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.
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.
Overall, a fantastic, well managed holiday. Highly recommended.
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.
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 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 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.
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
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.
The locations and walks were interesting and varied. Accommodation was good.
Loved our holiday, and the walking navigation app was really great. The hotel Taverna del Capitone was wonderful
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.
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.
This trip was really fun and well organised. Would recommend
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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. Proved to be tougher than envisaged. The final road into Certaldo was concerning at times, sharing with very large cement transporters. Hotels were truly excellent.
What was so good was the excellent service from Headwater. I would particularly like to mention Helen Hodson.
She was so professional, friendly, patient and helpful with my all various queries and requests.
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
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.
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
We loved it.
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 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.
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.
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.
Really enjoyed our trip and was well organised by Headwater with very good guide to help. All hotels good with exception of Hotel Mahara
Very satisfied with the itinerary and the smooth transfers.
All the advantages of independent travel with the logistics taken care of.
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).
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.
Well researched itinerary and well located accommodation.
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🤣
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.
Well researched cycle routes and friendly hotels
A great trip - well organised from beginning to end. Good standard of hotels and a superb app to navigate.
All in all we had a great time. We would recommend Headwater to other people.
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.
A beautiful part of Italy which is well worth exploring and enjoying.
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).
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!
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
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!
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.
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 .
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.
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.
Helen Hodson was extremely attentive, helpful and reliable.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 enjoyed the holiday very much but didn't always get on that well with the navigation app or the printed notes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
Had a really lovely holiday and would book again. Disappointed with one hotel as mentioned and pick up on arrival everything else was great.
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.
An excellent trip, beautiful hotels, fantastic cycling.
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.
Fantastic in every way , so relaxing
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.
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.
Accomadation and food very good . Hotel staff very helpful. Headwater staff very helpful organising the holiday
Walks excellent as previously. Hotel significantly disappointing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Travel and adventure made easy. A great experience end to end seeing an area of Italy at our pace and mostly alone. Hassle free
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!
The cycle route from Bolzano to riva del garda was outstanding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Walks were cleverly graded , becoming more difficult by the day so that we were able to build our fitness. Staggeringly beautiful scenery.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
The itinerary has clearly been well thought out to showcase some of the loveliest places in Tuscany, both the historic towns and routes through beautiful countryside. We had had misgivings about the bikes before the trip as we had looked them up and found that they were very heavy. However they had great gears and tyres which negotiated the hills and Strada Bianca's very well. Overall well suited to the task. Only one hotel was really disappointing, although the staff were great. Room was tiny with no air conditioning, even though we had upgraded. Food at the linked restaurant wasn't good and we paid ourselves for somewhere else on our return night there. The other three hotels were really exceptional. Highlights were the restaurant in the Certaldo hotel and Zaferano ( restaurant by Il Pescille). Great experience.
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.
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).
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.
This was a really excellent holiday with some lovely walks through quite varied landscapes, ranging from moorlands to coastal cliffs and beaches. There were also great opportunities to see wildlife, including flamingoes. The hotels were all very good and welcoming. We went in late May/early June, which was a good time of year to be there. The temperature was just right for walking and it wasn't too busy, but plenty of bars and restaurants were open.
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.
This was our first visit to Sardinia. We were provided with a good insight to the country and to the the lifestyle. The walks were varied with interesting contrasts of landscapes. Staff at all stages were helpful and operated very efficiently.
A lovely itinerary with something different every day. Good accommodation and food.
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.
Fantastic few days walking. Walks were well documented, hotels good and the day rest in between meant we could enjoy the location we walked to. May was a fabulous time of year to do this walk with the abundance of wildflowers and warm temperatures.
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.
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.
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
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 enjoyable walking holiday taken in the first half of May 2023. We were very fortunate to be there at the same time as three other couples from the UK which made our time there particularly enjoyable. The walks were interesting and well chosen though we struggled with the walk on day one because of indistinct paths due to undergrowth. The walking App (Ride with GPS) was pretty good (save Day 1). It is worth noting that many places to eat or take refreshment on the walking routes are in fact closed during this time of you, as other reviewers have also commented.
All the hotels were comfortable and reasonably well chosen. Perhaps the hotel at Santu Lussurgio deserves some caution as the fixed five course meals there are on the expensive side, as is the accompanying wine. Overall, bearing in mind that all the hotels are on a B & B basis only, this turned out to be quite an expensive walking holiday though very enjoyable all the same.
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.
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?
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Sardinia is beautiful but I don't recommend walking, especially in early May, when the island holiday season has not really started.
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.
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.
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
We had a lovely time. We went in late April. We wouldn’t recommend this particular holiday until May as Sardinia is basically closed until May 8th. Cafés and bars that would have given useful sustenance were firmly shut. Two of the better-located seaside hotels were closed and the alternative hotels involved a trek inland and no sea access which would have been nice to view sunsets, go bathing before supper. The Sat Nav guidance is great but lost voice prompts when we were diverted off the usual path by hotel switches. We only went wrong once and that was solely due to hubris on my part. We did this in trail-running shoes but stout walking boots might have been more sensible. Be prepared to clamber over boulders and navigate flood-damaged stony steep downhill paths on the mountain sections on walks 1 and 2. The bird life was magnificent with Flamingos , Stilts, Calandra Larks, Marsh Harriers and Tawny Pipits a highlight. The organisation and taxi transfers were faultless.
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.
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.
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
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.
Excellent. Superb trip, well organised.
Itinerary fine. Unfortunately weather not great do not a lot to do when cycling finished
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
All the Hotels were spotless all staff very polite and helpful Food was tasty and well presented in the hotels we dined in. The E-Bikes were to a high standard and well maintained a pleasure to ride Magnificent scenery and wonderful beaches so take swimming costumes in the panniers
Do'nt give it a second thought book it and get on your bike
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
From start to finish the whole service was first class. Highly recommended
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.
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
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.
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.
A very lovely holiday staying in beautiful cities in a variety of different types of accommodation. The walks were varied and well explained.
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!
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
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 !
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.
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
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.
Fabulous walks and incredible scenery
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.
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)
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.
If you enjoy walking and don't mind doing it in hot conditions, this holiday in Sardinia is very good. Beautiful scenery and coastline, delicious food and cold beer. Hotel staff are energetic, courteous and very helpful. Rooms are clean and comfortable.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Good. We enjoyed outselves.
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!
Circumstances forced us to choose mid-July, which predictably was a bit too hot for walking after c.11am. We nevertheless enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and the outdoor pools at three of the hotels were very welcome. The old town centres visited are also beautiful, with local museums/galleries of interest on the "non-walking" days. The restaurant of the Volterra hotel is closed on Tuesdays, necessitating a 20 minute uphill walk for dinner (food included).
The Walking notes seemed a bit "tired" and sometimes ambiguous: we lost the route on two of the walks, but (thanks to a kind local lady with a car, and Google map on our phone) these mistakes were soon rectified. The local agent Alessandro was also very helpful.
Recommended, but avoid July/August if possible.
The beautiful views of the Tuscan landscape never failed to draw a smile whether it was a daytime view across fields of sunflowers or an evening sunset over the vineyards. The wine tasting experiences were first class and we have many beautiful memories thanks to the passion of the wine makers and their families. The cycling was fun and not difficult for anyone in moderate physical condition.
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.
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.
Headwater are a great company to holiday with, Communication, holiday route and hotels met our expectations and more! This is our second holiday with Headwater and will be back again in the future.
Thank you.
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.
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
Wonderful holiday. The scenery was spectacular and every hotel was a great experience.
A great active holiday where you travel through different landscapes to arrive in interesting towns with lovely hotels.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
A wonderful selection of places to visit, staying in quality accommodation and a good balance of walking and relaxing. Comprehensive walks directions and well researched routes.
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.
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.
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.
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 lovely holiday - beautiful scenery, butterflies and birdsong. Our photographs (of which there are many) will never do it justice.
Some challenging walking as it was particularly hot, hotter than usual for early June. The last walk from San Gimignano back to Volterra was particularly challenging in the heat . We had taken plenty of water with us but the restaurant Prato d'Era suggested in the walking notes was closed, and looked as if it had been for some time, and there was nowhere else to buy water. We had JUST enough.........
THe walking notes were generally good but may need updating in places. The Volterra to Casole d'Elsa walk mentions areas of woodland clearance (Dispensa di Tatti ) but the trees and shrubs have regrown and the two barrier posts are no longer there.
Hotel Park le Fonti rooms are rather tired but food and service were excellent and the swimming pool was superb. Relais Santa Chiara 'classic' room faced a wall, but Headwater sorted this out very quickly.
Reliable and always providing interest and challenges.
