Walking the Coastal Trails of Menorca

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Some great walks with the help of the excellent HW app. Fab hotel as well. No glitches.

Mrs Owen, 24 Sep 2024

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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.

Mrs Dey, 9 Sep 2022

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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!

Mrs Henderson, 20 May 2022

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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).

Mr Mason, 12 May 2022

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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.

Mr Cunningham, 16 Sep 2019

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Excellent walking holiday but would probably go to Menorca earlier in the year as the end of June is almost too hot for walking!

Mr Howard, 21 Jun 2019

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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!

Mrs Mcnicoll, 15 May 2019

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A great welcome from the holel that continued through out. Excellent variety of walks on the charming island of Menorca.

Mrs Sharman, 3 May 2019

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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.

Mr Lawson, 2 Oct 2018

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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.

Mrs Johnston, 18 Jun 2018

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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.

Mr Riley, 8 Jun 2018

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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.

Mr Gilmore, 23 May 2018

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A really enjoyable holiday on a beautiful island and staying at a lovely hotel

Mr Coombs, 22 May 2018

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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.

Mr Brooks, 16 May 2018

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Information provided by Headwater both on the phone and in written documents was thorough and informative. The choice of hotel was excellent - quiet rural situation with friendly staff whose customer service was of a very high standard. Walking notes were reliable and detailed. Road directions were accurate. This was our first Headwater holiday and we were impressed with how little we had to rely on our own research to accomplish the visits we made. Plus, we were bowled over by Menorca in early May - beautiful meadows of wild flowers, birdsong, relaxing and quiet beaches/walks. A heady mix.

Mrs Denwood, 5 May 2018

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Most enjoyable variety of walking on a lovely island. Weather in October was wonderful...... ideal for walking.Driving around the island was a delight despite the manual left hand drive car! Accommodation was ideal in peaceful, relaxing setting.

Mr Cowman, 9 Oct 2017

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We had a great holiday returning to Menorca after ten years. We thought the hotel was great, in a beautiful setting, extremely friendly and welcoming, and really well looked after; a peaceful oasis to return to after a day out walking.

Mr Jackson, 17 Sep 2017

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An extremely enjoyable holiday. Walking was at times tough due to the temperature, in the mid 30s, so perhaps May or September are better months for this holiday than June? The hotel was wonderfully situated. It was so relaxing and the staff polite, efficient and helpful. Would recommend taking out insurance for damage to car as some roads, especially the one to and from the hotel, were narrow and bordered by dry stone walls. However, we did manage to deliver the car back to Mao scratch and dent free!

Mrs Creswell, 9 Jun 2017

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Turquoise waters, ancient tracks and historic gems , all from a superbly restful hotel in a fabulous rustic setting --what not to enjoy?

Mr Reeve, 3 Jun 2017

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Relatively easy, but varied, walking, glorious coastal scenery and beautiful sea swimming. The scenery, archaeological remains, and plentiful and varied bird-life made the walks very interesting. Good accommodation with exceptionally helpful staff. Slightly hair-raising driving on narrow roads around the hotel (a little car is good!). Generally relaxed and helpful atmosphere. Wonderful seafood.

Ms Elliott, 2 Jun 2017

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Walking in Menorca seems to be nearly entirely on coast paths, with very few inland walks. That means linear walks, so unless you have two cars it's a matter of 'there and back', or a longish taxi ride. That said, it's a beautiful island, mostly unspoilt. Passing other cars in narrow lanes with dry-stone walls and thorn bushes can be nerve-wracking. We did four of the five Headwater-recommended walks, and would recommend Son Mercer de Baix for it's inland variety, the North Coast trail for its scenery, and Macaretta-Turqueta for beautiful coves. Also worth doing Cuitadella and Mao (on last day) town walks. Morvedra Nou is a delightful hotel in a very quiet location, with friendly and efficient staff. Standard room was clean and comfortable, but small, although with an outdoor terrace that was lovely in the evening sun. The dinner options included in the HW package were slightly unexciting and perhaps we should have spent a bit more on Menorcan specialities a la carte. House wines are OK and very reasonably priced. We had no difficulty finding restaurant/cafe lunch stops on our walks. Overall, a very enjoyable week.

Mr Cross, 26 May 2017

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For me personally it met my expectations. Walking, time to relax and unwind each day with a relaxed evening . The. Cuisine was excellent and offerred an ideal choice of local food/dishes.

Mrs Rogers, 13 May 2017

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Menorca's surprisingly flat, especially round the coast where most of the walks are located, so ideal for gentle walking - not for hard-bitten hill-walkers! Easy to traverse the length or breadth of the island by car in a hour or less, but watch out for minor roads on the Kompass map which prove to be private or little more than an overgrown bridle path. Much of the island seems untouched by tourism, which is delightful, but don't expect to find a cafe wherever you stop. Many things are still free to visit. People and climate very friendly!

