Villages & Vineyards of Alsace

Mr Heald, 08/09/2019

We had a lovely holiday in the Alsace. The villages and the scenery are beautiful. We coped well with all the level 2 walks despite extremely high temperatures. Walk three which included the steep path up to the three chateaux I would class as 2 boot plus! I don't have a head for heights and I found there was a lot of clambering on the way up. My husband had to give me a lot of encouragement! However I accept I am in the older age range now (67 years) so these things are only going to get more difficult! Once we reached the top the rest of the walk was straightforward. I miss the diagrams you used to have on each page of the Headwater brochure which indicated ascents, descents etc and whether a head for heights is needed.

We were very happy with all the hotels but we did think when we were on half board at Hotel la Cour de Bailli that an alternative choice to the set dinner menu would have been better. We simply ate what we were given though to be fair they did ask us if we were happy with the menu. Fortunately we are not fussy eaters. Overall though we had a great time.

Mr Stowell, 04/09/2019

Hotels providing evening

Mrs Sodring, 21/08/2019

Easy walking, mainly on tracks and country roads through the vines. Very pretty villages, some beautiful churches, Colmar well worth a visit on day off. Small restaurants provided good food and beer but also had wide ranging wine lists. At the height of the summer season, book ahead or be prepared to eat both lunch and dinner early or you might be disappointed. Small Boulanger that are in the villages provide basic foods for lunches. People are very friendly and the most used language is French though the hoteliers speak good English..

Mrs Jones, 07/08/2019

Lovely walking in a pretty area, with very good routes and all the information necessary.

Mrs Tokumasukendri, 05/08/2019

Good and varied itinerary. Some delightful villages and the option 2 walks specifically were satisfying, and even in the exceptional heat were manageable. Our only reservation was that our room at Hotel a L'Oriel Riiguewihr was at the lower end of expectations; very small and stuffy; even making allowance for the heat, this being a standard room, and this an old building in an excellent location in the middle of the village . Jude our Rep was excellent.

Mrs Veal, 22/07/2019

An enjoyable, stress free way to explore an area we did not know; enjoying food, wine and scenery while getting some exercise!

Mrs Pilgrim, 03/07/2019

A fantastic region to visit with a huge network of waymarked paths both in the valleys and the Vosges. We did all the level 2 walks and found parts a good challenge especially during the heat wave we had. Climbs to castles were well worth the effort with superb views. The many villages were a delight and it was wonderful to see storks nesting on buildings, especially in Turckheim. Such friendly people everywhere and meals for a vegetarian were no problem. We extended our stay with 2 extra nights in Turckheim so we were able to do more local walks and also visit Colmar. Suggestions for free days were good and there were walk leaflets at local tourist offices too. A fair amount of the walking was in forested areas on the level 2 walks, a blessing in the heat wave but you have to like being in the shade on a normal sunny day! Overall, one of the best Headwater holidays we have done and the best for the situation of hotels. Alsace is an absolute gem of a destination for a walking holiday.

Mr Rainbow, 20/06/2019

Really helpful at organising an easy walking holiday with no worries about hotel bookings, routes, moving luggage,...

Mrs Backhouse, 18/06/2019

A very well organised trip in lovely countryside with characterful hotels and a variety of interesting and scenic walks. It did what it said on the tin!

Mr Raybould, 23/05/2019

Headwater do the work so you enjoy your holiday

Mr King, 23/09/2018

Alsace was beautiful with well chosen walks. The local rep, Hannah, was very helpful, enthusiastic and attentive.

Mr Tabrett, 18/09/2018

This was an extremely enjoyable walk with good accommodation and fantastic views. The notes and directions were very accurate - except that the suggested timings must have been for those travelling the distances at a run and never pausing to admire the scenery, distant views and wildife and therefore should not be included to confuse "normal" folk!

Mr Fuller, 12/09/2018

The Alsace offers beautifully preserved medieval villages and wonderful views and Headwater's itinerary is well chosen to offer the best of both. Our lovely, bubbly rep, Hannah, went out of her way to fill in additional information and even phoned, as a thunderstorm was breaking, to check that we were safe and well.

Circou, 06/09/2018

This was our first holiday with headwater and we were impressed from start to finish. Joanne was very helpful and professional when we booked, as were the other staff in the UK in your accounts department, etc.

Our rep, Hannah, was exceptional and exuded an infectious passion and enthusiasm for Alsace. She was very amiable, professional and went the extra mile to ensure our holiday was a success. She really couldn’t have been nicer and is a real asset to Headwater.