This holiday had a lot going for it - wonderful scenery, nice hotels, good food, friendly, helpful people. Overall, I enjoyed it but there were, unfortunately, two negative issues. First, a lot of the cycling was on very busy main roads with lorries, buses, motorcyclists and fast cars. On days when there were strong cross winds I found the experience unnerving at times. The second was the shortness of the routes. Four of them were less than 20 miles, the other two just over 20 . Admittedly they were often hilly but hills present few problems for an ebike rider and with limited opportunities to stop this meant that I was often arriving at my destination by mid-day - on two occasions before my room was ready and in one 4 hours before the arrival of my luggage. I appreciate that logistically there are probably no alternatives to the use of the main roads and the particular routes chosen but additional options, as on other Headwater holidays would have benefitted me.
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.
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.
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
Fantastic scenery and lovely villages to visit
Can be very hot and is constantly uphill or downhill for cycling with some very steep sections and some busy roads
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.
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
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!
Excellent holiday
Overall a most enjoyable holiday. The walks are fine until the last 1-2kms steep uphill which is quite arduous in the heat. We were pleased to have a rest day in between to enjoy the local sites. Scenery was great and the tracks easy to navigate.
As vegetarians the food options were rather restricted.
The guy who collected us from Pisa was rather cavalier with road safety. The agent was very welcoming and helpful.
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.
A great itinerary, a lot of variation in level of challenge.
Walking was very good. Villa del Poeta was how all your accommodation should be for a holiday in this price bracket.
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!
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.
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.
I would recommend at least one holiday a year like this - it's different - feels good and is very satisfying. The team were very helpful and everything went smoothly.
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
The cycle paths on this trip were excellent. Only traffic was going to our hotels.
Route was very easy to follow.
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.
This holiday was in an unspoiled corner of Sardinia. At the time of our visit in May, the wild flowers were absolutely spectacular, which made the holiday for us, along with the profusion of birdsong. Most of the walking was level, on large tracks and easy to follow but at other times it was essential to have the GPS app to help with route finding. Some of the walks had little shade and could be quite uncomfortable in the heat of summer, though fine in May. All the local people were extremely friendly and welcoming and the accommodation and food were very good.
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.
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.
A lovely holiday in a quiet, unspoilt part of Italy.
Walking in Puglia is a great way to see the area, as there is time to see both the countryside and the beautiful towns.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The trip was well organised and instructions clear.
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.
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.
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.
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).
excellent itinerary with lots of variety .
excellent local support when we needed it
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.
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
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.
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
We have travelled with Headwater many times and holidays obviously vary. Frankie the rep was excellent and had good practical knowledge of e-bikes. We found the roads were rather busy and not suitable for families. We realised the choice of routes was limited. Our first night coincided with two coach loads of visitors, the food was poor and we were not happy to be asked to vacate our table immediately at the end of our meal. The places we visited were all fascinating and the bus trip to Sienna was brilliant.
Very enjoyable but two of the rides were slightly more difficult than we anticipated from a 1+ rating
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 BREAK FOR CYCLIST WHO LOVE ITALY
A very enjoyable holiday. The scenery and places on route were very interesting. The walks are a good length but it's worth remembering, particularly when the weather is hot, that apart from to Colle they all end with chunky climbs. The hotels were generally very good but we suffered some poor service at times at Terre di Casole and Relais de Rovere. Hotel Pescille - not the standard hotel Headwater use for San Gimignano - was great; a lovely location and the staff were excellent, and benefitting from a top-notch restaurant Zafferano 400 yards down the track from the hotel. We added on a day in Siena which worked really well. Special mention for Headwater's rep Frankie; a super guy, extremely helpful, flexible and informative and he clearly works very hard for the company.
A joy to walk in vineyards, olive groves and wooded areas in anunspoilt untouristified area.
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.
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.
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.
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
We really enjoyed our 8-day walking holiday in Tuscany - we have been with Headwater many times before and this trip didn't disappoint! We enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the hotels (all very welcoming), trying the Tuscan food and wine and of course the walking. We found the notes particularly good this year - no extra mileage! - which was good because it is a hilly area and the last day is a long one - but we finished it with a smile and a beer and gelato in Volterra! Lastly I'd like to say how helpful and informative our rep Frankie was (and we fell in love with his puppy Drago!)
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.
first night restaurant Kamera in puglia not friendly or good food should change this.
Well organised and efficiently run with good choice of hotels.
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.
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.
Tuscany is indeed hilly, be prepared for some pretty hard cycling. You will be rewarded with some fantastic views though and some great food along the way. Our rep Frankie was incredibly helpful and offered some great advice. All of the places we visited along the way were very friendly and our stop off at the end in Pisa was a great addition.
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
Excellent centre for exploring rural Tuscany that was off the usual tourist trail.
A great way to see beautiful countries, keep fit and enjoy good food & wine
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 great time on the ‘Chianti Classic’ walking holiday. The only glitch was when Ryanair lost our luggage, but Headwood staff and local rep came to the rescue and couldn’t have been more helpful. The walking trips were excellent, the directions provided faultless and our destinations interesting. The choice of hotels was very good and our luggage (once received) was transported effortlessly and always waiting for us at the end of each walk. Would definitely recommend.
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.
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.
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!
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 .
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
Fabulous scenery, food and wine. Some of the gradients were challenging for those less used to cycling, but the views were worth the effort.
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.
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 )
Well planned route, excellent travel rep and lovely area
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.
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.
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'!
Really enjoyable walking holiday mixed with days for other cultural activities which for us worked really well. Food and wine opportunities on the trip were fantastic. September proved to be great weather but bad time for mosquitoes so be prepared!
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.
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.
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.
Excellent relaxing holiday - accommodation was faultless.
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.
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.
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
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 really enjoyed our stay in Tuscany. The walks were all in beautiful places with the right amount of challenge for my level of fitness and stamina. I really like the balance of having a day's rest between walks, which makes it a more restful holiday. It was lovely to explore the towns and villages we stayed in. Most of the routes were strade bianche, and we also enjoyed the sections which were on the Via Francigena. We hardly saw a soul on the walks, which was nice. It's worth mentioning that there were very few cafes or places to stop en route, which wasn't a problem, but you need to be prepared. Day 1 walk - we wished we'd taken our swimming things to swim in the Elsa river on the last section - the water was fabulous. San Giminano was a fantastic place to visit, despite the volume of tourists - it was August, after all! Park Hotel Le Fonti was our favourite hotel with a gorgeous pool and restaurant on the terrace, serving delicious meals. Our Rep was very helpful indeed - much appreciated. This was a great tour, with an added day in Pisa, which we loved, and a morning in Lucca by train from Pisa, also beautiful, where we easily squeezed in a parkrun around the old city walls. A great trip which we would recommend!
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!
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.
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.
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.
Our holiday experience was everything we had hoped it would be.
great hotel,great location, wonderful holiday
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.
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.
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.
Great wine and food , great walking and no worries.
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.
The entire trip was a pleasure, Frankie was punctual efficient and friendly. All the hotels were good. The only exception were some of the staff at Relais Rovere. Details with Frankie
An excellent holiday thoroughly enjoyed.
As described in the brochure/online. Good combination of walking/sightseeing/leisure. Great locations and hotels.
Representative (Frankie) particularly helpful and provided reassurance by always being available, contactable by phone and ready to assist. We could not have asked for more.
Excellent organisation. Extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended!
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
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!!
What a great way to see part of Tuscany - electric bikes such a help up the many hills. Hotels chosen for us were great - varied but consistently good service and most of the meals were excellent. GPS app so helpful - made navigating so easy. Had a few technical hitches on two days, but Frankie our Rep was at the other end of the phone and found us promptly to sort us out. All in all a great holiday. Not a cheap holiday but worth it for the great organisation by Headwater which allowed us to really relax and focus on enjoying the experience. Would thoroughly recommend.
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.
The holiday was extremely well organised and the walking exactly what we expected. All of the hotels were of a very high standard, and food, where provided, was also of a high standard, except for Relais della Rovere, where the menu was very limited. The grading of the walks was right, and even the 22km on the final day didn't prove as daunting as I had expected! This is definitely a holiday I would recommend to others looking for a week of beautifully scenic walking in his area.
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.
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.
Fantastic scenery, some great hotels and meals.
Overall an excellent holiday, with a great balance between walking and stopovers on alternate days. A great way to see hidden Tuscany. While the daily distances did not seem very challenging, the heat made a massive difference - we tended to start well first thing in the morning but struggled as the day got hotter. The food, and wine, was excellent throughout, and each hotel had its own unique character. Our rep, Mark "Frankie" Franklin was outstanding. He gave an excellent welcome / introduction at the start of the holiday, and was always available to offer advice and support throughout the week - please pass on our thanks.
