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.
We had a wonderful holiday despite the rain, the walks were fantastic and we loved using the GPS app. We felt we had had good communication regarding our trip and everything ran very smoothly. The hotel was perfect for this type of holiday.
Great service and well organised. Good range of trips to choose from.
The hotels were great. The route challenging but doable. Problems arose because of our poor understanding of the app but we are poor on these things - friends and family will probably be more savvy.
The booking process was pretty smooth, the host hotel was really great and the hosts helpful with our needs.
Everything worked well.
The holiday was well-organised, the hotels were true to the descriptions, our travel worked like clockwork and the app was a fantastic tool for a self-guided trip. We found the Headwater team very approachable, friendly and efficient and they always came back to us when we had a question.
We liked the flexibility of a self-guided trip and everyone we dealt with at Headwater was really helpful.
Your itineraries are lovely and amazing!
We really enjoy active holidays and would recommend Headater to anyone who anyone who enjoys being outdoors exploring the places they visit.
Great way to explore the countryside; was even better than we’d expected!
Well organised
On time
Communicative
The arrangements all went very smoothly and we had a lovely time.
Very well organised holiday with good communication and back up phone numbers for when abroad. The only reason for not getting a 10 was that one of our walks had been cancelled but we only found out on the day.
I think Helen did her best to find us good alternative accommodation when first choices became unavailable. Walking notes were detailed.
Everything worked for us and it all ran smoothly. The accommodation on route was varied, but all very good/excellent as were the meals served. The luggage transfer worked very well and our bags were always at our next location. The communications by the Headwater staff were thorough, accurate and helpful. Thank you
Always well organised, excellent accommodation and good walks
Some great walks with the help of the excellent HW app. Fab hotel as well. No glitches.
Everything was taken care of for us. Flights, hotels etc. All we had to do was turn up and enjoy. The hotel booked was excellent, and the area was stunning. Couldn't want anything else.
Good, imaginative package, very well-organised, but I do have some reservations about the amount of travelling on a short trip, and the up-to-date info on one walk.
Excellent notes for the walking; easy app; good hotels & interesting places.
Most things worked well
I thought the itinerary was varied and well-planned and moving from one place to the next ran very smoothly.
A very enjoyable and varied holiday with interesting places to walk and visit off the beaten track. Excellent transfer arrangements and good and varied accommodation.
I love the attention to detail you get from Headwater and the personal interaction from the staff, they go the extra mile to make a special holiday for you
The organisation of the trip was simple and easy and the responses from Headwater were efficient and speedy.
All aspects of the holiday including travel arrangements, pick ups and transfers and accommodation all went smoothly.
The holiday was truly amazing. The choices of towns, hotels & self guided walks were faultless. The perfect exploration of the Puglian region, with the app providing insightful knowledge on the towns and walks along the way. Would highly recommend and thank you to headwater for organising the memorable trip!
Now had two great adventure walking holidays with you.
From booking, app to hotels all very good
The choice of holidays was good. Everything was well organised. Communication was clear and accurate and all contacts with Headwater staff were friendly and successful.
Good customer service
All the boxes ticked, once we all got used to the ap, with only one hiccup all went as planned, and good weather
We've been going on Headwater walking holidays for 10 years runnning now, with the exception of Covid in 2020, and have never been disappointed with the walks or hotels or the efficient organisation of the trips.
We really enjoyed this holiday because the routes chosen enabled us to explore areas of the islands that we wouldn’t otherwise have seen. Mostly the paths were clearly marked and easy to follow. We walked through forests, on mountains, alongside coastal waters, around lakes and through tiny villages. We decided to spend our day at Mjlet walking round the lake, but there are lots of different routes you can opt for. Troghir was delightful and the walls of Dubrovnik were fantastic. We had some of the best fish I’ve ever eaten. Take your swimming costumes with you, and swim along the coastline in the beautiful clear waters.
Overall a very well organised holiday with good walking routes
We enjoyed the walk very much. We are in our early 70's so were looking for an enjoyable rather than an extreme experience. The walks were through lovely countryside; the accommodations were very good and in keeping with a little "out of the way: experience; the navigation app worked well at all times; and, the Headwater staff and Hotel staff were consistently very helpful. Very happy to recommend.
It was the same as all the other Headwater holidays we’ve done,excellent
Great walk, very friendly and helpful local staff
The booking process was easy. I was apprehensive about booking a self guided tour - but it was fabulous. The transfers to and from the airport were exceptional. The hotel and the food were amazing. The app was easy to use - I found the written directions overwhelming, however the real time navigation alleviated that concern.
Trip well organised. Transfers faultlessly facilitated. Hotel food and staff excellent.
We really enjoyed our exploration of the Euganean Hills and discovering a new part of Italy, despite its closeness to Venice.
Excellent customer service
We had a wonderful hiking trip in the Austrian Lake District - one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited. We had a really active trip and managed to see so many interesting places and complete lots of hikes and walks around the region. The local villages and towns were wonderful, the local people were very welcoming and food and drink was excellent. It was a wonderful holiday
Very good holiday information and a superb navigation app that was generally very accurate (as was the printed copy). Due to cancellation of original flight by BA phone calls (on a Sunday) to Headwater resolved the small onward train issues we had. Hotels provided were highly suitable and ongoing transport of cases worked well.
Self Guided and use of a local provider. Great Service and knowledgable staff.
Headwater provide a personal service by helpful and well informed staff. The self-guided walking holidays are well arranged and the accommodation offered is well chosen. The navigation app is brilliant.
Overall a great holiday at an excellent hotel in a stunning setting, only slightly marred by a couple of impassable routes. PG
Interesting routes and great places to stay.
Very well organised. Loved the app ... no chance of getting lost!
Very supportive sales staff and everything is organised in a timely manner.
All the hotels and travel arrangements and transfers are clearly explained and are easy to understand.
We’ve had such a great holiday - the walks were varied and interesting - we were confident using the app and the written directions. The locations were wonderful. Thank you
Excellent service. Prompt and helpful communication.
Good holiday and well planned and organised
Excellently designed holiday and very good hotels.
I didn't organise this trip but would recommend it. Great contact in Puglia - Marco - who was very helpful.
Excellent organisation, all the taxi transfers worked very well. Walking app was quite easy to use once we were using it for real.
Great information and easy to use app.
Good.
Good support well organised friendly staff
a reliable company that attaches great importance to quality
This was our first hotel-to-hotel for many years, and apart from an issue with the pick-up things ran pretty smoothly. The walking days were quite long, and at times we were glad we had purchased a walking map. We hardly saw a soul for hours at a time so great if you like peace and quiet.
The team in the UK and in Malta were great easily contactable and quickly resolved any questions. They also readily adapted the holiday to meet our requirements.The walking routes were interesting and and the notes and app really useful.
We visited some really interesting towns that we would not have otherwise experienced.
All arrangements went smoothly, the hotels, luggage transfer and app all worked perfectly
Well organised, planned and good itinerary. Excellent accommodation and transport.
Our holiday was very well organised, everyone we dealt with was friendly and helpful. When there were weather-related issues alternative arrangements were made quickly and we were kept informed of what was happening
We enjoyed our first visit in September to Slovenia and found the green meadows, even after a very hot summer, and pristine villages very appealing. Bohinjska Bistrica as a base did probably entail more bus journeys but there were advantages in having two supermarkets and a lovely bakery to provide food for packed lunches; furthermore the bakery is open 7 days a week.
The Julian Alps pass is worth purchasing although it does not guarantee free fares on all the buses as you initially think. Also the bus timetables seemed a little fluid at times.
The team were great from the start, very helpful and prompt to respond to my queries/requests.
A superb 5 days in Kandersteg. The availability and variety of walking available is excellent. The option to go through to Sudrampe when the weather in Kandersteg is unsuitable, meant we were able to walk every day.
We really enjoyed our Headwater holiday. All destinations were either fascinating, stunningly beautiful or both! Support on the ground was superb with our agent "going the extra mile" to rearrange logistics in the face of an impending storm. Our guide for Mount Etna was fantastic. The hotels could have been better but this did not spoil our trip!
Headwater Holidays was very helpful in advising on our choice of walks and responsive to our questions in planning our holiday. The trip was well designed, accommodations were excellent and the app was flawless. Written material on sites and history was thorough and informative. Each day of our walk on the St. Francis and Olive Grove Ways was magical. We are delighted now to plan our next walk with Headwater.
The organization is great. The ability to receive directions on our I Phones was amazing.
Interesting place to visit. All arrangements went smoothly. Good value.
Efficient, friendly with very good support and advice.
Luke was incredibly helpful when I was deciding where to visit: he listened carefully, understood the brief and made some carefully considered options - including some which were outside of our initial ideas.. one of which we ended up taking. I also like the wide selection of destinations for self-guided walking.
This was a wonderful hiking holiday in a perfect location - Dobbiaco was a great home base and we absolutely loved the town, one of our favourites in the Dolomites. Headwater/ Hotel Bellevue provided everything we needed to enjoy our week of hiking. We especially took advantage of the spa facilities - that was a superb way to wind down at the end of a long day of hiking.
The sales agent was great and allowed us to add in an extra couple of days into the tour. Everything went smoothly and we had an excellent holiday
The areas chosen are usually in interesting locations. The staff are very helpful and the navigation app excellent.
We had an interesting, active and enjoyable holiday on Sicily visiting places we would have been unlikely to get to on our own. When there were weather issues which affected the hydrofoil local staff put in alternative arrangements and this allowed us to continue to enjoy our holiday, even though it was not quite the holiday we had hoped for.
We found that the organisation of routes/transport etc, and cost/quality ratio of accommodation/meals was just about perfect for us.
We had a good choice of walks appropriate to our abilities and inclinations. Lake Bohinj area is very beautiful and a joy to walk. As mentioned we think the better location, taking account of the vagaries of the buses, would be to stay in a hotel in Lake Bohinj.
A wonderful walk with beautiful and varied scenery. The porterage worked seamlessly well and was always at the hotels in good time.
The app was easy to use. The variety of the accomodation was interesting. The luggage transfers worked smoothly.
Transfers better than expected. App was good even when we went off course.
Headwater were very helpful in arranging our holiday. Lake Bohinj is a lovely area with some fine walks. The area surrounding the hotel was busy and vibrant. It's worth using the local transport (€15 for a week in 2024-buses with flowers on).
Everything went smoothly and it was an excellent holiday
Our trip to the Dordogne was very enjoyable. The hotels had been well chosen and the routes between them were varied and contained a good level of challenge. We appreciated the app, which was easy to use and stopped us getting lost!
Very professional and excellent communication from start to finish. Travel Itinerary and walking options were very well considered. A thoroughly enjoyable experience from booking to return home.
Headwater provided an excellent holiday package. Very well organised from booking onwards. Kandesteg is a wonderful location with an excellent hotel. The walking was superb and made easy with the well designed app.
Overall fantastic service; was very impressed with the branded paper holder, with maps, printed itinerary etc. Super quick to respond to questions, and also on the outbound trip dealing with stress/worries caused by being stranded at the airport whilst our plane was delayed hour after hour; making sure the ongoing transport timings were adjusted and we didn't find ourselves stuck at a foreign airport overnight!
Very good experience, as before. All staff with whom I had dealings (both in UK and Croatia) were helpful, attentive to any needs, polite and friendly.
This trip is a must! What a hidden gem this part of Majorca is! The walks are fabulous, my particular favourite was the walk from Port de Soller to Deia which are both stunning. Public transport is very easy to use, i.e. bus or tram / train. Restaurants are very good quality and reasonably priced too.
Brilliant place. Loved every walk.
Excellent
Any dealings I had with staff at Headwater were all handled very professionally. All staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. The hotel and itinerary were all of a very high standard and Switzerland was a beautiful place to visit. I have already recommended your company to several friends and would be happy to book with you again.
Very easy to book all of our questions answered. Loved the app and the routes. Great hotel. Will book again with Headwater without question
Luke was very helpful and available. He explained everything we asked and offered all necessary information
I would specifically like to than Steph Marlowe for her help when we were travelling out on the day French railways had been sabotaged. She kept in touch with us all along until we were safely on the train (3 hours late) from Paris to Lourdes and checked in with us the next day.
The local company Balaguere were helpful and friendly and knowledgeable.
A very good trip well organised. Local rep Richard very good. Luke did a terrific job in putting the trip together a very short notice.
We had a wonderful walking trip, our first together in 18 years of marriage. We would definitely go again. Experiencing the Alsace on foot was so satisfying and it's given us a spur to get a bit fitter and do more walking. The service throughout was excellent.
The trip was excellent - amazing walking with a fantastically accurate GPS powered app, incredible views and food. The itinery was well thought through providing beautiful walks and the opportunity for rest days where needed. Would recommend.
The booking process was clear and response times to my queries swift. The accommodation was really good, great food and well located with helpful local information. Navigation via the app was really simple and the detailed location notes really made light work of finding my way on a solo hike in unknown areas
This was the best holiday I've ever been on. It gave me the freedom to explore without the worry of getting lost. I went 'off app' later in the week, to extend the walks; easy to do in Switzerland where all the paths are well sign-posted. Each day took me somewhere different, each time more breath-takingly beautiful. The Gasterntal valley was a highlight. The hotel was excellent, very clean, and the staff friendly and helpful. This holiday is a great introduction to self-guided walking.
Fantastic hotel. Very clean, with soft pillows, and top notch food. I like that I could select my own packing lunch from the extensive breakfast buffet. And the view from the balcony. I haven't got enough superlatives to describe this holiday. Everything about it was perfect. Like a dream!
Overall experience was excellent. Megan at Headwater was extremely helpful in helping us to choose and arrange the holiday and everything about our trip to the Dolomite was brilliant - fabulous hotel, great walking app, amazing scenery and we even had perfect weather!
This is an excellent holiday with varied walking. All the walks are easily accessible from the hotel. Local hospitality is impressive.
An enjoyable holiday. The itinerary was good and the travel worked out fine. Apart from using a the hotel with no A/C in peak summer months. A little more guidance could be given about how to deal with taxi and bus transfers. (There were apps available for Sao Miguel.) I would be good if you could offer a few easier walks, perhaps walking from the hotels to allow for bad weather or injuries.
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday. The support provided by Headwater - including walking directions and notes, choice of hotels and luggage transfer - was faultless.
We have been travelling with Headwater for more than 20 years. Generally very satisfied.
Although it was not necessary on this holiday we always found having a local rep helpful.
Also note previous comments re app v walking notes
Very good. Well organised and helpful.
A wonderful holiday. Great hikes, just right for activity level, outstanding scenery.
I guess Headwater removed the hassel of finding/booking accomodation and provided walking itinery ideas and detailed route information. We arranged our own flights and transfers.
A great company to deal with, and questions quickly resolved. The app, routes and itinerary were great for our Chamonix and Courmayer trip
A great well planned two centre holiday with fab walks and great hotels ( we upgraded the hotels)
Neustift is a lovely village in a beautiful setting. The Hotel Alpeiner is one of the best we have stayed in on a Headwater holiday. We had single rooms but they were 'normal' doubles, not the smallest rooms. The rooms were very good. The outdoor pool is great and we used it most days. Hotel staff were friendly and helpful.
This was a lovely holiday, our only caveat being that we found one of the walks more difficult than Headwater's instructions suggested, the Elfer Summit walk. In addition, the walk which Headwater suggests at the Stubai Glacier is closed and it doesn't appear on the local walking trail maps. The Ice Cave there is also permanently closed. The Glacier is still very well worth the trip, especially the 'Top of the Tyrol' viewpoint and the short walk to the chapel up at the same level. We'd recommend reading the information pack supplied by the hotel as there are other very enjoyable walks in that, particularly Stage 1 of the Wilder Wasser Weg. We had a great week.
We had an excellent time on our trip. We enjoyed everything about it, even the rain didn't dampen it much.
Very professional, quick to respond, could not be more helpful. Would definitely recommend Headwater and plan to travel with them again.
Impressive scenery, challenging walking, beautiful wild flowers and butterflies (beginning of July).
Booking staff are very good and listen to what we want. Suggestions for hotels for extra nights have always been good. Communication is excellent. The app is very useful and gives hands-free accurate directions while walking. It encourages us to try another trekking holiday.
We have been very impressed with the holiday start to finish, especially as this is the 4th time this trip has been arranged, we have had cancellations due to natural disasters and an injury and it has been very easy for us to change the holiday to new dates without issue.
Travel/Arrival: Generally good, but why won't Headwater deal with the budget airlines when the route is better suited?
Accommodation: very good to start with..
Food: Amazing!
Locals: Cheerful and helpful. Drivers very flexible.
Routes: Out of this world! However no live tracking of issues/closures? Nor recognition that the Tour de France was on and could affect travel time?
Memories will last a lifetime 🙂
Enjoyable holiday but extreme heat prevented us from walking as much as we would have liked.
We absolutely loved the booking process, and the holiday was amazing! The views and routes were stunning, and we were able to gorge on the beautiful food every evening. The only thing I would say is the access to the local guide on arrival was difficult and the route required quite a lot of use of buses.
First walking holiday and it was one of the best experiences of my life Everything went well Great resources - notes and GPX - Good accommodation all spotlessly clean
We benefitted from good weather Walks were challenging which is what you want if you travel that far On dogs we read about issues with strays and shepherd dogs We had no problems - two strays quietly "escorted " us off their patch just walking in front We came across a flock of sheep fortunately with a shepherd who told the dogs to lie still which they did when we passed We met no bears or boars There were bear foot prints on two walks so care is needed - we used whistles and banged tekking poles together and on trees as we walked
People were great
We really enjoyed the holiday just disappointed that the sixth walk involved quite a lot of the fifth walk.
It's an expensive option, but we definitely got good value in relying on Headwaters expertise, when traveling to a new area.
Great advice and service from Kate. Everything went smoothly. We weren’t able to use wine tasting vouchers due to timings but otherwise everything went as planned. Flights were a good price and time. The route wasn’t as varied as we’d hoped with lots of forest. We didn’t meet any other walkers all week which was our only disappointment
Good holiday but very challenging. Great going from village to village over the mountain passes.
Very good - haven’t done a holiday with you for a while, but as good as ever !
The walks were superb. We had difficulty with the App and would have liked to be provided with a map to plan and guide.
The holiday was booked as a treat to myself, the holiday went beyond my wildest dreams of expectation. (I am usually fussy). There was nothing to pick fault with this holiday to Kandersteg. Everything was made easy for me as a customer. All aspects were thought of and the extra touch with the option to make a packed lunch at the hotel to take out hiking made it perfect. For full board at a spa hotel the value for money was incredible. We spoke with an 80 something year old couple who had been visiting the same hotel for 30 years (sometimes 4 times a year). We can now see why!
We were impressed by the seamlessness of our holiday, the extra details supplied by the apps and also the freedom we had.
Everything went very smoothly. Helen Hodson's communication was excellent throughout the booking booking process.
I like the hiking and the set up to move our baggage. This is a great option for people who like to hike.
True to its description. beautiful islands with stunning views. Moderate difficulty for the walks, with options to use public transport as and when required. Highly recommend stopping at O' Sole Mio where we met Francesco, the most charming gentleman (and owner/chef) who prepared for us a tasty lunch. Albergo II Monastero hotel was superb.
Megan organised our holiday exactly as requested including the three days we had in Salzburg which were wonderful. Hotel Villa Carlton very good, very stylish and quirky and only a 10 minute walk to the Old Town.
We thought this trip was value for money and was a successful introduction to using travel companies again after many years of not. We had a fabulous week in the Picos de Europa and would recommend this self guided trip. Jim at Hotel Torrecerrdo was amazing, he went above and beyond to make everything as easy as possible. the Headwater app was invaluable for the first two hiking days and we look forward to using your services again. Lynne
Given it was very short notice after a quick decision to travel on holiday everything was really well organised. Everyone was very helpful and we had no problems at all arranging travel or during the trip. I think maybe it needs taking into account that difficulty of walks will increase given weather conditions and that generally you will be outside walking at the hottest time of day. That said we managed the walks successfully but I think that's because we are experienced walkers, it was tougher in the recent heatwave.
For all the good literature provided, it was only when we got there to the location that we truly got into the detail of the walks. If we should return one day and I'm sure we will then we have some cracking walks to take us on our way and with now knowing the terrain it is a much more a win win. You don't have to have visited to enjoy these walks but heat, terrain, and having now experienced it is an added bonus.
The location, the hotels, the arrangements have all been excellent.
Meiringen is a perfect base to explore the Alps. Our hotel, 'Meiringen', was ideally located near the train station, but with no trains running at night and excellent sound insulation, we were never disturbed by noise. The hotel is exceptionally clean, with beautiful rooms featuring the owner's artwork. The half board option was fantastic, offering a great selection. I'm pescetarian and had plenty of choices, while my husband enjoyed the best steak and delicious pizza. The walks were carefully selected to showcase the best spots, and we particularly appreciated having a variety of walks to choose from each day, each with different difficulty levels. Public transport runs like clockwork in Switzerland, and what seemed complicated when it comes to travelling within the country was actually very easy. We are already planning to repeat this holiday and stay in the same hotel next year, as there is still so much to explore. We highly recommend this trip
Excellent, always helpful! Thank you.
Pretty good. I appreciate Seilers is a “family” hotel but it could really get its act together a bit better, especially in the food department.
helpful, friendly and efficient staff and overall excellent service and holiday experience
Such a great holiday in such an amazing location. It was so easy to book and the app was an amazing help on the walks.
very satisfied
We absolutely loved the walks and the hotel. The staff were lovely. We didn't meet an Exodus or Headwater representative so we're not given additional advice on the walks. This was fine for us, but some people would not have completed the waterfall walk due to the exposed section. It was a beautiful walk and our favourite of the holiday.
Trip was excellent
Superb location, superb hotel with fabulous food. The walking was amazing and using the headwater app finding the route was never an issue.
Booking with Headwater introduced us to walking in the Dolomites. The walks were lovely, and with the exception of one, were consistent with the level indicated. A great introduction to a fabulous area for walking. The hotel, and food, was an unexpected highlight
Very enjoyable holiday in the Alsace, beautiful region of France. Lovely medieval villages and vineyards. We found some of the walking more than ‘easy walking’ . Not a problem for us but could be misleading for someone expecting something less demanding. Hotels and food very good and excellent except one hotel we found below standard and were disappointed with it. Some of the villages were deserted and nowhere to stop for a drink or to buy food so make sure you take food and drink with you on walks. Some places and bus driver from Basel airport to train station only take cash.
The pace of the holiday and the hotels chosen was excellent. The app worked really well., and using mainly the audio enabled us to be hands free
We loved the holiday overall and the arrangements were very good. Perhaps we need to scale back on the length and difficulty of walks in the future as they were extremely challenging. The app made all the difference.
We have had a great holiday ,it lived up to all expectations and everything ran smoothly.
Overall another very good experience, thank you.
Excellent customer service, detailed communication and well thought out itinerary that enabled us to get the most out of chosen destination.
Clear description of the holiday, borne out by our experience. Only the high temperatures restricted our activity, walks were v clearly indicated through the app. An overall map would have been helpful (more for orientation than on-the-ground guidance). We intend to book with you for Slovenia in 2025.
We had an excellent experience with Headwater. The hotels were charming, friendly and extremely clean. Trail information was accurate. The area of the Picos is absolutely breath-taking. The contract with S-cape for luggage and personal transfer was mostly excellent. I would recommend Headwater and would be happy to hike with this company again.
a fabulous holiday, thanks to Megan for all the help and information.
A very good walking holiday, plenty of opportunities to swim along the way. Island hopping was fun too.
Slovenia exceeded our expectations - it’s a beautiful country and the people were so welcoming. We were delighted with the hotel and the fact it was in a quieter part of the valley near to but away from eg Lake Bled. The area is great for walking and we were lucky with the weather too!
A memorable experience.
overall very well organised. The app is an excellent tool and very user friendly.
Headwater is a fantastic company, wehave travelled to several countries with them and have always ben well looked after .All arrangements working smoothly.
It is difficult for us to comment on the walks as because of my husband's illness we only did half of the first walk and deviated from your walks on most of the other days but we felt the walks we did do could have been more interesting. We customised the holiday to some extent - we missed out the last walk and rearranged the taxi so we had more time for sightseeing in Siena; on another day we did a shorter walk following tourist signs from Greve, and at Radda we chose to do a shorter walk which we found at the Tourist Office. We added an extra night in Florence which gave us a full day there, and added a night in Pisa at the end of the holiday so for us this holiday was as much a sightseeing holiday as a walking holiday which worked well.
Greve was a lovely place and ideal for a rest day particularly as the hotel had a swimming pool. Our two nights there were perhaps the highlight of the walking holiday.
We would be grateful if you could pass on our thanks to Scape for arranging our rescue when my husband became ill halfway through the walk from Florence to Impruneta - for their helpfulness, courtesy and patience, and I know we put the taxi driver who made a detour to pick us up to some inconvenience. They were equally helpful when we rearranged taxi times later in the week.
This is an excellent well organised walking holiday as it’s one day hiking and one day off to discover the towns. The scenery is spectacular and all the Hotels were a very good standard. The Amalfi Coast is a very expensive part of the world so the holiday represents good value for money. I would avoid June July and August as even though our weather reached maximums of 28 degrees it felt hotter as very high humidity. This is our 7th self guided trip with Headwater and we have always found them to be very professional and experts at finding the best locations.
Overall a really enjoyable holiday.
Another good Headwater walking holiday, but perhaps not the best we have had because of unseasonally hot weather for mid-June. Lovely coastal scenery, the inland sections spoiled in part by many dead olive orchards. This, plus one or two more challenging sections, suggest a Level 1+ grading in our view. Good hotels, two with very welcome swimming pools. Would have liked more time to explore Lecce and Otranto, so perhaps it would be better to include two "rest" days.
Always well organised; reliable and enjoyable
Every part of my trip was brilliantly organised. Going solo did give me some fear. But booking transfers, dinner bed and breakfast and having the apps and print outs made the whole thing flow amazingly. The standard of the accommodations were fabulous. Thank you.
There was a bit of confusion when booking the trip as to which hotel was going to be used.
The staff at Headwater were very friendly and helpful and successfully resolved our queries.
The grading of the walks was variable and didn't seem to take into account terrain.
The Headwater general information was very good and helpful.
One of the best walking holidays we’ve had.
The information and organising done by Headwater was excellent and we found the whole experience a lot easier than we thought it might be.
Well organised walking options at nice resort and hotel
What a brilliant holiday. Loved using the App for the walks. Loved the variety of hotels and islands. Using the App visually at times was useful as we could check that we were on track.
Procida was like Italy unspoilt. Ischia was somewhere in the middle and Capri was far too busy until we did the walk and saw no one.
A good degree of fitness needed as all three island had hills, together with 28deg heat to make it really enjoyable.
The App made it possible to see all the back alleys as well as more mountainous routes.
Everyone was very helpful throughout the whole process of deciding on the trip, answering my endless list of questions, completing the booking, providing updates and information between time of booking and act trip
generally speaking we were very happy an will recommend Headwaters to our friends
Superb pre-booking service and excellent walking app. Would have benefited from a bit more guidance on good things to do at the various places that we stopped on the walk. Obviously we can google this ourselves, but actual feedback from people doing the trip would have been valuable.
Excellent holiday . Fantastic location . Warm welcoming hotel with delicious meals . Great walking and the scenery was awe inspiring . Would definitely recommend and will be booking again with Headwater .
Communication was excellent throughout our booking. Knew exactly what we should expect from the holiday. Local agent was really good and their selection of accommodation good.
Overall a good experience.
The temperatures were much higher than usual for the time of year which made the walking much more of a challenge.
Friendly staff, great hotels and comprehensive, accurate route notes. Happy to add on city breaks and find the best flight options for you. We've used Headwater many times and will do so again.
We enjoyed the holiday, which was a departure for us as we'd never done a pilgrimage route before. We were disappointed at the high proporion of walking on tarmac and stony, shadeless tracks but that is partly down to us for not doing our research. Could you give more prominent information in the brouchure and online about the surfaces we'd be walking on? The accommodation was mainly excellent and quite luxurious. A common problem was getting food and drink in the afternoons when we'd arrive at our destination but nothing was available until after 7pm - but we don't think there's anything you could do about that. The navigation app was brilliant. I started using it just looking at the map on the phone - as I do with other navigation apps. However, it was a revalation when I put the earbuds in - then I hardly ever needed to take the phone out of my pocket.
We had a good time but didn't do all the walks. We felt that the bus service was excellent and were glad that we spent the first afternoon finding the bus station and sorting things out a bit. We visited the tunnels made in wartime instead of walking one day. Would certainly recommend that people do this.
Our holiday in the Stubai valley was excellent. There were plenty of amazing walks to do and the hotel itself was first class. While it didn’t affect the enjoyment of the holiday, we didn’t find the Headwater app useful and didn’t think the itinerary offered by Headwater was necessarily the best one. However, the hotel offered many amazing trips and information which more than compensated for this
Overall, an enjoyable experience. This was my first walking holiday, and i will certainly do more in the future.
Great off the beaten track type of holiday, the whale watching boat ride we went on was the highlight and seeing the tea plantation with beautiful walks every other day, we felt you needed to book a taxi to get you home from walks to be safe in case the bus did not collect from where you imagined it would. I would recommend people load the app what three words in case of an accident as the remote spots would be difficult to explain if you got into trouble. Say Hi was another useful translation app when in remote spots needing to ask for help. We missed the feeling of having a local person to check in with that we have had with cycling holidays- however Melo travel were helpful when we approached them for taxis. The beauty of the island needs to be seen- hydrangeas, agapanthus and lilies were everywhere and the trees were sublime in parks. In Lisbon the silver lime/ linden trees were in blossom and smelt so perfumed. Glorious
A great holiday for walkers, trust your instincts and don’t just follow the app as things can change post updates. It gives you enough topography to allow you to re route and get back on track. The support from both the UK and in Malta is exemplary. So glad I went.
Well organised and efficient. Katie very proactive and helpful, went the extra mile for us. Our third holiday with you over the last two years and would certainly travel with you again. Five star service.
This was my first holiday with Headwater and the overall experience was good. This was a self Guided holiday and the supplied guidebook to West Highland Way included in arrival pack was very useful. I didn't use the app at all as I couldn't see a way to get my current location shown on route, which rendered it it rather useless,
For a long time the hotels along the route were unspecified and were not supplied until about 1month before the trip and only after I received the "final" itinerary which still didn't include hotels, once I questioned this by email I quickly received an updated itinerary with hotel list. I found this disconcerting as I knew we were travelling at a busy time on the route (June) and it added some uncertainty whether hotel close to the route had actually been booked.
Baggage transfer arrangements and taxi pickup and drop off from Kingshouse to Ballachulish worked well.
The Headwater team are just great. From the local teams to the UK booking teams, the end result is an amazing holiday. We have used Headwater before, and ONLY go back to them. They can be trusted to give you a most valuable life experience and memories, each and every time, almost anywhere in the world.
An excellent experience despite one vey poor hotel.
Despite difficulties with the rail connections, and a couple of poor meals at the hotel, we thoroughly enjoyed our first Headwater holiday. The overall experience was very good.
One of the best holidays we have ever had. Didn’t want to leave.
The App was great - all the information you need for walks, elevations, transport and lunch options. We mainly just used the map on the App for route navigation but it also has written navigation cues and you can have the instructions read out to you like a sat nav if you choose!
The hotel was excellent as well. Delicious food, lovely views, friendly and helpful staff.
We would feel very confident that if we chose a Headwater holiday again we would get fantastic walking in a beautiful place with a great hotel. Thank you Headwater!
Lovely hotel very relaxing, clean and friendly. Food was wonderful. You could mention how easy and reliable the buses are to use.
We had an excellent experience with Headwater from booking to arriving home, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an adventure holiday.
Your routes are always excellent - really appreciate that research. but i cannot over emphasise how much you need to get local hotels to get comfier beds. Just awful!
An outstanding experience. Everything went like clockwork. Particularly impressed with the transport of bags to next hotel plus dropping us off at start of walks. Drivers were so professional with lovely Mercedes cars. Hotel staff lovely. Also loved the choice of destinations - a nice variety, ie not all in bustling tourist destinations.
A very well thought out itinerary. The walk on Korcula started fairly dull, the detour to the fort has little merit, the picnic bench with a view is no longer white and nowhere near the fort this might be better as a 1/2 day walk taking in the rocky glen. There were lots and lots of butterflies and wild flowers at the start of June. All the local taxis were spot on time. Very handy to have all the ferry tickets pre-booked. Perhaps advise folk to take beach shoes and swimming gear to Mjlet, the restaurant on the island in the lake there is still reasonably priced.
Very enjoyable, but see our earlier comments regarding the second driver and the scaling of the maps.
The communication with Megan for the trip set up was professional and timely with fast responses my questions.
Joanne was very helpful with getting us off to a good start to our trip after we arrived and Russ kept in touch to make sure things went well.
Generally a very good experience.
Fabulous!
A very positive experience. The rep was on hand to answer any questions or deal with any issues. The places I stayed were first rate and the walks took me through some beautiful countryside I'm sure I never would have found under my own steam. Overall the organisation of the whole trip was excellent.
We really enjoyed the holiday. The walks were generally easy to follow and I particularly liked the fact that each walk was different from the previous one (I.e. not just nice coastal walking, but different coastal scenery).
All in all it was a lovely holiday and we enjoyed the walks. The island is great as it is so unspoilt and we didn't really bump into other walkers at all. We had great food and plenty of choice without eating meat.
We didn't like that the goats had their front and back legs tied together so they couldn't climb - its apparently illegal but very wide spread.
Overall, walking the Camino was fantastic, so many good memories and met so many nice people. We weren't expecting much in the way of accomodation but it was all OK. I wish we had been aware that there was the option to stay at the Paradore in Santiago on the last night but probably too much information to go through, we made up for it when we transferred to Madrid. The walking was good, very easy. I was worried that we might not be able to manage 20km a day at 69 years old but it was fine. It's a type of holiday I wish I had done sooner
The worst bit was trying to get hold of transport at the end of the day and couldn't get a mobile signal or they didn't pick up the phone. On one occasion we decided to keep on walking and go to the hotel ourselves as it was only a couple of miles away
We are now looking at doing another walking holiday, maybe a bit longer next time
An excellently run organisation who have always been helpful with good communication.
have been on x2 holidays with the company and booked a 3rd for later in the year
A great holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. Well organised, with no problems at all. A good range of different walks; cliff tops, olive groves, wooded valleys, hill-top towns, building up to the unique and stunning city of Matera. Directions were easy to follow. The walks weren't too challenging, leaving plenty of time and energy for exploring. Comfortable and quirky hotels, including a Trullo in Alberobello. Teenager declared it the 'best holiday yet'.
Excellent thank you
We love Headwater and the way it offers the chance to see a country and countryside slowly and up close by walking. The prices are reasonable, the locations we stayed were all interesting and places we likely would have never found or tried on our own, and the whole experience was satisfying.
It was a lovely trip, the first walk was arduous and the app misguided us …. But we loved the whole trip . Staff were on hand to help if we needed it .
A truly great walking holiday, our fourth with Headwater. Hotels in fab locations, excellent food, challenging walking and incredible scenery. We loved it.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Via Francigena walking holiday. End of May is an excellent time to go with hedgerows and fields full of wild flowers, poppies in bloom and hedgerows of wonderful smelling jasmine. The App with route notes was good. Stayed in lovely hilltop medieval towns but because of the lack of accommodation in some areas not all accommodation was to the same standard but couldn’t fault cleanliness. It’s not an easy walk as a 2+ and most days there wasn’t any lunchtime stop availability so food and water had to be carried. Would definitely recommend this beautiful walk.
We paired the Headwater Slovenia itinerary with the Bohinj Wildflower festival for an incredible time.
Headwater looked after us well. Hotel Jezero is in a great location but the restaurant and the food were disappointing considering the amount we paid. Package holiday buffet style was not really what we were expecting. Free wine at dinner though was a novelty and saved us a bit of money! Pool very nice indeed.
We had a great holiday and loved discovering Puglia and Matera. We felt that most of the days the destination was better than the walk. Our favorite walk was the one into Matera, definitely cross the bridge and don't take the transfer!
A very well organised holiday. Transport from the airport to the hotel was very easy. The hotel was lovely. Enjoyed all the walks and found the app easy to use.
Great walking holiday, well organised and everything went smoothly.
The choice of walking distance each day was perfect. I liked the fact we had a choice.The hotels were wonderfully situated and the staff excellent. It is easier to get a taxi to turn up on time in rural Spain than it is in U.K.
I will definitely use Headwater again.
Headwater organised a very good walking holiday of about the right distance each day. Accommodation was mostly excellent. Headwater supplied both the map App and the route descriptions which you needed to use together to make sure you were going the right way. Unfortunately our transfer from the airport on arrival did not materialise but the local rep was excellent at sorting that out. We found ringing the contact numbers supplied was difficult with UK phones. All we got from Headwater emergency number on a Saturday was a recorded message.
Headwater have kept me informed leading up to the holiday - the hotel, the village and the routes which Headwater selected were just right for me.
Very impressed. Headwater had come recommended to me a few years ago. The walks were just right, and as described; the hotels were all very good; the villages/towns we visited or stayed at were beautiful; the guides were sociable and efficient; and the app was very easy to use. The email correspondence pre-trip was just right.
Generally an excellent well planned walking trip.
Disappointed with hotel in Penada.
App excellent but there was a lack of information about the locality of the hotels such as eating out suggestions and local facilities/customs etc
Enjoyable and very interesting. Walks were quite challenging, given the unseasonably warm temperatures, but rewarding too.
Excellent holiday walking the Amalfi coast. Hotels varied - but generally good. Some parts of navigation notes need updating g - ut combined with the app - not too many wrong turns.
Path Of The Gods was very busy & challenging in places - it doable
A good way to see the area
Recommend an upgrade to a sea view room
We had a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding holiday with fascinating historical features, beautiful countryside, excellent walking and good supporting information provided.
A lovely holiday even though we never experienced the full majesty of the Picos because of low cloud and rain. There was still some deep snow on the highest paths, even in mid-May, but all the routes were easy to follow, with well-marked paths all the way. All the hotels were welcoming, spotlessly clean and comfortable although none of the bedrooms were particularly large.
Our overall experience on this walking holiday in Slovenia was very good - we really enjoyed our holiday. Despite a few inclement weather days (always expected in a mountainous region) we ventured every day - the scenery and beautiful countryside were excellent. The general cleanliness/maintenance, efficiency and levels service in Slovenia are to be applauded. It was also comparatively good value eg. for food, drink & local travel etc. As outlined in previous responses, we have noted a few reservations regarding the hotel dining experience included in the package - we could have used the separate 'al la carte' restaurant for a more refined experience, however this would have been at significant extra cost to us.
I was really happy with all aspects, staff always helpful
Headwater were very thorough and very professional. Any problems we had weren’t their fault.
Very well organised and enjoyable. App is excellent. Makes old style paper and map itineraries obsolete.
Very proactive and helpful service. Would definitely use again
I enjoyed the variety of accommodation Good itinerary but some issues with organization
Excellent holiday, weather a bit cool but good for walking,
Lovely food, decided to learn a little Spanish for future visits!
Another well organised trip that went smoothly and according to plan.
Very happy with self guided walking package, with the contact before travel and with the hotel. My only issue is with the guide. A nice lad who made himself available however when asked about our free day, we were unable to join one of the fully guided trips ( understandably) and our guide couldn’t offer any options. Not a problem for us as we are experienced travellers and well able to sort ourselves out however from previous experiences guides are often Mr fixits and have contacts which I don’t think the guide had.
