Contrasts of Catalunya Cycling

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Stephen Rose, 10/09/2023

As always a really excellent service from Headwater and well organised operation led by Mark at the location. Lovely cycling trip with good hotels.

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Susan Jones, 23/07/2023

We had a really fabulous holiday and would really recommend this type of trip to friends who like cycling. Its perfect if you don't want to sit by the pool/on beach all day. its great to have the itinerary sorted and have bags transferred every day. Two of the locations were really excellent. Despite it being high temperatures it was fine when cycling on e-bikes.

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BURR, 06/06/2023

Fantastic holiday, cycling was just the right level of challenge. Some busy roads / hills/ rough terrain meant I would not want to have been a complete beginner but having some cycling experience I found the level perfect. . Hotels were all fantastic except for error at hotel Sa Punta not serving anything (food or a coffee) at the end of our first day of cycling. Alternative restaurant sorted by hotel and prompt generous refund from Headwater but really first night was not a four star experience (second night at same hotel was excellent) . We would quite liked to have small spanner so we could alter seat height ourselves (called rep out twice which was not a problem but could have been avoided) Fantastic route, very varied, lovely mix of coastal scenery and inland villages. Some very remote villages which were lovely to visit away from other tourists. I would highly recommend this holiday as a perfect mix of rest / relaxation / cycling

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STURT-TAYLOR, 19/05/2023

We had a very pleasurable holiday in Catalunya. Fantastic scenery and very comfortable hotels. Efficient luggage transfer and very helpful contacts. The train travel to Flaca was quite tricky and confusing - it would have been better to have headed for Girona and it was much easier to return to the airport in Barcelona from there. The cycling routes and equipment and itinerary were terrific and the app was brilliant although the mobile phone holders didn't allow easy visual checking so we relied on audio.

At the Castell d'emporda hotel, although a beautiful location, there seemed to be a two-tier system of guest dining for the half-board option as the limited evening menu provided insufficient choice.

We appreciated staying for two nights in two hotels as it allowed us to take a rest day when it rained all day.

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LUPTON, 15/05/2023

Our third cycling holiday with Headwater in a beautiful part of Spain. Travelling in early May Platja de Pals was very quiet and lots of bars and restaurants closed. We felt a hotel in the town of Begur would have given us more eating options. However, we had a lovely holiday and enjoyed exploring the Catalan coast and inland medieval villages.

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Mrs Reid, 16/09/2022

We enjoyed our holiday in Catalan. We found the medieval towns such as Pals, Begur and Corca very interesting. Also the villages on the coast. We visited Salvador Dali's Castle at Pubol which I would recommend. At Pubol we had very tasty and inexpensive lunch at the hotel there.

All the hotels were good but Hotel Castel d'Emporda was amazing. The battle of Waterloo display there was well worth viewing.

We went in the middle of September was lovely. Not too hot for cycling. The cycling was good too but there we did not like the hills to Begur or near the coast route so I would say it should have been marked as grade 1 bicycle with some steep hills occasionally

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Mrs Bedford, 17/07/2022

Well organised in every way. Excellent app giving general information and providing routes to follow. We loved every minute.

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Mrs Atkinson, 02/06/2022

Absolutely fantastic week. The second hotel were,abit grumpy when we arrived and said we were B&B when we were half board so we missed two evening meal. Everything else was incredible. We feel like we've been on a honeymoon .

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Mr LEWIS, 07/05/2022

Really enjoyed our holiday, hotels were of a good standard and in great locations, the route was varied and flexible allowing us to explore other areas on route.

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Mr Jones, 24/09/2019

Great location. Easy quiet cycling excellent food plenty of interesting places to visit

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Mrs Hayden, 06/09/2018

The hotels were in general well located. We particularly liked Sa Punta and the food here was very good. The cycling tracks were mainly gravel or sandy and a bit rutted and could be quite tricky in places and one had to keep one's eye on the track rather than the scenery but that may be because we are not used to cycling off road. The route takes you through some lovely old towns and villages the highlight of which was probably Pals. Despite our initial reluctance, we were pleased that we used the GPS route guide as it would have been difficult without it to navigate the tracks. The area is spectacular and we would definitely consider re-visiting Catalan.

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Mr Crawley, 06/09/2018

A mixture of excellent (hotels) and fair (cycling). The cycling was only spoilt by really rough tracks, demanding too much concentration on the riding hence missing the surrounding landscape and features.

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Mrs Lucas, 31/08/2018

Lovely cycling through varied terrain; but be prepared for a good few sharp climbs. The hotels were well appointed and the food was generally delicious. Although the location and development of the Castell D' Emporda was unique, for us the better hotel was the Sa Punta where we spent two lovely relaxed evenings.

