8 independent reviews for Cooking and cultural holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees
Reviews for Cooking and cultural holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees
Jennifer Taylor review 19 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was a delight, from the amazing mountain scenery to the pretty villages and outstanding food and wine of the region. But most impressive of all was the exceptional hospitality from Lucy and Simon in their beautiful restored farmhouse. They are the perfect hosts with a wealth of knowledge about the region.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not hesitate - just go. Five stars in every way.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. Simon and Lucy take the responsibility very seriously. Local products used wherever possible, minimal waste and green sources of energy used. Local experienced guides are used providing employment in this relatively depopulated area.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was my second visit, outstanding in every respect and exceeding all expectations.Linda Milligan review 14 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The warmth and generosity of our hosts, Lucy and Simon who shared their beautiful home and their extraordinary environment.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book it asap.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Lucy and Simon are dedicated to sustainable living; they took us to local businesses and restaurants and “taught” us about the local environment.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was an extraordinary experience with the perfect balance between walking, exploring the culture and the gastronomy of the Aragon region.Jane Hofto review 20 Jun 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our holiday immersed us in beautiful scenery and fascinating culture: tiny villages, beautiful historic towns, castles and monasteries, amazing rock formations, and enthusiastic producers of wine and olive oil. A highlight for me was a wonderful walk encompassing 4 local villages, all at various stages of revitalisation, and experiencing the yearly fiesta in Albella, when religious statues are paraded to the chapel and families return to their ancestral homes in a celebration of community. Albella itself is a tiny but beautiful hamlet high in the Pyrenees and the Casa Allue, Simon and Lucy’s guesthouse, is a beautifully renovated and decorated former farmhouse and barn. It has a superb outlook and we were serenaded by a musical chorus of cow and sheep bells! Simon and Lucy are wonderful cooks who use beautiful produce grown in their own garden or locally sourced - we dined on wild boar and mushrooms collected in the hills above the town! - and the delicious meals are complemented with local wines. Our cookery sessions were lots of fun (wine in hand!).2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Simon and Lucy organised a transfer for us from Zaragoza which worked beautifully. I think you really get the most from this holiday if you have a good level of fitness and can walk uphill and over uneven terrain.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Conservation and sustainability underpin every aspect of the operation of the tour operator. Simon and Lucy are wonderful hosts and guides, knowledgeable and respectful of the local communities and their history and culture, as well as the wildlife, botany and geology of the Pyrenees. They have sensitively restored a derelict farmhouse and barn into a beautiful guesthouse, sponsor local restoration projects, work with local farmers, promote local produce and are an integral and respected part of the local community. The guesthouse restoration included installation of thermal underfloor heating and water tanks to harvest rain from the roof.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A superb holiday in a beautiful location with wonderful hosts.Patrick Harris review 17 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Lucy and Simon were so hospitable and worked very hard to make sure every aspect of the holiday worked well for us and fitted our level of ability. The food and accommodation were of a very good standard. We loved the variety on offer, which included walking in the hills, visits to nearby historic towns, castles and religious buildings, wine tasting and, of course, cookery lessons. The couple has done their homework regarding the history of the area and were able to give us lots of interesting facts.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is an active holiday involving some travel and hill walking, so being reasonably fit helps. And it can be cold in the mountains!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. Lucy and Simon love the region and are very committed to it. They practice strict recycling regimes and support local guides and the small independent industries that exist around the area.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great experience and good value for money.Bill Wild review 7 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I think most memorable was the incredible hospitality of Lucy and Simon. They did everything possible to ensure that we had a good time and that we saw as much as possible of that area of the Pyrenees. Nothing was too much trouble for them. My wife had injured her leg earlier on the trip and both Simon and Lucy came to ensure that wherever we went her comfort and safety were assured. We particularly enjoyed the cooking classes and I am now enthused to even do some cooking at home! The tours were well run and gave us a real view of the local area and people. The visit to their chapel and their neighbours house and its age old elements was a particular highlight.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for something different, away from the hustle of the cities and the usual tourist spots.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The key to our enjoyment of the holiday was exposure to local things of interest and to local people. Obviously there was a flow on benefit to the locals who guided us on walks, cheese-making and vineyards.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic.Eric Webb review 6 Nov 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was all just great!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Deservedly, this tour operator at Casa Allue are gaining popularity, so book up well in advance or you may be disappointed.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly the emphasis is on local and home-grown produce, involvement in the village community, support of local businesses and self-sufficiency.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The entire holiday was a delight: culture, scenery, walks, cookery sessions, the food, the wine, the house, our hosts + family, their dog! (And the cats!)Claudia Sanzone review 5 Jun 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We enjoyed the uniqueness of the accommodations staying in a remodeled 13 century farm house in a small Pyrenees village. We enjoyed the way our hosts Simon and Lucy worked with our group of eight on accommodating our requests around cooking, walking, and cultural experiences. This was one of the best small group experiences we've had, and we've been traveling the world for at least twelve years.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be ready to fall in love with the people, countryside, and food from this part of the Pyrenees....oh and your hosts Simon and Lucy. Those people coming from the U.S. just beware if you are hiking plan of very rocky trails. Bring your high top boots as suggested in their packing list.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Oh yes!!! Everything we ate and guides hired were locally sourced,4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was one of the best small group travel experiences I've ever had. I was able to organize a group of four couples and Simon and Lucy worked with us before and during our stay on accommodating our requests. On a scale of one to five , five being outstanding, I'd give them a ten!!Ross Gould review 15 Apr 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hiking in the fresh air of Spanish Pyrenees and being up close to many of the endangered lammergeier, or bearded vultures, soaring near the cliffs. There were a couple of times when we watched groups of three or four of these birds riding the thermals.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a pair of good, newish boots! One of my boot's sole separated on the first day of walking. Simon, one of he hosts, and I glued and taped it up for the next outing, however the sole from the second boot began breaking away. Simon was kind enough to loan me his old pair. A day later, my wife's boot started to fall apart. Thankfully, Simon brought us to a sporting goods store before our last day of walking in order for us to buy new boots.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
This part of Spain is very rural. By visiting and shopping at small local businesses, we felt it added a little to the local economy. The hosts, Simon & Lucy, recycle and repurpose materials in their establishment to great effect. (We suggested that our old boots be used as planters in the garden like we have done at our home.)4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
My wife and I had a lovely week. The mix of hiking, local cultural visits, tastings and home-cooked meals made a splendid holiday. Simon and Lucy were wonderful hosts during our stay.Holiday Reviews
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