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.
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!
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.
Beautiful hill towns in Tuscany, but rather defeated by the heat!
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 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.
Clear information
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Excellent walking on spectacular coastline
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.
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.
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.
Fantastic rep who couldn't have been more helpful. Helpful office staff in the UK. Mixed bag of accommodation. Most was very good. One definitely let everything down. Same with food - some truly excellent some distinctly average. Route information very good but could have done with slightly longer routes. If you happen to have bad weather as we did for a couple of days you can end up quite stranded with very little to do - especially in Pancole. Taxis are very expensive but often no alternative form of transport. This was very nearly a truly excellent holiday. Just needs a couple of tweaks with some of the accommodation and meal options to have given it full marks.
The weather wasnt brilliant because we went in early May. However, we did enjoy the walking, which was a challenge but not too difficult.
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
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.
Very interesting walking holiday. Hotel accommodation extremely good.
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.
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!
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!
A leisurely end of season break
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.
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
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.
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.
An excellent experience in terrific countryside. The walking was good and in some cases quite exhausting but we had all day to complete the journey with a refreshing drink at the end. The hotel accommodation was very good with three of the hotels being excellent and the fourth being good. Great walking, good weather and good reps. We had an extra two nights in Coll di Vald'Elsa which enabled us to travel by bus to Sienna and Florence.
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.
Great cycling - some challenging- in a beautiful area. Fabulous reps - Paul and Phaedra who were helpful, informative and assisted in every way they could. Siena and San Gimignano were good places to explore on the rest days.
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.
Everything we had hoped for. The selection of location, hotel, routes were all spot on.
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
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.
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.
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.
GPS application for navigation is excellent. But ensure you have backup battery
Enjoyable walking holiday with suitable options provided.
Well organised and interesting range of accommodation. Interesting routes and good navigation aids.
Excellent but a bit hillier than expected.
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.
Wonderful accommodation, very helpful and friendly reps in Phaedra and Paul.
A lovely combination of stretching but not impossible walking, lovely unknown countryside, and fine food.
It was an excellent introduction to walking holidays abroad, we will be returning to Italy with Headwater next year. There was a good variety in the countryside experience during the walks. On the whole the hotels and food were good. The only negative issue was at Relais della Rovere where the restaurant was taken over by a large bus tour party of Koreans.
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.
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.
Pleasant rides, but a fair amount on relatively busy roads. Good and varied styles of hotels.
Excellent routes and good hotels, good reps
In all good holiday if you enjoy cycling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very well organised holiday, local reps were excellent, and great hotels. Good quality bikes and easy to follow route instructions (Ride GPS worked well). This is a stunning area, with beautiful views and interesting historic towns. The cycling is challenging in places as Tuscany is hilly!! However, the views, hotels and food/wine availbale compensate for the effort required.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
Avoid taking this holiday in August. We loved the holiday but it was too hot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Having a challenge, along with rest days at lovely comfortable hotels was just the ticket. A super holiday which we hope to do again in a new location.
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.
Excellent holiday, lovely hotels and good food. Cycling was quite tough but we still enjoyed the routes and the countryside was beautiful. One problem we had was when going by bus to Siena no one told us that in Italy you need to validate your ticket on the bus. As a result we ended up with a €120 fine!
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.
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.
A hugely enjoyable waking holiday in Tuscany staying at excellent hotels in beautiful hilltop town locations. Reps were excellent and the walks enjoyable.
Our holiday was a good balance of walking days and free sightseeing days, giving us the opportunity to visit Sienna and Florence as well as completing over 70km of self-guided walking. We were pleased to have the very agreeable company of 5 others who were on similar holidays. The weather was as hot as expected but the first walk ended in a thunderstorm which none of us were properly prepared for as we arrived at our hotel completely soaked. The remaining days were dry and sunny except for the last which was mainly cloudy - which we were grateful for as it was the longest and most tiring. The routes passed through very varied countryside and villages, and the stopovers were all in small towns which were very enjoyable to explore. The self-guiding notes were very detailed and easy to follow, except for a very few places where they were ambiguous or misleading but none of us got seriously lost or delayed more than a few minutes. Accommodation, hospitality and food were all of high standard.
An excellent opportunity to see areas in depth on walks with very good arrangements and comfortable accommodation.
Phaedra and Paul made us so welcome, and were very helpful (returning our key one day when we rode off with it). They gave us some very useful tips about the routes and hotels, and they set the tone for a lovely week right from the start. The bikes are easy to ride, good quality and very smooth. We were provided with water bottles and a cage each, so we could drink on the go. That helped a lot - do not underestimate the heat and the hills - those rest days are needed! We're reasonably fit, regular road cyclists and we found the hills quite challenging in the heat.
We saw some beautiful countryside in Tuscany, met some very friendly people and ate some good food. We will go back - but maybe not in June!
An excellent holiday with all the arrangements working like clockwork. The notes for walks were very well prepared. We had a most enjoyable time.
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.
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.
One of the easiest holiday operators ever used. Great responses from all staff contacted both at home and on holiday.
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.
Very well organised holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. Paul and Pheodra were very helpful and nothing was too much trouble.
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.
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.
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.
We had a fantastic trip, a great mix of cycling in spectacular surroundings and relaxation, sightseeing and indulging in the local food and wine. For people of average fitness, the cycling is challenging in parts, not because of the distances involved, but because of the hills in some sections. The lovely reps, Phaedra and Paul, were friendly, helpful, professional, available and unobtrusive. The bikes were sparkling clean/new and well equipped with water cage, phone holder and panniers. Remember to bring a helmet as these are not supplied. GPS worked well. The accommodation was varied and generally good and we really appreciated having a pool at every stop. We did not meet any other Headwater holiday makers on the trip, so it very much felt like an intimate private holiday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Our walking holiday was at the end of May, and there had been an unusual amount of wet weather before we arrived. We walked through the rain on our first day, which wasn't too bad as it wasn't cold. From then on, the weather improved considerably.
Due to the heavy rain, some parts of our route, which involved crossing rivers on stepping stones, were not safe. Paul and Phaedra did an excellent job of keeping an eye on our route and letting us know whether each section was safe or not, due to the extraordinary weather conditions. They really were looking out for us and our safety and were able to provide us with an alternative route.
The scenery was stunning and the routes very enjoyable. We were amazed at how few people we passed along the way; we felt like we had the place to ourselves! There was an abundance of poppies and other interesting wild flowers. Every day we could hear nightingales singing, and we also heard golden oriels, hoopoes and cuckoos. We were delighted to sit on a shady bank and watch a flock of bee-eaters (stunningly colourful birds) displaying for us.
On the whole, the hotels were very good with comfortable beds and welcoming staff. The Tuscan food was delicious, and most of the locals were very welcoming and friendly. We also enjoyed a day in Siena, which is quite do-able in a day, and only a short bus journey from Colle Val d'Elsa.
We appreciated the fact that, on this holiday, the distances walked were built up over the week, so that the longest and probably the toughest day was the last day, with the longest climb. We felt comfortably challenged; there is plenty of time to cover the distances, and we enjoyed taking our time and stopping to admire the views or have a closer look at the wild flowers...or pick and eat some wild cherries!
We were very well looked after by Paul and Phaedra, our reps, and we are very grateful to them for their care and attention, which definitely added to our overall enjoyment of the holiday.
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.
Beautiful hilly countryside and plenty of variety of terrain on the walks. The best Prosecco ever! We recommend an extended stay in Venice.
Headwater came through as a very ambitious counterparty. The planning and execution of our tour was professional, excellent route notes and good accommodation.
Contrast of Puglia - just as it says - contrast in accommodation, cycling inland and to the coast, food different in each area - perfect mixed holiday
Excellent holiday. Very helpful and friendly Headwater staff. Be honest with yourself with regards your fitness for long uphill rides
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Lovely springtime break with fantastic coastal scenery and wildflowers; plus lemon sorbets.
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.
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.
Wonderful way to see Tuscany. The fitter you are though, the more you will enjoy it.
A good mix of walking, sight seeing and relaxing. We went first 10 days of October and had lovely warm sunshine everyday too.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Overall an excellent holiday in a region new to us .... Headwater Reps excellent ...
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.
Good - we had a great time, the weather was good in the latter part of the week.
Impressed how Headwater central office handled our very, very last minute request to insert us in their North Italy Piedmont Walking tour.
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!
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.
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.
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'
Very enjoyable holiday with a good range of locations in good hotels with easy access to the local town. Excellent and really helpful reps added to our enjoyment of a lovely holiday.
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 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 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 .
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.
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!
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.
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.
Lovely way to see the country and get fitter
first class reps in Paul and Phaedra who made our holiday with their care and attention which we felt was beyond the call of duty,they were amazing.Great experience,with wonderful walks ,superb views and brilliant locations.Would recommend the holiday to anyone.
