Cooking and hiking vacation, Spanish Pyrenees

Planet

We are passionate about the environment and the wildlife where we live. The Ordesa National Park is a World Biosphere Reserve and a ‘Special Protection Area for Birds’ with over 171 species, including the threatened Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus Barbatus). We support the Bearded Vulture Conservation Foundation by donating the profits of aprons and T shirts and waxed wraps.
This helps fund a breeding program in our area which has had great success.

There are also well over 100 species of butterflies and moths in our area, including the rare and beautiful Isabelina Moth (Actias Isabellae) and the Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia Pyri). We have been successful in hatching the eggs and releasing the caterpillars for these moths.

At the farmhouse we have geothermal heating and hot water with minimal environmental impact. We also harvest rainwater for both the irrigation of our vegetable patch and garden, and for the washing machine. Thanks to the changing laws in Spain we have finally installed solar panels and batteries to help cover the electric needs in the guesthouse.

We recycle all we can, including building materials and furniture. For example all the vanity units in the luxury bathrooms are unique secondhand pieces of furniture, adapted with a granite top and basin. All the furniture in the house is antique or secondhand and has been or is in the process of being restored by Simon, your host. Many of the external doors are secondhand and have been adapted.

The beams and stone from the four year renovation of the property have been reused throughout the building process. We continue to reuse this material now as we landscape the garden.

People

We support the local economy wherever possible by employing guides, experts and teachers from our area. Our local food and drink producers receive payment for our visits and benefit from the direct purchases by us and guests alike.

We involve our neighbours with our vacations, offering the possibility to visit their houses which have changed little through the centuries. This gives a unique insight into the culture and traditions of the high Pyrenees. In return we make donations to the village fund, for amongst other things the maintenance of our historic chapel of San Urbez (hermitage).
We also offer a guided visit to the chapel of San Urbez, explaining the stories about our saint, his miracles and the architectural features. For this, we ask our guests for a donation in the chapel collection box.