| PICTURE THIS……………………………as Blondie once said! | |
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Past clients will be aware how we endeavour to get some great photographs of them whilst with us………….not just posing with a smile against the numerous stunning mountain backdrops (good as they are). We like to capture great action shots to send you away with……………………..we have snapped some top shots in the past with many ending up as client screen savers. A good number have been featured in the regular bike mags…………...you may have spotted some of them. We couldn’t resist attaching this one for you all to enjoy………… Lisa, a regular lady rider with us putting on the style……….nice one girl! |
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| ENTER THE SALAMANDER TRAIL! | |
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Our Mañana Mountain regular riders know that we rarely sit back and put our feet up during the festive period. Things were no different as we continue our quest for more top notch riding here in the Costa Blanca’s Marina Alta Mountains. True to form, our hard graft paid off again and we have sculptured another class act ride that has it all – stunning scenic climbs that deliver some mouth - watering single track gems, including Afan España, La Rata and ultimately the amazing new Salamander trail (pictured).The Salamander clings to the cliff face as it takes us on the coolest of descents throwing up a mix of fast flowing, twisting technical, with rocky stretches and a sprinkling of switchbacks. We cruise past a classic Spanish castle with its tall fairy tale towers looming above us. Next thing, we find ourselves sinking a cool beer and tapas at the remote bar gazing up at the “Salamander’s head” from which we had just dropped, wishing we had the energy to repeat the experience………………………….then the next beer arrives…………………………… Mañana Mountain guests got their first taste of the awesome Salamander trail this month. We knew it was an MTB classic and would be well received. We would say this of course………………..this is what those riders lucky enough to be the first to experienced it said about it…………………… |
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| "A truly exhilarating ride experience. Plenty to keep you on your toes plus an added bonus of spectacular views and wildlife. A route that left a broad smile on our faces." - Gary & Katherine, Hertfordshire, England. |
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| “What a day! Linked with The Knife, Afan España, and La Rata trails, the Salamander trail was an incredible finish to a top day in the mountains with Gary. We had to stop to really appreciate the views. We are already looking at the diary to plan our next visit.” - Lars, Arnold and the gang, Norway. |
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| THE CAPE CRUSADERS HIT CASTELL DE CASTELLS | |
By special arrangement they came a long way……………………………12 lovely ladies from Cape Town, South Africa. Seeking fun in the sun on two wheels they arrived with all manner of rigs that we assisted in assembling for their week in our mountains. With four experienced guides on hand, we tailored the rides to suit the variety of abilities and split where necessary to ensure full enjoyment for all and not a baboon in sight! Fabulous weather, sweet riding trails and a new “coast ride” that brought a brilliant week to a close. They left us with the Group Leader muting “we’ll be back”………………………..we can’t wait……………………neither can the old boys in Castells who didn’t know what had hit them! |
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‘Fourth time and still amazing! Some fantastic new trails too – the Skink rocks! See you again!’ - Paul – Leeds |
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| ‘Thanks once again for a fantastic trip. Your attention to detail is a credit. We have loved the biking and can’t wait to come back. Great food and great company! See you both again soon.’ - Stephen and Caroline – Cumbria |
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| ‘Thanks for a brilliant stay! Great accommodation, great food and wicked biking! Hope to see you next year.’ - Martin - Surrey |
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| ‘Our first holiday mountain biking and it has been memorable with good company, excellent food and lots of laughs! Thank you for all the thought and consideration in planning our rides.’ - Becky and Rob – Wirral |
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| LA RATA…………………. GREAT NEW SINGLE TRACK | |
| It never ceases to amaze us what hidden trail gems are still out there for us to uncover……………… We stumbled on this cracking section whilst having a tranquil Fiesta day run out putting some new tyres to test in glorious sunshine………….Wow, what a find! A superb flowing single track run offering yet more great ride options…………..We took a couple of shots of Sarah there and then so we could share our find with you……………..enjoy!…………..better still, come and get your wheels on it! | |
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| ‘This is my third time here and it has been fantastic! Good food, nice people, excellent hire bike ….and I have had the best ride of the year! Thank you!' - Kjetil, Norway |
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| ‘I came expecting just to go mountain biking, but got a lot more as the welcome was fantastic! Post ride cakes and dinners at night were wonderful and made the hills worthwhile. The singletrack trails were fantastic – can’t wait to do them again – I will have to save up some more time off work for another holiday here.’ - Derek, Isle of Man |
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| THE SKINK TRAIL | |