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Mrs Shann, 17/04/2018

Lovely to see a bit of Spain away from the main tourist areas.

Two of the hotels were very good with sensational food and good service

The cycling was through some scenic and interesting areas

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Mr Whitehead, 12/10/2017

Great cycling on quiet roads. Hotels were very good and evening meals at half board hotels were sensational.

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Mrs Heron, 05/10/2017

Excellent holiday. Varied scenery, good bikes, lovely hotels. Each ride was like a mini adventure. We loved it.

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Mr Nicholson, 24/09/2017

An excellent introduction into cycling holidays that we will be certain to repeat.

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Mr Brown, 16/06/2017

A great tour around a wonderful area wth everything from beaches to early churches and ancient ruins.

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Mrs Aries, 20/10/2016

I felt safe travelling totally alone and venturing out on my bicycle by myself, secure in the knowledge that assistance would be readily available if required. Happily this was not needed but it made a huge difference to my piece of mind. I hope that Headwater can extend its leisurely options to include other trips. The travel notes routinely described inclines as 'gentle'. Some of these gentle inclines were about as much as I could manage. I now wouldn't attempt any cycling trips in the catalogue beyond 'leisurely'. The hotels were delightful, El Castell d'Emporda being top of my list.

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Mrs Rees, 02/10/2016

This was our first holiday with Headwater which did not disappoint. The scenery was beautiful, with the contrasting coastal and inland areas. We particularly enjoyed visiting all the medieval villages along the routes, especially Pals and Peratallada, although finding places to stop for refreshments in the smaller villages was sometimes rather hit and miss. The weather was lovely and warm, ideal for cycling, and the route notes were good for the most part. However, some of the forest tracks were a bit harder to cycle along. As regards accommodation, Hotel Sa Punta deserves special mention for its excellent service, superb facilities and the most delicious food of the holiday. Our reps Olivia and Brian gave us great service too. We have been on cycling holidays with other companies before and they provide a small front pannier on the bikes, so perhaps Headwater could consider doing this also.

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Ms Grybaite, 02/10/2016

Nothing compares to an active holiday, exploring local culture at your own pace!

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Mr Hockin, 08/09/2016

Was exactly what it said on the can! - it fulfilled our expectations.

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Mrs Leonard, 08/07/2016

We have two teenage sons and this was the perfect family holiday for everyone. Combining the activity of cycling and rest days at beautiful hotels and locations, taking in the wonderful medieval villages of Catalunya, farm lands, bays and beeches. It was the perfect way to explore more of the region.

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Mr Taylor, 02/07/2016

We had a fantastic week cycling in Catalunya, food, wine and people were great.

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Mrs Kyle, 21/05/2016

Excellent holiday, cycling is the perfect way to explore. We enjoyed it all - some freedom, some things sorted out

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Mrs Warnock, 20/05/2016

Our first cycling holiday and it will definitely not be our last!! Cycling through Catalunya was a real treat, beautiful peaceful countryside, wildflowers were so colourful, medieval villages to explore,lots of restaurants choice for coffee or lunch and then to end the day great hotels and delicious food. What's not to like?Highly recommended.

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Mr Langrish, 14/05/2016

Accurate description of contrasting scenery and cycling. Very quiet roads and plenty of flowers and birds to see.

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Mr Straughan, 14/05/2016

A beautiful area with quiet lanes and roads. Lovely villages, small towns and views. Super coastal locations, fantastic varied scenery and marvellous bird life and wild flowers. A fantastic holiday!

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Mrs Fernley, 11/05/2016

Cycling, location, accommodation and especially food were of a very high standard. Local reps were very attentive, and the postcard we received from them before the holiday with their phone number was a nice touch. We travelled from a 'non-standard' airport, and arranging this and transfers through Headwater was more difficult than we expected.

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Mr Geh, 18/10/2015

We had an excellent time. Lovely scenery and weather and excellent food. I would definitely recommend doing this either early or late in the season as it was much cooler and less busy. Very few cars on the road and no traffic.

Felt a great sense of achievement after each cycle day. Our 2 boys- age 11 and 13 enjoyed themselves and there was not a single moan of ''are we there yet?!'

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Mr Jenkinson, 02/10/2015

An interesting coastal and inland holiday on quite roads and tracks. Visiting in October the coastal locations and hilltop towns and villages are quiet, but the weather was good and ideal for cycling. having enjoyed many Headwater cycling holidays in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, we may well be interested in following-up an e-bike option in the future.

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Mrs Read, 20/09/2015

Peaceful cycling along quiet country road, interesting villages and lovely scenery.



This holiday certainly shows the contrasts that Catalonia has to offer.