Very good overall, perhaps 4* hotels are best where possible in Croatia
I have travelled with you on numerous trips and find your organisation is very good. The information you supply is comprehensive and generally covers everything I need to know. The staff are always very helpful and quick to respond to any queries
This was our first time on an organized walking holiday and we were glad that we chose the location (Siciliy), time of year (May) and self-guided tour. We got to know our fellow travellers who were all nice people but things were not too intense as a guided trip might have been. It was also nice to have a selection of walks so that we could all chose walks to our level and compare notes afterwards. We learned a lot from our fellow travellers. Headwater did a great job of the arrangements which removed a lot of the stress of holidaymaking and we were very grateful to Helen for arranging to postpone the trip for a year when our personal circumstances meant we had to pull out the month before leaving. Overall we were glad we chose Headwater and would do so again in the future.
We enjoyed our Headwater holiday immensely. The Sales Team were so professional and provided excellent instructions and information. Everything went according to plan, the flights, transfers and briefing on the itinerary for the week. Sicily was so beautiful and all of the accommodation was fantastic. We especially loved Baglio la Luna for it's stunning views and it's charming host Daniella. The walks were well organised and Zingaro Nature Reserve was our favourite. Marettimo Island had a very special charm and beauty. We felt that the last walk at Monte Cofano might be too much to do in the time allowed and in the heat so our driver very kindly drove us to the end of the route so we could walk back as far as we wanted along the coastal path and then return to the meeting point. Thank you Headwater for a wonderful holiday.
An excellent holiday in beautiful areas --and good company as well
We thoroughly enjoyed our Headwater experience as it took us to a part of Sicily we would not otherwise have explored. There was a nice variety to our days and we were given plenty of options of what we could do. We enjoyed the fact that we were self-guided but met up with fellow Headwater guests every so often, allowing us to get to know them during the holiday, allowing us to feel very comfortable together and enjoy each others company in the final stop at Baglio de la Luna. We particularly appreciated the fact that the days seemed to work out to be hard walks every other day, allowing for a bit recovery in between. I think we would have appreciated a bit more guidance as to where the nicer beaches were. For example on Marettimo we only found the nice beach which was mentioned in your suggested short walks on our last day there. We also loved the white stone beach at the end of the coastal walk in Levanza. It would also have been useful to have some restaurant recommendations. All in all, however, it was a very successful holiday leaving us with memories of stunning views, nicely sore muscles, ravenous appetites satisfied by exceptional Sicilian food and great travel companions. We would recomment Headwater to our friends.
Good experience - loved the fact that it was not a touristy place and we were encountering French/German culture on the borders the 2 countries. the wine was fantastic too and the walks thru the forests were excellent - great boulangeries to pick up a picnic.
Madeira has a variety of walks with spectacular views. Made a welcome change for us doing a single centre as usually do the hotel to hotel holidays. Hotel very good though you need to drive if trying local restaurants. These have very similar menus(all skewers) unless you drive at least 20 minutes. Once off main road along south of island roads are narrow and very steep . We are both confident experienced drivers used to narrow roads and still struggled at times with oncoming and parked traffic. Headwater app works well. Feedback given to Headwater re new tunnels shortening and making journey to/from hotel far easier. We extended holiday so stayed 10 nights walking every day. Did 2 of the additional waks Sao Cristovao which was excellent and Pedegral - Levada Nova da Calheta which was OK. Walking poles recomeneded for most walks. I do have vertigo but coped fine with all walks just going more cautiously if necessary.
Really enjoyable trip in a beautiful if rather crowded part of Italy. The walking was different to usual with many steps, but the routes were interesting with superb views. The accommodation was of a high standard. The Amalfi hotel was very welcoming and friendly, whilst the Positano hotel larger and less attentive,
The navigation system does come with cliches and at times some confusing directions, but you eventually you get used to it.
We'd travel with Headwater again.
The holiday was great. Loved the flexibility of Headwater for allowing us to spend extra time in Rome. The walks were very good wrt length, difficulty, maps, navigation etc. I noticed during the holiday there were different hotel options and next time I might focus a bit more on which ones. Having said that, we got a good range of places to stay and the B&B basis worked perfectly for us (except in Porteta) which is in the middle on nowhere and therefore the restaurant being open was rather crucial.
Excellent guide for the Etna walk. App was very good though we didn’t need it really.
We had a lovely time, in spite of the snags mentioned. However the trip lacked the personalised feeling I had on my previous Headwater holiday (Alsace, some years ago), where we had a local contact who met us at the first hotel and provided very current info about each walk before we embarked. In that trip, we moved hotel most days, so there was constant updating. I did not expect that with this trip, of course. However, Joanne’s phone call when she was just back from Guernsey was so helpful that I was aware there was nothing similar for the Jersey section.
The app is good as a route-finder if one sticks to the designated routes , and we liked that. But it can’t help if the trail has washed out! (Also, if you go the “wrong” way around any bit of the plan, it can’t adapt.)
We loved Sark, and were fortunate that we had splendid weather. The tip about taking the tractor up the hill was a good one. The wind was up for our return boat trip & it was very lively - wouldn’t want to do the trip on a stormy day.
Very impressed with your pre holiday information and updates. Everything went smoothly. A thoroughly enjoyable and well organised trip. A great range of food and accommodation from traditional to more modern and from homely to more formal.
We had a brilliant holiday. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The itinerary was interesting. The mountains are absolutely stunning! I loved the cable car.
We are in our 70's so the walks were challenging at times. We walk a lot at home, but more experience of hill walking beforehand would have been useful. We relied on the App so needed to make sure we could download the walks. We wondered if the written instructions were accurate at times. A power pack is useful as back-up.
My walking poles were essential for me at times. Many cafes have wooden walking poles in stands near the entrance, I assume you can borrow them and leave them at your destination. Overall, a fantastic experience!
We usually feel very confident of booking a holiday with Headwater. This time we started badly with an inexperienced agent and nearly gave up. Luckily we persevered, found an agent who understood the holiday and we had a wonderful time in Slovenia, thank you!
Fabulous Holiday. Great places. Very enjoyable.
Organisation, locations and accommodation was excellent. Parts of the walk were harder than described, notes were not very good , app was excellent
The arrangements by Headwater were great, but the rain got me down a bit.
Our hiking trip with Headwater was extremely well planned, flexible and all the detail taken care of. The App was excellent We selected Headwater because we could stay in the one accommodation and travel out each day. Our accommodation was Artimedes, a self contained unit. Loved it. Hotel due Torri is a family run business. They make sure all customers are made to feel welcome and enjoy their time with them. The food selection during the week was lovely and varied. Cooking classes are a nice touch. Close to all required bus stops and the town is interesting to walk through.
Had a good experience with Megan when booking as was adding onto a trip with my friends.
Trip was great and the app was very accurate and gave good, clear instructions.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our Dalmatian Island hopping experience. It was a perfect combination of hiking and exploring the stunning and historic local area - soaking up the beauty of the natural scenery as well as the spectacular towns. The itinerary was very well thought through with plenty of free time to sightsee and the local guide was excellent. All of the transfers worked like clockwork and we loved the additional experience of catching boats between the islands. We got an early morning flight to Split which meant that we had plenty of time to explore Trogir which was well worth the early start! We had been to Dubrovnik previously so we spent our last afternoon just relaxing in Lapad. But others may want longer to explore the delights of Dubrovnik. Overall we would definitely recommend this trip!
A well planned holiday which we enjoyed. Pity so much was closed in Marettimo as this was restrictive. Excellent and very knowledgeable/helpful local agent. Well planned walks.
Overall very enjoyable and well planned trip . Taxi service was excellent , local contact excellent . Really need to sort the island visit before the season starts there.
As we were on a self guided walking holiday it was important that everyone played their part when they needed to (airport transfers, chauffeurs, luggage transfers, etc) and Headwater made that happen and so the holiday was stress free. Everything worked like clockwork and crucially the route notes were well written and accurate which has given us confidence in another self guided holiday experience.
a good, well planned trip. The few hicups dealt with well. Day one a bit too long perhaps.
We were so impressed with the organization of our holiday. The first time we used Headwater it took us a few days to believe that our luggage would be at our hotel when we arrived. No doubts this year. The staff at all the hotels was helpful and friendly. The walking was great, though hilly - we should have looked at the itinerary more carefully before we left?! We loved it. Already thinking about where to go next year. Thank you.
We really enjoyed the walking holiday. We hadn’t expected to walk through so many meadows which were very enjoyable. It was a walking holiday where you do get away from everything and only see a few fellow walkers most days.
We would recommend that you visit the local shops, bakery etc. before you set off as there isn’t always anywhere on the way.
Info about the train and bus station would have been good. Or maybe just more about Vianna in general
Would we recommend this Headwater holiday in Puglia to friends? Absolutely. There were a few 'hiccups' but overall, we really enjoyed our trip.
Fascinating coastline and wonderful wildflowers. Great introduction to Salento.
Used Headwater a few times in various countries. All works well and never any problems, which is what you want on holiday. The price charged for a holiday is considerably more than actual cost, but if you don’t want hassle of organising youselves and have the Travel Agent back up, Headwater fits the bill.
A highly enjoyable holiday, well planned, excellent choice of hotels and interesting walks that ennobled us to get a real flavour of the Amalfi coast.
We had a great time. Enjoyable walking and with good variation. Hotels were well appointed and we liked having the extra time in Funchal at the end. We had a couple of glitches with the company on the ground - one late pick up and a walk being changed due to a landslip - but these were dealt with. Would thoroughly recommend and we are looking forward to booking our next Headwater holiday
Excellent - would do it again
This was our first self guided walking holiday. It exceeded our expectations - excellent varied and interesting routes, interesting and comfortable accomodation, friendly people throughout, wonderful breakfasts to start the day and great local evening meal recommendations. The transfers all worked beautifully and we enjoyed the train journeys. The walks were very peaceful; we especially loved the wildflowers, olive groves and vineyards. (The final gorge walk into Matera was not much fun - very congested and slippy - we were anxious about falling despite our walking poles and boots. It was a holiday weekend and the suspension bridge was newly opened so may usually be quieter.)
Our experience was really good and we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. The itinerary could have been shortened by a day at the beginning as we had time to go from the airport directly to Sarria. We did not see Sarria at all other than starting the walk. We were surprised that the Hotel in Santiago had no real dinner arrangement as an option.
Very good. Great tour - so varied. Beautiful part of Italy.
We stayed in the Artemide apartment, which was only a few yards from the hotel reception; the staff at the hotel were lovely, the food excellent; we enjoyed participating in the visits to the kitchens for the pizza, pasta and tiramisu making and socialising with the other hotel guests.
We really enjoyed our holiday despite the changeable weather and the towns & bus services becoming very overcrowded later in the week. We experienced wonderful views on all our walks, from the paths high above the coast, from the top of Tre Colli and the waterfalls in the nature reserve at Valle delle Ferriere (we did this walk to/from the reserve starting from the village of Pontone), on our free day we did a walk through the lemon groves to Maiori. Be aware that there a lot of stone steps on the downhill walks; we used local buses to avoid where we could (eg from Montepertuso to Positano and from Pontone to Amalfi).
Repeat travellers with Headwater, so we knew what to expect. All told the holiday met our expectations taking us to places not before visited. Walking at our own pace and not always sticking to the guided walks suited us fine.
The trip was great and the walks were excellent. Some routes were so quiet during our April visit, we barely bumped into another soul, which really suited us. Some routes are off the beaten path; that's special and something you might not find otherwise. The app was impressive and we utilised it fully.
I have to say Headwater are extremely good at what they do. You can ask anything and they give a useful and informed reply. If you want extra days on your holiday then Headwater make the arrangements without any fuss. Brilliantly holiday company.
Basically a good holiday, however we should have been advised that it was too early in the season and a lot of the facilities where closed.
A very enjoyable walking holiday. The coastal scenery is stunning on all the islands, Spring is a good time to go for the abundant wild flowers. The walking App is easy to use and it's impossible to get lost. Travelling around by bus is easy and inexpensive, but you do need either a paper map/time table (from the bus terminal) or to download the bus app for routes and timetables. The bus app is very clever and allows you to track the buses too, so you can check if there are any delays
This was the first time we'd done a trip like this with luggage transfer and scheduled walks, and it all worked as well as we could have hoped. The apps are excellent, and mean it's very difficult to go far wrong on any walk.
Christine and I have a walking holiday each year and we always travel with Headwater because of the reliability of the quality of service and assistance if and when required.
We enjoyed our holiday. It was affected by the weather but your local agents handled the situation very well.
A lovely hotel in an ideal position & close to the bus route which gives access to the rest of Gozo. Ideal.
Wonderful location, felt well supported and enjoyed our experience.
An excellent well planned holiday which we would recommend.
Although it was quite expensive vacation for us we had a lovely holiday which was, overall very well organised by Headwater who were always available when we were unsure about any aspects of the journey.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would happily book another walking holiday.
Generally happy with the arrangements made, the information supplied and the personal touches provided by the Headwater staff. Thank you
People at Headwater are always very good to deal with. I think you organise great holidays.
One thing that really stood out was how flexible and understanding the team were with our requirements. My wife was suffering with morning sickness and her capacity to do the full itinerary was really compromised. The itinerary itself allowed for a bit of a pick-and-choose approach but I was really impressed with - and appreciative of - the quite late notice change of pick-up times and drop off points.
Another excellent holiday - we’ll use again
Just a small point wrt the app. The voice instruction is fantastic but I don’t know if it was me but the voice instructions stopped a couple of hours into the walk and I had to shut down the app and start over to get them back - but this is a minor point
An excellent holiday in a less visited part of Italy. The area is hilly and the walks excellent. Because they are not too long there is plenty of time to cope with hills at your own speed. We took this holiday in Spring and appreciated the sunny mild weather and abundant wild flowers.
Excellent - I asked for the optional upgrade and a change of UK airport. Everything was quickly organised and well communicated. The hotel and its location were excellent. The walk descriptions provided were clear and the walk routes were helpfully graded and in beautiful countryside. Taxis to and from the hotel from our destination airport, Ljubljana, were on time and well driven. The whole journey went like clockwork apart from delays in passport control in Munich during our return journey.
The Hidden Villages of Umbria holiday is wonderfully designed. The locations are stunning and there are countless panoramic views. All the people we met were friendly and helpful. The food is great too. Get food for picnics on your walk from local alimentari, or anywhere that advertises panini. If you have a pre dinner drink in a bar, it will probably come with snacks. Try the scrambled eggs with truffles. Look out for wild boar on your walks - we saw some on the first walk. We would also recommend adding a day in Assisi at the beginning of the trip, As ever, Headwater were able to accommodate our extra request. They are a pleasure to deal with!
Friendly and helpful
Overall an very good experience. The hotels in Sagres and Lagos was really good to stay in.
I think that Headwater had the daily physical scoping of the Alpujarras trek, and the supporting hotel accommodation to allow the trek to happen, pitched just right. I think that Headwater showed good evaluative judgement on both aspects.
Excellent walks on a picturesque island. Majority of island covered. Fantastic detail in the App. No issues with navigation at all.
The flight times did not coincide with the ferry, necessitating additional hotels, for which transfers should have been included. This is a sparsely populated island with limited service provision, which it is useful to point out to customers. There would have been higher quality eateries in a couple of places, so it would be good to have the choice to upgrade to those. No evening meals, except 1, were in the accommodation. Most breakfasts were also in bars.
Excellent company to travel with. Highly recommend
We felt well looked after. Holy Week processions inGranada/Malaga could have been a problem (getting out of the cities in our car) but thankfully we were able to plan and managed to avoid them.
The app is terrific; it's clear that great care has gone into it's creation. Occasionally it was a little wobbly in orienting itself and a few yards behind us (as it were) in navigation, so we had to wait a few moments for it to catch up. These are minor points however, it's great!
The booking experience, holiday information and the walking app were all very good.
The briefing documents from the local rep didn't arrive until the evening of our first day, but otherwise, apart from one route not being navigable, all went well.
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. A couple of the days walks were challenging, but that was fine with us. The app is brilliant, especially the alert when we have gone the wrong way!!!
The taxi drivers (Savvos and Odysseus) were helpful, informative and friendly and on time!
Our local representative didn't show up.
The car hire company were very helpful when we had an accident.
Some of the notes on the routes for walking need updating and further information to make them clearer.
The hotel was great it was nice to have this level of luxury after a days walking.
Although we normally walk about 10miles a day we thought that the walks might be a little short but this was unfounded, we hadn't taken into account the effect of altitude.
Great service, great holiday. Great trip, fantastic accommodation and people along the way. The app was particularly helpful and kept us on the right track!
We loved the hotels and surrounding views from each hotel,breakfasts were amazing!
Ferry and transfers very smooth!
Enjoyed all the walo
lovely walking routes which although short were very scenic and challenging .
Driving in Gran Canaria is probably not ideal for unconfident drivers
Route finding – the app worked perfectly.
Local agent Lea pleasant and efficient
We had sunny weather. No rain.
The scenery at the coast is stunning. We experienced fantastic wild flowers at every turn. Lots of interesting birdlife.
Trails not difficult
Accommodation excellent
Ralf was wonderful - very informative and helpful. Gave us advice and answered our questions. He was very reliable with the transfers and it was reassuring to know that we had his phone number if we needed any help. Transfers from airport to ferry & vice versa were very good too.The app looked very good. We downloaded the info before we left and printed the walk instructions. The directions didn't work with our phone on most occasions, due to loss of signal.
An enjoyable experience and the walking instructions were very clear. The local representative Ralph provided excellent support throughout the trip.
The overall holiday once in Puglia was fantastic. The local partner was excellent, the walks and accommodation hit the mark. The walking level was spot on and the options worked well. Using local trains also worked well. All transfers and pick ups worked like clockwork. More work is needed in the outbound flight arrangements. The choice of hotel in Milan was poor - nature (old), location and price. The whole flight combo to get to Brindisi or perhaps Rome / Bari needs thinking through. The original return flight had a 24 hour stopover in Rome which we had changed. With a 5 hour connection, no stopover is needed.
The holiday was very well organised with only one hitch, the failure of the pickup to turn up to the airport. However I managed to share a taxi with others quite easily. The walks detailed were all excellent though I did not do the Cooper's Island walk as the buses were not running the whole way. I did, however, enjoy a shorter walk at St Davids. The weather was very good, which helped. The small nature reserves were impressive as were the local museums and colonial architecture. The views were tremendous, the flora along the Railway Trail was amazing ,lush and very varied, and the birdlife wonderful, especially tge nesting Longtails. But above all it was the exceptionally friendly and helpful Bermudians which made this trip special for me.
We enjoy the freedom of self-guided walks in areas off the beaten track, but with the luxury of having bags transported and the routes worked out for us.
My experience was very good - and I was particularly impressed with how flexible the itinerary could be. We met 2 other couples on the same trip and I think we all felt impressed as Headwater newbies! It was our first experience of a self guided tour and would definitely do this again. The staff at both hotels were lovely, and we appreciated the opportunity to spend the day at the sister hotel to Porto Bay Serra Golf to find the sun finally having had a mostly wet week!
Excellent all round!
We find Headwater easy to deal with and flexible. The self guided packages fit the bill for us and the delivery of them has been faultless. We’re back with you in June.
The holiday offered all that we wanted. The walking was challenging at times owing to recent landslips, mountain weather, and the exposed & precipitous nature of some paths. To me this was part of the enjoyment. Headwater advised us to be ready for these conditions but there would be obvious hazards for those who did not take the time to read your guidance and to be prepared; perhaps this should be stressed? We made 2 new friends who were also guests of Headwater. Enjoying some of the walks and meals together certainly added to our enjoyment of the holiday. Thank you very much! 🙂🙂
Great holiday in a very different setting to all the other Canaries. Without Ralf's expert local knowledge, we would have found things way more difficult. To be honest, the breakfasts were all good but the evening meals are pretty basic. Apart from this, it's an excellent holiday for serious walkers. Walking poles are essential...
Holiday was enjoyable. Parking at the first hotel should be changed from roadside to old football stadium.
This was a well organised.
Lanzarote was lovely and the people some the friendliest we have met. I would recommend this to other travellers.
Once again I really liked the choice of hotels. I like hotels that are quirky and friendly and this has been the case on this holiday. I really like the app for guidance while walking and think that GPS should be available for every walk. I like the freedom to be self-guided and the app provides the necessary reassurance to help me feel confident about striding out on my own. Going on a self-guided walk with an organised timetable means that I bump into other travellers doing the same route in the evenings. I like this as I don't feel on my own while also being entirely independent. I am becoming a bit addicted ... :)
Easy walking and unusual landscape, very windy and quite humid but lovely to have warmth and sun
Great food and local wines
This was our 3rd holiday with Headwater our experiences have been excellent. This year our hotel was full and the company upgraded us at minimal cost
We were lucky with the weather being perfect for an early spring walking holiday but the overall experience was enhanced by the Headwater backup of accommodation, welcome guide, and especially the Walking Route App. So straightforward.
Excellently organised and with the weather being kind we did all the walks plus a bonus walk to the highest peak.
We had an excellent holiday. The variety of walks chosen was very good and each day showed us a different aspect of the island. The walk on the fourth day when we transferred from one hotel to another was planned to start from a small parking area on the Teide plateau. By the time we arrived there mid-morning the parking was completely full (it was a sunny Sunday afternoon) and there was nowhere to safely park in the vicinity. We were therefore unable to undertake that days walk which was a shame. This was the only problem we encountered on an otherwise faultless holiday. Thanks to all the team.
I have already recommended to friends who like to walk and crave a little more adventure than a circular walk from the hotel or compsite. The Headwater model is ideal and local gents are invaluable. I am looking forward to the next one.
A very professional and personable organisation that has looked after me and my late husband through, now, three walking holidays.
We have had excellent experience with Headwater and their services. We will use Headwater´s services again for sure.
Excellent communication. Well planned and the added assurance of 24hr local support
Great holiday - we did self guided. We had a great time. Found room in first hotel unbearably dark although a very nice room. Needed one on lower level with decent window. On first walk we hadn't got the sounds the app made (for wrong way etc) sorted out and got very lost down the gorge ! Path down there very tricky to find and we met a lot of lost people (Spanish).once we sorted out app it worked really well. Loved Tejeda and being in little village - unfortunately as off season very little open in evening (but enough).
Really lovely island. Great walks. Hotel in excellent location
A great way to explore new territory
Very well thought out visit to Bermuda. I felt we got a good introduction to the island and explores the key areas. Clear and unambiguous guidance made the self guided walking straightforward. I would strongly recommend the trop to any walker wanting to visit Bermuda.
The Headwater rep in Malta, Stephanie Tickle, was excellent. She was very helpful and gave us lots of recommendations for our stay there.
After the excellent walking holiday we enjoyed in Portugal with Headwater, we felt this trip is a work in progress and needs more development. This is especially true of the grading and variety of the walks offered. We are fit sixty year-olds and very keen walkers but we found some of the walks challenging. However we had a really great holiday and La Palma is a wonderful holiday destination.
A safe pair of hands
We enjoyed the holiday. Weather was lovely. Walks very nearly all on gravelly tracks and roads esp in the mountains rather dull, better near the sea, swimming in the sea great.
We have had over 10 holidays with Headwater and always enjoy the walks and the hotels. It gives us a flavour of the country we are visiting.
Headwater were helpful from the beginning and came up with an itinerary for us to include everything we wanted to
do. Any queries were sorted before we left England and whilst in Japan. The notes we were given were extremely clear, detailed and invaluable; as a result the trip went smoothly with no hiccups. I would certainly recommend Headwater ( and have already!) and would certainly travel with them again
Great holiday, excellent local team, Headwater app is fabulous, hotels are great, varied walking - had a lovely week
This is our 12th holiday with Headwater mostly cycling holidays. For a second year, we loved walking the routes of the Akamas Peninsula, Cyprus customizing our time over two weeks - one week at Droushia Heights Hotel followed by one week at Aphrodites Beach Hotel - so enjoying a balance of walking the longer routes every second day. We enjoy both hotels very much indeed. We are keen to return to Cyprus to experience both previous walks and new walks.
With experience we have learnt to tailor-make our holidays by researching what additionally paid-for room upgrades are available, and depending on locations, deciding whether it is more advantageous and relaxing to pay for half-board.
Good communication very well organised transfers
no issues at all
Advance preparatory information was clear. Management of an itinerary change, due to unforeseen circumstances whilst on holiday was well managed and communicated with us clearly.
This was a fabulous holiday. We enjoyed every bit of it.
We were very pleased with our first ever self-guided walking holiday, and would definitely consider one again, as it takes some of the pressure off finding planning time beforehand. Madeira is truly beautiful and an excellent location for walking, but be prepared for very variable weather, although it is not cold. It is not great for vegetarians or vegans, but the food is very fresh and healthy.
Overall, it was a great experience- for all the reasons given earlier.
One small point is that the local rep company had made a bit of a mess of the hotel bookings. We were booked in under our first names, which led to some confusion when we gave our surnames. And they appeared to be under the impression that we were travelling in a group with another couple on the same holiday, the Fletchers. This led them to book a four bed room in the aparthotel in Lagos, which had to be changed. Lea was very responsive in sorting put these issues, but they need never have arisen.
Our experience of Headwater is very positive, the staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We liked that one person, Megan took care of our booking it made our holiday feel Taylor made for us. Many thanks.
Not perfect but we will use you again. Thank you.
Temperatures were much hotter than typical for mid-October. This made everything hot and dusty and the walking more difficult. As a result we took the shorter options where provided and improvised shorter options where not. The buses on Malta were very busy and often they would be too full to pick anyone up. Once we realised this we got out earlier to beat the crowds. Gozo was much quieter and much more our cup of tea. The people on Gozo were very friendly. We had no problems with buses on Gozo, always on time, always plenty of space. The food was excellent throughout the holiday.
The locations and walks were interesting and varied. Accommodation was good.
The walks I really enjoyed were the last two when we were walking along the cliffs and by the sea - these were the sort of walks I was expecting and they were fabulous. The first four walks were predominantly inland and quite dull through fairly featureless landscape along wide man-made tracks with very little shade - a hat, sun cream and plenty of water is required. The walk on day 5 around Vila do Bispo had nothing to recommend it other than providing some exercise, but we liked Vila do Bispo itself which had a couple of great restaurants. Overall, the food was fantastic - good quality, simply cooked and delicious. I would recommend the Memmo Baleeira hotel in Sagres over the Pousada for many reasons, one being that it has an excellent restaurant, but be aware that if you want to dine there during your second visit you will need to book in advance, especially if the weather is unpredictable - when we arrived after our walk and tried to book, the restaurant was already full! However, Sagres has some great restaurants so it wasn't a problem, and we managed to avoid the rain! Where dinner is included we would prefer to be given an amount to spend (as was the case in Pedralva) rather than be presented with bread, pate etc. and then three further courses - far too much food for us. We did not massively enjoy the hotel in Lagos - it felt out on a limb and as of now is in the middle of a building site, and again, too much food at dinner - we would have preferred to eat out.
Well organised; good selection of hotels ; thoughtful planning of walk sections
Excellent. The only observation is that the full fees must be paid months in advance of the trip taking place which differs from many other providers.
Very pleasant and helpful to talk to and arrange the holiday. I will certainly arrange another holiday with them.
Loved our holiday, and the walking navigation app was really great. The hotel Taverna del Capitone was wonderful
Fine
As we only booked 3 days in advance of travel, I found your staff most helpful in booking our trip.
Although we made some compromises on accommodation, which inevitably affected the cost, due to our late booking this was acceptable. In hindsight the necessary upgrades made the trip more memorable than being in a standard room after a long hot hike.
From start to finish the experience was smooth and seamless. From the initial booking the service from your agent Toni was 5*.The itinerary was very well laid out, the guide book was extremely detailed and generally easy to follow. The hotel transfer of the main luggage was a godsend.The Camino itself was very well organised. Generally the hotels were above bar and the service was extremely good. At no point did I have any problems out there. The route gave a good variety of terrain along the coast, through small towns and woodland area. The weather ranged from amazingly hot and sunny in portugal to wet and colder in galicia but all part of the journey. It did not detract at all from the overall experience. Also the safest i've felt travelling ever on a holiday!
You meet a variety of people along the way from countries from all around the world all travelling for their own reasons being religious, spiritual, active holidays etc. I wouldn't say mine was spiritual as such but it was a brilliant way of zoning out from life back home and resetting the mind. You start your walks thinking, then you run out of things to think about and then you just keep walking to your next destination truly appreciating everything around you. The satisfaction when you reach your final destination cannot really be described properly. Receiving your certificate of distance travelled and your compostela tells you that your feet did not travel in vain. I would book with confidence😊.
An excellent experience from first communication about the holiday right through to the end
The Headwater experience included a lot of good points - the holiday booking experience and the travel and accommodation were all good, with everything going smoothly and very easily for us. However, we found some of the walking in Malta much harder than expected, partly no doubt due to the unusually hot conditions (30 deg in October) and we experienced some challenges getting used to the app and following the routes. Our expectation of the activity grading level for parts of this holiday was significantly off!
From first contact to end of trip Headwater folks on the web and in the field provided top-notch advice and assistance in decision making. It was like having personal service throughout. Interesting walking routes and fine hotels.
El Hierro is a fantastic walking destination. It is a privilege to walk in this unique biosphere. The people are friendly, the food and local wine is good, the senderos are well marked and there is a a good variety of routes in the 6 days of this trip
Excellent destination if you don’t want crowds, fabulous walks and beaches and great service from Headwater who dealt with all our pre-trip queries most professionally.
All five of us thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. We thought the combination of 4 nights on Gozo and then 2 nights in Valetta provided lots of variety with coastal walking on Gozo plus a visit to the citadel and then sightseeing in Valetta. Both hotels were excellent. We used taxis to get around on Gozo. We also enjoyed the pools and 2 of our group also went to the spa whilst on Gozo.
This was the first time my husband and I had been on a walking holiday together - although I have done similar holidays with friends. Based on our experience we would certainly take another trip with Headwater
Communication with Headwater staff was easy, with quick response times to any queries. We were able to tailor the trip to suit our needs and it felt like the staff really cared that we had a good holiday / experience. The trip ran smoothly with transfers always arriving on time. The accommodation was of a good standard.
Our walking holiday in Sicily was in October 2023 and the weather was still very hot so we chose to do shorter walks, rather than the more strenuos of the route options. This gave us time to enjoy swimming in the clear blue sea waters and to use the hotel swimming pools and loungers. The walking tracks were clearly marked and easy to follow.
We booked ourselves on to a boat trip around the island of Marettimo which was one of the highlights of our trip, with several opportunities for snorkelling and even a swim through a sea cave. The waters here are unbelievably clear.
Our trip itinerary included visits to some historic sites (additional entry fee for some) which were interesting and added to our trip.
Excellent holiday overall which was well organised from start to finish and all information given was clear and helpful.
Overall an enjoyable holiday.
Good walking route and good accommodation
We would use Headwater again
Very well organized and great places to stay
We thoroughly enjoyed our hike in the Lake District. The initial briefing with Ian Jones particularly helpful- delightful man. Looking forward to another trip in the future
Very enjoyable holiday, well organised, would highly recommend to others (have done so already!)
The Loire Valley is an historically fascinating place. As others have said, I think a two day stay in Blois is merited. One day for a leisurely visit to Chambord and another day for exploring Blois and its very interesting chateau/ castle. The Hotel Monarche is a disappointing start to the holiday. I think alternative accommodation should be chosen.
The rest of the accommodation was good particularly the Hotel au Charme in Amboise. However, it only does breakfast and the dinner at the adjoining Hotel . Le Clos was uninspiring. We did however come across a real gem of a restaurant by the name of Les Arpents. Incredible food. Apparently, it is full almost every night of the year so it is necessary to book.
We visited six chateaux and found them all really interesting especially Le Clos de Luce in Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Some of his inventions are recreated.
All in all a very good holiday accompanied by undiluted sunshine except for one morning.
Excellent service, information etc. both before and during the holiday.
We have now completed 3 Headwater holidays and we would definitely use them again. The quality of the hotels is excellent, the app makes the walks easy to navigate and we feel we get a better sense of each area by walking through the countryside, mostly away from busy roads.
We enjoyed our first Headwater holiday after years with New Experience. We miss the personal touch of NewEx and dealing with Anna and Matthew but we appreciate times have moved on - and Headwater didn’t disappoint. The Montenegrin local company 3E are absolutely superb and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Taxi services always on time and what a benefit having a tourist SIM card provided
Overall it was an excellent experience and any apprehensions we may have had about the operational arrangements on self guided trip were dispelled whenever something like a taxi pick was scheduled to happen as it always did. As none of us had travelled with you before then we had no reference for your grading which is probably about right although anyone our ages (66,69 & 74) of a lesser fitness level would find some aspects of day 2,4 and possibly day 6 very challenging. The app is excellent with maybe only a couple of ambiguities (day 2). Second part of Day 5 on reaching the coast at Lara Beach is quite disappointing as pretty much all the rest of the walk is an expansive construction site to one degree or another. There is a lot of site traffic and heavy plant machinery causing disruption, partial road closures/diversions. The dusty conditions created combined with that caused by the beach buggy safaris make this stretch quite uncomfortable at times. The walk on Day 6 was the best for us with a great range of terrain and views, the descent down the mountain side towards the end being the highlight. Would certainly consider Headwater again and recommend you. Would also be happy to discuss/expand on any of the feedback given here if you wanted to contact us.
Booked with friends who had already booked the trip - so whole thing was not hugely researched by ourselves. So the whole thing was a wonderful experience
Our trip to Japan was just fabulous. We loved every part of it.
We added a few days at the start and finish of the trip to travel independently, and it was good to have this extra time to explore Kyoto and to travel a little further afield afterwards. Having the reassurance of our booking with Headwater gave us the confidence to do this.
The travel and transfers all worked out very smoothly. The walk itself, the hotels and guesthouses, the food, and the welcome we were given by all our hosts along the Kumano Kodo were exceptional.
It was a very special experience which will live long in our memories.
Another excellent and really enjoyable self guided walking holiday with Headwater on the Classic Catalan Walk
We were originally booked to do another walking holiday in Greece which cancelled 10 days before departure to storms and flooding. Headwater team went all out to find us an alternative and we settled on enjoyable twin-centre holiday with just the right amount of time at each. Flights, transfers & ferry journeys all worked out perfectly. Hotels were of good quality and we felt welcomed at both. Local transport came in the form of local buses (passes provided) and were amazingly reliable. We used them every day to get around for both walks and tourist visits. Local agent, Stephania, was amazing and reachable for all queries. She recommended several restaurants, two of which we thought were outstanding.
Only disappointing factor was a room downgrade at the first hotel. It was very hot even at the end of September and there is very little shade on the walks but we started off relatively early to try and finish by lunchtime and then find a swimming option in the afternoon. Looking forward to the next one!
Everything was well organised and the trip was very enjoyable.
I was very happy with the organisation of the holiday
The transfers were excellent and we really enjoyed the family run hotel, the service was great and food very good. I think we’re found the walks quite strenuous but that’s probably because we ourselves weren’t really fit enough but we thoroughly enjoyed them nonetheless! The views were amazing. Everything was very well organised, the flight was diverted for refuelling but that was obviously nothing to do with Headwater! So we were on the plane for 7 hours whereas it should have been 2 hrs 40.
Generally a very enjoyable holiday with well organised transport
I had a nice time.strange I was on my own. I did plan my own itinerary. I was lucky with the weather. I would go back to Austria but it was nice and relaxed and I controlled my day.nice hotel a good breakfast selection happy to go back, but disappointed that I didn’t get the free things on offer displayed in the lift.bad isch was a nice location for bus and train
We loved it.
The hiking was excellent and unforgettable! The app worked very well. Loved the variety of country that we hiked through. However, four of the nights’ accommodations were well below what we expected.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and the whole experience and met some wonderful people.
Overall we enjoyed our trip despite a couple of days of very wet weather. It is the Lake District after all. The forestry work on the way to the Far Sawrey ferry cut off the route and we had to detour through the bushes and walk along very muddy. Again not something Headwater has control over.
However, the cafe at the Yew Tree Farm hasn’t been a cafe for about 10 years
Very well planned and everything went smoothly. It would be nice if there’s weren’t better or more information about where the hotels are situated relating to centrums
Excellent at home and away
Nav app was excellent, different accommodations brilliant, choice of route itinerary was also excellent for varied scenary and interesting holiday.
The main remark is really about the grading of the tour. Cyprus is hilly and perhaps a "Moderate" grading in hilly territory is correct, but tough it was.
And then we were indeed surprised not to meet one single trekker during the entire tour - therefore our question: have you really sold this tour before?
Another important information (perhaps) missing is the fact that during the different tracks you cannot buy anything (there simply no shops - no nothing) - hence its important to highlight that plenty of water has to be taken with you from the accommodation. We experienced very hot weather (35-37 degree) and there was no shades to find at all. Hence water is crucial. One final comment: we would have liked to get off earlier in the morning (to avoid the hottest period of the day), but the hotels only serves breakfast from 7:30 or 8:00 and consequently you can only head off by 8:00 or 9:00 leaving you with not option, but to be out in the hottest period of the day.
The staff were knowledgable and helpful and the app was really good
We had a great time. We got lost once but recovered ok. We were unable to download the map app. One hostess was not advised Re food allergies but she accommodated us nicely.
I had a good holiday with Headwater, everything was well organised and the local agent, Patricia, was very helpful when changes to restaurants were required.
I had no issues with the travel or accommodations.
I would have no hesitation recommending Headwater holidays to family and friends.
This was a great holiday. Walks just long enough and challenging enough as we had a very hot week (end of September). Although not really difficult terrain we were glad of our walking poles as some of the vineyard tracks are very steep.
The hotels were so lovely it was a pleasure to relax there on our free days. We stayed at Casa Pavesi in Grinzane Cavour as the advertised hotel was not available for our dates. This was a great result as Pavesi is charming and characterful, castle interesting and has Michelin-star restaurant (book in advance) and Grinzane Cavour has other restaurants, wine bar/coffee/deli and was a nice place to hang out on a free day. We had steak cooked on the open fire at La Tagliata, a short walk out of the village.
A short detour into Albaretto on the last walk found us a restaurant whose owner kindly made us coffee and takeaway paninis for our lunch. Unfortunately the tower was shut - looks amazing.
The last night tasting menu at Villa d’Amelia was incredible - better than the Michelin restaurant above!
Worth noting that vegetarians/vegans might struggle in this part of Italy, it’s a very meat/dairy cuisine.
One criticism - the local guide (and other people) said the walk to Serralunga d’Alba (from Grinzane Cavour or the other hotel) was really well worth doing but with no notes, nothing on the app and no map provided for this we did not feel confident to attempt it.
Thank you Headwater for organising a great holiday!
All the hotels were excellent, great staff, good food and very comfortable, especially Il Monastero in Ischia. We found most of the walks too challenging for us and on reflection we would have preferred to visit only Ischia and Capri, having longer on each and the flexibility to do less walking each day.
Procida: Walking in Procida is not our idea of a relaxing walk. The island is so small it is difficult to get off the beaten track and every narrow street is a main road. We felt vulnerable walking through the narrow streets with locals speeding past in their cars, vans and on scooters and electric bikes. The whole island was very run down.
Ischia: A much nicer island, more pleasant to walk about. We found the buses completely unfathomable, no signage along the routes, on one occasion we ended up going back to Ischia Port because we missed our stop! Not as easy to buy tickets as the information suggested.
Capri: A lovely, upmarket island, stunning views.
Some initial confusion over logistical arrangements, due to this being a new trip for Headwater in 2023, We were given compensation for the cost of the ferry from Naples to Procida and also given extra evening meal because of incorrect info on itinerary.
We had a problem with a cancelled EasyJet flight and Headwater were extremely helpful and efficient in helping us to resolve this issue.
Everything went according to plan and we were very satisfied overall. The accommodation was excellent and the transfers went smoothly. There were a few minor issues that I have listed below.
