Manna from Devon's David and Holly Jones have teamed up with a beautiful family-run hotel in Andalucía, Southern Spain, to host exclusive one-week Spanish cookery courses, starting in October 2015 and February 2016.

David and Emma Illsley, the owners of Las Chimeneas, run a picturesque collection of village houses and trekking centre in the Eastern Alpujarra Mountains near Granada, where they are surrounded by a wealth of artisan Spanish food producers, growers, markets and vineyards.

“Walking and cooking are two of my biggest passions in life, so combining the two makes for a special course full of adventure in the scenic hills and in the kitchen,” says David, chef and co-owner of Manna from Devon. “To teach Spanish cookery in the remote and authentic area of the Alpujarras in Andalucía – it doesn't get more exciting than that!”

The Alpujarras are home to the world-famous jamon serrano and local culinary delights such as honey and olive oil are second-to-none. Learn to cook traditional Spanish dishes using an abundance of unique seasonal produce with David and Holly as your guides.

The first Mediterranean course takes place in October 2015 (3rd-10th), with another to follow in February 2016 and bookings are now open, with maximum 16 places per trip. Each course includes guided walks around the region, plus fascinating foodie visits to the ancient Mediterranean city of Almeria, its fish market, and local olive groves, bodegas and vineyards.

Andalucía produces 75% of Spain's olive oil, so it's fitting that the February 2016 course is perfectly timed to experience the olive harvest as well as witness the landscape spring to life as the almond groves blossom.

With stunning vistas, Las Chimeneas is located in a remote village where mules are still used on the fincas. Emma and David share expert knowledge of the local area having lived there for over 12 years and course participants can take part in yoga classes on-site, go for a stroll around the owners' organic farm, get a taste for some Spanish Cava on the terrace, or just simply relax in the peaceful surroundings between cookery classes.

To join David and Holly at Las Chimeneas in Granada for this Mediterranean cooking course, call 01803 752943 or go to www.mannafromdevon.com for more information. To hear their latest news follow Manna from Devon on Twitter (@mannafromdevon) or link up with them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mannafromdevon.

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"Holly and David run a fabulous cookery school at Manna from Devon, both are extremely accomplished cooks and teachers. The bread course I did was fantastic and I learnt so much and it was great to be able to cook in such a relaxed location and enjoy the fruits of my labour over a wonderful lunch. I would definitely recommend a course at Manna from Devon which I would consider to be one of the best and most unique cookery schools in South Devon."

Mitch Tonks (June 2012)

Notes to editor:

1. Holly Jones studied at Leith's School of Food and Wine and is a chef with twenty years experience.  She has written many articles and books, has appeared on UK television, trained chefs from many organisations, run cafés and restaurants and answered questions as resident chef on the BBC's Food website.  Holly also served as an army officer for three years.
2. David Jones served as an officer in the Royal Navy followed by a decade as a management consultant.  Both careers took him all over the world, which is why he is now happy to have settled and re-trained as a baker and wood fired oven cooking expert.
3. Manna from Devon Cooking School is in Kingswear, South Devon just across the Dart estuary looking over to Dartmouth.
4. Emma and David Illsey have run Les Chimeneas near Granada for the past 15 years, where they host a range of tailored activity holidays, from cookery to yoga retreats and wildlife-watching tours.

For further information, photography or an interview with David or Holly, please contact:

Hayley Reynolds at RAW PR and Marketing - hayley@rawprandmarketing.co.uk;

Tel: 07887 474 104