The Headwater Blog

My colleague Clare and I were lucky enough to spend a couple of days walking in Gstaad
last week. Travelling by rail from Geneva is a very relaxing and pretty experience, passing first alongside Lake Geneva and then winding further up through little villages into the mountains - it really makes you look forward to the days ahead and walking through this scenery.

Our hotel is the Steigenberger, positioned on a hillside between Saanen and Gstaad with great views from the private balconies along the valley. The food at the hotel is a real treat, from sumptuous buffet breakfast to tempting afternoon tea and cakes, on to wonderful evening meals in either of the hotels two restaurants. Thankfully the hotel has a great swimming pool and wellness area if the walking is not enough to burn off all the extra calories!

The walks are varied either along the valley through pretty villages or using cable cars to get some height and walk along ridges with great views to some of the highest mountains in Europe.

For more details on this holiday, the please use this link.

Post added by Charlotte Oldham, Programme Manager

We are really pleased to hear that Rob (our accounts manager) and his lovely wife Karen have given birth to a baby boy. ‘Matthew Peter Duxbury’ was born yesterday at 13.36 and weighs a perfect 7lb 9oz! We hear everybody is doing just fine, and we hope to meet little Matthew very soon!

Took me to Piedmont, which is a little known area tucked away in north-west Italy and is bordered by the Alps and the Monte Rosa.

I sampled the cycling and the walking- both graded at level 2, the routes were very well planned, capturing the best of what the area has to offer, in terms of the most stunning views and the areas you pass through.

Highlights for me were:

Visiting the Enotecas and the smaller, which offered tasting of the hugely popular wines from this region, namely the world famous Barolo, Barbaresco and the Nebbiolo as well as my personal favourite the Muscat d’asti.

Cycling trough lush green vineyards, which cover the boundless rolling hills, to reach tiny villages like Bra, Mango and Neive that are covered in bright flowers and that have never seen a buss full of tourists. Here we could enjoy a drink with the locals whilst practising our Italian!

Walking in the sunshine to our next hotel, with only the name and few details to hand, we didn’t really know what to expect, but EVERY hotel on both of these holidays was stunning. Many with swimming pools to enjoy a lazy afternoon reading our favourite book!

Sampling the many culinary delights the region has to offer, using the best of Italian and French cuisine the food here will not disappoint!

If you would like more information on this destination, then please use this link or do not hesitate to contact me directly on 01606 720042

Post added by Melanie Harrison, Website Content

My first visit to the finca was in July 04 and I enjoyed it so much that I added a 3 night stay recently to my stay on the Costa’s.

We always receive such fantastic reports about the food and the hospitality that I knew it would be a brilliant start to my annual summer holiday.
Of course, at this time of year I didn’t anticipate doing any walking, except to the pool or the lovely al fresco terrace!

Just a 50 min drive from Malaga Airport and a drive up into the hills above Nerja, gives you endless views of white, hill top villages and glimpses of the coast.

For a short break in the heat of the summer the pool is delightful and just at the right temperature. Pool towels are provided and there are sunbeds on the pool terrace.

Since my last visit, the rooms have been expanded to offer 12 now, each very different to the other, all are en-suite and baths are offered, if preferred. The individual air-conditioning is a blessing at this time of year. For any sun-seeking guests there is a Moorish style courtyard, which acts as a suntrap.

As meals are offered on alternative evenings at this time of year, it gave us the excuse to leave the Finca to sample local restaurants, a 5 minute drive away. What we did notice was the better value for money for our meals and drinks up here away from the coast!

If you are looking for lazy days around the pool, with a fantastic library to borrow a few items of reading materials, and hosts who are very obliging, then look no further than Finca el Cerrillo.

Post added by Karen Probert, Senior Sales Consultant

I started work for Headwater way way back on 3rd August 1998. I really can’t believe where the 10 years have gone !

I had come from a business travel background and had vast experience in the retail sector as well, so I was looking forward to the challenge of working for a tour operator.

Having spent years commuting into Manchester ,it was wonderful to have a job on my doorstep so I could walk and cycle into work and to work for a company selling one of my favourite pass times.

My time here has been enjoyable, challenging, and as no one day is the same, certainly not dull. I work with a great team of people, can wear my jeans to work and get to see some fab places as a bonus. Long may it continue!

Happy 10th Birthday Karen- From everyone at Headwater, the place wouldn’t be the same without you!