia enabling us to explore the fascinating city of Valletta.
It was unfortunate that, having made the booking for this holiday, when the maps and walking guides were forwarded to us, they had been incorrectly copied so that every even page was missing. It took a couple of phone calls to sort this out. Also took a bit of time to clarify travel arrangements to and from the airport. This made us feel a little vulnerable though, actually, the arrangements were absolutely spot on - all the taxis arrived on time and were of a very high standard. The representatives in Italy were exceptionally charming and helpful.
The description of the walks was a little misleading as some sections involved quite a lot of climbing and, in one case, scrambling down a rather precipitous, overgrown gully with loose rocks and stones presenting quite a challenge. The evening meal at the Capodimonte was dire, especially in comparison with the Punta Campanella, which was absolutely lovely. Breakfasts at the Casa Albertina were poor and I have marked the location as 'poor' because I thought it was harsh to expect your customers to climb all those steps to he hotel after the most challenging walk of the holiday involving, potentially, the descent of 1,000 steps through Positana at its conclusion.
You will note, however, that I would book with your company again, and am considering the cycle ride along the Danube for our next adventure! Your staff in the UK are, without exception, very charming. It was unfortunate that our walking guides were not complete at the outset but it was a wonderful holiday so thanks to everyone involved.
Accommodation and transfer/transport arrangements were good and enjoyed. We thought a Grading of 2 would be more appropriate ; the first two days were difficult. However the route directions were disappointing and in one place wrong. Although the directions were recently revised, I suggest they are reviewed, in particular:
Page 9: the ERG petrol station has been replaced by a building site. On the same page, the 2 electric poles are on a right turn and the Via Marascelli sign is not there. The directions in and out of Noci were confusing and need clarity, probably by removing choice of routes around the town.
Page 28. Conchia to monopoli at the junction with the give way sign , it should say turn left! At present no direction is given. There were other minor errors along the whole route but as you say, signs change !
Beautiful location, average breakfasts, excellent evening meals although limited menu.
Thank you, Headwater: we would never have thought of visiting Bermuda if your brochure had not suggested it as a base for a walking holiday, and we would have missed a treat. A delightful destination, with friendly and helpful people, a comfortable hotel in an attractive beach-side setting, some lovely walks along the old railway trail and the stunning coastline, and a range of places to visit and learn about Bermuda's fascinating history, customs and society.
The accessibility of all parts of the island and its excellent (and entertaining) bus and ferry service make it easy to 'pick and mix' elements of the recommended walking routes. We made full use of this flexibility so we could spend time in some of the museums and historic houses that help bring Bermuda's rich history and culture to life, as well as exploring the various nature reserves that feature in some of the walks.
Highly recommended (and we found May a perfect time to go - warmth and stunning flora).
This experience allowed us to see the delights of Puglia at our leisure. The route took us through the most beautiful countryside and was made perfect with the excellent food, wine and accommodation
We did this holiday two years ago and loved it - hence the decision to return. We think the new programme makes it even better, especially in hot weather, which we had! The mix of walking, visits and sightseeing exactly hit the spot for us. Gordon & Sue are, as ever, wonderful hosts; Jenny was a first-rate guide; and the local drivers were also first-class. Well done to all at the Finca - we cannot fault your excellent service, food and attention to detail!
Sue and Gordon offer a wonderful warm welcome and the friendly informal atmosphere at the Finca is very relaxing
As others have said in reviews, excellent hotel, hosts and food, The walks were relatively easy with very nice scenery,
Very good holiday, we were made to feel very welcome at the hotel El Milano Real. Good mixture of walking options, some fairly challenging. Worth visiting the south side of the Sierra de Gredos for quite different climate and flora.
A great week from start to finish. Excellent hotel. In particular Teresa the hotel owner, whose local knowledge, weather reports and enthusiasm were invaluable. A beautiful location to explore with varied and interesting walks.
This was the first holiday of this type that we have taken. I have had some health issues so was concerned that this might be a problem, but there was complete flexibility regarding which walks we could do, and the grading of the walks was so accurate, that this simply wasn't an issue. The hotel was really lovely, the briefing from our holiday rep was extremely useful, and all the travel arrangements worked perfectly. We are very impressed and are hoping to be able to take another holiday with Headwater in the Autumn.
lovely hotel, beautiful location and scenery, reasonably demanding walks.
Marvellous trip. Good that you arranged no rain and temperatures of 32 degrees
Wonderful walks and spectacular views.
Loved Puglia and everything about the region - scenery, cycle rides, food and especially the negro amaro wine we discovered. The accommodation was brilliant especially the Masseria although we did also really like the vibe of the main square in Monopoli.
There were just 3 slight disappointments
1. The spa at the Corte Altavilla in Conversano was all style over substance and was over-priced
2. The food at the Corte Altavilla was also slightly disappointing after our experience in Monopoli
3. The town and local maps provided by the local agent were utterly useless. Google was much better! They also didn't sometimes tally with the Headwater accurate directions
The cycling was more challenging than expected from the description mainly because of the many climbs involved. One of our party struggled with this, the fitter members of the party found it hard at times but more manageable
Puglia is a lovely uncommercial area of Italy and I would like to visit it again. The people are very friendly and helpful.
The bikes are very good but would benefit from the water bottles more easily accessible instead of having to be stored in the panniers. This is not allowed because of some ridiculous health and safety rule. There is a worry that you will try and drink from your water bottle when cycling.
Good with one serious caveat below
A holiday for not-too-serious walkers but definitely one for foodies.
The holiday was well planned and organised but, because we were in one hotel, we had the flexibility to change the order of the walks to suit ourselves. This meant no pressure to be at a certain place by a certain time - very relaxing.
Delightful walking week in very pleasant hotel.
Very friendly and helpful staff at the Hotel who took an interest on what we did each day. Delightful scenery, good weather and interesting walks at thee right level of difficulty.
Wonderful location with excellent and varied walks; lots of interesting birds and flowers; the hotel observatory was a bonus. Teresa's local knowledge and advice were excellent
Excellent holiday. All arrangements worked well except initial briefing - see below. Local transfers were excellent.
Our walking holiday in Portugal was a delight. Everything worked so well and the area is outstandingly beautiful particularly in April with so many spring flowers in bloom. I would highly recommend this region/ holiday.
Walking in Bermuda was described well in the brochure and ideal for those of us who don't want a sun/beach /pool holiday. The bus/ferry service was excellent for getting around either before walking or after, we sometimes split the walk over 2 days as we stayed an extra 3 days and decided that to go to the end point (often a sightseeing place) and walk back, rather than start by walking. Everyone was very friendly and willing to show us the way if we were unsure. The maps and the guide notes were good. We added in going on the glass bottom boat and swimmimg with the dolphins as extras but readily available.
A really good holiday. Excellent Hotel and walking in a very quiet area. Will email some more detailed commets direct.
A really excellent holiday in a relatively unknown but attractive location, with a superb hotel and a very helpful and knowledgeable hostess, and a good choice of walks. But for goodness sake improve the return directions to the airport - saying 'reverse the outward route' is hopelessly inadequate for negotiating the motorways of Madrid!
We have just had a wonderful week cycling in Puglia with Headwater. We would highly recommend going in late April/May as the countryside was covered in wild flowers and the weather was perfect for cycling at around 18C. The bikes were just right for the routes which are all on roads. Most roads are quiet but some were busier than I was expecting especially coming into the towns but the Italian drivers were surprisingly deferential and careful around cyclists. The hotels chosen by Headwater were all excellent. All the evening meals we had were delicious, both those provided and those we found ourselves. Not one disappointing lunch or dinner in the whole week! Some of the route instructions need clarification and personally I would have preferred them to be a bit shorter but overall an excellent weeks holiday. I'm sure we will be booking again with Headwater next year.
Excellent holiday, Gozo in the spring is a great place to have a walking holiday. The hotel is first class, very welcoming and good service and food
On our holiday we found the attention to detail and the help from the reps was outstanding. The detailed route notes in particular were very helpful and made the walking a pleasure. We will definitely travel with Headwater again.
My fourth Headwater walking holiday but the first based in one place. Loved the small, friendly hotel, and the flexibility to chose our walks according to mood, weather and stamina. Also the chance to take day trips to Cordoba and Granada.
We loved this holiday. Dave provided comprehensive information on the routes and accommodation at our initial briefing, and could not have been more helpful. He also gave us lots of background information to help us make the most out of our holiday. Puglia is a beautiful area ideal for cycling, and the hotels (which were all excellent) all had very different characters, which added extra interest to the holiday.
Excellent, well organised holidays with good company, first class accommodation and guides - and above all, personal service that cares!
An excellent location, good walks with knowledgeable guides who paid close attention to our safety, charming hosts at hotel and comfortable rooms with excellent food in the hotel and in nearby bars/restaurants - arranged by hotel
There had been comments that the walking on this holiday was too challenging, but I would have preferred longer walks.
The weather was unusually cold and very windy, and there was no heating in the Marettimo Residence, but a heater was supplied at Baglio la Luna. Even so, we sat in bed in the evenings in our fleeces to keep warm, playing scrabble.
After the final walk,which took less time than expected, no facilities were open in the village of Cornino (not even the public conveniences). When he arrived, our lovely taxi driver Nicola drove us straight to San Vito Lo Capo so we could find a coffee and a desperately-needed loo. Full marks to Nicola for help and service throughout the trip; he even carried our bags up to the 2nd floor B&B in Trapani. (The amazing emergency B&B was like being on a set in an episode of Inspector Montalbano - a surprise addition to the holiday.)
The walks were enjoyable, but some of the paths on Marettimo and at Monte Cofano had been eroded by water over the winter and consisted mainly of loose fallen rocks of random sizes. Sticks are very much needed, especially for descents.
There are many dogs wandering around in this area of Sicily; we were not attacked at all, and one followed us all day on our walk to the Semaforo. We could only reward him with a drink of water, poured into a plastic carrier bag, in a hole in the ground at the picnic site. However, the dogs leave poo everywhere, so you need to watch your step!
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Lay,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire and for your constructive feedback. Please be assured that all of the feedback we receive, whether complimentary or critical, is valuable in helping us to continue to improve and develop our holidays for the future and is always well received.
Firstly, I was sorry to see the weather was unseasonable cooler than you had expected, although, despite the colder temperatures, we were happy to see this did not deter you from making the most of your holiday overall.
We were also pleased to see you found the walks enjoyable, and would like to thank you for your feedback regarding the winter erosion on a couple of the paths, this feedback has been passed on to our local agent, they are in the process of checking all of the routes, so will make this area a priority. We have also passed on your complimentary feedback regarding Nicola, our agent will ensure this is passed on, I am sure Nicola will be delighted to hear you appreciated his efforts.
Thank you also for your feedback regarding the local dogs. Whilst we appreciate, they did not cause you any bother, it would be useful to ascertain which area this occurred in, so we can report it to the local comune. (I will telephone you directly for this information).
In closing, we would like to thank you for choosing Headwater and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team
Ideal for walking in more natural and unspoilt areas with good standard of accommodation. Warm and mainly dry weather made the walking very enjoyable although be prepared for windy spells. The importance of tourism to the area came across in the warm welcome we received from most of the Portuguese. Our introduction to the area by the Headwater rep. Tony Lewis was invaluable and his walking notes made navigation easy. Both Tony and Ludmilla made the holiday appear seamless in its organisation and they were very friendly and supportive.
We felt the walks were well-planned and the hotels well-chosen. We thought Eduardo Dias should have been more informative. On day 6 directions were inaccurate. Second para on Day 6 Camacha to Funchal at a 'T-junction of paths' we should have turned left, not right as indicated in the notes. Also other inaccuracies. At Serra Golf we booked a double room and were given a twin.
A walking holiday visiting several locations in one area. All the planning, hotels, transport etc is done for you so you can concentrate on the walks and enjoying yourself. Hotels and food very good.
The one problem we had was some glass on the floor in the bathroom at the Quinta de Bela Vista. Eventually this was cleared up thoroughly.
Minibus driver (lady) at Quinta de Furao was particularly helpful and friendly.
It was a great holiday as we were a group of 7, made up from friends for a 70th birthday celebration.The walking was the hardest I have ever done (I am 72 and fit) but it was great fun and a real sense of achievement at the end of each day.
This is the third holiday we have had with Headwater and was the best yet. Tony could not have been more helpful and is clearly a man who loves his work. The walks were all superb with a huge variety of scenery. The notes were very clear and made it is easy to find our way. The accommodation was all to a high standard. Pedralva is a real gem and we were sorry to leave such an away from it all location. Choice of food for dinner at Memmo Baleeira was a bit limited unless you like pizza but they made up for this with the most superb breakfast choice. We also had the restaurant virtually to ourselves on the first night but on our return on Good Friday it was packed out with families. Quite a contrast.
Generally very good.
Excellent location for cross country skiing, very good twin room, friendly staff, amazing food,
The entire Headwater team was extremely professional and accommodating. They were most helpful (especially Donna Webber) in sorting out a more 'tailor made' holiday to suit our particular requirements and we couldn't have been more delighted with the end result. The Venabu Fjellhotell was quite simply one of the best hotels we have stayed in in terms of friendliness, warmth of welcome, quality of food and skiing tuition. We will definitely be going again - thank you to everyone for helping to give us such a wonderful holiday.
We really enjoyed our holiday with you. We didn't meet our rep which was unfortunate ( he was unwell) . I had hoped that he may contact us later in the week. We followed all the walks which we enjoyed. We both thought that the Island was rather more suburban than rural. Really enjoyed the bus trips and Bermuda.
It was the first time I had travelled alone but I had no problem making friends. There were 11 others in the group and they were really fun to be with. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful especially the tour guides. The skiing was brilliant helped by amazing scenery and blue skies most days. The food on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner had to be seen to be believed! I especially enjoyed the Norwegian buffet. There were lots of little touches which made the holiday more enjoyable, such as having your flask filled with hot chocolate each morning and relaxing in the sauna after a long day's skiing! Altogether one of the best holidays I have had
Much prefer guided walking holidays - I could have put together this package myself.We got lost a few times as the island is very well signposted and it would help if there was a few suggestions where you could go to the toilet and eat/drink.On one of the walks it should be emphasised you need to take a packed lunch.The hotel though excellent in many ways had dinner too late[7pm onwards] which meant you couldnt go anywhere else say for a folk evening or pub quiz because they started about 7.30.As the hotel didn't have anything on in the evenings unless you missed dinner[which we did] you were a bit trapped at the hotel.The rep didn't make any suggestions as to what was on in other locations - the pub quiz on Friday in Xlendi was really good and there are some excellent restaurants there to eat.
Excellent holiday with good and varied walks and lots of interesting limestone scenery. Hotel was a welcoming base with friendly helpful staff and lovely food.
Everything it promised and more. The guides, instructors and staff were outstanding. The food and extra activities like yoga mean that this could be a great wellness break in its self, add in the great skiing and beautiful landscape and it has everything you could want.
This was our first visit toSpain. It as well organised by Headwater, the arrangments worked perfectly and we would like to go again.
Lovely new experience. I enjoyed the variety. Nice not to have to start walks before 10.00 a.m.
The group were great and we all got on very well. Lovely having a leader, who told you about things. Wish you had more guided holidays.
They all said they preferred Headwater, because of the standards of accomodation, so lots of good quality hotels will be great for other holidays.
We all agreed that we are less keen on the three stars!
It was nice eating in sometimes and out at other times, and so you never knew what interesting thing was going to be provided next.
They were great walks and I loved everything about the holiday. We all liked the length of the holiday aswell. ie a week.
We felt that the reps Tony and Ludmilla were excellent and helpful at all times. They are great ambassadors for Headwater.
We were disappointed with the evening meal offered at the Hotel Memmo Baleeira. The service was slow, the food cold and over seasoned for our tastes. We found an excellent alternative restaurant in the town and went there on our last night. We would have preferred to have had an 'eat out' option in Sagres rather than having the evening meal included.
The Venabu hotel has things just right. The rooms and public areas are comfortable and homely, the food is good and staff are welcoming and helpful. This was our first cross country skiing trip. The equipment and tuition were good and the instructors knowledgeable and friendly doing all they could to ensure everyone has the best experience. A great holiday.
Excellent cycling on wonderful bikes. Tony and Ludmilla were fantastically helpful and we were especially grateful that Tony picked us up from not the usual collection point. The notes were perfect and we were very lucky with the weather. The suggestions for rest days were also very good. Hotels all fine, especially Memmo. Pedralva rooms could do with better heating and much better lighting but the bar and restaurant areas were very good . Food at Pedralva was excellent. Would definitely recommend the holiday and commend highly Tony and Ludmilla who definitely had a 'nothing is too much trouble' attitude and who clearly enjoy their roles. Thank you very much.
Seamless from start to finish with excellent opportunities to explore and relax in equal measure.
Good news !
Lovely island with great walks. Eating and drinking out can be expensive
An excellent week with everything just as described on the website. Great service from the whole team at Venabu and a superb choice of food at every meal. Snow-shoeing in fresh snow down to a frozen waterfall was the highlight of my week.
Walking the Algarve's Wild West is a lovely break in the dull winter months of Northern Europe. Wild flowers, blue skies, dramatic coastal walks, great food and wine make this an ideal, well-planned short holiday.
Venabu offers excellent skiing, knowledgeable guiding and fabulous food.
Wonderful! Great variety of skiing routes. Great guides - great people. A very unique family run hotel that is very international. Everyone feels at home.
It was as described and very well organised and thought through
Very relaxing. Everything organised for my daughter and I. Hassle free. Excellent holiday.
Bermuda was excellent
Costa Rica was a rushed experience rather than a holiday; there was too much road walking!
We were disappointed with the Flora content
The walking aspect of the holiday was great but the Coco Reef was a disappointment. The hotel needs to be refurbished and better maintained and the main hotel receptionist who was on duty during our stay was disinterested to the point of rudeness. Bermuda in the winter is an ideal walking holiday destination, but visitors need to be ready for a virtually empty hotel with a skeleton staff.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Hills,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your post-holiday feedback, it was great to see that you enjoyed the walking aspect of your holiday. Although, we were surprised to read of your disappointment with the Coco Reef. Ordinarily this hotel receives positive feedback. However, we realise that we cannot afford to let our high standards of accommodation and service slip, and have discussed your feedback with the hotel manager. He would like to offer an apology for the poor service you felt you received from the reception staff, and assures us this will be addressed immediately. There are also plans in the pipeline to replace the soft furnishings in the rooms and public areas. Whilst we realise this does not impact on your holiday, we hope that it goes some way to show we take the feedback we receive seriously.
We would like to thank you for travelling with Headwater this summer and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater customer service team
Wonderful hotel with very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and beautiful location on edge of Rondane national park. Ski trails for all abilities. Food and catering outstanding as were hospitality and helpfulness of hotel reception and dining room staff. Excellent sauna and free yoga classes available. Massage also available at additional charge.
The provided holiday is inclusive of a full week's guided tours and also 3 very substantial meals a day. If this is more than what some travellers are looking for, the hotel itself provides a range of other flexible options. Journey time from Oslo airport is ca 3 hours by arranged coach but the hotel will also organise collection from the nearest train station for those travelling independently.
Although weather in Portugal is unpredictable in January, it is warmer than UK and has more daylight hours. However the wild atlantic was wonderful to see in strong winds. The trails were wonderfully peaceful, and the coastal scenery stunning, fishermans trail was probably the most spectacular coastal walk we have ever seen. The 6 day walk was very well put together, with a variety of countryside terraines, ridge walks, cliffs and beaches. Pedralva was a fascinating place to stay, and as there were so few people there we were entertained and educated in local cuisine by their very amusing 'French' waiter. As an add on we had a 2/3 day stay in Lisbon, lovely city, and it is a must to sample the patische do nata, available in most cafes.
Other than booking I wasn't aware it was a Headwater holiday. Hence I wouldn't recommend you as I don't know what you're like if you were actually delivering the holiday.
On the phone the staff weren't that good. I'd decided to go so they had nothing to do, but they weren't that helpful
I thought the documents sent out were not so good
My comments are based on comparison to Skedaddle who I go with frequently
I will go to Venabu again. The hotel staff and guides were excellent
Good skiing opportunities in a very scenic location; good equipment with knowledgeable and helpful guides.
Family hotel, excellent food, good facilities - sauna, massage, yoga, fitness room, games rooms, horse drawn sleighs, dog sledding, board games, music / dancing. Excellent selection of wines to match some very good food - lots of choice at the buffets. Special Norwegian buffet was very impressive at New Year.
All staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. We met lots of returning clients. Free WifI was a bonus.
Good location to offer snow shoeing weeks as well as skiing. Ski instruction was first class, good boots, good skiis, great guides and well equipped ski room.
Local supermarket well stocked for any emergencies or forgotten items.
I can put in one word GO It`s worth it
A very good week's walking with opportunities to see the culture and history of Gozo, whilst accommodated in a comfortable hotel of good standard. The local people are most welcoming and helpful. The only dark cloud is the continuance of the Maltese habit of shooting small songbirds, which is no longer necessary 'for the pot'. Any open area is blighted by the presence of pathetic looking men in camouflage clothing, sheltering in stone hides, waiting to shoot small birds trapped on the ground by their wires and nets, using large bore shotguns. The sporting etiquette of only shooting a bird that is flying, and thus requiring some skill, most certainly does not apply! Walkers must be continually aware of wires that stray across footpaths and the potential field of fire from these hides.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Smith,
Thank you for taking the time to write in with your feedback. It was lovely to see that you enjoyed your week in Gozo, taking in the sights and sounds this unique region has to offer .We were also sorry to read of the upset the bird shooting caused you and Mrs Smith. Please be assured that we have passed on your comments to our local agent and have asked them to highlight your feedback to the necessary governing body in Gozo.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa
An invigorating holiday in an excellent and very enjoyable location.
An absolutely fantastic holiday - you see things on a bike that you wouldn't normally see - birds, flora and fauna and of course local villages with delightful local Portuguese people
We had a lovely week in the mountains. We loved coming 'home' to the Finca after our days walking. Christine's cooking was an inspiration and we enjoyed our evening meals enormously. Jenny's guiding was safe and interesting and she gauged the pace of the walks perfectly. Sue, Gordon and Alison organised everything perfectly and all arrangements went like clockwork. We did not need to think about anything-wonderful! Thank you to Mari our taxi driver who negotiated the bends and hills expertly without making me feel sick.
Overall we enjoyed the holiday, and especially liked the first hotel. But we did not think that Quinta da Bela Vista was five star. Some features are excellent but the room we were shown first was poor: no balcony, faded fittings and an unpleasant musty smell. In the event we had to pay an additional 30 Euros a night to get the sort of room we expected. This was negotiated for us by the MB Travel office, who were very helpful.
Looking on Trip Advisor, the hotel seems to offer two standards depending on the building one is in, one excellent and the other adequate at best.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Deacon, Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. We were delighted to see that you had an enjoyable holiday overall. Although, were sorry to hear of your disappointment with the Quinta da Bela Vista. Ordinarily, this hotel receives positive feedback from our customers. However, please be assured that we realise we cannot afford to let our standards of accommodation slip, Therefore, with this in mind, we have passed on your feedback to the hotelier and we will closely monitor the new feedback we receive for this hotel over the coming season.
Thank you for your constructive comments; we look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa
Excellent apart from Hotel Meson Castilla is in the middle of the University area and can be very noisy until early hours of the morning
NOTE : Did not stay at Pousada Delmonte completed in error !
Finca and hosts ( Sue and Roger ) was excellent . Difficult to appreciate the countryside as most walks were steep climbs and descents .consequently most time was spent looking at footing ! Would have preferred more walking on flat ....but I guess that's Spain !
Very pleasant. And we enjoyed our visits to Granada and Cordoba,the latter easily done by public transport
All aspects of booking and organisation went without hitch.
Taxi arrangements and driver were again excellent!
