Walking Holidays Spain | Walks In Spain - But Where

Walking holidays in Spain are a great way to see the country and experience things that no other holiday can provide. The thing that has changed recently is that a lot of people are now taking walking holidays in Spain, that would never have considered a walking holiday a couple of years ago. This years walking enthusiast, could well have been last years beach bum.

This growth in the number of novice walkers, has lead to an increase in the number of guesthouses and hotels in Spain, that organise guided walks, to suit all ages and abilities. So the only problem is where to visit.

What I have decided to do is pick a couple of regions of Spain that I have visited and see where it goes from there. As I said in my last post, the only reason I am talking about walking holidays in Spain is because of an email I received. Therefore, if I am to write more posts on; walking, trekking, or hiking holidays, I need to see how much interest there is. Anyway, I promised to give you some details so here goes.

Asturias

Asturias is a region in the north of Spain and is a walking enthusiasts paradise. This part of Spain is mountainous and heavily wooded which combine to make some of the most stunning scenery you will see anywhere, a beautiful destination for any holiday.

The two major towns in the region are Oviedo and Gijon. If you go to Gijon in August make sure you check out the cider festival, remember to bring your favourite hang over cure.

Cider and not wine is the preferred drink in this part of Spain. As for the food, what can I say except delicious. You might be surprised to find that the food has more in common with northern cuisine than Mediterranean. The food is hearty, which probably has something to do with the terrain and lifestyle of the people. Believe me you will be glad to sit down to a plate Fabada Asturiana (stew) after a long walk.

Catalonia

I couldn't talk about walking holidays in Spain and not talk about Catalonia, after all Estartit (the main subject of this site) is a Catalonian town.

If walking up and down mountains is not for you, then this region of Spain could well be what you're looking for as long as you stay in the south of the region.

Catalonia sweeps down from the Pyrenees and along the east coast. Probably most famous for its rugged coastline and sandy beaches, this area has long been popular with tourists. The Costa Brava, Costa Tropical, Costa Daurada, and the Costa del Garraf, are well known to the package holidaymaker, but there is so much more to be discovered if you travel a little inland.

Things To Check Out

I thought I would share some of my favourite places to visit in the region. If you enjoy history then you really must make time to visit the Roman ruins at Tarragona, and the monastery of Montserrat.

For art and architecture lovers the Dali museum in Figueres and the La Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona are both worth checking out.

Festivals are a big part of Spanish life, and are a topic all on there own, but there is one festival that is celebrated in every town and village, and that is the midsummer's eve festival, a real fun time in every town.

Walking holidays are not all about walking, but it is the main constituent of the holiday. For a successful walking holiday you will need a good trail to follow, which takes in places of interest and variety of views. A walking holiday in Spain is no different and that will be the topic of my next post.

If you are going on a walking holiday in Spain, or have just come back, please let me know. I will post the next article again soon, for now thank you for reading Walking Holidays Spain | Walks In Spain

Estartit Holidays| Holidays To The Costa Brava

Thinking of a Holiday on the Costa Brava? - The Costa Brava is located on the north east coast of Spain. The region stretches from the French border all the way down to Barcelona. If you are looking for the traditional spain, a walking holiday in Spain, or just a holiday away from the beach, then a Costa Brava Holiday is for you.

Estartit is a beautiful place, but it is only one of many picturesque towns and villages, to holiday in, while on the Costa Brava. If you are willing to get out and about there is a wealth of places to explore, from the stunning vertical cliffs of Begur, to the medieval hamlet of Pals, there is something for everyone.

Looking for the traditional Spanish village? Then it has to be Calella Palafrugell. Calella Palafrugell is a stunningly beautiful, whitewashed village, set in spectacular landscape.

I like to combine fine food with pretty views and if you’re like me there are two places you should definitely visit. Peretallada, is a quaint village, with a wonderful choice of restaurants, serving great Catalan cuisine.

A little bit to the north of L'Estartit is L’Escala, a delightful fishing village. If you take a stroll to the end of the promenade you will find some fantastic seafood restaurants.

Just as a side note, if you’re looking for a great beach try Cala Montgo. Situated close to L’Escala, Cala Montgo is a lovely sandy beach set in a large cove.

The Costa Brava is a stunningly beautiful region and I have only briefly touched on some of the places to visit. There are so many wonderful places I haven’t mentioned here like: Llafranc, Barcelona, Gerona, Lake Banyoles, and Besalu, but I don’t want this post getting too long. Just chose one of the many Costa Brava Hotels and go exploring.

In the future I will try to go into more detail on each of these attractions.

