Alastair Johnson has been living in Spain for eight years with his wife and son. The family initially made the move for a “one-year sabbatical” but quickly fell in love with the European country.
Alastair previously spoke to GB News about his decision to move to Spain. He revealed that a particular attitude “bugged” him at first, although he’s now realised the Spanish “have really got it right”.
Now, he is sharing the best places to visit in Spain “off the beaten track”. While Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville of course have a lot to offer, there’s so much more to Spain than these major cities.
Alastair shared his “favourite” place in Spain, telling GB News that “it’s very unlike most of the country”.
‘With kids, it’s an absolute ball’
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This time, the expat told holidaymakers to head to the Pyrenees, claiming that it makes for an excellent summer holiday destination.
Spain’s official tourist website reads: “The Pyrenees stretch more than 400 kilometres between Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia.
“Acting as a natural border between Spain and the rest of Europe, this mountain range runs horizontally along the north of the country.
“Atlas mountains, over 200 of them with an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, an abundance of vegetation, numerous rivers and many, many villages nestling in the foothills, offer you a multitude of ways to discover a unique way of life.”
The Pyrenees
Alastair loves a trip to the Pyrenees during the hotter months of the year. He said: “It’s sort of a weird summer break, to go to ski resorts up in the Pyrenees mountains. But if you like adventure stuff, you can go do all sorts of things.
“Ski lifts are still open so you can catch the ski lifts – not in all the resorts, but a lot of them.
“In the summer, you can catch the lift up and mountain bike down. There are all sorts of things to do, like tobogganing down tracks.
“With kids, it’s an absolute ball. We took our son up there a few years in a row and there’s everything [like] archery ranges and all sorts of things. They’re trying to extend the season through to make these resorts viable through summer.
“If you like adventure stuff, it’s a really, really great experience.
“It’s not the first place you think of, but there are also some stunning places to see. There are really beautiful villages to explore.”
Alastair recommended a trip to the Pyrenees in August to avoid the intense heat that hits other parts of Spain during this month.
He said: “Down in the south of Spain, in Seville or Granada, it can get seriously hot in August. If you go up to the Pyrenees in this month, it’s cooler.”
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‘There are some stunning places to see’
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What to do in The Pyrenees in the summer
- Take a dip in a warm spring
- Visit Lacuniacha Wildlife Park, a forest in the heart of the Pyrenees where holidaymakers can bask in nature
- Book on to a climbing, paragliding or hot air balloon experience
- Wander some of the beautiful towns – Ansó and Panticosa are among the must-sees, plus the village Lanuza
- Visit Astún ski resort – it’s charming in summer too – and enjoy hiking along beautiful lakes
Alastair and Alison set up Moving to Spain to help people looking to relocate. It offers expert advice, resources, insider knowledge and a handpicked network of service providers.
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