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Mrs Kill, 14/09/2015

A wonderful, unspoilt region. We had no idea that the Costa Brava was so wooded and had so many places of historical interest. Going just out of season, the beaches were quiet and devoid of sunbeds! The number of cycle tracks - albeit somewhat roughly surfaced in places - puts the UK to shame.

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Mr Peckham, 12/09/2015

We had a wonderful holiday enjoying the contrasts of Catalunya, from the sea at the Costa Brava to the rice fields and woodlands inland. The reps Jim and Katie gave us a terrific service, from the introductory postcard sent to us prior to leaving, and the provision of satnav files to make navigation so easy. The hotels Hotel Sa Punta and the magnificent El Castell d'Emporda both exceeded our expectations, and to stay in the tower of an ancient castle was the highlight of our holiday. We have had three Headwater holidays now and will definitely be back for more.

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Mrs Cox, 03/08/2015

Overall we had a great time. A few hiccups - BA losing a suitcase! not Headwaters fault (found it eventually) and on the return journey arriving at Barcelona airport to be told they only had two seats - we are a family of four! Eventually found us two more seats but made for a very stressful journey. We did not check in late and online checkin was not an option for us. It was VERY hot 35 degrees. A bit too hot to be honest and we probably would not do this holiday again in August! Go when it is a bit cooler. The area is fabulous and we would go back. The hotels are generally very good. We did have an issue at Garbi. Our first night the aircon was not working properly in our room but we got on with it. On our last night the aircon in the boys' room was not working at all and it was 29 degrees! The suggested remedies as the hotel was full was to a) live with it then b) sleep with the window open and they would provide insect repellent! We rejected both these options and in the end moved the two boys in with us for the night. The staff provided camp beds. We managed but not overly happy having paid for two double rooms. We did mention it to the reps in the morning but as it was our last night there was nothing to be done.

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Ms Turner, 31/07/2015

Contrasts of Catalunya is a great route which takes in coast and countryside. We were two non-cyclists and found the routes achievable and well-planned, with thought given to where you could stop and explore different villages. Cycling was partly on quiet roads and partly on tracks - the routes through the rice fields and alongside apple orchards were particularly enjoyable, while some of the sandy tracks through pine forests were a bit harder going. The bikes were well-maintained and comfortable. Highlights on the route were medieval Pals and Begur, while the Sa Punta Hotel stood out for its fantastic service, excellent swimming pool and the best food we had all week. Service from the reps was also great, and they provided helpful map files and instructions on how to use these on a smartphone as well as practical tips. Highly recommendable!

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Mrs Thompson, 16/07/2015

Our reps were superb. Jim took particular care to ensure the bikes were fitted to each individual and this meant each of our party was comfortable throughout the holiday. He had specially removed the bottle holder from the ladies bikes so they would not catch their legs when getting on and off. This attention to detail was much appreciated. He had gone to great lengths to produce a gps version of all the trails and this was invaluable and worked without any problems. I had brought a smart phone holder and battery charger so had a days full battery life. While this would have been sufficient without the notes, the two worked in tandem well and should become a standard on all your cycling holidays.





The bikes would benefit from a small front pannier particularly for the ladies to keep a small water bottle in and a handbag.



Our reps kept in email contact to check our progress and made very helpful recommendations on places to eat and visit on the trip. They put their knowledge to good use so we had an excellent holiday.

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Mrs Mayor, 13/06/2015

Excellent equipment, good hotels and lovely route

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Mr Dilnot Smith, 18/10/2014

Excellent apart from Hotel Meson Castilla is in the middle of the University area and can be very noisy until early hours of the morning

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Mrs Ramsell, 20/09/2014

A lovely blend of activity and relaxation, plenty to see and do in the Catalonian region, congenial fellow travellers and good back up system for emergencies.

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Mr Lipscomb, 12/07/2014

Brilliant family adventure: Cycling through beautiful scenery from beaches, through paddy fields, rolling countryside and little medieval villages and complemented by a range of hotels-2 with gastronomic cuisine and the third giving the opportunity to enjoy eating out in the small seaside town of Calella.

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Mrs Brewster, 19/10/2013

We had a great holiday. The children thoroughly enjoyed the cycling, the scenery was beautiful, plenty of medieval villages to stop end explore and the hotels en route were great. We were extremely lucky with the weather - hot and sunny every day, so that we could enjoy the hotel pools at the end of each day. A brilliant family holiday.

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Mr Adamson, 28/09/2013

Well planned cycling routes with excellent instructions. 2 out of the 3 hotels were excellent. Alan & Linda were extremely helpful throughout the holiday & largely responsible for it running so smoothly.

