FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Hotel Consolacion, Teruel

WHERE is Teruel? Fair question. Not many people live here, few people visit, and hardly anyone has heard of it. A wild province, it belongs to Aragon in Spain’s northeast (halfway between Valencia and Barcelona, then in a bit) and, despite its splendid mediaeval villages, gorges, waterfalls and river trails, Consolacion is probably the best known thing in it – aside from the truffles and truffle hunters. The hotel is modern with striking, minimalist design and the most in-demand accommodation is in standalone cubes (called Kubes) offering uninterrupted views of nature, sunken baths, and hanging woodburners. www.consolacion.com.es

Encis d’Emporda, Girona

IT’S hard to beat a 17th century stonewalled, ivy-covered Catalan farmhouse for charm, especially when it’s well-heated. This is another adults-only escape, this time with accommodation offered in charming, art-filled suites, all of which have views, terraces, deep baths, and the all-important wood-burning stoves. There’s a fire in the library, too. The hotel is in the Emporda countryside, just 20-minutes from the beaches of Costa Brava.

www.hotelruralencisdemporda.com

SUNK deep in a valley carved by the Guadalquivir, this old-fashioned but special place is surrounded by a magical world of forests, deer and snuffling boar – and sometimes snow. The winding drive to the Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park in the under-visited province of Jaen is worth it: In summer, there’s swimming, camping and kayaking, while in winter it’s a top spot for long walks though the river valley, spotting birds, boars and deer – and over-eating hearty campo food at nu-

Convento Santa Maria de la Sierra, Sierra de Cazorla

merous cheap and cheerful bars. The Convento is very Spanish and very atmospheric, with fireplaces in many of the ground floor rooms, and ecclesiastical touches.

www.conventosantamaria.com www.hotelnabia.es

LOCATED 190 km west from Madrid, just south of the winter playground that is the Sierra de Gredos National Park, this is a popular and rather romantic weekend break spot. To keep that loving feeling, do make sure to book one of the suites with a fireplace in the living room. And, if it’s a special occasion, try to get the Valley suite which has floor to ceiling windows looking out over oaks and chestnut trees and one of those hydro-massage baths, as well.