Posada del Valle

Hotel Posada Del Valle is a small quiet country hotel with a cosy friendly atmosphere. It is a perfect place to relax, surrounded by its own organic 14 acre farm, close to the Picos de Europa and the beaches of eastern Asturias. There is excellent walking in the region, gourmet food, wild flowers, bird watching and many other activities.

The hotel was originally a priest's farmhouse constructed in stone and wood at the end of the 19th century. It is built on to the side of a mountain offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, including the Picos de Europa, the Ponga Mountain range and the Sierra del Sueve. On the ground floor the stables have been converted into a comfortable lounge with an open fire and a small bar for guests' use. On the same level is a glass gallery that forms the dining room overlooking the valley and the mountains. On the first floor there is another lounge with a small library and large windows. In total there are 12 bedrooms, all with outstanding views. There are 6 doubles in the original stone part of the building and 2 doubles, 2 triples and 2 junior suites in the new part. The triples have a mezzanine, so are not really suitable for very young children. All the bedrooms have en suite bathroom, as well as television, telephone and central heating.

Hotel Posada del Valle is run by its owners Nigel and Joann Burch and their son and daughter Sebastian and Samantha. Having lived and worked in Spain since 1981, their interest and knowledge of the surrounding countryside will help you understand and enjoy it, and allows them to provide various guided and self-guided walks.

The hotel sits within a 14 acre organic farm on the south-facing slope of a small valley. Part of the farm is dedicated to traditional hay meadows and wild meadows where grazing is carefully controlled so as to encourage the development of a wide range of wild flowers. The meadows are grazed by a flock of the rare sheep breed "xaldas". The Xalda sheep (of Celtic origin) are the true indigenous sheep of Asturias. The farm lambs are used in the Hotel restaurant and sold to specialist restaurants as "organic Xaldo lamb". The meat is fibrous but tender with less fat and slightly stronger in flavour. Six acres of the farm are dedicated to the production of cider apples, cider being the traditional drink of Asturias.

This area of northern Spain ("Green Spain" to its friends) has some of the most beautiful rural scenery in the whole of Spain: spectacular snow-topped mountains, deep valleys, lush pastures, beautiful coastal scenery with wave-battered cliffs, wide beaches of fine sand and sheltered coves. There is an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife: deer, birds of prey, chamois, wild horses, wolves and even a small population of brown bears. This hotel is an ideal base for discovering the mountains of the Picos de Europa, and the Ponga mountains and the Sueve range. It's also perfect for visiting the coastline of Asturias, where there are many vast deserted beaches and rocky cliffs.

Meals

The restaurant offers excellent home cooking, with an imaginative use of fresh regional produce. It is open exclusively for the hotel guests, serving breakfasts and evening meals. Breakfasts consist of natural fruit juice, freshly baked bread and cakes, a selection of cereals, fresh fruit, cheese or cold meats and coffee or a selection of herbal teas. For the evening meal there is a set menu with 2 choices, which changes daily. There is always a vegetarian option (sometimes by way of choosing 2 starters) however it is best to advise the hotel if you are vegetarian before you arrive.

At certain times of the year, organic "Xaldo" lamb from the hotel farm is available. Local speciality cheeses, cold meats and smoked fish are also available as well as home-made soups and salads.

Breakfast € 8.75 per person.

Evening meal € 26 per person.

Restaurant service not available at mid day.

Out and About

Walking, canoeing, beaches, horse-riding, caving, climbing.

Places to visit:
Picos de Europa
Ponga mountains
Sueve mountains
Covadonga national park
Sobrefoz, Ventaniella, Taranes, the Peloño beech forest, and Vallemoro.
Mirador del Fito
Llanes beaches
Ribadasella beaches
Playa de Gulpiyuri
La Isla
Villaviciosa

Comfortable bedrooms each with en-suite bathroom, television, telephone and central heating. Some have a queen-size (1.50m) double bed and others have twin beds.

The majority of the rooms are in the original stone part of the building and the rest are in the new part of the hotel. All rooms have outstanding views.

These rooms are slightly larger than the standard double rooms and have windows on two sides. They have a king-size (1.80m) double bed.

The third bed is on a small mezzanine so is not suitable for very young children.