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.
An excellent varied holiday and a wonderful way to explore the unspoilt Tuscan countryside.
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.
With Inntravel walking holidays you do not normally have contact with an agent / or rep .
This holiday was different and to be honest we enjoyed the contact which we had we your 2 reps . We realised we had met them in a previous life.. They were absolutely professional in every way made us most welcome and we both felt they added something to the holiday for us.
I would say if you can retain them please do and if they take up another location we would even consider choosing that holiday.
Some adverse comment criticising route over the stepping stones was mentioned by the other couple walking same days as us however we where comfortable with our experience on that day and in fact all other walking was great . I am sure the following days after our holiday will have presented plenty of problems with the weather. .
Please give them the official feed back as excellent and thankyou
From Ros and Allan
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.
Stunning scenery, stunning locations - a holiday to remember! We weren't really sure what to expect with the 2+ rating for cycling - I would say on average the cycling ranged between enjoyable undulating roads & exhilarating descents which were interspersed with some really (really!) tough climbs - beware of the Strava Biancas & just enjoy the scenery on route - the pain is quickly forgotten & the achievement of arriving at each destination makes it all worthwhile! I truly memorable holiday - thank you Headwater!
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
This is the second holiday we have taken with Headwater and both have been excellent. Two years ago we did the Gastronomic Barollo cycling holiday. Both were really enjoyable. Tuscany was stunning, the hotels excellent and our reps really friendly and helpful. On balance we preferred the Barollo holiday, but only because the cycling is on less busy roads and it is slightly less touristy, but I don't think we could find fault with either holiday.
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.
very well organised
Tuscany was absolutely stunning although very hot in Aug
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and would recommend it to other travellers.
Good walking holiday in the Dolomites
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!
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
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.
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
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!
Great holiday with a good mix of activity and comfort. The walks take you through some beautiful countryside and the notes are accurate and useful. The length and difficulty of walks build up over the week so that the long final day feels reasonable. Our holiday was in July, consequently we started walking early to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. This meant that we were arriving at our hotels in the early afternoon. We found places to eat a late lunch close to the end of the walks, which meant we didn't need packed lunches and made the glass of beer in the café feel well deserved and taste fantastic. All of the hotels were good and all had different areas of merit. We found the food in Le Fonti very good despite the surly head waiter; the rooms in Terre di Casole were great with a patio just a few steps across the lawn from the pool; the Relais della Rovere is a beautiful building with great poolside service, and the Relais Santa Chiara is very well located to explore beautiful San Gimignano.
Overall an enjoyable holiday if you like walking in the countryside, relaxing in decent hotels with good food, and meandering around Tuscan hill towns and villages.
An excellent area for a walking holiday. Superb scenery with a well situated hotel. Food is first class.
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.
It was a magnificent experience again. We have used Headwater before, and were extremely satisfied with their product.
Our Reps in Italy were stunning. They couldn't do enough for us, and were so helpful. The hotel accommodation was outstanding, and the food excellent. We will certainly use Headwater again as the whole trip was brilliantly lubricated. We were more than satisfied. Thank you for everything!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 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!
A great holiday. A great combination of walking and relaxing at comfortable hotels. Lovely walks with clear instructions. Our reps were really friendly and helpful: when we got into difficulty with blistered feet (our responsibility entirely, we ignored advice given on suitable footwear!) they bailed us out and arranged for us to do a shortened version of the walk, picking us up at an agreed point.
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
We left Manchester in pouring rain to spend a week climbing Tuscan hills at 34c. The theme of the accommodation is Tuscan hill towns so every morning was an easy start but you soon realise every days ride finishes with a picturesque uphill! The hotels were always a good standard and a couple of the swimming pools were simply amazing. Eating outside in the courtyard at the 'Relais della Rovere' was particularly special. We had researched eating out in San Gimignano beforehand which proved well worthwhile and it is definitely wiser to book ahead from UK if you can.
The first day is quite a challenge so carry plenty of water. We hadn't realised that Headwater don't supply the water bottles anymore but luckily our local reps found us a couple of spares from last year. Phaedra and Paul were kind and attentive keeping in touch by text if we needed them. The bikes were reliable and comfortable to ride. The routes do get easier after the first day and it is worth carrying a small picnic most days as the cafes tend to be towards the end of the ride. There are some good sights to see on the rest days or else there are the lovely pools just to lounge by instead.
It was a great holiday and the hills made sure you felt fitter coming home.
Thanks again Headwater
The holiday provided a wonderful experience of cycling in this most scenic of Tuscan landscapes. Some of the cycling was tough in the hot weather but the excellent hotels were perfect for relaxing after the cycle rides
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!!
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.
Headwater's service takes the hassle out of a walking holiday so you can relax and enjoy at your own pace. Accommodation, while not 5 star luxury, is a reliably good standard, better than most walking holidays, and the meals are usually excellent. Local reps are knowledgable and helpful, walking notes thorough, and transfers smooth. We loved the walks in Tuscany, which are well thought out to get to the picturesque town and hotel with time to relax.
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.
The route was generally disappointing, lots of detours through small hamlets where there was nothing, very few places to stop for a coffee. May just be that the topography dictates the route but I would have hoped Chianti could have yielded more places of interest. This was our 3rd Headwater holiday and I'd place this route 3rd by some margin. The hotels were generally excellent, Le Fonti in Volterra was very professional with good views, La Renaie in Pancole was the highlight, excellent family run hotel with nice feel and really good food. Relais della Rovere was Ok but needs to employ some gardeners, the grass everywhere hadn't been cut for weeks, bushes badly trimmed etc all contributing to an unkempt appearance. The catering being separate from the hotel was unusal and contributed to the disjointed feel. This should be a fantastic hotel but needs a lot of work to get there. Pescille was really good with great views of San Gimignano.
The bikes were new so in perfect condition, should have had a bottle cage on each bike rather than 2 on one bike and none on the other. We would have brought our own water bottles if we'd known these were no longer provided, contrary to what your literature said.
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Campbell,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your post-holiday feedback. We were pleased to read you had an enjoyable holiday. We were however sorry to read there were areas of your holiday that you felt required improvement. Please be assured all of the feedback we receive, whether positive or constructive is valued and used to help improve our holidays for the future. With this in mind, we were sorry to read you felt the gardens at Relais della Rovere required maintenance. This is the first time we have received constructive feedback for this hotel. We have discussed your comments with the hotelier; we expect to see an immediate improvement. We are sorry for any disappointment this may have caused.
We were pleased to read you found the bikes in perfect condition; our Reps receive extensive training in this area and do pride themselves on providing well-serviced bikes. They do not provide water bottle cages to our low framed bikes; this is due to past customer feedback, where customers advised us they were banging their legs on the cages, our Reps will provide water bottle cages if requested. Again, due to customer feedback we discontinued providing our water bottles, customers advised they preferred to use their own. Our Reps may have a surplus if required. This information is included in our pre travel information booklets; we are sorry you were unaware and hope this did not cause you an inconvenience.
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
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 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
Great time, hills in Tuscany are not hills....So get in shape, but scenery worth the ride...amazing! We were able to meet the locals and enjoy ourselves without any pressure when and when not to ride...
Cycling around the hills of Tuscany is challenging and you need to be in good shape to take them on. Its worth it though for the views and the downhill stretches. I particularly enjoyed the four night stop allowing for visits to Florence and Siena. The highlight though for me was San Gimignano.
The walking was great but might be challenging when the summer temperatures occur. Good combination of walking and sight seeing.
A gentle introduction to the Veneto Plain based at a very welcoming agriturismo.
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!
Great combination of challenging cycling, breathtaking views, a range of different hotels with excellent food and wine
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.
Excellent Experience. Charming area. Very unspoilt - had a real italian feel.
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. .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Excellent holiday but, perhaps, not so much n the shoulder season.
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.
Good value for money. Lovely walking. Beautiful island.
The Secrets of San Gimignano holiday was fantastic. Eleanor and Luke, the reps, simply could not have been more helpful, the cycling was excellent (but hard work - Tuscany is hilly) and the hotels and food amazing.
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.
A holiday that we enjoyed so much in 2013 that we went again this year!
Walks are not too challenging and provide beautiful views of Tuscany. Be aware that generally the hardest walking is the final ascent to your destination so reserve some energy and water.
A trip to Florence or Siena is really easy from Colle Val D'Elsa by bus and the location of the hotel in San Gimignano is perfect for dipping in and out of the crowds during the day
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
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.
Easy pedalling in the sun with local cuisine and a great chance to be somewhere where English is hardly spoken!
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.
