Do not hesitate to contact us. We are an expert team and we are always happy to talk to you.
01694 723600
You matter to us & we promise to provide you with a superb walking & social holiday, tailored specifically to your needs. We provide walking holidays for walkers & as walkers ourselves, we appreciate & understand the requirements of a walking holiday.
The walking in Costa Blanca is simply stunning with a great variation of amazing scenery in all directions. Our solos guided walking holiday will introduce you to the very best walking in this beautiful landscape.
The price shown here excludes flights but includes a sole occupancy supplement
We specialise in offering guided walking holidays for solos and singles in beautiful locations in both the UK and Europe. Solos and Singles Guided Walking is our unique speciality – unlike other walking holiday companies. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.
What’s not included
Additional days
We can arrange extra days at the end of your holiday/ coming out earlier.
Our traditional Spanish family run two star hotel – the Hotel Rural Serella – is based in the quaint rural mountainous village of Castell de Castells at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level and 90 minutes drive inland from the Coast. The hotel is small and authentically Spanish and gives a warm welcome to walkers.
The rooms
All rooms have a balcony overlooking the garden or mountains and are equipped with air-conditioning and an en-suite bathroom. The Standard Rooms offer everything you need to enjoy a pleasant rest during your stay in rural Spain. If you enjoy a morning cuppa then please bring your own travel kettle. The hotel has nice communal outside sitting areas and a fabulous Spa
Facilities:
Meals
All meals are included in the price of this holiday. Breakfast is a vast continental offering with freshly squeezed orange juice and tea and coffee. Packed Lunches will consist of a freshly made picadillo ( baguette) , fruit, cake and a drink. Dinner will consist of three courses followed by coffee and will be home cooked traditional Valencian mountain dishes such as paella, arroz de Horne, tapas.
It will definitely not be English food – so please see that as part of the holiday, sampling the real Spain.
Lunch will be a simple locally baked bread sandwich and fruit- you may need to supplement this with your own particular other needs.
Any special dietary needs can be catered for but must be advised on booking.
Sole Occupancy Supplement
The sole occupancy supplement of £22 per night is already included in the cost of this holiday. – as shown at the top of the page.
Once you have arrived at the hotel after transfer from Alicante airport we will organise five full day walks and one free day.
Walks will be directly from the hotel as well as taking transport to walks start.
Your Tour Leaders
Jill Pinkerton and Pete van de Mussele lead this tour’
You purchase your own flights for this holiday.
The price you pay to Secret Hills Walking Holidays is a land only price.
Flights are from most UK regional airports to Alicante
When you reserve your flight, our policy is to enable you to fly from your local airport, wherever possible.
This means that clients will arrive at the destination airport at different times and we will arrange the onward transfers to the hotel, and return you to the airport at the end of the holidays.
Transfer time is between 70 and 90 minutes.
THE WALKING
Given our location, we will undertake a mixture of walking inland and on the Mediterranean coastal cliffs which are situated within an hour’s drive from our rural hotel. The driving to walk starts, and from walks finishing points should be seen as part of the walking programme. We take in the sights of this beautiful area.
The walks we choose from -we may organise others
Circular mountain walk from our Hotel taking in Els Arcs and Penya de Castallet
( 16km, 700 m ascent and descent)
The Valley and villages of Guadalest and Guadalest Castell
( 15km, 450m ascent and descent)
Costa Blanca coastal ridge walk– travel to coast by minibus
( 11km, 700m ascent, 550m descent)
Circular walk from our Hotel taking in Cave paintngs
Linear walk from Hotel to Guadalest
Holiday Highlights
Grade of walking
This holiday walking programme is designed for good competent walkers on a mixture of terrains. We walk between 6 to 12 miles a day and potentially average around 700 metres ascent/ descent. Ascents are taken slowly to allow plenty time to absorb the magnificent environment around you.
The walks on this trip vary between moderate and challenging and each day involves a fair amount of ascent and descents. The holiday requires a reasonable amount of fitness, ideally with some previous walking experience in similar conditions.
Underfoot conditions are generally good and we walk on mature paths and tracks.
Exclusions
Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.
They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.
We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.
It’s all about meeting new friends. Each holiday is designed to be a friendly, relaxed and stress-free occasion. Talking is as important as walking on Secret Hills Walking Holidays. We don’t go in for discos, we may use an event that is taking place in the area we are in to boost the weekend’s activities – but it’s good, old fashioned chat that makes our short breaks successful.
“Make new friends that turn into old friends” – that’s our motto.
You might be surprised by what fun you’ll have with people who are older or younger than you during a holiday with us, and that’s exactly the sort of atmosphere we encourage; people find it very rewarding. It doesn’t matter what your reasons for travelling with us are, we’ve had people who are single, divorced or widowed, people who have partners that are unable to travel, and people who can’t holiday with their friends anymore as they’ve all got married themselves. There are people who want to make friends, see sights, and experience something completely new. Whatever your reason, we’ll welcome you with open arms and our friendly hosts will help you to get the most out of your holiday.
Don’t worry if this is the first time you have ventured to join a group holiday – its always a bit daunting – but we will look after you and ensure that you get used to being amongst friends again. Trust us to to get you back into the swing of things.
Oh – by the way – it’s not a dating agency – over the years we have had people meet and fall in love – but that’s just chance. Our aim is that you make like-minded friends – just relax and enjoy.
Just arrive and enjoy.
There are other walking holiday companies that cover Europe but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….
