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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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Catalonia Discovery

The Costa Brava’s quiet side
 
Walking, sightseeing and swimming on ‘stay put’ days, combined with self-guided hotel-to-hotel cycling, with luggage transfers, is the ideal way to discover captivating Catalonia. Discover secluded coves, charming villages and the Dalí Museum in Púbol, and indulge in the excellent seafood.
Catalonia Discovery. 6 nights
Catalonia Discovery. 6 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A discovery holiday in Catalonia

The contrasting charms of unspoiled Catalonia are impossible to resist, from the beguiling patchwork of sunflowers and poppy fields of the interior to the secluded coves and sandy beaches of the pine-clad Costa Brava. What’s more, the terrain is easy-going, lending itself perfectly to leisurely exploration, with plenty of time for visits to historic villages and dips in the sea at the end of the week.
On this holiday, days of cycling from one charming place to stay to the next alternate with ‘free’ days when you can choose how (or if – you can simply relax and enjoy your surroundings if you prefer!) you explore. You can head out on your bikes if you like, but, for a break from the saddle, you may prefer to amble along the inviting paths or tracks on foot, following our detailed walking notes to pretty villages.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 15 17 21 25 29 28 25 21 16 14
    mm 51 47 63 57 57 42 26 48 67 106 64 60
  • Arrival in Madremanya
    Night 1: at Hotel La Plaça (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking or cycling.
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Madremanya

    Circular walk from Madremanya: 13.5km, 3.5hrs
    Our suggested walk is an undemanding route heading south from the village into the Gavarres hills which form the backdrop to this region of the Baix Empordà. You first walk to Font Picant before heading back through open meadows and farms, with birdsong usually the only sound.

    Circular cycle from Madremanya: 28.5km
    If you choose to cycle, we have a delightful circuit that takes you north to Púbol, a hamlet which is famous for the fascinating Gala Dalí museum, housed in the 11th-century castle he bought for his wife (pay locally; closed Mondays). Continue through a number of other small villages (including La Pera, with a pretty church, and Sant Llorenç, around which there are some lovely picnic spots) before returning to Madremanya.
  • Cycle from Madremanya to Peratallada: 20.5km 
    The initial stretch of today’s cycle is a pleasant, downhill ride through wonderful scenery, heading for flatter trails, with views of the rugged Gavarres Hills to the south and of the Pyrenees to the north in clear weather. You pass through a series of honey-coloured villages and also La Bisbal, the provincial capital famed for its pottery, before continuing on your way to Peratallada and the Hostal Blau, in the centre of the village, where you stay two nights. 
    Peratallada
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Peratallada

    Circular walk from Peratallada via Ullastret: 9km, 2hrs
    Our first easy circular walk takes you north from the village on quiet back lanes to the Iberic ruins at Puig Sant Andreu and then on to visit the walled village of Ullastret with its fine Romanesque church.

    Circular walk from Peratallada via Palau Sator: 10km, 2.5hrs
    A second option takes you east through more of the beautiful medieval villages that pepper this region, including Palau Sator and Sant Julià de Boada, with its tiny gem of a church.

    Circular cycle from Peratallada: 24.5km 
    Our suggested cycle route, meanwhile, is a delightful circuit that takes you north-west of Peratallada, through open farmland and fields of sunflowers, passing beautiful Ullastret, where you can detour to visit the Iberic ruins at Puig Sant Andreu.
  • Cycle from Peratallada to Llafranc: 20km 
    Cycle south across the inland plain via hill-top Pals, where you can spend some time exploring the ancient ramparts and the cobbled streets of houses built from the peach-coloured local stone. Seek out, too, the various Romanesque monuments and the viewpoint overlooking the Mediterranean, the Medes Islands and the Montgri Mountains. There are various good restaurants, making this a good point to stop for lunch. The terrain is mostly flat, and you eventually cruise into the quiet and delightful bay of Llafranc, where you spend your last two nights at the Hotel Terramar.
    Pals, on the route from Peratallada to Llafranc
  • Choice of walking or cycling from Llafranc

    Circular cycle from Llafranc: 29.5km
    The outward leg of this ride is initially through woodland to reach a coastal track which offers lovely views of the coastline. You pass the beautiful botanical gardens at Cap Roig, well worth a visit, as well as many coves and beaches where you could relax by the sea. You return by an inland cycle trail.

    Circular walk via Cap Roig: 15km, 4.5hrs
    This circular walk takes you south along the coast to the botanical gardens at Cap Roig before turning inland to reach the market town of Palafrugell where there is a market every morning except Mondays.

    Linear walk to Palamos: 9km, 2.5hrs each way
    This linear walk takes you south along the coast to the beach at La Fosca and the town of Palamos. You can retrace your steps to Llafranc, although you may prefer to arrange a taxi (pay locally).  

    Relax in Llafranc
    Alternatively, for an easier day, you may decide to remain in Llafranc and relax by the sea, or perhaps stroll to nearby Calella (half an hour away on the coastal path). 
    Cycling along the via verde on the circular route around Llafranc
 

Accommodation

It’s charming accommodation all the way on this leisurely journey to the sea!