| We have been working on this new trail for some time and at last all our hard work has been rewarded! The result …………the Skink - an amazing new breathtaking 8km single track run. Accessible straight from base, the Skink dovetails into existing trail sections to make an unforgettable day in the saddle. This jewel of an XC descent has the lot……..goat beaten fast flowing stretches, twisting rocky challenges and mouth-watering switchbacks………………….all through breathtaking scenery with views to the Mediterranean. To top it all, the trail eventually delivers us to a favourite friendly bar..…………hmmm. If you have enjoyed previous visits to Mañana Mountain, the Skink is one not to be missed. With the Cyclops ride recent revamp, the new Pavo Pass trail and much more in the pipeline, isn’t it time to consider another visit? |
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| ‘Thank you so much for an awesome time on the mountains. Great riding, food and brilliant entertainment. A new, but different long weekend that I can’t wait to repeat. See you next year!’ - David, Rochdale | |
| ‘Thank you very much for a wonderful time. The trails are totally different to back home, but are well worth the journey. I hope to be back again to enjoy the riding, food and company.’ - Simon, Essex | |
| MAÑANA FUN & GAMES | |
| Past visitors know that a Mañana Mountain MTB break isn’t just about great riding in a remote and beautiful part of Spain………… Gary (self –elected head of evening fun) has been very busy putting together new planned nights of fun and games. As always, no crazy drinking games (we need clear heads for the riding), just more amusing fun biker quizzes, new music challenges and a super new fun balloon game he has called “Down the tubes”………….don’t miss it! |
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| ‘We had a great time with you, returned home with broad smiles and are already planning our next trip! Your hospitality was fantastic and the hard work you put into the trails really has borne fruit.’ - MTB club, UK | |
| ‘Thanks for a fab weekend and for being very good hosts – as always – I had forgotten how good Gary’s jokes were! Lots of new biking. Hopefully back for my next birthday!’ - Andrea and Phil, Cardiff | |
| NEW WIFI ACCESS | |
| At Mañana Mountain we have always encouraged our guests to switch off from work mode and enjoy the tranquillity and simple lifestyle that our remote mountain village naturally brings.......after all it is a holiday! This being said, an ever increasing number of guests have expressed a need for occasional access to the internet and email via their notebook etc. Taking this on board, we have successfully installed WIFI that can be accessed from all our bedrooms should anyone wish. When we look back to our early days here we struggled to get a headband let alone broadband........how things have changed! |  |
| ‘Best biking in Spain! Fantastic week!’ - Nick, Cambridge | |
| “It’s been an awesome week, great trails, top class guide and coach. First class hospitality, excellent cuisine of the highest standard and lovely tea and cake at the end of each day’s riding. A super holiday in a lovely part of Spain. Thank you.” - Andrew, Mark and Paul, UK. | |
| CRACKING NEW HIRE BIKE OPTIONS! | |
| Over the years we have provided an ever expanding selection of quality bikes for riders preferring to hire rather than bring their own. Although our hardtails give a great trail ride feel and remain extremely popular, some riders are looking to rent quality full suspension models. We have expanded our hire fleet this season to include another great Kona hardtail together with Trek full suspension Fuel EX8’s. If you want to hire one...... book early to avoid disappointment! |
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| “After 3 years in a row the mountains still do not appear to be getting smaller!! Yet again a fantastic time was had by all. Great riding, great food and fantastic hosts. Thanks again and see you next year.” - Paul, Milton Keynes - and the crew. | |
| “Excellent riding, fantastic food, awesome scenery, WILD BOAR (they do exist out there!). Just wish my fitness could have done it justice really. Thank you so much, it’s been brilliant” - Leigh, Avon. | |
| REAL SPANISH FOOD | |
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Tough days in the saddle require satisfactory re-fuelling, but we also like you to experience a ‘taste of Spain’ as well. With local wine direct from the barrel, we buy as much of the food as possible in our village so that we support the local economy and make sure you get the best tasting fruit and veg, and bread straight from the oven! Traditional Spanish food features high on guests’ hit lists with paellas and tapas meals prepared in the village to get that really authentic taste! ENJOY! |
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“Thank you again for such a fabulous few days. Food, hospitality and rides all top stuff” | |
| “Great food, great company and of course great cycling! You excel in making people feel welcome. Had a great time – can’t wait to come back and see you again” - Hilary and Mike, Buckinghamshire | |
| CYCLOPS RETURNS | |
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After opening up new singletrack sections and re-vamping the route, Faced with the ride re-think due to numerous storm felled trees blocking the original route, the resultant day ride is better than ever with some exciting new singletrack sections and great alternative options enabling riders of all levels to enjoy this amazing day in the saddle. Add to that a brilliant forest singletrack finish to Pepe’s bar and a cool beer, what could be better? |
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“Wonderful food, hospitality and company. Excellent riding tailored to our preferences.” | |
| “Back again – keeps getting better (except the jokes!). Great biking, superb food and almost too much alcohol.” - Jon and Nicky, S Wales | |
| MAÑANA MOUNTAIN FLYING HIGH! | |
| Heidi, a Squadron Leader with the Royal Air Force, recently took time out to visit Mañana Mountain for a much deserved week of cracking mountain biking. Already a pretty accomplished rider, she happily let us ease her out of her comfort zone and take her riding skills to a new level. Displaying true grit, determination and a sense of adventure second to none, Heidi flew the Royal Air force flag with distinction.......we salute you Heidi!
