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Best birds of prey in Western Europe, displaying bustards, stunning vistas, and our in-depth knowledge - a 'must see' place!
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| * | After many years we know this place like no others |
| * | Early Spring for Great and Little Bustards displaying |
| * | Three vultures and all five Spanish eagles in the air |
| * | Black-shouldered Kite, Eagle Owl and sandgrouse |
| * | Storks and Lesser Kestrels over medieval Trujillo |
| * | At a lovely hotel, amidst birds, in the Lagares mountains |
| * | Stunning vistas at a relaxed pace with gentle walking |
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Real Spain as it’s been for centuries. Single centre holiday based in rural “finca” hotel with minibus tranport. Birds of prey include five species of Eagle, plus Black Vulture and Black-shouldered Kite, Eagle Owl, bustards and sandgrouse, Azure-winged Magpie, Black Stork and lots more. Gentle walks up to two miles, occasionally with some gentle climbing.
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Dates
| 2-9 April 2011
9-16 April 2011 |
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Prices
| £1,525pp (£150 single supp) |
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Leaders
| Darren Rees & Steve Willis (first week)
Simon Eaves & Mark Denman (second week) |
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Flights
| EasyJet, Scheduled
Outbound: Morning, Gatwick–Madrid
Inbound: Morning, Madrid–Gatwick
New for 2011, we are now able to offer the option of travelling to Extremadura by train. Eurostar from London to Paris and then the overnight train-hotel to Madrid. Supplements for train travel start from £250pp, please contact the office for further details. |
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Day 1
| Fly to Madrid, 3-hour transfer to Vina Las Torres in the Lagares mountains |
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Days 2-7
| Birdwatching & wildlife exploration |
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Day 8
| Transfer to Madrid for flight to Gatwick |
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Weather
| Very variable, a mixture of sun & showers (12°-25°C) – can be cool on the plains |
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Walking
| Some short easy walks on level ground |
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Meals
| All included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8
Simple, interesting Spanish fare at the hotel and at local restaurants |
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Insects
| Not a problem |
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Accom
| Double, twin & single rooms all ensuite |
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Group
| 12 |
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1
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Extremadura vistas are unforgettable, and, after our flight to Madrid, we drive to our lovely hotel, Vina Las Torres. Our hosts Juan Pedro (JP) and Belen are fun, friendly and knowledgeable, and you'll love the hotel. Off the beaten track, it's small, charming and every morning or evening is a delight, since common birds include: Azure-winged Magpie, White Stork, Red Kite, Red-rumped Swallow, Serin, Hoopoe, Sardinian Warbler, Cirl and Corn Bunting, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrike . . . and even Scops Owl.
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2-7
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In some years Bee-eaters arrive early or Roller can be seen, but we time our visit for the peak of activity amongst the bustards and birds of prey and so make our way excitedly to Monfrague National Park. This is one of Europe's finest wildlife hot-spots and a wilderness of wooded and scrubby hillsides, with deep rocky gorges carved by the rivers Torrejon and Tajo. It’s a must-see place for fans of raptors as all five Spanish eagles can be seen: mighty Golden; diminutive Booted; snake-eating Short-toed; the scarce Bonelli's; and the critically endangered Spanish Imperial. Black Vulture nest in good numbers and we'll get great views; whilst at the formidable Penafalcon rock countless Griffon Vultures sail close by with Egyptian Vultures, Peregrine and scarce Black Stork. We'll also make a special dusk visit to see the Eagle Owls that will have large youngsters by now, and we've always enjoyed great views. Hawfinch will be amongst the cherry blossom, and around rocky crags Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear and Crag Martin can be seen. All the while Woodlarks sing overhead and Red-rumped Swallows and Alpine Swifts dash by . . . and so will our time here.
Under skies filled with vultures and both Red and Black Kites - it's not unusual to see hundreds of spiralling vultures dropping out of the air to feed on a carcass - the vast sheep pastures of the Extremaduran plains are amongst the most important steppe-land areas in Europe. We've always tracked down magnificent Great Bustards, performing their strutting display as the males appear to turn themselves inside out, and there will be smaller Little Bustards too - two special birds that are still present here in good numbers. More secretive are Stone Curlew and both Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, but we'll see them creep through the grassland and flight over, and all to the backdrop of singing Calandra Lark - unforgettable! We'll visit wild stony steppes and cereal fields too, where butterflies like Moroccan Orange-tip and Clouded Yellow dance on warm days and small lizards scurry. Collared Pratincole are new arrivals, Chough and Little Owl nest in the old barns, and elegant Montagu's Harriers quarter the ground.
