Rooms

Comfortable kingsize beds, spacious wet-room bathrooms and great views are the order of the day. There are just 8 bedrooms, each uniquely decorated in a simple contemporary style with a hit of traditional character — perhaps an exposed original wall, impressive vaulted ceiling or cooling polished resin floor.

Most rooms are upstairs, offering exquisite views of the surrounding hills, and several have balconies. Some can be set up as twins, and one ground-floor room (number Two) is wheelchair accessible. Room Eight is the Family Suite.

We found it refreshing not to have a TV. Organic toiletries are handmade by a friend of Rachel's, and available for sale on request.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Pillow menu
• Toiletries
• Underfloor heating
• WiFi

Eating

The fantastic Albar restaurant is the social heart of the village, with a real buzz about it. The creative menu offers an inspired take on Spanish and fusion dishes, many of which are slow cooked in a wood-fired oven. Trained chef Clayton is passionate about using local produce and it really pays off - everything we ate was delicious.

Try as many things as you can, especially the chicken with a fig sauce, the baby goat marinated with rosemary and white wine, and aubergine chips with wildflower honey. There are wood-fired pizzas, too, featuring homegrown tomatoes.

Breakfast is also exceptional, offering far more than your regular pre-packed Continental offering. Delicious jamon, excellent cheeses, enormous croissants, homemade granola with fresh fruit salad, pan tostado con tomate and various cooked options.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Borrow maps and go walking and cycling through the valley; you can hire bikes locally. The hotel runs guided Almond Blossom walks during February and March, and Spring Wildflower walks in April and May
  
• Visit neighbouring village Lubrin and admire its winding streets, the Abajo Public Fountain (home to the 18thC public laundry) and terraced houses with Moorish-tiled roofs. Visit in late January for their quirky 'Bread Fiesta'
  
• Shop for regional produce: almonds, goat’s milk cheese and wild honeys. There's a Wednesday market in Lubrin
  
• Sorbas is home to over 1,000 caves and sinkholes, and a traditional pottery for colourful ceramics
  
• The arid Tabernas Desert has been the setting for many Spaghetti Western films, as well as Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
  
• Swim in the sea at Agua Amarga (45 mins), or drive a bit further to Cabo de Gata National Park, which has some of the loveliest beaches in Spain, with deserted strips of fine white or dark volcanic sand
  
• Day trip to Granada's Alhambra
  
• Back at the hotel, Albar restaurant has a gallery room, which showcases cultural work by local artists

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Caves
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Walking
• Well being

Kids

Children are warmly welcomed. There's a family room, a kids' menu, plenty of baby equipment, a swimming pool, and outdoorsy adventures nearby.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Family Room has a kingsize bed, an alcove with twin beds, space for an extra bed/baby cot, a shower bathroom and a private terrace. All other rooms can fit a baby cot.

Distances:

• Airport: 50 mins' drive (Almeria)
• Shop: 10 mins' drive
• 24-hour medical centre: 15 mins' drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Casona Granado is in the heart of the Almeria countryside, in the charming traditional village of El Pilar.

By Air:
The closest airport is Almeria (68km), around 50 minutes by car. Murcia airport is 2 hours north, and Malaga is around 3 hours by car. Book a transfer or hire a car (recommended).

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