Hotel Los Castanos

Rooms

Simple whitewashed rooms come with comfy beds (kingsize or twin, as you prefer), rocking armchairs, terracotta-tiled floors, a smattering of art, and some well thumbed novels. Moroccan wrought iron mirror frames and Aladdin lamps lend an exotic touch. They're spacious - all but one can fit a rollaway bed - and remain naturally cool in summer (but there's A/C if you need it).

All rooms have balconies. The three at the front have views that pour over village rooftops and out onto the valley; crack open a bottle of wine and sit out on your little balcony. One at the back of the house looks up at the next-door church (don't worry, the bells stop from 9pm-9am). There are no TVs - you won't want them here - but you do get bathrobes, fluffy towels, coffee making facilities, and a small fridge. A couple of rooms have bathtubs, as well as the showers that are present in every ensuite, and the soaps, gels and shampoos are made from olive oil.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Choose your breakfast the evening before; early birds might also want to ask for a pre 9am slot. Welcome options include Greek yoghurt with honey, fresh fruit salad, Andalucian savouries (cheese, jamon, tomato, olive oil), and a wide variety of teas and infusions.

You'll probably want to pre-book dinner here, as there are no eateries in the village, beside a summer-only tapas joint by the village pool, and (at weekends) a dish or two in the bar below the hotel. It's wise to book dinner when reserving your room.

Frank usually wears the chef's hat, and rustles up a three-course dinner with Med and Middle Eastern influences (he has Israeli roots, and loves Ottolenghi). We enjoyed a starter of fresh burrata with grilled grape kebabs (a novel and very successful idea!); then a huge and delicious dorada (roast bream) in tomato, paprika and caper sauce with risotto; and a melt-in-the-mouth choc mousse to finish off. Those with dietary preferences should let him know in advance.

Outside the village, Juzcar (10-15 mins' drive) has a couple of restaurants, including the American-Spanish run El Bandolero for upscale Span-ternational fare (with chestnut dishes, too) in a garden setting. Otherwise, it's a 25-min drive into Ronda for everything from Italian to Chinese, via atmospheric tapas and buzzy bars.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• The countryside here is fabulous. There’s lots of it, not many people in it, and it's beautiful
  
• Walking tracks connect 7 white villages via the upper Genal valley, including a path to its source in a cave (take a dunk if you're brave). Cicerone's Ronda & Grazalema book has two circular hikes here; another heads upwards to the limestone stacks of Los Riscos
  
• Bring your binoculars: migrating birds pass through twice a year, and there are resident vultures too, as well as ibex if you're lucky
  
• You can do a tour of Cartajima in 10 minutes, following stepped lanes between impenetrable white house facades to the occasional viewpoint
  
• For a change from white villages, head along the mountain road to Juzcar, Andalucia's only blue village, which was famously painted blue for a Disney smurf film - after which the locals, enjoying the attention it brought, voted to keep it that way
  
• Ronda is a 25-minute drive up the road. You get the famous gorge, great bars, big churches and the oldest bull ring in Spain. Don't miss its Arab Baths, either
  
• Heading the other way, it's under an hour to the beaches of San Pedro and Estepona; Frank and Antje know some quieter spots to swim, too
  
• Ask them about wineries, riding stables and pre-historic caves: there are several of each within an hour, all of which need pre-booking
  
• Or you can book a 3- to 7-day hiking or adventure package; the latter can include canyoning and jeep safaris with a locally resident Finn (Gran Senderista)
  
• If you don't mind driving, Seville, Jerez and Cadiz are all within two hours: you can't visit Andalucia without seeing at least one of them
  
• The village swimming pool opens at 4pm every day in July-August; there's a padel and a basketball court, too

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Caves
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Traditional cultures
• Well being

Kids

Frank and Antje welcome families - they have two young children of their own who you may meet in the hotel.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms except Moorish Courtyard can fit a comfy rollaway bed. If you have two children, it's best to take two adjacent rooms.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is set in the small village of Cartajima, which is up in the mountains of Andalucia in southern Spain. It's 18km south of Ronda.

By Air:
Malaga Pablo Ruiz Picasso and Gibraltar are the nearest airports - both 100km (1h30mins) away. Seville and Jerez airports are a little further.

From the airport:
You'll definitely need a car - see our rental tips. We recommend a small-medium car as the lanes in the pueblos blancos are often very narrow.

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