This was our second self-guided walking holiday with Headwater and, as before, the organisation of transport, accommodation and the itinerary were excellent. The walks were well-chosen with a variety of terrain. Although the written walk details were good, they were unclear in places, so the Headwater app was an absolute necessity. The hotels were all charming, lots of character, lovely outdoor areas and excellent food.
A thoroughly enjoyable 10 days walking holiday. It was good to have 2 days in each hotel in case we needed to recuperate, but in the event we did all the optional walks on the "rest" days anyway - not bad for a couple of 75 year olds!
We really enjoyed using the Navigation app which gave us confidence we were on the right route.
Full marks to Headwater for up-dating the app within 2 weeks of us notifying them of a blocked access on the route.
Well organised, well documented,and helpful patient staff in the office, all very smooth travel and better than expected hotel. First time with Headwarter. Impressed.
Excellent holiday. Impressed by quality of hotels and the transfers - they were always on time.
Very satisfied with the itinerary and the smooth transfers.
All the advantages of independent travel with the logistics taken care of.
Excellent
I like Headwater a great deal. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I like going on solo self-guided walks and I feel I can do that with the support of Headwater staff. Things do sometimes go wrong, eg i get lost, or there's an issue with a hotel. In such cases I've found the staff genuinely want to help me, not just because it's their job, and they will make sure I'm ok and everything is sorted out.
Good friendly service providing regular updates. I like more detailed knowledge of an area, history etc check out trailblazer books that had maps length of time to next location etc, stop here for a break…
A superb trip which i have wanted to do for awhile and i would highly recommend a few days in Turin. Would suggest late September just before the harvest and the truffle festival but the region is busy and remember certain places and restaurants shut Monday/Tuesday and other random days so worth booking well in advance.
This was my 7th Headwater trip and wonderfully put together with changes by Megan in the sales team.
Fourth holiday with Headwater over the years. Always very enjoyable and exciting destinations. Great routes and we visit places we would never have seen otherwise. Thank you.
Overall everything worked well, the App and local Rep probably the best features. The route could have been significantly better as there is no particular need for it to be circular. The farmland walking is pretty non-descript. The hotels felt tierd and/or in secondary locations. It was dissapointing that the feature hotel, Castella d'Emporda was not offered. Difficultly of the walking was fine and as described and the route notes were good. It should be noted that the main attraction from Encis is closed on a Monday. Value for money wasn't great given the price the hotels could have been booked directly at and transfers seemed very expensive although good.
The pre trip information allowed us to focus on the walking and appreciating the beauty of the local area.
Overall good. We requested a front facing room with twin beds and balcony but given a rear and side facing room with a double bed. We did get a large balcony. My wife was disturbed by train noise at the rear because we had our window open due to it being warm.
My first walking holiday with Headwater. Fabulous-from start to finish. The walking, food & stunning views.
We were self guided but it was lovely in the evenings to be asked if we wanted to join a group in the kitchen to see our meal being cooked, included in bbq.
But had our own table etc. ( you need to enjoy local food & not expect to eat early)
Other benefit being with like minded people- they are there for the walking, socialising, food, wine but comfort of a clean bedroom, hot shower & not late noisy nights🤣
Lovely people at Headwater; easy to deal with. Great itinerary. Super hotel and staff in a lovely location. Super walks.
Woeful pre-trip notes.
Too reliant on app and e-mail.
App misleading in terms of walking time remaining but loved the breadcrumbs
Probably the best organised holiday I have ever been on. And I'm a travel agent! Less than a week before we were due to travel our holiday had to be cancelled due to damage caused by extreme weather in Greece. We had trains and hotel booked in Gatwick for the night before departure and Headwater moved heaven and earth to get us an alternative going on the same day so our arrangements weren't ruined. They did it within 24 hours, at no extra cost and boy was it a good alternative. The accommodation we had was outstanding, quirky, high standard and very different, the walking was varied through some lovely countryside and along the coast. The app worked perfectly, especially when we managed to miss a turning, it got us back on track very efficiently. The local transfers were by suited chauffeurs in large Mercedes which was a bit above and beyond. I can't say enough good things about Headwater, this was a fabulous trip and we will definitely be doing another. Thank you.
It’s not our favourite walking holiday with Headwater, because at time the Strada Blanche seemed to drag on. We prefer walking in woodland, such as in Alsace Vosges or the French Jura. I think this holiday is more suited to cycling - we saw many happy cyclists out there.
However Stefano is definitely one of the best hosts we’ve had, such fun and passion. La Pietriccia is a great location too, with lovely food and service.
Generally reliable and deliver the promise
Excellent holiday. All details managed well. Would travel with headwater again.
This was very well organised. The App was great and it was lovely to stay in different parts of the island
Overall it was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the variety of the scenery. The first walk was amazing.
I am fan, as I have now done a number of trips with Headwater. On a few occasions I have not really liked some of the 3* hotels (too basic) and I guess it would be good to have the option of choosing better hotels. But overall, I love the concept and I have always enjoyed the trips. Will continue to consider future self-guided trips with Headwater.
The overall experience was fine and we felt it was an attractive walk - no doubt enhanced by the superb weather we experienced. The only small difficulty that arose concerned the timing of transfers to the start and from the end of the walk but that was satisfactorily resolved in the end.
One comment I would make about the walk is that I would strongly recommend the green route around Prachovske Skaly as it gives a much better oversight of the park
Really impressed with Headwater. Great holiday in Austria and discovered a new holiday destination that we would return to. Thank you.
Well planned and organised. The only disappointment was that we were told the Tibetan bridge in Matera was closed, which it wasn't. The final walk Matera would have been much more interesting if the bridge had been included (although we can understand why it wasn't).
As the weather was vey hot, which we would normally have no problem with as we love the heat, we did fewer of the walks than we might have done had it been cooler. We did, however, do some shorter walks in and around Port de Soller. That is in no way a criticism of Headwater, just a fact of the weather.
As I’ve already said, we did not realise that nearly all the walks involved a tram or a bus or a train, or a combination of them, and we would not want a holiday that was so reliant on local transport in the future.
We did, however, like Port de Soller, and the hotel Aimia.
Good
Holiday was fantastic. Lost more time transferring than I had realised. Though this is the first time I have done this type of holiday. Have only done inn to inn before. Overall the islands were amazing, the people friendly and helpful and would love to go back .
This was a fabulous holiday to a beautiful destination, generally a high standard of accommodation and efficient travel arrangements given number of flights/transfers/ferries. (As per more detailed feedback provided ) - One or two tweaks would reduce some of the airport waiting time. Great variety of walks, and of course freedom to choose to follow plan or not. Would be good to suggest walks directly from accommodation/town locations - as part of joining Information. local tourist offices can do this but then you have the extra time to find out/plan etc when only 1-3 days available per place. Will definitely plan to return to the Azores and explore some of the other islands too.
Highly recommended! Well-curated selections in lovely places. Commitment to sustainability and local communities much appreciated too.
Your representative, George, together with the hotel staff we met along the way, were without exception pleasant, friendly and efficient.
On our walks, the app worked very well and the printed route notes were an excellent back up. The walks themselves (apart from the second half of the walk to the Sporting Hotel) were enjoyable.
We were not happy with the Sporting Hotel - a hotel closer to the walking area would be better, and the motor bikes at Teolo spoiled our enjoyment of the Villa Lussana. As we have mentioned we had paid for a superior room with balcony at this hotel and would appreciate a refund for this.
We had a very pleasant holiday where concerns and questions we had before travel, particularly re the navigation app, were addressed beforehand. All arrangements worked smoothly
Excellent all round
My first headwater experience was excellent from beginning to end. I love the choice to holidays and will definitely book one again you are a brilliant travel agent.
We loved the holiday so much, Headwater were excellent in terms of organisation! The only issues we had was with the friendliness of the staff at the hotel and the price of a suite when it was very dated and basic.
Headwater take care of the work required to produce a complex itinerary so we can relax and enjoy our holiday. We got to see a lot of Sicily in just one week and have returned home with some extraordinary memories. The highlight has to be the guided night hike up Stromboli to witness the volcanic fire show, very humbling.
The holiday was well-organised and the walk descriptions were easy to follow. The walks were perhaps more strenuous than we had expected. The only thing that spoiled the holiday was that one of our suitcases did not arrive and still has not arrived. We would appreciate more help from Headwater with this.
A great walking holiday in a great location .
a great holiday once we got there and amazing views and walking. Details of the holiday could have got to us earlier and you need to be more clear with what is expected and additional costs of passes/transport in future advertisements. The hotels were excellent and we would visit again
The holiday exceeded our expectations. The change for a second cup of coffee at the Marettimo Residence was at best surprising and at worst enough to make recommending the holiday different
Some of the walks were more challenging than we expected. We are experienced hill and costal path walkers and we found some walk’s difficult particularly in the heat.
This "walking holiday" is different from many others as there is only one point-to-point walk (Cofano), several sights (Erice, Segesta), and a lot of pickups. Thankfully, as it would have been a disaster to have had 5 point-to-point walks in 34+°C heat.
We didn't attempt the sensible length circular walks in Zingaro or Marettimo as it was too hot.
The longer ones were out of the question.
If you don't like tuna or swordfish, your restaurant choices will be very limited, but octopus lovers will be quids in.
We stayed on for 4 nights in St Vito lo capo in the middle of the Couscous Festa. This is a very Italian affair and the town was packed with Italians, not foreigners!
Lovely safe beach.
Had the pleasure of dealing with very friendly and informative members of the Headwater team who were always able
to offer expert advice and answer queries immediately .
Thoroughly enjoyed this holiday. Walks were long but manageable through stunning tuscan countryside. You will need to have a portable charger for your phone in order to use the app as it uses up battery life quickly. The accommodation was good, spacious rooms clean and comfortable. The staff were helpful, efficient and welcoming. The food was very good filling and tasty. Local wine was very pleasant. On the free day the spa was very enjoyable. There is a long train journey to contend with which was a slight drawback. However, I would highly recommend this holiday if you like long self-guided walks through stunning countryside, comfortable accommodation, good food and wine, expertly organised by Headwater.
This was our first Headwater holiday. It was fantastic from beginning to end. Everything ran smoothly. We had a wonderful time
This was an excellent holiday, with lovely scenery and some very nice hotels and restaurants. There's also something inherently pleasing about a walking trip that takes you between two different countries. It was really helpful to have two walking options each day (one on the coast and one in the hills), meaning that you could select the length and difficulty of the walk depending on how you felt. The route guides were also extremely clear and it was not necessary to rely on the GPS app, although was still a handy extra resource.
Good as it’s been every time
The holiday completely met my expectations/intentions. I found Headwater easy to deal with. It was my first holiday with Headwater since 2011 (Slovenia) though my wife and I had been on at least seven previous Headwater holidays, starting in 1988. We were always very happy with the service provided.
Well organised, efficient, attention to detail and personal preferences. Excellent information and communication. Good value for money.
Please do take note when someone says they have vertigo problems. I do appreciate it is difficult for someone who does not have that problem to see any difficulty.
We were very happy with 99% of the holiday and our interactions with your staff.
Overall, we were quite happy. Villa del Poeta, really made the holiday. The staff there were amazing! They made me feel like a friend, not just a walking wallet. We felt Headwater could have done a little more to make us feel welcome and take any concerns away, such as 'How to catch a bus/train in Italy'. More advice on places to visit and their opening hours, even if it has to be revised regularly. Although I'd have thought once a year enough.Lists of nearby restaurants would be good and local customs. We didn't realise dinner generally isn't eaten till 7.30 ish. Our intro felt rushed and fitted around the guides other work, as nice as he was. There were some great stops on some of the routes (Villa Beatrice). The routes were a bit tougher than we were expecting but there were some great views and it definitely felt like a slice of Italy.
We had an excellent holiday, great walks ,scenery, weather , accommodation, and food . Many thanks
We felt that Headwater provided an excellent pre-trip service. During the holiday all transfers occurred without problem. The hotel selections were good, and standards were generally high
Very good pre-booking. Great local agent.
The route notes need reconsidering. The hotels need re-inspecting. It would be helpful to have dinner recommendations.
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.
A bit challenging for 70year olds but we had a great time!
The way they put the holiday together is amazing I thoroughly enjoyed myself it was my first self-guided holiday I normally do guided holidays but I took the plunge and went self- guided it was harder as you have to think outside the box but at the same time liberating without having to be in certain places at a certain time.
It was a fantastic experience and I made memories to last a lifetime! Thanks Andrew and all at Headwater.
Beautiful part of Italy with ample opportunities to sample local food and refreshment. The walks are not for the faint heartened. Shortish distances each day but a lot of climbing up and down. Very easy to use local buses and ferries to get around
An excellent holiday. Good routes with options Useful information about cable cars, public transport and places on route for refreshments. The map app didn't show enough information for us but the paper maps sent were a necessary addition.
I know you have taken these over from New Experiance, but I believe you current staff should do or participate in this walk to get first hand knowledge.
Unfortunately Eurotrak App walked along slightly different routes to the walking book, for example from Schwartzwalt Alp we wanted to walk the Romantic Track to First not covered by Eurotrak, Otherwise this is a wonderfull walk.
Fantastic holiday , beautiful weather, amazing scenery . Suggested itinerary of routes was first class & pretty easy to follow. Easy walks to start gradually leading to more strenuous ones, but even the harder ones were fine for someone who keeps themselves fairly fit. Hotel was lovely & in a beautiful small town. 10 minutes walk to the local bus station & 5 minutes to the train station which were all very easy to use once you got the hang of it. There really isn't anything negative to say about this holiday.
We had a most enjoyable holiday, enhanced by the peace of mind that all would go as planned due to your pre-travel information and the excellent briefing and care from your local partner.
We enjoyed the holiday very much but didn't always get on that well with the navigation app or the printed notes.
Headwater went out of their way to expedite the trip and resolve the few problems that arose. The seif-guiding aspect worked well.
Excellent company to book with. Were helpful and receptive to tailoring travel plans to extend holiday.
Excellent holiday wonderful scenery with a variety of well planned walks. All staff helpful friendly and attentive. Difficult to find fault
Excellent Navigation App. We did not use/need additional maps. Very good transport information on how to use the fantastic transport system to arrive at start and departure from walks. Glorious walks. We were very lucky with sunshine every day and so could see wonderful views. Hotel comfortable with mountain views. Good breakfasts and supper. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables! Chef on duty up to Thursday - lives in San Candido - makes the best porridge I have ever tasted! Found it useful to have German as well as Italian knowledge as several mountain lodges spoke German. Pool at hotel useful to use after a day of walking.
Wonderful area to walk in, rather busy at times in places as it was obviously very popular . This also put local transport under a certain amount of pressure
One of the best holidays we have ever had. A mix of exercise and relaxation. Well planned via the app, very easy to book and staff cheerful and helpful. Thank you
The Headwater staff were very helpful in setting up this holiday at relatively short notice. I never had to wait on the phone for it to be answered! The App and Route Notes are excellent except for the outline maps provided in the notes which lacked information - so I would strongly recommend buying the Tabacco maps as it is easy to take a wrong turning in this terrain and to give some perspective for each walk. Some of the walks were more like those in the lower Alps than true Dolomites (the Dobbiaco location being geologically at the far northern end of the Dolomites) but they all had superb views of the Dolomite peaks and some were of course right in them!
Everything about this holiday was superb. Having travelled with Exodus in the past (which is also excellent) we appreciated the superior quality of accommodation on this trip. The holiday was to celebrate my 60th birthday and I was very pleased that we made this choice. Even the weather was beautiful!
We thought Tuscany was great and so was the whole holiday. We are all getting on a bit average age 77 and Stephano helped us shorten the walks. We loved the hotel, always too much food and the local wine great and excellent value. Swimming pool just what was required and used every day. Owner great fun and very helpful. Four of us had 3 extra days and he helped us hire a car locally. All the staff were very helpful. The extra days were used to visit Siena and Pienza and were well worth it.
This was our first holiday of this type, we loved the freedom of travelling unguided. The route guidance was excellent and the difficulty and daily distances were just perfect for someone with average walking fitness. The hotels were tremendous, being perfectly located and we could not fault service, food or anything else. The walks were truly superb, blending wonderful strolls through the area's vineyards and gentle climbs through the forests of the foothills. The routes were really well way-marked and so it was easy to navigate. The walks passed through ancient villages and Chateaus and there really were no sections that were anything but breath-taking. Our personal stopover highlights were Riquewihr, a fabulous medieval walled village, and Itterswiller, a tiny village surrounded by rolling vineyards. We will definitely be returning to France again with Headwater.
Found service good even when I had trouble doing API as fault with Swiss air!
Overall, we had a fantastic time. Thank you very much!
As before, Mark (local rep) was very good.
It's probably unfair of me as I was travelling alone and relying on Mark for safety back-up, but I do have an ambivalent view of the app, as in some ways I think it detracts from the fun of self-navigating. Also it's not 100% reliable when you are in a more remote area with little or no GPS signal.
Hotel Europe &Spa in Zermatt was excellent - top tip; they have an electric car and will pick up and drop off from railway station on arrival and departure. Cicerone travel book on Zermatt & Saas Fee is very good with well described and various walks & other useful info. The App Swisstopo has excellent maps. The Glacier express is good but the local trains (despite the need for changes to do the same route) is very good and usually less busy. We were not sure the extra expense of the GE worth it
Really good trip, the walks were varied and there were good options to extend them if you felt up to it. The food in the hotel was amazing as well.
Great first trip with Headwater
In Switzerland, we were given a travel guest card so that all public transport in the area was free including cable cars and boats and trains! The travel card gave us extra flexibility as we could adapt our plans on the day depending on the weather and not worry about additional expenses.
The staff at Alfa Soleil Kandersteg are simply the best. They made us feel at home from the moment we arrived, treated us to some amazing Bernese cuisine, and looked after us with great care.
Good choice of location, hotel and routes. We were disappointed with the quality of the route directions and the discrepancy between the app routes and the written route directions but there is good local signage and most paths are well maintained. The suggestions for optional extensions and optional additional routes were very useful. NB the app routes provide additional extensions, which we made use of. A proper scaled walking map with contour lines was not provided - if appropriate, consider buying one locally to help plan your routes.
It is good to have a company that will allow a traveller to be flexible in terms of travel arrangements; we flew to Zurich but went everywhere else, including returning to the UK, by train. Likewise the flexibility to walk as often as you feel like, although we walked every day when the weather allowed.
The local knowledge at the host hotel was invaluable and the cuisine was excellent.
We had a really good week, even though the weather was variable. That’s life. The hotel was very comfy and food was good. We enjoyed the walks -especially the path of the gods.
The walking app was very good and saved a lot of time and effort looking at a map, or instructions.
Buses were a nightmare, especially with the road from Agerola to Amalfi being closed for half the week. This obviously restricted our movements.
The bus in Priano (to Amalfi) didn’t stop at bus stop 5.
The trip to Vesuvius and Pompei was excellent, with great guides at both locations.
As self guided walkers we missed out on some information such as the bbq evenin (until it happened), and receiving info about our transfer from the hotel back to the airport. We were not on the drivers list!
Carmen was very helpful.
Everything was perfect had a fantastic time
Very good. Prompt. Friendly. Accommodating. Made us feel important. And adaptable to our suggestions.
Overall really enjoyed the holiday - will email regaling the walk that was unsuitable
Had a great holiday despite endless rain and worst storm in45 years including large hailstones causing damage to cars! Map app was easy to use and very helpful. Lots of detail in the guide book but I didn’t always find it easy to get my head around! Bavarian people were friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed our holiday 😊
Very helpful.
Navigation app worked brilliantly.
Holiday well managed from start to finish - but accommodation varies in quality.
Good for those who don't like walking in big groups but enjoy the security of local support and route guidance
I really enjoyed this trip, despite travelling in August and experiencing an Italian heatwave which is always going to be tricky on a walking holiday! Beautiful scenery, picturesque towns and villages, and varied terrain. I travelled solo and and most days I walked miles and miles without seeing another person, which I quite liked. The App/GPS routes worked brilliantly, and the Via Francigena is very well marked, however less so as you get closer to Rome. The peace of mind that all hotels were booked and baggage transported efficiently just took all the stress out of the holiday, and I consider the premium worth paying. A few bits of advice if you do book this holiday - the taxi transfers suggested at the start and end are unnecessary, get the Funicular up to Orvieto and the train back to the airport at the end. Getting the Pilgrim Passport stamped can be a bit of a trial, but some of the hotels have stamps so always best to ask when you check in. Before you go, research how to get your Testimonium from The Vatican, there is loads of advice and help on-line. Take bug spray and use it as soon as you get to Orvieto if travelling in Summer. Take a power pack out with you every day, my phone battery struggled on some of the high mileage days with the App running and taking lots of photos. I have done a lot of small group holidays, and it was a bit of a leap of faith giving a self-guided trip a go, but it was great, and I'm already looking at which one to choose next!
We enjoyed an excellent trip which went incredibly smoothly. On Day 1 which was transfer to start the holiday all arrangements went to plan and the 1st class Train ticket was appreciated. We were lucky that there was a food festival in Brig on our arrival with a great atmosphere. On Day 2 (first walking day) we skipped the 2nd cable car so started walking earlier and effectively added 2 hours to the walking time. Day 3 we followed the itinerary and had a great day. Day 4 was an optional day, we decided to do a walk not part of the itinerary to the largest Suspension Bridge in Switzerland from Randa. We did find the cost of local transport was significant, we probably spend ~£150 each in first 3 days on trains, busses and cable cars. Day 5 was a rest day for us in terms of walking, we took the Metro Alpin option from the itinerary. Day 6 we done the walk that was Day 5 on the intinerary. Day 7 we went Off-Itinerary and done a fabulous walk from Mattmark back to Saas Fee via the Glacier Trail. Day 8 was our return trip home, it was a bit bumpy as the travel time coincided with a large music festival so the train was overcrowded and uncomfortable, the return ticket was second class, we would have valued a 1st class ticket due to the situation. The Headwater App was a great reference, during the walks the signposting in Switzerland are excellent so we did not need to continuoulsy refer to it. I would go B&B only to have flexible dinner options rather than hotel only.
It was a great holiday, the app was useful but the itinerary was too difficult for us. The general info was ok. We used the trail information at the resorts and used their leaflets instead as it suggested a choice of trails and the grading instead of one trail only. We loved the resort and the hotel but not the room. Would recommend the area to friends.
Overall we had a lovely holiday. The travel arrangements worked well particularly those whilst in Jersey and Guernsey - all transfers on time and very helpful staff. The walks we did were lovely and our only criticism relates to the assessments which were certainly a bit optimistic for us!
Terrific experience. I do not see your name mentioned among the traditional Camino companies but it should be. It was a very easy and terrific experience.
Lovely holiday in this beautiful Austrian town. The hotel was ideal, with friendly staff, great breakfasts and two indoor pools. Amazing scenery - we loved being able to catch the cable cars up the nearby mountains, then gradually make our way down. In the end we only did 4 of the walks - one day was too rainy, so we instead caught the train to explore Innsbruck, and we opted to spend a whole afternoon at the Schwarzsee bathing lake. The hotel is a short walk from the historic old town, with lots of restaurants, bars and street performers.
Once again another fantastic holiday! Amazing organisation, great support throughout. Just one hotel let the whole experience down a little,but this could be due to local culture/personality differences. All meals inlcuded were FABULOUS! Would definatley travel with you again, but would be GREAT if you could take AMEX please. We really trust you to make great selections and trip notes, which goes a long way for us as we are super busy and would not have time to plan all this ouselves. We have really built up a trust with you now after travelling with you 5 times myself!
Wonderful holiday and really well organised Thank you very much and look forward to our next holiday.
Toni was very helpful and got everything sorted quickly. We really enjoyed the walks; the app was easy to use. Our hotel was outstanding and the airport transfers worked well.
All very good, excellent introduction to the Pyrenees itinerary.
Our Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago has been amazing and the trip has been made even more enjoyable with the excellent service from Headwater. The management of hotels, bag transfers, and availability of support has been excellent. Thank you.
The itinerary was good. I thought it was sensible to split the first and last days in two. Going from the start in France to Roncesvalles in one day, whilst doable would have been tough given the amount of ascent required. Equally stopping in Viana rather than going all the way to Logrono was sensible, given the heat and distance. The entrance to Logrono isn't particularly interesting and to put that at the end of a long day would have been dispiriting. The signage along the way was very good apart from the last section coming into Estella, where a series of new cycle tracks has made things confusing. A stone arrow on the ground helped, but it could be easily missed. As it happens I chose the right option.
We had a great holiday. It was relaxing and inspiring to walk among the Burgundy vineyards and amazing landscape of the Cote D'Or. The walking routes were well organised and varied. Navigation was easy with the GPS app. We walked 40 miles over 5 days and climbed 1100m, higher than Mt Snowdon!
Really good trip. Travel arrangements were really robust. Communication was good. Trip notes were really helpful. I'd recommend the Switzerland trip we did, and also travelling with Headwater - I've travelled with them before and would travel with them again
Very enjoyable holiday
We loved our trip to the Catalan Coast. Such a beautiful area! The walks and suggested walks were well planned, with minimal time spent walking along busy roads. The hotels were very good and the staff at each had helpful suggestions for places to eat and things to do. This was our second Headwater trip and we have already planned a third!
Great walking on what is an amazing piece of history
Fantastic in every way , so relaxing
Well planned holiday.The scenery, the weather, most of the accommodation and the advice and support of the on the ground representative (Richard) made it one of the best walking holidays we have ever been on.
We were impressed with the speed and efficiency with which problems were sorted, also the friendliness of your staff. A real dislike of flying may make us think twice about going abroad in the near future but we may consider holidays in the UK with your company.
As I said earlier, we have enjoyed many happy trips with Headwater over many years. However, as I said on an earlier page, the route notes seriously need some attention in our opinions. Although they read well enough, the sentence construction suggests they were written by a local with local knowledge. To us, they appeared unclear and sometimes inaccurate. In the end we devised our own walks. Staff at the hotel were fantastic, Megan at Headwater was most helpful and we shall almost certainly book with you again but the itinerary needs looking at.
This was a brilliant trip, and I was very sorry when it came to an end.
Thank you Headwater for another excellent Holiday package.
Communication was good, and we felt we were kept up to date with our booking. Any queries were promptly answered.
We had a wonderful time Vancouver, a lovely city and in the ebautiful Sunshine Coast of Canada. The walks were splendid and apart from some difficulties, the instructions were good. The Rocky Mountaineer was a very good experience.
Overall a good holiday experience
I was rather disappointed that the walk itself was not managed by Headwater as i did appreciate detailed route instructions which I could download. I did not enjoy relying on gps. A map would have been helpful as well as information about deviation from the route. I did appreciate having a meal booked for 2 of the days when I got badly lost and was unable to get help, I did receive help from the next day
An excellent holiday - well organised and very helpful staff -Andrew Palmer was great. The hotels were excellent - clean and mostly modern with really positive staff.Thank you
This was our first holiday and experience with Headwater and we hope it will not be our last. From my initial query, Jo Chaplin provided us with an excellent service in helping us book our holiday. She was very attentive to our needs and returned my calls/emails promptly and when promised, displaying an excellent customer focussed service. Getting connecting flights from Belfast via London Heathrow to Zurich proved difficult but Jo simply booked us on direct flights from Dublin to Zurich using Swiss Air, resulting in a good financial saving. We booked in May 2023 and travelled in July 2023 and Jo kept us informed every step of the way, sending us train tickets and information guides (including detailed route walks and maps) well in advance, so we could read and ask any further questions before travelling. The Hotel Alfa Soleil exceeded our expectations and is in an ideal location on the edge of Kandersteg. Everything about the hotel was perfect and we would not look to stay in another hotel if we returned to Kandersteg. Being met on the train platform by Adriano from the hotel was a great start to our holiday! Our only 'complaint' is that 5 days is not enough time to fully explore the Kandersteg area, so we look forward to booking a return visit!
You are helpful without being in any way intrusive. Excellent customer service. I travel with confidence
We thoroughly enjoyed out holiday with Headwater. The location and hotel were perfect for an alpine walking holiday. The hotel was friendly and the food good. We loved the walks and thought the programme of walks suggested was just right. We adjusted the order slightly to allow for two days of low cloud and a sore foot. The transport arrangements worked well. We both came back relaxed, refreshed and much fitter than we went out.
Accomadation and food very good . Hotel staff very helpful. Headwater staff very helpful organising the holiday
Walks excellent as previously. Hotel significantly disappointing.
A lovely week exploring the Cotswolds with some unique accommodation experiences
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.
The process was relaxed and informed making it easy to choose our walking holiday with confidence. The local agents in Pembrokeshire were also excellent and couldn't have done more to make us feel welcome.
This was an outstanding holiday in every respect. The Euganean hills are a lovely place to walk and virtually undiscovered by tourists from outside Italy itself: you feel like you are in the real Italy, while still enjoying the stunning views, food, and culture you would get in more popular parts. The weather got pretty hot making some walks more challenging, but generally there was enough shade so it didn't feel unsafe. The accommodation was nicely varied and excellent throughout. We especially loved the pool at the Hotel Sporting and the food at Villa del Poeta. We had a great day out in Padua by bus from Teolo - highly recommended. And we had a perfect city break in Venice at the end. What more could you want! Headwater team was excellent throughout, with George and Carmen on the end of the phone if needed. One suggestion for future guests is to make sure you bring enough food and water with you every day, as (despite what the trip notes say) we found shops and restaurants were closed or non-existent most of the time. On day 1, there was no packed lunch available from Il Feudo, and we had to make do with some stuff from the breakfast table. It's a good idea to bring plenty of snacks (perhaps from the airport) and you really need to carry 2L water per person per day in the summer.
Overall very good, we have used your company many times over the years and have always enjoyed our holidays . This trip was slightly let down by our stay in Riquewihr as the restaurant was terrible and really left us with negative view of that part of the trip . Fortunately we have never experienced this on any of your previous trips and I suspect might be due to the subcontractor.
The locations and walking are lovely. Generally accommodation very good. All staff friendly. Thank-you to headwaters staff
Based at a comfortable family-run hotel with particularly good food in a quiet location within a pretty (but not overwhelmingly busy) village, we enjoyed some spectacular walks, plentiful alpine flowers and attendant butterflies, and even the opportunity for a lake swim with an amazing view at Oeschinensee.
We had an excellent self guided walking holiday to Switzerland. We had a good Hotel which was convenient for the Railway and Bus travel. The information we received was great but anything we didn't know we found out at the tourist information which was located in the train station. The food was really good with plenty of options. The Hotel staff were also very kind and extremely helpful. Overall it was a really enjoyable holiday and we are looking to travel again in the not too distant future.
Our experience with Headwater was fantastic, everything was very well organised and we couldn’t fault the hotel or location. We had a fantastic time and that’s all we could ask for.
Relaxed single centre walking holiday. The selection of walks provided were useful in a week with quite unstable weather. The transport links from Dobbiaco made travelling to walks no problem. It made a change from the place to place walks that we have done in recent years. Overall a great taster for the high Dolomites.
A great trip - superb hotel with excellent staff. Super location with challenging but achievable walks. Would be more than happy to return.
As novices to walking holidays, we had an enjoyable trip to Malta and Gozo, however due to the exceptional heat it was quite challenging! Some of the walks have a 30-60 minute bus ride before the start, so cannot be started really early (we weren't prepared to forgo a reasonable lie-in and enjoy the hotel breakfasts!), but over the course of the week we did learn how to make the most out of the buses to shorten or amend our route plans and still see much of both islands! We enjoyed the many swimming opportunities and the peaceful walks that were a nice balance to the bustle of Valetta and Victoria and the main towns.
The holiday was very enjoyable and everything went smoothly, (thanks) some of the route directions provided were a bit vague in places and we'd have preferred to have had a proper map to refer to from time to time. Overall it was a great holiday and we'll need to start planning the next adventure as soon as possible.
A variety of walking from disused railway trackbeds to hill and forest. 95% of the route was on fenced pathway so little concern about encounters with cattle or horses, which I know some would worry about. Accommodation was first class.
Highly recommended walking holiday to Split and Dalmatian Islands. We chose to do some of the shorter walks suggested to keep near the sea as it was very hot, so every walk also included a swim. Great accommodation with v friendly hosts.
The standard tour was excellent but the 'tailor-made' part did not go well.
An amazing walking holiday in stunning Kandersteg. The walking was jaw-dropping, the hotel warm, friendly, efficient and Nico’s restaurant served a wonderful 3 course dinner. Everything was of a high standard yet also personal. Saunas great too. Thank you so much.
It was a good walking holiday, with 5 out of the 6 walking days having good or excellent weather. The hotel was quiet and in a quiet, peaceful village. Kandersteg is much quieter and smaller than Grindelwald or Zermatt for example. Most of the walks are accessed by gondola, cable-car or bus for which you are given a ticket. There are two walks that you can do straight from the hotel. There are a mixture of moderate and harder walks and there are more walking routes than there are days available to do them, so you have a choice. The higher altitude walks gave the best mountain scenery, but it’s only worth doing them in good weather. One could see snow-covered mountains from outside the hotel, but not every day owing to cloud. The hotel food was very good. Headwater provide the route notes and it is better to print them out before leaving home.
Be aware there is not a lot of shade and no access to water. Coastal walks can be too hot in the summer months. We went at the end of June and it was very hot there were signs on some routes warning people it was too hot to walk. . Using the gps app provided is an absolute must , if using paper instructions we'd have got lost.
The train journeys were really picturesque and added to the holiday experience.. Our local guide was excellent and punctual.
Fantastic holiday! Challenging walks with unbelievable scenery. Park Hotel Bellevue was the perfect place to rest (fab spa) and re-fuel after a day's walking. The hotel staff, the food, the rooms, the spa and special mention for Fabio, our favourite barman, made our holiday very special. We hope to be back!
We have now experienced Headwater on a number of occasions. We had a wonderful weeks stay at Hotel Ciasa Salares. The staff in every department couldn't be more helpful. Restaurant food from breakfast to dinner was of a very high quality and variety. Our room was spotless, however the shower was teeny tiny so it was just as well we are slim people. That said, it was still difficult to wash ourselves without hitting the wall, screen or temperature control. We had no air conditioning which would be a must during the summer months. The Headwater app was amazing and we never found ourselves lost. The Dolomites were outstanding in their scenery and we are keen to go back for winter snow. Would thoroughly recommend.
One thing to mention was the transfer cost from airport to resort which was extremely expensive. As we were extending our holiday, we hired a car for 10 days which was considerably cheaper than the taxi fare from airport to hotel.
Excellent hotel - location, facilities, staff and food.
Navigation app was outstandingly good, informative and with a few very minor exceptions accurate and easy to use. Made our walks highly enjoyable and stress free.
Austria's Lake District is a fabulous area to visit and explore. Wonderful breathtaking scenery, plenty of attractions to choose from, great food & drink and friendly locals.
It was a fantastic holiday for me & my wife. Everything was just perfect. We really enjoyed ourseve very much. I really recomended this hotel (Alfa Soleil) for foodies.
Great walking location and a lovely hotel made for a fantastic holiday - all the better as the weather was sunny.
Helpful and efficient for independent travel. Very Good routes and accommodation
Overall the holiday was very enjoyable and the accommodation excellent (helped by a complimentary upgrade at Madeira Park!) The breakfast situation needs a bit more thought. At Shades of Jade, the breakfasts were excellent, but not so in he two other resorts. At Madeira Park we had no cereals, but did have a litre of milk, which went mainly unused. At Desolation Sound, we had neither bread nor cereals (we had to go and buy bread ourselves). Fruit and juices were plentiful at all three locations.
A great holiday in a wonderful location. Excellent variety of walks, accurately described in the route notes. Having all meals including picnic lunches, provided by the hotel was ideal for us. The food was excellent.
A very high quality experience, from the excellent responses of Katie in the office to the first class transfer and hotel to the proposed Dolomites walks through high altitude flower meadows and scenery.
The wide variety of walks allowed us to choose according to conditions. The free access to bus train and chairlift made it all very simple. The Belvedere was exceptional with very interesting meals. There was direct access to a very large swimming area with a variety of temperatures, water jets and saunas.
We had a great holiday in Slovenia. The area was stunning and the local bus made getting around easy. The hotel was comfortable. The staff were excellent, and the food was good and very plentiful- we’d challenge anyone to try and eat three courses there! The range of walks available was varied and this was really helpful as on really hot days it was good to try and stick to more shaded walks. It was good to be able to choose which walk we wanted to do on each day. We felt that the instructions for some of the walks could have been improved and moving to an app would make more sense. Keeping the time spent planning is an important part of the holiday for us and sometimes it was challenging to juggle the map, grid references and instructions. If this had been made more simple it would have made our holiday an excellent one rather than a good one.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback it is invaluable to us, I have fed this back to our product team. Regards Katie
The holiday was a joy and delight, the hotels were excellent, the scenery was stunning and the flowers were fantastic.
Walks were cleverly graded , becoming more difficult by the day so that we were able to build our fitness. Staggeringly beautiful scenery.
Ideal for independent walking (and cycling). Beautiful, peaceful and friendly country very much suited to a slow pace of life.
Incredibly well organised break. App was great and easy to use. Gorgeous food and beautiful hotels in stunning locations. Some of the walks were more challenging than suggested, particularly when walking uphill in the heat, to reach a final hilltop destination. There was mention of “trattoria” along the way, but these were often not named or noted on the map. The last day there were no toilets, bars or restaurants along the route, which wasn’t indicated on the app. Being more specific would be extremely helpful. Highly recommend the holiday. We had such a great time and would definitely do this again.
Headwater proved to be a reliable company, courteous and helpful when booking and during the trip. George and Carmen were supportive representatives. Accommodation and hosts were mostly very good in particular Gabriella (Il Feudo) and Julia ( Borgo Petrarca ) Walks were sometimes challenging in parts .We had to negotiate difficult, steep and rocky sections. The Navigation App guiding us was good. One final stretch was on the road and tedious, however the Spa we arrived at more than compensated! Plenty of sightseeing on days off, using taxi or cheap local transport. Giottio Frescoes in Padua were wonderful and we managed to buy tickets on the day.Good cheap wine, lovely meals and lovely people.Managed a trip to Venice on last day as we had a late flight home. Overall, Fabulous experience, loved every step and will do more with Headwater.
It was a lovely holiday but the maps were not topographical so at times there were of nouse. We used the app on the phone all the time because if we had to make a decision about which path to take it showed us if we had made the right decision.
An outstanding hotel in a great setting, with easy access to the mountains and the Stubai Valley
The holiday and venue were super. Walking super and hotel facilities excellent. Although we had forgotten how expensive it is in Switzerland!!!
The Headwater name was clearly useful at both hotels - I felt we were looked after better because of it. The local transport provision with Savvas was brilliant, he is a key part of teh holiday, and definitely earnt his tip! The agent was irrelevant to our booking, but maybe with bigger parties there would be some benefit. We had a wonderful experience during (to us) a very hot week. (Savvas and the locals thought it was mild). the walks were progressively more amazing; the inland walks to start with are a great introduction and aclimatiser, with the peninsula walks being stunning with the forests and coastal views. A head for heights is useful on the way down from Moutti tis Sortiras! Amazing views!
Beautiful destination, family ran hotel made us feel very welcome and they were very helpful.
We had a perfect week, completed beautiful walks and enjoyed the whole experience.
Kandersteg is a picture postcard Swiss village, with an alpine panorama from the moment you leave the train. Our hotel was easily accessible, comfortable and provided a warm welcome; the suggested itineraries took us to some fabulous mountain valleys, upland meadows and rivers.
The local agent, Emmanuel, was excellent and also a careful driver. The hotels were generally good, but the first hotel we stayed in ("Port Toga", not "le Bastia") was very good. The level of facilities in the rooms of the hotels was different which is to be expected from 3* hotels. All had AC's that worked, which was good given the temperatures we experienced. The pools at "Belle Vue" and "Le Revellata" were very good; we did not try the one at the Port Toga, and "A Storia" didn't have one.
