Casa Rural Posada Alma de Gato

A baker comes by every day with bread, and there are cheese dairies around the valley. La Gándara is a short walk away, with restaurants and a small grocery store; in Casatablas, there’s a supermarket next to a gas station. Our group of 13 friends spent two weeks exploring hiking trails and peaceful landscapes with hardly any tourists, plus lots and lots of cows. The rooms were comfortable, and the kitchen and dining room were a good size for a large group. The website description is accurate. The only difficulty I found was the wheelchair access floor.

The owner was very friendly, and the setting is idyllic if you’re looking to disconnect. But it’s poorly connected, and a big grocery shop means driving almost 40 minutes on a winding road to Ramales. The house badly needs maintenance: the barbecue is broken, kitchen floor tiles are coming loose and keep tripping you up, and the mattresses make a lot of noise when you move. You can hear everything between rooms, even from upstairs to downstairs, so there’s no privacy. There’s no direct way into the garden from the kitchen or dining room; you have to go upstairs to the first floor and take a long way around. The garden’s different levels are quite dangerous for small children, and there’s very little natural light in almost every room. Access for people with disabilities is impossible. For what we paid, we expected the house to be in better condition. With some investment and renovation, it wouldn’t be a bad house.

Helena was a very friendly host and shared information about places to visit nearby. The house was spacious and very clean, surrounded by mountains and fruit trees. My friends and I found it peaceful, with a lovely atmosphere, and a great place to disconnect. Highly recommended.

The setting is spectacular, and this welcoming country house is great for friends, kids, or family. There’s a bathroom in every bedroom and a barbecue in the garden. I can’t give it 5 stars because the mattresses need replacing, the springs dig into your back. The Wi-Fi isn’t very good, but you don’t really miss it when you’re there to switch off.