Hi all - i am a new entrant to your forum. i am looking for guidance on selecting a walking/hiking tour in spain that lasts for 5-7 days. my wife and i are interested in enjoying a good walk / hike during the day and then ending off each day in luxury accomodation and experiencing local cuisine. close to Barcelona would be good as we need to end of there before starting a cruise.
all tips and suggestions would be much appreciated

Hello Colin;
We have done some walking in Spain. However, we have done it independently. If you have time you will be able to plot your own course and find quality accommodation and pleasant eateries along the way. This is a Spanish site that lists walks and climbs by region. http://jorge.abilleira.com/

Friends of ours in England booked with the following agency for walks in Croatia and Greece. http://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/?gclid=CIrY2euCso8CFQacggodoSWXPw They were pleased with the accommodation and meals. They have Spain tours.

We joined the Ramblers' Ass'n in Britain when we did some walking there. They have tours throughout Europe. Here's their brochure site. Have not heard any comments regarding the quality. http://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/

What time of year are you planning your trip?

Dennis

Hi - welcome to Slow Travel - it would help to know what time of year you are travelling - Spain is a huge country and climate varies enormously.

Michael

Hi and thanks for the responses. the trip is planned for July 08 - i am looking for a 5 to 7 day walk or maybe a little shorter. i would like to be fairly near Barcelona. the self guided walk option sounds good (thanks Dennis) but i would need to be sure i knew where i was going and didnt get lost etc.
thanks

Hi Colin,
Be warned, July is a out of the walking season because of the heat - do not go further South than Barcelona as it will be just too hot - you have two choices - head for the Catalan Pyrenees - good walking routes are becoming well marked in Spain now - or another option is a short flight over to Mallorca which is a real walkers paradise.
Could you not bring the holiday forward a month to get better "walking temperatures"?

Michael

Hello Colin:
Thanks for the reply regarding your arrival date. In July I suggest the Catalan Pyrenees, perhaps around the Vall d'Aran http://torisme.aran.org/beta/home.aspx

The area around Girona also has interesting walks. They are less demanding and at a lower elevation. I suspect in July it will be warmer than the above area. Emailed our English friends and they supplied this agency as another one they looked at but chose to go elsewhere: http://www.puentespain.com/index.htm

For more detailed information Lonely Planet has a book Walking in Spain. Idon't know if they have a recent edition out or not. Mine is over 5 years old. We've used the Alpina topo maps for other areas of the country and found them accurate. Their website is: http://www.editorialalpina.com/botiga.asp?menusuperior=botiga&i=english

Buen Viaje!
Dennis

thanks to everyone who has commented so far. we have now refined our plans. after the cruise we will go probably by train towards san sebastian. i would like to see san sebastian but i dont mind staying somewhere a little more rural that is within easy travel distance to san sebastian. i also dont mind staying in san sebastian itself although i am a little nervous that i have left it too late to get accomodation on 17 to 21 july given that it his mid summer and probably high season.
so any suggestions on the best way to get from barcelona to san sebastian and acccomodation recommendations please. i have read mirabels guide and most of the accomodation she recommends seems full!! the one i liked hte look of was the Nizo hotel in san sebastia.

does the train from barcelona to san sebastian go via madrid - or is there a direct train?

thanks all.
colin

Flying is the quickest way (1 hour flight time)
Iberia, Spanair, Clickair & Air Europa are the airlines I think.
If you want rural locations then maybe have a look at the following website where you can see reviews of the houses. Most establishments will not be reachable using public transport.
Toprural : You should book asap as you are going in peak season and the Spanish love SS
However if you want to take the train then the following web site is useful.
RENFE. They have not published this summers timetable yet!