Every day we'll travel through, and explore, the famous 'dehesa' - the scattered Cork and Holm Oak trees with fallow fields and barley crops around them that is, in appearance, so like African savannah. The birdlife is rich here, and in a habitat that evokes a forgotten age of low intensity farming, charcoal burning and forage, we are likely to see Azure-winged Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Woodchat Shrike, flocks of Spanish Sparrow, and we’ve always enjoyed great views of elusive Black-shouldered Kite - this is a good time of year to see these enigmatic, hovering birds of prey, actively hunting and displaying. There'll be famous black bulls grazing, and pigs rooting around in search of acorns as well.
The reservoirs and rivers that dissect the plains and dehesa shouldn't be neglected either. Flocks of Cattle and Little Egret are commonplace and livestock drinking pools hold Black-winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper and sometimes Spoonbill. From bridges over marshy rivers we may see Nightingale, Penduline Tit, Cetti's Warbler and Red Avadavats, whilst at the lush power station pools of Embalse de Arrocampo we have a chance to sample some birds of the reeds and open water. Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Savi's Warbler, Marsh Harrier and Purple Gallinule are all likely and we never know what other odds and ends might turn up too - we’ve seen Spotted Crake and Otter here!
The spectacular rock escarpments of the Sierra de Villuercas is home toBonelli's Eagle, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart and Rock Sparrow, and we also know of a place where carcasses are put out to feed the vultures, so we may get close views of all three species on the ground. Elsewhere, we'll wander in aromatic Mediterranean forests with Cistus and Lavender scrub which are home to Rock Bunting, Thekla Lark, Fan-tailed Warbler and Southern Grey Shrike. Specialities here include Sylvia warblers such as Sardinian and Dartford, as well as Subalpine and Spectacled.
Screeching Lesser Kestrels are a big feature of nearby Trujillo with its enchanting medieval square. We'll sit with a late afternoon drink gazing at the imposing statue of Francisco Pizarro - the Spanish conquistador who defeated the Inca Empire and claimed most of South America for Spain - whilst watching Pallid Swifts overhead and listening to the bill-clapping of the White Storks that seem to dot every church in sight. All in all it's a marvellous experience.
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8
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We make an early morning return to the airport for our flight home.
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Just some of what we hope to see...
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Great Bustard
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Short-toed Eagle
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White Stork
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Spectacled Warbler
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Little Bustard
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Black-shouldered Kite
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Scops Owl
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Red-rumped Swallow
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Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
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Montagu's Harrier
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Eagle Owl
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Southern Grey Shrike
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Black-bellied Sandgrouse
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Lesser Kestrel
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Azure-winged Magpie
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Rock Sparrow
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Spanish Imperial Eagle
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Black Vulture
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Hoopoe
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Great Spotted Cuckoo
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Bonelli's Eagle
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Griffon Vulture
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Hawfinch
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Black Wheatear
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Golden Eagle
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Egyptian Vulture
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Calandra Lark
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Stone Curlew
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Booted Eagle
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Black Stork
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Collared Pratincole
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"Despite the adverse circumstances, it was a great trip. Juan Pedro and Belen at the Vina las Torres were excellent hosts. We were kept well informed about the strenuous efforts Speyside were making to get us home, so thanks Lisa, Sally and Co. The birds were not bad either! My first Hawfinch after 50 years of looking!"
Andrew Roberts & Brenda Fitzgerald
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"Seeing so many vultures all at once - especially when they were devouring a dead sheep. Great Bustards displaying. Hen Harriers soaring. Hoopoes hooping. Two unexpected days in Madrid. The way you organised our trip home when we were "stuck". It was so reassuring to know you were in control"
Hazel & Peter Buchan
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"My best moment was as we walked outside Hotel Vina de las Torres on the first evening. The sun was shining, the fields and orchard groves were full of wild flowers ....as we started to walk I "called" a Hoopoe, a bird I was really keen to see, having never seen one before ! As we looked around there were Woodchat Shrike and Azure-winged Magpies - both new birds for us. A wonderful start and the holiday just built from there!"