The app for these walks is a must have. It shows precisely where one is relative to the paths available. The route maps are OK but not clear enough, and the descriptive could be better. The walks were generally quite spectacular, but on unmade and rugged ground, so care is needed along with proper walking shoes. Shame about missing the boat trip to the Loku beach but a storm was forecast.
The holiday was generally very enjoyable despite the heat, and a blister or two. Mr. Norbury - June 2023
Croatia is a beautiful country. We had great walks, lovely scenery and good hotels. At the briefing we felt a bit overwhelmed with the amount of info re transfers, taxis and ferries but all worked well and all the tickets , bookings etc are well presented in a folder so we didn't loose anything! Day 3 - St Antonie - route on Jelsa - the bus drops you just outside of town rather than in the town centre so keep an eye out and check with the driver if you're at Jesla - we missed the stop but the driver very kindly took us back! Walking to the Tor at the beginning of the walk is more like a 3 booter and involves quiet a bit of scrambling. Once at the top though the rest of the walk is easier. We shared a cab back to Hvar with other walkers on the trip later in the day so as not to have to clock watch/ rush for the last bus back in the early afternoon. Overall a fab trip with varied and interesting walks.
Fantastic and iconic hiking country, with more ups and downs than a roller coasters, and flora and fauna to shout about. Even the storms are dramatic!
Hotel is friendly, comfortable and basic. You won't spend much time there, but when you do (and are not sleeping) you are enjoying gourmet food, chatting with friendly owners and staff in the bar, or just soaking in the scenery on the terrace.
A wonderful trip in a wonderful country. I would suggest providing gpx files is a must have for this trip (and instructions for new users on how to use gpx files - ie download the free GAIA app)
Lake Bohinj is an excellent base from which to explore the region. Quieter and less developed than Lake Bled, it is very unspoilt and yet provides easy access to Lake Bled and the capital. One point to near in mind is that Hotel Tripic is a bus ride from the lake, so you can spend a reasonable amount of time on/waiting for buses. the other hotel (Jezera) is right by the lake and so more convenient.
We had a lovely time walking the Camino - very helpful staff and everything went as it should have done. Helpful walking notes.
An incredible experience in Bavaria. Amazing combination of lakes, mountains and forest scenery. Lots of forest paths at first, but sensational views in later days. There are some tough stretches where you climb or descend steeply over long periods of time, on proper paths but nevertheless it requires stamina and walking poles are handy. The app for guidance was useful but needs a few tweaks and we'd have preferred an old-fashioned map as well. All hotels met or exceeded expectations, friendly welcome and great breakfasts, although it helps if you speak some German. Public transport is part of the itinerary, it's easy and the hotels provide travel cards for free bus travel across the area. The local partner was very efficient with luggage behind the scenes. The booking process was frustrating - sloppy admin, complicated by IT system requiring separate bookings and paperwork for our two rooms. Plus we missed out on cheap flights because it took 3 weeks to confirm our reservation.
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
Very helpful office staff. Communication sometimes a little slow. Walk maps for Kandersteg need updating. Walks were utterly superb, flowers and scenery amazing. Great too to see how little Kandersteg had changed since 1980s. Lovely too to see how the Swiss gov's support for farmers means systems here are extensive and the result wonderful flowers and Wildlife alongside dairy and meat production. As we farm we were jealous!
Hotel is excellent. Friendly service and good food. Picnic lunch much appreciated.
An excellent first start to walking holidays. The mobile OS map app was extremely valuable, gave peace of mind, and minimised getting lost.
Fabulous - thoroughly enjoyed all parts of the trip
Good variety of walks of differing difficulty with extremely detailed route instructions. Made extensive use of the bus and train system, which was included and also used a number of gondolas and chairlifts to access higher plateaus. The mountain backdrops are spectacular. In early June the area is pleasantly quiet.
A tranquil break on a beautiful island, with good walking and a brilliant hotel. A really fabulous break. Adding 3 days on the back to see Valetta was a great idea.
Easy walking holiday. Navigating some of the routes was a bit tricky and full use had to be made of the digital maps supplied. The hotels were very good and fairly close to restaurants for an evening meal. English to a certain extent was spoken by hotel staff. If you want to go to the visitor centre at the American Military Cemetary be aware that they won't let you in if you have a knife. I had a small Swiss Army Knife in my rucksack whiich was measured and declared to be too big. Couldn't leave it at reception so couldn't enter. Also having taken a taxi (20 euros) to Omaha I intended to have lunch in one of the 2 nearby restaurants but both were closed. Walked back to Port en Bessin on an empty stomach. Overall a very enjoyable holiday.
Spectacular scenery but not a huge amount of variation in the walking for the first 3 days. Coastal path challenging at times..
Excellent coastal walking in a beautiful part of Pembrokeshire but still allowing some time for sightseeing
The holiday struck the right balance for us, between support and organisation and independence. You always felt there was somebody who could advise you, and this took away any stress or worry. We felt in good hands. The choice of resort and accommodation exceeded our expectations.
This holiday was beautiful! It was so well organised. Island hopping is very different to the other Headwater holiday's we have done and be aware of the extra mileage of ferry hopping on top of the walks. The hotels were well placed and their hosts were amazing! Mljet was stunning and the walk to the top is so worth it!!! Hvar was beautiful but the Jelsa bus walk was very tight on time. Adding an extra day in Split was fantastic and he Croatian people were so friendly and kind. Overall we enjoyed every second and i would thoroughly recommend it!
The walks were challenging enough to get a sense of achievement without feeling overstretched. The GPS navigation made it almost impossible to go wrong and was a source of comfort, as was having Azra answering very quickly when I had to phone her with a question.
The accommodation and instructions were spot on, which led to me having a more relaxing week than when I have organised my own trips.
Self guided suited us as we’re used to ‘doing our own thing’ but this tour gave us our own space (with everyone having different walking paces) but provided the benefit of having other similarly minded people to share our trials and tribulations with at the end of each day - if you wanted to.
I would definitely recommend Headwater/Exodus to anybody wanting a self guided walking tour.
We had a wonderful time in the Dolomites, stunning scenery and interesting history on the walks. Amazing food in the refugios on the walks and in our hotel in Dobbiaco. As we went in early June, the weather wasn't as predictable and some walk options weren't fully operational,( which we had been told could be the case by Headwater) it was still worth going at this time as it was much quieter. On the some walks we only met a handful of people which was our preference. Also it was important to carefully read the bus timetables as some buses didn't run as frequently in early June ( marked by a 1 at the top of the column). The App was amazing and made it so easy to navigate and enjoy the walks. You can turn on different audio options, one will actually tell you to turn while another option beeps when a turn is coming up. The hotel was perfectly located near the train station which made it so easy to get the train. Some buses also went from there. Food and the service in the Park Hotel Bellvue were excellent, a real personal service with a drinks reception one evening to get to chat to the other headwater walkers. Organisation and communication from Megan at Headwater was excellent making is all very easy.
Great holiday overall - would definitely travel with Headwater again
The Channel Islands offer beautiful, scenic walks with opportunities to view wildlife.
We did this trip in reverse; Capri, Ischia & Procida. That fitted with other plans we had. Headwater were great at accommodating that change and updating a significant chunk of their documentation. Walking in Procida is a bit of a struggle given the nature of the island but the other islands made up for that. We especially enjoyed Ischia where the accommodation was fantastic and we used the buses (as we did in Capri) to visit some of the sights including a day at the Aphrodite Apollon Thermal Park which we would heartily recommend.
Walks were fabulous. Great accommodation. Food was excellent. We learnt a lot about the wine and food at Villa Amelia both of which were exceptional. Do do the walk to Serralunga it’s fabulous.
This was a magical ten days, walking in the wonderful Italian countryside with some amazing wild flowers in the hedgerows and some interesting small towns to visit on the way.
The itinerary was tougher than we expected for the moderate description so we will be more cautious in future. If using trains, we would recommend buying tickets on the day so you can catch the most suitable one as the ones suggested by the agent involved a lot of unnecessary waiting around and changes. However, the walking was through beautiful countryside and we visited some lovely towns and villages. A very enjoyable holiday.
So pleased we worked with Headwater. We used them to book our flights and rail tickets too. We found the maps and the GPS app on our phone useful too. it helped to read previous reviews and learn the we could turn our phones on to airplane mode and the app still worked. The towns, villages and coastline were magic. The local guide who met with us and ran us to one of the hotels was terrific and very knowledgeable. There was only one day we felt that the route overlapped with a but we had covered the previous day but only for about an hour. The suggestions for dining were good but the towns we stayed had loads of eating places so we didn't pre book any. Doing this walk the week leading up to the D Day anniversary was extra special as there were lots of events, people etc creating a very heart-warming atmosphere in the towns and at the two cemeteries. As well as enjoying the wonderful scenery we loved taking time to learn about the role Normandy played in history.
This holiday provides a great opportunity to see some of the main highlights of the Puglia region, visiting many sights of historical interest, a good standard of accommodation, nice manageable walks, and very efficient transportation (apart from some unpredictable Italian train services).
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!
An excellent holiday with pleasant walks and good food. Some knowledge of Spanish will help.
Bermuda is simply stunning. Fantastic coastlines & colours. Very friendly people. It was easy to get about via bus & ferry services, with not too challenging, scenic walking. The itinerary enables you to see most of the island in all it's glory.
The walking holiday in Puglia was exactly what we expected and hoped for. Using the GPS system we were able to walk at our own pace and enjoy the beautiful wild flowers, scenery and the varied walks that made up the tour.
Almost all of the accommodation was very good although our stay in Ostuni left a lot to be desired.
We were generally very happy with the organisation and planning that had gone into the visit.
This is a great holiday for people who have a good fitness level. The walks take longer than stated as the scenery is so magical
An enjoyable holiday with stunning scenery but the walks were somewhat more difficult than indicated due to the number and height of the steps involved. We particularly enjoyed the Tre Calle walk. Trying to use local buses was often impossible and we had to resort to taxis on a couple of occasions. The hotel was very good but is dominated by large groups if you are on a self guided holiday.
We visited Croatia May 20-28th 2023 and were very glad that we were not there in high season when apparently most of the islands we visited would be heaving with tourists. The weather was perfect and on many of our walks we met very few people, if any. Island hopping is an ideal way to enjoy the amazing scenery. One word of advice, make sure that you keep all your paperwork safe. It can be quite confusing at first to receive so many vouchers, which are essential for ferries and pickups. Having said that, everything worked seamlessly, apart from the time we nearly ended up in Dubrovnik, not realising we had docked in Mlijet! Take poles- nearly all walks are downhill on stony ground. I struggled a bit with the walk on Day 2 and opted to skip Day 3 walk due to the tight schedule. Otherwise all the walks were manageable and definitely worth it for the spectacular scenery. We found Croatia to be a little more expensive than anticipated. However, we would thoroughly recommend this holiday.
Fully up to expectations. our host provided us with an app called Ride with GPS for our phones. The routes were marked and easy to follow in real time except that we were caught out by a failing battery power.It might be good to remined future clients that it is worth having a reserve battery power pack to top up the phone if they want to use this facility. Howevere the written instructions you gave us were very good.
A full days journey to get there and return home which is tiring particularly as the service on arrival at Rome Airport was bad and rude.
Once at Chiancino it was a delight
A beautiful walking holiday taking in castles, hilltop villages and dramatic coastal walks.
The holiday gave us a good variety of walks - coastal; river valley and moor. Richard was an excellent walk manager. He kept in touch and had excellent knowledge of the walking routes so he was able to ‘tip us off’ where there were anomalies with the instructions.
Post Covid has affected the availability of choices of places to eat in the more rural areas. Worth checking websites and up to date information.
A wonderful holiday full of places of interest
Enjoyable, but see below.
Walking in very attractive wooded/hilly countryside, on a mixture of tracks and minor roads. May was a good choice - not too hot, but mainly sunny - although this meant some potential restaurant stops were closed. Estimate that about 5% of the itinerary is Level 2, with some scrambling required. Used the Navigation App, but glad that we had printed notes as backup when the satellite signal seemed to drop off. Second half of walk on Day 4 is tedious along roads, but Hotel Sporting Terme with its thermal swimming pool and copious buffet made up for it! Recommend a direct road transfer (at extra cost) from Venice airport to Cortela and back. We used the excellent local agents for this and they also provided day transport to/from Padua for a good day out there (Scrovegni Chapel etc). Overall a very good week.
We had an enjoyable week. The walking was, very good, although perhaps slightly more hilly than we had anticipated. The latter part of the holiday was in hotter weather about 20 to 23°, but much of it took place in dappled shade, and was a pleasant, walking temperature. We took a taxi to Padua from Galzignano a fabulous day out. I would recommend a visit to The Villa Barbarigo at Valsanzibio and also take the suggested walk and restaurant from Teolo on the day off. We chose the longer route to Cortela as it was our last walk, the terrain was quite demanding and on reflection wished we had cut out the zig zag on the way down.
An enjoyable experience, with like minded people
Beautiful coastal paths. Visit to Comino a must for the walk but very busy at the Blue Lagoon and extremely limited places to sit and enter the water. Fungus Rock area is spectacular as are the cliffs between Ta Cenc and Xlendi Bay. Easy to get around on the buses. Only 2 Euros for two hours travel on any route. There is no courtesy bus from the hotel, however, to Kantra Cove (which we thought was dangerous anyway) or to Victoria. Buses go one per hour. Had a few issues with our room but these were rectified promptly. The swimming pool in the spa is the loveliest I have ever swam in. Great way to end the day before dinner. Staff were all very pleasant, especially Natalie. On the downside, there is no shop or bar close to the hotel.
An enjoyable holiday overall. Sadly the weather wasn't great for the first few days, and a couple of the ferry rides were quite rough and sea-sickness inducing. Procida is well worth a visit and relatively quiet, hotel was quiet and had a lovely garden, swimming pool, and covered patio restaurant. Sadly the evening meal was not good. Ischia is becoming very touristy, but the Monastero hotel was a wonderful find. Excellent breakfast. We did not try the dinner there as it was an expensive tasting menu. Our bathroom was a bit cramped, but others were better. A lovely garden to explore and a free ticket to the Castello which was wonderful. The walking was a bit much for us (pensioners). Taking a bus to Campagnano on the first day would cut out a tedious climb through the outskirts of Ischia town. Capri has become very overcrowded with tourists, but the hotel was well placed away from the crowds, and had a lovely terrace. It was easy to shorten the walks to allow time to visit attractions.
Locations, accommodaton, food and general organisation were excellent. 2 of the days were hard/long.
Very well organised. Good routes. Mainly good hotels. Maps etc very good.
The planning of the holiday had been excellent. Although in one resort I was not accommodated in the hotel advertised, the alternative accommodation was delightful, suited me perfectly. and could not be faulted in any way. Transfers between transport hubs and hotels were excellent, so too the moving of luggage from location to location. A trouble-free vacation which I would love to repeat..
This was a hugely enjoyable but challenging walk. The hotels we stayed were very varied , welcoming and of a good standard. The staff were very helpful especially at La Giustiniana. We walked through stunning countryside, along old Roman roads in some places .The Headwater app was excellent for general information and navigation . Our bags arrived before us all but one day and they were quickly recovered and brought to the hotel .We met lovely people along the way. The walk into the St Peters was especially memorable .We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday.
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.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole holiday. The walking was very varied taking in stunning coastal scenery, verdant valleys and beautiful natural landscapes. The locals were friendly and the accommodation and food all brilliant. We especially loved staying in the ‘slow village’ of Pedralva. We would thoroughly recommend this excellent trip.
Headwater walking holiday provided a challenging adventure, exploring beautiful countryside in Catalonia. We have memories of Spanish castles, poppy filled valleys and turquoise rocky coves. What a wonderful holiday.
We felt very well looked after by Headwater both before and during our trip to Sicily this Spring. We have travelled with Exodus and Headwater on several guided and self-guided trips over the years, both with and without our family, and for activity holidays they would always be our first choice.
Amalfi Coast is overcrowded so be aware of this.
A very good holiday in all aspects. The food in Ta Cenc was disappointing. Few local dishes or Maltese cuisine.
We loved Sicily but experienced poor weather conditions so were unable to reach the island of Marettimo (which is the core of the holiday) and were offered a poor series of alternative activities.
This was an excellent holiday. Northern Italy had just suffered a deluge on our arrival and the weather was unusually mixed during our stay. The local contacts Carmen and George were extremely helpful, and with the useful and thorough notes provided by Headwater we were able to adapt the walking. The app was very good and reliable. Villa Poetica was the stand out hotel, high on a hill in a pretty village, our host Carla was excellent . All hotels were very clean and comfortable in good locations. We added two nights in the nearby city if Vicenza to our tour, a beautiful relaxing city. This was our first walking holiday, we hope to do more with Headwater in future.
A very enjoyable and varied walking holiday which zigzagged around one area in South West Portugal, providing hills, forests and spectacular coastal walks. The hotels in Sagres were both excellent, with super pools. The pool at Pedralva was out of action, and there was nowhere to relax in the sun after a long walk. Thankfully the pizza restaurant was open on the day we arrived. No amenities or shops in the area. Lagos was very enjoyable, with various local places of interest and eateries. Personally we would have preferred B&B at Costa D'Oira - the breakfast was excellent.
Our first walking holiday and it was a fabulous experience. The pre-departure notes and information provided, made planning easy. A necessary cancellation and re-booking was handled expertly by Helen. The itinerary and route notes were very detailed. The overall quality of accommodation and meals, was excellent. We never went hungry or without a glass of wine! All taxi and bag transfers went smoothly. We hadn't anticipated being joined by other Headwater guests at the various hotels and it made it very enjoyable to meet new walking companions. We would definitely book another trip in the future.
A really interesting and thoroughly fascinating taste of North Portugal, providing three contrasting locations. The Douro region was perhaps what we had most anticipated, with rolling vineyards down to the river and certainly did not disappoint - truly stunning walks. The National Park was the best surprise, travelling in and back out of Spain to reach, you are then in granite mountains with amazing rock formations, medieval paths and bubbling streams. Finally, you hit the river and coast for a real change of scene. The walking is quite challenging at times, with climbs and rocky paths for the first two locations, but although the river/coast days are long, the terrain is flat. The hospitality everywhere we stayed was amazing, and wine only 1.30 a glass! We finished with two nights in Porto, a must extension if you have the time. Having had a first introduction to what North Portugal offers, we will certainly be back at some point to revisit some of our favourite places.
Great location and wonderful walking. Just need to upgrade hotels.
A really good walking holiday and an excellent way to see South Devon - coast and inland. Accommodation was excellent and the local agent Richard Price could not have looked after us any better.
As an experienced walker I enjoyed being able to do interesting and varied walks in an area that I didn't know at all. The tranport of luggage meant we could take a bit more than we normally would which was a bonus.The app was excellent and worked flawlessly. The descriptions of the walks were accurate and they were largely off the road. Spectacular wild flowers.It was good to have coastal walks then inland ones. It would have been good to have some options for extended walks. We did an extra section at Otranto towards the lighthouse that was spectacular. The accomodation was varied and interesting though we did have issues at one hotel with lack of hot water and heating. These were responded to appropriately by Headwater. The towns we stayed in were interesting especially Matera and Lecce. The additional information given about each site was useful and we followed some of the recomendations for restaurants. We would certainly use Headwater again and indeed visit Puglia again.
A great experience with interesting and for the most part, rural, off the beaten track accommodation of a very high standard. The hosts were without exception extremely welcoming. The walk is challenging at times but no less enjoyable for that and the experience of arriving in Santiago and the sense of achievement at the end of the 6 days of walking was one I won't forget any time soon.
We travelled with our son who has special needs and we had a great time. The itinerary, organisation and choice of hotels and food was really good and the small number of special requirements we had were met really well. Croatia is a beautiful country and we had the best mix of activity and relaxation and met some lovely fellow travellers too.
Excellent location Jim had extensive knowledge of the arrea the walls were challenging but fantastic area. The hotel was well run great food attentive staff
Very interesting walking and spring a good time of year as everything very green. Dramatic rock cliffs and beautiful woodlands. Little towns of not much interest (apart from Jicin) but countryside more than made up for that. Good idea to extend in Prague as there's loads to do and the hotel (Hasta) is superbly situated with excellent restaurants close by. Staff also very helpful in Prague hotel in particular.
We greatly enjoyed the holiday and our apartment was lovely. We found the walks physically hard. Walks were problematic if one relied solely on the paper walk guides. We had battery problems when using the navigation app.
Beautiful walking in forested hills, mostly easy, but with a few stiff climbs. Good boots needed, and walking poles helpful
We were looking for a relaxing holiday in interesting locations with lovely walks and good food. This holiday was perfect. We especially enjoyed staying in the monastery in Ischia. Breakfast on the terrace there was a delight. The walks were excellent and the navigation App was very helpful. A wonderful holiday.
The flight had been delayed for 3 hours but the transport was waiting and Hotel Tripic stayed up to welcome us and had left a meal in our room. The owner and staff were always helpful and friendly. The room was clean and comfortable. The routes for the 6 walks we did were usually clear except the one to Vogel. We then moved to Hotel Cubo in Ljubljana which was really excellent. The staff again were pleasant and helpful, the room wonderful and breakfasts were particularly special!
An excellent week on Gozo with some great walks.
Good hotel.
No hotel minibus service provided to the start of the walks.
Buses and taxis are very good on Gozo with great online booking and information.
Very pleasant week was had by us both. Anything we needed to know the hotel was always happy to help us. the food and accommodation was great. we may well return there, even though we have been twice before
A well organised holiday from start to finish. Wonderful locations with great walks and scenery. We especially enjoyed the spring flower and shrubs including many Orchids and catching sight of the wild goats and birds on Marittemo. The additional visits to Segesta and Erice were well worth doing with spectacular views. Walking notes and maps were very good and easy to follow. All three locations were very different. We especially enjoyed the last stay at Daniella's where we were welcomed on arrival each day with a pot of tea on the terrace in her beautiful landscaped gardens. All in all, we would thoroughly recommend this holiday especially if taken in May when the flora is wonderful and the temperatures are perfect for walking.
Headwater booked the trip but the hotel actually provided were different than reality. Having arrived expecting Hotel Homiday time we were then told actually it’s Galeon. Itinerary were incorrect. Guide didn’t arrive on first day. The walks were excellent and enjoyed. Hotel Romantica left no options other than hotel to eat. It tries to be fine dining which is not what you want after a long days walk resulting in large food bills.
I would thoroughly recommend the Highlights of Hadrians Wall Walk as offered by Headwater to anyone looking for an interesting, moderate walk lasting less than a week including travel days. The landscape was more varied than I was expecting, with amazing views from the Sill, delightful pockets of woodland and lakes and rivers. We spent a bit of time exploring Vindolanda, Housesteads, the Roman Army Museum and the Sill Discovery Centre which added to the interest.
We loved the holiday. Each day seemed to get better and better and it was nice and varied with lots to see. The app makes navigation a cinch. We loved the hotels as well, all three quite different with different offerings. Headwater were brilliant in their flexibility re changing pick up times and adding days on. This was our first walking holiday so I can't compare to others but we had a very enjoyable time.
A well organised walking holiday to a stunning area of France. All accommodation and local cuisine of a high standard.
Varied and interesting itinerary, with a good mix of private transfer, train and walking. The accommodation was excellent, especially my trulli in Alberobella. The local agents, Slow Active, were excellent, always on time and ready to help. Matera was an amazing city to end the holiday with, and I'm glad we had several days there.
A superb walk along a magnificent coastline & through countryside alive with wild flowers & butterflies in this lesser known part of Portugal. The accommodation chosen is delightfully varied - part luxury/part simple. Quality food in terms of breakfast & evening meals. Both the written walk notes & maps together with the GPS App are very accurate & helpful. The staff & service provided from start to finish and during the holiday was professional, knowledgeable & pleasant. This is our 6th walking holiday with Headwater. We will definitely book more.
The Cinque Terre has some challenging walking and beautiful scenery. Unfortunately it is overly touristic (during the period we were there the local villages received some 40000 visitors per day) so village locations were impassable - walking routes not so much. This uncomfortable but also difficult as all transport is by rail, many trains being full to overflowing with daytrippers and also travellers with full baggage. Sestri Levante was a very pleasant and manageable base, and the hotel friendly and professional
This was as much an adventure as a holiday. We loved it. Setting out every day, heading for some where different, walking through beautiful country side and meeting friendly locals and the daily thrill of our luggage arriving at the next hotel before we did. We enjoyed the interesting sometimes quirky hotels and thought the navigation App was really good. Thank you for a great trip.
Great holiday especially out of season! Would be very busy in peak season and loved having walks and beaches to myself, not having to book restaurants and everywhere so green and lush! Great walks and plenty of time to explore the towns.
Excellent and responsive advice from the start from your staff; the ensuing paperwork was thorough and comprehensive.
All the arrangements and logistics throughout were smooth and efficient.
We thought the walks were very well chosen and well balanced: demanding at times but never anything but enjoyable and rewarding. The final walk back to Benevello was our favourite - a varied and delightful walk through absolutely beautiful countryside. You definitely need to purchase a picnic for this walk.
All the hotels were very good though it took us a while to get used to the arrangements at Fontanafredda: be sure to make good use of the roof terrace - it’s a well kept secret! The Uve Rooms were also unusual but the staff were delightful and we would thoroughly recommend eating there. Our favourite hotel by far is Villa d’Amelia; it’s such a beautiful house and grounds and the staff are delightful. We ate very well there and would love to return one day.
Walking Hadrians Path was an excellent holiday but I think the 2 rating is too low. There were some parts that were difficult to walk and scrambling is not a 2 rating. I could not get a taxi to take me to Lanercost on Day 2 for the start of the walk. Other clients have said the same thing but nothing addressed. It was the goodwill of the Blenkinsopp hotel owner that saved the day. The Blenkinsopp staff are amazing as is the hotel and food esp. Carol's lamb roast. It is remarkable that guests are put in the George Inn esp. given previous feedback. The hotel is tired, my room was dirty and the staff are not welcoming. I realise location (Corbridge) might be the essential factor, but I wonder what is being done to incentivise the George to make much needed improvements. I received a Day 1 briefing but for the sake of 10mins, I am not sure what the point was. Going over the literature that I had already read didn't seem fruitful. Overall a positive experience and great walking holiday.
Wonderful mixture of walking and culture - really beautiful, walks not too strenuous and so give plenty of time for sitting down and reading a book etc as well.
Fabulous itinerary making the most of this region of Italy. A good balance with historical visits. The walking made the most of the wild coastline and the locations of all of the accommodation were just perfect. We traveled in the second half of April so enjoyed gorgeous wild flowers on our walks. The seafood in particular was amazing throughout and the home cooking of our last accommodation (Baglio La Luna) just perfect. Absolutely loved this week!
Well organised - well directed walks with accurate instructions. Good back up in emergency. Lovely places to stay and enjoyable walking.
Very well organised and a beautiful area to explore. Local rep was excellent and highly recommend this holiday where you choose the mix of walking and relaxing.
La Gomera is a wonderful island to explore. Walks are quite demanding. While we enjoyed driving around the island it's not recommended if you're nervous negotiating hairpin bends and/or roads with sheer drops on one side!
I would recommend this holiday on basis that the selected itinerary and choice of accommodation which was excellent
Varied walks in a beautiful area of The Luberon with very comfortable accommodation . Fabulous in the Spring with the cherry blossom.
Excellent walking break though you do need a reasonable level of fitness as its long and tiring at times with lots of ascents. Hotel choices over all were well above expectations to the point that the worst accommodation was more within our expectations for a walking break. All instructions were very clear and easy to follow. You can book with Headwater with a level of confidence.
Fantastic walk along Hadrian’s wall. Beautiful scenery throughout . Very easy to follow the route via the route notes and waymarks . Accommodation was comfortable and friendly. The walking was just about right - challenging enough to be enjoyable but totally achievable . We used trains and taxis at the start and end and that was very easy. If you want to visit the museums it might be worth putting in an extra night as would be tricky to fit all that in with the walking; we were happy just to walk . Highly recommend and good price
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.
Having never tried a holiday like this we were a little apprehensive, but we needn't have worried. Thanks to Headwater's meticulous planning we can highly recommend 'Walk The Algarve's Wild West' - it was a most memorable experience from start to finish. The delightful scenery meant the walks were all hugely enjoyable, with only a couple of slightly monotonous sections which were thankfully short. We went in late March when the flowers and birdlife were at their best, as was the weather. As the maps are not exactly OS standard, the app proved to be invaluable. We were amazed by the quality and variety of the three hotels, especially in Sagres and Pedralva. And while Vila do Bispo may not be the most exciting town, we had two exceptional evening meals in the local restaurants. All transfers ran like clockwork and Headwater's local agent, Lea, could not have been more helpful. We are already perusing the brochure for next year's adventure.
A landscape where the "Bible meets the Burren" ! Amazing rocky, parched landscapes with dramatic cliff walks, ridgeline villages, church domes and clear seas you want to dive into. We self guided around the coast and villages of Gozo, relying on the local buses and a stout stick. Relatively eas y walking but the unremitting hard surfaces can be sore on your feet and knees. We travelled in March and benefitted from the wild flowers and green valleys. Hotel Ta Cenc was wonderful with its dramatic cliff setting. The ridgeline villages are beautiful, although quiet, but we loved the bustle of Victoria and would especially recommend a visit to the Citadel.
Consider more variety of walks possibly with more challenge
Hotel excellent; some of the walks quite tricky. Driving (to the hotel and to each walk) is not for the faint hearted!
Interesting walks in beautiful unspoilt areas of Northern Portugal. The service from the local company Green Walks was outstanding and the navigation app priceless, we wouldn't do another self-guided holiday without the navigation app
La Gomera is a stunningly beautiful and totally unspoilt island. The walking is fabulous but you must have a very good head for heights and be a confident driver too as the roads are very serpentine. Travel arrangements were very straightforward.
Excellent walking holiday although we were unlucky to lose 2 days walking due to thunderstorms. The Mill hotel in Kakopetria was quirky but very comfotable and we enjoyed the spa bath after the walks. If wifi was necessary the speed was very slow. Droushia Heights hotel was modern and comfortable with good speed wifi. However, we were quite early in the season and the outdoor pool had not been filled. That did not bother us. The final walk we decided to start from Neo Chorio and take the Aphrodite trail. Fabulous walk and terrific views. We completed the walk after refreshment by walking to the next hotel, the Aphrodite Beach hotel. This also was clean and comfortable with good wifi but the beach cafe was not yet open. On our final day we walked to the little port of Latchi for a nice lunch. Gps system worked well.
Excellent holiday with very good accommodation and wonderful, scenic walks. Favourite walks were in Firgas (the one with the climbing ropes and log bridges!), Artenara ridge (make sure you have a phone to ring for a return taxi) and Barranco de Guayadeque with spring flowers. Both hotels were very good, although it's worth mentioning that they have central air-con which was still set to heating in a 26 degree heatwave. Fortunately Alberto was able to help us persuade them to switch over to cooling mode.
We weren't able to eat at El Mondalon as the restaurant was closed for the 3 nights we were there (2 nights for a private function and closed Monday as standard). Casa Miranda, a 10 minute walk up the road, was very good but also closed Sunday evening and Monday. At the Parador there's a choice of either the restaurant or the cafe/bar and the watercress soup is an absolute must (it's not vegetarian, despite the name). Tejeda, a 15 minute drive away, has lots of eating options too.
This is a lovely walk and well waymarked, however the description fails to mention that a lot of the walking in on soft sand so the distances and ascent/descent descriptions are very misleading
This is a good walking holiday based in very comfortable hotels with excellent meals and facilities. The itinerary means that you experience different areas of this beautiful island. The taxi transfers were always on time and the drivers often gave very useful advice. The actual walks were varied, but some were very challenging and good boots and walking poles were essential for these.
Good varied walking - each day was different. Beautiful places to stay. In Fuente Heridos, there is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant called “Veg and Veg”. The food is really good and interesting, and it is run by an enthusiastic couple who told us all about the food. We had one of the best meals of our trip, and we are not even vegetarian. Thoroughly recommended, particularly as a change from the general pork-based cuisine of the area
Enjoyable vacation in a beautiful country
The itinerary worked smoothly & efficiently. Both hotels were welcoming, comfortable, and responsive to our special dietary requirements. The walks were most enjoyable, especially the (rather earlier than usual) Spring flowers, panoramic views, and beaches. We found a secluded little bay with a rocky, wave-fed, & rocky “spa” pool that was ideal for a bracing quick dip at the end of our day’s walk. The navigation app was quick to master and worked well. (No smartphone battery problems occurred with an iPhone 11 switched to low power mode.j
The Akamas Peninsula is a good destination and we were fortunate with the weather for late February. We liked the choice of short or longer walks which suited us. But the walking notes were not always accurate and were clearly designed for those using GPS. Facilities in the locality were limited, e.g bars and restaurants not yet open for the season. This was despite having checked with the agent that they would, mostly, be available. Food in the second hotel was very poor, although the staff were friendly and tried their best to please. Rooms were adequate but a few additions such as slippers (the tiled floor was very cold at this time of the year) and decent towels would have made the stay more comfortable.
A fantastic way of discovering the rugged beauty of Tenerife and its well preserved natural areas. The option of long routes and short routes provides the needed flexibility for each day of the trip.
Well organised. App was excellent. Walks were harder than anticipated from grading. Island is beautiful and feb weather is good for walking. Hotels were okay but we would have liked the option to upgrade to a sea view. Second hotel restaurant was overrun with cats. Not very hygienic.
We were very impressed by the customer service provided in setting up the holiday arrangements: Headwater also helped us to arrange an extension of our stay in Cyprus with a rented car, all of which worked very well. Both hotels were excellent, with a special commendation for the home cooking at Aphrodite Beach. The walks were very well explained and the app-based route guidance was easily accessible and reliable. It is a very good idea to offer long and short versions of the walks each day, together with plenty of advance information about ascents and descents. The routes were generally well-chosen, with very little use of roads and we enjoyed some marvellous scenery.
We had a very enjoyable holiday. The hotel was comfortable and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
Food was very good.
We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed the walks although on a few of them we found the instructions ambiguous on occasions. Some of the paths were quite hidden. Generally directions were good as were buses.
Walks were more challenging than anticipated but gave us a sense of achievement at the end!
The walking on El Hierro was excellent, the paths are very well waymarked and generally in good condition. The local agent Ralf was excellent and looked after us very well. For future trips to El Hierro please note that the path normally taken from Jinama to El Frontera is closed due to a landslip, so Ralf collected us from there and drove further along the escarpment to the next path. Also, please note that when we arrived in Tenerife, there was no taxi arranged to take us to the ferrybport, although a phone call soon sorted that out. Also, although we were told we were staying in Los Verodes in El Frontera, we were actually booked into Apartments Alameda, so that caused some confusion. This may have been due to the changeover from New Experience to Headwater.
We had a great time with varied walks and lovely swims in sunshine in February. The local guides were helpful and supportive; for example they informed us about a closed road with ice and fog. Driving in Tenerife is challenging with many windy roads and we felt we could have been told in advance about this.
An excellent adventure, great walking and fantastic hotels. The walking can be tricky in wet weather, slippery down hill sections and February a prime time for wet weather, but the challenges were well worth it, Madeira is a wonderful walking destination.
Excellent choice of destination and hotel offering a mix of history, nature and culture.
Beautiful location, excellent walking.
Travelling in late January meant that it was very peaceful and we passed very few people on our walks, however there were also very limited options to eat and drink. Fortunately, the hotel breakfasts were excellent and set us up well for the day, but we would recommend that you come prepared with cereal bars and snacks.
Malta (and Gozo) are great destinations for independent travel. The bus service is superb - an extremely reliable way of getting to and from places to start and finish walks. There are plenty of excellent walks to choose from taking in a range of spectacular coastal scenery, historic sites and attractive towns and villages. Gozo is the prettier, and quieter, island of the two so suited us more but we wouldn't have wanted to miss the historic attractions on the main island. We could easily have spent 3 days exploring Valletta and the 3 cities! A final word about Headwater's local guide, Stephania. She was one of the best guides we have had for this type of holiday. She was very attentive, full of great ideas on how to improve on the walks provided by Headwater and offered a number of great alternatives to the Headwater suggested itinerary. She kept in touch throughout our stay in an unobtrusive but reassuring way. A credit to Headwater and to Malta!
Weather in January was disappointing. Damp, cold and on the day we should have walked down from the highest point icy, so walking was prohibited.
Contrasts of Tenerife Walking holiday does just what it says on the tin! It was a series of excellent, very different walks - contrast between and within the walks! Superb variety, lovely hotels to stay in and a great holiday!
The holiday was so enjoyable. We were pleasantly surprised that it was only us on the holiday and not a group. We usually organise our own holidays and so it was a change to have it all done for us - once we realised how well everything worked we really relaxed - knowing that the taxis would arrive when they said they would, the hotels were of good standard and the navigation app worked really well. The scenery was stunning and we absolutely loved all the walks.
We enjoyed the holiday so much that we were looking at your website to see which holiday we wanted to do next whilst waiting at the airport in Madeira for the flight home! Thanks to Helen from Headwater for making the booking of our holiday such an easy experience too. We would definitely recommend Headwater to our friends.
Routes were varied, interesting and well documented. Hotel standard and service was excellent. Location was probably too remote with a tortuous car journey back to near sea level from 800m, to start access to many walks. Location also meant there were no local alternative dining destinations.
We had a very good holiday. The first, third and fourth hotels were excellent
The fourth hotel Quintinha São João was the best - recommend you use it regularly. Transfers were all very good We shared the trip with a very nice English couple. The second hotel Porto Bay Serra Golf in Santo da Serra was average, service was stretched and the staff were less customer focused. The hotel was cold, condensation continually ran down our room windows. Santo de Serra has little to offer and everyone on the island seemed to know it rained there most of January. The holiday in the winter months would be better with the Santana hotel and then more days in Funchal which does get some sun. The walks could be reached by transfer easily. We found the App brilliant as were our printed off instructions. The walks were moderate/ challenging- the levada on day 2 has tremendous exposure with 300m drops and the coastal walk is exposed. Friends in Funchal sorted gentler walks easily.
An excellent introduction to the beautiful island of Madeira. Well-planned walks and spectacular scenery from the high levels of the levadas to the stunning coastal walks. Hotels are well chosen and the local service is efficient and friendly.
We greatly enjoyed the varied walking routes and the comfortable hotels. The detailed route notes and gps maps gave us confidence.
Communication and service from my first conversation and email communication with the Headwater Team was excellent. The Airport, hotel and daily activity transport and guidance was excellent through out, with all the team involved being knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you all.
The majority of our trip was lovely, the only downside was our experience at Hotel Romantica, which was quite negative. The hotel was quite uncared for, in need of maintenance and modernisation, the public areas particularly had a musty feel and were dark. The owner was rude, we had queried the previous evening why our starter took an hour to arrive after we had sat down. The following morning, Christmas day, he confronted us aggressively, insisting it was half an hour, he didn't even bother with 'Good Morning'. This incident soured our stay at this hotel, he rarely acknowledged us for the remainder of our visit.
We enjoyed the walking, the routes and the Holiday Time hotel in Santa Cruz was delightful.
We enjoyed the variety of the hotels, the walking routes and the new places visited. It was nice to be a bit off the tourist trail. The peacefulness of the countryside and the wildness of the coast was a good contrast.
Wonderful location, amazing walks and landscapes, friendly helpful locals.
A wonderful walking holiday in Tenerife. Walks extremely well described in the trip notes. Weather variable as expected this time of year but suitable alternatives to high level hiking were suggested for the days with poor weather. The hikes gave us a fantastic experience of the variety of climate, terrain and aspect of this beautiful Island. It was our first visit to Tenerife but we will return.
