Hotel Cerro de Hijar, Tolox, Andalucia - Explore & Book

"Tolox is a sleepy mountain white village, perched midway between Ronda and Malaga, which had a brief moment of glory when its spa became the place to take the waters. A narrow road cuts past a number of elegant turn-of-the-century buildings, and the springs, before looping steeply up to the white and ochre façade of this cheerful hilltop hotel. From here there are soaring views out across terraced groves of olives and almonds to the distant, glittering Mediterranean.This is a hotel with a light heart and one where you instinctively wind down. Stepping inside to a bright, colour-washed reception you’ll be greeted by one of the hotel’s young and relaxed staff. Upstairs, 18 simple, spacious bedrooms grab a slice of that amazing mountain panorama. Downstairs is a surprisingly classy restaurant, with good wines and local meats; and a sitting room with groovy Daliesque bar stools, a roaring fireplace (in low season), and a pool table. Outside: a panoramic swimming pool with loungers, leafy lawned gardens, and a micro-spa with hot tub, sauna and deck chairs overlooking the gorge. A perfect spot to wind down after a day's hiking among pine forests, or plunging into the river pools of the Caballos valley. Highs Simply amazing location: a high perch on the eastern flank of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park (a Unesco Biosphere Reserve), just an hour's drive from MalagaKlara, Steffi and Afaf are easy, affable hosts; the atmosphere is very relaxedThe walking, straight out from the hotel, is simply fabulous. Don’t forget your boots and a day packThe food here is streets ahead of the kind you would normally expect in a hotel of this category and locationWe loved the silence, the views and the sounds of nature: birdsong, wind in the pines, and an occasional renegade frog Lows The staff at Híjar are multi-taskers. You may occasionally have to go in search of a receptionist or a bar personYou need a car to get here; but most likely will use it very littleNervous drivers may find the road up to the hotel a little hair-raisingBedrooms and (especiallly) bathrooms are on the simple side, but perfectly comfy" - Michael Cullen