The trip starts and ends in Bilbao, though you could drop your vehicle at San Sebastián and travel by train from there to Paris or Barcelona if you prefer. That would incur a small one-way fee for the vehicle hire, usually about €20-30.

If you are coming to Madrid or Barcelona, that's not a problem. You can travel by train or comfortable bus to Bilbao in a few hours and we'd love to host you for a few days in either or both cities.

If you want to start your travels in London or Paris, that's also an option using the train network - just share your ideas and we'll advise on the best option for you.

We can run this trip any time from May through to October, although we do assume the best time for most families is July and August to tie in with the school break.

These are the warmest and driest months but as you are in the mountains it isn't too hot to enjoy the activities. You can expect temperatures in the mid-20s°c (75°f) during the day on average.

We work with small hotels and apartments so booking ahead for July and August is essential. If you have fixed departure dates we suggest at least nine months ahead. If you can be flexible, six months should be fine, but we do advise early booking on this trip to avoid disappointment.

The accommodation on this journey is very comfortable though not fancy. We value places with a bit of character, a warm welcome, comfy beds and a great location - often with wide views. For families, we try to keep you all together but with your own space to spread out.

Please get in touch for full details.

The excursions on this itinerary can all be adapted to suit your particular family, depending on the age of the children and what activities you enjoy.

We also provide you with routes for a variety of self-guided hikes in each area, from half-day strolls to full-day hikes so you can choose to fill the remainder of your time as actively as you choose.

Absolutely, this would be a great trip for an extended family or two families to travel together. It also works fine for different shaped families - one child, four children, single parents, all are possible.

We love driving in Spain because of the freedom it gives you. That could mean changing plans over breakfast, or simply pulling over at the side of the road to soak in a view you might otherwise have sailed straight past.

As the roads are generally quiet, smooth and scenic, it's designed to be a pleasurable part of the experience, rather than a price to pay for said freedom.

You can expect a family-sized vehicle, though we can’t guarantee specific make or model.

Some vehicles have sat nav built in, but we find the best way to navigate is simply to use Waze or Google Maps on your smartphone. These can both be used offline to avoid data charges and your phone can easily sync with your car's Bluetooth so that it talks to you through the radio. All in all, it's not really much different to navigating in a part of your own country you've not been to before.

That's very much the idea yes. Beyond the time you spend with your local hosts and guides, the spirit of this trip is very much one of discovery and so we assume you'll enjoy striking up conversations with the locals as you go, even if it's with a bit of 'Spanglish' to get by. It's all good fun and all very authentic in our experience.

No, your hosts speak English perfectly well. In busier areas of the main tourist places, English will be widely spoken. In the countryside, in smaller restaurants and villages, English is less frequently spoken. Aside from the occasional pointing and gesturing, you'll have no problems. Part of the charm is going to places where English is not the dominant language in our experience. It's a great excuse to get the kids practicing the lingo!

We can tailor the trip in certain ways, making sure that we retain its essence through the pacing and content. We're always happy to work within your timeframes, so if you have two or three weeks for your travels, we can add time in the Pyrenees mountains for example.