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.
thoroughly enjoyed the walking-especially when following the river. Accomodation comfortable and staff in the hotels welcoming and friendly. We had really personable and informative couriers able to supply us with local information on the areas-they went the extra mile!
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.
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,
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.
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!
Great hotels, exquisite dinners, well-described walks
Varied walking with except for the first morning no need for a lift to the start of the walk although limited opportunities to find drinks or nibbles en route.The final day was longer than we anticipated and we did flag down a passing taxi to take us up the huge hill to Volterra.The hotels varied but with good accommodation, views and the food was generally good. The best meal by far was in the agrotourismo down the road from Hotel Pescille (3 * with no restaurant) which was a real gem as the hotel was a fair walk from San Gimignano and avoided taxis at night.
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.
We enjoyed this holiday but with the following proviso in comparison with the Footsteps of St Francis Umbria which we did last year there was much more hard surface and road walking particularly on the last day.
Our first and last Hotel San Limo was without doubt the poorest hotel that we have experienced on a Headwater holiday. there was no atmosphere in the restaurant the staff both at dinner and breakfast did not give a friendly or welcoming approach. We actually decided to eat out in Volterra on the final night rather than eat at the hotel. The room we were given 403 was supposed to be a superior room it was the smallest of all the rooms we had and the only thing that could have made superior was that it had a small balcony.
Hotel Relias della Rovere whilst the food was excellent and the room good, the pool and the pool area was very poor, grass uncut and pool a little dated
The cycling routes and notes were excellent, the food was gorgeous and the scenery beguiling. Luke & Eleanor were more than welcoming and helpful. When I reported a small technical issue with one of our bikes, it was changed within an hour. The restaurant suggestions were lovely for the nights not on half board.
The opportunity to take a day in Sienna or Florence should not be missed.
A very enjoyable cycling holiday exploring the less known areas west of Venice.
I was initially somewhat trepidatious about attempting a' two and a half cycle' difficulty holiday with my younger, fitter, regular cyclist husband and so ,probably, was he. I am dog walking fit and that's about it. Some of the hills were fairly challenging but the bikes supplied have plenty of gears and the views from the top and the downhills are well worth the effort involved getting up and I was never that far behind him in the end! We went in September during the grape harvest, a lovely time of year. I'm not sure I would have coped with the cycling quite so well in July or August! The reps were very helpful but not intrusive and the hotels were all good. My husband is a map man and thought the quality of maps supplied was poor so we used the written instructions which were accurate and detailed. You don't need to be an olympic athlete to get the most out of this holiday, you have all day to complete the 40k between hotels, just take your time and enjoy those views!
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.
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
Puglia is a fabulous area of Italy. A great variety of terrain with scenic routes.
Overall an excellent holiday with good accommodation and choice of walking routes
Exercise, fresh air, excellent food and drink and, as ever with Headwater, getting to know a new area pretty well.
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.
Perfect. What far better than we could have imagined. The accommodation, food and quality of the cycles were all excellent.
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
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.
We had an amazing trip walking around Tuscany. San Gimignano was probably the highlight but everything was excellent. Walking in mid-August was very hot, but we found the if we left early the walking temperature until about 11am was just right. On our off days we visited Sienna, took a vineyard tour near San Gimignano (the excellent Cappellasantandrea is a 30 min walk away) and explored around Casole. The meals outside at the Relais della Rovere were also fantastic. Overall a great trip we would highly recommend.
Challenging, enjoyable walking in a scenic setting.Easy access to visit Sienna, Florence and the small historical towns along the way a real bonus.
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)
Very good, but next time would try a higher grade of route
Amazing food, a warm welcome and wonderful hill top towns and rolling scenery worthy of an Unesco designation.
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.
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.
the provision of laundry local laundry services would be much appreciated.
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
This was my fourth holiday with Headwaters and have enjoyed them all
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!
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.
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.
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.
It is worth it! Take up all the advice provided by your reps and live a little!
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.
Headwater take all the uncertainty out of your holiday: you know the hotels are going to be excellent in every respect, you know you are going to get picked up at the right time, you know the walks are going to be through beautiful countryside. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. We find the balance between a walking day and a rest day just perfect. This was our eighth holiday with Headwater and we are already talking about next year's.
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.
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.
Beautiful countryside and villages with fantastic unspoilt views, fabulous hotels and food. Plus being very well looked after by excellent Headwater staff.
Stunning countryside and food. Best reps we've ever had.
This is a lovely cycling holiday but quite challenging with regard to the hills especially when its 34C! An early start is recommended to avoid the hottest part of the day. The hotels are all good and food at the Della Rovere is excellent. Nice pools at all the hotels. Plenty to do on the off days. The walled town of Monteriggioni is a relatively easy cycle from the Della Rovere. Worth booking an extra night at the end of the holiday in Volterra. Beautiful town with lots of little shops, cafes and alleyways. Thanks to Luke and Eleanor who were excellent reps.
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.
A marvellous combination of: exercise and relaxation in wonderful locations, staying in top hotels with everything superbly organised.
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
This holiday delivered on great food, amazing scenery, friendly staff along the route and comfortable hotels. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience
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 .
Bikes excellent. Lunches en route excellent. Accommodation a bit mixed.
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.
This was our first Headwater Cycling Holiday and our first visit to Tuscany, we felt that we were able to get up close and personal with the beautiful countryside. We would recommend this type of activity to anyone, we had a wonderful time and we look forward to booking another trip soon.
We were surprised at how strenuous the cycling actually was! The distances were not long, and so we really expected to complete the routes much quicker than we did.Very big hills, but the bikes have good gears and we managed to cycle to the top of them all. The downs were brilliant. Roads were mainly very quiet.
The hotels were all lovely and we enjoyed having non cycling days to explore the interesting hill top towns.
Lots of great food and wine was had.
Well organised and great routes. Accommodation usually gives more of a local flavour than big anonymous chains.
Wonderful hilltop towns and beautiful, diverse scenery. Good hotels and excellent food. Luke and Eleanor were lovely reps. Nothing was too much trouble. We found we needed to shorten the walks and they helped us work out a way to do this, yet ensuring we did the best parts of each one. They ensured we had a stress free holiday and overall we had a very relaxing and memorable time. Ten days was ideal. A holiday we would recommend.
A wonderful holiday with excellent walks in beautiful countryside; staying in comfortable, well appointed hotels, which for us were marred by the fact that very few concessions were made to guests who did not eat meat, and therefore we did not eat very well throughout the week except on the evenings when we had to eat out at restaurants of our own choice (when we were very well catered for). However, one of the most attractive aspects of a Headwater holiday is to be accommodated in a comfortable hotel offering good cuisine at the end of a day's walking, and not having to go out again searching around for somewhere attractive to eat.
Luke & Eleanor the reps couldn't have been more helpful and made the holiday a special experience. Taking the extra days to allow for visits to Sienna and Florence added an extra dimension to the holiday and would thoroughly recommend doing this as an addition to visiting the hilltop towns.
The walking was varied and interesting. The stretch along the river d'Elsa on the way to Colle di Val d'Elsa was the most interesting. Some of the hotels are quite busy with tour groups. The hotels also vary markedly. Hotel Terre di Casole was easily the best, particularly for service. One minot point however was that the room we were allocated the room (204), despite plenty of empty rooms alongside it that were a bit bigger. The reception staff and the main waitress in the restaurant were fantastic and we particularly appreciated that there were plenty of special options offered to us in the restaurant that were not on the menu but were suitable for vegetarians. The poorest hotel was Relais della Rovere. Reception staff were uninterested and the restaurant (not run by the hotel) was poor for vegetarians. The pool at Relais Santa Chiara was hopeless for swimming. San Gimignano was very touristic and not very pleasant. On the other hand, Volterra was very interesting and worth more time that it was allocated as a start/finish point.
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.
I was a little sniffy with the 40km every other day distance. However the hills more than make up for it. We are both very fit and did manage the hills but it was warm and quite a few are long and on the stranda bianca which are unmade up and with the wrong size of stones which makes cycling quite difficult at times. The area is lovely and the reps were delightful and extremely helpful.
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.
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.
Great holiday. Good challenging cycling days and a region with great food and wine for lunch and dinner. Headwater looked after us well again in Italy.
Don't be put off by the two and a half star rating of this holiday. We are two averagely fit 50+ couple that managed all the hills and they were well worth it for the fantastic views. Each hotel was unique and individual and the welcome you received at the end of a days cycling was lovely. The standard of food for most was good. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and have come back invigorated and amazingly pounds lighter! The reps Luke and Eleanor were very helpful and couldn't do enough for you - even texting us to see if we were alright on the only rainy day we had.
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.
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.
