Remaining 2012 Cornwall dates
May 5-12 (fully booked)
May 19-26 (4 spaces)
May 26-2 (fully booked)
June 9-16 (six spaces)
June 23-30 (uncertain)
July 7-14 (4 spaces)
July 14-21 (2 spaces)
July 21-28 (plenty of space)
Aug 4-11 (plenty of space)
Aug 11-18 (5 spaces)
Aug 18-25 (5 spaces)
Sept 1-8 (4 spaces)
Sept 15-22 (plenty of space)
Oct 6-13 (uncertain)
Weekly inclusive rates in Cornwall during 2012 will range from £568 in a cottage B&B up to £850 in a luxury hotel, with cheaper options in between. Please contact us for our 2012 Cornwall brochure, which details the prices for staying in each of our options.
Martin's 29 year old daughter Rachael has joined the Cornwall guiding team this year. She will also be guiding the Morocco trek in March/April and The Picos de Europa hiking holiday in late September, having accompanied these trips many times during her life. Rachael has a BA degree in Broadcasting & Media and is currently studying Cornwall's history and wildlife, archaeology and geology. Her bubbly and happy personality will add a new dimension to our tours!
In late summer/early autumn 2012, we are running an exciting SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS walking tour, based in Grantown on Spey (near Aviemore, Cairgorm Mountains area) - so keep your eyes on the web site for details towards the end of February. The dates we have already set are Sept 1st - 11th. Provisional brochure available.
During 2011, we repeated our popular MOROCCO TREK in April, our TUSCANY tour in May, our DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK tour in May, our new DOLOMITES tour in June, our COTSWOLDS tour in July, our ISLES OF SCILLY tour in August - and our PICOS DE EUROPA (Spain) hiking trip in late Sept/early Oct.
During 2012, due to being involved in various trips away from Cornwall (and exclusive tours for specialist groups), Martin and Rachael will not be available to guide all the Cornwall weeks. In their place over a few weeks will be their accomplished associate guide Paul Simmons. Paul lives on a smallholding just north of the beautiful Helford River with his wife Ceri, their three children and a growing menagerie of animals. He has been a qualified Green Guide since 2001 and in 2007 he completed an MA in Cornish Studies at the Institute of Cornish Studies which involved cultural, historic, social, political and economic studies. He has been a committee member of the South West Coast Path Association representing the Lizard from Porthleven to Falmouth and over to the Roseland peninsula and up to Mevagissey. 80 miles (128 km) of fabulous coast path. Also, Paul has been a professional piano entertainer and session player for 26 years. "From Cole Porter to Coldplay, Gershwin to Green Day". He still plays and sings in Cornwall providing the entertainment at many venues in the evening - often for weddings. He says "Life is a learning curve" and with all that experience, he certainly knows how to entertain and inform.
So, just like Martin and Rachael, Paul is very passionate to share the unique landscapes, wildlife and and the special qualities and mysteries of Cornwall with others. He's really an experienced "all rounder" - which is why we know that your experiences with him will be nothing other than extremely positive. And if you happen to stop somewhere for a Cornsh cream tea that has a piano, you may even enjoy an inpromtu performance!!
In April last year, we went trekking in Morocco, where we enjoyed our 19th trek through the magnificent Jebel Sarhro Mountains of Morocco's far south, sandwiched between the Sahara and The Atlas. This time, we again went a whole 2 months later than usual and although we mostly missed the almond blossom, we instead benefited from all the trees being in leaf and much warmer weather - particularly at night time. Morocco generally had had a somewhat wetter winter than usual, and so there were more flowers blooming practically everywhere. Fantastic crops were being grown in places that are usually rather barren and the Berber people were very happy! Our group numbered 10 in all and with the 6 fantastic muleteers and our excellent local guide Abdou, we were quite a party! After we had trekked for a week through the mountains, we crossed The Dades River (the land of a 1000 Kasbahs) and walked for 3 days in The Valley of The Roses - through beautiful well watered gardens and in the river itself towards the M'Goun massif (4000m) of the High Atlas Mountains. This was truly epic and wonderful - with old kasbah's dotted around, lush fields of crops and poppies & roses everywhere, with copious water and absolutely beautiful birdsong surrounding us.
