LA FUENTE DE LA HIGUERA

Cool hacienda hideaway set in Ronda’s stunning mountains.

GAZING OUT OVER ANDALUCIA’S RUGGED SIERRAS, La Fuente de la Higuera is more about siesta than fiesta – a laidback hacienda-style haven that’s the perfect chillout for weary urbanites. It’s also Ronda’s most romantic address.

Dutch-born Pom and Tina Piek fell in love with this former 18th century olive mill set amid the craggy Ronda hills, and have turned it into a winning (and great value) boutique hideaway whose leitmotif is laidback luxe. Fringed by olive trees and set around a pool perfect for honing that tan, it’s a lush garden oasis splashed with jasmine and bougainvillea. Fronds of purple wisteria covered the garden walls when we arrived.

Classic Spanish lines mix with crisp interiors and cooling shades at La Fuente de la Higuera. Walls are hung with contemporary Dutch artwork and there's a well stocked honesty bar  scattered with rattan sofas where you can pick up a chilled bottle of wine, a Haagen Daaz icecream or some holiday reading.

Icecream-cool shades

Light and spacious bedrooms – immaculate and nicely private – are all about Sierra style relaxation. Icecream-cool shades are set off by painted wood floors, cotton bedspreads, eclectic artworks and Indonesian wood furniture. Gossamer drapes, ceiling fans, rugs and wicker armchairs add a splash of the tropics.

Each room at La Fuente de la Higuera has its own private terrace or jasmine-scented garden – some with fabulous valley views across the Sierra de las Nieves, snow capped in winter. We loved our roomy suite (No 2) with its valley views and secluded terrace with loungers, though you'll probably love  all of them.

Larger suites come with a separate lounge and an open fire for toasty nights in during cooler winter months. All have CD players (there’s a library of discs to dip into), though soap fans should note they are TV (and internet) free. Roomy bathrooms have cool oriental stone floors, luxury shower lotions and lots of fluffy towels.

It’s all about chill-out time here where you can be as lazy as you like in a glorious setting. The mood is sophisticated yet intimate. Cool off in the nicely sheltered pool, lie in the shade of the acacia tree or simply bliss out on your terrace.

There’s a relaxed house party vibe here, and you’ll be warmly welcomed by your nothing’s-too-much-trouble hosts. While you’re just ten minutes from Ronda and hill walks in the sierras, we wouldn’t blame you for not stirring  far from your lounger. Should you be holidaying with friends, Tina and Pom also run The Lodge – a spacious villa for 14 with huge grounds and a similar vibe – nearby.

Dinner at La Higuera is home cooking at its best, and you can dine al fresco on the terrace above the pool on warm evenings, gazing out at those stunning views. Perfection indeed.


La Fuente de la Higuera was reviewed for Room for Romance by  Mairiona Cotter

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Look forward to freshest Mediterranean cooking with garden-grown veggies and a daily changing menu. Starters might feature rabbit terrine or goat’s cheese salad, with mains including local game, rack of lamb or cod (there’s always a veggie option, too), local cheeses and yummy desserts. We loved our grilled wild boar with asparagus and fresh tuna in a spicy peppercorn and basil crust.

There’s a great wine list too featuring plenty of excellent local reds, and a lunchtime poolside menu of salads, club sandwiches and snacks.

Breakfast
Buffet breakfast (included, with chargeable a la carte options) is served until 11am. Look forward to local Andalucian cheeses, hams and freshly squeezed juices – in bed if you prefer.

Room service
Available morning and evening.




See & Do
Ronda is Spain’s most visited city, so try to go early evening when the sightseeing crowds have melted away. Don’t miss the bullring (one of the oldest in Spain), the famous gorge-spanning bridge, the Palacio Mondragon, leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent and the cobbled streets of the old town. Have a pre-sunset drink in one of the cafes perched on the edge of the gorge's sheer sides.

See some of Andalucia’s famous “white villages” in the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema, where you can go hiking (guided walks can be arranged) and spot eagles and buzzards. Daytrips are easily arranged to the cities of Seville, Granada and Jerez.

Thrill seekers can try paragliding, caving, hot-air balloon rides or a 4x4 safari in the sierras. You can also rent a mountain bike or go riding from  nearby stables.
 
Spa
Book an in-room Thai massage treatment or even a yoga session. Other spa treatments can be arranged at La Fuente’s sister hotel in Ronda. 

Diary Dates
April
See the parades and colourful costumes in the big holy week festival Semana Santa.

September
Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero – Ronda’s best known festival – kicks off with a bullfight and a procession of horse-drawn carriages.

GETTING THERE

Location
Partido de los Frontones, E-29400 Ronda.

Parking
There is free guest parking. The hotel will supply directions from Ronda (essential to avoid getting lost) if you don’t have satnav. 

Trains
Ronda station – 6km.

Taxis
Around EUR 130 from the main airports. However, you’ll need a hire car to get around here.

Airports
The hotel is roughly 90 minutes from Malaga, Seville, Gibraltar and Jerez airports.
EasyJet flies to Malaga from nearly a dozen points in the UK, while Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Jerez.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 148 – 280

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
15.00

Check-out
12.00

Minimum night stay?
Two nights

Children
Welcome

Pets
No

Air conditioning
No, but there are ceiling fans and you’re up in the hills.

Wedding license?
No, but wedding parties are welcome on an exclusive hire basis. You could also throw a party in The Lodge – a separate luxury villa sleeping up to 14, set in 20 acres nearby with its own pool. Spacious and contemporary, it's tailor made for holidaying with friends.