Dar Hajra

Rooms

Screed steps wind down through the rocks to the master bedroom and bathroom. Decorated in a warm yellow wash, your sleeping space at Dar Hajra comes with a big twist of romance. A velvet wall-hanging from Morocco, in rich tones of green and red, provides an eye-catching backdrop to a queensize double bed, whilst framed prints from Fes and bright hexagonal bedside tables from Tangier evoke the same mood-of-the-Mahgreb. There's a huge, walk-in wardrobe with space aplenty to spread your gear around and still have shelves and hanging space to spare.

Waking to the sound of a passing flock of sheep we flung our shutters open to the oak forest and distant peaks of the Grazalema mountains then gazed out from beneath our Indian quilts. We didn't feel an ounce of remorse about spending the whole morning lazing in bed.

The bathroom is just as festive. Topped by a high rain shower, the hand-crafted ovular screed bathtub, easily big enough for 2, wraps organically around the rocks. A huge window leads your eye out to that big view through the silvered venetian blinds. You get a chunky bar of soap as well shampoo, shower gel and conditioner, and there's a big sweep of surface to either side of the freestanding sink. Halogen spots highlight the crevasses of the rocks, hanging plants and antique photographs of Indian maharajahs.

If you fancy sharing your mountain idyll with friends or family there's a smaller twin bedroom (it can be arranged as a double on request) at the top of the house, reached via a second staircase which climbs up through the rocks from the sitting room. This room is also decorated in chalky, Moroccan blue and green washes and has a small antique dresser and hand-painted bedside tables. You'd all have to share the bathroom though; we'd rather stick to the 'just for 2' formula and make use of the top bedroom for siestas.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Microwave
• WiFi

Eating

The big, slate-floored kitchen will encourage you to stay at home and cook rather than venturing out to the local ventas for every meal. It has all you need to self-cater as comfortably as you would in your own home: there's an electric oven, a gas hob, a microwave, a toaster, a juicer, a kettle, a dishwasher, masses of glasses, crockery and cutlery as well as all kinds of pots, pans, woks, tagines and kitchen instrumentalia. The large swish, silver Italian fridge would be a godsend in the summer months. There's masses of cupboard space and a long marble work surface. The hob is backed by a peacock mosaic which was crafted in Tangier.

The black, angular dining table can be pulled out to sit 8 - and there's another large table on the terrace for alfresco meals - so should you invite friends to supper, you won't be short on seating.

Arriving guests will find a big range of spices, balsamic vinegar and olive oil waiting for them as well as tea, coffee and sugar. If you let the owners know in advance, a hamper of food can also be put together according to your own needs (additional charge). Alternatively you can pick up your goodies en route to Dar Hajra: shops in Ronda are open until 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Those in Montecorto sell all the basics, too, and a fair portion of the fruit and veg is grown in the village, much of it organically. A detailed booklet listing who-sells-what will be waiting at the house.

If you choose to eat out, don't expect a gourmet experience in the village - rather simple restaurants offering traditional Andalucian cuisine. There are 2, La Piscina and La Parada, within walking distance of the house, both very reasonably priced.

Ronda offers far more scope for foodies with a huge number of cheap-and-cheerful tapas bars and several excellent eateries. Best of the bunch is Almocabar, hidden away in a quiet square in the San Francisco quarter, a short stroll from the gorge. Think trad' Andalusian cuisine with a twist, a cosy dining room and a great wine list which includes a superb selection from the bodegas close to Ronda.

There's a good information booklet in the house. Along with sight-seeing suggestions and information on walks, it lists the best restaurants and tapas bars in the area with a price guide, location and contact numbers.

Features include:

• Microwave
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Taste wines in one of the new Ronda bodegas: there are a couple of excellent ones a short drive from Montecorto
  
• Follow a winding road that leads out from the village to visit the theatre and baths of the Roman town of Acinipo
  
• Chill out on the higher or lower terrace
  
• Go underground at the Pileta cave to see some of Europe's best preserved Paleolithic cave paintings
  
• Get to Ronda early before the crowds arrive, breaking for coffee at one of the bars which overlook its plummeting gorge
  
• Hike out from Dar Hajra into the Grazalema Park, a Unesco biosphere reserve. A copy of the owner's guide listing the best walks in the Park will be awaiting you at the house
  
• Spend a day wandering the narrow backstreets of Seville's enchanting Santa Cruz quarter: it's just over an hour from Montecorto
  
• The owner can arrange a wealth of activities including guided walks in the Grazalema Natural Park and horse riding

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Shopping / markets
• Wildlife
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Babies and children are welcome. This house is not suitable for toddlers with the steps (there are no bannisters) and the gaps in the railing that surrounds the stair well. There is a small cot available, which could be placed in the main bedroom or upstairs, and some baby gear too.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The upper twin is best for children although teens may find it a little small, and it shares a bathroom with the downstairs double.

Cots Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Dar Hajra is set in a forest above the white village of Montecorto, 20km from Ronda in Andalucia, southern Spain.

By Air
Fly into Jerez (100km), Seville (112km) or Málaga (118km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

By Train
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK or elsewhere in Spain, check out Seat 61. The high-speed AVE train can whisk you down from Madrid to Seville (2 hours) and from there you can pick up a hire car.

From the Airport
The owner can arrange transfers from the various airports - see Rates - or you can jump in a taxi. However your best (and cheapest) bet is probably to hire a car.

By Car
See our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Andalucia and getting around