After the trek was over, we had some time in exotic Marrakech and then some of us went down to the Atlantic coast and stayed in 'laid back' Essaouira. Here, we swam, ate, strolled, drank mint tea, shopped in the souks, sunbathed and watched rare birds in the dunes. However, we did spoil ourselves and stay in a rather luxurious Riad this time - all for personal reward of course. This year, the trek will be in late March and early April, and will be led by Rachael. She has done the trek several times and knows the area rather well.
In early May last year, we went walking in Tuscany again. Another great trip, with a great group, wonderful hikes, history and wildlife, spectacular accommodations, cuisine and wines! The weather was absolutely perfect every day and we are hoping for a repeat this year. Come and see what makes Tuscany so famous - but with us, explore areas that not so many toursists know about - you'll be amazed! From the coast into the interior, we'll see a great variety of landscapes and explore the history of this beautiful region of Italy, from Etruscan times 2700 years ago, through Roman times - and up to the present day. 2012 dates:- May 2-12 and October 3-13.
In late May, we again visited Dartmoor National Park walking week - a week of great variety. From the 2000 ft high granite tops to the deep wooded valleys where bonzai oak forests grow and clear waters rush over moss covered boulders... Dartmoor has it all.
In June, we ran our exciting new DOLOMITES hiking adventure - what an exciting destination it has turned out to be! With lovely hotels, great cuisine and fabulous hikes, we explored many beautiful areas in this stunning mountain range. The wild flora at this time of the year is simply breathtaking, with high alpine meadows be-decked in a gorgeous array of colourful alpine flowers. Wild rhododendron also flower alongside the trails and as we got higher, we climbed into a shattered rocky wilderness where ancient glaciers have carved their torturous routes through the mountains. Just awesome! 2012 dates: June 20-30. NOW FULLY BOOKED.
In July, we again explored The Cotswolds - as usual, lovely pastoral hikes, pretty villages with rose covered cottages of honey-coloured limestone - and all in excellent company! This quintessential region of England has long attracted visitors and the reason is that it's just simply beautiful! Fabulous deep valleys full of giant trees, rolling grasslands and ridges with great views down over the River Severn and into Wales beyond, Roman villas, great gardens, pretty little churches and cottage - all built out of the unique Cotswold Jurassic limestone, which has in it - the locked away sunlight of millions of past summers. 2012 dates: July 15-22.
In late August, we again explored the unique archielago that is THE ISLES OF SCILLY, off western Cornwall. Exquisite granite islands in every direction, white sand beaches, sub-tropical flora, eay hiking, fine dining, boat rides to view incredible wildlife - we saw many grey seals and several porpoise too! This year, our group numbered 15 with myself and we all enjoyed each other's company very much indeed. We had amazing weather every day, despite the rather dire forecasts! Allow the magical spell of Scilly to enter your soul and entrance you. 2012 dates: Aug 20-27. This trip books up very early, so don't delay if you want to come this year.
In late Sept and early Oct, we again went to North Spain, where we enjoyed the magnificent scenery of The Picos de Europa Mountains in Cantabria and Asturias provinces. Last year, thirteen of us hiked great gorges, fine peaks, coastal trails and grassy meadows. Mike and Lisa at Casa Gustavo gave us a great welcome and fine Spanish dining and lovely local red wines every night! With absolutely perfect weather every day, we were lucky to get so many great hikes in... so don't miss out on this truly wonderful and relatively un-discovered area this year - eating all the fruits of the land as we hike (figs, grapes, walnuts, etc). 2012 dates: Sept 22-1 Oct.