Paz Y Calma Rural Accommodation/B&B, Castril

Castril

The accommodation which is on the ground floor sleeps 1-8 people comfortably in 4 separate beds. We are able to offer the accommodation as a whole or per rooms per night. We will provide you with everything you need to make your stay as comfortable as possible including the initial basics such as toilet rolls, washing up liquid, tea towels, soap and shampoo. There is a terrace with sun chairs to laze about in the sunshine, books for relaxation, plus games to keep adults and children occupied. Set in the quiet Eastern Andalucian Countryside you will be able to take in beautiful mountain views from the terrace, which is covered with grape vine (during the summer months), and simply sit back and enjoy a glass of local wine/beer. During the winter months you may enjoy the cooler evenings in front of an open fire. Fire wood is available free of charge during your visit.
The accommodation is located 1.3kms above the picturesque village of Castril in the mountainside of the relatively undiscovered natural park of the Sierra de Castril. The area will appeal to those looking for a different type of holiday where you will be away from the coast and discover the real Spain where agriculture is currently the main source of income.
We are located approximately 200 metres just off the main road in a small community of Spanish homes (mainly used as for holidays) where accessibility is very easy. There is plenty of parking outside our property in our communal parking area and if you are planning on coming with children, they are able to roam about quite freely outside without you having to be worried about them. There is a lovely walk down the lane by us that takes you around the side of the mountain where you can look over Lake Portillo and enjoy the views.
The Village of Castril - We are located in the Sierra de Castril, which is situated some 90 minutes north east of Granada in Eastern Andalucia and is set in a Natural Park which adjoins the Sierra de Cazorla. The Countryside is full of Olive and Almond Trees. Road cycling/mountain biking and walking are an absolute must here. The days remain mainly dry with blue skies and sunshine, although the evenings do get much cooler. There are plenty of places closeby and will enable you to take in more of the spectacular landscapes.

Castril has a stunning gorge walk. The walk commences at the river in Castril which is at the bottom of Castril and takes around 45 minutes to complete circulating the outer perimeter of the Village of Castril. There is also an alternative route which takes longer to complete, around 4 hours.

The village of Castril is a typical Andalucian white village with white houses on steep hills with small narrow cobbled streets. The village boasts several cafes and restaurants, as well as a Medical Centre, Pharmacy, a few small local food shops and a few shops that sell souvenirs as well as general hardware for your everyday needs. There are several squares and fountains where you can drink the fresh water running from the mountainside.

Friday is market day in Castril, and it usually becomes buzzing with people from all around the close by villages. The locals are very friendly but speak little English so a Phrase Book is well recommended. Once a month you will see farmers bringing their horses and donkeys for new shoes.

There are markets held all around the area on each day of the week.

Many of the locals are farmers and during your stay, you will no doubt encounter sheep, goats and working horses on the roadside.

There are also many restaurants in the nearby villages which are all very reasonable in price.

There is a tourist information centre at the top of Castril and is open daily during the summer months. During the winter months the centre is open Thursday through to Sunday from 12 - 2pm. We do have an information pack available in English on your arrival.

The Centre is well worth a visit as there is a museum, a 15 minute video about Castril, as well as a display on Caving and the wildlife and in particular, rare birds, seen in and around Castril.

Walking and Mountain Biking/Road Cycling through the Sierra de Castril and the surrounding area are an absolute must and there are many marked routes throughout the park/countryside.

For wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, painters and alike Castril and the surrounding area is absolutely stunning and has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Birds circle the area most days and include Vultures and Eagles, so be sure to bring some binoculars to appreciate in full.

Other activities in the area include:

Canoeing and other recreational activities at the Sierra de Castril, Lake Bolera and San Clemente during the Summer Season. Horse Trekking, Quad Biking, Caving, rock climbing and 4x4 treks are also available in the surrounding area to Castril.

The weather here during the summer months is extremely hot. During the winter months the weather does remain mostly sunny by day but nights do get extremely cold. Snow is not uncommon in the mountainside but rain remains low throughout the year.

The end of July/beginning of August Castril plays host to a music festival with musicians from portugal, italy and beyond. The evening events do not start until late evening, around 11pm but are worth listening to in the warm summer evenings....

The first week of October sees a big Spanish tradition, where you will experience bulls running in a cordoned off area of the village, and a large festival which lasts 7 days and 7 nights. The first 4 days are mainly religious, with the bull run and main events on the last 3 days which includes Dancing, and a huge Paella cooked in the village for all to share. Unlike some areas of Spain, the bulls are not killed here and are not badly treated in any way. It is a truely unique experience which should not be missed....
Further Afield -
Huescar (pronounced Westcar) is approx. 20 minutes from ourselves. A market takes place every Thursday and there is a Fresh Water Pool with fish in on the outskirts, where you can swim free of charge.

Baza is approx. 45 minutes from us and well worth a visit to take in some of its history and also to visit the Thermal Baths at nearby Zujar, which remain at a constant temperature of 18 degrees all year around, and is open all year.

The Sierra de Cazorla adjoins the Sierra de Castril and makes a perfect day out to take in the stunning mountain views, walks and other activities on offer.

Guadix is approximately 1hr from us and well worth a visit to see its cathedral, market which takes place on a Saturday and of course the famous Cave Houses.

For those who enjoy Golf, Granada Golf Course is approx. 1.5hrs from us, so you could combine a day of golf followed by a visit to the great Alhambra.

Almeria Golf Course is 1.5hrs from us, so why not drop dad or mum off at the golf club then take in the beach and sights of Almeria.

The central point of the more well known Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park can be reached in approximately 1.5 hours and makes a great drive with walks available upon arrival into the Natural Park as well as many castles of interest.

The Sierra Nevada ski slopes are 2 hours from ourselves. The slopes are generally good from November to May so if you would like to enjoy a combination of walking, cycling and skiing, we are in an ideal location.

For those wanting the rural setting but may like to visit the coast, why not spend a day at the beach.

The coast of Almeria is well worth a visit. Don't be put of by the "green houses" that cover some of the coast. It is a lovely place to visit for a day, and if you got a little further east, the coastline is extremely quiet and much more.

Alternatively, 1.5hrs to the east, Vera, hosts a Waterpark, and Mojocar is another popular coastal resort with 17kms of beaches.

We also have a man-made beach some 25 minutes from us. There are pedlows available for hire. It is mostly stone, but the water is very safe and there is a restaurant there as well.