We really enjoyed this first cycling holiday, we loved the Tuscan countryside and the rustic food, delicious wine! We regularly enjoy our bicycles at home but are not 'cyclists'. So the 'undulating hills' and ' steady climbs' mentioned in the brochure were a lot more challenging than we expected. Having said this, we completed the route with a great sense of achievement and looked forward each day to a new adventure !
don't under-estimate how hilly/undulating Tuscany is.
A fabulous way to explore the beauty of rural Italy. The exercise during the day is balanced by delightful food and wine in the evenings. Self-guided cycling with Headwater offers independence, but with the comfort and reassurance of excellent local Reps. This was our second holiday with Headwater and is unlikely to be our last.
Great holiday with truly excellent food and accommodation! You really should take the detour to Novello Junction on day 6.
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
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!
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.
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.
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!
We went for our honeymoon and the holiday was a perfect mixture of challenging cycling with beautiful views, lovely hotels and fantastic food.
Really attractive area,great hotels.We interspersed some extra days for additional relaxation and chance to visit additional restaurants for dinner.Fonti was weakest for dinner but other 3 were all excellent. Terrific wine tasting and dining at San Gimiagno
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 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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Beautiful cycling! Great route and some excellent hotels.
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. .
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.
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 .
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.
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.
Good accommodation, clear instructions and good cycling. Met interesting people. Guides were very friendly and helpful.
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.
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.
Disappointing
Very good well balanced trip
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.
Very well organised from start to finish
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.
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!!!
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.
Wonderful scenery, good friendly hotels, tough walks but worth it! Mosquitoes, especially the new 'tiger mosquitoes' are a real problem it would seem even in September so take lots of insect repellent and a spray to do your room before bedtime. I covered my legs and sprayed my arms for walking when I realised this and that did the trick!
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.
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.
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 .
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
Beautiful area but let down by inattention to detail.
Disappointing largely for small but cumulative reasons.
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.
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.
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
Everybody was so professional, friendly and helpful from our first phone call to the office to our final goodbye to the reps. The routes were great - enough cycling to feel we'd earned our lovely hotel, pool and dinner but not too much to feel disheartened. There was plenty of time built in to sight see with excellent suggestions for rest days. We visited some great places that we'd never have found on our own as well as some more main stream destinations. A lovely combination and so well organised.
Relaxing yet active walking holiday - lovely locations and good back up if needed
Well organised and professional service - headwater deliver what they promise and the holidays are excellent. A reasonable degree of fitness is required for the cycling holidays - not suitable for beginners or irregular cyclists.
Excellent holiday. The holiday representatives are a credit to the company. We would certainly book another holiday with Headwater!
A fantastic package, great value for money in superb, friendly & family-run hotels. Great cycling routes through some challenging terrain, very good, sensibly built bikes. Reps & Headwater office staff were very helpful, couldn't do enough to make sure we were sorted.
This was one of our very best Headwater holidays. We liked the mix of walks and sight-seeing. We felt very well looked after.
difficult to fault,made by extreme helpfulness from local agent,Liberata
Excellent except for Marco Polo, slightly long transfer. The area was beautiful walking very good for all abilities.
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!
Perfect holiday. Beautiful countryside, great walks and the pools at the end of every walk were a real treat. Also there was the perfect mix of culture and countryside.
All the hotels were very good, the walks varied. Headwater holidays take the stress out of the holiday, once you have booked, all you need to do is turn up,
relax and enjoy.
We wanted to attend our son's wedding at the beginning of our holiday, in the area, and Headwater made it possible to combine the wedding, the walking and some extra nights in Pisa!
The staff at the office give you an excellent service!
Dolomites and Venice were spectacular
Our most scenic Headwater cycling holiday to date and well worth the physical effort!
A great place to tour on cycles, local people and hospitality are excellent
This holiday was a perfect mix of walking and relaxation. It was reassuring to have reps on the ground, although everything went perfectly and so we didn't need to call on them. The route notes were first rate and the accommodation excellent and in just the right locations for our rest days.
We were initially slightly worried by the directions and unknown roads etc, however the notes proved to be excellent and only got momentarily lost once during the whole holiday. Take plenty of food, water and sun cream on the rides as shops and shelter can be few and far between.
A challenging holiday but thoroughly enjoyable. The views were amazing and the rides took you through beautiful places. The use of the word undulating in the notes was over used, hill was closer! Had such a sense of achievement at the end of the holiday! Would love to do this again.
I have found Headwater holidays to be consistently excellent over the three occasions that I've used them. You find some amazing places for us to stay in and provide really useful information on local places to visit. It's lovely to get off the usual tourist tracks and really get to see the countries in more detail, experiencing far more of the areas we visit. The views were spectacular which made up for the challenging sections of the rides, and we were entertained by a golden eagle only metres away from us on the first and last cycle days.
Great Holiday. Some amazing Italian meals.
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.
We found the holiday provided a good mix of cycling and relaxation. The cycling in July was very hot and the hills quite challenging while the hotels were very comfortable and quiet. Enough choice of things to do from the hotels or simply relax by the pool.
Cycle routes were very well mapped, cycles were properly geared for the climbs and well maintained.
Transfers from the airport to the hotel were well organised and on cycling days our luggage was promptly transferred between hotels.
An excellent first holiday with Headwater. We chose a 2+ cycle standard which was tougher than we expected, however the heart had a large effect on our ability. All the hotels were beautiful my only complaint was the air conditioning could of been a lot more powerful. The scenery was just breathtaking on the rides and over all i would highly recommend this trip.
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.
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.
A very enjoyable mix of interesting walks and good hotels. Probably best-suited for adults whose idea of a good holiday is not sitting around on a beach.
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!
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.
you get to some amazing places using well marked parks and good public transport one of the best walking experiences in Europe
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.
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.
This is a great way to explore Tuscany with a good physical challenge and lots of wonderful gastronomic experiences thrown in.
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.
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.
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.
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
This holiday was one of the best we have had.Tuscany was beautiful and the chance to see it on foot made all the difference. The hotels were terrific and the food amazing.We will be back next year.
Great food and accommodation. Tough cycling but scenic. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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.
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
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.
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.
A challenging (take note) cycling tour taking you to some beautiful places in Tuscany. The bike was great and despite having to get off a few times in a few places I was mostly very happy with the km and the routes. If I could change any part of the route it would be the strada biancha on day 1 as that really is a bit tough with no views for most of it. The rest of the routes were fine and took you to beautiful scenery.
I was sorely disappointed with the hotel in Siena and would strongly recommend that Headwater change this option as it spoilt my trip a bit. The other hotels were great - my favourite was Pescile. Hotel Revere was good if the weather was ok but I can imagine this is a bit gloomy if its raining as there are limited places to sit inside.
The food was mostly good - breakfasts can be a bit 'Italian' but on the whole not too bad. The biggest let down for food was being sent to two Pizzerias two nights in a row in Certaldo. There is a huge choice of restaurants in Certaldo Alto and I would have preferred paying for my own meal and being given options.
A highlight was a tour of Montalcino (can be done from hotel Revere) and finding some amazing restaurants in San Gim (better at night to avoid the day trippers) and Siena.
For anyone wanting to know here are my restaurant highlights:
Siena - La taverna de San Giuseppe
San Gim - Cum Quibus
Certaldo Alto - Fonte Antica
Overall very happy and am missing the cycling now I am back in the UK
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!!
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.
Wonderful holiday in beautiful surroundings. Good hotels each of which had their own character. Excellent walking notes. Our local reps Audrey and Chris were a very pleasant and helpful couple and they did a sterling job in a quiet but very efficient manner, we couldn't have asked for better!
A well planned and run cycle tour through a beautiful part of Italy with good accommodation.
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 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.
Choice of venue for walking very good. Notes extremely helpful, reps very good with local information. They were also very helpful when needed to help with a blistered foot on a bank holiday.
A fun way to exercise in a beautiful location
Fabulous combination of hard exercise, exploration, good food and wine.
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.
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.
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.
It was a lovely holiday and we saw lots of things that visitors to the region wouldn't normally see. However, we feel that you need to be fit to undertake it. We are used to walking in the Peak District but still found some of the days quite challenging. We travelled in May when the weather was reasonably warm for most of the week. We feel that later in the summer when the weather was hot the walking would have been very hard in places where there wasn't shade.
Very good accommodation in interesting buildings; friendly people; interesting towns; remarkable ancient olive trees; some days are very hilly.
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..
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.
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.
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
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 !
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
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
Excellent holiday. All arrangements worked well except initial briefing - see below. Local transfers were excellent.
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.
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.
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
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.
The cycling was challenging, much more difficult than we expected from the rating. We would not have made it without the help and assistance from the reps Katy and Jim. They were excellent. There were downhill parts of the route that were dangerous for moderate cyclists. I know the area is hilly, however some of the climbing was more akin to a cycling race than a holiday.
