Catalonia self guided cycling tour, Spain
Highlights
Boutique sports hotel with pool | easily accessible cycle routes and quiet country roads | Banyoles | Besalu | Figueres | Emporda | wine tasting tours available | sauna, Jacuzzi and massages on-site |Travel Team
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We have a solar pool cover and a PV solar system run the AC and the hotel in daylight hours. This means our pool is swimmable from March through to November all via the suns power. Our light bulbs are all eco and we think about each watt that is used. Our hair dryers are all 1kw rather than 2kw for example and we do not have electric kettles. Instead we provide thermoses of hot water for tea and coffee in the dining room and kettles on the gas rings of the BBQs. We look at each product and try and reasearch and buy the ones that used the least amount of power but still function well.
All waste is divided and what can be recycled is recycled. We also compost. All of our waste water goes through a septic tank which technically produces drinkable water. We water our garden from the old cisternas which are connected to our roof, so we collect rainwater to fill the cisternas, as they did in the old days. We run the whole of our small boutique hotel on 4kw usually, but can up the power automatically for example if everyone turns on their hairdryers at the same time. But usually we run at less than 4kw, which for such a large place is unheard of in Spain.
We plan to keep buying PV panels and adding more AC units as the number of heat waves escalate, so that we are not burning fossil fuels to keep cool. We are off grid, but do not be scared, most people do not even notice.
The Impacts of this Trip
Where we can we buy local in season produce, so for example our onions are Figueres onions, apples & pear from local orchards, local wines etc. We also have our own small vegetable garden. We buy locally and use local companies for almost everything. We also support the local restaurants, by booking tables for our clients. We send our clients to the local best shops if they require anything and let them know the local market days etc.
We use local companies for the laundry, garden maintenance, electrician, mechanics and the local butcher and bakery etc. We employ people from the village and the near by town of Banyoles. We send guests to the local restaurants, bakeries and shops.
We also advertise and support the other local adventure companies in the area. For example we would closely with Fang Aventura that offer painballing, quadbiking, water trekking and other adventure activities. And also with the local horse riding stables that offer horse treks and also riding lessons. It is important to us that all the local companies thrive and if we can all work together we can provide a good local economy without the need for people to leave the countryside to move to the big cities for work. In doing this we also provide a great service to our clients were they can come to Mas Pelegri and enjoy a variety of activities.
We offer good wages to locals and train them. For example we have been employing a local guy and supporting him in his studies to become a more qualified sports coach.
We are part of the local community and support the Gegants (this is a local tradition where at festivals the local Gegants (people wearing huge heads, to make them look like giants) go and dance and perform. We also help all visits with maps and information about everything in the local area, from festivals, to museums, to sites of interest and the times of the local markets etc.
We campaigned with the local community against high voltage power lines being put in the area. The campaign was not completely successful but we did manage to get them moved so as not to disturb as much of the local wildlife. We all offered to club together to pay for them to go underground, but the electrical company said this would set a precedent and would not allow it. Which we find ridiculous. In the end the power company said they would put the line where they wanted it or they would work with the local town councils to come up with the best solution, although they would not bury it. So we did have a small effect, but not the one we wanted. The MAT is a very controversial project here, but it has all been passed in Madrid and Catalunya is very angry.


We have a solar pool cover and a PV solar system run the AC and the hotel in daylight hours. This means our pool is swimmable from March through to November all via the suns power. Our light bulbs are all eco and we think about each watt that is used. Our hair dryers are all 1kw rather than 2kw for example and we do not have electric kettles. Instead we provide thermoses of hot water for tea and coffee in the dining room and kettles on the gas rings of the BBQs. We look at each product and try and reasearch and buy the ones that used the least amount of power but still function well.
All waste is divided and what can be recycled is recycled. We also compost. All of our waste water goes through a septic tank which technically produces drinkable water. We water our garden from the old cisternas which are connected to our roof, so we collect rainwater to fill the cisternas, as they did in the old days. We run the whole of our small boutique hotel on 4kw usually, but can up the power automatically for example if everyone turns on their hairdryers at the same time. But usually we run at less than 4kw, which for such a large place is unheard of in Spain.
We plan to keep buying PV panels and adding more AC units as the number of heat waves escalate, so that we are not burning fossil fuels to keep cool. We are off grid, but do not be scared, most people do not even notice.