Mr Souster, 12 May 2017

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Headwater offers self guided holidays, but with the benefit of sorting all the travel arrangements.

Mrs Taylor, 5 May 2017

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One meal was appalling, and throughout the cooking was at best uninspired.

In the rooms, the shower over-flowed very quickly onto the floor. this resulted in a very slippery and potentially dangerous surface.

There were so many flies outside and in! No fly-swatters made available.

Mr Tucker, 30 Sep 2016

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Absolutely brilliant, all the walk instructions easy to follow and the hotel acomodation and scenery magnificent.

Mr Winter, 23 Sep 2016

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Absolutely fantastic, superb hotel a jewel in the island, delicious food well prepared, excellent staff. Beautiful hotel! So many varied and interesting walks away from the tourist areas. One of the best holidays we have had!

We will be returning one day to complete the other walks around the island. Just wish we had been able to stay longer.

Mrs Webster, 16 Sep 2016

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Despite one of us not being able to walk very far we still had a lovely time. The hotel was in a lovely place and was a most relaxing place to stay.

Mis Riley, 10 Jun 2016

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We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday in Menorca. The weather was extremely hot all week so we often shortened the walks which is easy to do as many of them are linear walks. Although most of the walks are coastal there is plenty of variety. The hotel is absolutely lovely, in such a peaceful location with beautiful gardens. We had a very warm welcome on arrival and the service throughout the week was consistently good. All the staff were helpful and polite and nothing was too much trouble. Our accommodation, the gardens and all public areas were kept spotlessly clean and the food was good and plentiful.

Mrs Winter, 3 Jun 2016

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1/ Never give up the Morvedra Nou; one of the most relaxing and enjoyable hotels we have stayed at. We had a junoir suite with a patio overlooking the pool - the best in the house.

2/ I know this was only a grade 1, but any experienced walker could have done a lot more. We spent some spare time on the beach. Would not be so good at high season, would be too hot and crowded.

3/ 'Would you take another holiday with Headwater?' - I think we have done them all. at least at grades we can manage now. I am well in the 80-90 bracket - not in your age scale! - but I think we started with Heaswater in 1998. I have all the notes and paperwork in boxes in the attic.

4/ I was worried about French Air Traffic Control industrial action, but we were notaffected.

Mr Emerson, 27 May 2016

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Beautiful Island and walks. Morvedra Nou is a lovely small hotel. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The breakfasts were very good, continental style with plenty of choice. The evening meals were a bit hit and miss unfortunately. You are given the menu in the morning and there is a choice of two of each of the courses. Choose wisely!

Mrs Fuller, 23 May 2016

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Peaceful location, excellent coastal and inland walking away from the crowds

Mr Eamer, 20 May 2016

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The Morvedra Nou was the kind of friendly, family run, quality hotel that we always hope we'll find but all too rarely do. The rooms may be compact for some people but we were very comfortable, especially given the spacious private terrace. The food was good, fresh and well presented. We were very happy with the choice of two dishes each day, though would have liked the chance to try the cheese for which the island is famous - either as an alternative to dessert or as an extra small course. But we would thoroughly recommend the hotel and the programme of walks, which were all surprisingly different, considering this is a small island. It was our first trip to Menorca and we found the holiday perfect for those who like an active morning and lazy afternoon!

Mrs Thornton, 16 May 2016

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The holiday notes for Coastal trails of Minorca were pretty accurate. Overall we found the island delightful and at this time of year absolutely stunning with all the wild flowers in full bloom. Very easy to get around and not too crowded. We also were blessed with the weather which was in the low 20 C range

Mr Higginson, 14 May 2016

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Hotel absolutely first rate - fantastic tranquil location; we were very well looked after; food was simple but good. Menorca delightfully quiet when we visited (October) but weather perfect for walking. Walks were straightforward if perhaps a trifle short. We skipped the town walks and added two other walks of our own that I would recommend

1. Santa Galdana to Saint Thomas via GR 223, returning along coastal path - just be aware that to leave Cala Trebaluger you need to use a cave passage.

2. Cala Tuqueta to Plagues de Son Saura (out & return via coastal path - we did not find the green route marked on the map but we did not spend much time looking).

Mr McKerchar, 23 Oct 2015

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Beautiful location of hotel - truly rural. Lovely swimming pool area. The lounge and bar area were comfy and inviting. Our room (junior suite) was very good.The walks were varied and all enjoyable. Wildlife was abundant. October was a great time to go as the crowds had gone and we had excellent weather.