You may book and pay online.
The easy way to book your Secret Hills Walking holiday – everything is on line.
If you are a current customer, then you will be able to log on to the website, then choose your holiday. Then fill in the reservation form in full.
If you are new customer, then log in to the website with your user name and password as a new user, the follow the process as above.
Payment is in two parts – you pay a deposit of 25%, payable when reserving your holiday place. You will receive an invoice for the holiday showing the deposit paid, and full amount to pay for the holiday. This acts as your confirmation.
The balance is due 8 weeks prior to the holiday start date. You will be sent a reminder.
About three weeks prior to departure, we will send you holiday joining details, and details of the transfer from the airport to the appointed hotel we have arranged for you.
Once you arrive at your holiday destination
Secret Hills Walking Holidays organise all aspects of your holiday– including guiding, transport to walks start and provide you with an experienced tour guide. You make your own arrangements to get to the airport in the UK, we meet you at the airport you are flying to, and help you with your transfer to the appointed hotel.
It is important to read Secret Hills Walking Holidays Terms and Conditions – click on the tab on our web site – before you complete the booking form.
Insurance – you need to be fully covered
It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you must be fully insured against travel, medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services where appropriate).
We will ask you to provide us with the details of your insurance prior to the holidays start date and it is a condition of reserving a place.
If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is available only online from the UK Government website.
This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate travel insurance.
The area of Castell de Castells is truly beautiful- an old Moorish village surrounded by four mountain ranges, rolling hillsides, dramatic gorges and amazing rock formations. It is also home to a World Heritage Site containing cave paintings over 5,000 years old. There are so many fabulous walks to choose from in this area and importantly straight from our hotel door.
Yes- the Costa Blanca has mountains and yes, the Costa Blanca offers the most incredible, unspoilt paths and trails. They offer you a vast array of good hiking – the best part is that this area is a hidden gem. That’s why we are excited to add it to our Secret Hills portfolio- and to offer you the opportunity to see and taste the real authentic Spain.
Since the 1960’s, the Costa Blanca area has always been a favourite destination to many -known for its beautiful turquoise coastline and busy holiday resorts. The advantage is that it is the just two and a half hours flying from numerous UK local airports. Add that to the fabulous climate with 300 days of blue skies and glorious sunshine.
Within thirty minutes inland from the beaches and packed coastal resorts, a completely different world opens. There are many mountains higher than Ben Nevis -rocky beautiful limestone mountains that stretch away in a mainly east-westerly direction featuring long chains of limestone ridges (Sierras) divided by deep canyons (Barrancas). These are the Marina Alta mountains with their slopes clothed in pine scented forests or olive and orange groves. The valleys are dusted with the delicate pink and white blossoms of almond trees in the spring, with beautiful scents each day as we walk. These will stay with you long after you return home.
Hidden amongst these hills are gently rolling valleys and typical traditional white stone Spanish villages and farmsteads. Our hotel is situated in one of these traditional villages far away from the hustle and bustle of the Coast. The story of the Costa Blanca is etched into its landscape, the names of its villages and the faces of its inhabitants. The earliest evidence of man is to be found in the cave paintings dating back more than 5000 years close by to our hotel.
The embryonic footpath network is often based on centuries old trading routes dating back to the long occupation of Spain by the North African Moors with their old cobbles and steps. The area has many ruins of castles and watchtowers perched on rocky towers. The Costa Blanca is steeped in history, diversity, and richness.
In this ancient land, we base our holidays – a walker’s paradise – allowing you to SEE and TASTE the REAL Spain.
The Hotel was perfect, no issues at all. The staff were very friendly and helpful. With the addition of great guides, a good group of people and good walking, a very enjoyable holiday. From Alicante airport, and back there, arrangements were spot on, Jill and Pete (walk leaders) went way beyond to fill our days with good experiences, even on what was their day off. Thank you to Secret Hills, great stuff Alan.
Jill and Pete were marvellous guides and got me up (and down!) places I would never have done on my own. They took great care of us and were lovely companions. Every walk was beautiful and different.
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday – everyone in the group were delightful and easy-going.
I would certainly recommend your company to other people and hope I’ll walk again with you in the not too distant future.
Jill and Pete (walk leaders) do a brilliant job, great attention to detail, responsive to the needs of the group and in grasping opportunities and their local knowledge was appreciated. I liked the range of different walk environments -inland and coast, and varying the use of coach, v walking from the hotel. Well done everyone, a great experience thank you!
Loved it (guided walking) every walk gave something different.
Jill and Pete have excelled themselves again with a great set of walks and also with their knowledge of the area and the local plant scene!! Always in safe hands!!
Had an amazing time with a great group of people.
Hotel, food, walks all 10 out of 10!!
The weather was perfect to, hot and sunny.
The day off day which involved a trip to Calpe was also an excellent idea.
Big thank you as always to Jill and Peter who always ensure that everyone has a good fully inclusive holiday experience. They are able to manage situations that may arise during the holiday and also go that extra mile in supporting the group. They also arranged a good rest day activity which all the group appreciated. Their duty of care to all on the holiday in terms of recognising different levels of experience and confidence in walking is to be commended. All of the group coped with the varying demands and challenges of the walks. The walks were varied and gave us the opportunity to experience rural Spain. I loved the hotel, although basic the hospitality of our hosts was exceptional. Food was always of a high standard, fresh and authentically Spanish. Breakfast was always fresh and plentiful and the packed lunches were always adequate.