A Note from Tom Collett

I founded Collett's in 1997 with my wife, Dee, having spent some years working and walking in the Italian Dolomites and other alpine areas for a small holiday specialist based in Cambridge. When that was acquired by a large tour operator in 1997, I moved on.

What started out as one chalet hosted by myself and Dee with the occasional mountain walk organised casually over a drink or one of Dee's excellent dinners, has evolved into a genuine, mountain holiday specialist for walkers, climbers, flower lovers and alpine enthusiasts, based in three of Europe's most stunning mountain ranges. Today, whether you join one of our walking holidays in Italy or Spain, the great outdoors remains the main attraction, but sitting at tables with like-minded guests over sociable and superb dinners is still a key part of a Collett's Mountain Holiday.

In winter, we focus on winter walking holidays, snowshoeing and skiing holidays in the Dolomites. Click here for our winter website if this is your interest. Also, if you fancy some walking in the Yorkshire Dales or just B&B in the Dales, our Guest House in Wensleydale is awarded 4 stars by Visit England for its beautiful en suite bedrooms and warm hospitality. Open year round, it is the ideal springboard for the Dales National Park.

As for our summer walking holidays in the Pyrenees, Picos and Dolomites - for which we are best known - we have learnt over the years what brings people to the mountains - from the ambitious high level walkers to the gentle strollers – from the flora and fauna lovers and casual artists, to the Via Ferrata holiday-makers and and alpine enthusiasts.

The result is alpine walking holidays that allow you to enjoy the mountains just as you wish - whatever your interests or level of fitness - whether you walk independently, do self guided walking, or you enjoy the good company of other guests on walks (and more) organised by us - free of charge, five days a week from May to late September.

Flexibility is also at the heart of your accommodation options. Guests arrive and depart on the dates of their choice at delightful hosted chalets or hotels, where they can choose full-board, half-board or B&B. It is important to us you feel at home as soon as you arrive and it is one of my great pleasures to see just how quickly new guests settle in and enjoy the company of other guests at Office Hour over a drink, during sociable dinners and, of course, on our walks. If you prefer the independence of self catering, we have many attractive apartments to choose from.

Collett's has grown more or less at the same time as our own family. Dee and I now have three daughters, who keep us busy at home in the UK. (That's us pictured below on one of our walking holidays in the Picos last summer). Although we travel regularly to the mountains, most of our working days are spent at our offices in the market town of Saffron Walden with our dear colleagues, most of whom have been with us for more than 10 years, having also worked, lived and fallen for our glorious destinations.

How do we spend our days? In a nutshell, we simply strive to nurture our reputation for excellent and delightful walking holidays. We constantly hone our unique holiday formula. We chat in detail with holiday enquirers by phone and email so that they can make well informed choices on destination, accommodation and travel. We ensure the holiday booking process is easy and personal. And we painstakingly recruit the courteous, engaging and well-informed hosts, walkers, Via Ferrata climbers, flower enthusiasts and artists, who will ensure you get the very best from your time in the mountains and extend to you our refreshing style of hospitality, which is as personal and unassuming as it is non-corporate.

Enjoy browsing the site. If you would like a copy of our beautiful brochure, click hereand we will send it in the first class post today. Or click hereif you would like to read our brochure online. If you have any questions or require more information, simply call us on 01799 513331 and somebody who can help will answer the telephone.

We hope to see you in the mountains soon.

Tom Collett