Alasdair Grant - his family make the famous whisky - came here to film a documentary and left smitten. His rebirthing of a 17th-century masía - that's a stone-built farmhouse - left no stone unturned whilst his quest to marry comfort with authenticity was masterfully executed. Decoration weds South American and North African artefacts with family heirlooms from Scotland, whilst the Mediterranean cuisine is given an exotic twist by the Peruvian housekeepers, Luis and Jenny.
The building's cubist jumble is unforgettable when seen at night, and by day the vast views out to the forests and mountains take in no other building. Come for cosseted comfort, fine food and wines, outdoor pursuits, and for that delicious sense of being a voortrekker in a hauntingly beautiful swathe of eastern Spain.
Highs
- Available as a whole house rental, so suits couples wanting a romantic retreat, friends going hiking, extended families, or a big group (sleeps 10-20; self cater or be cooked for)
- Each bedroom is different, but all are equally lovely - we loved the beautiful four-poster bed in our Penarroya Room
- The warm welcome from Luis, who treats you like an old friend and takes a genuine interest in helping you make the most of the area
- The walking trails of the Matarrana are wild and wonderful yet remain blissfully undiscovered
- The great outdoors: hike through a stunning gorge, swim in a natural turquoise lake or under the El Salt waterfall, fish in mountain streams, kayak, horse ride and hunt for fossils
Lows
- Remote. No nightlife or buzzy villages on your doorstep and the nearest decent restaurants are a 30-minute drive - but that's half the point
- The lunches and dinners are delicious, but dining in could quickly add up; guests can use the fridge and kitchen to store and make snacks
- The track to the house is bumpy and windy, plus it can become rutted in winter so you'll need a 4x4; at any other time you'll be fine in a normal hire car
- A 7-night minimum stay for private rentals
- You may not get to meet Mas de la Serra's genial owner, Alasdair Grant, who travels the world producing documentaries
- Cots
- High chair
Some equipment may need to be requested in advance
Babysitting by Jenny.
You can self-cater if you want/need and there's a supermarket 10 minutes away. The nearest restaurants for eating out are 30 minutes away. The food here is great - discuss your children's needs with the chef and they'll create something spectacular.
- Heated outdoor pool (May-December)
- Home cinema and DVD library
- TV room
- Concierge service to help plan activities
- Kayak or swim in the lake below the Mas
- Hire a bike in the village and roam off on mountain trails or down the old railway line
- Take a 4X4 trip into the mountains
- Go ibex, eagle or wild boar spotting
- Swim in El Salt waterfall
- Go riding or hiking in the mountains
- Rural Retreat
- 9 bedrooms or whole house
- Breakfast (+ other meals on request)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Steam Room
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Laundry Service
Rooms
Alasdair wanted his guest rooms to be functional and comfortable, with no hint of anything corporate. So the building's base elements of beams, wooden floors, terracotta tiles and stone are pepped up by richly-coloured fabrics, oil paintings, maps and prints, as well as funky ethno-objets collected during travels in South America and Africa. Magazines, books and family photos along with treasured heirlooms lend heaps of intimacy: it all feels much more homely than hotel-y.
The room layouts follow the twists and turns of the original farmhouse, adapting to an organic floor plan that evolved over several centuries. All are named after a local town or village: there are 3 twins and 5 doubles. The flagship suites are Morella and Valderrobres. The former has an enormous 2m bed and a claw-footed tub hoisted up on a mezzanine whilst the latter has a cosy sitting room with a huge open hearth and a big bathroom with both tub and shower, plus an outdoor balcony.
Alternatively, Fuentespalda is a smaller mezzanine-style room, with a sofa above and bed below. The remaining rooms have showers rather than tubs: Peñarroya sports a four-poster bed, Horta grabs a stunning view to the southwest whilst La Fresneda and Beceite are of smaller dimensions though both still have vast beds. Pretty Rafales is tucked away in an annex: this room is fully adapted for disabled guests. Cretas Junior Suite is the newest addition, located downstairs in the main house, with a large bathroom.
