Holiday cottage in fabulous setting, Picos de Europa, Cantabria

The house was lovely and well situated in a quiet village about 15 minutes from Potes. We really enjoyed exploring the area, especially the Picos. For the most part the house was well equipped. Unfortunately, the washing machine was broken and the owners were not very helpful and their communication was poor."

This is a lovely lovely property in a beautiful and peaceful location; in the hills yet convenient for other places. The only sound was the singing of birds and the clank of sheep- and cow-bells. Just a couple of points: it took us about a week of trial and error to work out how to use the ultra-modern hob as there were no instructions that we could find. An oven would have been useful. The notes say that the lady can speak English - she can't. I know that we were the visitors in her country and that we shouldn't presume but that's what the notes say. It wasn't a problem, but it might have been. The cider place at Aniezo (mentioned in the gastronomy notes) closed down years ago, otherwise the paperwork from Rustical was excellent. All in all a fabulous trip in a beautiful, uncommercial and not over-touristy part of the world. Would strongly recommend."

Having stayed at this property about 8 years previously, we knew what a lovely house it was and in a perfect location to get away from it all. Once again the house did not disappoint, in fact some improvements had been made since our last visit; the property is very well maintained, very clean and comfortable and very well equipped, with a choice of both inside and outside seating areas. The garden is an added bonus and offers fantastic views of the Picos. The house is in a small hamlet with walks in every direction straight from the front door and the local people (including the hosts) were very friendly. We had wanted to bring two dogs with us and the contact we had with Rustical Travel to organise this was straight froward and efficient. If you enjoy comfort, solitude, walking in beautiful locations with fabulous views, and peace but for the tinkle of cow bells, this is the place for you."

Wonderful cottage.Very clean.Stunning position,Walks from the door,swimming pool in nearby village and short drive to Potes.This is our 3rd visit."

Fijn huis met een geweldig uitzicht."

Casa maravillosa en un paraje precioso. La propietaria Elsa y su familia muy atentos en todo momento facilitando la estancia y las comodidades. Volveremos por supuesto!!"

Wonderful place to relax and explore the area , walking straight from the door, very friendly hosts / neighbours."

We stayed here 2 years ago and enjoy the unspoilt tranquility of Barago and the spectacular scenery and nature to be found in the Picos and surrounding area. The property was spot-on for our needs and the owners welcoming and friendly. We hope to return and spend more time in this wonderful part of Spain."

We had a really lovely week in this cottage, in the first half of October. For us the situation on the edge of a farming hamlet, near the head of the valley was a delight with magnificent limestone outcrops nearby and distant views of the Picos range. All the surrounding countryside was traditionally farmed with plenty of sheep, cows and bells and walnut trees everywhere. The walks from the cottage were excellent, with well used grassy tracks through the hills and a good map on the village sign board. The cottage itself was fully renovated and very convenient, warm and well furnished. We found places to eat in La Vega, at a simple level, but as is the custom in Spain, they don’tstart serving until 9.00 pm! The little local shop was useful too and look out for the artisan jam maker (not always open). Potes was a good town and thriving local centre with lots of historical interest, a bakery, local shops and plenty of places to eat. We would recommend also driving up to Dobres and Cucayo through the tunnels under the dramatic, inverted limestone strata, and one can eat up there too - or walk up via the track leading from the cottage if you like a climb. These villages are in a stunning situation and offer more wonderful walks and some interesting geology. We found so much in the locality we did not need to go any further."

This is a quaint cottage set in a very peaceful and beautiful area, secluded and with great views. Although there are some nice walks nearby, most of the more interesting walks you will have to drive to. If you like walking and can read a map, then there are many hikes and spectacular and varied landscapes to enjoy. The cottage itself is relatively basic and simple, but adequate. The rooms are a reasonable size, but my general sense was that the owners could push the boat out a little and spend a small amount on kitchen equipment, some of it basic such as knives and cups, (we actually bought some to tide us over), towels and duvets rather than tired old blankets and linen, broken kitchen knives, perhaps a lamp in the lounge? Perhaps a coffee machine that provided for more than one cup would be helpful as the cottage sleeps three to four. A bit of thought and attention would go a long way. Bathroom is fine and the hot water seems to work well."

