Arrive along a two-kilometre dirt track to a gloriously wild hotel, bursting with colour, greenery and birdsong. Snuggle up around big open fires, read a good book in the library, lounge in hammocks in the garden or under cover in the courtyard – there’s a wonderfully warm feel. Rooms are wacky – bare concrete walls covered with paintings and furnishings from all over the world; the beams are from monasteries and old wood doors from Madrid houses.
Breakfast, brought to the long friendly table, is worth rising for: freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, eggs from the chickens with local cheeses and hams. The homemade cake is excellent too.
There’s plenty of wildlife to spot on the estate: head off deer stalking or settle into the hide to spot nesting storks. Gaze out on the foothills of the sierra (2 of the rooms have terraces); the hiking and cycling are excellent and you can reach the top in about an hour and a half on foot.
We really enjoyed our two nights at Fuente Techada - the house and grounds are very beautiful and peaceful, with a number of country walks available locally. The room was spacious and very comfortable. The house itself is very well laid out, with plenty of places to sit and relax. The (unheated) pool was very pleasant in warm weather. The breakfast layout was spectacular and very enjoyable. Above all, however, we appreciated the warm welcome from Cristina and Alejandro (and their staff).