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).
Holiday was very enjoyable. Good but not intrusive support from local representatives who gave some very useful hints and were always contactable. Hotels were very excellent with one notable exception.:
- one notable exception - Hotel Terre di Casol, see below for more details,
- the welcoming receptionist at Casolare LeTerre Ros who had no interest in helping us locate our forwarded luggage (which had arrived).
The scenery is spectacular - typical Tuscany -but beware the cycling is not for the inexperienced. The region is hilly and you do cycle on some busy roads. Good location for visits to Sienna and other famous hill top villages We very much enjoyed the holiday
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 walking was relatively easy although there was more need to carry your own picnic lunch than on other holidays as there were few opportunities to pass cafes/restaurants. Walking was scheduled for every other day so we needed to arrange things to do on days off. In addition, there was probably less 'sights' to see than on previous holidays unless by independent travel on the non-walking days. However, as usual, the arrangements were superb and everything went smoothly including the lovely warm weather in October.
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.
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 superb holiday. The scenery was spectacular and moving from hotel to hotel makes the holiday interesting and varied.
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.
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.
Beautiful countryside, tough cycling you would need to do some cycling at home prior to a 2 bike plus. We feel the hotels are much more cosmopolitan than in the past. Whilst they are of a very good standard we miss the more authentic accommodation with more local traditionally prepared food and eating together as a group.
My husband found the food at Relais della Rovere disappointing.
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.
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!
Good walking, good accommodation , food and wine. Interesting cities and towns to visit.
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.
The welcome & help we encountered from local people was phenomenal.
We really enjoyed the holiday. Katie and Jim were very good representatives. There has been a problem with an outbreak of horse flies and so they went out of their way to suggest an alternative walk that avoided walking through woods. This was really appreciated. My only issue was the last walk between Casolare Le Terre Rosse and Park Hotel Le Fonti. I found this walk to be too long especially as the last couple of miles was up hill. Luckily it was a relatively cool day, if the sun had been out I don't think I would have been able to complete the walk.
Well organised and supported walking holiday assisted by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Fine food and accommodation.
We had a wonderful holiday and will have plenty of fond memories and photo's. It was a nice mix of exercise,visiting some lovely cities and villages and relaxation.The beauty about cycling is that you get time to appreciate the views, the Tuscan countryside is absolutely amazing. Our reps were extremely pleasant and helpful which went a long way towards our holiday enjoyment. We would definitely do another cycling holiday or even a walking one, but would not want to cycle on another Strada Bianca! It was a very well organised holiday from start to finish. Thank-you Headwater
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
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 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.
Excellent holiday, very well organised. Will definitely take another holiday with headwater
A special thank you to the reps Kate and Jim Illingworth who went far over and above there duty to make our holiday outstanding
A special thank you to headwater for the 2 bottles of wine we received for our 30th wedding anniversary
Thank you all
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.
Excellent! Not a cheap holiday, but worth every penny. Good hotels, excellent food. Bikes were good. Friendly helpful service from the reps who went out of their way to meet the needs of individual guests.
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
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!
I enjoyed looking through the website which was very informative. The whole holiday was very well organised; being met at the airport and being given chilled water bottles when we got in the mini bus was great. Our reps couldn't have been more helpful; they stopped at a shop on the way to our hotel so we could buy food and water for the following day's walking, they offered us equipment and leant us waterproofs. We felt very well looked after and listened too. For us this was the ultimate, stress free holiday! The walks were quite long and it was hot, but the terrain was pretty easy and we never found ourselves struggling - there was always the knowledge that there was a lovely hotel with pool and meal waiting for us at the other end. As a family we are fairly active, but not very fit - my husband plays racquetball once a week and I go for a daily 50 minute dog walk which proved to be enough to allow me to enjoy the walks. Our children all do sport at school and our eleven year old found the walking easy!
Wonderful - just what we were after
Thank you for a wonderful holiday! We enjoyed the walking, the days off by the pool, the scenery, the swimming pools, the food and the wine immensely. All five of us, including the kids, had a fantastic time.
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.
Excellent service from Kate and Jim starting with a postcard before hand saying that they were looking forward to meeting us. Excellent combination of sight seeing and cycling
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 holiday was very enjoyable, very well organised, and the reps went out of their way to be helpful.
As Headwater guests, we felt that we were being given particularly good treatment at each hotel.
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?
The holiday surpassed expectations in terms of location, food and hotels. All in all, excellent value for money!
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.
Well organised walk through beautiful countryside. Perfect opportunity to see the rural Tuscany and taste local food. Wonderful mix of walking sightseeing and relaxing.
The perfect holiday for the more active.
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
Katie and Jim put every possible effort into making our stay problem free. On the first afternoon they sat with us for an hour giving us very helpful information about the route and terrain that we would be walking, places en-route where we could get food and drink, landscape features and sights to look out for. Although we no cause to call upon their assistance during our holiday it was clear that nothing would have been too much trouble for them.
With regards to the holiday itself, the route had been carefully planned and all the hotels were in wonderful locations (Medieval Tuscan hilltop towns).
We would recommend the region and this holiday to anyone.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Tuscany is wonderful. Beautiful countryside and enchanting hilltop towns. However the cycling routes are long and steep, and hard work in the very high temperatures we experienced. It's a glorious holiday if you're fit!
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.
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.
This was our third holiday with Headwater and as always everything was great, the guides, accommodation, trip routes, bikes, excellent and memorable holiday
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 .
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
A solitary bat swinging from the arched roof of an underground Marmini Etruscan tomb. Lizards posing on sun bleached steps or rustling through the undergrowth as you cycle past. The call of frogs, the flash of jays. An abundance of flowers, butterflies, insects and birds and stunning panoramic views. Loads of local colour and culture. Pasta, gnocchi, pecorino cheese with a honey and pine nut dip, ricotta cheesecake, pizza al taglio, gelato. Buongiornos and waves from Italian cyclists. Enjoy those downhill whizzes because there are also some climbs - but you will survive to tell the tale!
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 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.
This was our first holiday with Headwater and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The cycling was challenging and we would advised others choosing this holiday to be prepared for the 'undulations' also known as long, steep hills! However, saying that if you are of a competitive nature they only added to the enjoyment when you reach the top. On the whole the accommodation was fantastic especially the Relais della Rovere where nothing was too much trouble and Le Renaie whose family atmosphere was lovely. We're now looking forward to choosing from next year's brochure - roll on next summer!
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.
Good first experience with friends who have been with you before.
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.
The care and attention that the Reps provided in the area was outstanding, and having been on 2 previous Headwater holidays they both worked very hard trying to please everyone.. I felt that the holiday was accurately graded as a 2 boot holiday and all the walks were well within our capabilities but sufficiently challenging. The area was fantastic and May appears to be a great time to visit with all the spring flowers in bloom and pleasant temperatures. I am usually happy to return home but I could have stayed another week so am looking to repeat the experience in a similar region next year as is my walking companion.
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.
Tuscany was a beautiful region with a great mix of walks in wonderful countryside and stunning cities/towns full of history and lovely architecture. The reps, Jim and Kate, were so helpful, thoughtful and genuinely caring - the best we've come across.
Probably not for 'casual' walkers as the walks seemed appropriate for experienced ones.
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.
We had a wonderful week with a perfect combination of walking, sightseeing, swimming and sunbathing plus delicious food and glorious landscapes. The local reps couldn't have been more friendly and helpful; it was very reassuring to know that they were there in case anything went awry - but it didn't.
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!!!!!!!
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
Katie and Jim looked after all our needs and we are grateful to them for making our holiday work. We found the cycling very tough, but were able to switch to the walking holiday with their help. We probably over estimated our ability but the grading of the holiday was a little misleading to us. Some of the other guests agreed that they had found it tougher than they had expected. Overall, the holiday was enjoyable and we would use Headwater Holidays again.
Well organised and enjoyable holiday
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.]
This was a well organised holiday with 4 excellent hotels with swimming pools, good food, 4 quite long days walking through interesting and varied terrain, and opportunities to explore Siena and Florence on the rest days. The reception staff at all the hotels were very helpful, providing local information including booking tickets for the Accademia/Uffizi in Florence. Excellent and knowledgeable support from Roger and Monika, the holiday reps - who were always there when needed.
good mix of cycling and rest days. Profile maps giving an indication of the heights gained and lost would be of interest. We cycled an extra day whilst at H della Rovere, and some information about possible routes might have been useful. In fairness, we hadn't told the reps we intended to do this as it was a last moment decision. Hotel Rovere room 404 was noisy as it was opposite reception and trundling suitcases early and late were noisily intrusive. Don't book this room or ask the hotel to lay down a rubberised pathway... The room was also quite dark.
