Hotel Iturregi

Stunning small hotel with a gorgeous pool, flawless bedrooms and long views over lush fields to the sea

It’s hard to fault this small hotel. It sits in the hills above the pretty coastal town of Getaria, with views across vineyards to the sea beyond. It’s a very private place. You potter up the hill, turn onto a track, then wait for electric gates to swing open. When you arrive, you find an old Basque farmhouse reborn as an English country house. This is a total renovation, no expense spared, a house filled with beautiful things. It’s contemporary in design, yet traditional in spirit. Bedrooms are sublime, as are the staff.

Everywhere you go, windows frame the view. There’s a lovely sitting room that opens onto a covered terrace where vast sofas wait. You’re in 20 acres of peace with gardens that roll off towards private woods. Climb some steps to one side and you find a gorgeous swimming pool with loungers under parasols and lavender in the flowerbeds. Back inside, the breakfast room opens onto a sun-trapping terrace, not a bad spot to start your day. Upstairs, 8 beautiful rooms and suites pamper you rotten. Some have sea views, others overlook the pool, and all have gorgeous bathrooms.

Highs

• The peaceful position in the hills, with the sea at the end of the fields
• A great base for exploring the Basque Country: Getaria, a lovely old town with a pretty beach, is only 3km away, and San Sebastián, Bilbao and Guernica are within easy reach
• The fabulous outdoor pool, set within the ruined walls of the former farm
• The airy interiors, the sumptuous bedrooms, and the heavenly bathrooms - perfect for romance and relaxation
• The covered terrace, from which you can see the lights of San Sebastián sparkling at night

Lows

• There’s no restaurant and a smart hotel like this should have one. Luckily, Getaria is easily accessible by taxi and has some excellent eateries
• The swimming pool only opens for part of the year (mid-June to mid-September)
• No twin beds, and some rooms have open-plan bathrooms; it's best suited to couples
• Rooms are expensive in high season
• You’ll need a car while you’re here