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Walking in Madeira with HF Holidays

By Gillian Thornton from Silver Travel Advisor

Madeira has a reputation for appealing to Silver Travellers like us, especially in the winter months when temperatures can happily hover in the low 20s. With a mild climate, spectacular scenery, and gleaming white villas, it has an upbeat air that’s guaranteed to put a spring in anyone’s step. Many holidaymakers don’t stray far from the cultural sites and shopping of Funchal, or even the hotel poolside - and why not - but Madeira also attracts a more active kind of Silver Traveller, as I found on a wintersun walking break with Silver Travel Advisor partner HF Holidays. Their seven-night holiday at the 4-star Hotel Galosol in Caniço de Baixo runs from late December to the end of March and again through September and early October. Just 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and 20-minutes from Funchal by fast local bus, the Galosol ticked all my boxes for location, facilities and meals. All rooms have balconies and for a supplement, you can look directly across the water to an island nature reserve, particularly beautiful at sunrise. There’s a large gym and tranquil indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and a wellbeing spa nestled in a cliff. HF guests eat in the main hotel dining room from a copious buffet spread at breakfast and dinner.

With a choice of two graded walks each day, the routes largely follow Madeira’s famous lavadas, at which point, let’s separate fact from fiction. These man-made water channels – named after the word to ‘carry’ – bring rainwater from the high peaks and moorland to the drier lower slopes, mostly in the summer months. Tourist photos often depict narrow paths with vertiginous drops, and these do exist, but there are levada trails to suit all abilities.

Lined with concrete, the gulleys generally follow the contours of the slopes with only a gradual incline, so any steep sections of the routes are usually between one levada and another, or detours to viewpoints. And whilst the paths themselves can be narrow, they are often fringed with trees, or simply a gentle slope. Any steep drops are guarded with a rail and are generally only for short sections. And of course HF – and other tour operators – do not subject clients to any unnecessary risks. As with other HF itineraries, we were offered a choice of walks, the Easier and Harder options being outlined each night at a pre-dinner briefing. Often the difference was more on gradient than length and several of us chose to mix and match. Our youngest walker probably just made Silver status, a business consultant taking his annual winter hill walk break away from the family. Our oldest was everything I hope I will be at 85 - vibrant, sprightly and up for anything. But walking on the levada trails is not age dependent. Levada trails are not for walkers with any kind of mobility or vertigo issues. Our routes covered roughly 12-18 km per day and were all linear, covering different areas of the island and contrasting terrain.An ability issue with one of our group during our first walk was dealt with sensitively and sympathetically by our leaders, who worked hard to find a solution without disrupting the rest of the group, but the situation should not have arisen. So be honest with yourself about your fitness before you book. And be aware that some levadas pass through unlit tunnels, so a torch - even on a smart phone - is essential.

But if you are fine with all this, you will love this holiday. Our varied levada routes took us through small whitewashed villages and across moorland ablaze with gorse; through lush forests of laurel and eucalyptus to a tumbling woodland waterfall. And not all walks involved the water channels. We followed some broad panoramic tracks and on the last day, took the undulating footpath along the Praia de Sao Lourenco peninsula with views to each side of volcanic formations and crashing waves. There’s a sightseeing element too, including the view from Europe’s highest sea cliff and, inland, over a hidden valley. A guided tour of Funchal introduced us to the whitewashed cathedral, Blandy’s Madeira distillery, and the colourful produce market. Don’t miss the downstairs fish market to see the gruesome but scrumptious scabbardfish with their vicious teeth.

HF build in a free day midweek when some walkers chose to chill out around the hotel, easing tired muscles in the spa, gym or swimming pools. Others, like me, headed into Funchal or to hilltop Monte for the spectacular gardens, for which a few tips: The bus to Funchal (from the Galosol to the bus station) takes 20-35 minutes. Here you can get the bus to the Botanic Gardens for that famous Funchal panorama across the green and red Choreographed Garden, or the cable car to Monte to visit Monte Palace Gardens.

I saved time by sharing a taxi to the Botanic Gardens and was there in under 10 minutes. A combined ticket for the Botanic Gardens, the cable car to Monte, and the return cable car to Funchal (the best views are on the descent) can be bought, but it’s cash only at the Garden kiosk, no credit cards.

Monte Palace Gardens tumble down a steep ravine and only a small part is accessible by electric vehicle. Many paths are roughly cobbled and fairly non-slip but wear shoes with good soles or you’ll get more of a foot massage than you bargained for. I particularly loved the Oriental Gardens with their koi ponds and red bridges, and the adjacent orchid garden, but expect native flora, a collection of African sculpture, and the history of Portugal told in traditional tiled panels in a stunning woodland setting. This is the perfect walking holiday for anyone who loves spectacular and varied scenery, plus an element of sightseeing. Just remember to pack your balance with your boots!

Book and travel with confidence. At the time of writing, Madeira has no quarantine restrictions. However, this is subject to change in accordance with FCO advice. For further information please visit www.hfholidays.co.uk or call 0020 3974 8878.

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Self-drive & coach inclusive breaks

GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS

£119from per person

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...

Whether you’re after family-friendly holidays, a romantic getaway or a group break with like-minded people, our seven hotels cover the south’s finest locations. From the popular beaches of Cornwall to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone. Our coach inclusive option allows guests across the UK to travel in comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer the freedom of having your own car.

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Return coach travel (self-drive option available) Comfy en suite accommodation Breakfast & 3-course evening meal Live nightly entertainment*

Coach & Self-Drive Holidays October 2020 to September 2021 Go places, with Daish's.

Lake District • Blackpool • Llandudno • Newquay • Torquay Weymouth • Bournemouth • Isle of Wight • Scarborough

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Certificate of Excellence Awards

We are proud to announce that six of our group – Barrowfield, Daish’s, Devonshire, Bournemouth Sands, County, Hotel Prince Regent – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2020.

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.

Price includes return coach travel from: Halifax, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield (Denby Dale Road), Sheffield, Tibshelf.

All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s). DATE HOTEL DAYS PRICE DATE HOTEL DAYS PRICE

DECEMBER

04 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £189

05 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 £204 07 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 £194

10 Russell Hotel – Weymouth 5 £189 11 County Hotel - Lake District 4 £169 13 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 £184 27 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 4 £144 JANUARY

07 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 £119 11 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £124

12 North Shore Hotel - Blackpool 5 £129 16 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 £124 21 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 5 £139 23 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 £124 26 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 £134 28 North Shore Hotel - Blackpool 5 £139 FEBRUARY

01 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 £139 06 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 5 £159 11 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 £144 12 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £149

17 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 £154 24 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 £149 27 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 £189

28 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £164

Call - 01202 638840 Quote - 50PlusWY or visit daishs.com

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Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2020. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown.

9 fabulous locations, 10 great hotels.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth Sands Llandudno

Somerset Hotel Newquay

Barrowfield Hotel Weymouth

Hotel Prince Regent Weymouth

Russell Hotel

Isle of Wight Scarborough Torquay Blackpool Lake District