All organised very well. Holiday went very well and a superb area for a good rest."

The cottage was everything that we expected. Very quiet very beautiful scenery with good walks from nearly every village nearby. My wife and I took our two dogs who seemed to enjoy the experience. The weather was a bit unpredictable but even the professionals couldn’t get it right forecasting storms every day of which only one materialized. I would certainly recommend this cottage, everything was as described apart from a missing BBQ: but I suspect that this facility has been withdrawn for the risk of fire. Walking or hiking boots essential."

Very happy with our stay in The Picos at AC12. The property is comfortable and has everything we needed. Fabulous location in an authentic Picos Village, Amazing views. Great walks from the casita. We plan to book the casita again.Very happy with the service from Ruistical travel. Thank you."

We had the most fantastic holiday in this wonderful cottage, the location is stunning and we will never forget the wonderful views of the Picos de Europa during breakfast and dinner sat outside every evening. The cottage was warm and welcoming and had everything we needed, it was home from home and we haven't felt so relaxed for years, we didn't want to go home! The owners were very welcoming and provided us with fire wood, tomatoes, eggs and walnuts. The walks directly from the cottage are fantastic and Potes is very accessible being only 20 minutes drive away. We will definitely be returning as there is so much to see and do. We are so pleased we have discovered this wonderful part of Spain and so glad we chose this perfect location to stay."

Ha sido una de las mejores vacaciones, tanto como elección de la casa, del lugar y de la gente. Para quienes desean la intimidad, lejos de ruidos. Los propietarios siempre disponibles y atentos. Para aconsejar realmente y seguramente repetiremos."

We had a wonderful family holiday in this cottage, exploring the stunning Picos National Park. We especially loved the quiet seclusion of this property, and the superb views as we sat outside and ate dinner each night. We left more relaxed than we have felt for years! The directions to the cottage were superb and we enjoyed going to some of the recommended sites (Soplao caves, San Vicente, Fuente De, Care Gorge). The cottage itself was comfortable and well-equipped with everything we needed (except a sharp knife!). Thank you for a great holiday - we are definitely coming back to this amazing part of Spain."

We had a fantastic one week stay in august. Setting near the borders of the Picos was amazing, so quiet and peacefull! In the morning the sheeps and cows pass. Made beautiful walks near Mongroviejo and to Tresviso. The house was not too big but big enough for a family of four and everything was clean.Nice small garden too. Car parking next to the house is somewhat difficult because of the steep and small road. The peaple here are very nice too."

This cottage was delightful. We did miss some kind of oven, and there was no nearby place to eat, but we knew all that before we booked and to be honest the cottage is only improved by its tranquil and somewhat isolated location. The pictures are spot-on with the slight caveat that the view of the mountains up the lane does not show how really close they are in reality. If you love mountains like we do you're going to love this cottage. If you should need the heating it is astonishingly effective, warming the property up in 15 minutes. The shower is a good one and the bed was very comfortable. Enjoy the sunsets from the front porch. Drink in the sounds of birds and of a thousand cow bells- a non-stop background symphony! I simpy cannot fault this cottage. The owner Marie Angeles was on hand immediately if we needed her, but generally speaking we didn't see her. The villagers were all friendly and always greeted us with smiles, nods and waves. There is a small place to park your car, bur don't rely upon it because it looks like it may belong to another villager's property. It was very welcome though because it would have been a trek up the steep road with the cases and shopping. You'll need to get provisions; stop in Potes at the supermarket just before the left turning for La Vega. It's open until 9 or 9-30 and stocks everythig you'll need. (Sidre for example!) We would certainly consider returning, but I note from all the emails and onslaught of targetted internet advertising that Rustical Travel have many other enticing cottages,but this- our first experiece of Spain leaves us as converts. The information package sent to us by Rustical Travel was top notch. The directions were completely unambiguous and the area information was as good as any guide book, better in fact. Rustical Travel were very accommodating when I was trying to tie up other bookings such as air travel, car hire and dog sitting. You will definitely need a car, if only for the mandatory visit to the spectacle that is the Fuenté-Dé cable car (arrive early or not at all!) but even to get into La Vega or Potes for some food. On car hire- avoid Avis and Hertz. We had to queue for over an hour for our car while the Six-T desk was empty. Avis were too focussed on fleecing upgrades out of everyone. The drive through the gorge was as spectacular as it was hair raising thanks to the devil-may-care attitude to blind bends and narrow roads adopted by those that commute there regularly. When walking trails watch out for the shepherding dogs, according to the Cicerone guide book they'll fight to the death to protect their charges. We didn't know that and carried on straight through the herd of goats while two of these lumbering great beasts barked at us ferociously. Later we met two Spanish lady walkers who raised their eyebrows and told us that they'd found another way to bypass the goats. You have been warned! When you go, thank Marie Angeles again for us as we were left with wonderful memories. ;"