We used a hire car, organised by Headwater. When we arrived at Garachico late on Friday evening we found it difficult to find parking in the narrow streets and to navigate the one way system. Your advice was to park in a street nearby the hotel. The hotel receptionist suggested the car park , the campo futbal,only a two minute walk from the hotel. The car park was free and there were always spaces. We suggest that you direct future clients here.
Great walking holiday, efficiently organised and accurately described accommodation. Walks were through some beautiful remote countryside and the app was brilliant at ensuring we never got lost. Would definitely book through Headwater again, as soon as possible!
We thoroughly enjoyed walking the Akamas Peninsula in late October / early November 2022. We really benefitted from being able to stay at the Droushia Heights Hotel for 7 nights followed by 7 nights at the Aphrodite Beach Hotel. The staff at each hotel were most helpful and welcoming. We received room upgrades at both hotels. Two weeks provided us with plenty of scope for walking the routes and exploring and relaxing locally. We walked all five 20 km routes, all of which we loved. We cherished people's friendliness; experiencing the detail of the Akamas landscape of foot; the quiet and peaceful villages and environments; the wonderful scenery; pristine beaches for swimming and sunbathing; the delicious food and the warm sunshine. Thank you to Joanne Chaplin and the staff of Headwater, Cyprus Walks, Droushia Heights Hotel and the Aphrodite Beach Hotel for a wonderful holiday.
The staff at Headwater were really polite, friendly, helpful and efficient, especially when our flight was cancelled. The different hotels were great (clean, beautifully maintained, friendly staff). Treks were easy to navigate from the detailed descriptions provided and rewarded us with stunning views. It's not the cheapest way to go but Headwater took all the stress out of organising the holiday and for people with busy lives, that's worth a lot.
Absolutely fantastic holiday. Would highly recommend Headwater for their destinations and organisation. Have been with them a number of time now and they are always the first place I look at when going to book a holiday.
We booked our own hotel in Valletta as wanted it to be an old hotel in the old area – and would suggest you do offer that option to travellers on Malta. We were disappointed that at the 5 star Ta Cench hotel we were initially put into a room with clearly broken air-conditioning control and function, and workmen working on the roof from 7.0 a.m. onwards. This was not good for one of your customers, but one of the lovely customer managers was excellent at showing us replacement option rooms and upgrading us to a better room. We greatly enjoyed our stay on Gozo, and appreciated the detail of your walks. Over dinner in the beautiful restaurant on Gozo, we met several other headwater holiday travellers, who were all unanimous on their pleasure at the headwater holiday – as well we. We have limited funds, but if we can ever afford it, we should certainly travel with your company again and recommend it. Thank you
A comfortable way to walk the Via Francigena. The route was very quiet when we walked it in October. We enjoyed the lovely countryside and interesting villages. Accommodation was basic but clean and comfortable.
Excellent holiday in October, lovely flowers- our weather was good enough to swim in outdoor pools - Serra Golf and Quinta do Furao had indoor pools . Our first day walking along the coast entailed significant climbing up at end of walk. On day off some of the group, we went away with ,walked on the peninsula which was beautiful. My husband had a eyesight problem whilst we were away and despite lots of phoning around by Headwater folk no eye specialist was available . We visited an emergency department in a hospital in Funchal and had excellent care given reasonably promptly. As regards flights please be aware Funchal has a challenging airport - our flight was aborted just as we were about to land . We enjoyed taking part in the sledge down and tele-cabin up, visited botanical gardens and took part in Madeira wine tasting. Walks were stunning, great views - remember either your phone or head torch for tunnels . I used my walking sticks throughout, for security and down hills.
Fantastic trip and introduction to Madeira. Some of the walks are challenging so you need to be fit.
Useful to have B&B in last hotel to make the most of the restaurants in Funchal. Taxis reasonable price. Try A Bica but advised to book as very popular.
Excellent holiday. Very well looked after. First walk along the coast was quite challenging due to number of steps and heat but we really enjoyed it. The levada walks were amazing due to the views, wildlife and plants. No really scary bits and felt safe at all times with appropriate safety rails. Food in hotels excellent, all hotels had pools and very relaxing. We enjoyed Funchal for meals out and visiting the botanical gardens and other sites. A great relaxing holiday. Highly recommend doing the wine tour at Blandys if you have time and taking home some Madeira.
Holiday was good and as expected. Ta Cenc is excellent, and all transfers were on time etc. Would certainly recommend. Walks varied and easily accessible on Gozo. A relaxing, quiet place to stay!!
This was a fantastic trip. Well organised. Navigation App very good but interestingly my younger companion (daughter in law) found the written instructions very helpful. Lovely part of Europe, food amazing, walking really enjoyable and good weather.
Good walking through beautiful countryside
The booking, information and support from the Headwater agent was excellent, any queries were answered promptly and fully. The island of Madeira is fabulous and this holiday gave a really good picture of life there. The walks are challenging but worth it and walking the levadas is a unique, if at times, scary experience! The taxis drivers are excellent and beyond helpful, their pride in their country shines through, their English is excellent. Recommended if you have a head for heights and a love of landscape and flora. The cable car to the botanical gardens is well worth doing and a free one way ticket is included in your holiday. It is worth noting that the toboggans do not routinely run, we were not bothered by this but some others were.
Overall the holiday from start to finish was extremely well planned and managed in both the UK and Madeira.
The walks were varied and showed the contrasts of the island. In general the route notes were excellent, a couple of minor updates required. All transfers were very good with excellent, pleasant and informative drivers.
All hotels were very good, all with excellent breakfast options. We were slightly disappointed with the dinner at Quinta do Furao as it had a limited menu. Location of Porto Bay Serra was good with an easy walk into town. Quinta da Bela Vista was a nice hotel with good facilities but for us was too far from Funchal Old Town and the shuttle service does not run weekends. As we were only B&B here it was also a long walk to the sea front restaurants.
Took advantage of the cable car ticket to vista the botanical gardens, would have liked to take the toboggan down but they don't operate on Sundays.
Would definitely recommend at least one or two extra nights in Funchal.
A great experience - we did regret that we hadn’t extended the 5 to a 7 night holiday . Gozo is a very special place. The hotel was excellent particularly the friendly service and the superb evening meals. The walks were delightful .The highlight was joining in a procession through a village streets as part of a local festival.
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.
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.
great experience
An excellent holiday with lots of variety in the walks. Madeira is a beautiful place. The route notes were very good and the arranged transport and transfers were efficiently carried out. The hotels were very comfortable and in good locations for the walks.
Piedmont is a truly beautiful, enchanting and interesting corner of NW Italy. We learnt a lot about the social and economic history, enjoyed the wines and food, and found all of the local people to be extremely friendly. The milk ice cream at the restaurant Guido was to die for! Our few days in Turin at the end were very enjoyable: a fascinating and beautiful (former capital) city with lots to see and do. We had very good weather and the end of September/early October was perfect for walking, seeing the grapes being harvested and the start of the truffle season. Some of the walks were quite tough in terms of ascent but the beauty of the landscape made up for it. We will certainly return to Piedmont.
Holiday was very good expect for staying in Belvedere Hotel
It could help if we had maps and app
Overall our holiday was great, well organised transfer, lovely staff, location and facilities at the hotel. Food and drink options also excellent. Walking options were varied.
I enjoyed a varied and interesting walk in Normandy.
The highlights of the trip were the times spent in Honfleur and Bayeux and its well worth tagging on an extra day at each end of your holiday.
The accommodation I stayed in was not as grand as that I experienced during a recent Headwater trip to the Dordoigne but it was more than adequate. The locations of the hotels were generally excellent. While in Beuvron en Huge I stayed at Le Manoir de Sens and just a bit of advice for any future travellers. There is no onsite catering so make sure you stock up on food and drink in the village at the end of the days walking.
The walking was generally interesting, taking in a combination of farmland, villages and coastline. At times the route was a little undulating but it shouldn't present a challenge to a regular walker. One of my objectives was to visit the D-Day beaches and I found the American and British war cemeteries particularly moving.
Overall, a very enjoyable trip.
From start to finish the whole service was first class. Highly recommended
Thoroughly enjoyable, and well organised trip
September was a wonderful time to walk in the Euganean Hills. The countryside was beautiful and the walking interesting and scenic.
The holiday was excellent. We had a great time. On balance we would have preferred slightly more upscale accommodation. We especially thought that the Arts et Terroirs hotel in Gevrey Chambertin was extremely dated, and generally disappointing. The staff however were absolutely charming.
We found the printed walk instructions and maps very poor, and had we not downloaded and followed the app we would have got lost countless times. The instructions were too perfunctory and just didn’t do the job. Using the ‘Ride GPX’ app made the walk way easier.
Overall we loved our holiday and hope you will take any criticism in a positive way.
The classic Catalan walk offered a varied route from coastal scenery to well preserved villages in the interior. The standard of accommodation was good and well located.
On previous Headwater holidays the local rep has met us on arrival at the hotel to go through the itinerary but this didn’t happen here. We rang Cyprus Walks on the first evening and we spoke again a day or so later to arrange pick up times when we had more idea of what we wanted to do and how far we wanted to walk. It was good to have a choice of short and long routes each day. In Droushia we ate out each night. There was a choice of tavernas within walking distance but we went to Finikas Tavern every night which had a lovely courtyard at the back with a grape vine for a roof and did a fabulous Greek salad amongst other things. On our first walk we went to Mylari Bistro in Kritou Terra at lunch time for some welcome refreshment. Lovely walk to Lara beach. The Aphrodite Beach Hotel had a nice beach below it and a good fish restaurant not connected to the hotel which was only open in the daytime. Stoney beach so would recommend wet shoes/pumps in the sea. Overall, good holiday.
At the time of our visit dining and drinking options in the area were very limited with most cafes, bars and restaurants closed. The only real option was the hotel where food choice was limited and repetitive.
This was our first trip to the Maltese Islands and we had a couple of days staying at the Pheonicia Hotel in Valetta, Malta before going over to our walking holiday in Gozo, which helped us to aclimatise to the area and understand its history a little. Both hotels we stayed in (the Pheonicia and Ta Cenc) were excellent, very comfortable, with great facilities and lovely food. The walks in Gozo were very interesting and helped us to see most of the island using the local bus service to take us to the start point for some walks. Our only criticism is that we needed larger scale maps and some of walk instructions need to be updated. We have done many Headwater Holidays and this was the first one where we struggled with some of the instructions, but a more detailed map would have made the difference. Otherwise it was a most enjoyable holiday- thank you!
Overall, the holiday was very good. In mid-September we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine, and the walks themselves were enjoyable, varied and largely on well signposted wide gravel paths. We made full use of the cable cars, buses, Headwater’s GPS files and a free app called Swiss Topo. This enabled us to veer off the suggested routes, for example to the summit of First from the Allmenalp lift, although paths were well-marked. The views from the Oeschinensee walk were exceptional, but the stroll to Blausee (currently green) did not really merit a place on the itinerary. The location was ideal for a 7-day walking holiday. We got off to a poor start as the train from Bern was cancelled and when we rang the Alfa Soleil they weren’t expecting us until the following day. The superior room with balcony, for which we paid an extra £40 a night, was sunless, cold, cramped, dated, had no Wi-Fi and the fire escape ran through the middle of it. Make sure you get a room on the front.
Headwater response:
We would like to thank you for providing such comprehensive feedback.
We are pleased that you did enjoy your holiday and would like to assure you that your comments regarding the accommodation will be reviewed by the Product Manager for this holiday.
Headwater Customer Services
Incredible holiday, communication back and forth with Headwater prior to the trip was simple and straight forward, very friendly, knowledgable & was always able to help, easy to get hold of via email & over the phone. Flights, train & bus transfers from start to finish was seamless and very straight forward to follow. Hotel was in a prime location for accessing the mountains which meant everyday we were straight to the gondolas without any faff inbetween. Hotel was clean, friendly & happy to help with good local knowledge of the area, food & service was on point. 100% would be happy to use Headwater again to book a holiday, prior to the trip I had booked a trip with a different company which sadly fell through, their communication was poor and lacking leaving me unsure about these types of holidays. Headwater is the full opposite, a professional company who has completely got my confidence in using them again in the future. My holiday to Switzerland was one to remember so thank you!!
A very lovely holiday staying in beautiful cities in a variety of different types of accommodation. The walks were varied and well explained.
Very well organised holiday and run very efficiently
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.
This was our first "organised" holiday and so a new experience for us. The organisation was excellent, including travel bookings, taxis from hotels to start of walks, and luggage transfer. The hotels were superb, all with character and very "French" (family-owned, no chains). The walk directions were clear and accurate, as were the maps, and the availablity of GPX files was very helpful. The staff at Headwater were very helpful and efficient, and replied to emails and phone-calls very quickly. I would certainly book a walking holiday through Headwater again.
We had a wonderful holiday! The unique selling point of Headwater is the combination of walking in beautiful scenery and high-class accommodation. The pace of the holiday allowed time to explore the local area as well as enjoy the hotels. The walks were generally very well described, and the maps we only used as back-up on odd occasions. I would thoroughly recommend Headwater....we had a great time ! Thank you !
The Altmuhltal 5 day walking holiday is one of the less good Headwater holidays we’ve been on - we've been in more than a dozen. Our holiday was in September and therefore just after the season ended. As a result finding restaurants was difficult - we actually had no dinner at Dollnstein since all the restaurants were closed. A little tricky after a 17 mile walk!
The walking was enjoyable, through pretty countryside. Day 2 was tough (Pappenheim to Dollnstein) and dragged on a bit towards the end. We’re glad we didn’t do the longer holiday, which would have been very tough.
Eurohike notes were scant, but their App was excellent.
One high point was Hotel zur Sonne in Pappenheim. A lovely hotel and fabulous restaurant.
One last point. We don’t recommend flying via Nuremberg. BA flights in and out were late in the day. Our outbound flight ran 3 hours late, meaning we arrived at our hotel after midnight. Our return flight was almost as late, meaning we got home similarly very late.
This was a lovely trip. The notes for the walk were excellent - very helpful. This a walk so worth doing even though it was quite taxing in parts.
All hotels excellent, but all slightly different. Had a little trouble with walking notes and ended up walking much farther than expected. Very nice part of Spain and area I didn’t know I enjoyed Girona on the way back again very good hotel and right in the centre
The walking was fine but a bit too much on lanes/roads for us personally. That said I appreciate that this was as much to do with the area chosen as anything else and also the fact that we had to get from A to B. The hotels were all very different and without exception fun to stay in. The only downside was the limited choice/unchanging menus at two of them (already corresponded about). The maps didn't arrive until after we'd left for the holiday and were awaiting our arrival home. Luckily my husband had managed to buy copies as they proved essential at times, although the walking notes were on the whole, very good.
Our week in Kandersteg was highly anticipated and still managed to exceed our expectations. The Alpha Soleil was a lovely location with a fantastic breakfast and supper dinner meal. Portions are generous, but not excessive. The provision for lunch packing made each hiking day so easy, The hike plans were so clear and maps so excellent we never wondered if we had strayed from the intended path. The staff was cheerful and generally kind. Many made you feel like a new friend, without being overbearing.
The hike itineraries were stunning, for those who love the mountains. The trails are clean and adequately maintained and not too heavily populated. We would do every hike again, they are so wonderful. They are challenging, but not difficult. We commonly spent 6 hours/day on the trail, basking in the beauty of this spectacular setting.
Further, Kandersteg is so convenient to other marvelous Swiss mountain towns, you can easily extend to see even more.
A great holiday as long as you are happy to find your own way around places and have a good level of fitness. Very well organised and efficient.
All that we were looking for in this holiday - great location, stunning scenery, peace when walking, great support and excellent food - the first proper holiday for one of us in a long while and well overdue.
The only note is, wow, Tuscan food can be rich/heavy!! Used to more of the Mediterranean style Italian food and occasionally it was a bit too much for both of us in the meat and/or cheese combinations. But always excellent in taste and quality which really shone through.
Stefano and the team were outstanding, very helpful and knowledgeable. He's a great host and ambassador for you and the rest of the team were also very kind and helpful. Location is perfect, the walks measured and always end in somewhere nice for a late lunch and wander in some shady streets. Mid September was a great time - not too hot or crowded but still plenty going on.
The holiday and value for money was let down by the George Hotel experience
Menorca is a beautiful, quiet island ideal for 1 boot walking. I cannot rate the hotel anything other than excellent, it surpassed all expectations. Great location and facilities.
Headwater were really helpful and met our various requests. It was an excellent trip with varied walks which really give you a feel for the La Palma. Recommend you use the first walk to gague the timings suggested in the instructions, and use a map too. Take plenty of water and snacks as cafés along some routes are closed. Take a swim suit on the Charco Azul walk as the sea pools there are great, and a refreshing way to end the walk. Make sure you have your camera charged as the scenery is stunning!!!
Excellent walking trip on a beautiful scenic island
Excellent trip, very well organised, great hotels with lovely swimming pools, just what we wanted and can't wait to book our next holiday with Headwater.
The company have been fantastic, we’ve had the holiday postponed for 2 years. The best communication & customer service I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. I can not recommend the company highly enough. The all inclusive deal at Kandersteg Switzerland was absolutely fantastic. The hotel was fantastic and the food was 5*. Well organised and stunning views
Very enjoyable overall. The hotel was excellent apart from their billing system which conflated my bill with another couple. The scenery was beautiful but the difficulty of the walks was understated and we did not find the App helpful. More guidance is need on how to deal with an emergency situation whilst walking as access would be difficult. The written walk notes were very detailed and accurate, except for the walk from Amalfi to Ravello.
For a walking holiday, be very sure you are a strong, able walker. The walk grading is very misleading.
Stunning location - most walks are from the hotel but there is also a shuttle which always seemed to be available for us when required but in any case the local buses are frequent. We cannot rate the hotel staff highly enough, fun and enthusiastic people on reception, really knowledgeable staff in the restaurant (especially regarding the local wines)
It would have been useful to review the walking notes prior to booking as our first day fell on a Sunday when places were closed, it also meant other things on consecutive days were closed on the days that we were visiting so we could have altered our day of arrival to make the most of our time in the area. Would have requested an upgrade on the first hotel had we known how basic and small the room was, would also have liked the opportunity to explore Blois and its chateau but we were shipped out at 9am the day after arrival. If we'd read the notes we could have requested an extra night in Blois. There was nothing in Chitenay other than the hotel, the days we stayed it was a fixed dinner menu so the only choice was between dessert or cheese - no option on starter or main course. We didn't enjoy the dinners here, but our taxi driver had said it had a very good restaurant - it was a shame we couldn't choose from the main menu on the days we were there. Very helpful local staff at Rando
A well organised and very interesting introduction to the geography and history of Sicily. Transfers and site visits were well planned and always ran like clockwork. We appreciated the range of walks offered to suit weather and fitness levels. Strongly recommended.
The Camino De Santiago was a wonderful holiday, great accommodation, food, route notes, etc and when our plane was delayed Headwater could not have been more helpful to arrange alternative flights.
Holiday was actually booked via Exodus so difficult to comment.
Great trip - the locations were stunning and the walking routes were fabulous. Our only mild complaint was the communications about what was open and when, on the trip. For example - we booked the trip to start on a Friday, which meant our first 'rest' day when there were 4 local wineries to visit - was a Sunday. When all 4 wineries were closed.
It would have also been useful to have the heads up about restaurant closings on Monday and Tuesday in the region. Both days it was very difficult to find lunch and dinner spots, and all that was needed was the heads up from the agent that you need to have this in mind and book in advance. The same goes for all winery tours and restaurant bookings - the places are so small and the places get booked up. The impression we had from the guide and itinerary was that you can simply drop into places, which is not the case. You need to plan much more yourself.
A good holiday for those who prefer easier walking and time to visit places of interest en route e.g. St David's Cathedral. We had excellent accommodation (and breakfasts!) with knowledgeable and helpful hosts - having left a camera behind, one even offered to bring it out to me, a 10 mile round trip! Our briefing by Laura was thorough and she assured us she was available at all times. She remained friendly and informative throughout.
It did what it said on the tin. Easy walks of suitable distance and effort. saw all literary locations but we did need to do our own route to see Beatrix Potter's house which was a meaningful ommision from the itinerary.
Lovely walking holiday in Provence - beautiful hilltop villages, vineyards and views. Not too challenging and good to relax by the pool in the afternoons.
We loved our trip to Corsica. The local agents, and particularly Emanuel, were chatty and informative. The hotels were good and the one in St Florent had a huge terrace overlooking the sea - which was very special. The sea swimming was beyond brilliant. A note about the walks however - don't rely on the maps and instructions. They are not 100% accurate but there is an app (so think about data and battery life) ... we used the app - and it stopped us going wrong many, many times. Also - many of the walks are labelled "coastal" but don't be fooled into thinking they're flat or easy - the paths are rugged, so bring robust walking shoes. The walks are stunning, and challenging in places ... but always worth it.
Wayfinding instructions not always accurate. Briefing in Orvieto unhelpful, Ingrid didn't know about our lack of full information from Headwater, assumed we could print info from our phones. Headwater asked for travel insurance details when we were already in Orvieto. But taxi to S. Lorenzo Nuovo excellent, luggage transfer worked, all accommodation able to cater for a gluten and dairy free diet. We enjoyed staying at small family-run hotels - Capranica probably needs refurbishing - location excellent.
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.
Excellent walking and grand countryside. Luggage transfer worked perfectly. Walking notes were spot-on. The choice of itinerary, start and end points were excellent for public transport. I took the advice of some of your reviewers and stayed an extra night at Twice Brewed to visit the museums (Vindolanda, Chesters, Housesteads) on a non-walking day (AD 122 bus) and was glad that I did. Vindolanda alone took over 2 hours and I could have stayed longer. I allowed time at the end to visit the Roman Town and museum at Corbridge - an excellent finale to the week. Some of the walking was challenging but the lengths of the stages were well managed and this 76-year-old enjoyed herself very much. Hotels were well chosen (the food at Greenhead and at Corbridge was excellent) but although The George at Chollerford is stunningly situated and I had a lovely modern room, management was woefully absent and food was awful. The weather was perfect. I had a great holiday. Thankyou Headwater!
If you are lucky enough to be there at the right time of the year, the Swiss Alps is a wonderful place to be. This tour, with its centrally located hotel, offers access to some excellent walking in outstanding mountain countryside. It was also great value for money compared to what we would have had to pay had we booked the hotel and cable cars and found food and drinks ourselves.
La Peitriccia is a delightful agriturismo. The family were charming and Stefano could not do enough for us. We had a meeting with him every day after breakfast when he helped us work out what we wanted to do. We were a group of four, all over the age of 69! We did find the walks a bit too much for us but Stefano adjusted them and drove us to destinations and collected us when we finished the walks. The rooms were simple but very adequate and we had a lovely terrace looking over vineyards and up to the hill top village, where we had an interesting delicious wine tasting following our first day's walk.
The meals were excellent. They were always cooked freshly using local produce. There was no choice but this did not prove a problem and they felt very authentic. We drank the local wines which were delicious. The swimming pool was not heated but was very pleasant although we didn't have that much time to use it. Highly recommended.
Brilliantly organised-good walks/maps and transfers.
Well looked after-can’t think of any way to have made it better than it was
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.
Great places and scenery, pleasant walks, very nice accommodation (except in Blois), delicious food and good fun altogether. Some fine tuning and adjustments in logistics would improve the overall exprience of otherwise great holiday!
La Linghe is a beautiful area, almost medieval with its vistas of extensive vineyards peppered by numerous hilltop towns and villages. The walks are great, well signposted and easy to follow. Some of the views are stunning. We really enjoyed the range of locations in which we stayed: smart winery hotel, cosy wine bar rooms and some villa glamour. Just a note: If walking in August you will need to carry plenty of water as many places are closed. We found we had to be quite self-reliant on occasions which was fine but which a first timer might find a challenge.
The hadrians wall holiday is well thought out with extremely detailed route notes and with accommodation in all the right places . The scenery is stunning , and the food in all but one of the pubs was good . We stayed two nights at twice brewed in order to be able to take part in an excellent star gazing event and also to visit vindolanda. The baggage transfers worked really smoothly . The AD 122 bus ( every two hours along the route ) was really helpful for getting around . The only thing I can say is that the taxi to
The start of the first days walking was expensive … but there is no other way of getting there ! Also , the stay at the George hotel was decidedly substandard : grubby rooms, weedy garden, food not great , broken shower . I would want to stay somewhere else really .
Thanks headwater for a great holiday .
Kandersteg is a great location for a hassle free centre based walking holiday in Switzerland. The surrounding mountains are spectacular (helped by a week of near perfect weather) and the recommended walks are all good, providing variety to fill the week. The inclusion of all meals at the very hospitable Hotel Alfa Soleil as well as the provision of two separate guest cards on arrival to allow for free use of the local cable cars and public transport makes the holiday good value for money given that prices in Switzerland can be quite high. Headwater emailed me GPX files for downloading onto my phone a few weeks before arrival for navigation purposes. Route finding in the Swiss Alps is already straightforward with excellent waymarking on the ground, but the GPX files were very accurate and made finding my way even easier.
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.
It was Type 2 fun. Some of the walks were quite hard going in the heat but we were pleased once we’d completed them.
The locations were good.
We had an excellent stay at Ty Helyg. The host were very welcoming and the standard of the accommodation were excellent. We were very unhappy with the Imperial Hotel. The standard of the accommodation was poor. We had to move rooms. The lift did not work and it was unkempt, unclean and generally unpleasant. The walks were excellent and we enjoyed them.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your comments. We are pleased that overall, you enjoyed your holiday. Your comments regarding the Imperial Hotel will be closely monitored for future consideration.
Kind regards
Customer Services
We had an excellent holiday. The train travel arrangements were all excellent from London and then onto Kandersteg and after this onwards to Florence. Thank you to Megan our travel contact with you for all her work on this. Our only criticism would be that we booked a superior room with Balcony. The Balcony was a real asset but the room was small for a superior room for which we paid extra and the bathroom was needing updating.
What an incredible week! Not sure what was the highlight the walks, scenery and views or the Casa Salares hotel and the fantastic staff, food and ambience! Seriously the walks were fantastic and helped by the weather. Could feel I was getting fitter as the week went in with the walking and the swimming pool at the hotel when we got back each day! The GPS was fantastic and worked brilliantly as my sense of direction not great which is why I normally do walking holidays with a guide! The scenery was stunning and great that most of the walks you can do straight from hotel. The hotel was something else! My friend kept telling me about the reviews for the food but I did not personally read anything about it! Blown away by the hotel and one of the best I have ever stayed in due to the wonderful staff, the incredible food and facilities! A proper family owned and run hotel. Fantastic trip all round, thank you! Not too crowded either, not like TMB!
Good accommodation ( especially Mortons and The Limes , which were both excellent) and great walks, although the walk to Lulworth Cove we felt was more challenging than the 1.5 boot rating. We are experienced walkers so were fine, but there are some pretty steep ups and downs. However, another successful Headwater walking holiday for us.
The itinerary notes were outstanding, truly impressed.
Quite long days of walking but the landscape and scenery was absolutely stunning. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife such as deer, hares and we were also lucky to spot some wild mink. Would perhaps add some extra days in around Killarney and Kenmore to explore the areas - just not enough time. Would recommend pre booking restaurants although there are plenty of choices in most places they were also quite busy. Definitely book in Cahersiveen as only two main restaurants and they are very popular. Would definitely recommend this holiday but walkers need to be prepared for the long but great walking days but with a challenging walk between Waterville to Cahersiveen.
The whole set-up of the holiday was very good, the accommodation wonderful, it was just the detail of the walks that let things down - it seemed in many cases that the routes had not been revised for a considerable length of time. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday but much of this was due to the work that we put in rather than relying on the information provided. The walking maps are poor - why are they not provided by Headwater and in colour?
In country experience, excellent. Local guide and transport first rate. With some minor exceptions, hotels good. HQ admin would benefit from some customer service upgrade.
The area surrounding Kandersteg is absolutely beautiful and some of the walks were outstanding particularly the walks around “Oeschinensee” (which we saved for our last day)and “Gasterntal and the Klus Gorge”. Getting around the area is easy with the ski lifts and public transport and we had no problem getting to any of the walks. The Alfa Soliel was an excellent base with excellent views from the balconies to the mountains. We found this single centre self guided holiday excellent where we met like minded couples who we could chat with in the evening over a drink and compare notes on the days activities but have the freedom to decide our own agenda and pace throughout the week.
Altogether this was a great holiday which we really enjoyed.
With Covid it took 3 attempts to go in the holiday but it was well worth the wait.
Perfect location of hotel with outstanding food, service, comfortable beds and room
Amazing scenery and brilliant hiking opportunities
We will definitely return Outstanding ❤️
You need a good level of physical fitness to make the most of this holiday. Despite being experienced walkers we found the going tough, although this was probably due to the extreme heat. An interesting and varied itinerary which would have benefited from longer than a week’s stay.
The Cotswold village circular walk holiday was a really enjoyable experience. The walking was well signposted with detailed walking instructions in a handbook provided by Headwater in conjunction with Hikes and Bikes. The villages were delightful with the beautiful cotswold yellow stone cottages. The countryside was amass with flowers. June/July is a wonderful time to visit. Our luggage transfer was very efficient and our suitcases were waiting when we arrived at our hotels/bed and breakfast en route.
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
Delightful walking holiday in an accessible, beautiful and interesting area. Walks were accurately graded and we had no problem following the routes.
All information required for our self guided holiday was excellent and any queries were dealt with quickly by Megan who kept us up to date on everything. We did not arrive at our hotel until 1am but access at that hour had been pre-arranged. Dobbiaco was the perfect place for our self guided walking holiday and the choice of walks on the app plus the paper maps and transport tickets made it easy to work the itinerary to suit ourselves. The Dolomites are awesome!!
When BA cancelled our Saturday flights home (Venice to Glasgow via Heathrow) late Thursday afternoon I contacted Karen in the office. She couldn't have been more helpful and passed the details to Steph who managed to book (after discussion with us) alternative flights from Innsbruck to Manchester, overnight accommodation there and a new transfer from Bellevue Hotel to airport. This was all sorted by early the next day so that we could enjoy our last day in the Dolomites. your company is lucky to have employees of this standard - I could not fault them!
We loved this holiday. The walking notes were excellent, the Cotswolds is just stunning and the accommodation was to a high standard. We highly recommend this holiday.
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.
From the first trip communication to the last, I have never experienced a travel group who is as thorough and professional as Headwater. First rate, all the way!
It was a very enjoyable holiday. However hiking is not all that easy in 30 degrees + heat. One needs to be careful of you descriptions. These walks are for the average fit person. 18 k walks that include ' a steep incline for the next kilometer' are not for such people.
We have found Headwater to be a very good company to travel with on self guided holidays. They provide the route guides and maps required so that you have no concerns about getting lost. The Alpha Soleil Hotel is well situated and the staff were extremely efficient and friendly. The food was beautifully presented, but for us we felt some of it, though looking very pretty on the plate, was rather uninteresting in flavour. The wines were very pricey (even the house white wine which had a very peculiar taste and there was no indication of the grape variety on the bottle). The house red wine was fine.
With a few tweaks this was an excellent holiday with great support fro Headwater before, during and after our holiday. Looking forward to next year. Thank you
This was one of the best holidays we have been on.Either by itself or as we did combining a week in Toblach at the Bellevue . The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and with a well signposted footpath system clearly marked on the maps provided. All the walks are enjoyable and the cable car /gondola system can be utilised. The walks can be as hard or as easy as you wish and can be integrated into the local bus system .
The hotel is excellent with a comfortable rooms and a well appointed restaurant. The food is very good ,excellent variety, well served in a delightful environment .
There is a indoor swimming pool and a small gym, so do take swimwear . Overall I could not fault this holiday in the area or hotel.
The holiday worked well and the routes well planned. However the area is very flat and there was a lot of road or cycle path walking. This region is well suited for cycling but would not recommend for walking. The first walk was particularly long and we had temperatures of above 35 degrees on roads that were reflecting up the heat and little shade. At one point we did not think we would be able to complete the walk because of heat exhaustion. We had run out of water and there was nowhere to get refreshments. I knocked on a door and fortunately a very kind French lady refilled our water bottles. The second and last hotels were exceptional.
I found Headwater and the local Tour Company in Portugal to be helpful, responsive and, in the main, efficient. There was some temporary confusion as to which hotels I would be staying at in two of my destinations but this was resolved satisfactorily. I felt well supported throughout my time in the care of the local agent Alex who was always available with helpful suggestions but never overbearing. The GPS app was generally reassuring but there was the odd occasion when the route became unclear. However, any deviation was clearly indicated by the app meaning it was always possible to re-find the right path fairly quickly. Occasionally the GPS signal would be lost but never for long. I would advise older people (I am 65) to inquire about the degree of difficulty of the route terrain as parts of the path involved steep (and occasionally) slippery ascents and descents, rather more strenuous than I had expected from the rating shown. Hotels all quite acceptable - friendly and comfortable
I cant see how you can improve it.
headwater are well organised and helpful. The hotel staff were very helpful too, after initially putting us in a back room, they kindly moved us on day 2 to a room with a view.
Well organised holiday with easy to follow walks to chosen standard of ability. Good opportunity to meet like minded people if you wish. Scenery is absolutely stunning in Dolomites and Headwater hotel choice very good.
Fantastic and adaptable walking holiday. Excellent hotel, with great (and lots of) food, and perfect location. Most of the walks require a bus journey, which adds a little bit of logistics to the start, and some nifty speed/time/distance calculations to ensure you're not hanging around too long waiting for your bus at the end.
GPS app is good, but maps and map reading skills are still essential to enable you to properly plan your day and to figure out a 'plan B' if there are any trail closures enroute (this happened twice for us).
The scenery is absolutely stunning, and no camera can fully recreate the image. So take time to properly stop, catch your breath, and soak the views into your memory.
A beautiful area of Austria with relatively easy walking and great hotels
Stephano offers an authentic Italian experience which is all about his organic farm and what he produces, and the countryside and birds that he knows intimately and which he loves. Stephano (and his brother) welcomed us and did everything to ensure we had a good experience, we thoroughly enjoyed them and their offer. The food was prepared with care/attention to its health benefits and food miles. We loved the Tuscan countryside which you see so well by foot although it was extremely hot by midday so walks had to be undertaken earlier in the day, and some were shortened to avoid the heat. This was an unusual level of heat for June. The only difficulties we had with travel was when we returned to Heathrow, otherwise tickets and travel arrangements were excellent. Our holiday was post Covid when the hospitality industry is under pressure, we were therefore not able to have the Cookery session. Thoroughly recommend the Theia Spa and massage which had to be booked ahead.
This was a fabulous hiking holiday with great walks, lovely hotels and fantastic buffet breakfasts. This was our first self guided holiday and and I would definitely do one again as it provides an extra degree of freedom and independence. I’m not sure if the written walking guides were written by someone who speaks English as a first language as some of the instructions were ambivalent to say the least - especially at the start and ends of walks. We met two other people on the same holiday via Eurohike who also experienced some difficulty. For example the first days walk was stipulated as 18 km whereas by the time we finished it was 26 km!! Also landmarks had changed and that makes me wonder whether they generally need updating. We were also issues with a wrong return train ticket which if I had not checked could have caused us a problem returning to Munich. Notwithstanding this, we had an amazing time and Headwater we’re quick to respond to my questions prior and during the holiday.
Another excellent Headwater experience. This time to rural Normandy. We did not know this area at all and this walking holiday enabled us to explore this beautiful and rustic area. The walks were of good length, the hotels all very good and we had a real opportunity to experience great French cooking in the evenings in the towns and villages in which we stayed. The staff at Normandie Rando (the local tour company) were all terrific. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in this little known part of France. Recommended.
The itinerary and the walking distances were good but, unfortunately, I happened to book my trip to coincide with the worst French heatwave for a number of years. By making early starts and benefitting from the coolest parts of the day I managed to complete the entire route. Had the water been a little less extreme the route would have been easily achievable. On the whole the hotels were very good and the accommodation in Carsac and St Vincent de Cosse was absolutely stunning. The hotel in Souillac was a little more functional but perfectly adequate. Souillac has suffered badly as a result of the Covid pandemic and it needs renovation. However, while there and although it was a rest day, I planned my own walk, doing a loop in the hills to the south of the town. This comes highly recommended as I've never seen so many butterflies except in a butterfly house. There must have been at least twenty species almost literally competing for air space. I will be booking with Headwater again.
The Eugenic Hills were unknown to us, but provided a beautiful area for walking, abounding with flowers and wildlife, with endless views over the Venetian Plain.
Overall I can't grumble, the most significant pain was the airports, going and coming back, the walking holiday was fine.
Headwater provide a stimulating itinerary, with walks that are fairly graded and staying at good boutique hotels. We really enjoyed the holiday.
A most enjoyable holiday even for 80-year olds like us. The walks are realistic in terms of difficulty. The only problem was the unseasonably high temperature but this was tolerable by starting walking at 8.30am and reaching the destination by 2pm.
Great part of France to visit - pretty villages, acres of vineyards and hotels off the beaten track. During the week we covered over 10,000 feet elevation - more than Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike,, Snowdon put together in 5 days walking. The combination of forest walks and vineyards was excellent arriving into villages. Most of the villages have a baker’s shop and cafe, but remember most places closed after 14:00. Not always easy to find lunch, so be sure to take your lunch before you set off.
A well selected one centre location, with a well thought out set of walking routes which be easily adjusted depending on our wishes each day.
Great place to visit with nice walks and places to visit - would particularly recommend Ravello. Food was varied and good in hotel and Geraldo looked after us very well.
We had a fantastic holiday in Sicily.
Everything went well, good walks and hotels. The weather was hot 34 degrees (first week of June)on first day ....too hot for a 4hr walk... good there was a pool at the hotel... Marettimo was beautiful and 25degrees with a
breeze..Great restaurants fresh fish and everyone friendly. Looking forward to our next holiday with you.
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.
Austria is a hidden gem! Locals could not have been friendlier. Be prepared for mixed weather. Scenery spectacular. Walking could be challenging especially in damp/wet conditions
It was a fun holiday with some exertion thrown in
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.
An excellent week's walking with varied landscapes and beautiful scenery, flowers and birdsong. A good mixture of tough days and easy walking.
We highly recommend that you use the .gpx files provided by Headwater. These were really valuable eg in providing some extensions to the recommended routes.
Excellent holiday
Headwater's attention to detail always makes for a good holiday.
We have enjoyed twelve holidays with Headwater since our first visit to Sicily in 2006! They have all been thoroughly enjoyable and one of the beauties of booking with Headwater is that you can relax at every stage knowing yoiu are in very capable hands!
The walking was varied and not difficult, with abundant flowers and birdlife. The directions were very good, and we would recommend printing them before travel. it was helpful to know if and where refreshments would be available each day. The accommodation was very good, with the swimming pool at Pedralva a very welcome surprise.
Everything went well, service, help from Headwater, notes etc. The only thing as a group was why we were put in the Hadrian Hotel, rather than the George Hotel. Whilst the Hadrian hotel is good, its no longer geared to walkers, with their expensive evening taster menu and slightly further off the walk. We found it odd walking the extra 1.5 miles to this hotel, as we passed the George Hotel. The breakfast at the Hadrian's was excellent. We did talk to the staff who explained some of the history with Headwater, but going forward I would have thought we should have stayed at the George, particularly as we booked over a year ago.
Walking was very good. Villa del Poeta was how all your accommodation should be for a holiday in this price bracket.
Excellent walking holiday, but be prepared for lots of steps! I would recommend to use the private transfer as there is a limited train service on a Saturday. The Hotel Due Torri was excellent and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.
An excellent holiday, but the experience was let down by no local Rep input. The return travel arrangements to the airport were eventually sorted by the excellent team at the Hotel.
