Pablo de Ronda, half-Welsh and familiar with the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, has already written about “The Other Ronda Valley”, near Ronda in Andalucía, where he has lived for nearly 15 years.
Now there is another – and new - Ronda Valley.
Just down the road from where I live on the outskirts of Ronda in a pedania known as Fuente de la Higuera, is a hotel, which has been known for decades as the Don Benito. The hotel has had a series of different “owners” – Spanish, Dutch, Spanish, Spanish and latterly Portuguese – none of whom, apart from the latter, managed to make it work, despite its prime location, huge car park, large terrace, pool and tennis and padel courts.
The penultimate owners, a small hotel group from Seville changed the name to Posada de Ronda, but after the bad flood in October 2018, they walked away. The current owners are Portuguese and they gave the place a makeover. They “chucked out the chintz”, redecorated in lighter colours, and added a few stunning murals.
They also changed the hotel’s name. To Ronda Valley to fit with their sister hotel in nearby Arriate called Ronda Moments.
With a staff overhaul and a new cook, things are looking up. Their competitive hotel room pricing ensures there are always guests.
And the bar accommodates the locals too: farmers, vineyard workers, gardeners, retired folk and a few guiris like me.
¡Salud!