Bermuda was an excellent choice for a walking holiday & Coco Reef a great hotel. The food was better than our expectation. Walking was very easy just unfortunate that the storms had blocked the Railway Trail & paths. Just very unfortunate to have 2 storms hit within one week but cannot fault the care , help & advice given to us by Headwater - esp Lisa - & Tim who arranged taxi to airport etc
Disappointed because Headwater had informed us that an area (the Kantra bay and café) would be unavailable because of filming - only to arrive and get message that whole swathes of land were inaccessible and our Day 1 walk wasn't possible. (We were able to walk the start of the route, but then had to turn around.) Film unit security was spread across a wide area from close to the hotel, and we were challenged regularly by security personnel if we got anywhere near to the unit. We hadn't been given to understand that the restrictions would be so all-enveloping. We believe filming will continue until November.
I have a friend who is doing this trip next year and I have recommended your company
Great holiday, brilliant walks, great food and superb way to increase your knowledge and taste of italian wines. Unfortunately the journey home (and originally before it was changed the outward journey) was a total pain. This left us both with a bad taste in our mouth and spoiled the overall holiday experience. When we were dragging our suitcases around Milan train station wandering where the airport was we were cursing Headwater. At this stage we had already been on the road for over 4 hours, 2 hours from hotel to Turin and 2 hours by train to Milan. When we eventually came across a coach that was going to Milan Malpaso Airport we had to fork out 20 Euros for another 1 hour 10 minute coach journey to the airport. Coach stops first at the terminal we dont want and everyone gets off. We dont speak Italian and have no idea whats going on, Luckily a helpful stranger told us to stay on coach. The irony of course is Headwater give you all these walking directions/cycling directions but leave you to guess your way home.
This was our first walking holiday since we were teenagers and our first holiday without children. It was an excellent introduction. Good quality accommodation, a beautiful area and well guided walks. Sometimes the notes were a little unclear and we deliberately avoided a couple of walks that other travellers had said were difficult to follow but we only lost our way on one of the walks and think this was because there had been substantial recent tree felling and logging that obliterated the tracks. Our host Theresa was excellent and took her responsibilities very seriously in ensuring we were safe and happy. We also had the pleasure of meeting other headwater guests and spent some meals and walks together which was an added bonus. In summary, a well organised and enjoyable holiday.
I did find the notes back to the airport from the Gredos mountains very difficult, as it said 'reverse your original notes from Madrid Airport'. I thought this very lazy as we were taking many motorways and A roads and they were not clear to start with. There was plenty of space on the page and it felt as though we were being ignored at this stage.
This was our first time with Headwater and the impressive, friendly and efficient service, together with very good hotels in a variety of beautuful locations, ensured our total enjoyment. The routes suggested were good and we had the option of extending our rides (in particular an extension to the coastal ride on Day 1). A slight criticism would be that the directions could be clearer and presented in specific instructional order rather than paragraph narratives; we were not sure that anyone had actually cycled these routes 'blind' and thus we made some mistakes. neverthelessall rides were completed successfully. Puglia is something of a gem and the programme ensure that we enjoyed a full flavour of its varied geography and history. We would have no hesitation in booking another of your holidays and thank you for such a pleasureable experience.
Great dinners, basic breakfasts (although there were always delicious cakes).
The combination of a fine hotel location, dramatic countryside and superb food made this a unique holiday which brought us new and welcome experiences. We chose walks that ranged from beautiful countryside rambles to testing mountain ascents. In view of the excellent local advice, it is easy to tailor the nature and difficulty of the walks to your own abilities and inclinations. In addition, the gastronomy was first class.
A beautiful place to visit and explore. The accommodation of a very good standard and in lovely locations.
We did find the walks very interesting, challenging at times but about the right length, however we did use an app on a smart phone, which indicated we walked a few K further than the instructions stated. We also felt some of the walks did need to be re-done, especially the walk on day 4 from Diano D'Alba which we found very confusing to get out of and were told by the rep to take a different path at one point, which totally threw us off route, although we did find our way with the help of some locals.Although we understood why there was a walk on Day 7 back to Benevello, it was rather tedious.
Our restaurant selection for the evening meals was on the whole very good, but we did find it difficult to find something we could eat at the Villa D'Amelia, mainly because of our own diet of not eating red meat. The Locanda del Centro in Castiglone Falletto was really not very good.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable holiday.
Well organised holiday. Lots of places to visit and experience as a result of thoughtful planning. Good, comfortable accommodation and food.
The Gredos is a wonderful location for walking holidays and Milano Real provides and excellent base. This holiday offers lots of walking options from dramatic high level mountain views to idyllic river valleys resounding with tinkling cow bells and trickling streams. We had a fascinating day in Salamanca when we fancied a change from walking and the journey through the mountains added to our enjoyment of the day. Last but by no means least, Teresa and Paco were superb hosts and nothing seemed to be too much trouble to make sure we enjoyed our stay. We will definitely be back.
Could not fault Headwater for their excellent customer service and organisation. I'm not even going to look at other companies now for any future walking holidays.
The holiday was fantastic, better than expected. Hotels, food, wine, weather all perfect, with great cycling routes on very quiet roads.
The views were to die for, and the hills a challenge but rewarded with the downward ride on the other side.
Would love to do it all again.
A most enjoyable holiday.However I think that it should be graded as a 3 bike holiday or 2++ at least. the cycling on the last day was extremely challenging-- we chose to go via Dogliani.
Headwater take the headache out of arranging your holiday all you have to do is turn up and enjoy.
The whole holiday exceeded our expectations. Thank you. We will travel with you again.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Aries,
Thank you for your lovely feedback, we were pleased to see you enjoyed your holiday in Croatia.
We look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa
We are not regular cyclists and this was our group's (6 of us) first experience of a cycling holiday and of using Headwater.
The organisation was very good and the suggestion of Puglia for this adventure was first class.
We had excellent weather to enjoy lovely countryside and well chosen locations and accommodation.
A lovely blend of activity and relaxation, plenty to see and do in the Catalonian region, congenial fellow travellers and good back up system for emergencies.
Well organised.
We had a wonderful holiday. The walking was a dream and took us to so many beautiful places we had never heard of. Two of the hotels were a bit basic for accommodation and we would have liked to have the option at Hotel Rosa to upgrade to a suite if we had known. Garbi first day the room was basic but on the last night we had a great room, much larger and with a view. Will be back....
Excellent location for seeing the Dolomites.
Friendly, family run hotel.
Instructions for the walking routs and the use of bus/train were very good
The holiday was very enjoyable, the location was great, but the walks were challenging in the heat, even in September. The local food was delicious.
Well organised, lovely hotel and location. Good well described walks. Very good holiday. Thoroughly recommended.
Headwater holidays are ones where you can count on the arrangements made and simply enjoy the holiday you have chosen to take.
This Headwater holiday is definitely a cut above other European holidays that we have enjoyed with you. Villa d'Amelia and Villa Beccaris were exceptional in every way, and throughout we enjoyed excellent local cuisine and wines. We would happily do it all over again!
I found cycling in Piemonte quite challenging. I did the Undiscovered Provence and also the Umbria cycling trips last year, and I would say I found Piemonte a notch more difficult, at least subjectively (I reviewed my cycling computer data, and Provence was actually much more climbing). It may be because there were very few flat spots, the hills were quite relentless and the warmth and humidity were quite high on several days.
Piemonte had the best food and hotels of the three itineraries I mentioned, while Provence had the better scenery and riding terrain variety (but much poorer hotels and food). Umbria was probably the best compromise of food and hotel quality and terrain variety.
An interestingly varied holiday with wooded hills, inland country and scenic coastal walking, giving a good taste of the area. We particularly enjoyed walking via some of the beautiful mediaeval villages included in the route of the second walk. Also, we really appreciated having route notes for some suggested 'rest-day' walks, especially as this holiday is relatively short. The three hotels were also quite different and all had a charm of their own - we thoroughly enjoyed each one. This holiday would suit those looking for variety and a balance between activity and rest. The walks were well constructed, with some challenging sections, but not too exhausting, so there is a sense of achievement at the end of the day and tired legs are soon revived by a gentle swim and a good dinner! Thank you, Headwater, for a great holiday and we hope to be back for another one.
This was our second visit to Zuheros. The Hotel Zuhayra is the perfect base for a walking holiday. All the staff are friendly and helpful and the evening meals provide a wide range of well-cooked local food. The walks are challenging enough to feel that something has been achieved at the end of the day.
Wonderful walks, great advice from Peter at hotel. We walked every day, and enjoyed exploring the area. Food and the friendly staff at the hotel made this one of our best holidays.
Well thought through and excellent administration meant we could concentrate on our walking
Really excellent trip. Cycling was great and not too strenuous although cycling every day a reasonable distance. Beautiful scenery passing through coastal areas with shimmering sea and quiet coves, on to endless olive groves with not a person in sight. The Puglia towns are delightful in character. Hotels are undoubtedly excellent especially Masseria Salamina (a gem - what a location, luxurious pool area, fabulous dinners) and Trulli stay was also a delight, with very friendly but not intrusive staff. The cycling is all on surfaced roads which means that the provided bikes were more sporty and made cycling easier (lighter frame, thinner tyres, gearing better, no mudguards or bell). Southern visions, your local partners, were really helpful - we were travelling on to Dubrovnik by ferry and the transfer driver spent quite some time locating the left luggage for us, which would have been impossible for us without good Italian. Thus was really appreciated as we were able to relax in Bari for the day. Finally the Spa in a Corte Altavilla was a great bonus - each of us had a well-earned massage from Andreas after steam room and soaking in the hot tub. Weather was excellent (iPhone weather suggests cloudy and thunder storms but neither was accurate - sunshine daily in mid to late September.
Everything worked just as it should. We were very happy indeed with our holiday. My wife's dietary restrictions were coped with very efficiently and without fuss by the hotel. Thank you very much!
The Dolomites are stunning and the walking was varied and challenging. The route notes were excellent and the self guiding was easy. The hotel was exceptional, with delicious food. The village of Dobbiacco was very well placed with good bus connections which made walking in different areas easy and enjoyable.
Thoroughly enjoyable - just as we expected - save only for the above average temperatures (35C +). I'm sure it would be a lot more comfortable in the Spring!
The holiday satisfaction, accommodation and value would all have ranked 'excellent' had it not been for the experience on nights 4 & 5. We did not aloow that to impinge on our overall enjoyment, but it was annoying and frustrating at the time.
Wonderful hotel in a beautiful, tranquil setting, with friendly, helpful staff. Close to some of the best beaches on the island.
Good walking, good accommodation , food and wine. Interesting cities and towns to visit.
Excellent holiday overall, enhanced by a good mix of 4 couples in our group. BUT the performance of your reps was very poor in terms of availability and understanding of our needs.
Definately worth a try and nice varied holiday. It was good to experience a different part of Italy. Whilst for us it doesn't quite match up to the scenary of home and other parts of Italy such asTuscany and Umbria, it has its own charm. Our cycling route took in a good mix of the coast, the coastal planes and the plateau and some lovely little towns. The cycle down from Alberobello was lush. As we live in God's own countyclose to the Yorkshitre Dales all the miles of dry stone walling made us feel quite at home. Luckily we don't have anywhere near the problems the Italian's have with roadside litter and fly tipping. It's a real shame. However, it's not all like that by any means. It certainly isn't something in Headwater's control as isn't the weather, which was indifferent but we managed not to get wet whilst riding, which was good and we did see some sun - just thought it might have been a bit better in early September, but your in the lap of the gods . There's some fantastic old olive vines throwing up some weird and wonderful trunk shapes to feast your eyes on. We saw very few animals despite there been a plentiful array of meat on the evening meal menus. The people we met from Southern Visions your local agent were all very friendly and they provided an excellent service. Manopoli was a wonderful place to start and the Palazzo Indelli a nice little hotel right in the thick of the old historic quarter in a lovely little square, which came alive at night, and close to the waterfront with its fortifications and castle. Worth doing the extra short loop on the first day if you want a bit of fish for lunch. Corte Altavilla was a nice little hotel also and well located just off the square by the cathedral and near the castle in Conservano. I just thought the hotel restaurant on the top floor lacked a bit of atmosphere, but we were only there for one night, so no great shakes. This hotel looked to have a good spa, but it was fully booked, so if you want to partake best to book in advance. Staying in the Truli house was an experience, as were the bangs on the head I gave myself on the low doorways! However, previous reviews on your website weren't wrong that you had saved the best until last - the Masseria Salamina. I dont think I've ever felt so relaxed so quickly on arrival at a hotel and I've stayed at many. We were so pleased that after reading the other reviews we'd opted for another night. In fact if we went back and did this trip again I'd be looking to rejig things to stay in Arerobello and the Trulli House for just 1 night instead of 2 and have a further night at Masseria Salamina. What a lovely place. There's opportunities for those who want to mix cycling with a bit of train travel with the bikes, such as the round journey from Alberobello where we actually chose in the end to take the train back from Marta Franca. Be aware Italian drivers seem to like to honk their horns I guess to tell you they are coming even though you've already heard them. Overall a very pleasurable experience well worth a go.
Interesting and varied walking through delightful countryside with visits to and refreshment stops in beautifully preserved historic villages. Each day culminated in a stay in excellent accommodation, the highlight of which was the 3 nights we spent at Castell d`Emporda.
The welcome & help we encountered from local people was phenomenal.
A very easy, relaxing and stimulating holiday. At times we would have liked to ride slightly longer distances, but accept that the intermediate hotels were all, in their different ways good.
Be careful which time of the year you choose to go to the Austrian lakes - it rained most of the time we were there!
Interesting and enjoyable. Pleasantly surprised by high standard of hotels and food!
Lake Konstanz is a lovely location. The cycling is mostly very easy and having two-day stops provide an opportunity to explore around each town.
Hugely enjoyable, a great adventure on an achievable scale.
Welcoming hotel in pretty area of austria with choice of things to do from walking cycling or sightseeing
This is an excellent place for a single centre holiday, offering many good trails with stunning views if you have good weather, but bear in mind that the conditions in high mountain areas such as this can be unpredictable, even in summer.
First rate. Hotel, hotel staff, the range of walks, and headwater staff were excellent
Excellent area for a holiday
This canoeing/ cycling holiday on the Dordogne rates as one of our best ever. In mid September, we had the river to ourselves, the weather fortunately was superb, the accommodation, locations and food were excellent and the logistics from Headwater and the support and advice from Keith our rep were outstanding. We plan to come again, especially in the quieter season.
Walking in Gozo is almost too good to share. By turns breathtaking (cliffs) and relaxing. Returning to Ta Cenc every day was bliss.
Beautiful area of Sicily, which took us by surprise. It is very hot though as there's little shade on the walks so a slightly later departure in the year may have been better for us. A good variety of walks available though so when it was at its hottest we just did slightly less strenuous ones.. Also the walking ability of our group of 6 was mixed so we could split up at times but all enjoy a walk then meet for dinner together which worked well.. The sightseeing trips were well chosen and really interesting.
Travel arrangements were good, hotels were easy to find and all but one was well maintained. Walks were very well described, distances were not accurate and the number of steps was a joke but the walks were clearly described an the views were wonderful. We saw many rural areas of the Amalfi Peninsular that most people will never see, they don't know what they are missing! are missing
The rest days are a very good idea and gave us chance to do several things we wanted to do, ie go to Pompeii and Capri, without the break I think that the last few days would have felt like hard work.
Although not far from the bustling city of Padova, the Euganean hills seem to be an undiscovered gem and we saw far more butterflies than walkers! We enjoyed all of the walks and there were plenty easily accessible attractive places to visit on our rest days. Our holiday was enhanced by a night in Venice at the start and at the finish.
We especially appreciated the well-chosen routes through beautiful countryside on little roads with little traffic. A highlight is the long downhills we enjoyed from ridges to river level.
Lovely location, great hotel, wonderful support from hotel staff in our 'hour-of-need, varied walks and opportunity to visit an historical Spanish city.
We celebrated our wedding anniversary with this holiday. Overall we had a wonderful experience despite the unseasonably wet weather in Apuglia this September. We flew independently and organised ourselves 2 days in Lecce which we would recommend. We arrived in Monopoli by train and walked to the hotel - from there on we were welcomed and looked after by Southern Vision rep Davide who was extremely informative. We were a bit concerned that we would end up on a group tour but the other headwater guests were lovely and everyone had their own plans and did their own thing. The cycling was just the right level for us, the hotels great! The inclusive food was very good standard and elsewhere we did not have one course of food that was not delicious! Highlights were the pretty town squares, the Esspressini, the Vongole, the Negramero wine, the sea food at Savelletri, the afternoons lazily cycling through olive groves, the quiet routes and the friendly people of Southern Italy. When we arrived at Bari airport with the wrong passports with 50 minutes before the gate closed, Southern Vision contacted Salamina, and then the young Boss Phillipo (apologies for spelling) broke the land speed record, and every level of service and commitment to get our passports to us! while the Southern Vision team worked on a backup plan the accommodate us and rearrange flights - All in under 45 minutes! We made our flight, sweating, tired, but very happy that we had chosen Headwater for a great fun way to celebrate.
The first couple of days was through fairly uninteresting landscape. Thereafter it was fine but not outstanding. The headwater format is generally constant, but on this occasion we had no representative. It didn't really matter, but first timers could find this difficult.
Another great cycling holiday. Thoroughly enjoyed our trip along the Danube. Cycling just at the right level of effort. Food grew, people great. Best organised cycling holiday so far.
Great location for biking, loads of marked routes, do go to the local tourist office and get the leaflet which gives all local cycle routes for that area, and use these whenever you can. Great hotels, with friendly staff, the locations vary but all interesting, our input to Headwater would be that the hotels need to be very good to make these holidays value for money. Good bikes which were well up to the local cycle routes! Do swim whenever you can as the sea was fabulous, and warm!
All 5 of us had an excellent hoiliday ,Thank you.
One possible improvement- the last day's 'Directions' (Porec to Novigrad) were much simpler to follow than the other days' , because they used the local cycle route signs as reference points ; but there had been cycle route signs all along the way on previous days - they just were not mentioned.
Puglia as a region is over-hyped. You will mainly be cycling along dusty roads through olive trees. The southern Italian towns have very messy litter strewn outskirts with disused factories and omnipresent graffiti but once you get to the centres you will find lovely old walled towns with stone pavements - completely closed as you are most likely to arrive in the middle of the afternoon siesta!
you did ask!!
A great area with varied cycling and a relaxing base. Sarah was very helpful with advice on alternative routes.
A good short break in spectacular surroundings, with enough guidance to enable us to enjoy the area to the best as and when we wished without forcing us into any particular programme.
Kandersteg is a good base for the series of walks suggested by HW but also for constructing your own routes if you are a confident walker. The hotel is comfortable and friendly and the food was mostly excellent. A small buffet was provided every day from which to make sandwiches for a picnic lunch, although more choice of fruit would have been welcome. Kandersteg village is very quiet (at least in summer) and we were a little disappointed at the lack of anywhere to go in the evening apart from having a drink in another hotel. Prices for cable cars, soft drinks, coffees and cakes were higher than envisaged but quality was very good. The scenery in the valley is stunning but the typical mountain weather meant that the peaks were not always visible. On cloudy days, it was good to have the choice of taking a quick train ride into the Rhone Valley area where the weather was usually better. Several of the walks in the HW itinerary can be shortened or lengthened to suit individual abilities and taken as a whole they give a very good overview of the area.
It was an excellent holiday and very well planned so that we had a good morning sightseeing in Leon*, walked the best stretches of the Camino and had an attractive balance of accommodation.
* We were a bit concerned about starting the 1st days walk so late in such heat (30c+), but we managed it!
good varied hotels, good walks with interesting details on the way. Excellent service when booking the holiday, yes we would certainly go with Headwater again.
This was an absolutely stunning holiday in every way. The hotels were all of a high standard and each was lovely in its own individual way. The restaurants were a nice treat after the day's walking and working up an appetite! There was stiff competition for our favourite restaurant and Il Castello and Villa D'Amelia had to share the prize for sheer wow factor! That said La Locanda del Centro was our favourite 'non-Michelin' restaurant. The waiter couldn't do enough to make us feel welcome, it had a lovely relaxed atmosphere and the food was really tasty.
The route notes for each of the walks was spot on and went wrong once (our fault, not Headwater's!). We'd recommend the circular walk to La Morra. It's a pretty strenuous walk through the vineyards but the sense of achievement and the stunning views are definitely worth any aching calf muscles!
Lastly, Marsha and Esme (the Headwater Reps) made our holiday what it was. They were always cheerful and full of tips for the places we were due to walk to. They were also on the end of a phone with any queries we had.
Thanks for a brilliant holiday, Sarah & Mark Wall
El Milano Real walking holiday was the perfect combination of fantastic walks, outstandingly delicious food and a warm welcome.
The service and level of advice was great.
A beautiful place with some stunning walking in the mountains.
Overall great holiday. Cycling excellent. Lovely scenery and great condition of cycle paths. Some of hotels were disappointing in certain aspects - no tea/coffee; old, tired bathrooms with no bath; small room however usually made up with friendly service and excellent food. Friedrichschafen is not a very attractive town - Lindhau might be a better option. Hotel Weisses Kreuz the favourite hotel - great sized room, comfortable bed and pillows and great bathroom.
Not sure - with 6 of us booking together (ie a lot of custom for Headwater) it would have been much more helpful if someone in head office had thought through our travelling requirements more carefully. The girl who took the booking always said that we could fly on Friday or Sunday, but did not explain the implications of choosing the Friday in terms of extra travel problems to and from Munich, nor at the outset of the cost implications. The extra costs crept in as the booking progressed - as full time workers it was easier to just carry on with the booking than say hang on, why weren't all these extra costs explained before we started this process (room supplements, transfers, extra prices for flight because a busy weekend (did the UK sales rep explore whether the Sunday departure would have been cheaper for us, for instance - I think not). We also thought that Headwater should have had another rep out there in Piedmont - Martha and Esme could not help us out on non cycling days as they were on airport runs .... but with a holiday of this quality, there should be someone available at all times.. I would also add that I have been on a number of other holidays with cycling companies - more down market - but the experience and knowledge of the rep and mechanic has far outweighed the knowledge and experience of Esme and Martha; they did nothing wrong, but did not add the type of spark to the holiday a good rep can.
The daily notes explaining the route would have benefitted enormously from a proper map - with other companies we have been given laminated copies of the map giving all the local details - your sketches together with the provided maps were not easy to interpret. We suspected they needed a bit of an update - gradient outlines for example would help - we knew it would not be easy but the hills did seem to dominate!
We probably will go with Headwater again on account of the quality of the hotels, but will ask a lot more questions next time about exactly what is involved and what help will be available.
We did have a good time, but a lot of niggles that ought to have been sorted. I have never complained before about a holiday .....
What a wonderful holiday! We thoroughly enjoyed it. Regarding the hills - yes, they're steep, but the bikes were perfectly maintained (thanks, Esme!) and the overall distances aren't that long, so I (reasonably fit but not a great cyclist, had probably been out 10 times this year previously and in Hertfordshire so hardly hilly) found them perfectly doable, and certainly easier than I had feared from reading earlier reviews. We did all the tougher options and the amount of cycling was just hard enough to give a sense of achievement/work up an appetite for the next feast! Personally, I enjoyed the challenge of the hills and the wonderful views at the tops! Having said that, if you haven't been on a bike in years/aren't generally active, this might not be the holiday for you.
Hotels were all lovely; restaurants all very good and the majority truly excellent. Spa facilities at Villa d'Amelia were particularly good.
We found plenty to fill the non-cycling days, sometimes on foot and sometimes by bike. Almost always there were local walks (e.g. on noticeboards in the town centre and signposted from there) which we enjoyed.
Overall a hugely enjoyable and memorable holiday!
We enjoyed another quality holiday with Headwater. This area of Italy is very pretty, ideal for gentle cycling and sightseeing. All of the hotels provided excellent food, wine and accomodation.
Excellent accomodation, food, walks and scenery.
Headwater thinks of everything - right down to offering us a lovely cold bottle of water when we emerged from a long, hot journey to our pick up point. You select fabulous hotels in brilliant locations, which takes all the hard work out of planning a holiday. Taxis turn up when they're supposed to, hotels and restaurants are expecting us. You are wonderfully efficient. This was our sixth booking with you and we'll be back for more next year. Bravo, Headwater.