Please feel free to leave a comment about this post. Until the next time thank you for reading Holiday On The Costa Brava on Estartit Holidays

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Golfing Holiday | Estartit Golfing Holiday

Looking for a golfing holiday? Or are you just hoping to play a few rounds of golf, while the family is on the beach? L’ Estartit doesn’t have a golf course of its own, but there is one just up the road at Pals. As Pals Golf Course is only 15 minutes away, I guess, we could justifiably say this is the local course. However, what makes Estartit great for a golfing holiday is its location, right on the beach, and close to several golf courses. Most of L'Estartit Hotels will have details on the local courses.

Platja de Pals Golf Course is a 6222 meter par 73. It is an internationally renowned course, in fact it was voted in the top 100 courses in Europe. As for the setting it could not be more perfect.

Of all the courses on the Costa Brava, this has to be the prettiest. Hundreds of pine trees line the fairways, making for very scenic views.

The Pals golf course itself is fairly level and smooth. The greens are slightly raised and generally defended by bunkers. I think even the novice will find reading the greens quite easy. That’s not to say they are dead flat, they do have gentle slops and dips, the thing I found, was that the ball did tend to play true.

The one thing I would watch out for is the trees'. Although pretty to look at, they do present a natural hazard. The branches do tend to over hang some of the fairway, so watch your driving. The less I say about that the better.

All in all this is a great golf course. I would think no matter what your level of skill you will enjoy a round at Platja de Pals.

There are other Golf courses on the Costa Brava close to Estartit. I have listed a couple below, with travel times from Estartit
Estartit.

Serres de pals Golf Course = 12 Mins

Emporda Golf Course = 8 Mins

Costa Brava Golf Course = 35 Mins

Mas Nou Golf Course = 35 Mins

Girona Golf Course = 35 Mins

Peralada Golf Course = 45 Mins

Torremirona Golf Course = 50 Mins

PGA Catalunya Golf Course =50 Mins

As time goes by I will add details of all the courses listed above. I will also try and give more of an insight into the facilities of each venue, and also try and give a flavour of the surrounding area.

For now thank you for reading Golfing Holiday |Estartit Golfing Holiday on ‘Estartit Holidays’

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Estartit Family Holiday Day 2 - Activities

Hi. In the last post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 we talked about a relaxed, sort of lazy day. In this post we will look at what there is to do in Estartit if you fancy something a bit more active. The thing to remember when reading this is that I am trying to give a flavour of the place, rather than specifics. That will come later with the review posts.

So, your up, fed, and ready to go, but where to. Well, as were on the coast it has to be a day with a nautical theme.

Lets face it the kids love the beach and splashing about in the sea. With that in mind why not stop off at one of the many swimwear shops and pick up some snorkel sets.

That’s one of the great things about the Mediterranean Sea, in this part of Spain, it’s crystal clear. Your children will have great fun trying to catch the little fish that swim feet from the shore.

If you would like to watch the fish, but would prefer to keep your feet dry, then why not head down to the harbour in Estartit and take trip on a glass-bottomed boat. These boats sail out regularly during the day. They sail around ‘Las Islas Medas’ (The Medas Islands) and along the coast. On the way back, you can go down stairs and look through the boats glass bottom.

This unique feature of the boat, allows unrestricted views, of the colourful coral and fish, which live in this protected archipelago. This is truly a worthwhile trip, and could be the unforgettable experience of the holiday. For other Costa Brava sites worth a visit read The Costa Brava


If you do think about taking this cruise, around the islands, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

1 Pick a calm day. If the sea is a bit rough it tends to whip up the silt, on the seabed, spoiling the views from the bottom of the boat.

2 If, you wear shorts on the day, you may find it a bit chilly, as it can get a bit windy around the islands.

3 Don’t take the trip if you have a stinking hangover. This is one tip I will personally never, never, break again.

When you get off, everyone is normally hot and ready for some refreshment. There is a great ice cream parlour on the corner, between the marina and Santa Anna Street. They serve ever flavour of ice cream and sorbet you could possible imagine. My kids love that shop.

If letting someone else sail you around is not adventurous enough for you, why not consider going it alone.

(Depending on the age of your children) You could try hiring your own boat. For a bit more speed, it has to be a Jet Ski. On the other hand if wind power is your thing then why not try mastering a dingy or wind surfer. You could even go canoeing. All of these things are available for hire at the Estartit Marina. (Subject to training, age and experience) Please also check if you are covered under the terms and conditions of your Travel Insurance.

It is even possible to explore the coral of the ‘Las Islas Medas’ archipelago by scuba diving. However, that’s a whole subject on its own.

Any way that’s enough for now. In future posts each aspect of this article will be explained in more detail. If you have experienced any of this, or even just visited Estartit, please leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you.

Until then thank you for reading Estartit Family Holidays Day 2 - Activities

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