This part of Tuscany is beautiful and the hill top towns and villages are delightful. The agro tourism accommodation is a pleasant change from a standard hotel. It is lovely to be surrounded by olive trees and vines.
The food was of a very high standard, but as someone who eats little meat, I opted not to eat some of the main courses. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the walks, although the temperature was 8 deg C warmer than is usual for mid May. There are many wonderful photo opportunities. On the free day we enjoyed a visit to the thermal baths and a well deserved massage. I would encourage others to do this holiday and it was very good value for money. The only down side is the two trains and taxi journey each way to and from Rome airport, but it is ultimately worth it to reach your final destination.
The hotel looked after us well. We went half board - the evening meals were generally good. The area was very scenic and the wild flowers were lovely. The ascent/decent from to the village was quite severe especially after a long walk! On the first day the walk took us through an area with poor GPS signal where the paths were also indistinct and in places over grown.
However the biggest challenge was the heat - in mid-May we were expecting low to mid 20s but instead central Spain suffered a heat wave up to 37C making walking after 11am not sensible. As a result we spent our last 2 days in and around the hotel. As a small local hotel it was an ideal base for walking but by its very nature its facilities were limited for the days when it was too hot to go outside! This is by no way a criticism of the hotel or the holiday but the severe heat somewhat spoilt our last few days.
All of the elements are there but the complete package lacked the something special.
Brilliant holiday, excellent hotel, great walking (although relaxed and appropriate for us mid 70s age group with health issues) and sea swimming (much helped by the lovely May weather of course). We recommend booking the best rooms (we had experience of the best and the cheaper ones).
A great way to introduce yourself to a different type of holiday, especially if you are unsure of how to plan things and the best route.
Highly recommended
The Cinque Terre walks are challenging and a certain level of fitness is required. The first walk on the itinerary is particularly challenging in terms of length, elevation and terrain and resulted in us changing the order of walks for balance. Having to use public transport to get around was not a problem and the routes generally took us to places worth seeing. The hospitality and food in Liguria was very good and there was little problem in finding gluten free options as required.
The scenary in Western Sicily is spectaclar. The island of Marettimo is a particularly special "away from it all" place with virtually no cars but boats parked everywhere. The people are friendly. The food - fish of course - is very good. The walks and the swimming excellent.
We would like to thank you for organising our pilgrimage on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. We had a truly wonderful time, and the memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Everything went smoothly, and Headwater arranged lovely hotels with fantastic food. We would recommend this unreservedly
Very good except for length of walks! But we managed this after first day by getting taxi to drop us into the route a few kilometres.
We had a very good holiday with some lovely walks in beautiful locations. The weather was perfect at this time of year (2nd - 10th May) for walking and all the 4 hotels were clean and comfortable and all very different. We ate some delicious food and tried some excellent wines. 3 of the walks were consistent with the grading but we found the Path of the Gods very challenging and harder than we had expected. One of the features of the Amalfi coast are the hundreds of steps both in the towns and villages and on many of the walks and this is something that anyone booking this holiday should be aware of.
Alfa Soleil is a really super hotel. While we were there the restaurant was officially closed but Nico opened it for us. He is an exceptional chef who provided us with a personal service in his menus and also advice as to where we should go. The staff are friendly and welcoming and all had a great sense of humor. Switzerland is very expensive but somehow our experience in Alfa Soleil made it not matter.
All the organisation ahead of our holiday was excellent. The hotel in Sestri Levante was a gem. Magda, Santo and all the team were so welcoming and friendly there were hugs and even moist eyes when we left. Santo's dinners were excellent and we ate at the hotel beyond the three arranged nights at a very reasonable price. A free laundry room and a roof terrace with clothes horses was a great help. Rooms are fairly basic but spotless and comfortable. The hotel is well located for the station and exploring the town.
The Cinque Terre is a popular area for walkers and the five towns are very busy with tourists. Some of the paths were fairly busy and would be more so in high season. The walk notes are copious and route finding very easy. I would suggest the walks might be graded tough rather than moderate, there are many very steep sections which are less path and more rock climbing. A fair bit of hands, knees and bottom especially on descents. Trains are not as frequent as might be hoped!
Headwater arranged our train travel from London to Naples. Whilst we have arranged journeys like that before, it was much easier having them do it. The app was great for our self-guided walks. The thing that really made our activities work so well was the advice from Gerardo in the hotel. He advised which day to go where according to the weather and also the May 1st Public Holiday. He helped us organise a trip to Paestum (really recommend that). The hotel was very comfortable and staff were both friendly and efficient.
The slight downside to our trip was buses. Although we were very happy to stay just off the coast, getting the bus back to Bomerano each day is quite difficult. There were days when not everyone got on. We often had to stand on a very crowded bus - not easy when waiting for a hip replacement. We were asked if we would share out transfer to Naples. We were happy to do this but were then told the time would change to suit the others as we had over 2 hours at the station.
This was my first experience of an "unguided" walking holiday. The walks are detailed but the directions are not always very clear and do need updating. Lovely walks, scenery and points of interest but found some of the walking along road became a bit tedious and repetitive. Having a good map or GPS allowed us to "personalise" the routes! Easy to get around the island on the buses when needed. The 7 day unlimited travel card was perfect. Squeezed in a day trip to Valletta. The Hotel Ta' Cenc has a 5* location. Beautiful cliff view point. The hotel itself doesn't quite hit the 5* rating today, but has a certain charm and quirkiness with lots to recommend it. Relax, keep a sense of humour and enjoy the differences!
tedious.
A lovely holiday in a quiet, unspoilt part of Italy.
Another great experience with Headwater among the beautiful flowers of Madeira. Highly recommended.
Walking in Puglia is a great way to see the area, as there is time to see both the countryside and the beautiful towns.
All in all and excellent holiday, which was challenging but very enjoyable. The standard of the accommodation was outstanding and the walks were varied, very demanding in places, but achievable and wonderful. This holiday would be difficult for people with a fear of heights, but we managed to walk on the levadas, even in the most vertiginous places and felt a great sense of accomplishment. The scenery, accommodation, helpfulness of the staff at the hotels, food, flowers, and weather all made this a holiday which exceeded our expectations.
Should any changes be made to your accommodation, make sure that Headwater explain any differences between the original and new accommodation. The changes didn’t bother us but may bother some people (ie. Spar hotel with swimming pool was changed to a simple - albeit lovely B&B).
Well sited hotel with plenty of flexibility
This was an excellent and really well organised trip, staying in three very nice hotels. All of the management by the local agents was great and the transfers worked perfectly. Late April was a good time to go, with pleasant temperatures for walking without being too warm. The scenery was lovely and there were excellent views from the hotels, especially on Marettimo and at San Vito lo Capo. Walking on Marettimo was particularly enjoyable as it was very peaceful and the air was filled with the smell of the wild rosemary. There was also very good food, especially fish.
Hadrian’s Wall is England’s greatest ancient monument, a unique defensive structure that defies belief, and to walk so closely alongside it for four days is an absolute privilege. It is in many places a challenging walk because the Romans did not try to build round the major crags and contours through which it winds. The atmosphere the Wall generates, of looking north and imagining the possibility of imminent attack, is present throughout and further enhances the whole experience. This is greatly increased by visiting the museums along the route, especially Vindolanda and Housteads, though we would strongly recommend going to these a day before setting out on the journey rather than at the end of a strenuous day’s walking. This holiday was splendidly organised for us by Headwater, the walking notes were excellent, the arrangements for leaving and picking up our car worked well and despite some variation in the quality of the hotels, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
A good experience for anyone walking the Camino de Santiago for the first time. Did not get to visit the cathedral in Leon due to the Easter Penitent festival taking place over the weekend. But this was more than made up for by the spectacle of the parades of about 20 religious societies that were taking part in the festival, which, I believe is the biggest of its type in Spain. All of them with their own bands which had very good and noisy drum sections. All of the venues where I stayed were good, and mainly in renovated old stone built Galician houses, some of which were former Pilgrim Hospitals. Staff very helpful, especially at Rectoral de Lestedo who greatly facilitated my visit to the church of San Salvador at Vila de Donas, which was well worth the effort made to see it. On the travel from Madrid Airport at the Railway station at Charmartin. Went to take a Taxi, advised by operative that price could be 50 Euros and it would be better to take the metro at 3 euros. This I did.
Great trip. Well organised. Maps brilliant. A bit expensive but probably worth it
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.
Fairly easy walking on good tracks in beautiful and peaceful countryside and coastal areas. The routes were easy to navigate with an interesting mix of terrain. We really enjoyed the delicious local food and wine and a good hot shower at the end of the day and all the accommodation was very comfortable and the staff helpful and friendly. Not every hotel provided in-room tea and coffee so you might want to bring a travel kettle and English tea bags.
Some stunning scenery and memorable walks along the Algarve coast. We travelled in Spring so the weather was not too hot and the wild flowers were beautiful. The hotel Memmo Baleeira in Sagres is a fantastic place to stay and the Aldeia de Pedralva lived up to the billing as a wonderful, quiet haven. We didn't enjoy staying in VIla do Bispo so much as the hotel is rather basic and the town is quite dull with limited restaurants (but it was early season, so maybe it is more lively in summer). The walks on the first two days included stops at some fantastic beaches and the walk on the last day along the rocky Atlantic coast, finishing up at Cabo sao Vicente is the undoubted highlight. The walks in the middle two days were less interesting.
A really lovely part of the world to visit. The coastal walk and beaches were amazing. The last walk into Sagres, particularly offered fantastic geological views. Reaching Capo Sao Vincente gives a real sense of why it once was thought of as the edge of the world. Unless you're hell bent on walking for the sake of walking, I'd give the first walk out of Vila do Bispo a miss and catch the bus to Lagos for the day. An interesting place with history and plenty of cafes for a coffee and nata. The local people are friendly and easy to get along with.
Very good. Route guides need updated. Hotel Ta Cenc very good. Rooms not 5* but food and service were.
it is very well worth going up to the lighthouse on the Ta' Pinu day, because the views are great. Also on that day, it’s worth adding the “stages of the cross” walk, again for the views
We added three nights in Valletta and would recommend that to others doing this trip. One day we used the hop on and hop off bus tour to see more of the island and would strongly recommend a visit to Mdina. We also recommend the harbour tour by boat from Sliema, and the military/history museum at the old fort in Valletta.
Holiday was made easy, flexible with alternative walking available due to the weather.
Hotel meals were excellent great range of choices every evening. Staff exceptional very friendly and helpful. The hotel is in a fabulous location some areas of the site need refurbishment but the main areas of restaurants,pools and gardens are well tended. Transfers went very smoothly with a very helpful driver Pierre who pointed out various sites of interest on the way to Gozo.
I would recommend this self guided walking tour of Gozo to anyone.
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.
Excellent holiday, superb walks in great locations. We did all the longer walks, some with a fair bit of ascent/descent and they were all excellent. Take sticks for the descents! Vilaflor & Garachico hotels were great, good food (and large portions) included in Vilaflor. There was an event in the main square in Garachico for 2 nights whilst we were there, but fortunately the music stopped around 10pm both nights.
There's a great little bar/cafe in Vilaflor with a large terrace overlooking the views at the back - Casa Pana, just down from the Dulceria Vilaflor below the main square. You can't see the terrace from the front! And in Garachico we had great meals at Hotel San Roque, just around the corner from Quinta Roja, and also at El Caleton by the sea.
We had a couple of nights added on at the end and stayed at the Hotel Botanico near the botanical gardens, both excellent. La Orotava is also worth stopping at to look at the gardens.
Excellent walking holiday. Good accommodation and logistics.
Very enjoyable holiday. Excellent walks, hotels, food & friendly people. Was worried about the GPS navigation app, but it was great - didn't use all the maps & routes that we downloaded ourselves. Would recommend this holiday.
The hotel is a good, friendly, little family hotel. It's in a town so the views are more of surrounding buildings than of the distant hills [a top floor room might have been better]. The scenery on the walks is wonderful. Weather in February was mixed. It was a perfect walking temperature but there were a couple of days when there was a fair bit of mist, and one very rainy day. Overall I'm very glad that we went.
As a sole traveller, I wanted the reassurance of not wasting time finding my way to the start of trails or back to hotel. Being able to move between 3 hotels was great to experience different areas of Madeira. Headwater route instructions were mostly accurate but the first one needs an alteration as a barrier has been put up to prevent walking under the cliffs. This was ok though as I just did an out and back rather than circular.
The 4 star hotells were excellent in every regard but the final 5 star was over-priced and not what I would expect of a five star. I'd prefer 4 stars. Location were ok but my personal preference would be overlooking the sea.
Plus points -
Organising transport to and from trails taken care of
Variety of locations was excellent
Walking was perfect standard for me
Madeira is a friendly welcoming island, crime free and chilled.
Great experience, well graded walks as good organisation
All transfers and pick ups from the end of walks worked very well. Hotels very good standard. The walks showed very different aspects of the Madeiran geography.
Madeira has fantastic walking at all levels. This self guided tour means you get to see lots of the island.
Perfect mix of accommodation and good deal of very practical advice. Superbly organised and highly recommended.
An energetic walking holiday in stunning surroundings. Tenerife was surprising and stimulating, from the rocky coastline, amazing views through to the extraordinary volcanic landscape. Thoroughly recommend.
If you’re allergic to cats, this hotel is Not for you! At least 8 roam the complex. Breakfast was great but evening meal disappointing. Great menu but tired ingredients. Vegetable selection poor and overcooked. Meat and fish overcooked. No freshly made desserts.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Spencer, thank you for summarising your experience at the Hotel Ta Cenc. We are very sorry to learn of your disappointment during meal times, please be assured your invaluable feedback will be passed on to the Hotel Ta Cenc for them to review and ensure they are able to make improvements. Thank you for choosing Headwater and we look forward to welcoming you on many more holidays in the near future.
Kind Regards
Headwater Customer Service Team
Some of the guides need revising - Where is the wooden bridge on Levada do Norte for example. The other logistics excellent. e.g. other guests in Bella Vists were ferried to airport for same BA flight some 2 hours before us. Our timing was just perfect.
An enjoyable holiday based at a good local hotel with excellent food. The walking is quite rugged, although not strenuous and there is sufficient variety for a week. In fact, being based in one location allows you to get to know the topography well and appreciate the local way of life to some degree. We hired a car which meant we could visit other villages after our walk each day.
Comfortable hotels in prime locations and still the opportunity to hike and walk and have an active yet luxury holiday feel.
Holidays in Wales are always likely to be weather affected and mine was no exception to the extent that low cloud, rain and wind meant that any of the high ascents were pointless from an enjoyment point of view. However I was advised by local reps/accommodation providers of other quite challenging options that could be done despite the weather. Additionally the Welsh Highland Line was not operating its normal service because of Covid so taxis were laid on where necessary. This detracted to a degree from the overall enjoyment of the holiday.
The trip was well organised and instructions clear.
Overall this was an excellent holiday: we had a great time. As ever, there is always room for improvement: the route notes need slight updating; the staff and ambience at the hotel are excellent, but our room needed some refurbishment in the bathroom (the shower was very scruffy). The transfers to and from Gozo worked very well and our driver (Vincent) was very helpful and informative.
Although we are restricted to short/morning walks, there are plenty of options. Longer ( more than 8 miles) are also available. Local buses very convenient. Hotel excellent with both indoor & outdoor pools, a gym & excellent food (large portions). Kantra restaurant at Mgarr-ix-Xini excellent for lunch & or rest day. Walking notes v good, but take extra care between Calypso's cave & Ramla Bay. Our trip was unusual, as we arrived by cruise ship at Valletta port & returned home by air. The booking was made in Jan/Feb 2020. The Maltese authorities required our vaccination certificate to be via nhs app ( rather than the paper version) which caused us some anxiety - I don't know whether that was because we arrived by ship; I suggest you confirm the exact requirement for customers arriving by air. This was the 4th time we've stayed at Ta'Cenc & we enjoyed our 12 days gentle 1 boot walking (up to 4miles/day)
Perfect shoulder season easy walking destination; well chosen hotel and helpful guidance notes for each walk.
I had a real adventure walking the Cotswold Way. Having my luggage sent ahead was best. The accommodation was mostly delightful and provided many pleasant surprises and some real characters to talk to.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, and found all the accommodation very comfortable. You definitely need walking boots on the route as there are some stretches of scrambling over rocks, and some very muddy parts. The generous breakfasts set us up for the day, so we found that we didn't need a packed lunch,but just took a cereal bar and some fruit each. However, we did on some days find a café en route or at the end of the walk for the odd cream tea etc! The only place where we found that there was no pub or restaurant for an evening meal within walking distance of the accommodation was Porthcurno. Overall a very inspiring holiday.
A very enjoyable holiday, but quite challenging walking at times, both because of the boulders on some of the paths and the length of walks. We were very lucky with the weather, and the scenery was stunning. We really felt we got to know Cornwall in depth by walking along this beautiful coast.
A beautiful walk over 5 days on the coastal footpath. A little more challenging than we had expected. The terrain is quite difficult in places and we are experienced walkers. The last day from Porthcurno to Mousehole was especially hard. The accommodation overall was great, a mixed bag but no complaints.. The St Austell Brewery pubs at Sennen Cove and Mousehole are lovely, very comfortable rooms with wonderful sea views.
We would do it again.
We needed more cash than we had anticipated so would recommend people take at least around £50 per person. There is a cash point in Lands End which the walk passes but it was out of order.
A lovely circular walk through the Cotswolds
All in all a fabulous holiday, my only criticism is that some of the notes were not very clear at times. Having said that I would definitely travel with you again.
An excellent route with excellent route notes. All accommodation was also of high standard apart from the White Hart at Winchcombe which should be dropped immediately.
A wonderful opportunity to see the real lake district away from the roads and crowds. The walks and views were sublime and came with a glorious sense of isolation with the traditional countryside and sheep as a reminder of traditional farming through the centuries. Every walk gave way to such fabulous photo opportunities and we were blessed with warm september sunshine so we could see for miles.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday but considered it an expensive holiday as our travel was not included - even travelling to and from accommodation that was not located at the route end, particularly when we had two nights at the Old Success Inn.
The level of difficulty was more extreme/dangerous than we had anticipated. We were very glad that our weather conditions were excellent! Some of the route instructions weren't very clear and Coastal Path way signs were lacking in some areas - almost non-existent on Day one.
We were delighted with all of our accommodation until we reached our last destination in Penzance where we had booked an additional night. The accommodation was clean but fell far short of our previous hostelries. How disappointed we were!
Russ couldn't have been more helpful particularly when our initial flight from Edinburgh was delayed.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our challenging holiday and would certainly like to return to see more of Cornwall.
We've used Headwater many times in mainland Europe but this was our first experience in the UK - for obvious reasons this year! As always we found the experience second to none, really enjoyed the walking and the excellent choices of accommodation. The rep's briefing was really helpful and the maps, gradings and alternative walks all worked really well. Thank you!
Headwater's choice of start and end points for the Hadrian's Wall walk were absolutely spot on. This, combined with the West-to-East direction of travel definitely gave this an advantage over others. The hotels were very welcoming and of a high standard. We couldn't fault any of the arrangements. The guide notes and maps were easy to follow and very comprehensive - especially when pointing out Roman remains that might otherwise have been missed. Our friends had to postpone this trip and we are extremely happy to be re-booked to do it all again with them. We are also looking to see which other walking trips we can book with Headwater as we have been so impressed with everything.
Accommodation was well spaced to allow moderate day walks. Path was slightly more difficult than we had anticipated, so we found we were at the slow end of the timings suggested. The South West coast path is poorly signposted in places - it is important not to be side-tracked by public footpaths. Bag collection and delivery was excellent.
Had a lovely break and really enjoyed all the walks. My first time doing self-guided but no problems and easy to follow routes. Enjoyed house visits but logistics of booking them was quite challenging as had to pre-book specific time slots. Fortunately they were flexible and helpful when needed. Only real problem I had was that some places were closed on the day that I was due to visit which was disappointing. I found everyone very friendly and welcoming which was really nice when travelling alone. I was lucky to have very good weather which helped too!
This holiday has been lovely, with very well selected walking tours that kept me challenged and entertained. The GPS has worked well and has avoided me taking the wrong turn here and there., including on the misty mountain side. If I would have tried to organise this all on my own it would have taken ages, so I feel it is worthwhile using Headwater's service. In total I only interacted with 2 people, the person booking the trip and a local person knowing the intricacies of the walks, hotels etc. Both were always very helpful.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Becker for your holiday summary, it is lovely to read that you had a great time away with us.
Headwater Customer Service Team
We found getting taxis problematic. We struggled but did suceed to get a taxi from Twice brewed to Greenhead but with 24 hours notice, the greenhead hotel was unable to get ys a taxi to Lanercost for the 1st days walk, for which we had prebooked tickets at the priory. Luckily your helpful agenr was able to find us a taxi but it was £30. I think this taxi in particular should be part of the included arrangements.
We took tge bus back to the car rather than another difficult and expensive taxi ride.
I would recommend 2 nights ar twice brewed as we did not have time to see Housesteads at all and rushed Vindolanda.
I found day 3 walking exhausting and the times optimistic for an over 60s moderately fit woman. We used the bus for the last part of the walk.
Day 1 was the highlight
The Angel Inn is quite noisey and id recommend investigating other eating options in Corbridge.
This holiday exceeded our expectations
A great week. We have to mention the Star Gazing at Twice Brewed which was great. Walk notes were very accurate and easy to follow. A well needed holiday enjoyed by everyone.
Another very successful Headwater walking holiday. This was the first UK walking holiday we have taken with Headwater and, whilst we did miss the atmosphere of being abroad, given the current Covid-19 situation it was an excellent way of having a change of scene, walking in some lovely countryside, experiencing comfortable accommodation in different villages in our own country. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
A walking holiday packed with historical sites. Advisable to pre-book taxis and evening meals.
Expected more and better accompdation
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Reeve for your holiday summary, we are sincerely sorry to read your review of our holiday. A member of our team has privately contacted you to discuss further, thank you.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Excellent holiday - shame about the torrential rain for part of it!
All pick ups and transfers were smooth.
the accommodation was good/excellent.
The trip was described as leisurely but there were very rocky ascents and descents at times - I wish I had brought a stick.
We would have appreciated some notes as to the walk from Hawkshead to Hill Top Farm.
Very happy with hotel accommodation, food and taxi transfers. Hotel staff were pleasant & helpful. We are confident and experienced walkers who enjoyed the holiday and were able to work around difficulties encountered, but some may find certain omissions and changes to the guidance notes challenging. For example: There was no 'Headwater Information File' in the hotel. There was no hotel shuttle bus service. The walking routes were good and covered all of the features of the island but they were all longer than stated. Some of the route notes were out of date as directional landmarks were no longer present or the route was blocked by fences and/or private land and in one case by bridge repair works, in particular walk 9, walk 13 and walk 21.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Bardsley for your invaluable feedback, your feedback has been passed on to our Senior Programme Manager in order that we can ensure we make improvements to our literature provided. We look forward to welcoming you on many more self guided holidays with Headwater.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Extremely enjoyable walking, with lovely pubs to stay in at the end of each day. Food in the hotels at the end of each day was good, with the Hadrian Hotel in particular standing out as excellent.
An excellent walking holiday with a lot of variation each day in landscape and history.We spent an extra day(and night) at Twice Brewed to enable us to visit Housesteads and Hexham at leisure using the AD122 bus and fitted in Corbridge Roman Town and Aydon Castle by arriving early on Day 1. It was not as easy obtaining a taxi for 9-9.30 am from Greenhead to Lanercost Priory on day 2 as explained in the Information Notes. We managed to get one but the cost was £18. Having to leave our car at Twice Brewed rather than at Corbridge was a great advantage. However, we managed to avoid the suggested use of a taxi at the end to get us from Corbridge back to Twice Brewed at the price of £40 by using a No.10 bus to Hexham and then an AD122 bus to Twice Brewed as advised by a local taxi firm! As we have bus passes, this was a free option!Because of the number of places of interest to visit and the length of the walks,the preliminary research done proved very beneficial.Baggage transfers excellent
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary, it is great to see you had an excellent holiday with us. We appreciate the additional advice you have offered - very beneficial to our team and future customers. Thank you for choosing Headwater for your UK break in 2021.
Headwater Customer Service Team
An amazing privilege to travel this ancient route and see the remains and ruins of the Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters forts, as well as the impressive roman town at Corbridge. (It's worth joining English Heritage, as this repays itself by the time you have also visited these sites as well as the medieval Lanercost Priory and Aydon Castle.)
If you are looking for history, Wordsworth, Ruskin, Cunliffe as well as beautiful scenic lakes and fells this is for you. Staying in the beautiful Grasmere, Coniston with its lake and the world famous Bluebird cafe and finally to the quintessential village of Hawkshead. Taking a Gondola ride on Coniston, the peace and quiet of Grizedale forest and spectacular views towards Hawkshead. From start to finish this holiday offers all you need for a perfect weeks walking.
Very enjoyable, but the walking was challenging
Well organised, good comms and very good service with no hiccups. All the accommodation was very comfortable and close to our walking route. We were very happy with it all.
A well planned itinerary with good guidance and clear indication of walking difficulty. Highly recommended.
Although we had walked in the Lake District before, this holiday gave the opportunity to experience routes new to us and it certainly covered a wide variety of scenery. The standard of accommodation in each centre was excellent and we would like to make special mention of the staff at the Wordsworth Hotel and the Queen's Head who could not do enough for us despite having the extra work of coping with Covid procedures. Lakeland House being a B & B staffed only part-time was a different experience but we had been advised of this in advance and as a small building it did the best it could to be Covid secure and was certainly adequate for our needs. Thanks also to the staff at Headwater for helping us to have an enjoyable holiday after the disappointment of our Catalunya Activities week being cancelled last year.
A wonderful walk that takes in the best of Hadrians Wall with plenty of time to see various sites along the route. The walking is very varied each day so no chance of getting bored of the scenery. The Hotel(s) service and food was a genuine pleasure to experience at the end of the day. A most enjoyable holiday.
The Hadrian's Wall walk was excellent - beautiful scenery, lots of history and good weather. The routs was easy to follow and the walking well within our capabilities. Two Brewed is on the Pennine Way and the Hadrian's Wall Way and was quite crowded. The Angel in Corbridge felt under staffed at times and was also busy. This would be less of a concern when COVID was not around.
Price wise, which acknowledging hotels are keen to recoup losses from the last 16 months, we felt there were some issues in respect of charges and the quality offered. This was particulalry so in respect of The Angel.
Headwater response:
Thank you for taking the time to share your holiday experience with us. It is lovely to read you enjoyed your time away with us. Thank you for your comments regarding price and quality, our Programme Manager is in receipt of your feedback and will look further in to this matter.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Overall enjoyable and a helpful local representative. One B&B was below the standard expected, and there was a problem on our last day with our luggage going astray.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary. We wish to thank you for your time earlier on the phone to discuss in more detail our properties used on this holiday. We were also very pleased to hear the luggage going astray was resolved locally and the hotel arranged a bottle of wine for you as an apology. We look forward to welcoming you on a future holiday with us.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Lovely holiday walking Hadrian’s Wall organised by pleasant and efficient office staff. We even had some sunshine as an added bonus! Hotels all good but bag transfers arriving late was very annoying after long days walking. Value for money questionable overall. Had to get own taxi to start our 5 days (£45 Corbridge to Greenhead). Then charged £30 for taxi from Greenhead to Lanercost. Suggest others shop around taxi firms and book in advance. Admission to Roman sites also additional cost. We ate in the hotels in which we stayed. All very good apart from the Angel Inn which was just ok. Suggest book a different restaurant in Corbridge. We booked with Headwater as it gave us a sense of security in these uncertain COVID days. Some room for improvement though!
Headwater response:
Thank you for your holiday summary, we are very pleased to learn you enjoyed your time on holiday with us. We are sorry to learn of the luggage arriving late, we have addressed this with our baggage handling company and we have sent you a private message with a more in depth explanation. Thank you for your feedback, it is only through our customer feedback that we are able to continuously improve our product.
Headwater Customer Service Team
Beautiful walking, wish we had been able to complete the south coast elements, but zennor to sennen was on a par with Dolomites and Swiss walking for challenge and views
Looking forward to doing something similar in the uk again
Excellent organisation from the operators, including very detailed maps and directions. However bear in mind that you will be “living out of a suitcase” and pack carefully, don’t take too much stuff, beware you have to walk come rain or shine.
We loved our time away - everything was arranged smoothly and all necessary information was received in good time. The walking instructions were superb and very thorough - we did not get lost once. The accommodation was very suitable for our needs.
Fantastic week away - we were blessed with perfect blue skies. The landscape is stunning. We are regular walkers and found the walks were strenuos in parts (particularly St Ives to Zennor and Portcurno to Mousehole) However that certainly didn't spoil the holiday. Accommodation was good. The local representative Russ couldn't have been more helpful. We definitely would recommend this holiday! Only criticism was the route notes were not very detailed and didn't really add much value.
The holiday was excellent with good accommodation and very clear instructions from Hikes and Bikes. There were a few B&B's that we stayed in which aren't on the list above and the Guiting Guest House in Guiting Power was the best of the lot. It was a lovely quiet village after the hustle and bustle of Bourton-on-the Water and the best night's sleep I have had in years and breakfast was excellent - a definite 10/10. Hadley House in Broadway wasn't so good but comfortable and clean and the breakfast was lovely. The Noel Arms Hotel in Chipping Campden was also very good. We have travelled with Headwater 4 times now and will continue to do so. Thank you for being a company that genuinely cares that their customers have the best holiday they can.
Enjoyable, plenty of time to enjoy countryside.
Though pretty gruelling (for two old men at any rate), it was a wonderful experience. The Headwater organisation from start to finish was superb and all the arrangements with hotels etc went very smoothly.
A wonderful walk through woodland, countryside and villages. We recommend doing this walk in the late spring, when the bluebells, cow parsley, and cowslips clothe the countryside. We passed so many interesting historical sites, from Neolithic tombs, Iron Age forts, ancient battlefields, and finishing in Bath was a pleasure. Don’t forget to photograph your feet at the start plaque in Chipping Camden, and again at the finish outside Bath cathedral.
This was an excellent holiday exploring some stunning countryside along the Cornish coast. The routes necessarily involved quite a few ascents and descents, but I don't think they would pose any problems for anyone who enjoys walking. The local guide was really helpful and attentive and the accommodation throughout was at very nice B&B's and pubs. Would definitely recommend.
Headwater response:
Thank you Mr Flower for your lovely comments, we are really pleased to learn you had an excellent holiday with us and that you would recommend. We look forward to planning many more holidays for you in the future.
A self guided walking holiday was a brand new venture for me
since I had always been on group guided walking holidays before. This new venture turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. The trip notes and maps that I was provided with to download onto my phone were very accurate. In fact I didn't have to refer to the OS maps that I was sent as well. The Lake District is a fantastic area to visit to start with on a first self guided walking trip, very pleasing. Hotels along the way were very good. I enjoyed the walking routes ,Grasmere to Coniston was my favourite. Overall I had a very enjoyable time and I would definitely do this self guiding experience again in the UK.
We had very enjoyable holiday despite the restrictions
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).
An excellent holiday and we feel that a lot of credit should also be given to the local organiser, Hikes & Bikes, with whom you are in partnership. The walks were easy to follow & well explained with photographs where needed. The transfer of luggage was very efficient
Provide exactly what you expect and what you hope for. Walks are lovely and well planned and well judged. Everything went smoothly. Hotels were great.
We loved the area - very unspoilt and the wild flowers were a joy. Unfortunately coronavirus impacted on the overall enjoyment. It was reassuring to have your Representative Stephanie giving us a call during the week. We'll come back to this area once the current crisis is over.
A great walking holiday in beautiful unspoilt scenery with some welcome warmth and sunshine. Despite the uncertainties of Corona we were able to relax, though were glad to leave Portugal safely as the situation "hotted-up" !
The holiday was very good. We very much enjoyed the Quinta do Furao hotel set on the cliffs over looking the coast. Even with building work going on we did not even notice it going on. Their hospitality with a welcome/ departing gift were a nice touch and would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to others.
Gorgeous walking in an unspoilt part of Portugal: dramatic coastline views, stunning beaches, abundant wildflowers and amazingly warm and sunny in late February, Often you wouldn't see another soul all day on the walk. Hotels were mostly of an excellent standard (Pedralva was a disappointment, mainly because it was blighted by extensive building work during our visit, but both other hotels were great) and food was outstanding throughout. Detailed and reliable trip notes. One of the best holidays we have had.
An interesting island for walking with a good network of well signed footpaths. We enjoyed our week and everything went smoothly.
Excellent holiday but very expensive destination, it would be nice to offer some self catering accommodation.
A great way to walk through the country and see the fantastic coastline with a high degree of comfort in the various hotels.
Gozo was a quiet island, perfect for a relaxing walking holiday. As a self-guided holiday we could adjust each day's walks as we felt necessary which provided great flexibility. The Hotel Ta Cenc was excellent, and although some parts of the room décor were aging slightly, the bar and restaurant service were superb. We fully intend to return to Gozo and Ta Cenc to walk the parts of the island we couldn't reach in the short time we had booked.
We were lucky with the weather. No real complaints
This is a "full-on" holiday to try and complete all the walks in a week, especially if you have bad weather, so would recommend booking extra days to include other sightseeing options. Hotel was pleasant enough, and a great location if you like a beach view, but somewhat remote - you need to familiarise yourself with other bus routes/directions if you want to return any later than 9.15pm! The food there is reasonably good but limited, we chose to eat out a lot of the time and there are plenty of good eateries in Hamilton. My personal suggestion would be to book room only to maximise your dining options. Tim provides a wealth of information at the briefing and we didn't need to contact him for anything else during the week - the route notes are fairly straightforward and it's relatively easy to find your way around. And if you do get lost it won't be long before a friendly local approaches you offering help and directions! Overall a good intro to Bermuda, its history and its people.
This self-guided walking holiday in Bermuda was fabulous in every way. The hotel was a luxurious island paradise, with fine dining from a large a la carte menu every night. It was well worth having the inclusive meals package suggested. We enjoyed the trip immensely. Everything was good!
La Palma has some wonderful walks. Pretty, attractive landscape, varying from lush, verdant plantations at sea level to stark volcanic landscapes at 2,400m. There is nowhere flat on La Palma! Some of the walking is very strenuous, but quite spectacular as you walk up and down steep-sided barrancos. Day 4 is the equivalent of walking from sea level to the top of Snowdon in 12kms. The location of the accommodation and the combination of taxis and buses to get to and from walks works very well. Santa Cruz is picturesque and compact with plenty of good places to eat and drink.
Excellent walking and food in an unspoilt area. Felt very welcome everywhere and reps were extremely friendly and helpful.
Generally good. Some stretches of walks boring but necessary to get to destination. I loved Pedalva but didnt like sharing track with motor bikes around Pedalva. November not best month for flowers. and outdoor pools and sea too cold for swimming. Jude and Tim were really welcoming and helpful
Once again we have had a wonderful holiday through Headwater
Very relaxing holiday in pleasant location. Walking easy but walks could be extended.
Hotel facilities very good and staff friendly and helpful. ONLY down side was the weather - torrential rain and wind for two days but it was November! But hotel facilities good pool - fitness suite spa so no problem filling in the day.
The first time for many years that the Gozo ferry had to be cancelled! All in all an enjoyable break.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Baker
Thank you for a lovely review. We are glad that you had an enjoyable holiday , despite the weather! Unfortunately something that none of us have control over what ever the time of year.
I do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Service
Walking in SW Algarve in November gave us wonderful sunny weather, great temperatures, but be prepared for wind. The hotels we used were all top class or unusual; great locations and food. Routes were clear- made much more sense when you were actually doing them, as a lot of the routes were more straight forward than the instructions seemed. The 10 miles per day on the moving days were at the upper end of my range; plus the walk suggestions were good- but again, at my age (70, and not a regular walker), I found the holiday rather tiring. Tim & Jude were superb hosts for the holiday, & we wouldn't have hesitated to call on them if we'd had any problems- which we didn't.
A lovely hotel and flexible itinerary made for a great holiday.
It was our first organised walking holiday and it was fantastic. We especially appreciated the excellent notes and enjoyed the coastal walks.
Excellent hotel on Gozo, lovely walks and scenery, and friendly locals. But don't expect any support from a Rep.
Headwater response:
Dear Ms.Short, thanks for leaving your review. We are pleased that you loved your experience in Gozo. I am sorry if you were under the impression that this holiday is managed by the Headwater Representative; This particular holiday is actually managed by the hotelier. If it is a holiday supported by a 'rep' that you prefer please speak to our team who will be more than happy to advise you on any future bookings.
Again, thank you for taking the time to review your holiday.
Kind regards
Headwater Customer Service
The walks gave an excellent taste of the area and coming in October we saw the autumn colours at their best yet were able to enjoy warm sunshine!
The walk instructions and timings were spot on for us. We had a really enjoyable and relaxing time
Headwater response:
Dear Mr Fletcher
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your holiday and managed to relax and enjoy the warm autumnal sunshine in Austria.
We do hope that we will be able to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
Customer Services
One reason we choose this holiday was because all meals were included in the cost of the holiday. This was exactly what we wanted. I see that future holidays in this area/hotel don't include a picnic lunch (essential as there are no shops on the walking routes) and only one evening meal. So I can't recommend on the basis of what we experienced. The food at the hotel was really good. The walks were as described on the itinerary and were enjoyable. In October the temperature was just right for walking. I'm glad we chose this month.
Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Drage, thank you for your review. I am pleased that you enjoyed your holiday and I would like to assure you that the opportunity to add picnic lunches and evening meals on this holiday are still available as additional options. It is important to Headwater to offer the choice to customise your own trip, therefore the standard trip is B&B, apart from on the first night when dinner is always included and the option is there to add the extras that you require.
Excellent holiday with efficient service and great transport. Good choice of locations and good walks with good route notes. A very enjoyable holiday.
Amalfi Coast walk was a wonderful holiday, stunning views, passing through olive and lemon groves, watching the locals harvest their olives, accommodation was outstanding with lovely friendly host's felt like part of the family. Enjoyed the days off to wander around the beautiful villages, swim in the sea, perfect. This is our 6th walking holiday with Headwater and we are always impressed with their holidays.
Headwater response:
Dear Miss Reid, thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; Your positive comments are really appreciated and thank you for taking the time to make them. Hopefully we can look forward to seeing you again on your 7th Headwater holiday.
A perfect balance of independent travel with the knowledge of knowing that at the end of each days walk there will be a comfortable bed and an excellent meal in an unspoilt rural location each with its own individuality.
This was our 7th headwater holiday but the first we had done on foot. Every holiday has been special in one way or another but this one certainly ranked among the best. The walks were excellent, carefully routed to avoid any distances on busy roads and include a lovely range of scenery. We enjoyed the sense of being right out in the countryside and away from the main tourist centres although there were several times when a café or bar along the way would have been welcome (We had to carry drink and snacks with us on each walk although we did find a bar open in Gargas on the first walk.) Coming from a particularly flat part of the UK we were worried about steep climbs but the inclines were generally quite gentle and we managed fine. The weather helped. At the start of October, it was warm and dry but with a cooling breeze. In the summer heat we could have found it more challenging! The route notes were very good, as long as we read the details carefully. We only lost our way once, adding a few extra kilometres to the walk into La Fontaine de Vaucluse.
The hotels were all of a high standard, Each had an individual character, all were very comfortable and the breakfasts were wonderful. We especially enjoyed the Hotel de Poete in Fontaine and the Hermitage at Pernes les Fontaines.
The Headwater rep, Joey, couldn't have been more welcoming or more helpful. He went out of his way to make sure we had the best holiday possible. He was always cheerful and fun to be with.
Good for people who like an energetic walk
A charming hotel with lovely staff in quiet part of Andalucia
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 joy to walk in vineyards, olive groves and wooded areas in anunspoilt untouristified area.