We had a wonderful holiday with Headwater. The hotels and food were excellent. The scenery is stunning because the area is hilly. (You definitely need to have done some recent cycling and be reasonably fit.) A great holiday for food and wine enthusiasts. We were planning our next Headwater trip on the flight back!
Wonderful - just what we were after
A very good weeks holiday cycling around a beautiful lake which was also wonderful to swim in. The hotel was comfortable and quiet with delicious food and a lovely garden. It was also in an excellent location for exploring the area by bike.
Good family fun
An excellent walking trip with the added extra of a few days in the superb city of Venice. Excellent support from headwater Rep and good to be 'off the beaten track' in a lesser known and unspoilt area of Italy.
Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday the excellent hotels and food were welcome relief at the end of a challenging day's cycling. Beautiful countryside and villages to visit on route.
This was a wonderful holiday, full of small surprises and little luxuries. Each hotel was charmingly different. The food was spectacular, the people lovely, and the scenery green, beautiful and quiet. Thank you very much
it was very interesting, enjoyed the countryside, the people especial. the l' Albara family met some very good people and cycled with some . Pleasantly different
Not to be missed well done Headwater
Should have been advised that the hotel is located next to the railway station and level crossing with trains passing through from from 5.30 am. Our upgraded room overlooked the railway station and crossing. No air conditioning in rooms meant we had to leave open the windows during the night and heard announcements, warning bells and the trains themselves every half hour.
Dobbiaco is an excellent centre for a walking holiday with superb scenery and good choice of walks. Transfers were efficient, hotel very good and we enjoyed our first experience of a Headwater holiday very much.
We topped and tailed the walking with two nights in Verona and two nights in Venice which gave a nice contrast. The walking was enjoyable with a variety of terrain and the route descriptors good. We were lucky with the weather but it can be unpredictable so you need waterproofs and/or a brolly just in case. Good insect repellent is worth the investment. The area is unspoilt and there seem to be very few tourists. Accommodation was good though air-con is either poor or doesn't exist so it is hot at night. On our rest days were able to visit Montagnana and Padua which were both very enjoyable. However, if you can try to organise the holiday so that you are walking on a Sunday you will avoid being marooned on a rest day - no buses run on Sundays! We found the locals to be friendly though most had as much English as we had Italian - very little! The rep - Sarah - was charming and very helpful! Italian beer is good but expensive - local wine is good and good value! Overall a great experience. We enjoyed the holiday and would recommend it.
The route notes were clearly wrong in places (I made this point two yearsago!) and gave the impression of being written by someone who had not cycled the whole route.
Brilliant family adventure: Cycling through beautiful scenery from beaches, through paddy fields, rolling countryside and little medieval villages and complemented by a range of hotels-2 with gastronomic cuisine and the third giving the opportunity to enjoy eating out in the small seaside town of Calella.
You really get to know a country on a bike - the real people, the flora and fauna, food and customs. Eat like a king and not feel guilty!
You have to accept some discomfort - mosquitos, missing/faulty air conditioning, rain showers, bikes with no suspension at all, miss the odd lunch, but it's got to be better than plonked next to a pool reading a book, and cramming another meal in.
Not sure you'd want to publish these comments though!
Seriously, we enjoyed our holiday, and look forward to our next one - maybe Denmark?
See comments on rail travel, and specifically Headwater's absence of advice. Naturally people from the UK expect a similar experience to using the rail at home, and while this assumption would be valid for rail travel in France, Germany, NL etc, Spain was very different.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Bird,
Thank you for taking the time to complete your post-holiday questionnaire. We were pleased to see that you scored your holiday overall as good to excellent. However, it was disappointing to see that you encountered issues navigating the Spanish rail system. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
In order to improve the experience for future customers, we have been working closely with our local agents. With this in mind, we are pleased to advise you that for the 2015 season we will be pre purchasing all Spanish rail tickets. This should alleviate the time spent queuing and ensure a smoother trip through the Spanish region. Whilst we realise this does not help you personally. We do hope that it goes some way to show we take your feedback seriously.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service Team
to start on a negative we did not like the evening meal voucher facillity, the food offered on this fixed 4 course meal option wasn,t to our liking,
we would have preferred an allowance for our evening meal to choose of the al a carte menu, the quality of the fixed four course meal was rather bland and most salad and main courses were heavily caked in sauces, we felt like second class guests when other guests not on a cycling holiday had the choice of other menus and were choosing more appetising dishes, although we read in your small print that we could have requested this option it was never offered at any of the hotels,
the welcome at the first hotel was poor, the girl who handed out the documents could speak very little english so communications were a problem leading to a mix up of when the bikes could be collected. also the manager on duty that day was very surly so our first day didn.t get off to the best of starts,
thank fully though there were plenty of plus points!!
the team who sorted the bikes and transfer of luggage were exellent, Lydia and Sylvester were superb and a credit to the company.
the route notes were ok but we found on the first day that we were having to stop too many times so from day two we found it much easier to just follow the bycycle signs which kept you more or less on the right route and allowed for more enjoyable touring without the stops.
We really enjoyed our holiday and would certainly book with you again.
It would be more enjoyable though if you could give some thought to the meal situation as we were not the only ones to raise the above point.
Overall though we would give the holiday 10/10
thank you paul and pam owens
Cycling this route was very easy. The paths were almost all off-road, or well separated from the traffic, on good quality cycle paths, even in the towns and cities we visited. Hardly any inclines on the whole route, with only one where we had to get off and push. The bikes were in excellent condition and ideally suited to the task. The hotels were all of a very good standard and well located. Lake Constance is very scenic and has a relaxed holiday feel to it, no matter where you are around its periphery, with countless places to stop and eat/drink/admire the view. Overall, a very enjoyable holiday and one of the best we have done with Headwater.
The holiday surpassed expectations in terms of location, food and hotels. All in all, excellent value for money!
This holiday was exactly what was described and expected. All accommodation, activities and equipment were excellent.The company reps were very friendly and helpful. It was a great experience which we will doubtlessly repeat in the next few years. Thanks.
We enjoyed the holiday, and the hotels and their service were generally very good or excellent, apart from at the Hotel Donauschlinge, where the staff were not as friendly and we felt they hurried our evening meal, bringing the second course before we had finished the first! In our view, the Hotel Zur Post in Melk was by far the most efficient, with the most helpful staff. The Steigenberger in Krems, although a very nice hotel, had less character (much more a standard 'chain' hotel) and our table in the dining room was tucked away in a rather gloomy corner, rather than the main restaurant – unfortunately the weather was not good enough for us to have a table on the terrace. We were impressed by Greenways Travel, who were very efficient and prompt about delivering our bikes, transporting us from Linz to Grein and then collecting the bikes at the end. They also provided a mobile phone for us to contact them if we needed to. We were unprepared for quite how flat the ride would be, and with hindsight should perhaps have opted for something a little more challenging. I think we expected it to be more like the Moselle ride, which we did with Headwater a few years ago and which rolled up and down a little – our 'best bit' on this holiday was therefore the ride from Melk to Krems through the Wachau, which was not totally flat.
Sarah is an excellent asset to Headwater, knowledgeable and friendly.She was thorough in going through the briefing notes and was on hand if we needed. The walking notes were accurate, at times it felt like a higher grade walk than billed, but that just added to the achievement after each one. Views spectacular, hotels and food excellent. Rest day in Padua to see Giotto Frescoes and then the Anatomy Theatre at the University was fantastic. Sarah gave us opening times and suggestions, so that was really time saving and useful. This was our first HW holiday, and we are already looking where our next one could be.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Todd, Thank you for your lovely comments regarding our rep Sarah, we have passed your feedback on to her and she was delighted. We were also pleased to see that you had an enjoyable 1st holiday with Headwater it sounds like you took in all of the sights and sounds that this region has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you on your next holiday with us in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team
People can book with confidence as the description in the Headwater booklet is an accurate description of the experience on offer. Sarah, our holiday rep, was very friendly and helpful. Our accommodation was very good, lovely location and great food. However, as a family group of between ages 10 and 67, we did feel that eating our dinner at 8.00 pm was far too late and we would have appreciated the availability of tea-making facilities in our rooms.
The Alfa Soleil is a wonderful hotel with a really excellent restaurant.
We're vegetarians and the chef provided an amazing series of creations over the week for us.
The hotel proprietor is a lovely host who really takes care of all his guests and the hotel team are superb.
The walks are amazing and very varied with plenty of other options - one day we took a day trip to Bern which is a fascinating city, and also spent a day on the lake taking a steamer from Spiez.
We travelled by Eurostar and TGV - dinner in Paris on the way out and lunch in Basel on the way back - really comfortable - do book ahead and get cheap first class tickets for the TGV though.
A very rewarding type of holiday. A very good way to get insight into a particular region.
We really enjoyed this holiday. Moving from hotel to hotel provides much variety. There was a real problem getting drinks especially at the castle hotel. A welcome drink immediately on arrival at the hotel should be offered especially as people are very tired and thirsty after a long walk in the heat.
Also the communication at the Castle Hotel needs to be improved, e.g. no one told us where to go for dinner when it was not outside as on the first evening.
However, we really enjoyed the holiday in spite of these little things.
On this itinerary the length and gradient of the walks are not so suitable for the over 65s - we experienced them as three-boots rather than 2 on account of our age.
Your notes are very well written, congratulations. We never went wrong and rarely used the maps.
The menus on this gastronomic holiday were surprisingly limited - should have guessed they would be though. There was one evening when we could not face the foie gras and duck again so crept out for a cheap Italian despite having paid for the gastronomic bore. We cannot blame Headwater for this, please note.
Throughout the service was very good. The landscape and local attractions were outstanding. The routes were creatively chosen. Thanks!
A wonderful holiday, alternating canoeing with walking. The hotels were all in good positions and the meals were gourmet standard - a real treat. We were very well looked after - our bags always waiting for us at each destination. Thank you for a great experience.
The perfect holiday for the more active.
Overall an enjoyable holiday, the walks are definitely in the 2 boot category but using the cable cars means much of the walking is flat or downhill. The scenery is majestic providing you can see it for the clouds! Go prepared for mixed weather, we were in Kandersteg in early July and had everything from glorious sunshine to sleet (above Oeschinensee) by way of rain and thunderstorms. We were lucky enough to see an ibex, marmots and an eagle (at the top of Gemmi Pass). The paths were all well maintained and the signage is very good making the navigation easy.
The hotel is welcoming and the rooms comfortable if somewhat dated in decor and furniture. The food is good but be aware that it's a 4 course set menu with just a choice of 2 main courses (or an unspecified vegetarian option). The 'lunch buffet' where you can make up your own packed lunch at breakfast time is a good idea.
The travel arrangements all worked well and the Swiss trains were on time as expected. Being a Saturday the train from Zurich Airport to Bern (and return) can be busy and does not cater particularly well for luggage, we had to leave our bags in the area by the doors along with a number of others. The reserved seats that Headwater provided were necessary but these were upstairs away from our bags. Also note that the train from Bern to Kandersteg splits at Speiz with only the front portion going to Kandersteg and Brig, we didn't find this entirely obvious when boarding the train. It's not a big problem as the ticket inspector checks that you're in the right part of the train but it's easier if you don't have to move yourself and your bags at one of the stops.
Great location to be based for walking in the Dolomites, Bellevue Park hotel food is very good, their baths big and very welcome after a long day in tthe and the mountains themselves are magnificent. Walking notes are comprehensive, would just suggest you add a couple of routes which start out in one location and finish up elsewhere on the bus network - Tres Chime early bus is ideal - this offers some fantastic route options and minimises the amount of up. Only regret we didn't get a bit of Via Ferrata training whilst out there, would have vastly increased what we could do. Loved every minute. Tagged on three days in Verona and four days in Venice. Probably one of the best and most varied holidays we've ever done
Absolutely perfect in every way. The office staff at Headwater recommended this holiday to us when we couldn't get the accommodation for our chosen holiday (Austrian Lakes). We are so grateful for her recommendation as it was a wonderful holiday. The bikes were superb and all the routes were incredibly safe and bike friendly with most of the cycling being on dedicated cycle tracks. Bliss!
Overall a superb holiday, occasional cyclist managed route, good accommodation, good route and other notes. Good access to other locations for tourist visiting.
Excellent local rep.
The holiday was a lovely mixture of fabulous scenery, challenging cycling and good food and wine. Your website does have some comments about the grading of the cycling, we did all the longest routes and although there were some steep hills the overall length of the routes was quite short so we agreed with the grading.
The rep, Erhard, was the best we have ever had and produced lots of good information and even mobile phones for emergency use (not needed).
The Schlogen hotel has the most dramatic location on a bend in the river that you can imagine, and it is worth the tough climb up the hill behind to view it from the top.
Vienna is a big city in every sense with lots of grand buildings to see, and the trams make them very accessible, which we discovered thanks to the superb staff on the hotel recepion who know their town well.
The route down the Danube is beautiful and ever changing and full of interest.
A great holiday based in an excellent friendly hotel with good local food. The walks,starting from the hotel or via a short train, bus or cable car ride,were interesting and varied. The walks are deserving of the 2 boot status, taking most of the day to complete with the suggested extensions, allowing time for photographs, eating the excellent hotel picnics and admiring the views and the magnificent alpine flowers in June.
Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, directions for walks / routes easy to understand and very accurate, excellent mix of walking companions in our group, superb location and scenery, the week went too fast!
We thoroughly enjoyed walking in the Dolomites staying in Dobiacco/Toblach at Park Bellevue Hotel. The food was superb and beautifully presented and served. The hotel staff were extremely friendly and helpful.The hotel and swimming facilities etc were fantastic. We found the walks brilliant, did not expect to be walking in snow in June! but the notes on the whole were easy to follow, just got lost once and sometimes it took us longer due to snow and several fallen trees over the path on one walk. The bus ticket which was included could be used on the train and provided excellent value for exploring the region and the nearby towns. Best of all we met really interesting people in the hotel who had come with Headwater or Exodus and we all got on very well.Have already recommended Headwater to friends.
Thoroughly enjoyable adventure for all ages and the over 65s! Excellent organisation and help from travel arrangements tailored to our needs to hotel accommodation.
Excellent holiday - we look forward to coming again. Would like to see longer holidays offered - 14 days plus.
Enjoyed Blue Book comments but we were the first to make a comment this year. (Hotel Halm had never heard of the Blue Book!)
We had a fabulous cycling trip in this beautiful part of Italy. The accommodations were lovely and the dinners ranged from very good to excellent. The cycling was challenging at times, but not unmanageable. As usual, the Headwater bikes were great and the local reps were very helpful. The people in this region are very friendly and there were lots of opportunities to do wine and grappa tastings. This was our 4th Headwater trip and we are already planning the next one.
A very well organised holiday with excellent travel arrangements and a warm welcome from rep and hosts.
Fantastic combination of great scenery, good walks, superb hotel made a wonderful holiday.
We had a super week with like-minded people. Although we were all initially wary of socialising as a group, during the week we became closer and enjoyed each other's company. The hotel was fun - comfortable and friendly with multi-course meals of excellent quality that were welcome after a day's hiking. It was the antithesis of an impersonal chain hotel. The only thing it lacked was wifi outside of the reception area. And some reference books - for example for wild flowers - would have been useful.
The walks were spectacular, probably made more so by the fact that we were early in the season - mid June. Tre Cime and Mount Elmo were decidedly scary first thing in the morning before someone else had kicked foothills in the snow. We learned to catch the buses around 10am not 9am. The notes were not entirely accurate and read as if the walks had not been checked for some time. In fact it didn't matter as the local trails are well signposted. Every member of the group who did the Mount Elmo walk got lost and changed from the notes to the maps or signposts. The 'Churches and Chapels' walk was unexpectedly interesting and quite energetic despite being on quiet lanes (very quiet - we were passed by one car and two tractors in 4 hours). It was a good contrast to the other walks and well worth doing.
We appreciated the notes on eating places - or the lack of them. It was useful to know when a packed lunch was necessary.
The travel card was convenient. Buses ran regularly to the walk starting-points and were not crowded at this time of year. On one day we caught the train (next to the hotel) and explored Brunico. Every stop had something to look at (see the poster on the platform).
A number of people went on to Venice afterwards, an easy trip given the minibus to the airport and then a bus to the station or a water bus to St Mark's Square.
Good range of walks in outstanding scenery.Surprising lack of facilities in Dobbiaco considering time of year e.g. Most shops closed- almost no bars or alternate restaurants!
We were blessed with decent weather, and so enjoyed this 160km. very much. We found the O Munio De Pena a bit of a gloomy place, with Javier nowhere in sight until 8.30 that evening! The only other mild carp we have is at Sarria, where that last km. through the town was hard work. Could a pick-up closer to our entry into the town be considered?
Also, going into Arzua, the Pazo told us that if Headwater had told us we could have phoned the Pazo for a taxi from our entry into the town to the hotel for 4 euros! This could have been very valuable info. as we were being chased by a thunderstorm at that time! We also recommend the taxi back to the starting point next day.
Outstanding experience in terms of cycling, locations chosen, landscapes and scenery, cultural activities and overall enjoyment.
Enjoyable. In the inland parts the villages were lovely with less interesting walking, but the coastal walking was great.
The holiday was very enjoyable and the suggested places to visit/eat and short town guides were very helpful. The food in this part of Italy was amazing and there was a lovely mix of Coast and hills.
The holiday was perfect. The area, the hotels and the activities were just what we wanted from a holiday. This was one of the best Headwater holiday that we have been on. We were disappointed last year with The Jura but this holiday has given faith in Headwater again
We have just returned from another very enjoyable holiday, all the hotels were very good, in amazing locations with fantastic views. I would definitely upgrade to a sea view room at Grand Hotel Capodimonte, especially if staying on longer in Sorrento. The walks were varied and we had no real problem with the notes. Could be challenging to some as there are defiantly plenty of steps, both up and down, in many places! Walking poles very helpful. But you are rewarded with the views and the hotels.
All our pick ups where excellent by the local agent, and the rep phoned us on the first evening as promised. We know she was easy to contact if we needed her. So, overall, an good holiday exploring this part of Italy, Thank you again, Headwater.
A very good hotel on a lovely Island which provided an excellent base for a walking holiday on routes which were varied and not too 'testing'
Excellent representative. Belvedere hotel a gem. Our overall perception is coloured by the fact that we hit a heatwave of mid-thirties degrees in the shade which, given the steepness of the hills, was exhausting. Excellent suggestions for the days off from walking.
Excellent route through the countryside beautiful but the cycling can be very challenging at times particularly if it is very hot.
A lovely hotel (small and family-run) in a beautiful landscape. All food locally sourced as much as possible. We chose to pay extra for a better room, more spacious and with private terrace and a beautiful view, that was well worthwhile. I don't think we would have been happy in standard accommodation.
Excellent hotels with 4 evenings enjoying a la carte Michelin one star dinners. Great food and wine throughout. Map directions adrift on a couple of occasions but overall ok.
Excellent comfortable friendly hotels with unforgettable views .
This was our sixth Headwater Cycling Holiday and every bit as good as the others. Croatia is lovely place for cycling, not too strenuous.. The hotels were all excellent and well situated. Eating out was easy and good value. The towns and villages were all interesting places especially The Roman ruins in Pula and the round stone shepherds shelters were a highlight. We had time for two enjoyable boat trips.
To get the most enjoyment out of this holiday one needs to build up cycling strength and stamina as there were some long rides with hills which needed a lot of energy, particularly for my age group (65+). Fortunately I had been doing this for 4 months so it was fine. This was not a problem for my 25 year old daughter. The cycle paths were a bit challenging as the surface was sharp loose stones and it was necessary to get off the bikes and walk on many occasions.
Croatia is beautiful and the weather was perfect - swimming was possible every day. This is a great way to experience a country up close and get to places most tourists cannot.
our third Headwater holiday. Set dinners in the hotels often poor and we are really fed up with this. It is not a cheap holiday but we seem to get the dregs of the food. Our best meals were out in independent restaurants. On the first night when Pallatzo Indelli couldn't feed us they sent us out for a wonderful simple fresh supper at a restaurant. Dinner with them the second night was DISGUSTING. We felt like the poor relations.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Alexander, Thank you for your constructive feedback, We were sorry to see that you were disappointed with the standard of meals served at some of the restaurants on this holiday . We have discussed your comments with our local suppliers and from this some new menus have been put into place with more choices available. Whilst the overall feedback for this holiday is positive, we realise we cannot afford to let our standard slip and thank you for bringing these points to our attention. We hope that by making these small changes our customers will continue to enjoy this lovely area of Italy.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team
This was a fantastic hotel. The best hotel was in montignac, however the worst eating experience was in motignac at the terrace restaurant next to the building site of lascaux 4. In our opinion you should consider foregoing the 'gastronomic title' for one night and let your customers eat at one of the many riverside restaurants and save the taxi fare and let them upgrade their meal with the difference.
This was our 13th consecutive year of cycling holidays with Headwater and was one of the best. This was partly because the weather was so good but mainly because the Veneto is such a lovely area for cycling and hoidaying. The food at all hotels was excellent and the local wines are not only excellent but cheap.
We felt disappointed as there was no personal service, the Donnau company just gave us bikes without help and tried to palm of bald tyres and broken lights, luckily we insisted they change the bikes to our satisfaction but if this had been a couple who had never taken a Headwater bike holiday I would feel very sorry for them. We were very disappointed that we saw no one representing Headwater no welcome meeting as described in the literature. We enjoyed the holiday but certainly rated it as the least enjoyable out of the previous 3 trips. Cycling good, the free days poor, no suggestions of bike excursions no information found in english. No one to talk to about trips. St Gallons not that special the hand written medieval books in German advised in broshure not that exciting. The food described as 4 courses were very limited with minimal choice and 2 of the hotels were really poor.
We travelled to Passau via Munich Airport followed by an over 3-hour journey by bus to Freising station, train to Passau and taxi to the hotel. We purchased on-line a Bayern-Ticket for 27 Euros for 2 people which included both the bus and train journeys. We are both in our late sixties and found the cycling easy, although adjustments had to be made for the weather. It rained on the first day but after that the weather was hot and sunny necessitating early starts. The cycle paths were clearly signed so it was easy to follow the route and German and Austrian drivers are courteous to cyclists so cycling in towns was not a problem. The hotels were varied and well chosen and near the main attractions, the only exception being the one in Krems which was up a steep hill, but the hotel's facilities make the climb worthwhile. The instructions suggested going by train from Ottensheim to Linz but the cycle path was well separated from the busy road so cycling to Linz was not a problem. Similarly, the instructions suggest travelling by train in to Vienna but the cycle route was easy and the graffiti no worse than you find on the outskirts of most cities and it cheered up the drab concrete walls even though most of it was not up to the standard of Banksy. The food provided by the hotels was generally good and the hotels were near to restaurants when evening meals were not provided.
Great walks. Plenty to see and do. Vegetarians beware.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Gower, Thank you for completing your post-holiday questionnaire and for the feedback you have provided, we have discussed your comment regarding vegetarian meals with the hoteliers. As a result of this they have advised us they will ensure a better variety of vegetarian meals are available for future customers. We are sorry for any disappointment this may have caused you during your holiday and were pleased to see that despite this you had an enjoyable holiday.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team.
We loved the island, the walks and the hotel. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, just a little disappointed with the food at dinner: usually it was fine and occasionally good. Had our best meal on the way home at Meson Galicia in Es Mercadal near the car park with excellent views of mount Torro.
We had a fantastic holiday with Headwater and loved every minute of the walks which were well planned, with clear instructions. Everything worked as expected and it was a very easy way to walk the best of the area without any worries. Thank you.
Easy cycling - with options to reduce length every day (only used once when one person unwell) - hotels in interesting or beautiful locations with plenty to see - good white wine area with everywhere having choice of wines by the glass (125ml) at reasonable prices.