We were pleased with the hotel arrangements- all the hotels were charming and the staff friendly and helpful. We found the walking notes excellent. We opted for the level 2 walks, but also did some of the level 1 walks on the rest days. The holiday exceeded our expectations and we will certainly consider another walking/cycling holiday with Headwater.

Mrs Pursey, 30/07/2018

Our representative was excellent; pleasant, welcoming, made useful suggestions/amendments to our travel arrangements and was concerned about our progress during the week. The hotels were varied and interesting. The little towns and villages a revelation.

Mr Shapland, 29/07/2018

Both the overall route and the walks were extremely well thought out, well spaced and included interesting and varied options to see along the way.

Mr Easingwood, 10/07/2018

Beautiful walks through some of the best wine scenery in the world, staying in some of the top wine villages in Alsace. Rest days are a great idea, but if you wish there are lots of shorter local walks to keep you fit.

Mr Kendrick, 05/07/2018

Very enjoyable holiday in a beautiful part of France. The local representative was excellent.

Mrs Yarrow, 02/07/2018

Excellent area for walking with comprehensive notes easily followed.

Mr Mcmahon, 02/07/2018

Pleasurable. Decent walking , food, accommodation. An overall pleasant experience, again.

Mrs Hemsley, 28/06/2018

Delighted with it. Very smooth, efficient organisation, easy to choose and book, a great location, friendly and cheerful rep.

Mr Soutar, 28/05/2018

The Alsace walk took us through beautiful countryside, quaint villages and comfortable traditional hotels. A memorable holiday!

Ms Dean, 24/05/2018

A good walking holiday for the older person with options for the 'rest days' which were helpful. Hannah, the Headwater rep was outstanding, always available and ready to help. She kept in touch with us everyday to ensure that all was well, and we were confident that if there was a problem she would be able to sort it for us,

Mrs Clark, 25/09/2017

Another wonderful holiday with Headwater and our first trip to Alsace- a real gem! The maps and detailed notes helped us to explore so many exquisite villages, to stop at will to admire the glorious scenery and to enjoy the stunning wine. A special thank you to Hannah, our rep, who was superb throughout. We cannot wait to return.

Mr Longbotham, 24/09/2017

Pleasant walking through vineyards to picture-postcard villages.

Mr Smith, 19/09/2017

We both enjoyed the holiday very much.

Mrs Elliot, 08/08/2017

This was a very enjoyable holiday, Alsace is particularly lovely and unspoiled and the people were very welcoming. This is also an easy walking holiday and is extremely relaxing with opportunity to do some slightly more energetic walks if you wanted.

Ms Andrews, 01/08/2017

A wonderful and surprising holiday - a glimpse into a way of life in villages which are among the best conserved and most beautiful in France, and through vineyards and woodlands which have hardly changed in centuries. It is an area of stunning beauty and history - as well as wonderful food and wine.

Mr Maxwell-Jackso, 11/07/2017

A very enjoyable, relaxing holiday in a beautiful part of France. The level 1 walks were easy walking, with a bit more challenge offered by the level 2 optional walks in the forest. Walking notes were very clear and easy to follow. We were impressed with the friendliness and helpfulness of Hannah, the local rep, who was excellent.

Mrs Brockman, 19/06/2017

I initially had some problems getting the info I needed to book the holiday but once Joanne took over everything went smoothly. The holiday itself was great, Alsace is a beautiful region, the walks were proper walks with good guide notes and options for the rest days. All the hotels were great, especially the locations. Our rep Hannah was exceptional and on hand all the time and always offering to provide help & assistance if needed. I think that NE region of France is a hidden gem, we thought the villages were picturesque, the food was great and we loved tasting wines we had very little experience of (luckily we had the car, as we bought quite a lot home!). Overall we loved our trip.

Mr Lockwood, 19/06/2017

Walking the Alsace Wine Trail proved to be a great success. The area really is a hidden gem and we were constantly surprised by the beauty of the villages - mediaeval fortified towns, each with their own character - and the peace and tranquillity of walking through the vines. The walks were just the right length and because of the very high temperatures we stuck to the level 1 walks. Hannah, our rep., was delightful, texted us from time to time to see that we were OK and could not have been more helpful. She really helped to make our trip a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Why do not more people choose this walk? - it was wonderful!

Mr Clarke, 15/06/2017

Excellent walking holiday - distances between locations were very good for people of our age, and rest days were welcome but with plenty of options for further walking or sightseeing. Information provided allowed us to be independent but in addition our rep was very supportive when needed.

Mr Forward, 14/07/2016

we appreciate all the information and support provided and i look forward to travelling with headwater again.