A very well balanced walking holiday on a beautiful island with genuinely friendly and flexible taxi drivers!
First time with Headwater. We found the holiday to be as busy or as relaxed as you wanted. The walks provided were interesting with various levels of difficulty, meaning that you chose which route to follow. The hotel accommodation, staff and food were excellent. The food being some of the best food that we have ever been offered in a hotel. We will be looking at Headwater breaks in the future.
Holiday made perfect by care .commitment and expertise of James . It was very reassuring to have his constant but unobtrusive help throughout our holiday Excellent in every way .Thank you
A 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
Our walking holiday in the Luberon was an excellent way to experience the area and
This kind of holiday was a first for us, and we loved it. It was great to walk from one place to another and have our luggage moved for us. The hotels were well chosen and comfortable. The area is beautiful and the views from the hotels were lovely. If we were to do this again, we would probably go early summer in order to have more daylight when you can sit outside at the hotels in the evenings and appreciate the views. For the last Walk we did from Teolo to Il Feudo, we chose the longer option but cut it short at the point where you could do so. With hindsight we would probably have preferred the shorter walk on the hard surfaces, as the walk we undertook meant that we were in forest for most of the time with no views at all and the paths were not just steep, but very uneven with lots of loose stones, which meant that we spent more time than we would wish having to concentrate on getting a foothold. Notwithstanding this, we thought it was a great holiday and will look forward to planning another one for next year.
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.
We found it too hot to complete all the walks but time by the pool was a god restorative. If one wanted to start early one had to miss breakfast which is only available from 8.00am. If we wanted to go to Cala Turqueta we were advised to get to the queue for access to the road leading to the beach by 7.30am - after that and for most of the day access was prevented. The hotel is isolated so there is no chance to wander off easily and enjoy local life without a fairly long car journey along an unsympathetic, narrow road. Once in the hotel the ambience and staff were charming and welcoming.
This holiday was a wonderful way to enjoy not only the the Amalfi coast but also the villages we walked through in 'real' Amalfi. Paths into countryside abundant with food being grown, not only lemon and olive groves but grapes, tomatoes, kiwi fruits and all sorts of beans and other veg. Staying two nights in every location allowed time to explore these beautiful towns and take a trip to Pompeii. Consider staying in Naples for a couple of extra nights.
An absolutely great walking holiday in truely beautiful part of Italy. Food and wine were fab except for the Michelin restaurant on our first night. The food was strange. We went there because the Michelin restaurant in our hotel was close on Monday nights. A shame as we ate in their bistro on our last night and it was very good. Our reps were excellent and friendly and not intrusive as this was a self guided walking holiday. There were some glitches with a couple of the walks but this was because a farmer had closed and lick a gate and another time the instructions weren’t clear at a confusing junction. However we got to our destinations easily despite some very steep incline to coast into the villages. It would have been helpful when booking to tell us what else there was to do on our days off as this was very limiting by the time we got there. Moving every two days was ok but we felt that at least one move was unnecessary as the walks were all quite close together. Over all an excellent holiday and we would use Headwater/ Exodus again
The family run hotel was excellent in every aspect. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the food was first class and the service was prompt and efficient. We had a super room at the front of the hotel with a balcony looking out at the snow capped mountains. It was ideally situated for all the walks for which excellent information was provided. The walks were amongst beautiful scenery with typical Swiss mountain chalets, cows with ringing bells etc. We made good use of the included cable cars. We were lucky to have had excellent weather apart from one day of low mist & cloud. If we had had poor weather for the entire week it would have considerably lessened the enjoyment of the holiday as the point of being there was to experience the wonderful mountain scenery. Of course, you can't do much about the weather!
Perfect location ideal for walking. Stunning scenery. Kandersteg is picturesque and the hotel ideal with great staff.
Go with the itinerary, or do your own thing with flights transfers and accommodation taken care of, its easy and stress free.
An amazing holiday that far exceeded our expectations. Lovely hotel with a great choice of food friendly and welcoming staff. We went on some amazing walks, not too challenging for novice walkers like ourselves. The scenery was simply breath taking and would strongly recommend walking the Valparola Pass, not just for the stunning views but also for its history during WW1. We chose walks provided by Headwater to suit us and made use of the public buses and cable cars.
Wonderful way to see this area of Sicily. Temple of Segesta a highlight. Beautiful inland scenery & fantastic coastline. We had excellent, driver, Nicolas, punctual and safe, also flexible & happy to change itinerary to suit us. We were the only guests to our surprise! Far too hot for 70+ yr olds in early Sept. to walk in Zingaro Reserve. Found shady, rocky beach near Scopello & enjoyed the sandy beach & umbrellas of San Vito Lo Capo. Marettimo was delightful with excellent walks. Beware vertigo on one! Il Veliero - great fish restaurant. Stunning location back on mainland for last two nights. Highly recommend adding on at least 2 days in Palermo.
We had a wonderful holiday which more than lived up to expectations. We loved the location. The lakes and mountains, towns and villages in Austria, were really picturesque and were fortunate to see them in amazingly good weather.
Our holiday Reps, Jill and Colin were exceptional. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Their knowledge of the area and advice on walk routes were the basis we used to planning what turned out to be a wonderful week of walking.
We had an excellent walking holiday in Piedmont. The accommodation was very good. It was a gastronomic holiday. We would describe half of the meals as gastronomic but others were disappointing. The food in Villa d'Amelia, Benevello was wonderful. We were disappointed, however, with the food in Hotel le Torri, Castiglione Falletto although the local restaurant we ate at, 'L'argaj', was excellent. The local restaurants in Montforte d'Alba were 'rustic' rather than 'gastronomic'. The countryside is beautiful. We really enjoyed the walks even in the high temperatures. Had it rained some of the chalk footpaths would have been very difficult. The walking instructions were very good - there were only a couple of occasions were local farmers had altered the paths or field layout but we managed to work it out. The Headwater reps were fantastic. Although we didn't need to call on them (probably due to the excellent quality of the Headwater set up), we were very confident that they were looking after us ie moving our luggage and checking we were safe and happy. We would certainly consider travelling with Headwater again.
Really Happy with the overall experience - & would recommend Headwater to others
Our first trip with Headwater, and we were very impressed. We liked being in charge of our day (unlike when walking with a group) - we can leave when we like, and walk at our own pace. Walk instructions were (mostly!) very clear, accommodation very comfortable and well-located, with plenty to do on the 'rest' days. Overall organisation good, and all involved very helpful.
Great to see an area on foot with sufficient down time to explore independently.
Stress free baggage transfer between accommodation aiding an enjoyable experience
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 .
Excellent in every respect, flight arrangements, hotel transfer, accommodation and route guides.
Excellent hotel which was a great base for a range of amazing walks.
Dobbiaco / Toblach is a lovely small town and a great centre for walking in the Dolomites. Public transport is very good (and runs on time) so it's easy to plan and feel confident of your arrangements - vital when self-guiding. The route notes were very good and we never needed to actually look at the provided maps - though having the routes pre-downloaded on a gps was a godsend, because sometimes there was a plethora of paths in popular places initially going off in similar directions. The suggested timings worked very well for us too, so again we felt confident that we would arrive at various locations on time. The Hotel Bellevue was very good and their packed lunches quite generous, though there were also opportunities to buy lunches in town and most routes had refuges or cafes en route.
Great hotel in a lovely location in the centre of Dobbaccio. Impressive rugged mountain peaks as you walk, with some wonderful traverses, a few tricky ascents and descents and a lot of gravel paths. Only a few of the suggested walks start directly from the hotel so if you don't want to take a bus to start your walks then this may not be the holiday for you. However, the buses are great and they always stick to the timetable so we had no problems. The Tre Cime walk was the highlight. Nemes Alps was next best but we recommend you miss out the last downhill slog (a 600m altitude loss all on a wide gravel 'road') - instead we suggest you either get the bus back from Kreuzberg/Monte Croce Hotel after a hot chocolate at the hotel - it's like thick chocolate sauce! - or do the pass from the Kreuzberg hotel and retrace your steps to the hotel and then get the bus home. Check out the gun turrets at the foot of the mountains during the first half of Nemes Alps walk. Consider researching these before you go - we wish we had.
A great way to see several places in one week in the Sicily area. We could tailor the walks to suit our own needs using the Headwater routes as our starting point. Also it was nice to meet our fellow travellers and spend some socialising time with them
Excellent from start to end, great base for walking holiday. Glad we could fly from local airport. Team in Austria - very friendly and knowledgeable.
A fine, challenging activity holiday with excellent back-up support re luggage forwarding, through-out the week. Idylic Provencal hotels and villages interspersed among vineyards and Olive groves galore. A region dominated by both limestone and sandstone cliffs clothed with dense forests and providing stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
We thoroughly enjoyed the hills. What a relaxing place to go. Everyone we met were very friendly. The hotel staff couldn’t do enough to please us. James the Headwater rep went out of his way to ensure everything went smoothly. The only downside for us was American Express was not accepted at any of the hotels. This was our fourth Headwater walk and I am sure there will be many more.
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 )
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.
The booking with our requested addition was handled quickly and perfectly. Travel was great with all connections working well. The hotel and staff were great with nothing too much trouble - we had a dietary request that was fully met without having to repeat it having notified Headwater. The routes were easy to follow and the Swiss know how to signpost. Weather was variable but normal for area and time of year but even so we did what we set out to do.
Brilliant holiday. We had a fantastic time. Thank you.
Kandersteg offers a great deal of scope for a walking holiday and the Hotel Alfa Soleil is well situated for accessing walks in the surrounding area.
Generally good, but confusion at the point of booking as hotel was confirmed, we booked our travel and later we were advised Alfa Soleil was unavailable, so an alternative found. The Hotel Ermitage was very good. However, we were promised pick up on arrival and drop off on departure between the railway station and hotel, but neither were available, so we had a 15 minutes walk with heavy luggage. We attended the briefing meeting at the original hotel (Alfa Soleil) and received everything we needed for the week, with good advice, but there was no further contact with the local rep and our hotel (Ermitage) were not really aware that we were Headwater clients and never asked about our plans. They did ask who was paying the overall bill for our stay on departure, which was embarrassing (we were settling the drinks bill). Overall the holiday was very good, walking excellent, local staff friendly, hotel very nice and Headwater staff at HQ helpful and prompt, but some aspects (as described) did not live up to expectations. We prefer self-guiding, independent holidays, so not a big issue for us, but others may not be so happy. It would not put us off travelling with Headwater again, as it was very enjoyable, but there are areas that should be looked at to prevent repetition.
Very comfortable place to stay with excellent food great service and wonderful walking
Good walking, some of it reasonably challenging in the heat in a spectacularly beautiful corner of Sicily.
Excellent and efficient transfers made arrangements run smoothly and were a real time saver.
I really enjoyed myself.
A lovely holiday with congenial fellow guests in a beautiful location. Stefano is a welcoming and enthusiastic host, and endeavours to be flexible to his guests' needs and wishes. We would recommend going when it is not as hot - late September or May would be perfect. Our favourite walk was from Castiglioncello del Trinore, through the forest, and we recommend visiting the thermal baths, and paying extra for the spa and the 'emotional showers'!
Excellent and well organised.
This was a fantastic holiday in beautiful surroundings. The mountain paths were more challenging than those we had experienced in a Dolomites itinerary with Headwater but totally passable with care and a reasonable head for heights; you did need a good level of fitness for the steeper routes but it was never an issue. Although not included in the suggested walks, we climbed to the Doldenhorn Hut which gave spectacular views. The Gasterntal Valley is another essential.
A charmingly rustic hotel, placed perfectly for all walks. Passes for buses and cable cars extremely useful - but beware train fares are on the high side!
Hotel Ciasa Salares gave us a genuine mountain welcome. It was sophisticated without being pretentious. The food was of the finest quality and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The only criticism was that the advertised gym was unavailable twice due to it being booked out for the day by another party.
There was plenty of choice of walks for a week's break.
A lovely taste of different low level walks available in the area which makes us want to go back and do more on our own. Walking notes were excellent and easy to follow despite being discouraged from doing so and lack of confidence in them provided at the briefing. Given how often it rains and n the Lakes some walks are a little unsuitable after seriously heavy prolonged rain and alternatives would be useful. But all in all a great trip with delightful views and interesting history.
The Route management was fabulous.
This was our third walking holiday with Headwater and lived up to expectations. The walking was lovely, although the second one was quite challenging! All the hotels were comfortable and the last two were luxurious, but all had wonderful food. France is not an easy place to be if you are gluten free, as one of our party is, but the last two hotels were particularly good. Taxis too, are scarce and very expensive, if you wish to go out on your rest days. However, the reps (Janet and Andrew) were very helpful and we all had a lovely holiday, and would certainly use Headwater again.
I loved it! Walking was varied and spectacular. Madeira a stunning holiday destination. Will definitely book with Headwater again. Quality of hotel accommodation was great.
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.
Very enjoyable experience, pleasant walks, nice hotels with friendly staff and excellent food. My favorite walk!
Good value for money
Where to start? This was a fabulous holiday, so good that we have decided to return next year. The staff are delightful and cannot do enough to help even knowing what to do when confronted with a diabetic hypo. We enjoyed the splendid food, the wine and the ambience. The scenery is breath-taking. At 6000ft up the mountains still tower over the landscape. It really is a beautiful place with many well marked tracks for walking. There are cable cars to transport you to the alpine meadows which was a relief as I would have found the climb up challenging. If you would like a memorable holiday this is the place for you.
This was a fabulous experience - the food, views and staff were all wonderful
Barolo gastronomy self guided tour is an excellent way to see the countryside of the Alba district. Beautiful scenery ,some long walks , with a welcoming Hotel with excellent food options and glorious wine!
We just wanted to thank Headwater for another fantastic holiday experience. We are very grateful to the helpful Headwater team for helping us to put together a 14 day holiday in Venice and the Venetian Hills that combined a 3 night city break in Venice, the 8 day ‘Walking in the Venetian Hills’ walking holiday, followed by 3 days to relax at a nearby Agriturismo with a pool.
All the arrangements went well and we had good support from James, the local Headwater Rep who was helpful and knowledgeable. We travelled during the first two weeks of August and enjoyed excellent weather throughout our stay with daytime temperatures around 28 to 32 degrees.
Venice is such a beautiful and extraordinary city to visit and we had sufficient time to explore the city and visit several of the islands. The beautiful little islands of Torcello and Burano were particularly memorable. Our hotel in Venice, the Hotel Kette, was ideally placed to explore the city, less than 5 minutes walk from San Marco.
The walking tour in the Euganean Hills completely lived up to our expectations. We found the walking notes straightforward and the 1+ activity level for the walks was about right. Often we were walking through wooded hills but we also enjoyed wonderful views of the surrounding Venetian countryside and saw some interesting wild flowers. Please note that carrying plenty of water on the walks is essential.
The accommodation at Cortela was simple, but comfortable and Gabriella made us feel very welcome. The Prosecco produced on their vineyard was delicious! We particularly enjoyed the beautiful little village of Arqua Petrarca and the food and accommodation at hotel Villa del Poeta were excellent. On our rest day there we took the opportunity to walk to the pretty nearby town of Monselice.
The hotel at Galzignano (Belvedere Resort Ai Colli) was very comfortable and our room enjoyed a lovely outside garden area. The food and wine there were excellent. At Teleo we stayed in the B & B Tito Livio in accommodation that was to a very high standard and there are plenty of opportunities to eat at local restaurants in the evening.
For the final part of our holiday, we transferred to a nearby agriturismo, the l’Albara, Villaganzerla. This was a great opportunity to relax and unwind after our walking holiday before returning home. Our room at l’Albara was very comfortable and the pool was lovely set in a pleasant large garden area … a perfect place to read and relax. Everybody was so welcoming there and the food and wine were both excellent. Dinner is served in one sitting on trestle tables (with choices and the offer of second helpings!). The wine produced on their own vineyard is superb, reasonably priced and highly recommended.
We are looking forward to choosing our next Headwater holiday next year!
We generally enjoyed good walking without any major issues. Our initial transfer to the hotel was not booked but we had a very good follow up from your local representative and staff. Also, one of the hotels was trying to charge room cost directly to us, but eventually they understood.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kandersteg is a truly lovely location. The hotel was very welcoming and our room very comfortable. We were upgraded to a Junior Suite and had a view of the mountains from our balcony. The food was excellent. Being able to prepare a packed lunch was a real bonus, as food and drink in Switzerland are both very expensive. Luckily,apart from the first day, the weather was ideal for walking. Most routes were clearly marked, although there were a couple of walks which would benefit from clearer instructions. The scenery is spectacular, particularly as the alpine flowers were still in full bloom. The grading is accurate. Some walks are relatively steep and if, like me, you are not keen on walking downhill on loose stones, can be a little daunting, but they are well worth the effort. We haven't stayed in one location on a walking holiday before, but had no regrets, as the walks were varied and never less than stunning. We would thoroughly recommend Kandersteg and the Alfa Soleil to anyone contemplating walking in Switzerland.
great hotel,great location, wonderful holiday
The walking is good and varied with stupendous views if the weather is kind, as it was for us. Plenty of flowers, butterflies, lizards in mid-July for added interest. The hotel staff were very friendly and the food was definitely a cut above usual hotel fare, both in content and presentation. Switzerland is an expensive country but Headwater's price includes most of the basics so that we paid for little else except wine, a couple of cups of coffee and the rail fare to the Sudrampe walk. We heartily recommend the latter as it is such a contrast to the other mountain walks, rather like going from Switzerland to Provence!
Excellent hotel in Bad Ischl with very good transport connections to various walks just 10 minutes walk from hotel. All walks suggested were within the grade with some being a little more challenging than others. All with outstanding views. If there weren't so many other places to visit in the world I wouldn't hesitate to return. A friend and I found the walk descriptions easy to follow and going at your own pace gave you the options to take as long as you liked at various places of Interest. Would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone who enjoys walking with a little challenge and stunning views .
Good location, great walks, brilliant food.
We were only away for eight days but it felt like eight weeks. The walks were wonderful, we never met anyone and reading the notes and hiking the wonderful Eugenian Hills made me clear my brain and relaxed my mind. The locations of the hotels and inns we stayed at were in beautiful surroundings. We would never have found these places had it not been for Headwater's ingenious way of finding them. Having a tour representative is such a good idea. Other walking companies do not offer this.
Headwater response:
Thank you for leaving such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved the wonderful Eugenian Hills. We are proud that we are able to find these hidden gems for our customers to experience and enjoy and it reaffirms the hardwork that the team put in to create these holidays. Hopefully we will be able to welcome you to another Headwater holiday in the future to enjoy as much as this one.
Kind regards
Customer Service.
I enjoyed it
As a Literary Tour it was thoughtfully planned, apart from Day 6 when your Highlights suggests alternatives, but the walk sheet offers only a rather unneccesary trip to Wray Castle. Surely the walk to Beatrix Potter's High Top (returning via Moss Eccles Tarn) should have been the first choice. The National Trust is establishing an off-road path from Hawkeshead, which we took to Near Sawrey. And the extension to Day 7/Bowness was a downer. Being thrust into such a touristy place took us away from the empty countryside world of our walk.
We had a good week though in very hot weather. Overall we thought the week was underated at 1+ boot. 2 would have been more appropriate. Greg, the rep was very conscientious. The walking notes were good. The Hotel Garbi and The Castle were extremely comfortable and helpful. The Hotel Rosa in Begur was extremely friendly and welcoming. However the room was very small and the air conditioning not able to cope with the ambient temperature. Not comfortable. But overall a good holiday.. very interesting hilltop villages.
Very enjoyable walks with excellent notes. We are experienced walkers but even we struggled with very high temperatures on Day 4. We were offered the opportunity to swap one day’s walk to canoeing; this is an example of Janet and Andrew ( the reps) going out of their way to tailor our holiday to suit both us and the weather conditions. We thoroughly enjoyed the canoeing and it added a new dimension to our holiday! The hotels were very high quality as we have come to expect with Headwater ( our ninth holiday with you). The only exception was La Terrace in Meyronne where the menu was limited and was the same on both evenings. It gave the impression that we were less important guests and didn’t add to the ambience.
Headwater response:
Thank you for leaving a lovely review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the canoeing a great alternative to walking in the extreme heat that you were experiencing. Janet and Andrew will be really pleased to read what you have written. I am sorry that the menu in La Terrace was limited and would like to assure you that your comments have been fed back to them.
Kind regards
Customer Services
Hotel Alfa Soleil is very traditional, comfortable and welcoming and it’s worth making sure you get a balcony room as the mountain views are outstanding. The small pool was never busy. The food all week was excellent and in particular the hotel catered for a special diet with great care.
Many of the walks use lifts, trains or buses and it was really helpful to have the lift pass and bus pass included, especially as the lift pass puts you ahead of the queue. We thought the Blue Lake was a bit over-
the walks were all fabulous and the walking notes accurate and interesting. All walks were open in July and the waterfalls in particular were spectacular because of melting snow from the very high peaks. The Sudrampe walk is different from the other walks, but the further we went, the more memorable and fantastic it was.
You need to change platforms at Bern railway station. There’s just enough time for the change of platform with luggage but it is a bit tight, particularly as one of our trains was running a few minutes late, so it’s worth knowing which platforms you need before you set off.
Great wine and food , great walking and no worries.
Beautiful part of Provence to walk in despite it being atypically hot. In view of the high temps, not many hotels offered an early breakfast (07:30) to allow us an early start. If I was to do again then out of main season would be sensible.
Also some popular village restaurants get booked up quickly so having some contact details at the hotels could help smooth these difficulties
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.
My self guided holiday in the Venetian was a perfect holiday for me, as my friend and I had never been to Italy before. A good introduction the people, food and wine, and of course the region. The itinerary was quite leisurely for us, but really enjoyed it, plenty of time to explore the area on our days off. Public transport is very good and the people very helpful.
The booking and arrangements were overall excellent with good choice of hotels, catering very well for our pescatarian diet. The route instructions were mostly accurate and easy to follow. The local rep was very helpful and knowledgeable. We have now travelled with Headwater on a number of occasions and will happily do so again in future.
A memorable trip in a wonderfully scenic location
A brilliant holiday, everything worked like clockwork, the staff in the office were efficient, helpful and charming, the location and hotel were superb. Very happy customers.
Normally would be a great place to stay but currently due to roadworks, traffic is being diverted past the hotel that is making it noisy. Friendly staff, good clean rooms and good food, make it an ideal base. As it is central, with good bus and train service, it is easy to get to all walks.
This was a really excellent trip. There are some beautiful walks in the region with stunning views, and the trip notes are very accurate. The hotel was extremely good, with very friendly staff, nice spa facilities and really impressive food (including the chocolate room!).
Headwater response:
Thank you for such an excellent review. Your positive comments are really appreciated and thank you for taking the time to make them.
Kind regards
Customer Service
Excellent walking holiday but would probably go to Menorca earlier in the year as the end of June is almost too hot for walking!
Fabulous "Landscapes of the Luberon" walking holiday with Headwater in the south of France. Excellent clean, comfortable and welcoming hotels, great walks with very good, accurate self guided notes amidst beautiful scenery and villages that were a joy to visit and stroll through in the sunshine. Rep was very efficient, friendly and helpful and went out of his way to accommodate us. We added a couple of very enjoyable short city breaks in Avignon and Nice at either end of the holiday. In short a very varied, memorable and wonderful holiday which we really enjoyed.
The entire holiday was even better than we could ever have hoped for. The walking the Levadas was a very interesting way to see the parts of Madeira some people never see. The transfers each day were excellent but best of all was the quality of the hotels which were excellent and are in locations to let you experience the different areas of Madeira. The staff were all very helpful and the food at the 3 hotels was super. This was a holiday that exceeded all our expectations and if you are reasonably fit and enjoy walking then we would highly recommend this. Madeira is a very beautiful and interesting island and I am sure we will go back again to experience more of what is on offer.
Tremendous week in the Swiss Alps, walking and eating. The wildflower meadows were wonderful at this time of year.
A fantastic week in Kandersteg with a good range of walks from easy to challenging. Could have stayed another 3 or 4 days easily. Hotel Alfa Soleil was really nice.
The trip was fantastic - we all loved every minute. The luxury (spa, sauna, pool) and meals in our hotel were far beyond our expectations.
The hikes were incredibly scenic and spectacular and much easier than we had imagined (this is not a complaint). All in all heads up to Headwater.
Varied walking from a comfortable base
What is great about this location and this particular hotel is that you can do as much as you want to i.e. stay in your comfort zone; or push your boundaries and cross them, which you will not regret.
My husband and I used Headwater in order to walk the Camino de Santiago. When arranging our holiday, we asked for an extra night in Madrid as well as Santiago; this they did for us, no problem at all.
Throughout our holiday, we had, mostly, excellent accommodation and the walk routes were really good.
We will both be using Headwater again and highly recommend them.
The holiday was excellent and we have already recommended to friends. Only one hotel, Villa Beccaris, was not up to standard with poor service (sending us to tourist information when we asked to book a wine tasting after trying to connect to a local vineyard for less than 1 minute) and poor food - they ran out of pastries at about 9am even though breakfast was until 10.30am and they were holding a staff meeting for a future wedding in the breakfast room and one of the chefs glared at us when we entered the room. We want to stress that this didn't spoil the holiday it was just out of kilter with the excellent hotels experienced elsewhere during this holiday. The reps were outstanding, extremely helpful and friendly.
Fantastic scenery, some great hotels and meals.
Walking notes excellent in terms of directions but could have much more detail of places of interests passing through. Hotels never boring, all have character and different. Travel - should be better informed with more options offered inc train.
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.
Really enjoyable holiday. The hotel at first feels a bit old fashioned but we were very comfortable there and grew to love it. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was excellent especially the two themed nights. The view from the balconies was spectacular and ever-changing. The walks were well chosen....mostly up on a lift and walking down through wonderful flower meadows and rushing ice blue rivers. The walk at Ochinen See was the most challenging, especially as there was still snow and melt. Walking poles are essential. Switzerland was beautiful but very expensive....the picnics for lunch were very welcome. Overall we had a great holiday.
First class hotel with friendly and professional staff. Beautiful region of Spain with an excellent mix of walking and potential sightseeing.
A good 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
Great thank you
This was one of the best holiday we've ever had, Provence is amazing, really beautiful and stunning. The hotels were wonderful, as were the walks, really enjoyed them. We would recommend everyone to visit this fantastic region of France and travel with a fantastic holiday company Headwater, as they really have it all so well organised and take good care of you. Thank you to all at Headwater, we shall be planning next summer's walking holiday soon.
Just like the promotional material says -- discover an overlooked part of Italy. One the whole holiday we only saw one other group of English-speaking tourists, except when we went into Padua. An excellent holiday -- the walks were a bit more challenging than we had been expecting, but manageable, and we were well rewarded with excellent food and wine every night. A very interesting mix of hotels, and each was very comfortable with it's own personality. We very much enjoyed this trip.
Great route, interesting sites and beautiful sceneryi
Seeing the countryside you can never see in a car or coach
We did the Amalfi coast walking holiday in the first week of June. Just about made it before it gets too hot. The hikes in Ravello and Path of Gods were stunning and every bit met and exceeded expectations. Hotel Miramalfi has a brilliant location where our rooms faced the sea and do not miss going to the deck chair platforms by the sea- below the pool. Highly recommend this one.
The mountain scenery viewed from the walks was superb, we were lucky to enjoy fine weather, and the hotel and the food were excellent.
The three locations offered different aspects of north-west Sicily, and walking descriptions very accurate. Phillipo gave us a great introduction to the area at the briefing, including tips for our extension in Palermo. We enjoyed staying at all three hotels and accommodation was of a high standard, although a little disappointed with the quality of food (breakfast choices were very limited at Marettimo Residence after 8.10 as supplies weren’t refreshed, and the evening meal at Baglio la Luna was not well cooked on the first evening, second was better). The walks on Marettimo are beautiful; Scopello lower walk along the coastal path was extremely crowded so not much fun; we didn’t do the final walk at San Vito as it was too hot and challenging for us based on feedback from others, so spent the day on the beach. The drivers were professional and courteous, giving the opportunity to see Erice and Segesta, and boat travel good. Definitely recommend adding on time in Palermo.
Fabulous walking in by far our favourite part of Sicily - recommend doing the higher level walk in Zingaro. And as for Marettimo, what a discovery. Spectacular scenery and unspoilt. As ever Headwater's arrangements ran like clockwork and the route directions easy to follow. The side trips to Segesta and Erice were a real bonus. The final walk up Monte Monaco was a bit of a disappointment and just a slog up and down in 34C but appreciate it was a last minute alternative because the Monte Cofano route was closed. If it doesn't reopen perhaps other options could be offered. The hotel In Scopello (La Tavernetta ) was excellent and we loved Marettimo Residence which gave us the choice of eating out or stocking up the fridge with local goodies and staying in. The B&B for the final two nights is very isolated and as we are not great fans of set menus and communal dining was not for us. However, there is no denying that Baglio La Luna is quirky and full of character and we were lucky to have a huge sun terrace (room 4!) and our time there did not detract from our enjoyment of the whole trip. Another great holiday with Headwater.
The host Stephano was brilliant in all respects. The breakfast was limited in choice. Evening meal was traditional to the area. Accommodation was a bit basic . Walking was excellent and was able to be adapted to people’s needs. The extras were a treat, eg spa visit, cookery lesson and olive oil lecture.
We have had a number of cycling holidays with Headwater but It is our first walking holiday. We were pleased to have chosen a single centre holiday in Bad Ischl and appreciated all the support that the reps Gill and Colin gave us which extended beyond their remit. Even though we happily sort our own walking routes in the UK we thoroughly enjoyed the range of walks available - some of which would have been difficult for us to find ourselves and the updates giving us information about which areas to avoid because of snow cover (unusual at this time of year) were invaluable. Overall, we had an excellent time.
We had a excellent walking holiday in the magnificent Austrian Lake District. The weather was kind and we walked every day up into the hills and mountains and were rewarded with spectacular views of the lakes,forests and snow capped mountains. Must give a special mention to our guides Colin and Jill who’s briefings and tips about the walks were excellent, went out of their way to keep in contact via text and helped to make this holiday special.
Excellent accommodations, beautiful hiking trails, and amazing food and wine.
Superb locations, superb hotels and even better food. We will certainly return.
Excellent holiday, well worth visiting this area, locals very friendly and we especially enjoyed the wildlife and tranquility on our varied walks.
A very enjoyable trip with generally easy walking, albeit on a lot of paths and roads with no shade. Some of the directions are a little ambiguous whereas others are detailed and completely accurate. Very little was open though even in late May, so we soon learnt not to rely on a cafe or bar at any of the towns/villages. Good hotel with friendly staff and good food.
Walking mixed, not Headwater's best. Not much variety. One of the very best hotels Headwater has provided. Very friendly and helpful staff, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and Gozo people generally.
Very pretty walks and interesting culture. I would suggest visiting later in the year rather than late May as the resort areas were not open and the weather was cool and at times very wet. The hotel on Marittimo is not geared up for out of high season use and was cold and rather basic. In hot weather it might be lovely. A lot of restaurants and shops were still closed.
This holiday was as advertised in the brochure. The countryside was beautiful, the food in the hotels was very good (we were given vegetarian options in all the hotels). We appreciated having the rest days which one of our party used to do watercolour painting, whilst others visited nearby towns, including Venice.
Good holiday but probably dependent on the weather as heavy rain will prevent some of the walks through the vineyards etc..
This is an amazing location with varied and fabulous walks. We went in May so there was alot of snow on the higher routes which meant we could not do all the walks planned. However the hotel advised us on alternatives and we had 6 stunning walks against a backdrop of beautiful snow-capped mountains and mostly had the trails to ourselves. A truly memorable holiday and I would love to return to do the additional routes. Thankyou to Headwater and the team at the Alfa Soleil.
We had a wonderful walking holiday on the Amalfi coast. The hotel's were well chosen for their stunning views, food and comfort. The 2 extra nights in Sorrento ment we had plenty of time to visit Pompeii and enjoy Sorrento. Well done Headwater
A truly fantastic holiday. The distances walked were slightly longer than those documented but it was well worth the effort.
The food and wine for the whole week were excellent and the castle was the highlight from an accommodation perspective.
I would thoroughly recommend this trip. Greg, the local rep was very helpful and very helpful when one of our party was ill.
Good combination of guided walks and sight seeing. The driver for the transfers was very obliging and helpful.
We have been on a lot of Headwater holidays but this one was the best yet. Superb hotels, wonderful food and lovely walks. Phaedra and Paul deserve a special mention for their charm, efficiency, punctuality and attention to detail.
We had a great holiday in Madeira- the walks were varied and well planned, allowing us to see different parts of the island. The accommodation provided was excellent too- very comfortable, and good food. We would definitely recommend this trip with Headwater.
Morgan did a wonderful job looking after us! And headwater was so well organised-we really loved our holiday Thankyou; will definitely travel again with you!
Menorca is a pretty place with lots of history - the Menorcans are rightly proud of this. The walking is not too strenuous, but there are some coastal areas which are not suitable for people with vertigo. The views are magnificent. The hotel rooms are separate from the restaurant - if you go in shoulder season, you will need something warm in the evening. The hotel staff are delightful and nothing is too much trouble. You will get to know the main road down the spine of the island pretty well!
The Camino from Sarria to Santiago do Compostela is a pilgrimage rather than a conventional long-distance hike. If you would like to share an unusual, fascinating and historical experience with fellow travelers from all over the world (and of all faiths and none), you will probably love it. I have heard people complain that it is rather crowded. If you see that as a disadvantage rather than a positive part of the experience, then perhaps this is not the right walk for you. The walking itself, for anyone of moderate fitness, is not at all challenging, and the way-marking makes it impossible to get lost. As I say, this is a great, historic pilgrimage, but not an escape to the wild.
Excellent walking on spectacular coastline
Quality of walking not quite as good as previous years, but we still had an enjoyable holiday. Grading of the walking was closer to a 2 rather than a 1.
Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback; it is always a great help to understand how we can improve and whilst it is not always possible to be precise about how easy or difficult an activity will be, our activity ratings have been carefully designed to give you a practical guide as to what you can expect. When assigning an activity level to a holiday we consider factors such as gradient, length of walk or ride, and also the terrain or road conditions.
Arriving late into the evening we were made very welcome with room service which we were not expecting. The rest of the holiday was excellent only 2 afternoons of rain which was unusual for Gozo in May. We did all the walks detailed on the notes and only missed out on 1 part of 1 walk due to the gradient of the climb. Would definitely recommend visiting Gozo if only to stay at the hotel as it is located looking over the cliffs and Malta in the distance. The hotel was definitely worth its 5 star rating.
This was yet another excellently put together, self guided walking holiday - our 6th with Headwater. Staff & brochure provide excellent & accurate descriptions of venues & accommodation to allow an informed choice. The walk notes are very detailed &; accurate &; totally relate to what is on the ground. Over the years the standard of Headwater accommodation &; food has really improved yet it remains extremely good value for money. Walking on Gozo was a delight in May spring sunshine ( albeit some rain!) &; the coastal paths along dramatic cliffs were surrounded by flowers.
Hotel Ta Cenc has an amazing setting with views across to Comino &; Malta. I can recommend upgrading to a Trulli room for just more space given you are there for a week - No 133 looked directly out over the cliffs. Every evening there was a 4 course meal with 4 different choices of each course - all freshly cooked & well presented.
I would also recommend a stopover in Valletta - one night there gave us a full afternoon, evening & following morning to explore.
( a slight hiccup on arriving at our Valletta hotel with no booking found was very quickly sorted by Headwater who were at the end of the phone & kept us informed at each stage)
Flights & transport all went to time.
Look forward to our next holiday with you.
Excellent holiday which more than met our expectations. Stefano went over and above to make us feel welcome and give accurate and useful information about our walks. The cooking and spa were fun alternatives to walking each day.
Excellent organisation, accommodation, enjoyable walks and fantastic local rep. Would not hesitate to use Headwater again.
The first night in Leon is an enjoyable experience, in the evening the streets are very busy with everybody out enjoying themselves, get a seat, get a beer, and sit and watch the world go by.
The first two days are the most difficult, uphill on unmade paths, once you pass from Leon in Galicia the paths are much better, made up with gravel and it is possible to progress at your normal walking pace. The first two days are also a delight, being high up with beautiful scenery, and looking down on eagles soaring below is a real treat. The spring flowers were stunning.
All along the route the local people are welcoming and happy to see you,. Your fellow pilgrims are a huge multicultural gathering of people from all over the world, and it is a pleasure to be a traveller on El Camino
The hotels are good, very comfortable, with good staff, and are very very clean and highly polished, a pleasure.
The connections, the taxis, the baggage moving all worked perfectly and reliably
All round a very happy and enjoyable experience
Thank you.
Good to have our own relaxing and private space with sea view. Magical coastal walks. Abundance of flowers. Regular and efficient buses to all parts of the island.
Well chosen hotels, in stunning locations. When things went wrong, due to bad weather and hydrofoil cancellation, Headwater Holidays seemlessly organised excellent alternative accommodation and travel plans.
A great welcome from the holel that continued through out. Excellent variety of walks on the charming island of Menorca.
A fantastic area in which to walk. Tony and Ludmilla have gone to great lengths to make this a good trip and are both extremely welcoming and helpful. I would say that they are some of the best reps we have come across in many years of travelling. For us the distances were just right. All the arrangements worked like clockwork.
The breakfast in the hotel Mira Sagres was not the greatest with no hot choice and the croissants were rather stale. However, the staff were welcoming and the hotel provided the best shower of the hoiday. The food in Pedralva and in Lagos was really good and the breakfast in Lagos was superb. The staff in Pedralva were great fun. At the Pousada hotel, the staff gave me a gorgeous piece of cake to celebrate my birthday, which was excellent and really helped to make the day special. We didn't find the staff at the Memmo Baleeira very friendly and the service at the evening meal on the first evening was poor.
An interesting programme with generally good accommodation. Service at hotels mostly good except for overcharging at Grasmere.
The weather wasnt brilliant because we went in early May. However, we did enjoy the walking, which was a challenge but not too difficult.
The whole trip was amazing, reps Jill and Colin were very attentive and knowledgable. Hotels were well picked and varied so we experienced castles to little boutique hotels. Really enjoyed the trip.
We like Headwater
This is a lovely part of the world and we really enjoyed our holiday. The rating of 1+ for some parts of the walks was for us under rated - on one walk the local signs showed the walking route to be 3 boots! However, we appreciate that the rating of the holiday overall has to be based on the full week. Anyone thinking about this holiday should be sure that they can cope with regular and sometimes quite steep ascents and some fairly narrow paths. The accommodation was varied and we really liked the changing hotels in Sagres which broke up the holiday. We would advice people on the holiday to not ask for a picnic lunch from the hotel Lagos - this was very expensive (€12 per person) and was basically a sandwich on stale bread - very disappointing. If Headwater could possibly make a deal with hotels where guests could pay for a picnic but actually just make it themselves from the breakfast buffet then that would be better - particularly at that hotel as the breakfast was excellent. This was not our first Headwater holiday and we would be very happy to book with them again as the local support and service allows you to feel fairly independent but with the assurance that support is on hand if needed.
Another fantastic holiday with Headwater
We completed the ‘Walking the Argarve’s South West’ holiday in late April/early May. The weather was mostly perfect for walking and we had a wonderful holiday, well supported by Tony and Ludmilla the local Headwater reps. Tony’s walking notes were clear and easy to follow with helpful suggested options and the hotels were well located and well chosen. Such a beautiful landscape with so many picturesque sights and views. We also saw a fantastic selection of wild flowers, including orchids, and the area proved excellent for bird spotting too.