MB Travel were superb everything ran like clockwork, never late unless advised in advance and always friendly. We knew they were available on the end of the phone if we needed them for anything at all. Would certainly recommend this holiday. We are hoping to book an Italian walking trip next year. Thank you Headwater we wish we'd done it years ago.
Cycling quite tough; should be rated Two-Bike +. Landscape lovely but little variation. Rest days can be hard to fill. Accommodation good, breakfasts mostly wonderful.
Update the walk notes, they are very out of date and unusually for Headwater quite irritating
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Joyce, Thank you for your feedback. I have passed on your comments to the programme manger for the region,she is currently in the process of updating the route notes, unfortunately, there have been a number of amendments needed due to the unusually poor weather experienced in this area over the winter. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. We hope that despite this issue, you had an enjoyable holiday overall.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service team
We had a marvellous holiday and really enjoyed the variety of walks and hotels, and the suggestions for days off. The area was so beautiful and arriving on foot in each town was magical.
Minor gripes were: not hearing from the rep (we phoned her on day 2). She told us of a landslide and said she would send us an alternative route, but this didn't happen. We found the alternative route without difficulty. The maps for the Amalfi coast were not helpful (and one was missing). The route notes were sometimes difficult to follow (we had to learn to concentrate!). We became proud of our navigation skills.
Thank you! Where next?
L'Albara was wonderful and accommodated our dietary requirements (vegan) very well - every course had a vegan version and the quality of the food was the best we've had.
Can trust the organisation and information
Good first experience with friends who have been with you before.
this was wonderful holiday based in an amazing hotel with superb facilities
The Venetian Hills holiday was a truly enjoyble experience. This is a little-known, unspoiled part of the country and ideal for walking. The welcome and service at all the hotels was second to none.
Good fun helped by good weather, hotels, food and wine.
Our stay in Monopoli was wonderful and the hotel was ideal - got a little lost on our way back on the first cycle ride as we mis-counted some of the 'Y' turns. Enjoyed the cycle rides along the side roads - pretty wild flowers in May.
This must have been 15th Headwater holiday for me and I have no complains about any of them. My late husband and I have used two other companies in the past (one in Germany and one in France) but always came back to Headwater. The formula is excellent (rest day between cycling or walking), the hotels are always good and very often really excellent. The reps are very helpful. You know someone else has done the background work researching for suitable roads to cycle and hotels to stay, yet it feels like an adventure as you have to find your way from one hotel to the other. I have recommended Headwater for several of my friends looking for active holidays and hope I will do many more myself in the future.
We have taken several holidays with Headwater mainly in France and have always enjoyed them,but this one in Croatia comes top.Lovely countryside, many wild flowers to admire, super accommodation and very friendly people.
Walks were slightly different to those in brochure, not a problem, but needs up dating. Very relaxing and enjoyable holiday. Bermudan people are extremely friendly and helpful, why can't we all be like that? Buses and ferries very reliable.
Hotel looked a bit dated and the food was poor on Tues and Thurs - Island and Buffet night, so we went out as had read the headwater previous visitors book comments. Other nights the food was fantastic. Beach is rather small could be busy at peak times. Ran out of towels on 2 occasions. Can be very busy when the cruise ships are in.
Overall, the walks were longer than advertised but very enjoyable. We had a great time. Lovely way to see Bermuda and some bits that others may not get too - Coopers Island.
A great holiday in an off the beaten track location.
The Hotel El Milano Real was an excellent base for a walking holiday as several walks could be done directly from the hotel. The food was usually good, sometimes excellent but occasionally disappointing: the wines were generally very good and also very reasonably priced. The weather during the week was unseasonably cold, which spoiled our enjoyment of the highest climbing - we were unable even to attempt Morezon - but the superb walk to the Mirador was completed in very pleasant conditions and we were glad it wasn't too hot. The area is rich in flora and fauna, and May is a good time of year for observing it.
This is a lovely area of Italy and all the places we stayed were good. The travel arrangements worked like clockwork and the walks were lovely. My favourite Headwater holiday, so far.
Terrific holiday in with superb views, excellent food and wine with delightful walks.
We really enjoyed our Headwater walking in the Catalan region. The walking was a great combination of inland and coastal routes. The mediaeval villages were lovely and at this time of the year not overcrowded.
One or two of the walks had some challenging sections, particularly the suggested more interesting route to Begur on Day 4. We are older walkers and although experienced and fit we thought that the long relentless climb should come with a little more warning of the steepness. The weather was perfect for us but on very hot days this section of the route would be very demanding.
Otherwise the descriptions of the walks and the routes themselves were helpfully detailed and informative.
Breathtaking scenery for our walks with a friendly, knowledgeable guide. Then, back to the Finca- a real gem of a hotel, nestling in the hills amongst typical white villages- for a swim before an excellent evening meal. On three nights we were taken to local restaurants where the food, though very good, still couldn't compete with the Finca. Sue, Gordon and Sybil (the dog) are wonderful hosts - no wonder they have so many visitors who return year after year !
Main concern was the grading of the walking routes, I run 10 miles each week, fitness is a priority , but found the gradients challenging as did many group members, ascents and descents.Thursdays walk was gentle and everyone enjoyed it more as we were able to take in the views , flowers ,without having our eyes glued to the terrain in case of fall, stumble, several of the group fell on previous walks, not what you want from a holiday.
The group dynamics were excellent and much laughter was shared, the idea of inhouse and restaurant meals, tapis lunches was the perfect mix. We did enjoy our holiday very much.
Fabulous hotel with excellent facilities, food and staff. Gozo is great for walking as it is so small. Beautiful views and lovely wild flowers. The bus service is excellent and very cheap - a weekly season ticket is only 6 euros 50. Very good comprehensive walking notes which were usually very clear, but we did have a couple of incidents where they could have been better explained. Our boat trip to Comino was great - the Blue lagoon is beautiful.
Gozo was a great island to explore on foot. The local bus service was excellent and buying a weekly ticket was excellent value. The walks along the cliff tops were spectacular. The hotel was lovely and the pools a perfect place to relax aftrea days walking.
Menorca is a really beautiful island and relatively unspoilt. May was ideal weather for walking and it was very quiet. The best walking by the sea that we have ever done. A week was not long enough so we will return1
Hidden Valleys of Cordoba: a week at the charming Hotel Zuhayra in the pretty white mountain village of Zuheros in mid-May was all that six 70 somethings could wish for. Headwater certainly have a hit on their hands here. Very attentive, helpful staff, good regional food and wine, excellent, if strenuous in parts, walking and wonderful scenery. We added on two nights in Granada at the comfortable, centrally situated Hotel Dauro II from where it was an easy coach ride back to Malaga airport. Headwater's arrangements for our travel and stay were excellent.
Secrets o Sicily was probably one of the best holidays ever. The walking was great, the routes good, the accommodation (with one exception) excellent with good food. Everything you could want for comfort and enjoyment, but not at all fussy. Domenica at Baglio La Luna was great in letting us keep the room for the whole day before we flew back in the evening, and in offering us food in a location where there is nothing else. The help given in choosing appropriate accommodation for our two extra (lazy) days before we started the walking holiday was much appreciated. Thank you.
Wonderful countryside for walking and great walks - with a spectacular meal at the end of every day.
il feudo is rather basic and rustic .Steep stairs no lift.Shower unit in bathroom fell off wall.,not a lot of pressure. Welcome was good though.
Villa Lussana all confection ---no lift Headwater customers on second floor. shower unit cracked and water only just warm enough.
For walkers some paths i found quite tough walking over tumbling rocks in the hills which could easily have been dangerous so you had to be vigilant. Having done a fair few walking hols i found this one quite tough . but may be age had something to do with it . i would have graded it a little higher i think.
But enjoyable all the same .Well its Italy ---whats not to like!!!!!!!
The hotel is in an excellent rural location. Menorca in May is ideal for walking. It's not cheap but is good value if you can afford it.
We enjoyed the holiday but did find some of the walks challenging. The accommodation was good but the quality of the food at the Hotel Rosa was outstanding.
We both really enjoyed our Piedmont Holiday. All of the hotels we stayed at were very good, all quite different in character from one another which we liked. The Piedmont countryside is beautiful and the local people were so friendly. The walks were quite challenging, lots of hills, the steepest usually as you try to reach your hotel at the end of the day, but a great feeling when you do arrive.
The distances quoted on the route notes were much shorter than those that registered on my pedometer, I think perhaps these should be reviewed.
The local Headwater reps. Marsha and Esme were fantastic, very helpful, friendly and punctual.
The meals in the evening were usually taken in local restaurants, our favourites Osteria dei Catari and Locanda del Centro, the more rustic of the bunch. Only negative for us was The Ristarante il Castello, beautiful building, shame about the atmosphere, formality taken to the limit, neither diners nor staff seemed to be having a good time. We were due to dine there twice, but decided to give the second visit a miss.
Apart from that a brilliant holiday. Pat O'Connor
First try at a walking holiday and enjoyed it thoroughly. Would certainly recommend it.
Well organised and enjoyable holiday
May is a good time to go for wildlife - and weather not too hot
Beautiful setting, no hidden extras, peaceful.
Overall holiday was good. Never saw rep, although not really necessary. Big hotels at punta campanella and sorrento not great as they cater for the mass coach trip market and lose personal touch. We met inntravel (or possibly atg) walkers in punta campanella staying in small hotel which was idyllic. Luna convento excellent and set a high bar others did not come close to. Sorrento particularly disappointing as it was in chaos and couldn't handle the number of guests . It was the first time in 50 years travelling i have had to queue (30 minutes) for a dinner table. Food also left much to be desired. A smaller hotel in town might be a better bet and certainly more our preference
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Wyatt, Thank you for your feedback. We were pleased to see that you enjoyed your holiday overall. We were however sorry to see that you did not receive your welcome brief on arrival, this is usually carried out via telephone. We will ensure this is made clearer in our documentation for future customers. We were also sorry to see you were disappointed with some of the hotels you stayed in due to the size and lack of personal touch, wherever possible we try to use small and friendly hotels. I have passed on your feedback to our programme manager for their consideration. We would like to thank you for travelling with Headwater this summer and look forward to welcoming you on another of our holidays in the future.
This was our first experience with Headwater although we have previously toured and trekked with a number of other companies. We were overall impressed, and would certainly consider Headwater for other walking or cycling holidays.
Because of our ages (I am 80, my wife is 78) we decided not to do the Puglia trip on bikes but by car. This worked very well. The only problem was the very narrow streets and difficulty in finding the way in Monopoli. Doing it by car meant we had more time to explore the places where we stayed and time to drive to Lecce. We thought that Masseria Salamina would be a very good base for anyone wishing to explore Puglia by car. It is a lovely hotel, easy to find and in a good location for visiting other interesting places in that area. The sea food restaurants on the coast are excellent, especially one at La Forcatella. The remains of the Roman town and port at Egnazia and the museum are very intersting.
Very welcoming owners in hotel in a beautiful area of Spain
We are seasoned Headwater clients and have been more than happy with all the holidays we have taken with the company.
A wonderful mixture of healthy exercise,beautiful scenery, fantastic food and friendly people.
On our arrival we were welcomed by our driver Seor Russo who we found to be both entertaining and informative. Throughout our stay he was always punctual and reliable. Although we never actually met the resort agent she rang us to advise about adverse weather condition, diversions and alternative routes. Unfortunately we experienced poor weather but it did not interfere with our enjoyment of the holiday and we managed to complete the planned itinery. Overall all the htels were good and we were delighted to find our accommodation had been upgraded at the Pumta Campanelle where we had the benefit of a suite and a large sun terrace. We have only two observations to make to improve the holiday:
(1) The cost of porterage at 3 euros per bag on arrival and departure should either be included in the holiday cost or guests advised of this in the holiday information.
(2) the time of departure for the airport should be included in the holiday informattion to avoid guests having to make an educated guess based on flight times.
Gozo is a delightful little island with beautiful scenery and flowers. Ta Cenc was a totally relaxing place to be and the staff were excellent.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. The walking mix was good, and flowers, birds, sea and sun were a great combination. Marettimo was special.
This was a very enjoyable holiday. The walks, locations, itinerary and choice of hotels were all well thought out. We enjoyed the variety of walks and the wild flowers were stunning. Spotting a Bonelli Eagle was one of the highlights. Our local reps looked after us well, leaving us to be independent but stepping in when required - for example, sorting out a hotel in Trapani when our boat trip to Marettimo was delayed due to high winds. We found some of the walks quite tough but rewarding. The hotels were varied and our favourite was the self catering on Marettimo.
Was not sent any walking notes which was a problem. Hotel had none and Rep-George- in his 60 second briefing- was uninterested in this. After some nagging he sent me some notes-but they mainly concerned the cycling holiday based in another hotel which with 24 km cycles etc was not that much use. Sorted myself out eventually as I managed to get hold of a good map which had good walking routes linked to bus routes which was great. Hotel excellent and travel arrangements fine.
Could not be faulted to be perfectly honest, excellent accomodation throughout,well balanced walking itinerary, first class route notes and maps.The Amalfi coast was everything we hoped it would be and more, a great holiday.
Fantastic locations with carefully selected routes and hotels. Descriptions of the walks for for self guided tour where very easy to follow and very accurate.
A wonderfully authentic Puglian expeience -great locations, countryside, food, wine & cycling
The Finca is a terrific destination for people who wish to enjoy rural Spain but the experience is heightened by the quality of the hospitality provided by Sue, Gordon, David and Christine. Their welcoming and informative approach, and the eye for detail, guarantees a good experience and, combined with the quality of the guides (principally Jenny), ensures a great holiday.
We were fantastically fortunate with the weather, the organisation was excellent and the Finca was a superb base for the walks. It is easy to see why visitors return several times - walkers and non-walkers alike. Our travel arrangements were good and Jenny, our guide, fun and informative. Food at the finca was exceptional and the atmosphere was a great balance of friendliness and conversation and peaceful relaxation. This was a beautiful time to visit with all the Spring flowers. Having tickets for the Alhambra and having transport arranged was a real plus - especially during Holy week.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday at the Finca el Cerillo and our hosts Sue and Gordon could not have been more helpful and considerate. The location, high on a ridge, gave wonderful views of the steep, rugged valleys with white villages clinging to the crests and in the distance the Mediterranean. Our bedroom was large, the bed equally so and very comfortable and the tiled bathroom had underfloor heating-great! The food at the Finca and the local restaurants was very good and the wines at the Finca first class. The walking was tough, lots of steep ascents on rocky paths. After the first morning we took the gentler option accompanied by Rose a super local guide. We hope to visit the Finca el Cerillo again.
This was a great holiday. It's the walks are fairly straightforward, but there are some long days. The arrangement by Headwater worked like clockwork. The hotels are well-chosen and generally of a good standard. Our favourites were the 2 rectorals and Paze Santa Maria. This was a great way to explore the Camino de Santiago.
We decided to book our own direct flights with BA instead of using the advertised Alitalia via Milan flights. The timings don't differ significantly and Headwater were happy to arrange non standard transfers at no extra cost. The standard of accommodation throughout the trip was of a high standard. We really enjoyed the stay in the Trulli house and were pleasantly surprised to be given a Trulli suite with a small patio garden! The highlight however was our stay in the Masseria Salamina. On booking we upgraded to a garden suite but on arrival we were delighted to be allocated the luxury suite complete with private balcony and sea views. We were made to feel really welcome by the family and the food was excellent. Simple, fresh and plentiful with much of it coming from their own farm.
The map of the area is only good for an overview but the route notes and briefing were excellent and at no point did we stray off route. Some of the roads (as has been mentioned before) are in a poor condition but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the cycling.
Another enjoyable, well organised and well supported holiday from Headwater. The next one is already booked!
Beautiful walks and great hotels - particularly liked Pedralva.
The overall holiday was very enjoyable, well planned with a good mix of site seeing and excellent walking in a little known but beautiful part of Sicily, all local
Agents were on time and efficient, Carlos in particular was well informed and helpful, others were less so.. We opted to pay extra to have some time sight seeing in Palermo on the last day. This caused quite a lot of arranging and could have been offered to us before we went, The last hotel was not good. The food was very poor, bit like school dinners and as it was in such an isolated location it was not possible to walk to any where else as another choice to eat, it was a long distance from the planned walks in the reserve so it entailed long taxi rides to and for , which seemed pointless and made the whole thing rather regulated rather than the freedom offered at the other hotels and locations. In addition I had been persuaded to pay 60 Euro extra by the U.K. Booking agent from Headwater for a room with a sea view and little patio when in fact all it was was an ordinary room with rather a small window which did look over the sea, a rip off.
Good walks, excellent hotels but the food was disappointing and was a bit of a downer. Not sure you know about the substitute walk on day 4 but it was hazardous in places and in the UK the footpath would have been closed to the public. There were sheer drops below narrow footpaths on the levadas with no hand rails. Our overall score would be 6 out of ten for this one.
Ludmilla and Tony were both efficient and enthusiastic. April is an ideal time to go to Portugal - longer days and not too hot for walking. It's worth pre-arranging a day to cater to your special interests - we chose birdwatching and wild orchid hunting. We also pre-booked our train from Lisbon to Tunes and got a good discount for seniors.
One of the best walking holidays we have had. Easy route notes to follow which took us to every corner of a small island using good local buses to get us to and from the walks which did not start or finish at the hotel. We were based at a superb luxury hotel with a fantastic relaxed atmosphere with superb views of Malta and bedrooms in a fantastic garden setting and overlooking the pool. The friendly staff and the service they gave were in a class of their own as was the breakfast buffet and the choice of dishes for dinner each evening was also excellent.
We understand that Portuguese Railways will not accept corporate bookings so you need to make it absolutely clear at the outset that travellers need to arrange their own rail travel from Lisbon to Tunes and give them clear guidance on how to do that. Their web site is not too easy to follow. You should also make it clear that it is possible to fly to Faro and take the local train from there.
If your guests are arriving in Vila do Bispo on a Saturday, they need to know that the shops noted in your guide book are closed from 1300 and all day on Sunday. However, all is not lost because there is a Lidl supermarket that is 'open all hours' providing freshly baked bread and pastries and a range of other picnic items.
Finally, the lighthouse at Cape St Vincent is not open on Mondays.
We found Gozo quite charming and we believe we visited at just the right time of year - we do not think we would go any later because the holiday was enchanting principally because of the spring flowers and scenery at this time of year . Also the hotel was probably just sufficiently busy but not overcrowded which it might well be later in the year . The principal attractions of spring flowers, easy walking , friendly people and an excellent hotel made for a memorable 7 days
I can't fill in the travel section because we were air/self drive. There are some comments I would like to make
1 The map situation was dire.You say in the walking notes that the map you provide is the 'Sierra de Gredos 1:25000. You gave us a map which was an area to the South West of where we were in Hoyos de Espina. We should have been given the correct map and it is 1: 50000 not the above. As you point out the other map (Parque Regional de La Sierra de Gredos) which is 1:25000 only covers the Plataforma area.
2 The spa was not open until the Friday of our stay and that should have been made clear in the notes/brochure.
Otherwise we loved it, the hotel was lovely and food delicious (also v good wine list) and will probably book again next year
I think that the Hotel Finca el Cerillo is a delightful location, with a wonderfully warm welcome by the owners Sue and Gordon. The rooms are all individually presented, and the mals provided in house were excellent and on other nights the local restaurants used were very good. The walking is guided by Jenny who maintains a steady pace that anyone with modest levels of fitness should be able to maintain while spotting out all sorts of flora and fauna.
I would not hesitate to recommmend this hotel to other travellers.
My one caution is that the some of the walking is at the upper end of a 2 boot grading.
If you're looking for a completely stress-free holiday then book with Headwater. I didn't have to think about any arrangements for the week as they were all taken care of. The finca is the ultimate retreat and Sue, Gordon and Jenny were all outstanding in their welcome and guidance. I can't wait to go back and will use Headwater again for another trip.
A good holiday, fun accommodation in village houses and one very good hotel at each end, though sadly the weather was really poor for walking on this occasion. The tour reps were absolutely excellent, knowledgeable,helpful and thoughtful.
We would certainly want to go again, though perhaps a one boot+ was too much for me.
Only the weather let us down.... The hotel was delightful and the staff really helpful; the food was execllent and certainly pleantiful with the breakfasts well deserving of the description 'amazing'. Snow and rain prevented our walking as we had hoped and there is little else to do in the immediate vicinity but lots of beautiful places to see if you are prepared to drive (and the roads are surprisingly good).
Surprisingly quiet routes, wonderful scenery and sunshine, excellent food. Pacing suited us with a day's cycling followed by hiking on our rest days. Pedralva was a highlight in all respects from accommodation and surroundings to food.
Remember to bring a pair of walking boots in order to best enjoy the excellent snowshoeing trip, usually run on Wednesdays! Everything else is catered for on this excellent week for either complete beginners or improvers in cross-country skiing. The Tvete family at the Fjellhotel are not only friendly and welcoming, but also extremely well organised and hard working. The scenery is so stunning that the odd grey day doesn't matter.
First holiday on my own, and despite my worries, I was made to feel welcome by the members of my group...experienced warm and friendly company from fellow holiday members, hotel staff and guides.....a busy and active holiday, wonderful scenery, great for me as an important part of the holiday for me is to paint the landscape.
The Finca, the base for the 'Secrets of Andalucia' holiday is worth more than five stars! The welcome, friendliness of the owners an staff, and the 'house party atmosphere contribute to making this one of the best Headwater Holidays we have taken. Of course we went for the walking (and to get away from the cold weather) and this turned out to be pretty good as well. Jenny was the main guide, who was helped out by Rose when he walk was split into two levels. Both were excellent in their knowledge of the local flora, fauna and routes. The meals provided at the Finca were superb, and he packed lunches extremely filling. As part of the package two lunches and three diners were taken at local restaurants and this enabled us to sample local cooking aswell.
Overall a superb holiday that ticked all the boxes for us!
Setting,food and walking were superb. Gordon and Sue were exceptional hosts and Christine's food deserved a rosette!
Excellent hotel and fantastic food, very friendly staff, taxis arranged to local restaurants, super walking with a great guide, lovely views in the hills and very quiet location. Only drawback really is that the hotel is a good walk from the nearest villages and towns, so you can't pop out after a walk to have a look around or do a bit of shopping unless you use a taxi, or get the boots out again. The map provided for the holiday wasn't any use for walking - good job we had a guide!
Ta cenc was a lovely hotel, very comfortable, big rooms, good food, friendly and helpful staff. Walks in Gozo were beautiful around the cliffs and through the valleys but some of the road walking was less pleasant and unavoidable.
We were looking for a more relaxing walking holiday and this was perfect. We have had many holidays with headwater and the standard is always good. I have introduced friends to this company.
I would thoroughly recommend the holiday but perhaps making own travel arrangements.The connection times between Lisbon airport and rain station were over generous. I can only think tis is a failsafe because the trains are not very frequent.One couple had made own arrangements of flight to Faro The train journey to Tunes was much shorter., and connections much more satisfactory
For what we required-an escape from rain and winter dismal Ta Cenc was fine,and the walks laid out in your leaflet were easy enough to cope with for an oldie (84) like me who can no longer cope with real peaks and the tougher walking of middle age. Returning daily to the warm water pool and jacuzzi was a real bonus. But and we think you should Know this, Ta Cenc is getting a bit tired. Staff were delightful and the room very comfortable, BUT the lighting was abysmal if you wished to read in bed. Plumbing too was poor-no pressure on sink taps and infuriating variations of temp in the shower:quite dangerous in fact as nearly scalding water gushed unexpectedly. Infuriating when it ran bitterly cold We complained but it wasn't fixed. There was also a a 60 euro miscalculation on the bill which to be fair was rectified with good grace. No wonder that the owner Mr Borgon turned on max charm while we were waiting to be taken to the airport.. Just a tad complacent all round we thought.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Blain,
Thank you for taking the time to complete our on line questionnaire and for the feedback you have provided.
We were pleased to read that you enjoyed your holiday and found the walks suitable for your level of ability. It was also good to see that you enjoyed the facilities that the hotel has to offer.