We found the communication and service from Rustical Travel to be spot-on. The property was lovely and had everything needed in terms of facilities so cooking utensils etc, towels, soap, iron etc and hot water was plentiful. Some older feedback implied that you would need to buy a few cooking utensils but this is now not the case; the only thing to sort out is your own food including the likes of cooking oil. We left unused coffee etc for the next folks to help out. We were largely blessed with good weather and the walks in the whole area are awe-inspiring and the wildlife abundant. If this is your bag, it's incredible. Do allow far longer than the times indicated on walking routes especially if you want to take it all in and stop for photo's. Do take waterproofs, the occasional thunderstorms can be dramatic! Do take the cable-car at Fuente De but be there early to avoid queues. The view from the top is truly grand. Nearby Potes is a nice little town with a proper old-style market on Monday morning worth a visit with local cheeses and meats. Eating out is a bit of a lottery, more rustic than cordon bleu but plenty of it and mid-day seems to be the norm for big meals with less on offer in the evenings. Overall. loved it!"

Beautiful house scenery amazing holiday d a fantastic h"

What a beautiful, peaceful spot. We found enough to occupy us without travelling very far afield; walking up into the hills was fabulous and we loved the nearby village of La Vega. Potes has more than enough shops, restaurants and bars to occupy any inquisitive tourist and the drive up to Fuente Dé and its cable-car ride are unmissable. The house in Bárago is comfortable and well-equipped, with plenty of hot water and a good supply of towels, linen and kitchen equipment, although we were surprised not to find an oven. Just make sure you shop accordingly. The barbecue works perfectly well if you can keep the cat away. The directions to the cottage were excellent and all the local people we met were warm, friendly and welcoming. Don't expect to hear English spoken though. (This was never a problem)."

The location and views from the property exceeded our expectations. The property was well equipped and we cooked most of the time. The bed and pillows could be improved as we woke with backache. The extra toilet downstairs was welcome. All the reference books were in Spanish, an English one would be useful. The local villagers were extremely friendly. Overall we were very happy with our stay and would gladly return."

We had a lovely time in Picos de Europa in September. Great customer service from Rustical Travel. Definitely our first choice for holiday accommodation in Spain. The cottage in Barago was very cosy, beautifully decorated, with the most amazing views. The landladies were very hospitable. Neighbours were also very friendly. We would love to visit again. Thank you."

Beautiful area, nice spacious house fairly well equipped. pleasant, friendly neighbours (even the dogs were friendly). We enjoyed our two weeks enormously. Only one minor problem in that the electricity supply overloaded and the fuses shut down. Unfortunately the fuse panel is hidden behind a picture and I was unable to find it which meant I had to phone the owner and explain the problem in my very bad spanish. I must of succeeded as a short time later someone appeared and removed the picture exposing the fuse box. It might be helpful to label or indicate the location of the fuses. Toda en toda una vacacione estupendo.. neuventa nueve por ciento perfecto. Bien hecho. Gracias Stephen."

This is perfect for a quiet rural retreat situated in a small hamlet above Potes with remarkable views over Picos towering rock faces with vultures soaring above. The owners are affable, the place easy to find with all but the last few yards on a metalled road. Although on the edge of the Picos it is well placed for exploring. The cottage was immaculately clean and it was reasonably equipped. Our only problem was that the hot water supply seemed very restricted from the on-demand boiler. Perhaps we were at fault and being limited in our spanish we did not ask the owners for help. This place was recommended to us by young family who said they had had one of their best holidays ever there. We agree with their advice. We hope to return sooner rather than later."

