Casa Olea

Rooms

The six bedrooms are on the first floor, reached via a lofty stairwell whose vast picture window frames the most sylvan of valley views. Doors, windows, tables, wardrobes and desks were fashioned by local craftsmen, as were the ceramic name plaques for each room: named for the trees that grow on the farm. Decorative artefacts have been kept minimal in keeping with Tim's 'less is more' philosophy: a brightly-coloured Guatemalan huipil (embroidered shirt) as a wall hanging, a framed collage of photographs from Rajasthan, ceramic pots from Peru and Mexico, a plain green door hung picture-like above a bed. The overall vibe is slightly monastic and very relaxing.

All beds can be made up as twins or super-kingsize doubles. Expect Egyptian cotton bedding, air conditioning, and underfloor heating in both bedroom and bathroom. Towels are provided, along with ecological toiletries in refillable dispensers.

Olivo (Olive) faces southwest along the valley and is the only room with a private terrace. It has a rain shower but no bath. Nogal (Walnut) looks out to the tree of its name and has the biggest bathroom of all, with a separate tub and shower. Membrillo (Quince) is a light-infused room with 2 high French windows, twin balconies, and a bath topped by a high rain shower.

My favourites were those facing the leafy river course. Of these, Granado (Pomegranate) and Higuera (Fig) have showers only, whilst big and airy Almendro, where I stayed, has a tub and an overhead shower. It has one balconied French window opening out towards the river and a second framing a hilltop Moorish tower, with antique washboards serving as a backdrop to the beds.

Three rooms - Membrillo, Nogal and Almendro - can accommodate an extra bed so are ideal for parents travelling with a child or 3 solo travellers.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

The airy dining room and bar take centre stage at Casa Olea, and the culinary offering reflects the same TLC that has been lavished on the rest of the house.

A buffet breakfast is laid out between 8.30 and 10am; whenever the weather allows tables are set up on the terrace, among birdsong and dappled light. There are cold cuts, local cheeses, sliced tomatoes, cereals, yoghurts, masses of fruit, boxed juices, the best ground coffee and a selection of teas, as well as Claire's homemade jams, cakes and biscuits.

Simple picnics can be made up for lunch, and dinner is served 6 nights a week. Most evenings you choose between 2 starters and 2 mains - one of which is always a veggie option - followed by a surprise dessert prepared fresh on the day by Claire. You might get gazpacho, leak and bean salad, tomato with chorizo, or feta with roasted peppers. On one evening Claire prepares a huge paella, and on another there’s a more informal supper of tablas (platters) of meats and cheeses. Dinner really comes into its own when it's warm enough to eat outside, accompanied by flickering lanterns and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Tim will be on hand to help you choose your wine: a ceramic map in the dining room depicts the different wine regions of Spain; local bodegas take pride of place in his selection.

When dinner isn't available at the guesthouse, you'll find some great little restaurants within a 15-minute drive. In Priego de Córdoba, La Muralla , in a pretty square next to the castle, is the top choice for traditional cuisine. In the pretty white village of Luque Casa Frasco has oodles of local flavour and a delightful raised terrace overlooking the plaza.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Lunch by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Walk straight out from the house in the company of Ruby, your new canine friend, or follow one of Tim's longer routes, which cover some of the best trails in the Subbética and take you past sleepy villages, wooded valleys and the crumbling Moorish watchtowers that dot the landscape
  
• Grab one of Casa Olea’s 4 mountain bikes, ask for a picnic, and explore the surrounding hills and valleys on 2 wheels. The Vía Verde trail follows the route of a former railway, a particularly scenic cycle
  
• Check out the Roman mosaics and murals in nearby Almedenilla
  
• Drive half an hour to Alcala La Real, to explore the spectacular hill-top castle of Fortaleza La Mota, with views of the snowcapped Sierra Nevada and a great local tapas bar in the town for lunch
  
• Visit a bodega in Montilla to sample the local fino wine, or head to an olive mill during harvest season (December-February) to see the oil-making process first hand. Tim arranges free olive oil tastings for all guests booking through i-escape
  
• Drive an hour south to the pretty hilltop town of Iznájar; wander the whitewashed streets, admire the cottages covered in flower pots, then head to the river reservoir for sunbathing and pedalo rides
  
• Take a day trip to the Alhambra in Granada or the mezquita in Córdoba, both around an hour away by car
  
• The Renaissance towns of Ubeda and Baeza, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, lie just over an hour away near Jaén
  
• Indulge in a massage, which can be arranged with prior notice
  
• Chill by the unheated pool or scan the greenery for birdlife with your binoculars

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wine tasting

Kids

No children under the age of 6 are allowed, except when the whole house is booked. Older kids, tweens and young teens will love the pool, all the outdoor space, cycling the Via Verde trail, and exploring the olive groves and hills with the "house dog" Ruby!

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Three of the 6 rooms (Membrillo, Nogal and Almendro) are large enough for an extra bed; there are 2 small kids beds available for younger children, as well as a couple of standard-size extra beds. All rooms can fit a baby cot (when booking the whole house).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Casa Olea is located in the heart of the Sierra Subbética in Andalucia, southern Spain. It's set just outside the village of Zamoranos, near the town of Priego de Córdoba, halfway between Córdoba and Granada.

By Air
The nearest airports are Granada (90km away), Málaga (140km away) and Seville (180km away). All are served by a range of international and domestic flights - click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
You'll need a car to reach Casa Olea as it's not served by public transport and transfers aren't available. It's an hour's drive from Granada airport, 1.5 hours from Málaga airport, and 2 hours from Seville airport.

By Car
For car hire see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Andalucia and getting around