I am sorry however that you had some issues with the maintenance and plumbing in your room. We have passed on your feedback to the hotel, they have offered a sincere apology to you and Mrs Blain and have assured us that they have fixed the issues you had reported. Including replacing the light bulbs for brighter ones and fixing the pressure issue in the bathroom.
Please be assured that we do realise how important it is to maintain our high standards of accommodation and service, and we do appreciate we cannot afford to let our standards slip.
We will continue to monitor this hotel to ensure that the high standards that both our customers and Headwater expect are maintained.
We would like to thank you for bringing these matters to our attention, and apologise most sincerely once again that you had cause for complaint.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater
Excellent destination (Gozo) for gentle walking at this time of year. Great feeling of solitude, some days we hardly saw anybody else out in the countryside. Very friendly staff; whole island seemed safe, easy to get around, welcoming, low-key. Excellent views, wild flowers, dramatic coastlines, interesting archeological sites.
Excellent holiday though somewhat marred by some wet weather. At 79 years I did find some of the very steep long gradients tough on the knees and without trekking poles would have found one 500m descent on wet clay almost impossible.
MB Travel were first class and promptly found us an alternative walk when the original route was washed out.
The staff at the Porto Bay Serra Golf Hotel were very quick to find a lost mobile phone and immediately delivered it by car to the next hotel that we had moved to - great service.
Gozo is a lovely unspoilt Island - very green with lots of wild flowers in early spring.
The Ta Cenc Hotel has a wonderful location. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
All in all a most enjoyable weeks holiday
Excellent Holiday and very knowledgeable and helpful Representative.
Walking pretty much as described, care needs to be taken on switching from rail track to road and vice versa Avoid multiple bus changes at weekends as they run less frequently. The hotel has large parties of sporty types out of season, try to find out if any are there while you plan to stay, if there are, don't book. They are loud, boorish and their behaviour is totally unacceptable. Dont expect the shop to be open out of season. Do take the ferries, though only one runs out of season. Do explore apart from your route notes, there are many other nature reserves to visit and also ramble around headlands, Simson's island particularly rewarding. The friendliness of the local people and the great hotel staff contribute to making this a really special destination and the stunning scenery everywhere is overwhelming.
We have been to 6 different XC Sking venues with Headwater and Venabu is consistantly the best. Excellent variety and length of ski tracks from easy starts near the hotel to Challenging hills within 5km. Food is always of good choice, well prepared and generous in quantity for hungry skiers. The guides are knowledgable, helpful and good instructors for beginners and more experienced skiers - particularly Robert Molnar, who is a good allround athlete as well as good skier and an excellent instructor. For the above reasons we have now been to Venabu 11 times and we meet friends who also return each year from UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Canada.
Venabu is an ideal resort for cross country skiing. The guides at the hotel are brilliant and make the holiday a memorable experience.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and thought it was very good value for the money. For us it was only marred by our experience on our second night at the Porto Bay Serra Golf Hotel. The hotel dining room was full on this night, but there were only two staff to serve about 40 people. Consequently, the service was very slow. After our main course we requested a menu to choose a dessert, but after waiting for 20 minutes for the menu we gave up and went back to our room. Also, we should have been given a packed lunch the following day, but this did not happen. We should have reminded them the night before, but because they were so short staffed, we could not find anyone to mention it to. Otherwise this was a lovely hotel, perhaps we just caught them on an off day.
The packed lunch we received from the Quintar do Furao, was excellent.
The overall experience was very enjoyable and exceeded our expectations.
You did it again, a fabulous chill out holiday in a delightful hotel. So quiet and peaceful, helpful, friendly staff could not have done more for us. The scenery and flowers were fabulous a great time of year to visit. The first time we have been to hotel where all the gym ans health centre equipment worked! Walks fantastic well done, we did not get lost.
Buses fabulous and punctual so easy to use I was a bit put off using them for the walks ,but so easy and cheap, punctuality could teach the uk something.
We would definitely return.
Cycling through fantastic scenery in mimosa eucalyptus pine scented warm air within a day of leaving flood & storm ravaged UK - wonderful. Tony & Ludmilla are great hosts. Their warm welcome quickly overcame the effects of a long laborious day long journey via Lisbon - Faro & taxi halves the travel time at little if any overall extra cost. The 2 hotels we stayed in are 2 of the best we've had in 20yrs of Headwater holidays. However Pedralva - it no doubt has it's charms but is basically self catering units more suited to summer use. Compared to our 2 previous stops the welcome here was 'grumpy' & our room was cold gloomy & oppressive - more like a cell with 2 v small windows looking straight out at other houses across narrow streets at eye level so no privacy in the bedroom or sitting area without closing little shutters making it even gloomier. The shower room was unheated & there was no hair dryer. A Youth Hostel style kitchen dominated our sitting area - a dirty hot plate, a dustpan & brush in full view as also a slop bucket (ugh) & the upmarket 'coffee making facilities' were of no practical use as no pods - a simple kettle would be much better & more welcoming. The swimming pool is outdoors & was not available so no 'relaxing by the pool' & given the cold location of Pedralva I doubt would be for many of the Headwater months. I was unable to access wifi on my iPad at the designated spot in Reception - I did on the 2nd night with some perseverance find a tiny area in the Bar where I could get a signal. Ah - the Bar! & it's tender & the food he serves in the evenings are the outstanding highlight of Pedralva - make the most of it - the breakfasts are fairly meagre. We felt Pedralva fell short on many of the facilities promised in the Headwater description.
A great place for a cycling holiday. The routes were good and varied.
Venabu is the perfect place for all generations to enjoy cross country skiing.
An invigorating break in a beautiful location with great food and wonderful guides
The walking is pretty good but it especially suited us because there are good places to visit including the Aquarium, the Underwater Exploration Institute, the Museum at the Dockyard and the town of St George. The food at the hotel was very good quality and value as was the combined bus/ferry ticket which takes you everywhere on the islands. You can minimise the waiting times for the transport with some careful pre-planning. And you can walk straight from the hotel onto the sandy beach and swim in the warm ocean, even in February.
There is no where better to cross country ski than Venabu.
Very good. Vegetarian food a bit variable
An excellant t
Fantastic scenery, excellent ski tuition, warm & welcoming hotel.
Just what I needed to start the new year.
Message for hotel- Hotel was comfy but needs to update accommodation. Message for ski instructors - good instruction but need to keep us moving in such cold temperatures so our muscles dont freeze up. Wenche paced things well and kept us moving.
Headwater response:
Excellent, especially as we experienced very stormy weather on one day but Tony and Ludmilla kept in touch with us and advised us not to walk; instead they collected us in the van and took us to one of the major sites we would otherwise not have seen. They were outstanding reps, and ambassadors for Headwater.
Tony and Ludmilla were the best reps we have ever had in our extensive experience of Headwater holidays. They went to a great deal of trouble to make the walks more interesting and had produced laminated maps with the walks highlighted. These were far more useful than those originally supplied. Their initial briefing (and the associated written material) and walking notes were really well researched with lots of useful information on the likelihood of shops etc being open. Very useful in mid- January!
The hotels were really excellent .Very good breakfasts in all except one. The free hotel in Lisbon [Plaza Lisboa] at the end of the holiday even supplied us with a complimentary bottle of Portugese fizzy wine on Bob's birthday.
Particularly good waymarking made this an undemanding experience.
Luggage transport was by the same team each time which was helpful
Excellent hotel for friendliness and Norwegian culture, especially at Christmas. The food was outstanding. We were complete novices so the cross country skiing was challenging, but the ski guides were helpful, patient and encouraging. A sauna on site was most welcome.
We were pleasantly surprised by the professional way everything was handled by office staff. The reps who were new to the area were so helpful and were even working on new tracks as alternatives the night before we would use them. It was a lovely relaxing holiday with just the right amount of activity,also the pleasant weather for time of the year helped.
This was our 8th Holiday with you and as ever we really enjoyed our break. We especially enjoyed our stay in Pedralva (took our 2 free nights there). Beautiful area, great walking. All staff at hotels were friendly and helpful. Your reps - Tony and Ludmilla were welcoming and really helpful. Tony's route notes were the best we have come across. Lovely food, quality wines. Good mix of accommodation. Only downside were the number of barking dogs - thankfully mostly on leashes but a bit scary at times (farm dogs and dogs on the properties kind of out of the way) Probably not a lot more that you can do about that though!
Excellent accommodation and location for a walking holiday outside the peak summer.
Lovely holiday. Headwater made all it very easy. Leisurely cycling - nice mixture of exercise and relaxation. Excellent food and accommodation.
Beautiful hotel in excellent position. Very good and easy bus service on the island, limited hotel courtesy bus in the winter, but the bus stop right outside the hotel makes it easy to get transport into Victoria. Staying in the one hotel makes for a more relaxing holiday, walking as much or little as you want to.
Excellent organisation and welcome / support from local Headwater reps. Interesting terrain and wildlife.
This was our first walking holiday with Headwater - we had previously had cycling holidays - and it was very enjoyable. The fact that it was a one centre holiday we particularly enjoyed because it gave us flexibility in what we chose to do - we particularly wanted to have a day in Malta for instance . The Hotel was excellent with very good facilities and superb food. For anyone wanting a flexible holiday - as much or as little exercise as you want - this is well worth considering.
Visit the Sierra de Gredos. It is a beautiful and unspoilt part of Spain
We found the route notes were a times lacking in information, distances from one point to the next for example, and at others over complicated when there was a perfectly good way mark to guide us. The hotel was excellent, very friendly, the food was very good, I did not repeat a dinner main course selection in the 11 days we were there!
Walking is a great way to see a country, and Headwater provides a good service for doing so.
An excellent destination for coastal scenery, swimming and snorkelling if you don't mind the bird shooting.
We had a great holiday. The children thoroughly enjoyed the cycling, the scenery was beautiful, plenty of medieval villages to stop end explore and the hotels en route were great. We were extremely lucky with the weather - hot and sunny every day, so that we could enjoy the hotel pools at the end of each day. A brilliant family holiday.
We had a wonderful week at the Finca. It's a beautiful location and the hotel owners Sue and Gordon and their staff are great as is the food with a balance of eating in and out at local restaurants every other day.
The grading as leisurely is a little surprising as although the pace is not relentless the terrain is a little challenging at times and the week is packed with activity. That said it is of course not obligatory to undertake every walk or activity. The finca is a wonderful place just to relax.
On our week we had the benefit of Sue Bishop, a professional photographer. All took advantage of her great knowledge and skills which were freely and generously given.
We intend to revisit the Finca in the future.
I couldn't fault the location, the ambience, seclusion and comfort of the hotel, and how well we were looked after by the hosts, Sue and Gordon. They treated us like friends and bade us farewell as such. My only complaint is that the walking was tougher than advertised. I don't do vertigo-inducing walks and the last day gave me 2 hours of fear and feeling very uncomfortable and I had to be patiently guided by a very understanding guide. Being classed as a leisurely walking holiday, is the reason I chose this holiday, so I feel let down and misled by this description. I questioned the guide about the classification and she understood it to be classed as moderate. It doesn't say this on your website!
I will no doubt take another holiday with you, but if I feel misled the next time, it will be the last time I choose Headwater.
Welcoming hotel and great walking guide. Exactly as described. Level of walking was rather more than leisurely though. The group decided that it was more of a Moderate grade.
A wonderful holiday, but be aware that although the pace of walking may be leisurely the terrain is very hilly, making the walks moderate rather than easy.
Excellent hotel and very good food. We saw nothing of the local representative at any point.
Some of the walking instructions were confusing and we got lost twice - once on the Ta Pinu and Lighthouse walk and once on Fungus Rock and Azure window.
This area of Italy proved to be lovely for cycling. Most of the routes were along very quiet lanes lined with dry stone walls, along side olive groves and vineyards. Staying in a Trulli in Alberrobello was a delightful experience, so much so that we wish we had been able to book an extra night: we didn't cycle on the middle day as we wanted to look round the town.
A good holiday as usual. Hotel lovely, excellent breakfast but evening meals rather unusual and could be improved. Delightful staff, very nice rooms, good local wines. Walking directions good except for one when the map was not accurate and made for a very long walk back to our car along a very busy road. I can provide details on request.
We enjoyed this holiday as we went with friends but the area itself is of only moderate interest although the vegetation is of great interest. The walking was quite easy and did not fill the whole day and is of limited interest as the views are limited. Some more demanding and high level walking would have been good and the last day's walk was very dull and urban and a different day should be subsituted. Also the first day would have been boring if we had just returned the same way that we came. Instead we just went one way and took a taxi to port Moniz to swim. Overall I don't think the walks were very well planned to provide variety and interest.
On the plus side the directions were impeccable and when we had views they were wonderful and some of the walks were very peaceful.
We thoroughly enjoyed our week in the Sierra de Gredos, which is a beautiful, uncommercialised region that is excellent for walking. Teresa was a mine of information, not just on the walks but also on the weather in different parts of the region and even on what wine to have with dinner! The hotel staff were friendly and attentive. The food was wonderful and there was plenty of it! Overall, a great holiday.
Great friendly hotel with excellent food - Theresa was full of local knowledge particularly on the weather (which wasn't brilliant when we were there in early October) where she was spot on. Good walking (particularly the higher walks) and the instructions for the walks excellent. We would recommend this holiday. One small criticism a map from the airport to the hotel would have been useful as the instructions were not very clear or take your own sat nav.
Headwater provides an excellently organised walking experience - choosing breathtaking routes which are brilliantly and minutely mapped out.
Quite the best walking holiday operator I have ever used.
Well planned cycling routes with excellent instructions. 2 out of the 3 hotels were excellent. Alan & Linda were extremely helpful throughout the holiday & largely responsible for it running so smoothly.
Your local agent organised a great tour through Puglia, linking key sights of interest via lovely quiet back roads where we observed rural life.
Great combination of exercise, exploration and recreation.
A cycling holiday is an adventure. We started in summer weather and ended in cold and rain which did somewhat marr this experience. This was our 6th cycling holiday, and we felt that the route was somewhat artificial. [Our favourite was the Danube, Passau to Vienna, which was a real journey.]
Great holiday,due to very good accommodation and beautiful island
The holiday was terrific. Lots of wonderful villages, castles, and caves. The biking routes were well planned and very enjoyable. This was our third Headwater Holiday and all of them have been phenomenal. The food was great too, The trip notes were excellent. The bikes were very good bikes. The holiday was not exactly leisurely. If one does just the trips on travel days, it still would not be leisurely due to many tough hills. If you do the optional trips on 'lay over days,' the accumulation can be quite exhausting. However, many of the really great things to see are on 'layover days' - so resting on these days is not really an option. Personally, we enjoyed the level, but agree with others that the level needs to be at least moderate. I would rate this trip as moderate to challenging. The good news is that even if you are not an active cyclist, you can always hop off your bike and push it to the top of the difficult hills - pushing is not as difficult as it might sound. And once you get to the top, it is worth the effort for long rides with great views on quiet roads. The sights Headwater recommends in the notes are perfect! The Headwater reps (Keith and Claire) were very helpful and went out of their way for us.
This was a really excellent holiday despite the cycling being a little harder than expected. The food throughout was outstanding. Keith and Claire were friendly and helpful giving excellent advice and support.
The holiday was up to the good standard that we have come to expect from Headwater holidays and would recommend it. A comment for improvement would relate to the third hotel Quinta Da Bella Vista where although the food, facilities and service were up to a 5 star rating, we thought the room of the hotel in which we stayed was a bit tired and needed upgrading to warrant 5 stars.
We were charmed by the single-storied hotel set so sympathetically on the cliffs. The layout of the rooms and the terrace gave a feeling of privacy not found in a conventional hotel. The staff, particularly the cleaners and in the restaurant, were very friendly and helpful. Considering there are no signposts or markers for walkers on Gozo we thought the route notes were pretty good. You must be careful, but as long as you ensure that what you are seeing exactly matches the description in the route notes you really shouldn't go wrong. The weather was a little warm for us in September but we bought the 7-day bus pass and cut two of the walks short by getting the bus at villages slightly before the end of the walk. It also meant we were not tied to the times of the hotel courtesy bus and we would recommend purchasing it for the flexibility it provides.
Overall a good holiday, Menorca is unspoilt and spotlessly clean. The walks a very well marked, just follow the Cami De Cavalls marker posts which are everywhere. In hindsight, we probably should have gone at a different time of year (we went end Sept) as the temperature got to 30 deg on most days, and as the walking was mainly costal there was not much shade. We also felt a bit overdressed walking across nudist beaches in our walking boots, back packs and sun hats! The hotel is very nice, with friendly and helpful staff. The only drawback is that there is not a communal bar where you can meet fellow guests for a pre dinner drink so there is not much of a social atmosphere. You just sit down, eat and go! A shame as the hotel has so much to offer. Our recommendation would be to go out of season, when the temperature is lower, the beaches empty and the scenery greener.
Good mixture of walking, history and culture which in combination produced an excellent break
nice hotels, gentle cycling and wonderful surroundings....all makes for an enjoyable and relaxing break
Piedmont is a very attractive area and not at all 'touristy'. It is, however, much hillier than we expected from brochure description, and though the climbs were interesting at times, the rewards were the views from the top and the descents!
The accommodation was excellent in every respect, the hotel and restaurant staff almost invariably very welcoming and helpful and the food and wines were generally very good. Special mention to the Osteria Dai Cateri in Monforte d'Alba for the best dinner of the holiday but most of the others were extremely good. Moda again in Monforte d'Alba was only average and Verde Rama in Castiglione Tinella was a bit disappointing; they gave us a restricted '?Headwater' menu and several of the dishes served were poor. I think all the other restaurants gave us a choice from their a la carte menus.
This is our third Headwater holiday and the bikes provided were the worst. The bikes were fairly basic and slightly heavy hybrids compared with what the Chain Gang gave us last year but they were poorly maintained and my bike was unsafe. My wife's bike's handlebars weren't straight and she couldn't get into the lowest gear (not handy in hilly terrain!). My bike's gears were also not set up corrrectly but I was able to sort that myself, but the bike felt unsteady on corners. Eventually it started creaking loudly going up hills and my wife observed the rear wheel wobble especially on corners. I've a little experience in bike maintenance and the problem seemed to be due to slack spokes that needed tensioned. Marc brought out, the following morning, a replacement wheel taken from another bike and this seemed ok during a quick test in the hotel's garage but after a few yards with panniers on, ball bearings started falling out of the rear wheel bearing. Unfortunately the reps had gone and as they'd forgotten their mobile, it was some time before I got a replacement bike. This was a Giant and much better than my original Headwater bike, thankfully. If both our bikes had been of this quality, we would have definitely considered another Headwater holiday and recommended you to our friends and family.
During the booking process, Headwater arranged the train tickets from Nice to Cuneo and informed me on the phone and in the original invoice, the train departure times and that we would change trains at Breil Sur Roya. When the final invoice arrived, train depature time and station to switch trains at (now Ventimiglia), had been changed. Fortunately I noticed the alterations but I think Headwater should have drawn our attention, specifically, to this, as we might have missed it.
Menorca is a beautiful island and the Hotel Movedra Nou is a delightful rural hotel and sanctuary away from the commercialisation of many of the coastal villages and small towns. The food was excellent and true Menorcan country cooking involving many different types of fish and numerous vegetables.
This Headwater holiday was different to our previous ones as we were provided with a car at Mahon airport for our use during the week. This had the impact of helping us to see more of the island and walk in more distant places although the negative point was that walks either involved a 'there and back' walk, or we needed to catch an expensive taxi to get back to our starting point. The maps provided were poor although by day 4 we were bequeathed an excellent map by a fellow Headwater traveller which improved things considerably. [Map now passed on yet again] This map 'Menorca Tour and Trail - Super Durable by David and Ros Brawn' is available on Amazon today at 8.99. I would recommend that Headwater send their customers this map as it gives a much better mapping of the coastal path that the walks are covering. The walking was a little tricky as the 'coastal trail' was often bumpy and rocky making it difficult to get any rhythm into our walking. Some of the walks need reviewing as they are out of date to current local developments. Several of the walks ended in very commercial areas which was disappointing after walking beautiful coastal routes. The Menorcan trail was popular and busy - we often shared it with other walkers, joggers mountain bikers and horse riders. Several walks involved some beach walking which involved picking your way through sunbathers!
Summary, great hotel and food - considerable daily driving miles - walking limited on rocky paths - maps need improvement.
An excellent holiday in an outstanding area. Local history combined with fantastic scenery, and walks. Some of the walks were at the upper end of the grading - made worse by unusually high temperatures. The organisation of the transfers and visits to historic sites was first rate.
On the whole all the hotels exceeded our expectations as did the bikes, which were very good, though I would recommend extra padded cycling shorts.
If you arent going to have lunch at a restaurant en route, buy your provisions early, because everything closes for lunch, we never did work out the closing times, as we always seemed to be on the road. Many of the roads are awful, so those padded shorts will serve you doubly!
The dinners are plentiful and wonderful food. The routes are delightful, mainly on small roads with little traffic. There was only one day which proved to be rather taxing with a lot of ups and downs from Alberobello to Martina Franca. Luggage transportation went without any hiccups and all in all it was a really enjoyable destination to catch the last of the summer warmth.
We were slightly nervous that a very successful and enjoyable independent holiday - Catalan Coastal Walk last year could be matched by this one in Madeira. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very different in topography, but also pretty demanding for our ages (65 and 72), which we like. We think 2-boot is good for us. There is a big contrast between the levada walks and the demanding up and downs, but the mix is good. The hotels were all good, but we prefer hotels 'in places' so you can walk with interest around where you are. Like all of the four except one on the Catalan walk. None of the Madeira hotels were in this category. Not a major complaint. Just personal choice.
Holiday was around three centres and we didn't walk between them. Taxi transfers ere very reliable and efficient. Our taxi driver Daniella, was keen to practice his English. Our three night on Marettimo where we ate in Il Veliero where the anto pasto was marvellous. We got a really great welcome at La Luna and we were lucky to be able to stay in our room until late on the last day when we were flying home late so we could have a shower after a day on the beach at San Vito Lo Capo. We enjoyed the visits to Segesta and Enrice. It was a really good mox of walking and seeing a few of the sights.
Great way to enjoy a weeks holiday with like minded people.Makes keeping fit enjoyable and easy.
Excellent for walking with a good variety of walks at various lengths and levels of challenge. Hotel location and village very good.
Food excellent and a vegetarian well catered for.
The Dordogne is a very good area for a holiday, with plenty to see and do in all weathers. The Headwater walking holiday is a very good introduction to the many varied facets of the region - geography, towns and villages, food and places of interest. We enjoyed experiencing different styles of hotel - they all have their own individuality - and all looked after us extremely well. The walking notes were faultless and the maps some of the best I've encountered on the nine Headwater holidays I've taken. The rep was very informative and helpful and although we required only the routine service we were confident that if exceptional circumstances arose they would be dealt with professionally.
This was a fabulous holiday in an area that was totally unknown to us. The landscape was stunning, the walks varied and the location ideal for visits to the cities of Avila, Salamanca, Segovia , Madrid and Toledo - all on empty, excellently- maintained roads. The hotel was exceptional with amazing food and service. We would thoroughly recommend this holiday for all the experiences it offers but would suggest booking a minimum of 10 days to ensure you able to fit everything in!!
have spoken to joanne prior to your e mail but conform we thought the holiday was excellent in every respect. bikes were brilliant hotels and food better than expected. the area was fascinating and very unspoilt and great cycling routes.We were dismayed to hear of Ali accident just after our our meeting and hope she recovers quickly and fully because she was really great and helpful and knowledgeable and sensible. One set of directions per cyclist would have been better and advance warning of city taxes in two of the hotels might be wise. Otherwise a really great holiday.
Wonderful cycling holiday with varied days and experiences. The cycling could be easy or more challenging according to the options. The scenery and architecture was amazing, but very few tourists (except Venice)
Lovely accomodation with hosts who went out of their way to make you feel like family friends. One of the best guides (Jenny) we have ever had on walking holidays.