Mrs Gardner, 28/06/2016

We had a lovely holiday and thoroughly enjoyed the walking from one hotel to the next. The route notes were very detailed and easy to follow (especially as we had the maps too). Also the folders in the hotels with customers comments were useful especially for finding restaurants. We particularly appreciated the wine carrying service. It was great being able to buy wine on the way and then find it all in our hotel room at the end. Our rep, Hannah, was very friendly and helpful especially in finding a restaurant for our first night in Turckheim when most restaurants seemed to be shut. We did all the suggested longer walks (even in the rain) and have arrived home feeling very fit! All in all it was an excellent holiday - many thanks to Headwater and to our rep Hannah for her help and encouragement.

Mr Brady, 16/06/2016

The first thing to say is how friendly, welcoming, dependable and helpful we found Hannah. We are also aware of the amount of time and effort she put in to assist our fellow travellers after the lady injured herself.

We took all the longer walking options and experienced some weaknesses in the route descriptions, which we passed on to Hannah so that she can check them out.

We can understand why you chose the hotels that you did, but, while it was interesting to visit Turckheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, all of which are beautiful, we would prefer to have stayed in locations that were not so thronged with tourists. For example, hotels in Kientzheim and Sigoldsheim, very close to Kaysersberg, had English speakers and offered evening meals.

Erratic opening times of shops, restaurants and cafes is also a bit problematical as you are setting off not knowing whether or not it is necessary to carry provisions. The cafe in Trois Epis and the restaurant at St Alexis Chapelle are cases in point. In the case of the latter, we would strongly recommend booking in advance. I'm sure Madame in Hotel Constantin would oblige.

All in all, we had a good time, enjoyed the local delicacies and wine, the beautiful and varied countryside and, in particular, the lovely unspoilt little villages that we walked through. We now look forward to our next trip with you to Menorca.

Mr Salisbury, 15/06/2016

Great holiday in beautiful location. Headwater team were excellent throughout.

Mrs Honey, 08/06/2016

Fairy tale ancient towns, which were lovely to explore. The wine, of course was delicious although we did not visit the vineyards on walks but indulged in the evening . The nesting storks were one of the highlights of the holiday. Do try to visit the stork breeding centre it was lovely with a lot to see as well as the storks themselves..

Mrs Hartley, 26/05/2016

We never imagined walking through vineyards could be so varied and interesting; the countryside was beautiful and the villages charming. The hotel staff all looked after us very well. Our Headwater rep was absolutely delightful and could not have been more friendly and efficient. We did not see a see any UK cars nor heard any other British people but most people we spoke to replied in good English when we spoke to them in our basic French.

Mrs Preston, 24/05/2016

From the moment we received our holiday information pack we were excited as it really whetted our appetites. We also had a post card from our Rep, Hannah saying that she hoped we would have a good trip and she looked forward to meeting us at the station in Colmar and giving us her mobile number in case we needed her. This was a very thoughtful gesture. So, even though I had a bad back and had to be transported around by Hannah instead of walking, the overall holiday was wonderful.

Mrs Daniels, 20/09/2015

This was such a very well organised package holiday that we felt that we were independant travellers, but with the safety net of a rep, if required. We managed the pace, stops and route ourselves and had a truly excellent break.

Mrs Guthrie, 19/09/2015

Apart from the rail debacle, the content of the holiday was stunning. The nature of the medieval villages was quite breathtaking and more reminiscent of Walt Disney cartoons or even pantomime scenery. The vineyard walks were very enjoyable, as were the visits we made to the wineries! In addition the Riquewier 'Council' offer conducted vineyard walking tours, together with wine cellar visits every Friday throughout the summer until harvest time in September WITHOUT CHARGE!! (BUT possibly only in French and/or English). Another Vineyard 'special' (which I don't think you are aware of) is the 'Spirit of the Vines' a line of seven groups of wooden statues representing a modern interpretation of mankind's integration with the vines over the centuries. This is a surreal eye-catcher, not to be missed and is just outside the village of Bergheim. Best to get directions from the local Tourist Office.

Mrs Maddison, 24/08/2015

Most enjoyable holiday, great walks, beautiful scenery and lots of wine tasting along the way.

Dr Darke, 27/09/2014

The joy of not using a car for 8 whole days was amazing! The walking was lovely, the grape harvest in full swing, the hotels EXCELLENT with good breakfasts and all arrangements extremely convenient and clear. Flying from Bristol is such fun compared with the toil of Heathrow/ Gatwick. Staying in Paris for the first night makes good sense, and the TGV is superb! There is only one snag...not having a car to bring home all the excellent wines! The Co-op at Turckheim is surely one of the best in France.