We had a wonderful week in Bàrrago, and the cottage and setting were exactly as described. We were unable to telephone the owners on our journey from Santander because of phone signal problems, which continued throughout our visit (this was of no concern to us, but might be worth noting for others). The owner is just a few houses away and would, I know, have helped in any way had we needed her to. She brought beautiful tomatoes from her garden for us as a way of welcoming us, but beyond that we did not see her - or need her assistance - for the whole week. Bàrrago is some miles from the nearest shop. We went prepared for the first evening's meal, and were able to sort ourselves on the Sunday morning in nearby La Vega. But it might be worth warning future guests that there is literally nothing in the food cupboard (no salt, no pepper, no oil, no coffee, no sugar etc.). English people who are used to English holiday cottages will usually find at least the basics in some form. This is in no way a complaint! We were delighted with our week and were blessed with some magnificent weather."

We had a great week here in August 2016. The village where the cottage is situated is not that far from the tourist crowds around Potes, but equally just far enough to feel you have escaped into peace and quiet! The locals are really friendly and often said hello and had a short chat which was nice. The views from the front porch are just fantastic and we spent many an hour relaxing there. There are also some really nice walks in the area, not least straight up the track that leads from the house! As a small bit of feedback to the owner, a few more pillows would have been good as would a sharp knife for cooking. That said though, we would really recommend the cottage if you are going to the Picos area."

Lovely cottage in a stunning location. Everything went to plan. Found Rustical Travel very helpful with all the information they provided. Would certainly look at their range of cottages again when we next travel to Spain."

We stayed in this same cottage 2 years ago and came back to it because of its wonderfully peaceful location and so many excellent walks around that area. We were not disappointed. The owners have made some very useful improvements, making 2 larger bedrooms instead of 3 tiny ones and improving the kitchen (they do still need to put a wire cover over the kitchen extractor fan outlet). This time we stayed in late June/early July, and the weather was a bit warmer although it's still quite fresh so high up. All the birdsong, the butterflies and flowers were absolutely wonderful. The owners were very friendly and helpful - advising us to switch the heating on for some of the time as it was quite cool in the evenings. Also it was lovely to receive gifts of fresh eggs and lettuces! An excellent cottage for a really peaceful stay in a totally rural and remote location with lots of walks."

We had a good stay in this very nice cottage! Quiet, beautyfull views and friendly villagers. Cottage had everything you need and is decorated with care."

Just had a fantastic week here in early April. Still snow on the mountains, but excellent walking to be had in the sheltered valleys all around. Cottage is warm, comfy and charming with everything you could wish for. Landlady very helpful but doesn't speak English. Rustical travel will send you a detailed and informative guide to the local area -I thoroughly recommend this company. There's a general store and some restaurants in the next village, and Potes has a supermarket and farmers market. You do need a car. Roads are very twisty but empty. Wildlife amazing - bears and vultures! - incredible scenery - total peace and quiet. Don't come if you need discos and cinemas."

We arrived to a great welcome, and were shown all aspects of the cottage. We immediately felt totally at home. Everything we could need was taken care of. The views were spectacular, the peace and tranquility amazing. Cow bells and friendly faces are lasting memories."

We had a lovely time - the property was wonderful and couldn't have been in a better location. Just a shame we had to leave a couple of days early. We did try to leave a brief thank you note when we left but our Spanish isn't great! Please do pass on our thanks to Elsa and Mari. We've also been really impressed with the service from yourselves and will definitely be using you again".

What a superb location and it was just what we wanted. The house and garden were to an excellent standard and we enjoyed meeting both Marie and Elsa. To wake up each morning to the sight of Griffon Vultures circling into the air, and to hear the sound of cow bells in the evening was magical. On occasions the hot water in the shower was a little "cool" but overall the property was fantastic. We walked in the hills every day and were so impressed with the provision of mapboards in most of the villages and the high standard of maintenance of the public rights of way. Brilliant holiday"

The holiday cottage was exactly as described in a beautiful hamlet with lovely views of fields, mountains and woods. The property was very well cared for, spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated with a homely feel, not just a bland house with minimal comforts as some rental accommodation can be. The house had all the facilities required to enjoy a home-from-home experience and ensure a relaxing time. The garden area was well tended and had several options for seating including the under cover area which was useful if it was rainy or too sunny! There were plenty of varied walks directly from the property and it was also reasonably close to the other regions of interest in the Picos e.g. Potes, Fuente De etc. I would certainly recommend this property to anyone looking for an off-the-beaten track, peaceful holiday home which you are free to enjoy without disturbance and anyone who enjoys unspoilt tranquil (though occasionally taxing!) walks."