Enjoyable expierence
This was one of the best holidays we have had - hotel, walks, guide etc were more than excellent. Food at the Finca was worthy of accolades! A beautiful part of Spain to explore. Overall a holiday of a lifetime!
Hotel was fabulous. We had not realised it would be so hot, or the landscape so barren at the time of year we had chosen so I would advise potential travellers to do a bot more research than we did before booking!
Something different every day. From coast to mountains - enjoyable and occasionally challenging walks that gave us a glimpse of all the fabulous views Madeira has to offer. And at the end of the day - hotels with a warm welcome and touch of luxury.
Would you please update this website to remove the spelling errors - it's very annoying! (Note use of too instead of to and during is incorrectly spelled)
The Dordogne is a great area for walking with fantastic views and places to visit such as Chateau and cave/rock attractions. Mostly small hamlets along the route and limited facilities for refreshments so a picnic was essential. The walks were very strenuous in places with steep climbs and descents along stony paths. It was the toughest series of walks that we had undertaken (we live in Norfolk but have walked up Snowdon and other hills!) but we did it. Food at hotels in Beynac and Tamnies in particular was substantial and excellent but the walking helped burn off the calories. We flew from Norwich to Toulouse via Amsterdam and it was nice to be home within 40 mins of touching down in Norwich. Headwater helped us find a route to the Dordogne which didn't involve a long trip to and from London and didn't break the bank either.
I have completed your feedback form but you have got one of the hotels listed incorrect. We did not stay at Hotel Rheinfels as they did not have any available rooms. We stayed at Hotel Hoeri am Bodensee and my comments are obviously about that hotel. Apparently every year on that weekend there is a conference in Stein am Rhein which takes over all hotel rooms so this should be noted for future reference. My bike was stolen from outside Hotel Halm. The lock up arrangements for the bikes at that hotel were not adequate and these need to be improved. However the staff who helped me were brilliant and it was all sorted out very quickly.
A really good holiday. Some of the walks were slightly more dangerous than we imagined and the Porto Bay Serra Golf would benefit from a lift as we had to carry our cases up a narrow winding staircase with no help. As we had upgraded the room you should perhaps warn clients this may happen.
The holiday itinerary was well-planned and took us through a delightful and unfamiliar part of northern Italy. The cycling was leisurely but varied, with opportunities to visit a range of very interesting and attractive places and sights. Sarah's advice and suggestions were excellent, and she dealt promptly with a problem with one of the bikes. Accommodation was very good: we particularly enjoyed our stays at Belvedere Resort ai Colle and at Agriturismo l'Albara (where dining alongside the family made for a great atmosphere). Everyone we met was friendly and helpful, the weather was excellent at this time of year, and the local wine a revelation (unfortunately we were only able to bring back 2 bottles from Gabriella at Agriturismo Il Feudo)!
We normally travel with our own bikes and a map, so this holiday was a wonderful luxury. Given the number of small back roads, I think we would have struggled to find such a good route on our own. The hotels were all very comfortable, friendly and welcoming and the countryside was beautiful. We went in September and the temperature was ideal both for cycling and for relaxing on the beach. On the evidence of this holiday we are keen to return and see some more of Croatia.
We had a lovely, lovely holiday. The bikes were so good we wanted to run away with them, the food was universally very good and the hotels were pretty good at providing for our vegetarian diets. The breakfast buffets were wonderful - I'm converted to Bircher muesli now. It was easy cycling with excellent route description in a very beautiful part of the world. Who would believe you can have a cycling holiday in Switzerland, Austria, Germany with no hills!
The comments on food above refer to breakfast only. Restaurant comments:
Villa d'Amelia: First meal a little disappointing regarding service and food. Second much better in both respects. Just about worth a Michelin star.
Il Castello: A little formal but excellent food. Worth a Michelin star.
Le Torri: Really friendly, interesting well cooked food, a nice contrast to Il Castello. Two excellent evenings. Pity the owners are moving to La Morra.
Osteria dei Catari: Nice people. Starters good but the 4 of us had 3 different main courses and all were poor.
Osteria La Salita: Friendly service and an excellent dinner, better cooked and more interesting than dei Catari.
We (and others) felt that the 1st day of walking was merely pleasant - not up to the billing - but from our arrival at Casa Pavesi the holiday took off and justified the comment we had had that it was the jewel in your crown. It was, however, marred somewhat by the poor wording of the script walking guide, which caused all 4 couples to go wrong (independently of each other) at least once. Fortunately the map enabled recovery of the route.
Excellent in every way and the food was amazing!
Very good. We have always enjoyed our Headwater holidays.
The owners of the hotel really went the extra mile to makes us welcome. Their service was excellent and the quality of the food was superb, dealing with one of our party with a wheat intolerance with ease.
We have just enjoyed our second wonderful holiday at the Milano Real. The walks here are very varied, with scenery that ranges from green and leafy woods and meadows to impressive wild and barren terrain. The hotel is very friendly and welcoming and the food is superb, from the imaginative and unusual breakfasts, to the a la carte 3-course picnics to the tempting and varied evening menu, eaten while watching amazing sunsets. We strongly recommend this holiday!
This was one of our all time favourite holidays owing to the stunning scenery & the very high standard of accommodation offered. The walking schedule was relatively relaxed but the amount of step climbing might be daunting to some, though it would be easy to slow the pace if necessary and to take full advantage of the alternate 'rest days'. It was well worth the time and expense in adding a couple of extra days during which we explored Pompeii and Herculaneum and took a trip up to the summit of Vesuvius. The local bus & train services (although a little basic & crowded) were easy to use and efficient. Our dietary restrictions were catered for very competently and without fuss.
We thought that this was an excellent walking holiday. The variety of the walks meant that we could always choose one which suited us plus could travel to the next valley for better weather. The hotel was extremely comfortable and Peter and Agnes were great hosts with lots of good advice.The big surprise was the quality of the food which was definitely 5 star with good flavours and presentation
Park Hotel staff and service outstanding. The walking guide notes were a good way to get the feel of the available routes in an all too brief week..they were accurate and very detailed. The Locanda staff were a delight, as well..so cheery and helpful. The Ferrovia area is a bit of a nightmare people crush, but, amazingly, down our little alley, all was very peaceful. The small Trattoria next to the hotel was a nice place too..staffed by pleasant and hospitable couple.
Exhilarating walks in magnificent mountainous landscape with dramatic views; hotel a 'home from home' in authentic village Spain looked after by genuinely kind and courteous staff; vegetarian food was outstanding here with a careful choice offered for each evening (a first on the continent!). Local driver was punctual, good driver and always cheerful. Local people were a really significant part of making this holiday so enjoyable. There was sufficient of historical and architectural interest locally, from neolithic caves to nineteenth century railway history, to interest us without needing to go elsewhere.
Overall it was a fantastic holiday - one of our best ever. We loved the Camino itself and our holiday was enhanced by the 6 others in our group.
Our stay in O'Cebriero was horrid, as the community was celebrating its local saints day and the hotel/pub was in the centre of the long festivities, including lots of pulpo (octopus) being prepared, boiled and eaten and an amplified band striking up at midnight. Understandably on such a big occasion it took quite a while before we could access our rooms, and it was not possible to get our cases through the crowds for a time either. Unfortunately the refuge at the quiet end of the village was fully booked otherwise we would have stayed there instead. Headwater should warn clients arriving on that day what to expect.
The outgoing travel was poor as we waited 5hours in Venice for out train as our rep did not have the time to meet us earlier.
We were all very tired having been up since 3 a.m and not arriving at our destination until 5.30p.m. On our return we were offered a coach to take us directly to the airport for an extra cost of 10 euros each forfeiting our return train tickets. Why could this not have been done on the outward journey ad we could have spent a pleasant afternoon around the pool instead of waiting on a station. We used the main Station in Venice not the one of your choice as this one had left luggage facilities and restaurants.
An excellent holiday cycling 285 KM from Passau to Vienna along flat safe routes. The Tulln hotel was a bit basic and the train journey to Stein was a pain but probably necessary. We followed the reps advice and went into Vienna using the island route which avoided the train route suggested. Overall the holiday ticked all the boxes as is usually the case with Headwater. Thanks, we will be back next September with our friends for another adventure!
This was the best Headwater Holiday so far . Almost the entire route was on flat dedicated cycle paths or through quiet country lanes with little or no other traffic. Each day's cycling was easy and on average only about 25 miles. ( my wife and I are OAPs and we managed each day with no problem). The real bonus with this holiday is reaching Vienna at the end of the journey. I would recommend an extra night in Vienna before returning home..
A delightful area with a large range of walks.
Negatives first: Somewhat expensive for the type of holiday which will cause us to carefully evaluate 'rival' companies for next year. The countryside was too similar and the beaches poor unlike the Alsace tour we went on previously which was pleasantly varied with overall better hotels. The trulli experience was not to be recommended, no working air conditioning, light bulbs missing etc... On pointing this out told the air conditioning had been switched off as weather getting cooler ! In fact it could be switched on but did not work. Our friend next door discovered the air conditioning in his house had no plug. The plumber was to be told about the problem and we had a fan so clearly problem was longer standing.
Positives: the hotels were all good and staff helpful in most, the organisation of the tour by Southern Visions was excellent and the Salamina was to be particularly recommended. Weather perfect.
Overall we were happy with holiday but will be more careful over selecting the area we go to next year to ensure variety/interest. That is not the fault of Headwater!
We were unprepared for the heat or the severity of the hills
The holiday overall exceeded our expectations. The Hotel Castell d'Emporda in particular is in a stunning location with exceptional service and quality. The food at the Hotel Rosa was excellent. The walking instructions were exemplary and Alan and Linda could not have been more helpful.
This was the best cycling holiday we have been on with Headwater. Excellent cycling, if tough in places, great hotels and beautiful scenery. The water was crystal clear and it is well worth cycling beyond Pula to some excellent secluded beaches. The 4am start at Gatwick was the only downpoint of the holiday - please Headwater put on some more sensible flight times in future.
Great adventure, beautiful country new to us, superb mix of historic hilltop towns, world-class Roman heritage, lovely coast with tempting swimming coves, Italian food with a Viennese twist, red-earth olive groves and vineyards. Be prepared for some VERY rough tracks, thrills and spills, or get off and walk for extended sections. HOT, long days cycling but all very much worth it on arrival at characterful destinations and comfortable lodgings.
There should be more information on the routes available early in the process. We had a 23 km walk, which was fine for us but it was not clear that there were any walks of this length and it could cause problems for some guests.
The right blend of activatity and relaxation in stunning scenery and beautiful locations.
This was an excellent, well designed, well organised holiday with very good back-up from Greenways Travel.
Excellent holiday! The office staff were very helpful and patient and helped us choose the right holiday. We greatly enjoyed the walks, they were varied and interesting, with lots to see on the way. All the hotels were lovely and welcoming with great Italian food. On our days off we did a bit of 'culture'
we visited Padua and Monselice. At the end of our holiday we tagged on a few days in Venice, as it was virtually on the way back anyway and that was great as well. We just would like to add our sincere thanks to Sarah our rep. She gave us lots of interesting information about the region, and seemed to know all the walks in great detail because she gave us very good advice about finding our way. It gave us a good start to our holiday!
We are looking forward to our next holiday with Headwater.
An excellent holiday. All the travel arrangements involving air travel and car hire were excellent. The Hotel El Milano Real was excellent and the food superb. Teresa was an excellent host. Scenery excellent. The waymarks on some of the walks need updating and an indication of the distances between waymarks would be helpful. Also distances on the route from Madrid to Hoyos del Espino would be helpful.
The Sierra de Gredos region of Spain is an outstandingly beautiful area of mountains, valleys and rural villages. It's an easy 2-hour drive from Madrid and the hotel El Milano Real in the village of Hoya del Espino can barely be faulted. In particular, the range and quality of the food on offer is of the highest order. Also, the views from the hotel of the Gredos range are breathtaking. The walking is varied from fairly demanding, to reach the higher areas with magnificent views, to idyllically rural along lovely river valleys.
The major walks were excellent, views were superb and the route notes very well put together. The heat and lack of shade was the main problem, especially in the afternoon when the long 'downs' and many steps made for hard work. Your choice of bases for hotels was excellent as at all places there were plenty of opportunities to see the local sites using local transport which was very cheap. Our visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum from Sorrento were made even better by the fact that it comes free for over 65 EU citizens making for cheap days out when you consider that the return rail fair was at it's most expensive just over 8 Euros for the 2 of us! Extending our stay in Sorrento at the end gave us the opportunity to chill out at the excellent Hotel Favorita ( the icing on the cake in terms of facilities, service and comfort) and fit in the trips we wanted without being rushed at other times. Well done for putting together such an excellent package.
Headwater were friendly, efficient and the holiday was well organised throughout with comprehensive directions. Rest days offered the opportunity to put the bikes on the train for part of the tours, or just cycle part of the routes and the hotels were well placed for this and other sightseeing. All in all, a very good holiday was had by all!
We enjoyed our holiday in Piedmonte a great deal. Accommodation and food etc were excellent. Backup was good too. However, we felt that the cycling difficulty rating as stated (moderate/leisurely) was a little on the optimistic side Having cycled the 'Secrets of San Gemiagno' route last year (moderate), we thought 'Gastronomic Barolo' was significantly more difficult, despite selecting the 'easier' options when there was a choice of route.
Future travellers heading for this holiday via Nice (Easyjet) should note that you will have a 5 hour wait in Nice following the 6 a.m.departure from Gatwick The Castle Hill to the east of the city is pleasant place to spend a few peaceful hours, but had we known that we could have dumped our cases at the station this would have improved the experience.
The holiday was a wonderful experience with really beautiful views to reward us as we tackled the walks. Instructions and timings were excellent. The hotel was lovely too.
Thanks Headwater.
Lovely holiday but too hot in last week of August for walking. we aimed to be finished by late lunchtime to avoid the heat of the day.Which was not the aim.
Would avoid the Nice transit as it is too long a wait in Nice for a train and the transit up country is tedious.
1. Be prepared for one disappointing hotel amongst the other gems
2. If cycling, some training beforehand will enhance your holiday
The Dordogne is a beautiful area for cycling, but be aware this is a hilly route. The benefit is that the cycling works off all the wonderful food you will be presented with at the hotels.
The hotels, with the exception of Le Quercy are first class,but the food is excellent at all.
All the arrangements, transfers and pick-ups worked well with the drivers being friendly, helpful and always on time. All the hotels were of a very high standard with large rooms and excellent bathrooms. We had no contact with the representative over there but did not need any help anyway.
All the walk instructions were very detailed and accurate and the only times we made errors was because we were talking and not concentrating on the instructions!
A fantastic holiday with excellent organisation, well-chosen hotels and superb walking route notes. Nothing ever goes wrong on a Headwater Holiday. Can't wait to see next year's brochure.
As a holiday it represented poor value for money with poor communication skills on behalf of the hosts ad the area had little variety. The food was fair at best and nothing like we had expected or experienced on previous headwater holidays. Overall not good value.
After having many successful holidays without problem with Headwater Booking we were surprised to have difficulties getting: the rail return details confirmed; the invoice correct; the correct Reginal booklet sent through (3 tries); and the return transfer was still incorrectly notified to the local representative. Having said that your agents, Greenways' organisation was excellent leading to a successful holiday.
We used Headwater last year for the Alsace walking holiday. We were so impressed we booked for the Barolo Gastronomic walking holiday. We were not disappointed. All aspects of the holiday were well planned and we felt very well supported by Headwater's local representatives. Have already recommended Headwater to friends and we will definitely use them again.
We challenged ourselves- walking every day even in August in Italy... Mostly, the hotels were a great reward for our efforts. We think we would do it again.. Maybe try the cycling.
Enjoyable walking in beautiful scenery combined with very comfortable hotels.
the cycle routes took us through beautiful countryside that we would never experienced without Headwaters' guides
Just what we wanted!
The holiday offers a good choice of walks for all levels and we weren't disappointed with any of them. The first two walks we undertook started from the hotel. A number of the walks start a bus ride away and we soon got into the swing of catching the bus and the drivers were always very helpful and patient.
The hotel was really lovely and exceptionally friendly. We travelled by train and the hotel is very near to the train station.
The views were truly excellent.
All in all, a delightful holiday in the Dolomites.
This holiday was excellent. Marc and Marcia were very friendly and extremely helpful.
Marcia ran through the instructions for each of the walks with us and pointed out areas where we needed to be extra careful so that we did not get lost.
Marc always arrived exactly on time to pick us up in a morning to take us to the start of the day's walk.
I have a number of food allergies and Marcia had contacted each of the restaurants where we ate our evening meals to advise them of my requirements. They were all fully aware before we arrived and the waiters were extremely helpful in ensuring that meals were suitable for me. The hotels, restaurants and food, and infact everything about this holiday was excellent and ran incredibly smoothly.
The cycling was very enjoyable with excellent cycle paths and easy to follow directions mostly. There were a couple of unclear directions towards end day at Konstanz and Steim um Rhein. Weather was very good and amenities for tennis and swimming great. No major problems with the bikes although back up was not that good according to other members of the party who had punctures etc.
Really good fun and quite an adventure. Worked very well for my two children of 9 and 11 who loved the cycling and swimming.
Suitable for the lethargic or energetic, this holiday has it all
Another superb Headwater holiday - everything perfect as always. We added three nights at the Weisses Kreuz Hotel in Bregenz which was also excellent.
Fantastic week - can't think of anything we could/would change to improve it. Hotel was excellent and staff very friendly & accomodating (e.g. agreeing to change day for walk that required hotel transportation). Food incredible (and lots of it). Scenery spectacular and walking routes very well planned, with good variety of options (and potential to extend) depending on weather and legs (although we had generally good weather)! Transfer to/from airport very efficient. We've already recommended this holiday to friends and family! Only problem is whether another holiday will live up to this one.....
A fantastic holiday. Great cycling routes and all the accommodation was of a high standard, beautiful scenery and fabulous food!
We had a fantastic holiday! The food was fabulous and the hotels were perfect. Villa Beccaris is particularly stunning. It is a beautiful part of Italy which is very lush - even in August. The reason for this is that it sometimes rains, so take some waterproofs for you and your valuables. We had 2 rainy days - the showers were short but heavy. The panniers supplied seemed watertight but some extra protection did not go amiss.
Grading a cycling holiday is difficult as it is subjective and depends and on what you are used to. We are in our mid-fifties, reasonably fit and do most of our cycling in Scotland or occasionally Yorkshire so are used to hills. We can happily cycle 50 - 60 miles/day. All of the towns in this region are on the tops of hills but you are often given the option of shorter/easier routes longer/more challenging ones. We always took the 'challenging' option as they are usually very scenic and didn't find them too difficult. However, so if you have not cycled for a while you will enjoy it more if you try to improve your fitness before you go. The bikes are good, with lots of gears and the distance between the hotels is not excessive so you can take your time and enjoy the scenery which is stunning. It is not really leisurely, however, and a novice might find it tough going at times.
The bikes also come with comfy gel saddles but we can recommend wearing proper cycle shorts. The extra padding helps and the seams in normal shorts can cause uncomfortable friction. The water bottles supplied by Headwater only contain 750 ml and there is no way of securing them to the bike so you have to keep them in the panniers.Bottles cages are not supplied for safety reasons but we took Camelback rucksacks which are very useful. They hold 1500 ml and the tubing means water is always readily available to drink on the move rather than having to stop half way up a hill. There are lots of public drinking fountains to top up so you don't need to worry about buying water in shops.
If you are thinking about an August holiday, be aware that this is peak holiday time in Italy so some shops and restaurants will be closed. As a result, we ate at the same restaurant on 2 consecutive nights but that was no hardship.
The combination of activity (kayaking, cycling), and moving somewhere new without the problem of carrying heavy baggage, yet also having time to explore local towns and villages was perfect for us. Wish there were more kayaking options in southern france that you offered.
An excellent holiday with the usual high standards of food, accommodation and planning.
This was our fifth holiday with Headwater and our best to date. We are always happy with the holidays booked with Headwater and the support provided by your staff. The Dolomites is a superb location for a walking holiday and we wondered why we had never considered this holiday before - we will definitely be visiting again. We liked the fact that all of the walks were easily accessed by the local buses and cable cars or gondolas. The Bellevue Hotel provided a very high standard of accommodation and the food was fantastic. A good selection every day, beautifully prepared and presented. One of the friends we travelled with requires a gluten free diet, Headwater had advised the hotel in advance, and the hotel went out of its way to provide delicious gluten free rolls and adapted the menu accordingly so our friend felt she was well looked after. The hotel staff were always welcoming and helpful. A holiday that we will be considering re-booking as there are so many trails we still want to explore.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Headwater holiday in the Dolomites. The walking directions were excellent (maps were redundant) and the walks themselves inspiring. Mid-August is probably not the best time to go - the weather was glorious, but really difficult to escape the crowds of people. We only had ourselves to blame! The staff at the Bellevue hotel were delightful (full marks to Rita and Andrea in the dining room - and to Andreas for his overall supervision) - but beware if you're in a room facing the railway tracks.....the early morning announcements of train arrivals / departures wore a bit thin by the end of the week.
Reassured by a member of Headwater staff who had just been there that the Alpen Soleil in Kandersteg was 'a quiet hotel', we were very disappointed to discover that the hotel is right on a main road at the front and that at the back is a railway line carrying cargo freight through the night. In the hot weather, with windows open, it was hard to sleep for the noise of traffic and trains, all the more intrusive because occasional.
A virtually hill-free ride through pleasant countryside neighbouring the River Danube, punctuated by stays in excellent hotels in historic towns and cities.
No shortage of shops, castles, palaces, museums, and last but not least - coffee and cake shops. The challenge is to not gain weight!
The walking was tougher than I expected because of the above average temperatures (often around 95 F). The area is very picturesque and the route is well planned to give a feeling of doing the round of all the major Barolo producing villages, with good views from each of the hill towns. I was glad, however, that the last day's walk was a complete change from walking through vineyards. The standard of accommodation and food was excellent throughout the week, and represented superb value for money. I would have welcomed air conditioning in Hotel Le Torri rather than a cooling fan, but at other times of year it would have been fine. The cooking in all the restaurants was very good, particularly in Il Castelli at Grinzane Cavour and at Villa D'Amelia where we gladly paid the supplement for their superb full tasting menu on our final evening. I would have welcomed a change of restaurant on the second evening in Monforte D'Alba, not because there was anything wrong with the food but because the menu (the same each evening) was rather limited - especially the secundi. The local people were all very welcoming, and it is a trip that I would happily do again, but preferably in the autumn.
We thoroughly enjoyed our walking holiday in the Dordogne. Accommodation and food were for the most part excellent. Walking notes were detailed and accurate. Our rep. was helpful and very informative.
Croatia surpassed expectations. We would have happily have stayed longer in all the places we visited. There is so much to see and do as well as the cycling.The first 2 hotels especially were just a bit different and in all 3 resorts there was an abundance of restaurants to suit all tastes. The Croatian people were warm and welcoming and we would definitely go back. Be warned that August is perhaps a bit too hot for the cycles with the hills !
The Sierra De Gredos is a fantastic destination in July/August and the Hotel El Milano Real in Hoyos Del Espino is a perfect place to base the holiday. The weather on the north side was perfect for walking, blue skies all week - high 20's near the hotel and low 20's in the mountains. The food and service in the hotel was excellent and everyone was very friendly. This was our first Headwater holiday and I hope that the other destinations can live up to this one.
Really lovely holiday. We loved Il feudo especially, but variety in the hotels was a positive feature. Would avoid temperatures in high 30s next time by going earlier. Sarah was helpful and knowledgeable. Ideal for family with children, including chance to visit Venice and Vicenza.
Probably more challenging that you might expect, but in a very positive way, and well worth the effort. The views and experiences are unbeatable. Not sure if we could do a car-reliant holiday again!
A marvellous combination of exercise, high class food, excellent accomodation in an unspoilt part of the world.
The holiday was described as soft and leisurely however, it was much tougher than that description. There were more steep climbs and a lot of gravel tracks which was difficult to cycle on. Each day did not get within the 3-4 hours detailed in your description of leisurely . Other than the cycle rides, the hotels, travel arrangements and representative were excellent.