Heidi’s great experience with us motivated her to write about her time in our beautiful mountains and publish her superb article in the RAF press. Heidi has vowed to come back soon....................we look forward to seeing her again..............bring the squadron too Heidi! |
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| “Thank you again for a fantastic holiday. Great week of riding – loved ‘Pavo Pass’. Feel right at home with your warm hospitality. It amazes me how hard you both work to ensure that your guests have a good time. Looking forward to next time.” - Stan, London | |
| Thanks very much for an eventful and entertaining long weekend of ‘real’ mountain biking. The rides have all kinds of challenges you hardly find in the area where I live. Enjoyed the complete package including all the meals, the rides and the entertainment in the evening. Keep up the good work!” - Ronald, The Netherlands | |
| YOU CAN’T KEEP GOOD GUYS DOWN! | |
| If you missed the great shot of Mañana Mountain guide, Rob on one of our coast rides published in ‘What Mountain Bike’ magazine recently, you still have the chance to see Mañana Mountain lead guide Gary in the February issue of ‘MBR’ hitting the honeycomb trail. Rumour has it that Gary and Rob are both weighing up the option of a career change to full time models............we don’t think so boys...........get real! |  |
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“It’s unbelievable how much riding you can pack into an extended weekend. Thanks for making it top notch. Can’t wait to come back for more.” | |
| “My third visit and it keeps getting better and better. The variety of trails were awesome, both climbing and descending. Fantastic food and hospitality too, made for a really tiring, but relaxing and exhilarating weekend. Can’t wait for visit number 4!” - Paul, Yorkshire | |
| “Fourth trip out and yes, it just keeps getting better – well, everything except my riding and Gary’s jokes – only kidding about the riding! Don’t want to leave and can’t wait to come back.” - Andy, Devon. | |
| NEW TRAIL, NEW VIDEOS! | |
| After a ‘little’ trail trimming, Pavo Pass, our latest long, flowing singletrack section is ready to wow our customers. Set in amazing scenery with views to the Mediterranean, it’s a real classic. Snippets of Pavo Pass together with a bunch of old trail favourites can now be enjoyed on our new Trail Taster Medley Videos – just hit the red button on our Home Page or any of our page links to view.
We have more medley videos in production so keep in contact! |
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“Superb break, first class riding, food and company. Jokes were free and fast flowing. Definitely will be back.” | |
| “Thanks for an amazing week. Superb fun, great scenery and wonderful food ….. and feeling much fitter too. Priceless!!” - Mark, Surrey | |
| “Had a great week again, as always! Many thanks for an excellent holiday” - Grahame, Southampton. | |
| MAÑANA MOUNTAIN GUIDE SUCCESS | |
| August proved an interesting month for Mañana Mountain guide Rob Wilson. Having been a top ten finisher in every SXC open race he entered over the race season, we then saw a beaming Rob take a well earned podium spot in the Army cycling union AYTE (Are you tough enough) enduro. The event held near Farnborough, Hampshire is a tough 6 hour, 7 mile laps challenge over technical terrain. – well done Rob! If this wasn’t enough, we then open this month’s issue of What Mountain Bike magazine and spot ‘smiling boy’ in the Readers’ Pictures feature shown negotiating a Mañana Mountain technical single track section en route to the coast. Rob’s girlfriend Vicky, an amazing lady rider who took the shot, is in line to join the Mañana Mountain guide team shortly. She too has had a great season on the UK race circuit and is currently in line to take the SXC female open category………………. Mañana Mountain guides setting the pace………… |
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“Second trip and food tasted better, the beer sweeter and the trails ‘hotter’ – and Gary’s jokes – same old stuff really! Thanks for another excellent trip. See you again.” | |
| “What a great week it has been! The trails were excellent – great riding, ‘great’ jokes and wonderful food, not to forget the great people I have met here. Gary and Sarah are wonderful hosts and I am sure I will be back in Castells.” - Ville, Finland/Yorkshire | |
| “Fantastic holiday, we were made to feel like friends rather than customers from the moment we arrived. Great food, great riding, great scenery. Thanks to you both for all your efforts” - Andy and Rachael, Shrewsbury. | |
| NEW TRAIL……NEW BIKE……NEW PADS…… | |
| After a week of heavy chopping, we eagerly took the opportunity to ride ‘The Weasel’ for the first time – our latest fast flowing singletrack that we uncovered and cut back to rideable condition.
