A stone and terracotta villa with wrought-iron balconies, it looks like it’s been here for a century or more, but Thorsten and Sonia Herrmann built this place from scratch - everything, even the furniture. There was nothing here, says Thorsten, except goats, ruined farmhouses, a ledge of wooded hillside and a sensational view. They opened in 2005 with just one guest room. Today there are 12 luscious suites, plus a cool pool terrace, Jacuzzi and chill-out area, and an intimate dining room and bar. It’s a very personal space, drawing influences from the Herrmanns’ globe-trotting past: German-born, they have lived in Italy and California; Sonia was brought up in Spain.
Their country retreat is a hybrid of Italianate villa and mini Moorish palace, set in a tranquil Spanish landscape where craggy mountains overlook a haze of coastal plains and a patchwork of lemon, almond and orange groves. In the gardens, trees cast pools of shade onto pristine lawns; you can smell the pines, and watch a light Mediterranean breeze ruffle the palms. Don’t be put off by the crowds who pour into nearby airports. Up here in the mountains, nature is the big draw. Opportunities for hiking, biking and fresh air open up a wild side to the Costa Blanca that tourists rarely see. You can see a glint of Benidorm in the distance, but you couldn’t be further away.
Finca el Tossal
near Bolulla, Valencia & Costa Blanca, Spain
Highs
- The wonderful views across mountains and valleys, down to the coast. You're high in the hills, surrounded by wonderful hiking and biking; there are mountain bikes to borrow
- The 12 suites are large and sunny, some with handmade four-poster beds, others with in-room Jacuzzi tubs
- A relaxed house-party atmosphere - spiced up by the mix of nationalities
- Fantastic set dinners on the terrace at sunset, served with a gentle evening breeze, candles on the tables, cocktails and Rioja
- Great value
Lows
- It’s a bit out of the way so you'll need a car, and the access is steep via narrow lanes
- If you wanted to head out for food, the nearest restaurants are in Bolulla, a 3km drive away
- No kids under 16 permitted (a high for some!)
Best time to go
Our top tips
Guadalest (20 minutes by car) is a spectacular mountain village, speckled with the ruins of ancient Islamic castles. Reached via a rock tunnel, the castle village offers tours, souvenir shops and amazing views, but try to avoid peak-season crowds.
- Rural Hotel
- 12 suites
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- Over 16s only
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Bicycles Available
- Electric car charger
Rooms
Each of the 12 suites has a lounge area and mountain views. Junior Suites are spread across the main house, all of which have bathtubs. There are also a few very special suites with spoiling spa bathtubs, usually situated beside large windows to make the most of the views. The only room without a tub of any kind is the Suite, and this is reflected in the price.
The suites share a Mediterranean style, but each has its own quirks and touches - perhaps antique Indian pillars or an unusually high-beamed roof. The handmade four-poster double beds in the Junior Suites are draped in floaty muslin (one can be made up with twin beds). The King, Deluxe, Executive and Superior Suites have seductive platform beds wrapped in dark velvet. Overall, expect earthy colours, kilims on cool wooden floors, Moorish arches and romantic touches.
Bathrooms are simple and rustic, with sliding barn doors that reveal a monsoon shower and (in Junior Suites) a bathtub. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, plus shutters to keep out the sun's glare. For the cool winter months, there's heating.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- DVD player
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
The dining room is the hotel’s social hub, with tables set inside and out (or by a log fire in winter), and the 3-course set dinners are fresh, seasonal and locally sourced - the kitchen garden provides some of the salads and fresh herbs. During our visit, ours began with a delicious tomato pâté served with homemade bread, followed by a fresh fig salad with goats' cheese, slow-roasted leg of lamb with vegetables, and a tangy fruit compote with lemon cream. Menus are chalked onto a board during the day, giving guests a chance to make alternative arrangements if any of the dishes don’t suit diets or palates.
Lunch is available every day, and the bar offers a small wine list - including good Spanish wines at reasonable prices - and there’s usually a cocktail of the day on offer.
Breakfast is a generous buffet of cereals, homemade breads, cakes and pastries, cheeses, cold meats and homemade yoghurts, served with freshly squeezed juices, teas and coffee.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Go walking: there are numerous mountain paths, suitable for all abilities. Thorsten or Sonia can discuss these with you
- The area is popular with cyclists (particularly serious, lycra-clad roadsters as it is very hilly). Bolulla has often been a stage of the Vuelta de España (Spain’s Tour de France) thanks to its access to a classic ride: up the Coll de Rates, which zig-zags through the Marina Alta mountains. Lower down there are gentler routes as well as numerous tracks for goaty mountain bikers. The hotel can advise on local bike hire options
- Stroll around Altea: 15 minutes’ drive, it’s one of the most attractive towns on the Costas, a labyrinth of white-washed streets, designer shops, galleries, a smart beach promenade, seafront restaurants and the blue domes of its distinctive church, La Mare de Déu del Consol (Our Lady of Solace)
- Visit waterfalls: the Font Algar is the area’s biggest tourist attraction and it’s only 5 minutes downhill by car (you can walk it in half an hour). Go early in the morning before the day-trippers arrive, or ask Thorsten to direct you to a lesser-known waterfall
- Hit the beach: the Costa Blanca is home to some of the finest, cleanest beaches in southern Spain. Suggestions include Portet de L’Olla (sand and shingle at Altea) or the beaches at Oliva (65km). The Herrmanns can also guide you to hidden pebble coves (the 5 Les Rotes bays near Denia are beautiful), and tell you where to find scuba diving, surfing, sailing and other watersports
- Day-trip to Valencia, Spain’s 3rd largest city and the home of paella. Must-dos include the cathedral, the Museo de Bellas Artes (paintings by Goya, El Greco and Velázquez), the 15th-century Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange; now a World Heritage Site), the old town, the beaches, and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Climbing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Hot tub
- Kitesurfing
- Mountain biking
- Museums / galleries
- Plantlife / flora
- Scuba diving
- Scuba diving courses
- Shopping / markets
- Spa treatments
- Surfing
- Swimming
Kids
Only over 16s are permitted, this is a romantic and tranquil hotel.
Family friendly accommodation:
Only the Junior Suites can take an extra bed for one person.
Extra Beds Available
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Finca el Tossal sits above the Algar Valley, 3km from Bolulla and 55km from Alicante in southeast Spain.
By Air:
The closest airport is Alicante (55km / 1-hour drive). Valencia airport (120km) takes a couple of hours by road.
From the Airport
The best option is to hire a car so you can explore the area while you're here. You can park for free at the hotel. Alternatively, take a taxi (but relying on taxis while you're here could be arduous).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Valencia and getting around
Airports:
- Alicante 55.0 km ALC
- Valencia 120.0 km VLN
Other:
- Beach 14.0 km
- Shops 3.0 km
- Restaurant 3.0 km
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