Mrs Ross, 2 Oct 2015

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Menorca is a lovely island, incredibly pretty and very easy to get around. The Morvedra Nou hotel is in a perfect setting if you want peace and quiet. The gardens and pool area are so relaxing, the bird song is the only thing you'll hear! Unfortunately, we were unable to upgrade at the time of booking, to one of the larger rooms, and although our room was spotlessly clean and had a sunny patio, we did find it on the small side. Not a big deal as we were out walking most days. The walks were excellent, sometimes really off the beaten track, great wildlife and fabulous scenery, quite a few 'wow' moments as we came round a headland or walked through the gorge to the caves. Our only gripe, was the food. Breakfast was fine, plenty of choice but dinner was very hit and miss. There was no comparison to the food photos on the hotel website, and the portion sizes and combinations were very strange. Sometimes the starters were far too big, and the main course would be just a large piece of meat/fish with one small potato if you were lucky (no veg). There was only one evening out of ten, that we both enjoyed the whole meal, which was so disappointing. Honestly, neither of us are fussy eaters, but we have never left so much food on our plates, and not once did anyone ask us about it.

Mrs Broad, 9 Sep 2015

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Another good Headwater holiday. We loved the island, the walking and swimming in the sea, but should have gone in May, June was a bit too hot for us and we were surprised how busy the beaches were. It was different getting a car at the airport and driving ourselves to the hotel and, once we had learned how to negotiate the narrow roads to and from the hotel, we loved having the opportunity to explore more of the island and plan our own sightseeing each day in addition to the walks. The hotel is a gem and being able to return to this tranquil country retreat each day and relax on your own terrace or swim in the pool before going for dinner made the holiday for us. The accommodation, food and service were all excellent. There was so much choice for breakfast including local cakes and pastries and in the evenings we enjoyed a good selection of Menorcan dishes served by friendly, attentive and helpful staff.

Mrs Preshaw, 5 Jun 2015

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Interesting and active. Enjoyment of meals could be improved by more choices on the menu(at least three including salads). If necessary in a smallish establishment these could be pre-booked in the morning.

HW selection of hotels is VERY GOOD and we always enjoy their slightly off beat locations and warm atmosphere. We know that other HW guests will be like -minded people we can engage in friendly conversation and exchange anecdotes about each walk with in the evenings.

Mrs Ramsell, 29 May 2015

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Although we had to look after ourselves the notes and guidance we were given were excellent. Sensible notes about our airport arrival, car hire, hotel, and walks told us everything we needed to know.

Mr Plumb, 15 May 2015

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Excellent accommodation and staff. Food variable from excellent (breakfast mainly) to indescribably bad for some meals/courses in the evening. English translations of menus were unhelpful. ('Meat Soup' turned out to be a bowl of pasta shells in a chicken stock. Marinated fish was a mystery). Wines excellent. Walks were great.

Mr Sutherland, 13 May 2015

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A most enjoyable week spent on a delightful, unspoilt island with comfortable accommodation and varied and interesting walking opportunities.

Driving on the smaller roads in Menorca can be challenging at times, particularly the fairly long stretch between Ciutadella and the hotel which is narrow,

winding and lined with unforgiving limestone walls - make sure you insure your hire car excess!

Ciutadella is a delightful town to explore and the Menorcan people are charming and very helpful to visitors.

Mr Gingell, 8 May 2015

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Very friendly and helpful staff at the Hotel who took an interest on what we did each day. Delightful scenery, good weather and interesting walks at thee right level of difficulty.

Mr Mottram, 24 Apr 2015

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Wonderful hotel in a beautiful, tranquil setting, with friendly, helpful staff. Close to some of the best beaches on the island.

Ms Stewart, 12 Sep 2014

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A very good hotel on a lovely Island which provided an excellent base for a walking holiday on routes which were varied and not too 'testing'

Mr Smith, 6 Jun 2014

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A lovely hotel (small and family-run) in a beautiful landscape. All food locally sourced as much as possible. We chose to pay extra for a better room, more spacious and with private terrace and a beautiful view, that was well worthwhile. I don't think we would have been happy in standard accommodation.

Mr Ball, 4 Jun 2014

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We loved the island, the walks and the hotel. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, just a little disappointed with the food at dinner: usually it was fine and occasionally good. Had our best meal on the way home at Meson Galicia in Es Mercadal near the car park with excellent views of mount Torro.

Mrs White, 31 May 2014

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Menorca is a really beautiful island and relatively unspoilt. May was ideal weather for walking and it was very quiet. The best walking by the sea that we have ever done. A week was not long enough so we will return1

Ms Hurst, 17 May 2014

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The hotel is in an excellent rural location. Menorca in May is ideal for walking. It's not cheap but is good value if you can afford it.

Mr Turton, 14 May 2014

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We are seasoned Headwater clients and have been more than happy with all the holidays we have taken with the company.