Jackie & Richard Kinsey
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"Through the chaos caused by the Icelandic volcano, Speyside Wildlife made everything simple. The identification of wildlife by the guides was amazing"
Annie & David Erdman
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"I always find highlights difficult to define because there are so many! Big spectacular birds, little colourful ones, lovely places. An overall enjoyable different experience"
Marilyn Pritchard
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"Belen & Juan Pedro made me feel like one of the family, There were many highlights but the Bustards in flight was my most magical moment...or was it the Roller and the Bee-eaters"
Christine Haynes
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"Seeing several new birds, lots of Montegu's Harriers, the Steppe grassland areas with Great & Little Bustards and good views of Sand Grouse. The experience and friendliness of Mark & Darren really made this god holiday into a great one! This would be an excellent first overseas wildlife holiday for those looking further afield"
Mark Bridges
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"I have to write to say how grateful we are to you and your team for every aspect of the Extremadura experience! … the holiday itself was fabulous, well organised and great fun. Darren & Mark are great guides and great company… Finally the journey home. Lisa was terrific. She must have spent hours organising our return. We are so indebted to her and everyone else in the office who worked so hard on our behalf. Mark was a diamond. He sheltered us from the worst of the trauma, he kept us updated with developments, he worked out the "on the spot" difficulties and he did all this without a second guide. We cannot thank him enough for his diligence. And yourself. You got us home! We are so thankful for taking up our personal situation. We were not part of the second group and yet you undertook our return. I need to know how much it cost you to get Chris and I back as we cannot allow you to be out of pocket on our behalf. We loved the holiday and the 'extension' was just part of the fun because Speyside Wildlife took out all the worry. We look forward to Hungary in November when hopefully there will be no drama."
Norman Haynes
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“Both Mark and Julian ... handled the difficult situation of our extended stay with professionalism and we would like to thank them for all their hard work in getting us home. We would also like to thank everyone in the Speyside office for all your hard work.”
Keith and Penny Chantler
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"I know I said thank you to Lisa when she very kindly called on Friday, but having just read the Sunday newspaper and the plight of many people still stranded, I realise just how lucky we were to be with Speyside Wildlife when unable to fly back from Madrid last week. I realise you had a duty of care but you must have gone to extraordinary lengths and spent hours getting us home and I am really really grateful. Everything seemed to go seamlessly well, yes, there were moments of uncertainty, but Julian and especially Mark kept us well informed and carried out guiding on our extra birding days. We had a super time in Madrid, a comfortable hotel, easy access into town and, for me, joy of joys, six hours in the Museo Del Prado! Thanks must go to Norman who drove one of the minibuses to the Port of Bilbao where we caught the ferry home. Again we travelled in comfort, an outside cabin, a good meal and breakfast and, to add to it, dolphin watching, whale watching and sea birds with Mark patiently guiding yet again! Congratulations, I know you pride yourselves on having good guides, Mark surely not only excels in the field but his customer care is equal to none. I have never been with any other bird watching company so I can't compare but one thing is certain, I shall never find out as I will always choose Speyside Wildlife … words cannot convey the thanks we owe you."
Jenny Davis
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"I would just like to express my thanks to Lisa, Sally and Co for their efforts to get us home in what must have been trying circumstances! … Far from putting me off, I would be interested in the Pyrenees next year if there is a trip and/or in the 24/7 one at the Steading…"
Andrew Roberts
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"I want to write to thank you and your staff for the wonderful holiday Hazel and I enjoyed in Extremadura this April. We had a fabulous time, not only was the organisation of our trip excellent but the professionalism and skills of our guides, Mark and Julian, was only matched by their enthusiasm and helpfulness. The hotel at Vina las Torres was first class and gave us a comfortable and friendly base for our travels. When the volcano struck, Mark kept us reassured and informed at all times of the plans that your office made for our safe and comfortable return. Mark was really great in making us feel confident and content despite the very real difficulties that you must have faced over this time. Can I also thank you and your office staff for the tremendous amount of work you did to ensure our safe return home. It must have been a nightmare for you all with all the responsibilities suddently thrust upon you for us and the others on Speyside Wildlife ventures. Thank you so much for all the very hard work that you and your staff put in over this time. I can assure you than everyone on the Extremadura trip was impressed with your efficiency and your care of your clients."
