El Molino de Cicera — Hotel in Peñarrubia

We've stayed here twice, returning recently after a six-year interval. El Molino is actually a stone-built country house (any mill was presumably by the stream at the bottom of the garden) with large, slightly dark rooms. The ceilings have exposed beams and the furniture is pleasingly old-fashioned, although there are full modern facilities (washing machine, microwave, TV, wifi etc) as well. ||There is a large garden you can use and views along the valley to rocky cliffs on the edge of the Picos de Europa massif.||It's a very peaceful place to relax and each self-contained flat within El Molino has a kitchen and bathroom, so you have complete privacy (and in fact the rest of the house was mostly empty when we stayed).||There are several lovely walks from Cicera towards the Desfiladero de La Hermida (a spectacular rocky gorge) and to the west, including an old pilgrim route. Also nearby is the Mirador de Santa Catalina, which offers views right down into the gorge and across it to the Picos.||We loved it here, but there are two things which might not suit everyone:||1. Cicera is at the end of a side road, a 20-minute drive up a steep, twisty road from the Desfiladero de La Hermida. It has no shops and we never saw either of the two cafes (one at El Molino itself) open for business. So you are fairly cut off, and if you are here to explore the Picos de Europa, you will have an extra 45 mins or more of driving each day to get in and out of the main area.||We enjoyed the remoteness, but some might find it inconvenient.||2. There isn't always anyone from the family which owns El Molino at the house, and so if you need anything attending to, you may have to ring someone and wait a while. Again, that was no problem for us, but be aware that this isn't a full...

This is one of the most exquisite properties I stayed at during the couple of weeks I spent driving around Spain. One could describe El Molino as an amalgamation of a Swiss chalet and a cozy English manor! It's in a village at the end of a gorgeous drive winding through a natural park.

David is one part of a husband-wife team that operate this gorgeous 10 key property; he is one of the most hospitable innkeepers you will meet. He loves what he does and its indicative in the attention to detail he has put into the rooms and other areas within the property.

I was there rather impromptu and only for the evening but I highly recommend an extended stay (carry some nice food and wine!), sit in the verandah or the gardens overlooking the hills and enjoy some of the best hospitality Cantabria and Spain have to offer! PS. Ask David to direct you to the waterfall by the property, it's a lovely walk and...

We stayed in El Molino for a good week and had a wonderful time. El Molino is located in a nice little village in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by lush green and forests. It is a great start for walks and hikes in the area. The huge garden is very inviting and we spent some nice hours lying on the green grass (a few deckchairs would be perfect). Our room was tidy and very clean (and no mosquitoes as lots of swallows around), room service every day, clean towels from the friendly room service if you ask. Small hint for tall „central europeans“: choose a room with two single beds rather than a queensize (135 cm) … ;-) David is a great host, always ready to help, who provides you with good advice and local insight information where to go to, what to visit, including good restaurant tips. We would always recommend El...