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you. Wherever you stay in Llafranc, we recommend adding extra nights so that you can enjoy more time by the coast. 
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 6 nights: 01 April - 27 July 2019 & 31 August - 31 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 April £880 £295
    1 - 23 May £895 £305
    24 May - 25 June £985 £345
    26 June - 21 July £1045 £395
    31 August - 26 September £985 £345
    27 September - 25 October £910 £305
    3rd & 4th person discount -£30
    Single traveller supplement £30

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £62 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    6 nights: 01 April - 27 July 2019 & 31 August - 31 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 April £1295 £295
    1 - 23 May £1315 £305
    24 May - 25 June £1415 £345
    26 June - 21 July £1475 £395
    31 August - 26 September £1415 £345
    27 September - 25 October £1335 £305
    3rd & 4th person discount -£90
    Single traveller supplement £90

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Electric bikes available: add £62 per person
    Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Girona out and Figueres Vilafant–Paris home (TGV), approx duration 9h30 out/10h15 home & transfer (out 0h30/home 1h30).

    If you book your holiday less than 3 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the sames services at a supplement.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel La Plaça
    Suite: 01 Apr - 25 Oct 2019 £38
    Terrace: 01 Apr - 25 Oct 2019 £15
    Hostal Blau
    Terrace: 01 Apr - 25 Oct 2019 £12

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £8pp per day.
    Hotel La Plaça (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 27 Jul 2019 £160 £212
    31 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £160 £212
    Hotel Terramar (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 May 2019 £110 £145
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2019 £125 £170
    01 Jul - 27 Jul 2019 £140 £200
    31 Aug - 31 Aug 2019 £140 £200
    01 Sep - 30 Sep 2019 £125 £170
    01 Oct - 25 Oct 2019 £110 £145
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Barcelona, Girona

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Barcelona. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Barcelona easyJet,  jet2 
    Belfast Intl. - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Barcelona Norwegian,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Birmingham - Girona jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Barcelona easyJet 
    Bristol - Girona Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Cardiff - Barcelona Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Barcelona Ryanair,  Thomas Cook 
    Nottingham East Midlands - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Barcelona Norwegian,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Barcelona (via Paris) Air France 
    Edinburgh - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Barcelona jet2 
    Glasgow - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow Prestwick - Barcelona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Girona Ryanair 
    Leeds Bradford - Barcelona jet2,  Vueling 
    Leeds Bradford - Girona jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Barcelona easyJet,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Liverpool - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Barcelona British Airways,  easyJet,  Norwegian,  Vueling 
    Gatwick - Girona TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Barcelona British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Barcelona easyJet,  Vueling 
    Luton - Girona Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Barcelona easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Barcelona Ryanair 
    Stansted - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Barcelona easyJet,  jet2,  Norwegian,  Ryanair,  Vueling 
    Manchester - Girona jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Barcelona easyJet,  Vueling 
    Newcastle - Girona jet2,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Barcelona (via Paris) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Barcelona. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Barcelona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Barcelona Sants to Girona (0h40), taxi Girona to hotel (0h30) £40 1900
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Girona (1h30), rail Girona to Barcelona Sants (0h40) £60 1200 (1300 Sun)
    taxi hotel to Palafrugell (0h15), bus Palafrugell to Barcelona Airport (3h) pay locally £9 1130

    Connecting travel options - flying via Girona

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Girona airport to hotel (1h) £45 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Girona airport (1h) £45 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 5 reviews
  • Anon
    23 September 2017

    Loved every minute of the holiday, accommodation/food all really good, cycle/walking routes easy to follow and a beautiful part of the world to explore. Organisation by Inntravel second to none, would highly recommend.

  • MPH
    23 September 2017

    Girona was a worthwhile add on.

    Enjoyed the variety of the rural countryside down to the coast.

    More dirt / gravel tracks than expected.

    Catalaonia is an interesting part of Spain especially on their independence referendum day.

    Very good varied hotels.

     

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: This customer added a stay in Girona to our Catalonia Discovery walking and cycling holiday.

  • Ash
    02 September 2017

    The owners of all the hotels and hostel were just lovely. Really friendly and very helpful.

    Try the rose wine made by the owner in Hotel Placa or his lovely little tapas bar just 20 metres from the hotel.

    Take your snorkeling gear to Llafranc as the sea is clear and so inviting.

    The restaurant recommendations provided in the pack are very good indeed. The food on the half board menu is excellent. 

    Always end your meals with a ratafia, the local digestif. 

  • Mrs L Beckett
    Edinburgh
    30 August 2017

    We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. It all worked very well with 3 very different locations and hotels.

  • Mr S Adams
    Ashbourne
    13 June 2017

    This was a really interesting holiday with a variation of surroundings with each change of area. An ideal cycling holiday for beginners as this was not too challenging.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a city trekking bike with 21 gears (grip shift system); a waterproof map case on handlebars (one between two bikes); odometer (one between two bikes); panniers/saddlebags; puncture-proof tyres; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
  • Helmets are a legal requirement on public roads in Spain, and as such are included free of charge with your bike.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for the cycling trails on this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes for all of the cycling and walking routes that we recommend.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You do need to make sure you’re covered, because it’s you who is responsible for any damage to or loss of the bike during the holiday. You should always lock it (preferably to an immovable object) and remove any easy-to-steal accessories when leaving it unattended. The travel insurance policy that we offer covers you for loss and damage (provided you’ve locked or stored it appropriately). If you are arranging your own insurance, but it doesn’t cover bikes, we can provide bike-only cover for £19 per person. More details >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/19/2019 12:25:31 AM