The Impacts of this Trip
Where we can we buy local in season produce, so for example our onions are Figueres onions, apples & pear from local orchards, local wines etc. We also have our own small vegetable garden. We buy locally and use local companies for almost everything. We also support the local restaurants, by booking tables for our clients. We send our clients to the local best shops if they require anything and let them know the local market days etc.
We use local companies for the laundry, garden maintenance, electrician, mechanics and the local butcher and bakery etc. We employ people from the village and the near by town of Banyoles. We send guests to the local restaurants, bakeries and shops.
We also advertise and support the other local adventure companies in the area. For example we would closely with Fang Aventura that offer painballing, quadbiking, water trekking and other adventure activities. And also with the local horse riding stables that offer horse treks and also riding lessons. It is important to us that all the local companies thrive and if we can all work together we can provide a good local economy without the need for people to leave the countryside to move to the big cities for work. In doing this we also provide a great service to our clients were they can come to Mas Pelegri and enjoy a variety of activities.
We offer good wages to locals and train them. For example we have been employing a local guy and supporting him in his studies to become a more qualified sports coach.
We are part of the local community and support the Gegants (this is a local tradition where at festivals the local Gegants (people wearing huge heads, to make them look like giants) go and dance and perform. We also help all visits with maps and information about everything in the local area, from festivals, to museums, to sites of interest and the times of the local markets etc.
We campaigned with the local community against high voltage power lines being put in the area. The campaign was not completely successful but we did manage to get them moved so as not to disturb as much of the local wildlife. We all offered to club together to pay for them to go underground, but the electrical company said this would set a precedent and would not allow it. Which we find ridiculous. In the end the power company said they would put the line where they wanted it or they would work with the local town councils to come up with the best solution, although they would not bury it. So we did have a small effect, but not the one we wanted. The MAT is a very controversial project here, but it has all been passed in Madrid and Catalunya is very angry.

2 Reviews of Catalonia self guided cycling tour, Spain
Reviewed on 27 Sep 2018 by Carol Gray
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Cycling everyday in beautiful countryside and seeing almost no traffic for most of the day. The road surfaces are excellent and the drivers are generally very careful around cyclists - a huge contrast with cycling in the UK! There is terrain to suit cyclists of all abilities from flat rides around the lake at Banyoles to iconic climbs such as Rocacorba. There are so many different rides from the accommodation that you rarely cover the same ground twice.
The accommodation itself is very tranquil and picturesque with very comfortable, clean rooms and good, home-cooked food. Fiona makes a huge effort to make sure that all dietary requirements are met so even a vegan can eat really well!
The bikes available for hire are a good spec and well-maintained and Gareth is extremely knowledgeable in getting them set up properly and providing advice on the best routes for your level of fitness and aspirations. Despite riding out on my own every day I never felt concerned because the roads are relatively safe and I knew I could contact Gareth if I had a problem out on the road.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The meals are communal and there is a fixed dinner time so you need to be comfortable joining other guests for meals. This was great for me as a solo traveler as I had company in the evenings after days out cycling alone.
There are no televisions or radios in the rooms so you need to make, or take, your own entertainment.
Take plenty of insect repellent just in case the mosquitoes are bad as they were in mid-September. Also, if cycling all day, carry some food as on some routes it can be difficult to find an open cafe or other place to buy food.
I didn't have any form of transport other than the bike but there is a good, cheap bus service from Serinya which links it with the nearby towns and Girona so it's relatively easy to travel around if you fancy a break from the bike.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Gareth and Fiona have very sympathetically restored the accommodation and it feels deeply rooted into the surrounding landscape. As the focus of the vacation is cycling it has a low environmental impact especially as it's not difficult to travel there by train from the UK.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
As a keen cyclist who likes to be challenged and also, as a solo traveler, I rate this vacation highly - it reminds you how joyous cycling can be!
Reviewed on 26 Aug 2015 by sue bound
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
My daughter and I stayed here at the beginning of July. We found the accomodation was amazing and very well kept. Being able to cycle, self guided to some wonderful and challenging locations and experience the local culture was wonderful. Sharing meals with the other guests when we ate was fantastic to be able to meet other like minded people. Gareth and Fiona were always on hand to help us plan routes etc and also take us out to local towns in the evening when the kitchens were closed.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book it now and be ready to challenge yourself, create memories and have fun!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, they employed local people to assist in the running of the hotel. The fact that we felt we didn't have to hire a car in order to explore the area was good.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
My daughter and I had an amazing time. The hotel treats all it's guest the same whether you are a top performing athlete or like us a mum and daughter who enjoy cycling and spending time together. Thanks to Gareth and Fiona for being so helpful right from the initial email communication to saying goodbye at the airport it was all brilliant!
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