The Walks

Our walks are set in the most beautiful areas of western Europe. All of them visit inspiring scenery as well as towns and villages of great beauty. They include the most interesting monuments and works of art in the region, as well as the finest areas for wildlife and wilderness. In the evenings we stay in the most comfortable accommodation available, always clean, warm and welcoming and with an emphasis on characterful buildings. And we eat a mixture of local traditional cuisine and fine food, all accompanied by the best national and regional wines.

Everything is included in the price of our trips: all land transportation, accommodation and all meals with wine and mineral water. The only extra expenses are your flights and travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as telephone bills or drinks before and after dinner.

Our Daily Routine

We set out on a morning walk of between two and a half and four hours (including short rest stops). All the walks are led by a highly experienced and knowledgeable leader who knows the country, and the region, intimately. At lunchtime the group usually meets up with the support vehicle for an al fresco lunch prepared by our staff who look after the logistics of the trip. This will include local specialities and wine. In some of the more mountainous areas it may not be possible to reach the midday stop by vehicle, in which case the picnic will be carried by the tour leader, although clients will be asked to carry their own water supplies (and volunteers may be sought for wine!).

After a post-lunch rest (time and weather permitting) we start out again for the afternoon walk, usually shorter than the morning, although there is normally the option to ride in the support vehicle for those who are tired or who simply prefer to relax. In the late afternoon we arrive at our hotel, the most comfortable and characterful available, with time for a short rest before dinner, normally eaten in a local restaurant or the hotel. During dinner the tour leader will explain the programme for the following day.

Food and Wine

It is, of course, a great pleasure to explore the local regional cuisine and in the evening we choose the best local restaurants available and select local and regional specialities, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. We always seek out home-cooked food although we remain aware of the difference between the eating habits of our clients and the local residents and try to select dishes which provide a balance of ingredients. At the end of the walk we hope that a good selection of regional dishes will have been tried.

Although we order a meal for the whole group, which ensures reasonably efficient service as well as variety during the trip, we always take into account any special requirements or preferences and you are most welcome to try any dishes which we have not requested.

At lunchtime we provide plenty of fresh food in the form of salads and fruit as well as cold meats, cheeses, local breads and any speciality which is better suited to lunch. Wines are important and are chosen by the tour leader and during the trip we will attempt to offer a wide variety of local as well as national wines to give a true overview of those available in the area.

Accomodation

The hotels have been chosen primarily for the quality of the accommodation although it is clear that in some of the wilder areas we visit there is little choice available. Nevertheless all the places we stay fulfil our basic requirements of clean, comfortable rooms with a warm welcome from the hosts. All the rooms have private facilities. We prefer hotels to be located in characterful buildings and to give a true reflection of the styles of residence of the area. In many cases our hotels are truly luxurious establishments.

Respect for the Environment

We are increasingly aware that the regions that we visit are very fragile outposts of unspoilt countryside in the modern world. We take very seriously the need for a sensitive approach and will ensure that the regions are unaffected by our visit and avoid areas that are sensitive to damage. We will, wherever possible, use local facilities to supplement our own resources.