Pyrenean Experience

30/09/2023

Wild Swimming in one of the many beautiful rivers near Ameztia was the perfect way to end our Basque Mountain experience week.

27/09/2023

WW2 Escape Routes over the Pyrenees. The comet line and the safehouses on the French border were one of highlights of our week. We had the honour of talking with Beñat, a member of the Larretche family who risked their lives to help lead allied pilots to freedom during the war. Here, he was sharing his family stories with our guests and shortly after we walked in their footsteps over the Pyrenees.

27/12/2022

Karibu. Life-changing experiences in Kenya, self-driving through the grasslands with Kenyan friends, environmentalists and wildlife ambassadors. Here with my dear friend Antonio Schamorro – a prize-winning wildlife photographer, who studied English with me at the Pyrenean Experience 10 years ago so he could qualify for an interview for his dream job as an English-speaking wildlife safari guide. He spoke not a word! How hard you worked Antonio! We spoke English night and day, as we walked and worked on the land. We crumbed our lunch over crumpled lists of irregular verbs. (You hated cheese. The beers got warm). You played English podcasts in the car, in the shower and while you slept. AND YOU DID IT! Now we come full circle as I join you in the Maasai Mara and witness the amazing career that you have built for yourself as one of Africa’s top photographic guides! Congratulations Antonio. Check out his one-in-a-million photos. .photo. or join him on safari at schamorro.com. ps. Just got great news of much needed rains in the Mara! Taken at the pioneering conservancy on the Mara river

29/09/2022

Guests having a go at making traditional Basque corn talos in the bar in Zubieta where Michael Portillo sang, drank cider and partied with the local villagers in his documentary 'In the Pyrenees'. The cast may have changed but the fun and atmosphere was always the same. Inimitably Basque.

23/08/2022

Zubieta ....the story behind the Basque village portrayed by Michael Portillo in his documentary in the Pyrenees. A portrait of the values, contrasts and contradictions of Basque mountain life.

Zubieta is a traditional and exceptionally beautiful Basque village in the Spanish Pyrenees but not everything is as it appears!

20/08/2022

Had a fascinating day's filming in Zubieta with Michael Portillo earlier this year for the up-and-coming channel 5 documentary 'The Pyrenees with Michael Portillo' - transporting Michael and the camera crew onto the ridgetops above my house was probably the beginning of the end for my 400,000 km Seat! It will be fascinating to see what clips actually stay in the final documentary. See it on Channel 5 Tuesday 23rd August at 9pm. Here is an article about our day's filming in April - where I get to wear the brightest colours of us all!
https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/the-pyrenees-with-michael-portillo/

17/08/2022

The Channel 5 documentary 'The Pyrenees with Michael Portillo' spills the beans at 9 pm on Tuesday 23rd August. The first episode is in the Basque Country where I introduce Michael to the moeurs of the Basques and show him around the beautiful - if not at times rebellious - Basque village of Zubieta in Navarra which, until now, few people knew existed. Meet Michael and me next Tuesday...of the two of us, I actually happen to be the one wearing the brightest colours!

31/07/2022

our beautiful terrace! 🌸🌺🌼

20/07/2022

Sun’s out, lawns mowed and the flowers are watered… We look forward to meeting this week‘s guests. I wonder who they will be? ☀️🌿🌸

16/07/2022

Horses right outside the house door🐴

02/07/2022

Paella 🥘

27/06/2022

Guests enjoying the ever-changing weather patterns in these beautiful Basque mountains. Views down the valley towards Ituren and Zubieta ☀️

25/06/2022

Lunch on our terrace at Iaulin Borda… 🌻

28/02/2022

It’s warming up out here in the Pyrenees

06/02/2022

Draw inspiration from our stunning creative writing retreat in the Spanish Pyrenees. Professional, warm and talented instruction combines with the possibility of endless country walks and some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe from every window in the house. https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/writingretreatsinthepyrenees/

Creative writing retreats in the Pyrenees at our beautiful Basque farmhouse offer an inspired home for aspiring writers and published authors. %

17/01/2022

The Sunday Times reviews 'Witches and rituals in the Basque Pyrenees' takes our mountain walking paradise to new heights.

17/01/2022

16/01/2022

The Sunday Times has been the first to publish an excerpt adapted from my book 'Life on a Basque Mountain'. Here is a piece on the Joaldunak and the pagan rituals of Ituren. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-festival-of-witches-and-rituals-in-the-basque-pyrenees-rqcn3c85n To celebrate the completion of the manuscript I am excited to be joining forces with Diana B Friedman, my colleague and an inspiring and exacting creative writing instructor. Together we are launching a series of creative writing retreats from my mountain eyrie in Ituren. https://www.pyreneanexperience.com/writingretreatsinthepyrenees/

Creative writing retreats in the Pyrenees at our beautiful Basque farmhouse offer an inspired home for aspiring writers and published authors. %

30/12/2021

Pagan bell wearers, Joaldunak, from Ituren greet the grumpy Basque charcoal burner, Olentzero, ( the Basque Father Christmas) on Christmas Eve. The Joaldunak can often be witnessed at special moments throughout the year and these festivals tend to tie in with our Basque Mountain Experience walking weeks.

29/12/2021

Just saying.

27/12/2021

Join us in 2022 for an abundance of fresh air, great people and a warm welcome at our mountain hideaway Pyrenean

30/11/2021

Join us in April for our next nature and Basque culture walking holiday. www.pyreneanexperience.com

25/11/2021

Vultures soaring high above the house.

17/10/2021

Walking holidays from our Basque mountain farmhouse. Final places 2021 & 2022. Basque culture & nature walks and Spanish immersion courses. - https://mailchi.mp/c46491985d7d/award-winning-farmhouse-walking-holidays-in-the-spanish-pyrenees-dates-5338303

26/06/2021

Fed up with waiting for my clients to finally arrive I decided to have a party instead with my wonderful friends from New Zealand, Portugal, UK, Ireland, California, South America, Cataluna and the Basque Country..with a couple of delightful Ukrainians thrown into the mix! Thank you all, this place is all the more beautiful for having you here!

27/05/2021

'Top Ten Learning Holidays Worldwide 2021' : The Times

23/05/2021

Pyrenean Experience: Walking holidays from our mountain farmhouse / Basque culture / Nature walks / Spanish immersion courses. Dates 2021 & 2022 - https://mailchi.mp/e431c5040427/award-winning-farmhouse-walking-holidays-in-the-spanish-pyrenees-dates-5199535

14/03/2021

Pyrenean Experience Walking Holidays Voted: ‘Top Ten Learning Holidays Worldwide’. The Times 2021 - https://mailchi.mp/0ab218fb39b7/award-winning-farmhouse-walking-holidays-in-the-spanish-pyrenees-dates-4852971
Ironically, the year when we have had the least guests our Spanish & Walking Holidays have achieved the highest accolade. And to think that 20 years ago I arrived here to live in a mountain hut where I founded Pyrenean Experience without speaking a word of Spanish at all. If you love walking and are interested in the inside story we welcome you into the fold. www.pyreneanexperience.com

10/03/2021

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/08/school-for-female-shepherds-aims-to-restore-balance-in-spains-countryside
A wonderful rural initiative in Northern Spain.

As more women leave rural areas for cities, course forms part of drive to revive villages

06/02/2021

Just a few people from the villages turned up to watch the joaldunak this year.