Ian and Elaine loved going up to the rural parts of Andalucia for a weekend to get away from their busy life at the coast where they ran a successful restaurant.
They enjoyed staying in various country hotels, often in beautiful surroundings, sometimes with superb food, and occasionally with great service. They decided to try to bring all these things together and created Hotel Molino del Puente.
To start with, they needed a great location, which they found just a short drive north of Ronda, just off the A 374 to Seville. The area lends itself perfectly to all kinds of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, climbing and horseback riding. Birdwatchers and flower enthusiasts also come from all over the province to this area.
The hotel itself is surrounded by lush vegetation and a stream that runs right next to it, where you will also find two ancient bridges (hence the name Puente, which is Spanish for bridge), which are more than 400 years old.
The hotel building also dates back to that era and used to be an olive and flour mill. It was ‘a complete ruin’ when Ian and Elaine bought it a couple of years ago and it took them one and a half years of renovation to make it into their dream hotel. But it was all worth it in the end.
Since the doors opened last September, Hotel Molino del Puente offers a high standard of cuisine combined with luxury accommodation in a beautiful setting only a 10-minute drive from Ronda.
The restaurant offers both local and international dishes made from local produce. Some of the many delicacies include rack of lamb, fresh fish specials, baby chicken with roasted vegetable and a variety of pastas, salads and much more.
There are 10 rooms available, all en-suite and of very high standard. Some are even equipped with hydro-massage bath and others with private terraces.
Hotel Molino del Puente organises wine weekends which have become very popular. These take place every six weeks and include visits to the local bodegas where expert Spanish wine makers will share their secrets and the tours will of course also include plenty of opportunity for sampling.
The weekends also include lunches and dinners at the hotel, where different wines are offered for each course, as well as two night’s accommodation.
The next wine weekend will be held on July 28th & 29th but spaces fill up quickly so book soon.