Peter Buchan
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"I am writing to thank Speyside and particularly Sally and team, Mark and Julian for all their work, well above and way beyond the call of duty during our holiday and the 5 extra days we enjoyed. Mark and Julian never rested whilst looking after us, when they were perfectly entitled to some free time. The extra days at Vina las Torres were a bonus; the two days in Madrid an unexpected pleasure and the Bilbao ferry quite an experience, but at the same time it was probably quite nerve wracking for the leaders. The whole trip was perfect and the daily outings, each one so different, unbelievable. The accommodation was marvellous and our hosts really made us feel at home. I for one will never forget my first visit to Spain, and it has quite put my birdwatching in the UK in the shade. It would be good to see storks, Azure-winged Magpies, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Corn Buntings every day here as well"
Brenda Fitzgerald
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"Just one of the holiday highlights of our trip to Extremadura was witnessing five pairs of Montagu's Harriers displaying over a field of barley at 'Montys Junction'. This spot apparently is the place, where the birds meet after their migration, to pair up. It happens each year before they disperse to nest. Why they return to this spot each year to display and chose a mate no-one knows but it was a wonderful experience, one I shall never forget."
Stuart Bray
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"Lesser Kestrels and Starlings. Eagle Owl and 2 owlets. Loads and loads of birds. Chatty informative guides, very caring and kind. Always learning something new. Good company. The whole experience is a delight."
Christine Bray
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"Magnificant moments with Great Bustards (which we had gone to see) in mating plumage. One male almost pecked a female to death (no idea why, maybe he didn't fancy her!)."
Geraldine Pilcher
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"The first day was very exciting culminating with really close views of Great Bustard. Also, an early morning trip when we saw Spotted Cuckoos, hoopoe and Lesser Bustard not far from the hotel." "The hotel was in a lovely position with even a bee eater and Scops Owl at the gate!" " Mark found a Roller on the wires as we drove home on our last day - magic!"
Tessa Oliver
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"I was hoping to gain good sightings of hoopes, and this ambition was well satisfied. It was particulary magical when one hoopoe raised its crest as I was observing it." "Other memorable sights here: bee-eater, almost in profusion, two eagle owls in their natural habitat, and a large flock of white storks flying overhead with their wings glistening in the light of the sun."
Roger Oliver
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"Seeing the Eagle Owl on my birthday was special."
Heather Welcome
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"Wonderfully close views of Red-rumped Swallow resting on a bare bush only 20 feet below us (giving photographers great pictures)."
Tony Edwards
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"My highlight, amongst many on this great trip, had to be the sighting of the beautiful Pin-tailed Sandpiper in the early morning sunlight on the steppes. One minute they were 'rocks' on the hillside and the next they were lit up with their stunning plumage, like magical jewels in what many might consider to dismiss as monotone countryside. Wonderful - thanks guys!"
Lyn Osborne
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"As so many birds were new to me it was difficult to find one specific highlight so it's down to the general view of raptors. The displaying harriers, enormous vultures and the magnificent Black-shouldered Kite, especially as I had already identified it as a piece of rubbish caught in the top of a tree, I never gave it a second look! There's a lesson for any birdwatcher. Of course this was only one moment. LBJs, bustards, pratincoles etc haven't been mentioned but all were well worth going for."
Gordon Humby
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"I was completely overwhelmed at the sight of the accommodation - I've never had the experience of a 'sunken' bath before! The hotel, grounds and the locality was excellent. It was lovely to wander around the local lanes watching the birds. The food was delicious too! The most amazing site (and sight!) was at Plena Falcon - that huge cliff with seemingly hundreds of kites and eagles soaring around and above it. I'd never seen such a spectacle before! The birds of course were the 'stars' of the holiday, especially the Great Bustards, Purple and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Black Storks, Hoopoes, Eagle Owl and (my favourite) the stunning Black-shouldered Kite. Talking about 'stars', I am, as you may be aware, also an amateur astronomer. The night skies around the hotel were utterly spectacular - I wanted to bring it home with me!
Pat Humby
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"Lovely hotel in beautiful setting. Hosts were very eager to please, nothing too much trouble. Enjoyed the traditional Spanish cuisine. Packed lunches were very good compared with other European trips."
Denise Chamings
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"Good variety and choice for lunches. Excellent attention to dietary preferences (vegetarian). I like use of local specialities and recipes."
Sue Ripley
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"The holiday for me was the complete holiday. Great birding, great hotel and great food. Excellent guides. What more could you want."
Tony Reid
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"A highlight of the holiday - I looked forward with anticipation to the evening meal. All were very good, some excellent."
Helen Bedford
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"Perfect - location, atmosphere couldn't be better. Very Spanish!"
Hazel Pickering
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