Rooms

Big old rooms do just the job; they are not overly-trendy, but nor would you want them to be. A sense of the past lingers - old beams, ancient walls, a tiled floor in yellow and red that’s been here at least a hundred years. Old stone steps lead up to a gallery around the courtyard. Plants are scattered about the place, candles too. The Suite has handmade Moroccan tiles in the bathroom, a wood-burner in the sitting room and a kingsize brass bed in the bedroom. Here, you can open up the windows and gaze out on San Pedro, teetering on top of the cliff. The Standard Rooms (Alcoba, La Penultima) are up on the second floor - more of a schlepp with your cases - and both have small balconies that give you the best view in town. They’re lovely rooms, with walls washed in pale green and simple but pleasing furniture: voile curtains, a nice chair, old stone shelves.

Tumble back down a couple of flights and you find the 2 Terrace Rooms (Cuarto Bajo is twin, Cuarto y Mitad a double). Good beds are prettily dressed, but French windows draw you out. On the terrace, you’ll find a table, chairs and an umbrella to shield you from the sun. Hurtle back up to the very top of the house - there are 5 floors in all - and you find a couple of fine rooms. One is the Junior Suite (huge), the other Superior Double. Expect old beamed ceilings, terracotta-tiled floors, wooden shutters and a rug on the floor. One has a sofa, the other comes in lemon green. Both open onto the roof terrace and the courtyard.

You get bathrobes, flowers, beams, rugs and tiled floors. Shower rooms tend to be on the small side, but they’re perfectly functional and prettily designed. Some are decked, some are tiled, one is in a cupboard. You'll find a framed haiku which was inspired by your particular room - an individual touch that mirrors Elena's artistic sensibilities and her love of her ancient house. All rooms have air-conditioning and hairdryers - but if you want the view, be sure to request it.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Cots available
• Hairdryer

Eating

Breakfast, charged as an extra at La Casa Grande, is served on individual butler's trays at marble-topped tables, amidst the plants and columns of the ground floor patio (for a little extra you can have it laid up in the sunshine on the roof terrace. You get a delicious Spanish breakfast served at your table: freshly baked molletes (a semi-leavened roll), honey and jam, tortas de aceite, coffee and tea, fruit and yoghurt, cheese and cold meats as well as fresh orange juice. Best of all are the eggs, which come scrambled in olive oil. The gentle strains of classical music help make this event like a really great beginning to your Arcos day.

When you dine out for lunch and dinner, the old town has a good supply of eateries. If you want a pizza or a steak, you'll find it. Elena is a lover of fine food and has written her own guide to the best places to eat in Cádiz province - so you can pay good heed to her recommendations.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• The town is a great place to wander. Old alleyways snake around the hill. You can stop off at the castle, Santa Maria and San Pedro. If you get tired out, rest your feet at one of the cafes in the square and watch life pour by
  
  
• If you drop down the hill you're just a half hour drive away from both the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales and that of Grazalema. In both parks you can walk your socks off, jump on a horse or just meander your way from one stunning hilltop village to the next
  
  
• Jerez de la Frontera is right on your doorstep with bodegas galore and Spain's most famous riding school where you can watch Andalucian thoroughbreds being put through their paces
  
  
• The beach isn’t on your door step, but if you’ve got a car, you can get down to La Costa de Luz in about an hour. Long, sandy beaches, bars and restaurants await

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Children are welcome, but it's worth noting that the house is on the edge of a sheer cliff and is spread over 4 floors, so adventurous toddlers will need supervision.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

La Casa Grande is in Arcos de la Frontera in Andalucia, southern Spain.

By Air
Fly into Jerez De La Frontera (36km) or Seville (118km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Aiport
You'll need to hire to make the most of you're trip (see below).

By Car
For car hire see our car rental recommendations.

More on getting to Andalucia and getting around