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Ms Jassey, 26/07/2013

Probably more challenging that you might expect, but in a very positive way, and well worth the effort. The views and experiences are unbeatable. Not sure if we could do a car-reliant holiday again!

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Dr Young, 08/07/2013

The local rep provided the MOST EXCELLENT route notes we have ever experienced. The routes allowed us a great taste of both inland and coastal scenery. There are some built up areas on this holiday and we had no difficulty getting through. He also led us most interesting routes through the little towns so we felt we had seen a great deal. He had obviously ridden the rides himself recently as there was no confusion at all over road work issues etc which we have found before.The routes for the 'rest 'days were fantastic although more challenging than the other days! But well worth the effort. He also provided us with the best maintained bikes we have ever experienced - so thank you enormously for that. 2 of the 3 hotels were just wonderful- quite a treat-and of a luxurious nature.

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Mrs Ball, 06/07/2013

I am a Headwater Holidays fan! This is about the 16th cycling holiday I have been on with your company and it is my second trip to Catalunya. Last time, about 5 years age, I took the cycling hol in Catalunya and the guide was Robin! say no more he was useless. Alan is a real gem. Look after him. As I am getting older now and so are my two cycling friends we look for the flat cycling routes and each time you bring out a new one we seem to book it. So do keep adding new routes. I am sorry that you no longer go to Majorca. Many years ago we did the cycling around the centre of the island and was going to book the one centre hotel this year but you have removed it. I guess it was not popular. I think its so important to keep the standard of the hotels and food at a high level. Its such a big part of the holiday for us. After a day cycling the destination is always exciting and good accommodation is a must. I am a single person and mostly travel with my married friends so always have to pay a single supplement which does increase the cost rather.( This trip I went with my daughter and we shared a room so no supplement, a real bonus) If I get a double room for the cost this is fine but on occasions I am in the attic in a single room; not so good. Keep up the good standard and as long as I am able to cycle I will be booking!

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Mr Moorhead, 03/07/2013

The holiday was enjoyable, the Castell d'Emporda was fantastic, and had the holiday been 30% cheaper we would have thought it good value for money. I've been on many cycling holidays (this was the first with my wife and son) and it's the first where there has not been support throughout the day. I know the reps were available by phone, but it would clearly have taken an hour or more to get help from them if a problem had arisen and at this price, that's not good enough. Next time I would simply book the hotels for myself, hire bikes and then organise a taxi to take the bags from place to place - you did not provide sufficient additional value to justify the cost. Cycling routes are also easy to find - with so many GPS users uploading data to the web I would have little problem in organising routes for myself. This was a premium price but what we got was a bike (in good condition to be fair), and a map, and then left alone for a week. My wife had a bad insect bike which became very inflamed and sore and required anti-biotics (it has still not fully subsided a week later) - we had to sort this out for ourselves in Barcelona - our guides expressed polite interest but offered no real suggestions about local medical help. This compares poorly with my experience on cycling holidays in France and the US where anyone with even a slight medical issue was promptly driven to the nearest clinic or pharmacy, helped with the language and sorted out very quickly.

Headwater response:
Thank you for your feedback Mr Moorhead, we were pleased to read that your holiday was enjoyable.
However, we are sorry to see that some aspects did not appear to meet with your expectations. The type of holiday that you had booked is classed as a self-guided cycling holiday. Therefore, we do not provide support vehicles. This type of holiday is geared towards the more independent customers who like to travel at their own pace, starting and finishing at various times throughout the day. Therefore, it would not be practical to have a support vehicle on the route. We do however provide a 24/7 rep service which is available if needed in case of emergency or should you have any questions or queries along the way as well as a brief at the start and de brief at the end of the holiday.
We were sorry to read that Mrs Moorhead was bitten and required medical treatment, as you comment our reps was aware of the bite, but not necessarily the severity. Had they been made aware of this they would have offered assistance as required.
Despite these issues I am glad that you had an enjoyable holiday.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa

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Mrs Bolton, 08/06/2013

A very enjoyable holiday staying in excellent hotels.

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Mr Worthing, 08/06/2013

The route guidence was too detailed and involved too many off road tracks. It would have been better if the route had stuck to metaled roads even at the expence of more traffic and greater mileage. Having to stop every few yards to read the notes was tedious and spoilt pleasure of the ride.

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Mr Cameron, 09/05/2013

We had a wonderful holiday. We last traveled with Headwater in 1994 and 1997, and there is no doubt that the standards of the hotels, route notes, and bikes have improved immensely. Alan was a hugely experienced rep who provided route notes of a superb standard. 2 out of the 3 hotels were truly excellent, and while the other was one of the weirder I've ever stayed in, it was perfectly serviceable, and the fact that it was B&B only was a good decision.