Where to Go, Where to Stay

Hints and Tips

Over the years the club has been to many places far and wide. We would like to pass on some hints and tips so that members can find the best walking areas and accommodation. If you have any thoughts and/or ideas please send them to me and I will include them on this page.

Pyrenees – we flew with Ryanair to Zaragoza and stayed in rooms in a flat. Excellent accommodation - jose manuel saez aparicio [expocasetas@hotmail.com] – the flat is very well decorated, Jose was very friendly and helpful. He brought us pastries and croissants for breakfast even after having been at a party all night. Although the flat was not in the centre of Zaragoza it was only a 90c bus ride from the flat into the centre of town.

In the Pyrenees we stayed in Torla which is the gateway to Ordesa National Park. In July and August private cars are not allowed into the park. A shuttle bus runs from Torla every 15mins from 7:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. We only went into the park once during our weekly long stay there although we did walk everyday. There are possibly 3 or 4 days walking in the park without having to use pins and chains but even then it would be necessary to repeat some paths. We walked twice directly from Torla and used our hired car to access other areas. We drove to Panticosa, a ski resort about an hour away where a gondola takes you up to 1000m. There are a number of signposted paths from the café at the top – all which can be done in about 3 hours. I have no doubt that there are other walks from the top of the gondola station but a map would have been required. We also took the car to Broto a very nice little village only 4 kms away and did a couple of walks from there. To sum up – a car is necessary to access a variety of walking especially if you go out with July and August.

Torla was probably the best base in the area. Broto would be another good base. Both Torla and Broto offer many bars, hotels and restaurants. We stayed in a bungalow on Hotelordesa campsite. The bungalow had two good sized bedrooms, a lounge/dining area, toilet and separate toilet and a terrace. The campsite had a swimming pool, a bar and restaurant and the hotel had a bar and restaurant. The site was very clean and we were given clean sheets and towels twice. Torla also has a number of other campsites with bungalows but these are further from Torla. Torla also has two hostels in the town. Broto has a campsite with bungalows at Oto but it’s a fair walk from Oto to Broto.

Spain

We have been to many areas of Spain but it would be difficult to say which the best was. Every where had its own character, good points, bad points and walking opportunities.

Pals is a very old medieval town north of Barcelona. We stayed at Playa de Pals which was about 10kms from Pals on the coast. We were there in April and to say it was quiet would be an understatement – it was like a ghost town. We did manage to find a few restaurants and bars open but it took some searching. However the apartments we booked were superb and the walking was brilliant. We did coastal walks, country walks from one village to another but not any mountain walks. A car was essential to get about.

Moriara – North of Benidorm – a very nice small town with a promenade, old town with many restaurants and bars. Again we were there in April so it was quite quiet. We had some great walks in this area – coastal, country from village to village and mountain walks - the mountains at the back of Benidorm, believe it or not are stunning!!! Again a car was essential to get about.

Esteponia – along the coast from Marbella – very different opinions about Esteponia – some say it was awful – two many cranes and building sites, too commercial but it did have an old part with a good variety of restaurants and bars if you went looking for them. We did some good walking round about Estepona but a car was essential.

Mallorca – based at Porto Pollensa we did some superb walking which varied from coastal to rocky mountain outcrops and the second highest mountain on Mallorca. A car was essential to get to the start of walks. We also spent another week based in Soller – superb little town, not very touristy – mainly walkers of a similar ilk as ourselves. Again the walking was superb using public transport to get about.

France - Sospel, north of Nice is a beautiful, medieval small town with a river running through the middle. We stayed at a campsite about 2 kms from the town. The chalets were OK but rather crowded if there was more than 3 or 4 in them. We were there in April and the campsite was not fully open – the swimming pool hadn’t been filled, the shop wasn’t open and the bar and restaurant was open only a couple of nights. It was also Easter which meant that many of the shops, bars and restaurants in the town were also shut. However the owners of the campsite couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. We arrived very late and they put on an evening meal for us. There are few other options for groups to stay in the town – there being only one hotel and a couple of B&Bs

The walking was superb and we were able to access all the walks by public transport or directly from the town.

Portugal – we have had two trips to Portugal – one close to Lisbon and one on the Algarve.

Ereicera – north of Lisbon is a small village divided into two by a busy main road. The area on the sea side of the main road is a traditional fishing village with winding streets and excellent, very inexpensive restaurants. The other side of the main road is dominated by holiday hotels and complexes. We had two traditional fisherman’s cottages right in the old town and in October were the only British people around. We did not venture into the other part of town. There was good walking although the paths were not always easily to find. We did need cars to get about.

Salema – near Lagos is a very small, traditional fishing village which as yet has not been developed. We had three large spacious apartments next door to each other in a small development with great views of the sea. The small village had plentiful, very good and inexpensive places to eat. We had some great walking and were able to access all walks by public transport.

Sardinia – Solonas on the south coast is a very small village with one restaurant, a take away and a small shop. Unfortunately in October the restaurant and take away were both shut. They did however open up for US !!! We had two very traditional village houses and a large modern villa which was divided into two flats. There was a huge empty beach on our doorstep. We hired a mini bus with driver to take us to our walks. The walks were not that exciting and maps were difficult to come by but we did do some good walks. The weather in October was superb and we were able to swim in the sea most days which was a bonus.

Cinque Terre – NW of Pisa – absolutely stunning. A line of five small villages joined by walking paths and a very efficient and cheap train service. Behind the villages there’s a small range of mountains which can easily be accessed from any of the villages. Giving great options for walking – coastal from one village to another, from one village up into the mountains and down to the next village, return by train or walks. The opportunities are endless. We were there in April and the trains and coastal paths were very busy – I wouldn’t like to see it in June or July. However away from the coastal paths we never met any other walkers. Some of the paths are steep and rocky but the rewards of a drink and lunch in stunning villages or even in wee houses en route are worth it. I would recommend this area to anyone. We stayed in Levanto which is strictly speaking not in the Cinque Terre but is a larger village with more amenities than the others.

Poland – We flew to Krakow and then took a bus or train to Zakopane, the holiday centre in Tatra Mountains. The walking was great although Zakopane itself is like Blackpool – kiss me quick hats and coloured wigs!!!! Some of the walks especially the starts were very, very crowded with long queues – 2 hours to get on the gondola and we were there at 8:00 in the morning. But the views and mountains were stunning and should NOT be missed.