Family activity vacations in Spain

“There are so many memorable moments from our stay - stunning views, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, crystal clear nights, amazing accommodation, great activities (kayaking , rock climbing, horse riding, milking a goat(!), making cheese and bread) and of course Ilaria and Des our hosts. Not forgetting Lola the dog who escorted my daughter and I on long rambles around the countryside. Certainly hire a car and don't be shy making friends with the other guests – it made the activities more fun by sharing the experience, our daughter had friends to play with and it allowed the adults to while away the evening chatting and drinking. The local town Castril is a lovely place to wander around - particularly down by the river - and sample the regional cuisine at the family-run local restaurants.” – Nick Levitsky

“Definitely go swimming in the natural pools – don't let the fish bother you – and the reservoirs – so stunning to swim in such scenery. Do the white water rafting – fantastic fun. We tried horse riding for the first time and it was great – although where we went will probably be a little tame for anyone who has experience. Have breakfast and dinner – the food is homemade and excellent and it's a very chilled way to spend the evening. Both my sons – 12 and 15 – had a fantastic time and my 12 year old said it was the best vacation he had ever been on!” – Brendan O

“We loved the rafting trip. My 7 year old was buzzing from the excitement of jumping off rocks into the river and rafting down the small white water sections. The farm visit was excellent too with Des and Ilaria's eldest son, Ludo, providing the translation for everything from the goat milking and horse riding to cheese and bread making. Plan to eat with everyone in the evenings. It is a lovely friendly atmosphere with different families swapping suggestions and tips on the local activities, and the food is fantastic. Our youngest wasn't up for eating every meal but Ilaria was very happy to do a 'rescue pasta' when necessary. The only tricky bit is how late dinner is for UK children as it usually started 8.45-9pm which is a stretch when bedtime is usually 7.30-8pm. It was worth it though and surprising how quickly they adapt.” – Tanya Hayes

"Family friendly atmosphere at the 'hotel' and lots of other children around for my sons to play with. The hosts, Fiona, Gareth and their children were marvellous in every way. They arranged horse riding and kayaking sessions, which my sons (aged 5 and 7) enjoyed enormously." – Jaspal Kaeda on a family activity vacation in Catalonia