Casa Rural Las Chimeneas, Mairena

Delectable, relaxing B&B and casitas in a village at the eastern end of La Alpujarra, reachable from Granada and Almeria - an ideal base for hiking

You’re as likely to encounter a donkey as you are a car on your way to the village square: that fabled ‘old’ Spain is still alive and kicking.

Emma and David, entranced by the sweeping views to the south, bought a huge village house and adjacent buildings here and have created a harmonious, organic and soothing series of living spaces and rooms that strike just the right balance between authenticity and comfort.

Light floods into the living/dining room through high windows: the view to the south, out across steeply terraced hillsides to the distant Mediterranean, is enticing.

This is the sort of place where you slow down, pick up the novel you’ve been meaning to read, and fantasise about making that move to Spain.

Fabulous hikes go straight out from the house; you can book an all-inclusive week with local transport and route maps. And even if walking isn’t your thing, this is a great place to kick back.

Casa Rural Las Chimeneas in La Alpujarra is a small, rural guesthouse with 3 rooms and 3 casitas for 2-4, with doubles costing from €65 for bed and breakfast To book boutique hotels in Granada and to read i-escape's full hotel review, click here