Many thanks for this holiday. The location was great, and the house, and we really enjoyed our time there. Can you pass our thanks onto the owners. We had to get away early on the Saturday for our flight and our Spanish isn’t very good anyway so we didn’t get to say goodbye."

The house we stayed in Cantabria was absolutly devine. The view could not be better. It was the real rustical feel we were looking for. My compliments for the service and handling."

hi! we had an amazing holiday. i think you really offer an excellent service... the house was perfect for us and the local information was really very useful and done with good taste. thanks!"

We had a fantastic week in a perfect cottage in a lovely rural setting. We arrived on the agreed time and the friendly owner showed us our holiday cottage, which is situated very nice at the end of the small village, the cottage was clean and very complete with a small but perfect private garden."

We had a fabulous holiday. The owners were lovely and the house was great. More rural than we expected, but fantastic. We went to a lot of places that you recommended and ejoyed them all. The only comments I would make is that the complete walk to Cucayo was much too hard for us but we enjoyed what we did do. It would be helpful if your information about the cave-chapel at Cambarco included a few directions i.e. walk down to the river, cross the bridge then turn right and follow the river to the cave. We also took the FEVE train from Umbraco to Ribadesella which was on time and very cheap. Thank you again from all of us for your help."

I felt I must pass on to you our thanks for such a lovely holiday in Barago! We had a fantastic time – the cottage was spotless and the location was idyllic... It was great to experience the Spanish culture and be away from all the tourists! Your recommendations in the area were very useful and we had meals at Asador Lorente, Meson de Vega and a particularly good lunch at Posada de Curacaya. After two days of rain we had two days of hot sunshine, followed by showers and sunshine. Our two boys were not bored and, besides eating lots, we went to the Monastery, Fuente De and our youngest son got to go on the zip wire over the river in Potes – he was thrilled!!! It was a truly memorable trip and we look forward to trying out some more Rustical Travel accommodation in the future. Thanks for all your hard work, you have been very kind!"

Our second time at this property and hopefully not last! Amazing location in the Liebana valley, close to Potes and many amazing walks A very warm and welcoming house. The owner, Maria who lives at the end of the road made us feel part of the local community even if just for 8 days! Highly recommend! We stayed with little children-1 and 3 they just loved it! Thank you Rustical Travel!"

Hello, There were 3 of us in the party and we were all very impressed with the cottage, the area, the scenery etc. We only met one of the owners (mum) - it is owned by Mum and daughter - but she made us extremely welcome. The cottage had everything we needed plus a BBQ - which we cooked on every night, mum (I do apologise as I can't remember her first name) even gave us a dozen fresh eggs and fresh tomatoes for our supper one evening. There was also plenty of local maps, information booklets supplied, should you need them. We felt very at home and chilled out for the whole week. Our closest town - Potes - had all the amenities we needed, supermarket, shops, street market, petrol station etc. which was brilliant. The area was superb, it was a joy to have such beautiful surroundings and so peaceful. We headed in a different direction every day and we were not disappointed with anything we saw. We would most certainly consider returning in the future. Northern Spain is an absolute gem!!!"

Everything as expected. The cottage was very well cleaned as we arrived"

Just like to say, for the record, how lovely this property is. Owner very helpful, area fabulous. Great to have two toilets which don't often appear. Thought this review might help future guests.

The holiday was wonderful. We loved the area and did many breathtaking walks both from Barago/Cucayo and on the massif. In the three weeks, we did almost everything recommended by yourselves and others, but feel there is so much more to do there. I would be very happy to return there next year, but my husband is never keen to return to the same area twice. It might be worth mentioning in the casa description that there is now an open air swimming pool at La Vega. It was free while we were there, but we do not know if that will always be the case. Many thanks."