Reviewed 30 May 2013 by Janet Herbert
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The flowers, mountains, birds, walks, food, people.........Impossible to pick out any specific part, the whole holiday was amazing!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This holiday offers a true taste of Andalucia. The guide was amazing, with an exceptional amount of local knowledge and enthusiasm. I particularly enjoyed holidaying with a small group. Perfect for people travelling alone.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Most definitely! We ate breakfast and dinner in the local restaurants and bars, and stayed in a small hotel right in the centre of Grazelema. Where possible, the food had been sourced locally, with the flour for the local bread being milled by Clive who runs the Tourist Office. Eva, our guide, lives locally and has tremendous knowledge of the area. Whilst out walking I encountered a couple of other walking groups who were being led by guides who had never visited the area before! The walks were focused around the village, so very little transport was needed. It was fantastic sharing my love of the natural environment with like minded people. I can't imagine how it could have been improved upon.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was my first walking holiday, and I travelled alone. Very professionally organiased by Clive and Eva in Grazelema. I had a thoroughly superb holiday!
Reviewed 08 Jan 2013 by Anne McLoughlin
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The friendly, warm, inclusive atmosphere
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Enjoy
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes to all 3. Plus it was exceptionally good value even with exchange rate.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An uplifting experience. A good balance between activity, fun and relaxation.
Reviewed 09 Feb 2013 by Susan Strickland
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Lovely walks, fantastic weather, excellent accommodation (especially enjoyed the large sunny roof terrace), wonderful multi-course evening meals with lots of wine and cava (also very well provided for a vegetarian like me)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A walking stick is useful, but they have spare ones to lend you if you can't bring your own
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - local restaurants, cafes, bakeries and accommodation providers must have benefited a lot - also walking must be an environmentally positive (and healthy) activity
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Highly - I am very tempted to try their Grazelma walking holiday if I ever had the opportunity
Reviewed 11 Jan 2013 by Katherine Green
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Almost everything! The setting was beautiful, the people very welcoming and friendly, the food excellent and the walks fabulous with stunning scenery. (and the very sunny weather at the beginning of January also helped!)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Think about adding a couple of days to visit a local city or do more exploring of the area - it would make the trip even better.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - meals at local restaurants. Would have liked there to have been a local guide.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent
Reviewed 20 Dec 2012 by Geraldine Whitehead
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Scrambling up mountains to see the glorious views from the tops
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
just go and enjoy it, if you have a good pair of boots the rest of a great holiday is all provided.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We were a small group and packed out anything we packed in, so made no difference to the environment, except what we took away in our cameras.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great holiday, strenuous walking, wonderful food and wine, and good company. What more could you want?
Reviewed 29 Nov 2012 by Tricia Keogh
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The people, the food, the walking.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book flights early as busy airport. You don’t need to dress up at all.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. I loved the considerate and ethical aspects of the holiday.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic. Had so much fun and the scenery was amazing. We were assessed on the first day for appropriate walks and fitness. I was lucky to be in a group of fit walkers and so the walks were high and long. Loved it.
Reviewed 04 Feb 2012 by Karen Jones
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing a Golden Eagle for the first time.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take stout, comfortable walking boots and several layers if travelling in winter months.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes we used local restaurants and ate home-grown produce.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Well organised, relaxed and friendly.
Reviewed 31 Jan 2012 by Emma Henrion
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking in glorious mountains with excellent guidance and hosting from the leaders
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You may be able to borrow walking poles from the hosts ( saves packing/ carrying ) - but do check. If walking in winter - it can be cold so bring a good warm fleece. The group was about 20 strong - if this is too big a group for you, please NB
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - great care taken to leave nothing behind us. Local restaurants and shops definitely benefited.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
Reviewed 10 Nov 2011 by Rochelle Hawkins
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Great company, great food, very well organised, lovely hospitality from Gill & Dave, great to have the dogs walking with us!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to walk up & up & up : )
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - we only purchased things from the local supermarkets & ate in the local restaurants.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Lovely experience, very relaxing.
Reviewed 08 Mar 2011 by Diane Montgomery
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I have 3 teenagers and to get away and only walk, eat, drink, read and sleep without having anything else to think about was absolute bliss. We were welcomed and treated like family from the minute we arrived. Everything taken care of by our wonderful hosts. Oh and the food was amazing !
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
No tips really, just turn up and go with the flow, not one person in our group had a gripe.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes definitely, we ate in local restaurants.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic, couldn’t fault it.
Reviewed 04 Feb 2011 by George Tasker
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The easy sense of 'extended family' that Gill and Dave offer to guests, helpers, restaurateurs, dogs and cats of all ages - a rare thing greatly appreciated. Also, I've had a week in January of perfect walking weather - 80% sunny, some cloud, some rain overnight - in the gentle scenic foothills of the Sierra de Almijara, and have returned fitter, seriously relaxed, and ready to do battle with the remainder of the British winter.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Maybe try to fly with cabin baggage only - no check-in queuing, no baggage carousels, less carbon footprint, generally more fun. They leant me a walking pole for the week, which helped me achieve this.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The only environmental guilt I have is the 3 hour flight. All evening meals except one were in Spanish-run local restaurants, all food supplied by the operator was local and excellent, a good proportion garden-grown. Accommodation is in local houses. All walks were within a short minibus trip from Torrox. The business is very sustainable, and I think the local economy benefits greatly from it.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, really - I went on my own without the family, so I could hardly claim it's the best holiday of half a lifetime's experience, but I do feel some sense of rebirth, greatly enjoyed the company, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who likes walking.