A
small, intimate hotel with just eleven rooms, "Finca
El Cerrillo" offers good standards of comfort and an atmosphere which is peaceful, relaxed
and unpretentious. Popular with artists, writers and walkers, guests are very
well looked after here.
A
converted farmhouse, it was an olive mill from 1805 to 1960. Now owned and run
by a young English couple, they have worked hard to retain all its 'old Andalucia'
charm and character, combining it with high quality comfort, including air conditioning
in all of the en-suite bedrooms.
Situated
in lovely countryside in the foothills of the Sierra Almijara, it is close to
the traditional Andalusian villages of Canillas de Albaida and Competa. There
are sweeping views over the beautiful terrain of the nearby National Park, yet
it is only
one hour's drive from Malaga airport and just thirty minutes from the coast.
Offering
a choice of double, twin or single accommodation, each of the eleven bedrooms is
individually styled and decorated. All have air-conditioning, heating, tea and
coffee making facilities and attractive, modern bathrooms. Beds are large and
comfortable.
Living
areas include a large beamed lounge (with an open log fire burning in the winter
months), dining areas and a small (but well stocked) library. An "Honesty Bar"
is available to guests 24 hours a day.
Outside, the carob and palm trees
in the hotel's gardens surround a number of different patios and terraces. They
include a walled patio and a shady terrace under a huge old carob tree. There
is even a Moorish day bed for lounging outdoors, Alhambra style.
The
swimming pool and deck areas have excellent views, providing a pleasant place to
swim or somewhere to relax with a glass of wine or cold beer. There are comfortable
loungers for sunbathing and plenty of shade in the gardens for snoozing.
Dinner
is available at the hotel on four evenings each week - usually on Saturdays, Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. It's a set menu, designed around fresh, locally available
ingredients but presented with contemporary style and panache. With a little advance
notice, good vegetarian alternatives can also be provided.
In
the warmer months dinner is served outside on the candlelit terrace. It's a relaxed
affair and guests choose whether they wish to dine alone or join others. A choice
of reasonably priced wines and liqueurs are available from the Honesty bar.
There
is also an excellent selection of restaurants and tapa bars in the nearby local
villages, Canillas de Albaida (five minutes drive away) and Competa (ten minutes).
Continental
breakfast is included in the room rate and the hotel also serves a buffet lunch
each day. They will provide packed lunches for guests who want to go walking or
picknicking and will also loan cool boxes and beach umbrellas for a day out at
the coast.
You
will find plenty of activities on hand locally to keep you occupied. Walking,
horse riding and mountain biking can all be arranged. The attractions of the seaside
town of Nerja, with it's golden sandy beaches and it's choice of bars and restaurants
are just over 40-minutes drive away.
And, if you can be tempted away from
the delights of the hotel, the classic sights of Andalucia, including the architectural
splendours of Córdoba, Sevilla and Granada, are all within travelling
distance, making the hotel an ideal place to start or end a tour of Andalucia.
Whether you are looking
for somewhere romantic and secluded or somewhere convivial and social, "Finca
El Cerrillo" will not disappoint you.