All bedrooms are centrally heated with a fast WiFi connection: 3 have flatscreen TVs and DVD players. Bath and shower rooms feature eye-catching tadlakt - polished marble walls and sink surrounds - which were created by a master craftsman flown in from Fes. A variety of toiletries are provided (shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion), as are bathrobes and slippers to pad about in.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- WiFi
Eating
Eating arrangements are flexible depending on whether you take the house as a group or are staying as independent travellers. Breakfast is included; lunches and dinners are by request and groups can self-cater if they wish.
Guests begin their day with a buffet-style breakfast laid up in one of the masía's 2 dining rooms, or out on the terrace when the weather's right. Freshly squeezed OJ and freshly ground coffee are accompanied by oven-warm bread and a choice of homemade jam, marmalade and honey: there's also olive oil should you fancy a more local-style start to the day. Luis then takes orders for the cooked breakfast of your choice.
Housekeeper Jenny can spirit up light lunches and snacks (though this must be requested in advance), and groups have free run of the fully equipped kitchen when taking the whole house. You can stock up on groceries in Fuentespalda, 10 minutes' drive.
Dinners are a big part of the Mas de la Serra experience. The Spanish-Peruvian fusion menus are set, but dietary requirements are taken into consideration. To kick off, tapas is served on the terrace or in front of a big log fire: expect local ham, cheeses, olives and scrummy toasted almonds picked from the farm's trees. Our meal began almond and truffle soup followed by roast lamb served with a white bean purée. A wicked crema volteada (a Peruvian take on crème caramèl) followed for dessert. Luis can help you choose your wine from their own cellar: Alastair's inside knowledge of the trade ensures that all are superb.
For a change of scene, nearby La Torre del Visco serves excellent meals, plus there's a great choice of eateries 30 minutes' drive away. In Valdrrobres, duck into Fonda La Plaza for a cheap-and-cheerful Spanish feast. In La Fresneda, the Matarrana restaurant is Michelin recommended whilst El Convento also offers excellent regional cooking. There are closer restaurants, but they are not as good.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Chef on request
- Dinner by arrangement
- Honesty bar
- Kids' meals
- Lunch by arrangement
- Organic produce
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Laze by the infinity-edged pool (or in the hot tub) with your binos trained on the surrounding mountainsides: it won't be long before you spot ibex leaping between the rocks and eagles soaring above the limestone outcrops
- Walk out from the house to the top of a jagged limestone peak for a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding sierra, or pit yourself against the stunning traverse of Els Ports
- Hike and bike through a gorge, kayak in turquoise lakes, swim in the El Salt waterfall, take a dip in the hot springs at La Fontcalda, fish in the mighty Ebro or in mountain streams, ride through the wilderness on horseback; this place is pure outdoor heaven, and all activities can be arranged for you
- Head to a local bodega (we can vouch for the superb wines produced at the adjacent Venta d'Aubert) or discover Mas de la Serra's cellar bar - as well as fine wines, you can taste the Grant family's full range of fine Scotch whiskies
- You're surrounded by beautiful villages. Visit the castle in Valderrobres, see the cave paintings in Beceite and wander the narrow backstreets of beautiful Morella
- Hunker down in the cinema room, which features a state-of-the-art, high definition projector with wraparound sound, and a DVD library
- Unwind in the basement steam room
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Private guided tours
- Well being
- Whisky Tasting
- Wildlife
- Wine tasting
Best Time to go
Our Top Tips
Location
Mas de la Serra is set in the region of Aragon, inland between Barcelona and Valencia - both of which are 2.5-3 hours' drive away.
By Air
The nearest airports are Castellon and Reus, which are 1-2 hours' drive away but have limited international flights. For a wider choice, fly into Valencia or Barcelona (2.5-3 hours).
From the Airport
You'll need to hire a car, as public transport is very limited, and many of the nearest restaurants are a 30-minute drive away. The road to Mas de La Serra is quite bumpy; if you're staying during winter we'd recommend hiring a 4x4.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Castellon (Costa Azahar) 70.0 km CDT
- Reus (Tarragona) 135.0 km REU
Other:
- Beach 93.0 km
- Shops 5.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km