Mrs Maddison, 22/09/2014

This must have been one of our most enjoyable holidays. There was never a dull moment. Fascinating region , great walks and great towns and villages to explore

Mrs Barker, 18/08/2014

We really enjoyed our hioliday. The rep gave us everything we needed, but compared to our other 2 headwater holidays, he perhaps wasn't quite as attentive. Three of the hotels were great, but the Constantine was not anywhere near the same quality and disappointing. We recommend Hotel Schwendi in Kintzheim, a 20 minute walk from Kaysersberg.



We look forward to our next Headwater holiday.

Mr Sidey, 10/07/2014

Overall summary is that we thought the walks were excellent with a variety of scenery. The hotels were generally very good and the staff as well as local people were friendly and helpful. It is a beautiful area with lovely villages and towns being part of the walking route.

Mrs Taylor, 26/06/2014

Disappointing

We paid £2082 of this holiday. During the trip we ascertained that the accommodation (and yes I have included the upgrades and breakfasts) were valued on booking.com as £911. Plus the two dinners at chez Norbert, say £100, then £1011. This means we have paid £1071 for transfers of baggage (we only paid 80 euros for a taxi from Turkheim to Basel), two maps and appalling route notes. Assuming you had a commission from the hotels based on your bulk buying power then you are rip off merchants.

Why the dinner at Chez Norbert included? The choice was a not written but only a verbal one choice (pretty appalling option). We paid almost as much just upgrading to the normal menu as we could have eaten out at a local restaurant without. Is this philosophy to make you look generous because I can assure you it didn't work with us. The restaurant was closed on Tuesdays but no-one told us reception was also closed. They only gave us wifi codes for 24 hours, so we were without internet access for a day. My husband still works and needs internet access at all times.

I realise I should have cross checked prices before booking and therefore blame myself for being ripped off, however this will most certainly not happen again. When the rep picked us up in Chatenois, he asked about our arrangements for onward travel - we told him we were intending to get train from Colmar to Basel late in the day. He failed to tell us trains were on strike - left us to find out for ourselves and book a taxi to airport. What is the point of a rep who cannot give the most simple advice.

My advice to your future clients is 'don't be gullible -you can do better yourselves'

Headwater response:
Dear Mrs Taylor,
Thank you for taking the time to complete our online questionnaire following your recent holiday to Alsace. Please be assured that all of the feedback we receive whether complimentary or critical is valuable in helping us to continue to improve and develop our holidays for the future and is always well received.
We were sorry to read that your holiday did not meet with your expectations; this was disappointing to hear as this holiday is normally a firm favourite with our customers. However, please be assured that we realise how important it is to maintain our high standards of accommodation and service, and we do appreciate we cannot afford to let our standards slip. Therefore all of your feedback has been passed on to the relevant UK and overseas departments and steps will be taken to improve where necessary. In closing we would like to thank you for your constructive comments and hope that despite the issues you have reported you had an enjoyable holiday overall.
Yours sincerely,
Headwater Customer Service

Mr Eyton-Williams, 16/06/2014

The area was ideal for walking and very interesting. The hotels, service and locations chosen were good, but the route notes need updating as at times were confusing to the extent that all members of the group got lost at a couple of points during the week. Maps (IGN) supplied were excellent. It was the maps that enabled us to find our way. Suggested visits on rest days were most helpful and the Stork Center is well worth a visit

Overall we did enjoy our holiday and would happily visit the region again!

Mr Brown, 07/06/2014

This holiday is to be recommended for those enjoying exercise and the wines of Alsace. The latter is important as much time is spent in and around the vineyards.

Mr Fendall, 02/06/2014

This was a first time using Headwater.It was an 8 day 'walking' holiday but only 4 days of designated walking and therefore 4 days to 'do your own thing'. Suggestions were made in the guidebook but apart from more walkng or visiting vineyards the villages of Alsace offer little in the way of 'other' activites. I feel that at least 5 (or even 6) days of designated walking would be more appropriate.Overall I enjoyed the experience as Alsace is an area liken no other in France.

Mrs Taylor, 02/06/2014

The holiday overall was well planned and the location was beautiful .The Alsace villages that we visited were most attractive with the old buildings and the history associated with them. As two fit octogenarians we were fully capable of managing the walks.

Mr Stokes, 28/09/2013

A week that was both invigorating and relaxing in good walking country in the Vosges mountains - with pretty but touristy villages offering a good variety of places to sleep, eat and drink.

Mrs Anzarut, 21/09/2013

We found the towns visited quite charming and the accommodation was good. This is a very leisurely and easy walking holiday.

Mr Jackson, 16/09/2013

We chose this holiday because it was advertised as the easiest grade of walking in an area that looked very attractive in the brochure. We suspected, from looking at the altitude chart, that the second walking day might be more challenging than the grade implied, and we were right!