Mrs Langleben, 2 May 2014

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A good holiday as usual. Hotel lovely, excellent breakfast but evening meals rather unusual and could be improved. Delightful staff, very nice rooms, good local wines. Walking directions good except for one when the map was not accurate and made for a very long walk back to our car along a very busy road. I can provide details on request.

Dr Jones, 4 Oct 2013

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Great holiday,due to very good accommodation and beautiful island

Mr Price, 28 Sep 2013

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Overall a good holiday, Menorca is unspoilt and spotlessly clean. The walks a very well marked, just follow the Cami De Cavalls marker posts which are everywhere. In hindsight, we probably should have gone at a different time of year (we went end Sept) as the temperature got to 30 deg on most days, and as the walking was mainly costal there was not much shade. We also felt a bit overdressed walking across “nudist” beaches in our walking boots, back packs and sun hats! The hotel is very nice, with friendly and helpful staff. The only drawback is that there is not a communal bar where you can meet fellow guests for a pre dinner drink so there is not much of a social atmosphere. You just sit down, eat and go! A shame as the hotel has so much to offer. Our recommendation would be to go out of season, when the temperature is lower, the beaches empty and the scenery greener.

Mr Higdon, 21 Sep 2013

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Menorca is a beautiful island and the Hotel Movedra Nou is a delightful rural hotel and sanctuary away from the commercialisation of many of the coastal villages and small towns. The food was excellent and true Menorcan country cooking involving many different types of fish and numerous vegetables.

This Headwater holiday was different to our previous ones as we were provided with a car at Mahon airport for our use during the week. This had the impact of helping us to see more of the island and walk in more distant places although the negative point was that walks either involved a 'there and back' walk, or we needed to catch an expensive taxi to get back to our starting point. The maps provided were poor although by day 4 we were bequeathed an excellent map by a fellow Headwater traveller which improved things considerably. [Map now passed on yet again] This map 'Menorca Tour and Trail - Super Durable by David and Ros Brawn' is available on Amazon today at £8.99. I would recommend that Headwater send their customers this map as it gives a much better mapping of the coastal path that the walks are covering. The walking was a little tricky as the 'coastal trail' was often bumpy and rocky making it difficult to get any rhythm into our walking. Some of the walks need reviewing as they are out of date to current local developments. Several of the walks ended in very commercial areas which was disappointing after walking beautiful coastal routes. The Menorcan trail was popular and busy - we often shared it with other walkers, joggers mountain bikers and horse riders. Several walks involved some beach walking which involved picking your way through sunbathers!

Summary, great hotel and food - considerable daily driving miles - walking limited on rocky paths - maps need improvement.

Mrs Fox, 20 Sep 2013

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Would you please update this website to remove the spelling errors - it's very annoying! (Note use of too instead of to and during is incorrectly spelled)

Ms Smith, 13 Sep 2013

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Menorca is ideal for walking with a diverse landscape and the whole island being relatively low- lying. The landscape is interesting, the coastal paths are really lovely and you are never more than 3 hours from a watering-hole! People are friendly. Driving on the island is very easy. Headwaters walking itinery was well-planned and descriptions excellent, even going so far as the tell you which cafe's will order a taxi for you. Coastal walking is particularly lovely as you have a light breeze coming in from the sea and plenty of opportunities for a cooling dip or paddle. Inland, there are castles and ancient monuments to explore. Hotel Morvedra Nou is a perfect base, being quiet and luxurious, an ideal spot to relax after a day (or a morning) walking

Mr Davey, 7 Jun 2013

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Not your fault but one of the landowners appears to have gated off one of the walks. When I get a spare moment, I'll write to you about it.



Overall a superb holiday.

Mrs Dawe, 3 Jun 2013

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Dinner at the hotel Morvedra Nou was generally not good. Fish was the best option. However the staff were delightful and made up for the cooking somewhat. Breakfast was good but if we should go again we would probably prefer to go B&B and take our chances with the A La Carte menu. We did not try A La Carte this time as we felt the standard of the half board dinner was poor and didn't bode well for the A La Carte. However some other guests tried it and said it was reasonable. It would be a bit of a trek to go elsewhere for dinner so some improvement is needed. In spite of this we would happily go again.

Mrs Molyneux-Carte, 31 May 2013

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Holiday was exactly as described, accommodation, food, service all very good. Headwater staff were excellent when required.

Mr Bryant, 10 May 2013

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Menora is a beatiful island and as it had rained the week before our arrival (beginning May) the wild flowers were fantastic. If you're a birdwatcher there is also a lot to see (and hear) - spent a great half hour one evening after dinner watching a Barn Owl coming and going between the trees and the hotel grounds. Morvedra Nou Hotel is a delightful, converted farmhouse, very peaceful location. Victoria and all her team made us feel really welcome and couldn't have been more helpful. The daily dinner menu was a great way to sample Menorcan cuisine.

Mrs White, 3 May 2013