Speyside Wildlife April 2011 November 2010 April 2010 April 2009 March - April 2008 April 2008 March 2007 n/a March 2007 n/a March - April 2006 n/a April 2006 n/a April 2005 n/a April 2005 n/a Ornitholidays April 2008 October 2006 n/a Birdquest May 2009 May 2008 May 2005 Celtic Bird Tours April 2008 April 2006 Oriol Birding Winter 2011 I Winter 2011 II April 2010 Swallow Birding March 2011 March 2010 March 2009 Naturetrek Feb 2011 May 2010 I May 2010 II April - May 2008 n/a May - Jun 2010 May 2008 Mike & Dot Smith October 2010 Some guest comments....
“We reached Extremadura and eventually the wonderful Hotel Rural Vina las Torres, a family run former stately home set in quiet countryside 10km south of Trujillo. It is a perfect base for exploring the dehesa and steppes surrounding Trujillo… The owners, Juan Pedro and his wife Belen, were excellent hosts and were incredibly helpful and welcoming. The home cooked food here was also very good and we only ate out once during our stay. We actually found the prices in Trujillo to be surprisingly high so we were quite happy to eat at VLT.” Mike Watson & Evi.
"The hotel is expertly run by its proprietors and the welcome we received here, as well as the food and hospitality we received over the coming days, was first class. But what about the birding? Well much has been written about the birds of this fantastic region, but this being my third visit to the Trujillo area, it was the 'garden birding' around the hotel that captivated myself ....... All in all this is a fabulous place, incredibly relaxing and bursting with birdlife, and you simply could not wish for a better base for exploring Extremadura. Whether its the garden birding or the beautiful sunset, stunning wildflowers or waking to the sound of Bee-eaters that takes your fancy, Vina las Torres has it all!". Ashley Saunders.
"Extremadura is one of the greatest birding areas in Europe. We recorded 161 species in the most delightful surroundings. Viña las Torres; in fact a very spacious, comfortable and, indeed, rather grand hotel in an idyllic setting. Red Rumped Swallows and Azure Winged Magpies were nesting in the gardens and drinks on the patio followed by dinner were a fitting end to our birding day." Simon Harrap.
So "if you want to be serenaded by Scops Owl and Nightingale outside your bedroom window, wake up to Hoopoe and Blue Rock Thrush on the Hotel tower and view the Red Rumped Swallows nesting in the courtyard, then this is THE place." Jim Willson.
"A highlight of the holiday - I looked forward with anticipation to the evening meal. All were very good, some excellent." Helen Bedford
"Perfect - location, atmosphere couldn't be better. Very Spanish!" Hazel Pickering
"Good variety and choice for lunches. Excellent attention to dietary preferences (vegetarian). I like use of local specialities and recipes." Sue Ripley
"Lovely hotel in beautiful setting. Hosts were very eager to please, nothing too much trouble. Enjoyed the traditional Spanish cuisine. Packed lunches were very good compared with other European trips." Denise Chamings
"I was completely overwhelmed at the sight of the accommodation - I've never had the experience of a 'sunken' bath before! The hotel, grounds and the locality was excellent. It was lovely to wander around the local lanes watching the birds. The food was delicious too! The most amazing site (and sight!) was at Plena Falcon - that huge cliff with seemingly hundreds of kites and eagles soaring around and above it. I'd never seen such a spectacle before! The birds of course were the 'stars' of the holiday, especially the Great Bustards, Purple and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Black Storks, Hoopoes, Eagle Owl and (my favourite) the stunning Black-shouldered Kite. Talking about 'stars', I am, as you may be aware, also an amateur astronomer. The night skies around the hotel were utterly spectacular - I wanted to bring it home with me! Pat Humby
"The first day was very exciting culminating with really close views of Great Bustard. Also, an early morning trip when we saw Spotted Cuckoos, hoopoe and Lesser Bustard not far from the hotel." "The hotel was in a lovely position with even a bee eater and Scops Owl at the gate!" " Mark found a Roller on the wires as we drove home on our last day - magic!" Tessa Oliver
"Belen & Juan Pedro made me feel like one of the family, There were many highlights but the Bustards in flight was my most magical moment...or was it the Roller and the Bee-eaters" Christine Haynes
"My best moment was as we walked outside Hotel Vina de las Torres on the first evening. The sun was shining, the fields and orchard groves were full of wild flowers ....as we started to walk I "called" a Hoopoe, a bird I was really keen to see, having never seen one before ! As we looked around there were Woodchat Shrike and Azure-winged Magpies - both new birds for us. A wonderful start and the holiday just built from there!" Jackie & Richard Kinsey