La Bobadilla Loja Hotel

AL Finca La Bobadilla, 18300 Loja, Granada

The Sierra de Loja mountain range undulates across the Spanish countryside, giving way to the very best of Andalucia. La Bobadilla certainly fits the bill, taking ‘bucolic hideaway’ to the next level. It is self-contained, but rest assured this isn’t the ‘resort’ experience you might expect as you fly in to Malaga airport (40 minutes away by car). Designed by local architect Jesús del Valle and inspired by Spain’s Moorish history, the hotel is a joyful maze of interconnecting courtyards, fountains and gardens. Wooden ceilings, tiled patios and marble columns combined with rich furnishings make the space feel homely, while hidden nooks reveal themselves as you explore.

The 70 rooms and suites blend warm hues with rustic brickwork and include a private sitting room and garden, terrace or balcony to ensure moments of solitude, where only the sound of swooping swallows will interrupt.

Local ingredients served across the hotel’s three restaurants will leave you with a mild jamón habit; at the locally acclaimed La Finca, braised goat and violet ice cream are exemplary of the mountainous setting.

Around 1,000 acres of private olive groves meet with orange trees (you’re not far from Seville, remember) offering perfect hiking terrain. As well as an indoor pool and spa, a seasonal open-air pool invites you to take in the rays (a full weather report for the day ahead is left on your bed each evening). Golf, tennis, cycling and horse-riding are also available. Local oil and wine tastings and cooking classes are a more sedate way to spend an afternoon. BG. Doubles from £136.