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 Andalucia Country and Villages Hotels
As you climb inland from the coast you enter the real Spain - a land of fighting bulls, flamenco and fiesta. Here the landscape dramatically changes around every corner, where white villages cling to the hillsides and vultures soar overhead. This is somewhere to come and escape, to relax and be pampered, to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and its wide, sweeping skies. You can choose from cosy, family-run B&Bs or more sophisticated boutique country hotels. Spend your time walking or horse riding, or just chill by the pool. The food and wines are always sourced locally, and wherever possible home-grown or organic. The hotels are listed by price category and their order bears no relation on our preference.
 Reviews by Tristram Templer |
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| Luxury: Sophisticated, yet intimate cortijo-style hotel |
| Location: Las Cabezas de San Juan: half-way between Seville and Jerez |
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| In a plain of sunflower, wheat and cotton fields, this cortijo-style building was once an olive farm and press and is now home to an Anglo-Spanish family. Beyond its brilliant white façade, with ochre paintwork and clumps of bougainvillea, you will find a stunning yet homely interior. There are 11 split-level bedrooms organized around a courtyard and three romantic garden casitas: the last word in rustic chic. Young, attentive staff and first-rate cuisine. |
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| Mid Price: A cleverly converted olive mill set in beautiful gardens |
| Location: 10 minutes north of Ronda on the Sevilla road |
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| As you pass through the large wooden gates into the garden of the Fuente, you immediately feel a sense of peace. This statuesque converted olive mill exudes style and taste, reflected in its generous-sized bedrooms, all with terraces. This is more country house party than hotel, with discreet yet attentive staff and a terrific restaurant where you will be dazzled by the food and selection of Ronda wines. As they say here, it’s a place to be busy doing nothing. |
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| Mid Price: A comfortable family hotel in a stunning location |
| Location: In the village of Benaojan, 10 minutes from Ronda |
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| A crystal clear mountain stream tumbles past this lovingly restored old olive mill, with its garden full of shady fig trees and lushly planted terraces. Brightly patterned sofas punctuate the common spaces, whilst the 18 rooms are individually decorated using local furniture. The staff are wonderful, very knowledgeable about the local area and always willing to advise you. There are also plenty of guide books and walking notes. Highly recommended for its commitment to environmental issues. |
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| Mid Price: A magnificent Andalucian cortijo, with a romantic and intimate atmosphere |
| Location: South of Antequera, 4.5 kms from Villanueva |
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| Sitting high up above a valley of rolling pastureland and overshadowed by the craggy limestone massif of El Torcal, this award-winning small hotel is somewhere to come and relax and be pampered far from the madding crowd. The bedrooms are large and luxurious, all with underfloor heating and big windows and balconies, from which to enjoy the view. Enjoy massages, a sauna, heated swimming pool and a tennis court, as well as great walking and riding in the area. |
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| Mid Price: A 19th-century hunting lodge turned stylish boutique hotel |
| Location: 10 minutes from Jerez, on the old road to Arcos |
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| Jerez has a long association with the English thanks to our love for sherry, and the owner of this hotel, a noted anglophile, is linked to the Gordon-Byass sherry clan. The 19th-century house was the family’s hunting lodge and has now been converted into a very stylish and comfortable boutique hotel. The nine rooms are large with steeply beamed roofs and great bathrooms. The only downside is no restaurant but the breakfast more than makes up for it. |
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| Inexpensive: A lovely retreat, high in the hills amongst olive groves and almond trees |
| Location: Just west of Granada, between Tocon and Montefrio |
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| As you wind your way up the hillside, passing through beautiful groves of olives, you know that the situation of this hotel is going to be fantastic. Set in its own organic almond and olive grove, the cortijo has many surprises in store including a wonderful relaxing Moroccan-style hamam and a little hermitage painted in a very contemporary style. There are six bedrooms and a suite all with large windows taking in the amazing panoramic view. A little eco wonderland. |
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| Inexpensive: Informal English-run guesthouse with a woodland setting |
| Location: km 95 on N433 Seville-Lisbon road, just west of Los Marines |
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| Hidden away amid chestnut and fruit trees, this handsome modern villa built in 18th-century style is home to the Chestertons, a delightfully relaxed English family. They have dogs and a small farm, and run Finca Buenvino along house party lines. Everyone eats together, on the terrace or in the panelled dining room. Jeannie is a cordon bleu cook and produces mouthwatering dinners and light lunches. Choose between airy, comfortable bedrooms or a self-catering cottage with its own plunge pool. |
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| Inexpensive: A 16th-century mill, transformed into a simple hotel with a wonderfully rural setting |
| Location: 3 km south of Cazalla de la Sierra on the A432 |
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| This family-run 16th-century mill with sweeping views of olive and cork tree groves has been extended with skill and taste, and now has a welcome pool. Explore the surrounding countryside – where wild pigs and goats roam – on horseback, foot or by car. Bedrooms are simple but comfortable, with whitewashed walls, tiled floors and cheerful curtains and quilts. If you prefer to self cater, there are rooms with kitchens and a few apartments. The restaurant serves appropriately plain, hearty fare. |
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| Inexpensive: A small boutique hotel in the centre of a traditional white village close to Ronda |
| Location: In Cartajima village beside the church |
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| Set in the heart of this traditional white village, Los Castanos reflects the warmth and charm of its owner. It’s a conversion of three village houses, full of light and character. The rooms have nice touches, such as bathrobes, ecological olive oil products, even sketch books. Di the owner is a great cook, using local organic produce, all washed down with Ronda wines. The views from the roof terrace are spectacular, particularly when the chestnuts are in flower |
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| Inexpensive: Charming self-catering cottages surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery |
| Location: Just north of Alajar |
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| The Sierra de Aracena is a favourite place to escape from the heat of the summer in Sevilla, with its rugged mountains cloaked in a cooling forest of oak and chestnut. The six pretty cottages are built of local stone and overlook the river Alajar. It’s all self-catering; you can pick fruit and vegetables from the garden and orchard, or food can be ordered in from a local restaurant. Rates are based on a minimum stay of two nights. Walking in the area is fantastic as is the ham. |
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