Wonderful holiday excellent accomodation and walking. Some walks quite challenging but managable. One of the best food in any hotel I have stayed in. Good quality wine at reasonable prices.
We particularly like Headwater holidays as they take you to unexplored regions of countries which are unspoilt by tourism and overcrowding. We extended our holiday and stayed in Segovia for a few days which we loved and we had the opportunity to go to Salamanca for a day.
The accommodation was excellent, it was great having meals already arranged so no need to go in search after a long walk. Walking was as described in the brochure and route notes very good with a couple of minor hiccups. Our rep Claire was 1st class and made some helpful suggestions which added to the enjoyment of the holiday. All in all we had a great holiday and would definitely recommend it.
The holiday was everything we had hoped it would be. The notes provided on how to get to our destination, general useful information and the self guided daily walks themselves were very well put together and most helpful. The variety in the scenery of the walking itinerary each day enhanced our enjoyment of the trip as did the hotels which were individual, characterful and were perfect after a long day walking. Our Rep was knowledgeable and helpful and was available at the end of a mobile when additional assistance was needed in following the walking notes. The experience completely lived up to its claims and our expectations.
Fabulously organised and a really different experience for us. We loved the independence, the superb scenery and the wonderful sense of adventure. Freewheeling down hills for 10 days was something neither of us had done since our teens. A brilliant holiday! Thank you so much!
Wonderful scenery, cycling and wholly relaxing. We really enjoyed the whole experience.
Our holiday with Headwater was a real pleasure , everyone we dealt with , from the girls in the office to our rep Sarah were very professional , friendly and helpful , taking all the worry out of the planning . Okay , so we feel that we have maybe paid a bit more than we would have if we had done all the organizing ourselves , but hey , it was worth it !! Thank you.
Wellorganised, comfortable hotel, easily followed walking notes, beautiful area, challenging treks
We enjoyed our holiday. However, we were a little disappointed by the lack of entertainment in the evening at both the hotel and location.in general.
In terms of value for money we felt the holiday content was expensive when compared to other holidays we have been on. And I do appreciate that we were in Switzerland!
Excellent communication prior to departure - during the stay - and arriving home!! A great service which gives clients confidence that nothing has been left forgotten !!
We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip along the Danube.
As has been the case with our many previous Headwater cycling holidays we have greatly enjoyed ourselves and appreciated
the consistently high quality of accommodation and locations.Perhaps even more so this year(esp. with no evening meals provided ) we are however very much aware that we are paying slightly more than we should be. and obviously this is likely to affect future decision -making.
The local rep provided the MOST EXCELLENT route notes we have ever experienced. The routes allowed us a great taste of both inland and coastal scenery. There are some built up areas on this holiday and we had no difficulty getting through. He also led us most interesting routes through the little towns so we felt we had seen a great deal. He had obviously ridden the rides himself recently as there was no confusion at all over road work issues etc which we have found before.The routes for the 'rest 'days were fantastic although more challenging than the other days! But well worth the effort. He also provided us with the best maintained bikes we have ever experienced - so thank you enormously for that. 2 of the 3 hotels were just wonderful- quite a treat-and of a luxurious nature.
Sarah was fantastic- all credit to her. Funny, kind, thoughtful and a wealth of knowledge!
I am a Headwater Holidays fan! This is about the 16th cycling holiday I have been on with your company and it is my second trip to Catalunya. Last time, about 5 years age, I took the cycling hol in Catalunya and the guide was Robin! say no more he was useless. Alan is a real gem. Look after him. As I am getting older now and so are my two cycling friends we look for the flat cycling routes and each time you bring out a new one we seem to book it. So do keep adding new routes. I am sorry that you no longer go to Majorca. Many years ago we did the cycling around the centre of the island and was going to book the one centre hotel this year but you have removed it. I guess it was not popular. I think its so important to keep the standard of the hotels and food at a high level. Its such a big part of the holiday for us. After a day cycling the destination is always exciting and good accommodation is a must. I am a single person and mostly travel with my married friends so always have to pay a single supplement which does increase the cost rather.( This trip I went with my daughter and we shared a room so no supplement, a real bonus) If I get a double room for the cost this is fine but on occasions I am in the attic in a single room; not so good. Keep up the good standard and as long as I am able to cycle I will be booking!
The holiday was exactly as described. The route note were absolutely perfect, we did not go wrong on the wrong route once
Kandersteg was an exellent place for a walking holiday with a good variety of walks but age was against us (we are 80plus) in some instances, we made full use of the cable cars however.
Switzerland is breathtakingly beautiful and we loved it, but everything was very expensive, so we were glad of half board and the picnics provided which helped to keep the cost down.
Outstanding cuisine, wines and service in all places. a very quiet region with friendly locals. Beautiful landscapes and a great way to eat lots and then burn the calories off in the walk. one of the very best holidays I have ever had.
The holiday was enjoyable, the Castell d'Emporda was fantastic, and had the holiday been 30% cheaper we would have thought it good value for money. I've been on many cycling holidays (this was the first with my wife and son) and it's the first where there has not been support throughout the day. I know the reps were available by phone, but it would clearly have taken an hour or more to get help from them if a problem had arisen and at this price, that's not good enough. Next time I would simply book the hotels for myself, hire bikes and then organise a taxi to take the bags from place to place - you did not provide sufficient additional value to justify the cost. Cycling routes are also easy to find - with so many GPS users uploading data to the web I would have little problem in organising routes for myself. This was a premium price but what we got was a bike (in good condition to be fair), and a map, and then left alone for a week. My wife had a bad insect bike which became very inflamed and sore and required anti-biotics (it has still not fully subsided a week later) - we had to sort this out for ourselves in Barcelona - our guides expressed polite interest but offered no real suggestions about local medical help. This compares poorly with my experience on cycling holidays in France and the US where anyone with even a slight medical issue was promptly driven to the nearest clinic or pharmacy, helped with the language and sorted out very quickly.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback Mr Moorhead, we were pleased to read that your holiday was enjoyable.
However, we are sorry to see that some aspects did not appear to meet with your expectations. The type of holiday that you had booked is classed as a self-guided cycling holiday. Therefore, we do not provide support vehicles. This type of holiday is geared towards the more independent customers who like to travel at their own pace, starting and finishing at various times throughout the day. Therefore, it would not be practical to have a support vehicle on the route. We do however provide a 24/7 rep service which is available if needed in case of emergency or should you have any questions or queries along the way as well as a brief at the start and de brief at the end of the holiday.
We were sorry to read that Mrs Moorhead was bitten and required medical treatment, as you comment our reps was aware of the bite, but not necessarily the severity. Had they been made aware of this they would have offered assistance as required.
Despite these issues I am glad that you had an enjoyable holiday.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa
Friendly Dordogne, repa and hoteliers alike. Helpful at all times. Good food if a little rich and large at times. Canoeing was excellent and good safety equipment and instructions. River is variable so guide lines only approximate. Very hot in July but trees provide shade as does starting out earlier than 10.00 a.m. On the four day canoeing( out of 8 days ) important on days 1 and 2 to wear a helmet. A hazard on each of those days and helmet was useful to one person ! Lovely hotel in Sarlat on first and last day with warm pool. Market exceptional in Sarlat. Trip out by air left us in Toulouse for over 3 houirs with luggage and heat of day waiting for train to Souillac. Very hard day travelling. Advise breaking it up or take euro star and train.
beautiful part of the world best seen on a cycling tour like Headwater's
Did everything that it said in the brochure
The Headwater attention to detail was brilliant but would want them to change the second hotel. We did meet a family who had previously enjoyed a Headwater canoeing holiday so we all sang your praises together and may look at that another year. Thank you for giving us a holiday that made us feel special.
I really enjoyed the holiday. The local rep was excellent as were his directions. He'd obviously put a lot of work into them. The walks were very enjoyable and varied. The Castle Emporda which was the highlight. The hotel in Begur was OK but the location in the town centre was great and the restaurant of higher quality.
A wonderful region for walking at almost any level. Every area we walked was beautiful and we did a mixture of moderate (with a little bit of challenging) and leisurely.
Hotel was excellent, very friendly and helpful and good food.
A great venue except for the overcrowding on the buses.
All travel arrangements on the flights and the transfer to and from the hotel went well. The food and accommodation at Park Hotel Belleview in Dobbiaco were very good and the staff were very helpful. We got on well with other Headwater clients through the week we stayed there. The weather in mid-June was warm with little rain. Due to a recent knee problem my wife and I were unable to walk on as many routes we would have liked to but the Tre Cime and Lago de Braies walks that we did manage to complete were stunning. The 7 day travel pass was a real bonus and one day we travelled to Villnoss by train and bus to take pictures of the view of the Odler mountain range from St Magdelena. We plan to return another year.
Our first cycling holiday and generally it was a really good experience with an interesting variety of hotels. Beware of eating half board as in some hotels we felt we were treated like 2nd class citizens.
good experience well supported both by headoffice and at the resort. hotels were well chosen for quality of room and food. walking varied and interesting and routes accurate. let down by one hotel on one night which we will take up with the customer service team.
It was well organised, trouble free, and thoroughly enjoyable with the added comfort of an excellent superb locally based english-speaking rep (Sarah) who was only a phone call away in case of any issue, big or small, and who provided excellent route notes and a fountain of local knowledge about the area we were cycling in.
the holiday was just what we needed and was 'up there' with the best package holidays we have done!
A beautiful, breathtaking experience.
Passau to Vienna cycling was an easy cycle ride ,staying at superb hotels amid beautiful towns and country-side .
A very good holiday, despite rather variable weather. Fortunately the excellent bus connections from near the hotel made getting to Salzburg and Bad Ischl very easy on the really wet days. The general cool temperatures were probably not a bad thing when it came to cycling and walking. The hotel proved a splendidly welcoming environment each evening.
We were very disappointed that our walking itinerary was missing from the package sent to us, and we received it only at The end of our second day. We were also expecting to be welcomed by a headwater rep upon our arrival at Luna Convento Hotel, instead we had to call the help line to figure out what to do. Our rep Liberata, told us very bluntly that due to costs cut our briefing could only take place over the phone, with the line being cut every 3 minutes from her end. As a result ot this delay, we missed the visit to Ravello (supposed to be among the must see of the Amalfi coast) and nearly got lost on our first walk. In The hotel in Sorrento I had to sleep on a sofa dressed as bed for two nights, as we were given a double room instead of a twin. As a result I ended up with a bad back for the rest of the week! I would expect a bit more for the price I have paid!!!!
Overall we enjoyed the holiday very much despite weather that was less than kind, especially for the time of year. The upside of going in June was that we had the river almost entirely to ourselves, and the faster-than-usual current made for some good entertainment and less strenuous paddling. We would certainly recommend it to people who - like us - have never canoed before. A couple of problems before we left: we were incorrectly invoiced (500 was added for flights we weren't taking) and both our surnames were misspelt. Once we got there Keith did an excellent job, including sorting out rooms with a bath to soothe our aching bodies at each hotel. He also lent me his own waterproof bag for the week, and picked us up early as requested on the final day - he couldn't have been more helpful. As far as the hotels were concerned, the weak link is St Sozy (although it's worth going there just for Bernard, who is a hoot). I suppose you have limited options around there, but it's quite a walk from the river and it's a pain that it doesn't open till 1730. Also to be told that we are only allowed one croissant each for breakfast is not really acceptable. On the other hand Bernard sorted us out an excellent taxi driver who took us by various scenic routes to Rocamadour on our rest day. One general comment we would make - especially in view of the cost of the holiday - is that Headwater might consider putting its guests in slightly better rooms - we seemed often to be in the cheapest - and preferably ones with a bath. Overall, though, an excellent holiday, though we'd be grateful if another time you could sort out the weather...
Awesome scenery, excellent hotel, wonderful wild flowers and butterflies.Mixed weather.
A beautiful area of the Dolomites with spectacular scenery and added historical interest. An excellent choice of varied walks to suit all abilities. A very good hotel base, well situated.
Dolomites outstanding area
This is a really excellent choice for any guests wanting a truly gastronomic experience amongst wonderful countryside. We enjoyed the walking very much, although at first we wondered whether it might be challenging enough with alternate rest days. However, Headwater provided good suggestions on how to spend the available time and we were pleased that we had the time to explore more widely. Our days were all the more enjoyable for being able to look forward to some of the best cuisine which Italy has to offer anywhere. Headwater's has done well to enable guests to experience a range of Piedmont's restaurant cooking, from the world class to the more rustic, but all served to an extremely high standard.
We were impressed too with the attentive support given by our local reps, Marc and Marsha, for whom nothing was too much trouble.
As we self drove to Italy, we stayed in two Headwater arranged hotels en route, Hotel Normandie in Auxerre, and Hotel Alpina in Les Gets, both of which represented very good value for money.
Great way of exploring the countryside in an environmentally friendly way
Two excellent hotels, Villetta Phasiana and Villa Tuttorotto, the second with a harbour view that was beyond fantastic. The cycling was energetic at times with a couple of busy roads and the occasional error in the 'talk-round' leading to some extended routes and some interesting conversations with locals to get us back on track - but overall was fine. Good bikes by the way.
All good. Particular thanks and compliments to Mark and Marsha who are lovely people and excellent reps.Also admired their efforts to speak Italian and to integrate with local people.
1) Particularly as viewed from the steamers, and from the clusters of old houses on the edge of the lake & esp. at some of the steamer landing places, the Bodensee was very beautiful; there were also a number of delightful and very old towns. BUT there has been very extensive recent building development (particularly, but not exclusively, on the southern side of the lake. So quite a lot of the bicycling was rather dull and suburban - inferior, we thought, to the Veneto Headwater holiday we took some years ago. Probably the best bit was the Rhine delta marshes on day 2 (where we also had the good fortune to see two storks gently grazing)
2) The bicycling stages were rather long. But, as the brochure said, it was easy to reduce distances by putting the bicycles on trains or steamers. Also almost all the cycle paths were well surfaced, marked, etc.
3) The conveyance of luggage between the hotels was VERY efficient
4) My wife had some difficulties with the Donau Touristik bicycles. These went, and stopped, well. BUT their - to us, unfamiliar - concentration of weight around the back wheel meant that, when suddenly checked, they could easily tip over to the left, & she fell off twice.
That said, the handing out & reception back of the bicycles in Bregenz was EXTREMELY well done. And Donau Touristik has an impressive network of hotels that would, if necessary, mend/exchange punctured or other bicycles - in Stein-am-Rhein they simply took off my punctured front wheel & substituted one from one of their own bicycles
5) a) The hotels were all of a high standard. But we personally felt the 4-course evening meals rather too much & too rich, & enjoyed the ability to secure our own simpler ones in Konstanz. (More generally, I think we preferred the 'agro-turismo' arrangements of our earlier Veneto Headwater cycling holiday.) The breakfasts were mostly very good.
b) The hotel in Stein-am-Rhein was splendidly sited, looking straight out onto the river. That I have marked the 'welcome' only as 'fair' is solely due to the fact that we arrived on its Wednesday day off, when it remains closed until 4 pm. In the event we simply went and had an iced coffee in the town's lovely market place. They also arranged for us to have our evening meal that day outside another hotel so situated in the market place, which took good care of us
6) We were, broadly, very lucky with the weather - & relished the ability usually to have our evening meal out of doors (though there were a couple of memorable storms
7) I don't know that better times could have been arranged (slightly better train ones were possible, but only by changing trains rather than travelling straight through to/from Bregenz). But we definitely had too long at the surprisingly unprepossessing Zurich airport/station
8) My guess is that, given our ages, we shall not take another Headwater holiday. But this does not indicate dissatisfaction
Very enjoyable, although the walking was quite challenging due to length, terrain and lingering snow. We often adapted / cut short from the recommended routes, but this was feasible and equally enjoyable. Fantastic scenery.
Felt could have walked further each day, especially in order to reach Santiago more comfortably to experience the pilgrim's service (we walked the final 21kms in 4 hours in order to do this) plus that last part is the least interesting part of the walk. Appreciated the care taken to make the first 3 days so interesting - very glad that started at Leon and not at Sarria - and very glad that stayed way out of Sarria as it's a rather depressing town! Found the trek down to the resort at Portomarin a pain - felt had arrived, at the river, then found had another good up and down km to do to reach the entrance. The manager/owner offered to drive us the next morning, which we all appreciated. All the taxi and other drivers were excellent, on time, friendly and efficient. Would especially like to mention Blanca, the guide in Leon; such a lovely and enthusiastic person with immense knowledge - we were expecting to be bored, but were totally immersed and hope to go back. We all agreed that it would be useful to have a list of taxi and other drivers' phone numbers as we often arrived 2 or 3 hours before pick up time. O'Coto was a pleasant hotel, it was just a pity that was sandwiched between 2 busy roads with a car dump nearby. It was also a bit damp, tho the owners put the heating on for us (we know they are new owners so maybe will be making improvements for next year), and was difficult to dry our washing - which we all did as were staying 2 nights there. I am being very pernickety here, as overall we enjoyed the holiday immensely and have enthusiastically recommended it to our friends.
Thought the Lake Constance area was beautiful. The dedicated cycling paths made the cycling a pleasure and the mix of cycling and rest days really suited us.
Although I have indicated that we would book a holiday with you again I would have strong reservations as to whether the holidays that you provide are really catering for our interests. Before booking the holiday I raised the query as to whether or not it was suitable for us given that we walk to see wildlife and landscape rather than just to walk. Unfortunately the worry that the holiday was a walking holiday with little or no emphasis on wildlife came to fruition. At the start of the holiday in Dobbiaco we found it virtually impossible to find out information on where to go to get the best chance of seeing wildlife or to get information needed to identify the flowers that we were seeing. The hotel did not know nor did the tourist information centre. Half way through the holiday we managed to get to the nature centre at the Grand Hotel who were very helpful but by that time the opportunity to visit the areas suggested had largely passed. We also found the large numbers of walkers on the routes suggested to be offputting for us. We are used to walking in areas where you often do not see footprints let alone people so we were amazed to see so many people on all the routes that we followed. Perhaps it would be possible to include routes that are quieter for those that want to escape the crowds.
Having said all that the holiday was well organised the hotels were excellent and if all you want is a walking holiday then I doubt that the service that you provide can be beaten. I am just not sure that it is for us.
We had a very enjoyable but quite energetic holiday in a comfortable hotel in the Dolomites. The early season flowers and scenery were spectacular.
Excellent location although on occasion the cycling was more challenging than expected and we spent a lot of the cycling on busy roads rather than cycle paths.
A very enjoyable holiday staying in excellent hotels.
The route guidence was too detailed and involved too many off road tracks. It would have been better if the route had stuck to metaled roads even at the expence of more traffic and greater mileage. Having to stop every few yards to read the notes was tedious and spoilt pleasure of the ride.
We thoroughly enjoyed the walking but preferred the days when the accommodation was actually on the Camino. The inconvenience and waste of time waiting for taxis in unpicturesque places at the end of a day's walking was irritating. Similarly starting a day with a taxi ride to get back to the Camino from remote accommodation was unsatisfactory.
We found the combination of cycling till 2 or 3 and then swimming in and relaxing by the pool ideal ! The food and welcome at the Villa Ganzerla were excellent.
Menorca is ideal for walking with a diverse landscape and the whole island being relatively low- lying. The landscape is interesting, the coastal paths are really lovely and you are never more than 3 hours from a watering-hole! People are friendly. Driving on the island is very easy. Headwaters walking itinery was well-planned and descriptions excellent, even going so far as the tell you which cafe's will order a taxi for you. Coastal walking is particularly lovely as you have a light breeze coming in from the sea and plenty of opportunities for a cooling dip or paddle. Inland, there are castles and ancient monuments to explore. Hotel Morvedra Nou is a perfect base, being quiet and luxurious, an ideal spot to relax after a day (or a morning) walking
SShhsh! Don't tell anyone about Puglia ! After many years of travel in Italy , We have a new favorite region ! Wonderful food and wine,peaceful rural and coastal lanes, and each town is more beautiful than the last ! A real treat of a holiday - and few tourists ! Let's keep it like that !!!
Very enjoyable holiday, very good cycle routes, lovely scenery and some very pretty villages. Plenty of opportunities to use the train or boats to shorten cycle distances if necessary or preferred.
An excellently organised walking holiday with a selection of very interesting walks. First rate hotel with superb food - makes a huge difference to be 'family owned' and upon arrival we were given an upgraded room as the hotel was not full. A very nice way to start! Kandersteg is quite beautiful and the people courteous and friendly. It helped that we had superb weather for 5 out of 7 days and the mountains and meadows were looking their best. All in all a most successful holiday. Thank you Headwater.
Not your fault but one of the landowners appears to have gated off one of the walks. When I get a spare moment, I'll write to you about it.
Overall a superb holiday.
The holiday was excellent. We were fortunate with the weather and the walks were good. It is a simple task to calculate the costs of the basics in the holiday particully hotel prices. We are therefore paying a significant premium for the convenience and support of having a local guide & his imput into the walk instructions.. What you charge is of course up to you and many will no doubt be happy to pay this premium for the reassurance it provides but we would not regard it as value for money
We had a lovely time marred only by the fact that 3 of the 4 hotels provided a double bed when we as 2 female friends sharing a room needed our booked twin beds!
The itinerary was well structured and well organised. Pick up and transfers were punctual and efficient. Hotels were excellent - great locations, wonderful views, comfortable and with a high level of service. The upgrade to the Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento - due to the Favorita being overbooked - was very much appreciated. We were also grateful that a transfer to Sorrento port was organised for us on the last morning.
We stayed at the Royal Prisco in Positano (not the hotel on the questionnaire) and I cannot change the hotel name - but all comments on the Royal Prisco are 'good'.
Neither did we stay at the Favourita in Sorrento - biut we did stay at the Excelsior Vittoria which was excellent in all respects.
Dinner at the hotel Morvedra Nou was generally not good. Fish was the best option. However the staff were delightful and made up for the cooking somewhat. Breakfast was good but if we should go again we would probably prefer to go B&B and take our chances with the A La Carte menu. We did not try A La Carte this time as we felt the standard of the half board dinner was poor and didn't bode well for the A La Carte. However some other guests tried it and said it was reasonable. It would be a bit of a trek to go elsewhere for dinner so some improvement is needed. In spite of this we would happily go again.
Cycling very easy! Level or downhill on tarmac.
Hotel in Tulln is not 4 star! Although it was OK and had superb position, compared to the ratings of the other hotels on the trip it should be nearer to a 2 star.
I spent a very pleasant week exploring Gozo on foot, and undertook all six of the supplied walk routes. The route descriptions were at times excellent, at times difficult to grasp. Informal discussion with another 'headwater' traveller staying at the same time as me revelead they had similar problems, so I don't think it was purely me! I did not find the map supplied particularly useful, and actually ended up buying a cheap basic map from the local representative in Gozo whilst I was there. Maps are individual, and I realise what did not suit me may suit others. The weather was very hot. The sea breeze helped, but I agree with Headwater that this is about the latest in the summer you could undertake these walks - particularly towards the middle of the day.
The hotel has super staff and a relaxed feel to it, is in a stunning situation and has a nice layout with individual bungalows. There are some features that are not the standard which I would expect from a five star hotel. One of these I brought up with the hotel at the time, and others mentioned in the feedback at the end of my stay (a holiday is, after all, meant to be relaxing and not a series of complaints). The room was spacious but the bathroom was very dated (painted murals on the tiles suggest it had not been refitted since 1991) and there was a large crack in the sink in the room. The small spa on site had a changing room and showers. In these there was a lot of green and black mould on the tiles of the shower area. I mentioned this to the hotel spa staff at the time and the next day it was better but not gone. This disappointed me from a five star hotel. The package had half board included, something I would not normally choose. On several nights, particularly over the weekend when we arrived, service was very slow and meals arrived looking like they had sat around for a long time. The waiting staff were, on the whole, excellent, but the food was disappointing. I also found the four courses included too much every day, and would have preferred to have some days without dinner at the hotel so I was free to explore local restaurants. I was asked to specify dietary requirements (no fish in my case) with Headwater but the hotel seemed unaware. On days when the antipasti were fish, I always had to say I did not eat fish. Sometimes I was offered an alternative, sometimes not. Hotel guests are advised local water is safe but unpalatable, however the still bottled water I therefore ordered with dinner each night was charged for, and at over 3 euros a bottle I thought this was a bit much. Do they expect those on half board to just not drink anything with dinner?
