Portugal to many holidaymakers who aren’t in the know means the Algarve.

Not at Headwater it doesn’t. Not content with our fantastic Contrasts of the Alentejo Cycling holiday, we have been busy over the last few months carefully weaving together two of the most exciting cycling holidays to hit the UK market for years! Our two new cycling holidays -  an easy one bike level and the other a two bike level – will take you to some of the very best coast and beach cycling available in Europe.

Not only that, but each of the holidays are packed with cultural highlights, colourful beach scenes, wildlife, varied scenery and some of the best  seafood restaurants around. Look out for our brochure launch in a few months time, but in the meantime here are a few visual clues – some from each new trip – to help you guess where they might be!

Can we just emphasise – no other cycling operator in Europe offers these destinations! Amazing!

Let’s hear it for Portugal in 2011, and look out for our new brochure coming your way soon!

The lovely island of Madeira is exceptional value for the rest of this year, as both our guided and independent holidays have been reduced by £150 !

Our guided holiday here stays in the Quinta de Bela Vista Hotel that has a fabulous pool terrace giving panoramic views over the capital Funchal, where you have plenty of time to take tea at Reids Hotel and take in the intoxicating smells in the lively flower markets.

Our independent tour takes you between four different hotels on the island, and both holidays explore the enticing network of easy walking paths and famous levadas that transport water around the island. The scenery here is stunning, with high cliffs and plunging valleys remeniscent of a lost world, festooned with wild tropical foliage, flowers and scents. 

Click on these links for our guided Walks in the Floating Garden and independent Marvels of Madeira holidays. (Prices on the web have been reduced by £150)

If all of this excitement about football is becoming irritating what with the  sudden emergence of thousands of flags of the Cross of St George on cars and buildings across the UK, then there is a solution.

If you can’t stand it any longer, head for Italy and France! Both of them are out of the tournament having played hopelessly in Italy’s case, and in the case of France, behaved like spoiled schoolchildren to boot.  We may soon be able to add Spain to this list the way they are playing.

If you love the beautiful game and can’t wait to join the party, head for Germany, Portugal and  Slovenia who will all be in ultra happy flag waving moods at the moment!

Footballing wisdom:

“There’s no in between – you’re either good or bad.  We were in between.”
- Gary Lineker

Our latest walking holiday launch is a glorious Portuguese journey, taking you between three boutique hotels, and highlighting the loveliest countryside, river valleys and coastline of the Alentejo region.

Cyclists who have enjoyed the Contrasts of Portugal Cycling tour will know just what we mean when we say that in this part of the world time slows down! The laid back rural way of life is extremely seductive, and our walks let you discover the way that Portugal used to be.

Each of the three hotels are filled with charm and character, and this region is one of the best in Europe for birding and nature in general.  One of your hosts – Frank McCormick who owns Quinta do Barranco da Estrada – writes a blog on many of the species that he regularly sees in the hotel gardens. You can have a look at it here.

This holiday is great value as all meals are included, and you will come back truly refreshed and invigorated after a series of delicious dinners, generous picnics in glorious scenery, and some of the best country and coastal walking that Portugal has to offer! Click here  for more information on the trip.

Just launched this week is Headwater’s new tour of Syria. This is a  fascinating and incredibly welcoming country, where you will instantly be  entranced by the colours and sounds of the souks and ancient sites. The warmth of the Syrian people is just one of scores of wonderful experiences you’ll enjoy in this spellbinding destination.

Our tour here takes in all the highlights that have been left here by thousands of years of conquest and reconquest by Phonecians, Mongols and Ottomans, not to mention the Crusaders who left some of the most impressive and well preserved castles to explore and wonder at. Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, Apamea and Palmyra are all included in the tour where you can explore with your guide and enjoy the easy walking we have included in the itinerary.

For details on some of the lovely hotels we have selected and for an outline of the itinerary click this Syria link, or call us directly for information on our departures later in the year on 01606 720 033!

After a tremendous effort from all involved, the Headwater Sport Relief team total came to an impressive £1,129.30 !

The ‘Round Cheshire in 80 Ways’ didn’t just raise money, it also raised a few eyebrows and provided lots of laughs for the places where we stopped.

Stilts, motorbikes, canoes, roller skates, space hoppers and wheelbarrows were just a few of the ways used to travel around the county!

Here’s a selection of photos from the event: 

 A big thank you to all who contributed their time, effort and especially money to make the day such a success!

‘You have not lived until you have done something for somebody who can never repay you’.  (John Bunyan)

It is all systems go for the Sports Relief Challenge here at Headwater with the challenging task of completing a circuit of Cheshire in 80 ways, rather than the more time consuming 80 days!

Hula!

Every and any mode of transport or movement is fair game including skating, canal boating, skipping, trains, automobiles and even hula hoops,  space hoppers and wheelbarrows will feature in an action packed itinerary taking enthusiastic Headwater team members to various points around Chester and Cheshire collecting money for this excellent charitable cause!

Sport Relief coincides with the 25th birthday of Headwater as a business, started 25 years ago this March 18th, so there is that much more to celebrate!

Quotes of the day:

“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that says that the three things we crave most in life  – happiness, freedom and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else”.   Peyton Conway March, US Army Chief of Staff during WW1.

“No-one has ever become poor by giving”.   Anne Frank

A few weeks ago an intrepid group of snow mad journalists enjoyed a fantastic trip to Leutasch courtesy of Headwater, the Tyrol Tourist Board and the Olympia Region Seefeld. Snow conditions were first class, as was the enthusiasm with which the participants threw themselves into all the activities on offer!

The picture above is courtesy of Neil English who participated on the trip on behalf of the Mail On Sunday. You can read his article by clicking here!

Apart from trying out cross country skiing with expert instructor Michael Multerer, the group also took part in downhill skiing, dog sledding, and of course enjoyed the spectacular hospitality of the restaurants, bars and hostelries in Leutasch and Seefeld. After all, after all that fresh air and excercise there is a no harm in rewarding yourself for your efforts.

Snow conditions are still excellent in Europe so if you fancy a week in a gorgeous hotel with great food, fresh mountain air as crisp as the chilled champagne in the bar, and amazing winter activities then look no further than one of our acclaimed Headwater snow holidays.

Alternatively, just call us for a little guidance and inspiration as to which trip would be perfect for you on 01606 720 033.