Gary had a ball ‘weaseling’ on his new Fuel EX9 whilst testing out a set of the new SixSixOne pads that we now stock for customer hire. The Test Results………a smug grin, a twinkle in the eye……………and a small bead of sweat…………come and try it yourself! The Weasel is waiting………..along with his friends!! |
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“Had a brilliant weekend - great hosts, great food, great biking. Can’t wait to come back!” | |
| “Many thanks for yet another excellent trip. Hospitality, food, riding, and weather were all excellent. Thank you Gary for your continual enthusiasm, it makes riding up the big hills less daunting, the only trouble is finding a breath when having to groan at yet another joke. Sarah the food was first class, it was a shame you only managed one ride with us but it was reassuring to know that when we turned up at the end of our rides you were there with a friendly smile (and cake). Thanks again and hopefully I will be back for more in the future.” - Julian, Somerset. | |
| “Tired, twisted and nearly broken…. Great weather, food and gags! Going home a much better rider. Thanks for all the top tips.” - Suzanne, Edinburgh. | |
| IT’S VILLA BREAK TIME! | |
| With the villa alterations completed, including a new en-suite bathroom and bike store/workshop, this year’s MTB villa breaks should be the best yet! Added to this, our awesome new singletrack ride sections will take your breath away!
Brilliant days in the saddle...........post ride pool relaxation.........cool beer and biker banter....... Don’t forget, there’s also plenty of other activities for non-riding companions! BOOK NOW FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS! |
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“Brilliant week away with some real laughter and great company. Good food (plenty of it), very good biking trails and a charming village with hospitable occupants. Gary and Sarah do all they can to make the stay comfortable and go to lengths you wouldn’t get elsewhere. Thanks so much” | |
| “Fabulous holiday and great hosts. As a complete novice to MTB, the rides and instruction were great” - Maggie, North Yorkshire. | |
| “Return trip to Castells fully lived up to expectations – great biking, tough walking(!!) and wonderful hospitality! Return trip guaranteed! Excellent – thank you!” - Sean, Harpenden. | |
| COMPETING FOR THE ALHAMBRA CUP! | |
| Evenings in Castell de Castells have become very competitive during the summer months as groups relax after a hard day's mountain biking. With a few beers and snacks, we have headed to the village petanca (boules) rinks for a few 'ends'. Who said that it was easy?! And who said that they weren't bothered about winning?! As the photos show, competition has been fierce for the honour of winning the Alhambra Cup! In this match, Dave won by just one point! |
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“Cheers guys for a fantastic week and I hope my video clip keeps bringing a smile to your faces! (Please feel free to us it as a training aid or even to advertise your coaching skills). Thanks” | |
| “Third time for me and second time for Mike. Another great week of riding, good food and great company” - John and Mike, Harpenden. | |
| “We came through the sky of ashes from the north, left the snow behind us and arrived in this nice mountain village. Here we have had an unforgettable stay with super mountain biking, excellent service, good food, entertainment and friendly hosts. Thank you so much! We’ll seriously try to come back.” - Kjetil and Nina, Norway. | |
| SPANISH HUNTER TRAIL WORK PAYS MTB RIDING DIVIDENDS | |
| For a couple of months of the year, local Spanish hunters spend their weekends tracking wild boar throughout the mountains. Over hundreds of years a basic network of hunter trails have become established. Not documented, and hidden from view, these trails provide an awesome opportunity for top class single track mountain bike riding. Over the last year, we have taken it upon themselves to quiz our local contacts, search out and cut back some of these hidden gems to a rideable condition. After many hours of tough work, aching backs and blistered hands, we have created a number of new sections of amazing top notch Spanish single track. These long flowing trails compliment our already established network of rocky trading route single track sections. The combination of ride trails now on offer and our continually expanding route portfolio reaffirms MANAÑA MOUNTAIN mountain bike holidays at the top of any Spanish mountain biking trip available. Add to this, beautiful rustic accommodation, amazing food, and evening fun entertainment run by top qualified guides passionate about their mountain region, isn’t it time to check out what you’ve been missing?............................. |
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