Casa Rural El Gandulillo

I had a lovely weekend here. The place feels cozy, warm, and rustic, and it’s far enough out to be peaceful while still being well placed for visiting the town and the Castril mountains. I’d recommend it.

Getting there was easy, and the house was clean and clearly well looked after. It’s also great value. One small suggestion: a roof over the parking area would help keep the cars out of the strong sun, especially since the space faces south.

The owner was incredibly helpful, and the place was very clean. We had some trouble with the heating, so we ended up using the fireplace. Apart from that, it’s a wonderful place surrounded by nature, great for time with family or friends.

We made good use of the nice barbecue area just above the house. The rural house Alojamiento el Ganduillo is about a 10-minute drive from Castril, in Granada province. It’s quite basic, and once we got the keys we were on our own. We bought food and drinks in Castril and filled the large refrigerator. The kitchen has the essential appliances, dishes, glasses, and cutlery, but you’ll need to buy garbage bags and paper towels. We were eight people, all over 70, and this place wasn’t suitable for our group, especially for anyone with mobility problems. Getting from the parking area up the steep stairs to the house is the first challenge. Most bedrooms are on the second floor, up a very steep staircase with no handrail. Neither shower has a curtain, so water gets onto the floor and makes it very slippery. There are no grab bars or other supports in the shower cubicles. I’d say it’s only partly suitable for children, since there are objects made from old farm machinery around the house, including a harrow used as a table. Phone reception is very poor in the area, so you can’t get online using a smartphone.