Reps were excellent and helpful setting up and checking the bikes.. Rattly rear mudguards over the via bianchi and uneven road surfaces needed a bit of first aid. A bike bottle holder on the bike frame would have been nice
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.
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.
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.
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.
Helpful reps and decent kit with good route notes but accommodation and food variable; slightly disappointing overall. 50 euro 'cash back' for dinner in San G when hotel restaurant closed was a bit tight based on what the hotel charged for a 3 course meal (but did mean that we had a good night out in San G and the best meal of the holiday by far!). Cycling tough at times, more road work than expected and would have struggled if it had been in the height of the summer heat but rewarding and some memorable views.
A very good holiday. All the hotels were good and the local reps were fantastic.
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)
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)!
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!
Lovely walks particular second and third ones. Wouldn't recommend extension to 10 nights as food at Rovere was very limited in choice.
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.
This is our second HeadWater holiday and both times we have not been disappointed. We have been pleased wit the standard of hotels in Italy, better than the ones we had in Switzerland - clearly you get more for the money in Italy. Breaking the holiday into 2 and spending 2 nights in Florence was a highlight for us.
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.
Generally well organised, as above hotel selection varied and some of instruction on walks info could've better. Walks much harder than appear to as advertised.
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.
Overall, very enjoyable with delicious local food and beautiful scenery. The thrilling downhill sections made up for the uphill challenges. Volterra is a gem and a wonderful place to celebrate your cycling achievements on the final night.
An excellant Holiday company for all the local knowledge it incorporates. The reps were great.
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
Very well organised. Excellent reps on site. Excellent choice of hotels
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.
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.
We did enjoy our walk. The scenery is good. To ans the 'no' above - we would seek out a different type of holiday as we are getting on in years. It is a fairly steep walk for parts of the day, particularly the final ascent to the villages and hotel and can be hot in the sun. Suggest picking a time of year when temp is 24-28 degrees max. If you are over 60 you may wish to consider an easier walk as this one will test your fitness. You will have to train up for the event, as we did, if you are only of average fitness for your age. The other 4 members were younger than us (in their early and middle 50's) and handled it fairly well without any real training. Choice of footwear was not critical as one member did it only in runners. The rest had slightly more hike specific gear.
Very well organised allowing us the opportunity to have many splendid days to enjoy both countryside and town alike. Accommodation, with one notable exception, excellent. Scenery, sights and sounds will all remain locked in the memory for a long time to come - would happily recommend the holiday
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.
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.
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.
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.
Headwater always come up with the perfect balance between walking, time for relaxation and interesting, well-appointed hotels.
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.
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.
Roger and Monika had changed the routing of the first day's walk as a result of storm damage. We really enjoyed this walk as we felt it added more variety and more open views than the original route which would have meant more walking in less open woodland. The walk was shorter than the original but we felt this was a good idea as it broke us in more gently and meant we had more time to savour the landscape. We recommend you amend your notes to keep this new route and ditch the original. The last day's walk was lovely until we reached the agriturismo San Antonio junction; from then on until Restaurant Prato d'Era we were on quite a busy strada bianca with quite a lot of traffic (not just tractors) for a long time, followed by and another long walk on a tarmaced lane. We would have preferred more 'off-road' walking if it had been possible at this point without losing the views. All the other days were simply lovely, the views wonderful and the walking very much enjoyed.This is our fifth holiday with you and we have had some excellent reps but we must say Roger and Minika were outstanding and provided a personal, friendly and humerous service above and beyond what we could have expected.
Four very varied walks, challenging in places given my fitness level (poor!) but all definitely do-able - and very, very rewarding - in fact, unforgettable. It was unseasonably hot (35-38 degrees) but we were able to stop for leisurely lunches on two of the walks. The weather meant we made full use of the pools a each hotel - just wonderful. Our room at the Terre Casole will go down as one of my favourite ever - wonderful terrace with a walk across the lawn to the pool. At the relais we were upgraded to a superior room at no extra charge - just a most lovely room with a jacuzzi bath. As for the rest days ... with easily arranged trips into Florence, Sienna and San Gimignano - just wonderful, giving great lunch opportunities too.
This was a complete break from our daily lives. Whilst undoubtedly costly ( we had three extra nights) it was the main holiday we will take this year, the only holiday abroad and was just superb. I'm usually very attached to 'seaside' holidays but the landscape, countryside, towns and hotels all combine on this holiday to make iot a real experience to treasure
1. Make sure you get the details you need before you travel.
2. If travelling with friends, insist on separate invoicing if that is what you want. Keep insisting
3. Self guided holidays offer great flexibility and also require more effort. Guided holidays have the potential to give local knowledge.
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.
A marvellous combination of exercise, high class food, excellent accomodation in an unspoilt part of the world.
A really lovely mix of hotels with excellent walking and sight seeing opportunities
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.
Our Tuscany Holiday (Secrets of San Gimignano) was totally brilliant and was enjoyed by the whole family ( 6 of us) - age range 24 to fit 70!.Our reps made life very easy for us and were incredibly helpful. The hotels were varied and all really lovely and well chosen by Headwater. The food was excellent - and being Italy, there were plenty of options for my vegetarian daughter ( no meat or fish). There was plenty to do on our non-cycling days which is always important.
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.
Excellent communication prior to departure - during the stay - and arriving home!! A great service which gives clients confidence that nothing has been left forgotten !!
Fabulous way to see Tuscany. Excellent service from the reps and they were reliable with delivrng luggage and had super local knowledge. All the hotels were friendly and had lovely pools which we needed when we arrived. A great holiday that I would thoroughly recommend.
Sarah was fantastic- all credit to her. Funny, kind, thoughtful and a wealth of knowledge!
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.
We had a fantastic time and will certainly recommend this type of holiday to our friends. Even our 15 year old son got into the swing of it. We went in early July which was hot but it had the benefit of the walks being reasonably dry underfoot.. Our guides had changed one of the routes as a result of previous bad weather which was good as I would imagine that some of the walks could be quite difficult after rain. The route descriptions were generally very good and we didn't get lost but there were a few times where this was more by luck. The hotels were all good, some of the rooms were a little tired but the welcome, service and food made up for it. We completed our walks between 2-3pm each afternoon and our luggage had always arrived before us. Thank you Roger and Monika for your support and for taking us back to Pisa airport so early on Sunday morning.
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.
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!
Beautiful countryside, gorgeous hilltop towns, good accommodation, superb reps; cuisine (in and out of hotels) generally somewhat disappointing - ordinary and predictable (except Relais della Rovere) - this is more a comment on the region than on the Headwater aspects.
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!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
we really enjoyed the holiday-great way to visit these lovely hiiltop towns and cities of Tuscany
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.
What a fantastic experience ! Not a tourist in sight and walking in the middle of nowhere with just the sound of the birds and wildlife to break the silence.
The beauty of this holiday was the fact that we were walking most of the day but HeadWater have appreciated that just because you are walkers you don't need to 'rough it' in down market accommodation it was such a joy to have he freedom to enjoy the beautiful countryside and arrive to find your luggage already in your room and a luxurious hotel with fabulous food and absolutely breath taking views !!!
We had some great moments and despite eating and drinking copious amounts of wonderful food and local wine because of all the exercise, amazingly we didn't put on any weight
We cannot praise the reps highly enough. Monika and Roger made us so welcome and at ease from the moment they greeted us at the airport with chilled bottles of water for the journey to our hotel NOTHING was too much trouble for them ! A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH
For anyone considering this holiday , you do need quite a high level of fitness. Both of us are EXTREMELY ACTIVE and fit people and were pleased to find that we were suitably challenged by the walks in the heat. The hotels all had stunning views as they were all at the top of mountains ( so bare in mind the end of your walks when the sun is at its hottest are all uphill!!)
A fab holiday!! Something so different. I would not hesitate to recommend!
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 !!!
generally excellent holiday. I think however, we over estimated our capabilities on the bike ride in tuscany. But enjoyed it nevertheless, esp. the scenery. We would certainly book with headwater again but be more careful on the bike ride we choose in future
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.
we loved cycling in Chianti country - the climbs up to the hilltop towns were always rewarded with fantastic pistacchio gelati!
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!
A well organised holiday with very helpful reps onsite. We haven't needed them in past holidays but had saddle trouble this time which was fixed in a trice (with a lift up one of the VERY steep hills as well!). Although we discussed this holiday on the phone before booking we didn't get a clear picture of difficulty from the brochure, so be very clear about how good a cyclist your are!!!
A great introduction to this little known area of Italy. The itinerary meant that we could easily combine walking with sight-seeing.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Well thought out and stress -free holiday but not cheap.
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.