Our two hotels in Sagres were really lovely, but the outstanding place to stay for us was the Aldeia de Pedralva where we had a super one bedroom little character house to ourselves for two days in this beautiful tiny village. Breakfast and dinners at the hotels were mostly excellent, the sole exception being the most meagre of breakfasts in the hotel at Vila Do Bispo. The breakfasts at the Costa d’Oiro were truly exceptional with an amazing selection. We also had some yummy fish and seafood dishes as various restaurants during our stay in this wonderful south west corner of Portugal. Overall another fantastic holiday with Headwater.
Martin and Sandy, Sidmouth, Devon
The Headwater walking holiday in Bermuda is an excellent way to see the beautiful coastline, explore the various historical sites and travel on the local buses and ferries. The Coco Reef Hotel is a good base for the holiday, staff are friendly and keen to please.
Very enjoyable holiday. The hotel was excellent and traveling around the island was so easy thanks to the great bus service.
Very interesting walking holiday. Hotel accommodation extremely good.
We had a lovely 5 day walking holiday, no problems and would like to say a special thank you to Ludmilla and Tony and the staff at Pedralva.
Lovely hotel and location on a fascinating island, On the upper range of a one-boot as quite a large amount of walking on stony or concrete paths. A good Spring break as there were beautiful flowers out. A good holiday for cat lovers as the hotel has a number of friendly cats roaming around. We would recommend the upgrade to a Trullo room as this was light and more spacious.
Good location to enjoy this beautiful natural park.
Wonderful hotel, staff and food/wine! We had inclement weather including snow, so early April may not suit everyone. Driving was easy on good if winding roads. Our last night had clear skies, and we were lucky that the hotel could provide an English speaking guide to show us the stars etc via the observatory - not to be missed! Only real issue was the Europcar booking process which was confusing and over complicated. Petit Precios hotel in Madrid was fine, but rooms facing the street were a little noisy.
Make sure you download the walking notes. Don't leave home without them.
Our trip to Madeira allowed us to experience the beauty of the island through the diverse walking trips and sightseeing days. Our accommodation was superb at all three hotels and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The local firm used to transport us to and from our daily walks are to be complimented as the drivers were wonderful. Headwater helped us have an unforgettable holiday to mark our silver wedding.
A relaxing walking holiday in attractive and unspoiled coastal scenery. The detailed route maps and waymarking were superb. The Atlantic cliff views and wild flowers provided numerous photo opportunities.
We had a very good holiday being well looked after from the moment we arrived. Ludmilla and Tony are a credit to Headwater and looked after us really well. Walk notes were well written and easy to follow. Time distance of each walk were accurate. We passed on a couple of updates to Tony who dealt with them immediately. All pick ups and tranfers were on time.
We would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone wanting to viist the Algarve.
Very enjoyable holiday Jan/Feb 2019. Great weather apart from 1 day of thunderstorms, not at all humid and lovely temperature for walking. Hotel was just as described, with excellent food. Worth bearing in mind that the hotel is very quiet in winter (we had the breakfast room to ourselves most days, and just a couple of other tables at dinner). As previous reviewers have said, this is more of a sightseeing holiday on foot, but very enjoyable. The walks vary in length (and are very flat) and some are quite long (we managed 30,000 steps one day) but there's lots of flexibility with the local buses (which work very well). A good trip for us to get away from the UK winter, followed by a few days in Miami on the way back.
Bermuda is beautiful and interesting if you like history. There wouldn't be time to see everything and hike every day. I chose the things I wanted to see and organised my walking around that.
Perfect place for resting and relaxing, whilst giving opportunity to recharge your energy. Gozo is great for walking and the climate was just right, Ta Cenc was a wonderful place to be over the christmas period.
We had a good walking holiday. However I think Gozo footpaths etc need to be developed with better planning and signposting. A lot of the walking was on road, it would be beneficial if more off-road walking could be planned. Overall, Gozo is a good place to visit.
An very enjoyable week of walking based at an excellent hotel. Although Gozo is a small island there is enough variety for a one week holiday.
Very well organised. Local guides very helpful.
The holiday was very good the free bus & ferry pass excellent,we found the notes accurate the map also good but large,because we are getting older we reduced some of the walks which worked well,allowing more swimming time. The people were very friendly and would stop if we looked lost. Overall a very good holiday well done Headwater. When we booked I was looking for maybe a different way to Bermuda I got no help from the sales girls, so we stayed with your holiday guide.
Just as advertised, and just what we needed
The general topography of this holiday was less interesting and exciting than experienced on previous headwater walks, but we did thoroughly enjoy the holiday.
Good location, comfortable hotel, nice spa.
Stefano and his staff at La Pietriccia did everything to make our holiday successful. We got what we expected, and more! A return trip is called for, but when it's not raining!
If you are actively fit and prepared for physical challenges then Headwater has well documented self-guided walks with well organised hotel accomodation and transfers to support your hiking holiday.
We were very impressed with the service provided by Headwater from start to finish. Ludmilla, the local rep, was very helpful and gave us lots of advice about each days walking. We got the bus into Lagos on our rest day, which was also very enjoyable.
We have never been on an organised holiday like this before, but wouldn't hesitate to book with Headwater again.
Just returned from walking the Algarve's south west coast, beautiful walks on the west and south coast, and we stayed in lovely hotels. Views stunning. Good food. Tony and Ludmilla were great reps, lots of support if needed, and met up with us at the beginning and the end of our holiday. Most walks do not have much shade, we had good weather for walking, warm but overcast. We felt it was a well planned holiday, even returning to Sagres during the week, gives you a different perspective of the coast. Thank you, Headwater, once again, a lovely holiday!
This was a most enjoyable walking holiday. The walking was stretching without being gruelling. The three hotels used were really good. And the Portugues were very accommodating and the food delicious. We made some new friends and felt well looked after from start to finish.
In a beautiful area of Portugal, with walking each day enough to be testing but not exhausting. The hotels were all good and we enjoyed the company of other walkers. A very enjoyable holiday.
Really enjoyed the holiday but felt some of the walks didn't quite match the holiday description of "Algarve's Wild West".
The clearest and most comprehensive walking notes we have come across, taking us to lovely places with stunning scenery and lots of history. The hotel was of a very high standard but the choice of vegetarian food was limited. The customer service offered by Headwater was brilliant with very quick and efficient responses. All the arrangements worked like clockwork.
Very enjoyable. We were lucky with the weather as although we had one wet and windy night and also a whole day and our ferry back to the mainland was cancelled, the agent managed to adjust itinerary to enable those of us with a later flight on last day still to be able to do everything. Although we missed the spring flowers and possibility of seeing orchids - we had Autumn Heather and Rosemary in flower in abundance on some walks. I did feel that the local agent should have checked on the ferry website that our ferries to and from Marettimo Island were running and been pro-active in telling us what we should do when the ferry was cancelled. Some of us found out by checking the website ourselves but unless you met someone who knew we were left in the dark as the hotel reception didnt let us know and we were all in different parts of the hotel.
Two of us went to Lorenzo island for the day which worked out very well although the coastal walk notes back from the cave to the ferry were poor and misleading. It added to the variety and we were glad we had gone.
Overall a good mix of walking, archaeology and culture and weather not too hot for walking - although we were lucky that the wet and windy spells didnt disrupt our trip more.
A good group of people and it was nice to meet them at some meal times and bump into them sometimes on the walks.
Interesting and varied trip.
Another excellent trip with Headwater, this time to a splendid Agriturismo in Tuscany, with excellent facilities, a great location for walking and superb cooking. Additional features included a cooking lesson one afternoon, a spa visit and a very enjoyable wine/cheese/salumi tasting in town. Thanks to Stefano and his family and friends for a very warm welcome and a most entertaining time!
The Hotel Zuhayra is brilliantly situated to explore both the white town of Zuheros and the mountains that provide the backdrop. The walk via Luque was excellent and we also enjoyed the easy choice of the Via Verde, walking on a disused railway line (a great option for cyclists too with well over 100km of level routes available). We were amazed that it was a Rural 2-star Hotel and wondered how much better it could have been had it been 3 or 4-star. As such it was excellent value for money [the food was at times, a bit disappointing and the choice was occasionally limited or there was no choice].
A great holiday - excellent planning and support and a wonderful location which combined beautiful countryside, a rustic rural Spanish locale and very enjoyable walking.
Walking the Camino was a lovely experience. Having the luggage moved everyday and prearranging accomodation and meals took away the stress of travelling.
The stunning south-west coast of Portugal is an excellent choice for a walking holiday, with the best accompanying notes we have come across in all the Headwater holidays we have taken! Brilliant that different length holidays are available, making the area attractive to more people.
My wife and I have just returned from a 10 day self-guided walking holiday in the Algarve. From start to finish, the organisation and support from our two local reps Tony and Ludmilla was first class and we stayed in five different hotels during our stay all of which were good value. The walking was generally quite easy and usually covered about 10 to 14 miles per day with optional rest days at each location if desired. Several days were spent walking along the coastline which was never less than spectacular.
Lovely walks, any uphill sections were well rewarded by fabulous views. The reps were wonderful and hotel staff all very helpful and friendly.
We enjoyed the holiday immensely thank you.
An excellent holiday all round with superb accommodation and really good food. The countryside is stunning and the walks were very enjoyable.
This is the third time that we have travelled with Headwater. Their choice of hotels is excellent, the walking notes are accurate ( but don't try to second guess them) in wonderful locations.
Well organised, good value, good range of accommodation
A great way to explore a little known corner of this interesting island
Amazing trek, walk of the Gods the highlight, few inaccuracies in the walking notes so make sure you read the map as well
A generally enjoyable first visit to this attractive island with varied and undemanding walking on offer. Also, the historic centre of Ciutadella is charming. We were delighted and disappointed in equal measure with our hotel. The welcome, quality of service and the comfort of the lounge and bar areas were excellent. Our bedroom was comfortable enough but let down by a lack of storage space and a serious level of noise transference from adjoining rooms. Breakfasts were excellent but we felt the evening meals were somewhat mediocre considering the quality of the hotel, and the dining room though ideal for summer visitors became cold and draughty when it was windy.
For us this was the perfect combination of quite challenging walks and the opportunity to visit villas, gardens, monasteries en route. The Euganean Hills were a delightful landscape of vineyards ,woods and olive groves. We also particularly enjoyed visiting Vicenza on the way back.
Having undertaken guided walking holidays we wanted to try a self-guided trip which would enable us to set off, stop and finish when we wanted (later start, more and longer stops) and this was perfect. We did three days walking with a day of rest between each walk (altho' ample instructions for further walks were provided). Our luggage was transported seamlessly from one hotel to the next and the hotels were first class both in situation and service (the food was excellent). In addition we tacked several days onto our trip to make a short city break and all arrangements for travel and accommodation were dealt with seemingly effortlessly providing us with a superb holiday experience.
One of our best Headwater experiences. The welcome at the hotel in Montforte was good but when we arrived at the Palazzo there was no one to ask about the lack of tea making facilities so we had to go down to reception in Giardino. It would also be good if the bar at Palazzo opened for drinks rather than being firmly closed
A quiet but attractive area of Northern Italy well worth discovering.
Great experience to walk the 100km+ on the camino
Excellent holiday we connected with your other clients and walked as a group of six and made our own
Camino Famílily. Very helpful before set off. Great accommodation and food. Some confusion with notes for arrival at hotels! - we could provide you with better notes!
Everything we had hoped for. The selection of location, hotel, routes were all spot on.
We stayed at Ta' Cenc on Gozo and did the six walks recommended based in the one hotel in late September 2018. The hotel rooms are all on ground level surrounding the 3 pools and we ate outside under the massive ancient Carob tree. The walks were accurately described and we enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of finding the next turning. We only went wrong once on the very first morning through hubris, swiftly learning to read the instructions carefully after assuming there was only one supermarket in the town and forgetting to read the name properly. The weather was hot and humid on the first two days and water and sun cream and headgear are essential. As is mosquito repellent. My wife was & bitten to death &, probably while eating our evening meals. Owing to the locals' penchant for shooting there were disappointingly few birds to be seen though we did spot plenty of Sardinian Warblers, a Honey Buzzard, a few Blue Rock Thrushes and a Tawney Pipit. It helped to have an appreciation of the various forms of limestone. Two of the walks are quite short and could be combined if necessary. Highlights for us were the locality around the hotel, Ta' Cenc is a nature reserve with fabulous sunsets and ancient cart ruts and dolmens scattered around. The local bay at Mgarr in Xini is great to swim, snorkel and dive off the rocks. The hotel minibus will take you there and back free of charge. The island bus service is superb, punctual and cheap. The Inland Sea near Fungus rock is also worth swimming in and take the boat trip through the cliff to the sea: the light filtering through azure water is stunning in the caves. The local cafe there had welcome and cheap beer and sandwiches. Marsalforn (not on a walk) is worth a visit as are the salt pans along the coast from there past Xweini Bay where we bought sea salt from Leli, who recently featured looking bemused on The Apprentice. Other must sees are The Citadel in Victoria and the ancient temple at Ta' Kola which can be combined with a tour of the restored windmill on the same ticket. All in all we loved it.
All in all a good walking holiday, the walks were all generally very peaceful and unspoilt although they were probably a bit tougher than we anticipated but not excessively so. The welcome briefing at Scopello was very good but unfortunately due to flight arrival times had to be held on the morning of the second day which meant we didn’t start the Zingaro walk until 11am which is a bit late as it gets very hot and there is no shade worth talking of for the first 2-3 hours, that said it’s a great walk.
The accommodation is comfortable enough without being luxurious but is well located and the breakfasts perfectly good.
The side trips to Erice and Segesta were very good, take the cable car up to Erice from Trapani , unforgettable views.
We added 3 days in Palermo to take in the city which is wonderfully atmospheric, recommended way to finish off a lovely trip.
Excellent holiday, food fantastic and Stefano was so enthusiastic about his cooking and the environment
Lovely hotel with super friendly and helpful staff, especially Antonio the manager. Good food and the picnics are very good - a very large sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit, juice and water. You wont go hungry! The walks are great and we did them in the order that was recommended in the walking notes. If you want a day off from walking a day trip to Cordoba is well worth it. All the logistics went according to plan and we had an excellent holiday.
If you just want to hike / trek without driving, this is definitely a good choice. However, it would be nice for Headwater to pick a hotel close to the village such that guests can easily stroll around on the rest day rather than book a taxi in order to go some places.
An enjoyable week in an area of outstanding beauty. The hotel and food were excellent, and the fact that the cable car and bus pass travel were also included made this very good value for money.
We really enjoyed our self-guided walking holiday in the Dolomites because the possibilities each day were endless. With the hotel as our base and the excellent walking notes we were able to plan a varied programme. Having a bus/train pass and the timetables made planning easy. The local roads up to and above the tree line enabled days of walking amongst the peaks a real pleasure, with rugged, stunning mountain landscapes all around. The footpaths were almost empty and the peace of sitting in a high altitude meadow hearing only the birds and distant cow bells was truly relaxing. In the evenings we enjoyed the company of other self-guided holiday makers. The food at the hotel was excellent and the accommodation excellent. We would wholeheartedly recommend this holiday.
This holiday was a great way to enjoy the Tuscan landscape, food, wine and local people. Really enjoyed the local countryside, villages and towns and came away feeling relaxed, well fed and keen to visit the area again.
Enjoyable and worry free as everything happened exactly inline with the planned agenda
Overall we had a really good week in the Euganean hills; the weather in late September was a bit warmer than we had expected and this made the walking slightly more strenuous and the insects were numerous - take plenty of repellent! The accommodation does vary quite a lot; the Villa Lussana is excellent, everything works and the food and service are all you could hope for. Il Feudo is fairly basic, though the staff are friendly. Villa del Poeta was very good, excellent food and service however they do often host weddings at the weekend which can be noisy. Our least favourite was the Belvedere.
The walking is very good and the directions generally ok though we found having a GPS device useful at times. James our rep was extremely helpful with transfers, advice and updates on routes. There were plenty of suggestions for rest days - our favourite was visiting the Villa di Vescovi from Teolo.....where we were able to use our National Trust cards; the villa is magnificent - but check opening hours as its not open every day.
Some walks on this holiday were slightly more challenging than anticipated, but perhaps that reflects our age and fitness. The fact that most walks require a taxi pick up at the end does add a little pressure and reduces the time available to stand and appreciate the surroundings. We learned that we prefer open-ended walks that end at hotels so that we can walk at our own pace. When walking in an area for the first time you don't really know how long a walk is likely to take so having to pre-arrange taxi pick ups was an added anxiety for us.
A compact week of relatively straightforward walking of moderate difficulty. The itinerary was accurate, as were all pickup/transfer timings.
Wonderful area, ideal for walking with hotels of character and many places to visit.
Enjoyable walking holiday with suitable options provided.
Beautiful situation, friendly staff and great food, with access to some lovely walks - similar to walking in the Lake District so bear in mind the effect of the heat!
This was our third walking holiday you have organised on our behalf and we have enjoyed all of them. Accommodation has always been good and standards generally very high.
All the drivers/taxis employed were all well turned out, helpful and on time.
Our first Headwater holiday: beautiful, fascinating countryside, and comfortable, friendly hotels with superb pools to relax in at the end of a day's walking.
A lovely combination of stretching but not impossible walking, lovely unknown countryside, and fine food.
A quiet, remote area of Spain yet full of interest. We visited three outstanding cities, all within driving distance - Avila, Sevogia and Salamanca. We interspersed these visits with walking days in the remote and beautiful countryside around the hotel. The hotel provided picnics which were delicious and the hotel food and local wine was outstanding.
This was not just a fantastic location for a walking holiday - buses/trains cable cars within easy reach, but an amazing hotel as well - both in therms of location and view.. Although only allocated 3* the food and service were simply exemplary - 4 course, exquisite meals each night using local produce and very imaginative menus. The ability to make your own lunch pack up each day was great and not something we have seen before. This is a hotel that goes the extra mile (well kilometre) and so deserves to be successful. A real gem!
Excellent holiday. Stunning scenery and great walks. Every day seemed to offer something different. Challenging at times but nothing over and above the ratings provided. Excellent, detailed and easy to follow route instructions.
Spectacular part of the world. Excellent walking with very accurate route notes. Hotel was perfect - great service and brilliant food every night, with a great choice of wines ( including local wines). We will definitely return as there are many more walks.
This was an excellent holiday and the 3 days in Marettimo were just THE BEST!
This was a wonderful experience of rural Tuscany in a delightful Agriturismo with fantastic food and staff who made you feel very welcome. Stefano was very helpful in organising our walks and tailoring them to suit all abilities. This was one of our best holidays and we would really recommend this lovely corner of Tuscany.
Flexibility of walks during the week was a real positive. Hot days were catered for by Stefano and option to not walk at all was great. Additional Wine tasting, cooking and Spa gave good variety as well
A glorious experience of real rural Tuscany in every way. The staff made you feel part of the family and Stefano in particular made sure every aspect of the holiday was tailor made for each person. Couldn't have been better.
First time with Headwater, didn't know what to expect , had a fantastic time, thought the moderate title was a little under exaggerated , there were some steep climbs but overall we had a laugh getting lost a few times but always found our way to the next hotel, didn't feel guilty eating all the lovely food and drinking the best procecco as we had earned it. Will be booking again in the future but
With less hills.
A beautiful location for lovers of alpine walking.
Wonderful walking in picturesque varied countryside with many historical features. Ample shade. Hotels luxurious and/or extremely comfortable with delicious food.
Another excellent holiday with Headwater. Our Manager James was one of the best we have experienced with Headwater. Nothing was too much trouble and he provided very useful information at our introductory meeting. Hopefully we will be fit enough to embark on another walking holiday with Headwater in future .
Hotel choice's were all good except for one ( Punta Campanella Resort). The text provided for the hike directions were excellent and we would definitely have got lost without it. All transfer pickup's and baggage delivery between hotels were on time which made the whole trip a absolute pleasure. Overall a well organised holiday which I would highly recommend to anyone wishing to hike the region.
An enjoyable holiday. The weather was marvellous. The accommodation was very comfortable. However, our experience was marred by my wife’s injury. Positano was very busy.
A brilliant service. Absolutely stunning.
The fine detail of choosing the hotels is excellent. Your website is easy to navigate and find fine details of holidays on offer.
I would throughly my reccoment Headwater to anyone wanting a specialist holiday.
Zuheros is a lovely, very quiet village in the Andalucian hills. The villagers offer a friendly "Buena Día" when you pass them in the street. The hotel Zuhayra offers friendly and helpful service.
Wonderful trip! Everything was so well set up for- transfers, trip notes etc. The walks themselves were stunning, and it was amazing to jump into the pool at the end of the day. A great way to see the Dordogne and experience a different part of France.
We enjoyed good weather, varied interesting levada walks, friendly staff and very good hotels
This was our first hiking holiday with Headwater and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Despite the changing weather, we were able to choose a suitable hike for each day because of the range of hiking notes supplied by Headwater. The Park Hotel Bellevue was excellent - friendly and helpful staff, comfortable rooms, convenient location (especially for trains and buses) and amazing food. We paired this holiday with a cycling trip (Dolomites to Lake Garda), which started in the adjacent town. This gave us an extra day of hiking as our transfer between hotels took about 10 minutes by taxi. We would highly recommend this holiday.
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.
A superb introduction to walking in the Swiss Alps. Great use of cable cars/gondolas to allow access to higher level walking experience. Fabulous food and friendly service at Alfa Soleil
Headwater were very accommodating to us, helping us to arrange our walking holiday to slot in between our plans to visit other areas in the same country during an extended stay. It was all very easy and everything worked very well. The hotel was lovely and in a great location. Our holiday was well organised and we had a very enjoyable time.
Impeccable organisation - everything arranged to perfection!
Excellent holiday in the Swiss Alps. Scenery stunning and enough accessible walking for those of average fitness for at least 5 days - easily more. Notes were helpful and clear. Accommodation excellent - get a balcony room at the front of the Alfa Soleil Hotel for stunning views every morning - worth the extra. Food is very good/excellent and far beyond what you would expect from a 3 star hotel. The picnic system works well as you will be spending 4 - 7 hours a day walking. Easy to add more distance to the walks and well signposted hiking trails mean you are not restricted to the walks provided. Kandersteg is slightly less touristy than Murren and similar resorts, but the mountains in this valley are, perhaps, slightly less dramatic.
Given that Switzerland is notoriously expensive - this holiday represents very good value for money.
Great holiday , very relaxing , walks well written and organised , made our first trip to the Lake district memorable and we will be back.
Super location - was concerned that being in a single location might be limiting but there is a wide range of different walks on offer.
We travelled as a group of 6 friends . Unable to get first hotel as booked. Very well organised transport. Very surprised Porto Bay Serra Golf had no air con. Helpful staff but over stretched.
Stunning weather helped make this a memorable walking holiday in the beautiful Swiss Alps. The food and staff at the Hotel Alfa Soleil were excellent.
Very well organised with comprehensive walking guides and maps, more walking options than days which was good, walking guides may benefit from a diagrammatic form of ascent and descent.
This was our eighth hike or bike with Headwater. We have enjoyed them all, but it was my first time to Ireland and I am absolutely in love! The hikes were incredible with outrageously beautiful views. The walks aren't particularly hard, but they are long and without stayput days to rest, it is tiring. If I were to do it again, I would opt for in a few extra stayput days here and there just so I could sleep in and spend more time exploring the villages. The local people were friendly and helpful - go sit at the bar in any pub and you will make instant friends. The little villages were fun to explore. The food was great and I really did not expect that! One thing to note... make sure your rain gear is working - get in the shower with it before you pack and make sure it is still waterproof! It rains a lot in Ireland and you are bound to get a shower now and then - even a cloud burst that lasts just a few minutes. We had two and they were actually a lot of fun! But the weather is wonderfully cool even when sunny and even the rain is just part of the experience. I would go again today if work didn't get in the way! It was wonderful. I think it is my favorite trip so far!
Great walking in a lovely area. Accommodation excellent; allowing us to relax in comfort after a long day's walking. The Headwater team are excellent; everything (all booking arrangements, support from local guide) ran perfectly smoothly.
An all-around enjoyable experience. Rep, Karen, was really welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable which was a great start. The Wordsworth Hotel was comfortable and spacious,with great facilities, food and service - a great start to our holiday. The Queens Head Inn was a great choice of accommodation and the room was perfect - a fabulous place to end our holiday as the upgrade was great. However The Lakeland was a disappointment as the room was supposed to be an upgrade but fell very short. No space or facilities. It was incredibly impersonal with poor service. The staff were more interested in their shop customers. We are still waiting on the toast!
The walks were well graded, with excellently detailed guidance notes. There was room for subjectivity at times but back up maps sorted that.
Transfers and parking was straightforward too.
Booking staff were very helpful, pleasant and patient. I would recommend Headwater Holidays as everything went so smoothly, the walks were most enjoyable with beautiful, not too remote routes that were also not too inhabited.
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.
Epic walking holiday in Switzerland, a week of gentle hiking at our own pace with the most superb mountain and lakeside views
coupled with excellent accommodation, service and a la carte food at the Alfa Soleil Hotel in Kandersteg. It was was wonderful.
Wonderful holiday - one of our best. Great walks - varied and accurate. Organisation by Headwater was good. Would certainly consider going with them again.
The Dolomites are a spectacular walking destination and there are a range of different walks on offer. The notes for each are extremely detailed and all information os provided, even down to exactly which bus to take and where to get off. The descriptions en-route are very detailed and the local signage is great. The scenery is superb and the range of walks is excellent - I would definitely recommend this self-guided trip with Headwater to anyone wishing to walk in the Dolomites. Gondolas are an additional cost. Returning to the Parkhotel Bellevue every day is a treat. This family run hotel provides extremely attentive service, the food is quite simply delicious! And relaxing in the spa helps ease those tired muscles or sore feet. If you are thinking of the Dolomites then I would definitely recommend this trip and this hotel. Headwater were extremely helpful in planning our itinerary given we were travelling from different locations and adding on our own independent stay in Italy. It was no hassle to consider the different flight options available to us. All information communicated was detailed, relevant and reliable. Headwater are extremely competent and professional and put together great itineraries.
We spent a really good week in the Lake District walking from village to village. Having our luggage transported from place to place was a real luxury. We were a bit unsure about how our children would cope with the walking. But this proved to be no problem at all, and they were ahead of us most of the time. The one day that we hadn't done our studying of maps and walking instructions properly, we managed to get lost. So, do your homework before leaving the house! We all really loved the last stop on our trip: The Queen's Head Inn, Hawkshead. Great team running the place and the food was amazing! Would travel with Headwater again if we have the chance to do so.
This is an excellent holiday in that you are located in a quiet valley with mountains all around and easy access to them via public transport and cable cars. There is a good range of walks of different grade ( not all of which are advertised by Headwater). the tourist information locally is excellent, the people are friendly and the Alfa Soleil hotel is a good base (with excellent food!). However, Switzerland is expensive! But the all-inclusive nature of the Headwater package overcomes this - it's good value!
Very enjoyable walking holiday. The only issue we had was the walk to Blausée which was not a good walk and a very long uphill Walk on the way back. We caught the bus but did no have the right bus pass with us. It would be worth putting in the notes that the
Card used for the lift pass is also valid for the buses.
I thought the hotel was excellent and Dobbiaco was a good base for exploring the north eastern Dolomites. The walks were interesting and well-described. The best walks required public transport which I found to be convenient and reliable though sometimes crowded.
Excellent holiday in beautiful countryside. Even though we walk regularly the walks were on the tough side for two people over 75,! The plus sign after the 1 was obviously very significant! There was however scope for visiting nearby cities or exploring the countryside by bus instead of doing all the walks. We appreciated a short alternative walk for the last day. This holiday was recommended to us by a couple we met on a previous holiday. It took us 3 years before we booked it but were very glad that we eventually did.
Headwater have always provided very, very detailed walking guides and we can always rely on those notes - never a tree, a gate, or a stone out of place!
On our arrival we were upgraded to a lovely room, (the Manhattan), it had great views, with a balcony overlooking the mountains. The room was very spacious and had a nice sitting area. The hotel was quite spacious with plenty of inside and outside sitting areas and a bar. The staff were always helpful and friendly and I felt they wanted to make our stay enjoyable. Daniel is particularly helpful with any problem.
There was a good choice of food from the menu in the evening,both meat, fish and vegetarian options and many chocolate deserts. Our picnic lunches were exceptional, with fruit, nuts, salads and enormous baguettes of many varied fillings. I would highly recommend these if you are walking all day. The walks are very good. We wrote in their book where the instructions could be improved/updated.
We would very much recommend Classic Swiss Alps Walks to anyone who enjoys walking in superb mountain scenery. The hotel accommodation and food were excellent to complete a terrific holiday.
Was a first-timer both to Headwater and Madeira. Thought walking would be the best way to get to know the island. There wasn`t a small group holiday so decided to go for self-guided holiday. Apart from the issue of the single-supplement there were no problems. Everything went smoothly throughout the holiday and I was in a position to contact Eduardo the local rep at any time if I needed too. Hotels were excellent in terms of location and food, and service. Especially enjoyed Madeiran specialities such as scabbard fish with bananas! Route notes and maps made the walks simple to negotiate. Good variety in the walks, though three levada walks was enough and glad I took the St Lawrence Peninsula walk as my optional walk as this covered very different terrain. Although I travelled on my own met up with other Headwater walkers on both the walks and in the hotels and enjoyed their company. Of course, the excellent weather helped immensely and walking in the clouds on one of the levada trails was a welcome break from the sun. Last 24 hours in Funchal was great way to end the holiday with sightseeing in the old town, and cable cars to the Tropical Gardens and Botanical Garden. Can recommend the holiday both to single travellers and others. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back for more with Headwater.
Our first trip to Provence. Lovely walking, hotels and food. It was hot!
My friend and I booked our Literary Walking in the Lake District Holiday as a celebration of our 50th birthdays. From the moment I began inquiring via email to the moment we left on the train out of Windermere, we felt valued and respected. Our booking experience was great - Joanne answered all my questions clearly and patiently. Transfers from the train station went smoothly and our taxi drivers were great. Every accommodation was clean, comfortable and unique and all the food was wonderful. Our printed directions were amazingly detailed and accurate - we had no issues finding our way around and the maps were very helpful too. Karen Wigglesworth was very friendly and genuine. She gave us plenty of information and suggestions to make our holiday the best it could be. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would do it again in a heartbeat! If only we could book every year! We were also extraordinarily lucky with the weather - a heat wave the Lake District hadn't experienced in years! Beautiful scenery, uncrowded trails, varied terrain - it was all wonderful! Thank you for helping make our birthday celebration unforgettable!
We have traveled widely in Europe and further afield with the experiences of this holiday rating as good if not better than any others. Well done Headwater.
Our visit visit to the Dolomites, it won't be our last. Lovely area and first class support all round.
An excellent opportunity to see areas in depth on walks with very good arrangements and comfortable accommodation.
June is probably too late for the recommended walks. Due to heavy use of the beaches it was not possible to take the car to the starting points of the coastal walks which meant we had to change the route. The latter was fairly straightforward as the cami way signs are excellent. Driving in Menorca is easy however the side roads are very narrow with high stone walls up to the verge. We had a polo which was very good but I thought a Fiat 500 would have been easier. The Hotel is very good and the staff very friendly and helpful. We were disappointed in the dinners which were a set menu. Two meals consisted steak and pork both of which were extremely tough and not enjoyable. The breakfasts were excellent and the wines very good and well priced. We would be pleased to return to Menorca.
An excellent holiday with all the arrangements working like clockwork. The notes for walks were very well prepared. We had a most enjoyable time.
A picturesque part of France, with vineyards and Lavender fields, Ochre coloured soil, and Rose wines to complement flavourful food. Heaven.
The countryside and views were like out of a fairytale. Sheep grazing on the hills, beautiful cottages along the way and fragrant woods to walk through. This holiday is for anyone who needs to slow down and forget modern life. The quality of the food and beer offered at various pubs along the way made it even better!
Outstanding holiday in a part of Italy we've only driven through in the past on the way further south. The walking was not too strenuous, though the temperature and inevitable hill at the end of every day's walking added to the challenge. The hotels and restaurants were all excellent, and local wines helped remove the pains of the days walking. Very friendly staff in all the hotels and restaurants visited.
The reps - Luke and Eleanor - were excellent; very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, adjusting their schedule to fit in with our changing requirements. I came home totally refreshed, half a stone heavier and already looking forward to returning.
This holiday is described as 'gastronomic' and it certainly delivers. The fine food and top quality wine mean that every meal is a delight, although visitors will need to recognise that Barolo and Barbaresco wines have a hefty price tag.
Expert arrangements that leave enough flexibility for individual nuance.
Beautiful countryside, dramatic coast line, wonderful walking often with historical interest. Brilliant located hotel and tremendous service. First visit to Menorca, fallen in love with this friendly beautiful island.
The most relaxing active holidays you can have.
Another enjoyable holiday and we are keen to do more.
We have done two walking holidays with Headwater and both have been excellent. The walking instructions and directions are clear and they often add useful additional information about the walk you are on.
A well organised break with great walks and excellent accommodation. 5* food at a lovely 3* hotel.
We really enjoyed our walking in Sicily. The notes were clear and good with adequate warnings about some trickier paths to negotiate.
We especially liked our stay on Marettimo as well as the walking there. Filippo was a friendly informative rep from the agency in Palermo and we had excellent help, support and advice from Nicola the local driver who arrived punctually and drove us carefully for all our journeys. One of the best Headwater holidays we have had.
The holiday exceeded all our expectations! Headwater had organised everything perfectly and there were no problems at all. The hotels were all extremely comfortable, most had large grounds for you to spend time in. The swimming pools were a welcome treat after a day of walking. Breakfasts were all delicious, with a large variety of food to choose from. The instructions for the walks were well explained and my daughter and I had no problems following them. We walked through magnificent scenery, and visited beautiful old towns. I would highly recommend this walk and Headwater. I will definitely be travelling with Headwater again in the future.
Wonderfully organised and relaxing holiday, apart from the challenge of walking every day, which is what we paid for!! Thank you!
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.
This was a great introduction to walking in Switzerland.
Stephano was a wonderful host, couldn't be more welcoming or helpful and we had a wonderful Tuscany experience. Had time to soak up the wild flowers , butterflies and wonderful aroma of the countryside.
The two weekest points were 1) - The arrangements with B.A. Both the Outgoing and Return journeys failed to allocate adjacent seats and the initial lack of a Boarding or Check-In document for the Return journey did cause us some concern. and 2) Details for the suggested walks for 5 days were quite difficult to follow.
Didn't really like Madeira - we knew it was an elderly destination but not quite so starkly. This should be advised. Funchal has little to commend it. Conclusions partly influenced by poor weather and a fall on a levada which laid me up for most of the week but have tried to take that into consideration.
A great holiday; a wonderful way to see unspoilt parts of this popular island holiday destination. Would love to return and explore more on foot.
This was a most enjoyable holiday. Piedmont is a beautiful area and was especially lovely in May when we visited - all very green and fresh.
We had a fabulous week's walking through vineyards, orchards and hazelnut groves. The scenery is beautiful, the people friendly and welcoming and the food and wine superb. The walking itself was very enjoyable and not too difficult, and there were plenty of places along the way to stop and rest if we wanted to. The walking notes were excellent and our reps, Luke & Eleanor, were brilliant and helpful.
A really enjoyable holiday on a beautiful island and staying at a lovely hotel
Madeira is a fantasy island, with outstanding scenery and interesting walking. Some of the walking is challenging: almost the only flat routes are the levadas, and the hills are steep. The levadas themselves have spectacular views, and whilst level are sometimes testing as they can be narrow and uneven, but ultimately extremely rewarding. In May the weather is mild but some rain can be expected, so a waterproof jacket is essential. The Headwater hotels are all excellent, and people in general are friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommended.
From the start to the end this was a very relaxing holiday, every day somewhere new to visit, great hotels and swimming pools, and lovely food.
Excellent - well organised - good hotels
Excellent walking in unusual destination . Brilliant accommodation
Wonderful tranquil location and excellent helpful staff at the hotel. Walking notes provided are very out of date however and we would recommend using the hotel walking notes instead which are very detailed.
Beautiful hilly countryside and plenty of variety of terrain on the walks. The best Prosecco ever! We recommend an extended stay in Venice.
Walking routes were about right distance. Temperatures were ideal for walking. On a few routes the paths were very rocky so a bit hard for a while.but generally quite comfortable. On balance 10 days with 3 stays in Sagres was probably a bit long in one place. I would recommend 8 days as length for this holiday.
Enjoyable walking with impeccable backup. The icing on the cake for us was exploring fascinating villages on the non-walking days.
We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Menorca. The walks weren't at all challenging but can be sometimes rocky underfoot. The wild flowers in May were exceptional, the coastal views were stunning and the weather was ideal for walking. We completed all the walks except the Mahon city walk and enjoyed all but the Punta Prima walk had long stretches between two high walls. We extended our stay to 10 nights which allowed us to do an extra walk of our own in the natural park of Es Grau. This we would definitely recommend as it is so unspoilt. Park at Es Grau and call for a taxi to Favaritx and walk south back along the coast to Es Grau. This was one of our two favourites, the other being the north coastal walk. The hotel was charming, the staff helpful, the food was excellent quality but the choice was limited to two per course as there was no a la carte in May. The last few miles of driving to the hotel is reminiscent of those narrow Cornish lanes with high rugged stone walls and blind bends.
We had a lovely time, there were 8 of us that booked together and we loved the walk! The scenery was gorgeous with the most beautiful wild flowers everywhere.
We had a good holiday somewhat marred by poor direction notes, that were unclear and didn’t contain enough distance references. Also the choice of accommodation and scheduled rest days wasn’t given much thought and could have been much better.
My wife and I really enjoyed our first Headwater walking holiday. Italy always delivers wherever we go and being steered towards some seriously good dining experiences was excellent. We had a couple of inclement weather days but not really a problem other than the odd bit of mud. The only slight negative was our meal at Villa d’Amelia on the first night was excellent but eight days later we were a little disappointed the menu was repeated and perhaps not quite as well executed. It was still very good though.
Our reps, Luke and Eleanor, went out of their way to ensure we were enjoying ourselves and seemed to enjoy sharing everyone’s feedback. We met several personalities on the way and as such, have made some very good memories. Thank you Headwater and particularly Luke and Nell :)
Headwater were extremely professional. Everything ran smoothly with pick ups, accommodation and trip notes. The trip notes on the Day 3 (Amalfi Coast Walk) which was substituted for the Walk of the Gods (officially closed) were a little confusing and unclear but that is the only complaint we have. The drivers were fantastic always on time and very helpful and friendly with nice clean vehicles.
Headwater is a very professional company to deal with and our holiday more than met our expectations,we enjoyed every minute of our trip to the Amalfi Coast and we look forward to our next Headeater adventure !!
Very well planned and organised by knowledgable and helpful staff. Route notes generally accurate and helpful, although the wording can at times be confusing and imprecise as can some of the distances between way marks. The degree of difficulty on some days is under estimated and had we not been as fit as we are,we may have struggled with some of the climbs.. The local reps were superb, always charming, helpful, patient and totally reliable. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them. All of the hotels were excellent and two in particular were superb, both in terms of the cuisine and the rooms that we were accommodated in. However, in two hotels the menu did not change from day to day, and therefore, as non meat eaters we were limited to having the same meals on consecutive evenings; particularly as there were no vegetarian options and only one type of fish (which my wife does not like) available. The walk routes were glorious, beautiful scenery, varied terrain, and wonderful spring flowers (particularly many and varied orchids).
Great walking in a beautiful part of Portugal. Stunning beaches and a landscape carpeted in an array of colourful wild flowers. The most enjoyable walking holiday we've been on! The route notes were excellent. Tony and Ludmilla were perfect reps, happy to accomodate any changes we wanted, were very attentive and a great source of local information, couldn't have been more helpful.
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!