The shorter walk distances were fine for us, the directions were clear and the maps helpful, although we could have managed without them, as the walking notes were so good. We did have occasional problems finding the waymarks, particularly on Day 2, when we assume they had been on trees which had fallen. The villages we stayed in were very picturesque, the hotels were welcoming and the arrangements all worked very efficiently.



We have been on many Headwater holidays over the past 30 years and always enjoyed them, although we are choosing the easier grades nowadays. I would recommend this holiday, with the proviso that it is definitely NOT flat walking. Most days had a fair number of uphill and downhill stretches, and the second day in particular was a very lengthy uphill effort, with a couple of steep pulls, followed by some fairly tricky downhill walking through forests with fallen trees in places. We found our walking poles very useful, particularly on Day 2.

Headwater response:
Dear Ms Thompson,
Thank you for taking the time to complete our on line questionnaire and for your feedback regrading the grading of the walks , please be assured that all of the feedback we receive is valued by us and is used to help improve and develop our holidays for the future.
It was great to read that you enjoyed your holiday to France. Although, I am sorry that you found some of the walks more challenging than you expected.

This year we introduced a new grading system of soft/leisurely/moderate/challenging. In previous years we have used a ‘boot’ rating. However, we have received mixed feedback regarding this new grading system and a number of people have told us they feel the old boot ratings gave a clearer indication of what was involved. We have therefore decided that from Nov 2013, we will be reinstating our previous system, in order to avoid any future problems. We will therefore be rating this holiday as a 1 boot which I hope you will agree is a suitable rating.

I am also sorry that you found discrepancies with some of our waymaking points, this is checked at the beginning of the season and then throughout as necessary, I have passed your comments on to our local rep, he will be re checking the routes before the start of the new season and will check out your feedback to ensure it is corrected.

Thank you once again for your constructive comments and for your loyalty over the years, we do hope to welcome you on another Headwater holiday in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa

Mrs Bale, 14/08/2013

We really enjoyed our holiday. It was a lovely area with some hearty food but fabulous wine. It was great to be able to taste the wine and then for Chris to transport it for us. I would have been happy to walk every day as the walks were not strenuous and we were at the next place by lunch time giving time to explore in the afternoon. We felt that it would have been useful to have known beforehand that each hotel had free wifi and also to have known that shampoo was not provided.

Mr Webb, 12/08/2013

Beautiful small towns and villages, beautiful scenery and captivating history. Hotel accommodation was generally good and Chez Norbert's air conditioning was most welcome with temperatures in the mid to high 30's.

At Bergheim on chef's night off we were relocated for dinner to the Weinstub up the street. The lady in charge was most reluctant to provide a menu at the sum Headwater had allowed. Two of our party accepted the 'no choice' modest three course meal and we chose a'la carte. Food was indifferent and the wine overpriced.

At Turkheim food was not offered in Hotel des Deux Clefs, we enjoyed good food in town where there's plenty of choice. (so please disregard the 'poor' rating in questionnaire)

Apart from Chez Norbert, ventilation was inadequate in the hotels, fans were not always available and other clients complained that Headwater guest's rooms were usually located in the roof and were in consequence, unbearably hot. Our upgraded room in Turkheim was fine!

We missed the initial briefing which was a pity. Although our expected arrival time was late afternoon, we were actually in the hotel when Chris arrived with his clients from Colmar. A shame he didn't check.

This oversight did not detract from our holiday experience as our friends briefed us. When we eventually met Chris he impressed us as helpful, efficient, and friendly.

Ms Cole, 12/08/2013

The Alsace Wine Trail was one of the very best holidays I have ever taken. The region was unknown to me and was delightful in all ways. The wine was excellent, my only regret is that it wasn't longer.

Mr Christley, 05/08/2013

Excellent experience. Able to walk at our own pace. Very intersting area to travel in.

Mr Drea, 24/07/2013

This is a self-guided walking holiday staying in small hotels in small towns or villages and requires a certain amount of tolerance, flexibility and common sense particularly when routes don't work out as they seem.

We were disappointed to have two of our hotel/restaurant meals deleted (we were provided with cash to fend for ourselves!). This meant that we had only two meals during the holiday arranged for us by Headwater instead of four as noted in the guidance.

This and some missing or bad forest signage were the only miner blips in an otherwise excellent and enjoyable holiday.

Mr Barrett, 12/06/2013

Very relaxing holiday as able to walk at own pace and stop for wine tastings along the way. Independant walking was very easy as the directions and maps provided were excellent and the paths well signed to match the maps. A beautiful area to explore.