Finally, transfers were very efficient. Paradoxically, on the way out I had a large minibus all to myself, yet on the way back I was squashed in the back seat of a normal car with two other guests I did not really know (slightly embarassing as there was not much room) as a normal taxi was taking 4 of us to the airport.
Overall I had a great time and would definitely visit Gozo again, but was a little disappointed with the details described above, given then star rating of the hotel and cost of the package.
This is our third Headwater holiday, and each one gets better. The Piedmont is a beautiful area, the hotels and restaurants are first class, and the staff friendly and efficient. It is a very hilly area, hence the wonderful views (and also the long steep climbs on the bikes). The cycling directions were good overall, but a bit confusing in parts. Our reps were extremely friendly and helpful, and as I sprained my ankle on the 3rd day they had to move me on with the baggage! Nothing was too much trouble for them. I have already recommended this holiday to our friends!
No-one should expect to lose weight on this cycling holiday - the food and wine is superb!
we had a wonderful week's walking holiday in Andalucia. Our hotel finca el cerrillo was a small friendly hotel with each of the rooms with individual character and charm. The gardens were beautiful with many little seating areas both in sun and shade. Lovely pool to soothe the aching muscles after day hikes.Wonderful dinners at the hotel and local restaurants.Walks set off not too early in the morning and our very experienced guide Jenny new the walks inside out and told us local history, the names of flora and fauna and never faded in her enthusiasm.She looked after us individually in the group and tailored the walk and stops for info chats to suite everyone. The weeks holiday lived up to out expectations and more! Richard and Yvonne Clements
An excellent route - distances well judged for the terrain (easy) and, because the tracks are so well signed, the route notes are almost unnecessary. Very well presented and maintained bikes. Hotels are obviously selected for location and in some cases there is little choice. All were clean and reasonably comfortable and, where evening meals were included, they were excellent - and some were outstanding. The only thing that Headwater couldn't do anything about was the weather - we cycled just a couple of days before the dreadful flooding that swamped the entire route.
A great introduction to this little known area of Italy. The itinerary meant that we could easily combine walking with sight-seeing.
The holiday was a chance to explore a region in depth and to do walks into deep countryside, which we could never have done without your detailed route notes. Lovely scenery, flowers, butterflies and birds. Some of the walks seemed quite long! - but worth the effort.
We really enjoyed this holiday, the thing that made it was the friendliness of the people in the hotel! They would do anything for you! the food is lovely and they did a great job of catering for a vegetarian. it was very cosy but we did feel that previous holidays have been better value for money where we had more facilities! The rep is wonderful and the scenery is very pretty! We had some lovely weather and great cycles!
Good walking across the island with some wonderful scenery. Need to pay very close attentin to the route notes as there are no waymarkings. Found the notes for the walk to Fungus Rock and th Azure window difficult to follow and ended up having to make a detour. No problem with the other walks although notes could be clearer. Very good local bus service for getting to the walks. Excellent for seeing wildlife including insects, lizards and non venomous snakes.
Good variety of walking and interest on the transfer days. Traveled in late May which seemingly is low season in Sicily consequently some of the restaurants on Marettimo were closed leaving a very limited choice, however the accommodation has a good kitchenette giving the option to self cater for 1 or 2 nights. Marettimo was very windy the days we were there making the coastal path to the Castello challenging, you certainly need a head for heights in windy conditions.
A little-known corner of Italy with some of the most captivating scenery, best food and wine and least touristy small cities the country has to offer. The holiday is definitely a grade 2 when it comes to the cycling as every village is perched on top of a hill but the food and wine are more than compensation for the effort of getting there. May seem expensive at first sight but the standard of accommodation and food are second to none. We've been on many Headwater holidays and this was one of the best.
Every thing went smoothly, pity about the weather!
Whilst we have had the most brilliant holiday as it was an old school reunion, considering the time in advance it was booked it seemed that the cost did not really reflect our expectation. We paid well over 1000 for a four night trip that did not seem very well tailored to our needs mostly in terms of transfer arrangements. We felt that for a group our size there could have been better transfer arrangements. The walking was very well organised and well marked and our guide whilst he clearly was not used to such a large group of opinionated women (!) he ensured that our needs were met.
It is some years since we have used Headwater, having previously travelled with them to over 30 itineraries since the company was first formed. It was reassuring to find that standard were fully up to the excellent levels we have always experienced.
This was our eighth Headwater holiday over 20 years and they have all been very enjoyable. Yet again, Headwater and their agents were very efficient throughout. We were particularly impressed by the Masseria Salamina which exceeded our expectations and was a perfect place to finish our holiday.
My sister and I were looking for a walking holiday which neither of us had done before.
This was one of the best holidays I have ever had. The superb organisation from start to finish resulted in an almost totally stress free time.
The walks were very thoughtfully planned , varied and a total delight. The scenery and views were spectacular. The area is unspoilt and full of history. The hotels and food were a real pleasure.
The local knowledge meant that every aspect of the holiday was chosen carefully to maximise enjoyment.
You just couldn't do this yourself.
Grilled rep on way back about which holiday to do next.
I would highly recommend this trip
Marie Hand
We were most impressed with the welcome and hospitality at all the hotels, as well as the great service offered by Sarah, our rep. However, we were surprised at the challenging terrain of the walking, especially on the last day (Teolo to Il Feudo) and our overall enjoyment was spoiled by having to cope with shinning up rocks, then traversing knee-deep mud, then a slide down a rock strewn path. It was not the enjoyable countryside walking with views we had envisaged.
Holiday was exactly as described, accommodation, food, service all very good. Headwater staff were excellent when required.
We had a wonderful holiday. We last traveled with Headwater in 1994 and 1997, and there is no doubt that the standards of the hotels, route notes, and bikes have improved immensely. Alan was a hugely experienced rep who provided route notes of a superb standard. 2 out of the 3 hotels were truly excellent, and while the other was one of the weirder I've ever stayed in, it was perfectly serviceable, and the fact that it was B&B only was a good decision.
Wonderful opportunity to see some of the lovely Veneto plain, whilst getting exercise, and building up appetite for the evening meals. We have used Headwater twice now and would not consider using another cycling tour company as the variable start dates, knowledgeable and helpful reps, and welcoming hosts make the entire experience enjoyable.
A very relaxing holiday in superb locations with varied walks & interesting local historical interest. Away from the usual tourist spots. Manageable walking for those not used to walking great distances & very helpful & knowledgeable local rep.
As other reviewers have noticed, the Finca el Cerillo is a gem. Gordon and Sue are great hosts; the location is stunning; and nothing is too much trouble for the hosts or the staff. The hotel is superb and the mix of local restaurants and eating in gave us an excellent mix of really enjoyable food. The grounds of the hotel are lovely and the views from the various patios are exceptional. The walking guides (Jenny & Rose) were also very good with a relaxed manner and a store of local knowledge. They responded well to the varying walking levels and needs of the group. This was unquestionably one of the best Headwater holidays that we have had.
Owners, staff and guides at Hotel Finca el Cerrillo go the extra mile in all ways to ensure guests have a wonderful experience. The hotel is remote, but taxis are used to get Headwater guests to restaurants & to/from walks. Personally we recommend the 1-Boot option weeks, as this is hilly country and weather can be warm. Even the hotel is built on a hillside with many little oases of calm corners. Wonderful scenery & views; fantastic meals; great guides; and such great hosts.
Menora is a beatiful island and as it had rained the week before our arrival (beginning May) the wild flowers were fantastic. If you're a birdwatcher there is also a lot to see (and hear) - spent a great half hour one evening after dinner watching a Barn Owl coming and going between the trees and the hotel grounds. Morvedra Nou Hotel is a delightful, converted farmhouse, very peaceful location. Victoria and all her team made us feel really welcome and couldn't have been more helpful. The daily dinner menu was a great way to sample Menorcan cuisine.
A few minor details aside, everything worked like clockwork and we had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday in a beautiful location which offers an unusual walking experience through the unique levada system. We were pleasantly surprised by the second hotel (Serra Golf), which was much better than previous comments had led us to expect. It has joined a hotel group and had a refurb last year, so it has a smart boutique feel. All the facilities were clean and fresh, including a new swimming pool and lawned sunbathing area. The dining room was lovely, the breakfasts excellent, and the dinners very tasty. The picnic was substandard though, someone needs to follow up on that! Also, the reception desk is not manned the whole time and the welcome you get can be a bit brusque, depending who comes when you ring the bell.
Loved Western Sicily, looking extra beautiful covered in spring flowers. And how well we ate!
Independent walking with the confident backup of Crilu's expertise. Seeing those parts of a place not normally on the tourist routes and enjoying beautiful scenery and interesting locations away from the masses.
An 'independent' Headwater Holiday can be adjusted to suit individual capacity, especially as one grows older! We wanted to go to this particular area but no longer operate at two boot level. So we used the notes, Antonio's advice and good public transport services to visit Cordoba and Granada, to tweak the holiday, enjoy the Subbetica National Park fully as well as two historic cities.
A wonderful opportunity to get to know this corner of Sicily. We would never have found these nature reserves ourselves. The wild flowers were a spectacle, and the local cuisine excellent.
We greatly enjoyed Gozo and our stay at Ta Cenc. The hotel staff were extremely good and the hotel very comfortable. The bedrooms, with en suite bath, very quiet and secluded. The breakfasts were very good, the dinners not so good. Would give dinner B ; adequate but not imaginative. The wine was extremely expensive. Perhaps if we had had the 'a la carte' dishes the food would have been better, but that would have added considerably to the cost of the holiday.
The local buses are good, mostly punctual but occasionally a bus does not turn up. There is always another one. Buses may be very crowded in the high season. Worth getting the weekly season ticket. Check bus numbers as some of these have changed since Headwater notes published.
A fantastic holiday. Alans notes made the self guiding really easy. There was a lovely mix of different types of walks i.e. woodland, coastal, villages. Alan did his very best to plan the walks away from any main roads en route so we had a lovely, safe views and vistas. The Castella D'Emporada was one of the nicest hotels that we have stayed in, in the world. The food in both hotels was excellent. The bags arrived before us, as if by magic at each hotel. This is a beautiful area.
Puglia tourist people very welcoming and can be very helpful but be careful of gross overcharging.
Look at your bills and dispute perceived unfairness on the spot.
The Sierra de Gredos holiday was very enjoyable. The hotel's normal clientele are weekend visitors from Madrid; a bit like the Lake District for the Midlands. The food (breakfast, packed lunches and dinner) was excellent, though quite different from British food.
The walking was very good, but we were glad we had come in April as there is very little shade.
This was a most beautiful part of Spain and completely unexpected. As we were the first guests of the season our hotels and destinations were not at all crowded. People had time to stop and chat. The weather for walking was perfect at this time of year.
Although this was a 'soft' holiday, we found some of the walks quite challenging either in length (Castell d'Emporda to Begur) or difficulty (Cami de Ronda between Begur and Lafranc), but we took our time and shortened walks by taking the odd taxi (phone numbers thoughtfully provided by Alan). We have had many wonderful holidays over he years, both in Europe and elsewhere, but have never been so reluctant to leave an area.
A very enjoyable holiday. we were particularly impressed by the taxi transfers and their good driving on difficult roads. Always hugely reassuring to be welcomed at the airport, and when the taxi arrives on time, indeed early! The hotels were far more luxurious than we expected, so a real treat.
This was an excellent holiday, the accomodation and hosts/guides were superb.BUT
The grading was classed as soft/leisurely which it definately was not.This is misleading.
We did the 'Vistas of Valencia' last year which was classed as moderate. This was the same level of walking.
Without doubt, Finca el Cerrillo, has to be one of the best hotels we have stayed in with Headwater. Nothing was too much trouble for Sue and Gordon. They are the perfect hosts and it was more like being part of a house party than being a paying customer.
Our guide, Jenny, was good fun as well as being excelletn at her job.
Well thought out and stress -free holiday but not cheap.
Fantastic, it was everyting I hoped it would be and more!
We had a superb week away with Headwater. There was a great balance of challenging walking with luxury at the end of the day. We will certainly be booking through you again.
We've travelled with ATG on similar holidays and the materials, guides etc you receive are far more robust - hard back bound ring folders - and far more detailed with good maps and topography profiles. The maps from Headwater were pretty poor, small scale and not very useable. The instructions come on stapled A4 pieces of paper printed double-side. By the end of a wet walk, they were in tatters even though we had them in a plastic map carrier. The whole package in fact was cheap compared with competitors' packages.
In terms of the accommodation, that was better than our recent ATG experience, higher quality, however without a car you were somewhat isolated in the villages/towns that two out of the three were located in and there was little to do. The half board was very variable; the first was a set menu poor quality and the traditional element never changed for any of the three nights, also you couldn't eat off the a la carte. The second was excellent and you could eat off the a la carte but it was complicated at billing to understand the adjustments, and the third you only got a 5-course a la carte which was excellent and if you ate a la carte had to tell the hotel by 3pm and then only got a 30% discount, meaning for the same value you would have had to spend c �120. It didn't make sense. The hotels weren't all geared for walkers either. Quinta Bela Vista in Funchal knew we were walkers and presented our picnic in a wicker basket. Just don't think Headwater briefed the hotels well. Finally the walks were ok, but the better walks weren't in the schedule. The classic High Peak walk was spectacular, not a hard walk although at c 1800m, but not even mentioned until we asked the local guide. Two to the four walks actually returned by the same route. Haing looked at the website, a guest had mentioned a number of years ago that the Levada Nova was a poor walk, mostly on a road and just walked back the same way as you go. Clearly nobody had listened and it was a waste of a day when there were far better walks in the area.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your comments. We're sorry our maps and walking instructions did not meet your expectations. We do everything we can to keep our literature as up-to-date, informative and user-friendly as possible. We do now print all route notes double-sided - responsible tourism is a strong part of our Headwater ethos and where we can save paper, we do. We choose not to provide ring-binders and such, again, in line with our environmental policies (they can also be a bit bulky to carry in luggage/rucksacks). We do however monitor all feedback, and if we feel changes are necessary, we will certainly take action. The last thing we want is for people to struggle with maps and notes during their holiday.
We are also sorry there appears to have been some confusion at the hotels with regard to your menu choices. We have been working with these hotels for a number of years and upgrading your menu should be no trouble at all. We will take this up with our local agent and ensure that the meal arrangements are clarified at each hotel.
Thank you again for contacting us.
The Sierra de Gredos has something for everyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors - from river banks to pine forests; from open heaths and alpine terrain. To have these in such a small area makes for a wonderfully varied break.
Combined with a comfortable and relaxing stay in the Hotel El Milano Real, we wondered why it took us so long to try this Headwater break!
The hotel at venabu was excellent. Top notch in all aspects.
I was however extremely disappointed that we had to leave at 9am, and duly spend 3 to 4 hours sitting in the airport waiting for the flight home.
Considering we travelled through ringebu, then past Lillehammer, within the context of a high cost holiday, not permitting us an hour or so to spend in these places seems very mean spirited.
For this reason I would hesitate to recommend headwater. I cannot fault the hotel, so would recommend people to make there own way there .
We had a wonderful trip. One or two of the walks were at the top end of our comfort zone however and we'd probably not do another two boot with Headwater. Also, given the small amount of involvement Headwater staff had once we got to our destination, I think the cut they take is quite high (ie. our accommodation provides their own packages for a significantly lower price even taking flights into account).
Headwater response:
Thank you for your comments, we are so pleased that you enjoyed your time in Andalucia, although we are sorry you feel the pricing of the holiday could be improved. On this particular holiday, the tour we offer is not the same as what the hotel offer direct to the public, therefore the prices do differ. We include tickets and transport to/from the Alhambra and we include wine with meals for example. That said, we want to keep our prices as competitive as possible as will certainly bear your comments in mind when looking at the costings for next year.
Many thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your feedback.
The Finca was exceptional, the walking fantastic and the guide (Jenny) was professional, well informed and great fun.
Madeira is an interesting and picturesque island. The walking is pleasant, but you need a head for heights. The walks are mainly along 'levadas' (narrow water channels) which often cling to the sides of steep gorges. On our holiday there was a mixture of sunshine and downpours of rain. Waterproofs are a must, and also walking poles, since the paths can often become slippy when wet. The food is excellent with an abundance of fruit and vegetables. The hotels we stayed in were very comfortable and luxurious. Funchal is a large town, with interesting architecture, but currently the whole of the seafront is being re-built, a major construction operation which is likely to take a long time. We had a very enjoyable holiday in a place we had never previously visited.
Quinta do Furao was a great hotel and the staff were particularly helpful when my husband's tooth broke on the first night (just before they supplied him with a surprise birthday cake). They went out of their way to find a local English-speaking dentist so we didn't have to pay for a taxi to Funchal. The dentist was efficient and cheap, so we were extremely happy with the service.
Do take poles for the walks and good clothing, especially if it is a rainy month like March. Also remember that in two of the hotels you may have to go outside to access the restaurant.
Our main disappointment was that the levada walks seemed to be mainly among trees, so you didn't often get a view despite being hundreds of feet up.
Although not thrown together with the other walkers one of the pleasures of the holiday was meeting other people. Some of those walks were rather long and to be able to chat to somebody new helped to pass the time.
We enjoyed getting to know Madeira, was impressed and certainly would like to visit again when the weather was more settled. Out of our four walking days two were a wash out because of torrential weather, which we have to admit we were not totally prepared for.
March was a brilliant time of year for a walking holiday in Gozo. We had almost continuous sunshine but temperatures of 15-17 degrees made for comfortable walking - any warmer and it could have been a struggle at times as there's little shelter on many of the walks. The scenery was fantastic and we really felt we got to know Gozo in the week we spent walking round it. The walks were of comfortable length and enabled us to spend time admiring the scenery, both coastal and inland. A thoroughly enjoyable, peaceful and relaxing holiday.
A superb holiday with flexibilty for as much or as little walking as we wanted.
We were forewarned from your office that the Spanish weather was unusually wet and our flight was 1 hour late due to adverse weather in the UK but Antonio waited at the hotel until after we arrived with up to date information and advice about the walks. I myself was 'indisposed' for three days so Antonio gave my husband a choice of alternative walks which avoided all the streams and rivers that had become too dangerous to cross. The packed lunches provided were excellent and the staff were very helpful and considerate and nothing was a problem to them. The taxi was prompt and very carefully driven by Maria. Altogether, considering the weather etc
the hotel and staff were excellent and
and the food was superb with choices which always included at least 1 vegetarian option for my husband.
A holiday which was thoroughly enjoyed.
and can be recommended without qualms.
Chris Douglas
A real surprise package. Gozo has everything in a small area. The people are very friendly and helpful. The bus service is excellent, and the scenery and walks are very tranquil yet quite dynamic with the sea at every turn..
Ta Cenc hotel was well positioned for all activities yet in many ways remote from the town.Whether we ate in the hotel, in the towns or at a beach bar the food and service was very good.
We needed to find somewhere to go in early March, which was a challenge! The weather was fine, apart from the last day, when it rained heavily.
The flowers were out in some areas, but not yet at their best. We enjoyed particularly the walk from Queimadas to the waterfall, and the parts in laurel forests. Some of the other walks in eucalyptus forests were rather dry and boring. We saw a few birds, but not many. Could not find a suitable bird book.
We took a taxi from Funchal up to the peaks on the Wednesday, which cost about 60 euros and stayed two hours while we walked along the summit footpath. This is definitely worth recommending if the weather is fine.
Venabu is an excellent XC ski centre with reliable snow. It has a much better quantity and range of tracks than any of the mid/southern european resorts. With gentle undulating tracks close to the hotel and hills 5 - 7 km away for the more adveturous amongst us. The guides, Robert and Wenche are vey good teachers and guides. The hotel accomodation is comfortable and the food is very good.
This is an excellent XC skiing holiday for beginners and experinced skiiers.
I loved the holiday, the hotel was exceptionally good in the warm welcome, helpfulness of hosts and all staff, good food, arrangements for transport and meals out, and the character of the hotel and beautiful location. Visit to Alhambra and Granada also brilliant. Inspite of rain excellent holiday, one to remember
Found Hotel Ta Cenc, to be really fantastic. All staff were so friendly and welcoming. Very professional. Lovely hotel set up - bar and restaurant super. Very unspoilt island. All the transfers from airport to ferry to hotel and back - a pleasure.
It was one of our most enjoyable headwater holidays. The sun shone everyday and it was perfect weather for walking. We enjoy going off season and avoiding the crowds. Ta Cenc is the best Headwater hotel we have stayed at with an excellent restaurant and service. Malta really loves Britsh tourists and everyone speaks English. A very welcoming destination.
Ta' Cenc was a fantastic hotel for location, service and food and peace and quiet in February - exactly what we wanted. Opportuntiies for walking were wonderful, although definitions of flat may vary!
This was a great holiday. We walked every day, and had time for some sightseeing as well. We very much enjoyed the comfort, food and ambience of the hotel ta Cenc.
Others taking a similar holiday in the hotel did not have access to Headwaters walking notes - until they complained and got copies.
They were more likely to use Headwaters in future, since they had not used the company before.
the hotel Ta Cinc was advertised as a 5 star hotel but did not live up to that standard in respect of accommodation and food. I recommend that you remove th 5 star from the brochure then customers will not have such high expectations of the hotel and consequently will not have to cope with the disappointment.
This was our 6th holiday with Headwater and is the only one that we would not repeat due to the hotel. We would go back to Gozo but would stay in a different hotel.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback on the Ta Cenc, we have been working with this hotel for many years and it is a real surprise that it didn't meet expectations. The hotel has undergone an extensive renovation programme over the last couple of years and the feedback we've receive is generally very good indeed. I can assure you however, that your comments have been noted, and forwarded to the Programme Manager in order to be raised with the hotel.
The last thing we ever want is for people to return home disappointed and we offer our sincerest apologies if this was the case. We will be monitoring feedback for the Ta Cenc very closely over the coming weeks, and if we feel there are any areas that require improvement, we will work with the hotel to rectify this.
I have been to Venabu numerous times and , first time visitors are given an equally warm welcome as returning guests. This relates to all the hotel staff.
Nothing is too much trouble.
Best place in the world to switch off from the hustle & bustle of London
Very nice hotel in an wonderful location. The two ski guides (Robert and Wenche) were excellent and helped to make this a wonderful holiday. I will be going back to Venabu!
Venabu was an excellent location, and the facilities and staff there were amazing.
Excellent hotel, beautiful location, stunning scenery, warm,sunny weather, friendly and hospitable islanders
Hotel Ta Cenc is very well located, in a lovely situation with views, and the most delightful staff.
New Year was a good time to visit - it was so quiet and tranquil, and we had sunshine. We wondered whether we'd like it so much with lots of people round the pools etc.
We've been on a headwater holiday once before (to Switzerland) and it was amazing - in fact it was the best holiday we'd ever had! However we were very disappointed this time. Although the scenery, accommodation and food were lovely the cycling was not enjoyable, it was punishing! Since this is the most important element of a cycling holiday it completely ruined our stay.
The difficulty rating was totally wrong. We're a couple in our 30's (not unfit) but not regular cyclists- the description suggested this would suit us fine and included descriptions of 'softly rolling hills'. This was certainly NOT our experience. The hills were steep and long and never ending.I'm aware that since we returned the difficulty rating has changed. Furthermore, the various stop-offs on the way (cafes etc) to refill water were closed due to the time of year (which we were not forewarned about) - considering the heat this made the cycling even more intolerable.
All in all very disappointing. We paid 5000 and were expecting another dream holiday. Instead we needed a week to recover once we got home.
