http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19074
Recent events in the north of the province mean those areas are out of bounds for leisure, but contact them for recommendations for other areas.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19074 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18777
Take 2-3 litres of water, some snacks, and get there early - 9am at the latest to ensure you're first to the top. Around 8.30am the ranger will turn up and sign you in. You cannot start the climb after 10am.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18777 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18548
We've been there in winter and also on walking holidays in summer and can't decide which we liked better. The village (Bad Mitterndorf) is really unspoilt by tourism - no package tours go there and the atmosphere is really Austrian. It's on the edge of the Austrian Lake District - great for swimming in the hot summers! We just keep on going back for more. Oh, and they've got mountain bikes that guests can use free of charge, too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18548 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18193
A local told us you can follow a trail from Puerto de Navacerrada back down to the town of Cercedilla which takes about three hours.

Absoutely amazing views on top of the mountains of Madrid and Castilla y Leon. Makes for an amazing day out.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18193 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18167 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18167 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17992
Moran State Park on Orcas Island has lovely scenic campsites with excellent access to hiking, biking, swimming, and boating. The view from the lookout on Mt. Constitution is well worth the hike (or drive).

Orca whale-watching is best off of nearby San Juan Island, where you can also visit the charming village of Friday Harbor.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17992 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17344
Other interests are the birdwatching which is extraordinary all over the Sierra de Montanchez and the many different plants and herbs among the cork and holm oak woods. The walk takes two hours and ends at the Moorish castle of Montánchez.

I stayed at the delightful farmhouse,
Finca al-manzil which I found on this site, a perfect base for exploration of the surrounding area and historical towns of Caceres, Trujillo and Merida and Montánchez.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17344 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17303
The monks are renovating all of the monasteries (don't know where they found the capital!) and trying to make them self-sufficient, opening ristorante, bars, hotels, and hosting wedding and functions. The monastery is open daily for visitors and adjacent to this there's a bar, which is stocked with a great selection of wines and a menu of quality Belgian beers no less, the ristorante menu is really seasonal and quite different from anything else available locally. At the moment in November and December there's a robust menu based around game, chesnuts, truffles and wild mushrooms - you can go a-la-carte or take a tour de force plate of everything (€35 inc wine, coffee and grappa). It's open most lunchtimes and Saturday and Sunday evenings phone in advance on 0733 694103 or 071 977128. There's also a website with more information on the monasteries and potential itinararies. www.terradeifioretti.it

There are many comfortable hotels locally or you can rent stylish apartments just outside Sarnano at www.villasanraffaello.com
Flights to the area - Ancona and Pescara 1.5 hrs, Perugia & Rimini 2hrs, Rome & Bologna 2h45mins]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17303 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17079
The scenery is stunning, wildlife (bison, elk, bears) diverse and there's plenty of opportunity for hiking etc. in the surrounding wilderness area.

Although a bit of a backwater, it can be reached quite easily from Denver or Santa Fe. There's accommodation in nearby Alamosa, and camping on site, but the last time I visited on a fall weekend it was crowded with snowboarders getting some pre-season practice.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17079 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16909
The main town of the Sierra de Montánchez is Montánchez, a place famous for air dried jamon and the romantic Moorish castle. The hiking in the area is fabulous, a gorge with ruined water mills, ancient Moorish paths through the terraced olive groves, endless paths through the cork oak forest. Bird watching is a delight, nothing to disturb the natural habitat of hundreds of species. Microclimate in Montánchez so very equable weather conditions especially in spring when the mountain explodes with millions of wild flowers.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16909 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16868
I recommend it for 1) Its walking trails. You could walk for days and never take the same trail twice, and 2) Its beauty. The blues and greens of the trees, sky, and water are more vibrant than you'll find elsewhere.

Trip report and photos: shallowmusings.typepad.com/travel_musings/]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16868 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16730
It's largely ignored compared to Banff and Louise probably because it doesn't have big hotels and tourist infrastructure. But what it does have is fantastic mountain scenery and some quirky sights like the old paint pots, iron laden clays used for dyes, and marble canyon where the river rushes through tight gorges.

The hike up to Stanley glacier is magical, and you'll have plenty of pikas (rock rabbits) whistling you on the way. Kootenay Park Lodge has 10 historic but simple log cabins and good home cooking at affordable rates. Waking up to the sun rising on the mountains here is worth any journey.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16730 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16731
The entrance fee is $25 per car and many visitor facilities are closed in winter.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16729
But my tip, if you're still reading, is to stay on Highway 1, just a few more miles over the Great Divide, and visit Yoho Park across the provincial border. If you can get on the parks bus (book in advance) up to Lake O'Hara, or walk the car-free 11km trail in, you will have delightful lakes and mountains to share with a handful of campers and the lucky few at the lodge built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in Swiss chalet style.

There are miles of beautiful trails and more challenging alpine routes, glaciers and waterfalls, and the odd bear. Bliss! And if you've time to spare, Emerald Lake is great too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16729 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16646 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16646 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16297 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16297 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16282 Not to be missed by mountain bike enthusiasts. There's a local pub and country shop for after ride beer and food.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16282 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16280 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16280 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16275 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16275