Where to stay

All the accommodation listed below, or the people who run the places, are known to me. I have stayed in many of them, however, not for free. I am not compromised and only have places on this site I can honestly and impartially, recommend. 

Sierra de Gata

Camping el Merino
Just outside Villasbuenas de Gata is this beautiful campsite set in woods on an elevated site with impressive views all around. Their comprehensive website tells you everything you need to know about staying in this special place surrounded by tranquility and nature.
Jan and Edith speak several languages including English, Dutch and Spanish

Hotel Rural de El Duende del Chafaril       
This is a lovely old palace in the centre of San Martín de Trevejo. The hotel has comfy and stylish communal rooms and huge bedrooms with excellent bathrooms (mine had a bath and after a 19km walk I used it to relaxing effect). There is a pool and gardens. The restaurant is superb and the breakfasts are comprehensive and, because we were getting up early to walk, breakfast started early to accommodate us. This is an excellent place to stay.

A Velha Fábrica 
An outstanding Rural Hotel which is situated in Valverde del Fresno. It was awarded the 'Best Rural Hotel in Spain' accolade in 2019. It has an excellent restaurant (I last ate there on 6th June 2024) and is set in lovely gardens with a secluded pool - ideal for any holiday based in the Sierra de Gata.

Hospedería Conventual Sierra de Gata 
This is a newly-opened 4-star hotel, restaurant and coffee place just outside San Martín de Trevejo. Its futuristically modern interior contrasts with its 15th century exterior but it is on some excellent walking routes and I like it very much. They speak English but, although the website has an ‘English’ button it does not produce much English. Use a dictionary — it’s worth the effort.

Casa Rural Las Jañonas
This accommodation is in Gata and is run by a Spanish team who speak some English. There is also a restaurant of the same name in the main square in Gata. The food is amazing and tremendous value-for-money. I can personally recommend the food.

Valle del Ambroz

Hotel Rural 'El Jardín del Conde'
There are hundreds of places to stay in Hervás, Baños de Montemayor and all the other little villages in this stunning valley. However, just over the border in Salamanca province is this gem. Set in woods with an ancient garden, the hotel is very comfortable but the restaurant is superb. It's open to non-residents and is worth the extra few kilometres to find it. I have stayed here, yes. It was great.

Valle del Jerte

Hospedería Valle del Jerte
This is a good place to stay as it is within walking distance to the start of at least six different routes that I know — and have walked.
As expected from a Hospedería the place is lovely and very clean and comfortable. They are not at all fazed by walking boots, sticks and paraphernalia in their reception area nor by the size of the appetite of a hungry walker. That's very reassuring.

Sierra de Santa Cruz
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Casa Rural '25 de Abril'
Trinidad Grande runs one of the most beautiful casas rural I have ever been inside. It is an old village house sympathetically restored with huge rooms, lovely furniture, every comfort and a flower-filled patio. It is located just down from the pretty square in the heart of the village. The three en-suite, double rooms have individual names: 'Un Lugar Tranquilo en el Oeste' (A Peaceful Place in the West), '25 de Abril' (25th April) and 'Una Casa con Jardin y Silencio' (A House with Garden and Silence).

Sierra de Montánchez & Cáceres General

Finca Flores Amarillas
Iva and Paul, both language teachers with five languages between, are the owners of this beautiful casa rural. The house is available on a B&B or full-board basis or you can rent the whole house (June through September). It is a perfect place to just relax and do nothing except swim in their fabulous pool surrounded by flowering bushes. For the young-at-heart there is a children's playground.
Weekends at Finca Flores Amarillas are reserved for whole-house groups but Paul and Iva will be delighted to welcome singles and couples during the rest of the week.

Camper Stop Alegria
Joop and Yvon are two people from The Netherlands who have decades of personal experience in exploring Europe in a motorhome. They have the most perfect stop for motorhome owners exploring the wider area around the Sierra de Montánchez. You can be sure of a warm welcome and all the facilities you need at their camper stop. 'Alegria' is the Spanish word for 'happy' — which is appropriate.

Casa Rural La Atalaya
Not far from the village of Almoharín, this open and spacious casa rural is in lovely countryside right on a number of walking routes. There are three large double en-suite rooms plus a further two double rooms each with a private bathroom. Many of the furnishings are antique. In addition to the generous accommodation, which includes a ballroom and shady terrace, there is ample parking, a swimming pool and a children's play area outside.

Casa Rural ‘La Plaza’
 A modern rustic apartment, with reasonable rates, right in the heart of the village of Almoharín, just a few steps from the plaza.

Finca el Rabilargo
This finca, situated in lovely walking country between Almoharín and Arroyomolinos, has cottages to let for that perfect self-contained holiday as well as a room with B&B. There is a swimming pool to cool down in on hot days and extensive grounds to explore at leisure. In the evening you can enjoy a lovely dinner cooked by the owners.

Las Grullas
This camp site, near Benquerencia, is one with a difference — it is a Naturalist site. The whole site is set in glorious countryside and is very well maintained and discrete — just perfect for people who like to enjoy the open-air in its fullest sense.

Monfragüe National Park and Los Ibores, La Jara and Las Villuercas Geoparque

Finca las Abubillas
Gertjan and Elly offer luxury self-catering bungalows in a beautiful holm oak dehesa close to Monfragüe National Park and the northern part of Los Ibores and the Geoparque. The countryside is very natural and, I think, beautiful.  Gertjan and Elly speak Dutch, English, German and Spanish. There is a beautiful swimming pool on the Finca for relaxing and cooling down on hot days. 
For more information: www.extremadura-spain.co.uk

Cielo Abierto
​This lovely Casa Rural is Spanish-owned but the owners speak excellent English. The location is near a small village in las Villuercas and there are many walks and trails directly from the house.

Sierra Morena

​Hotel Leo
Monesterio, in the very south of Extremadura and only an hour from Seville, is a thriving town with all kinds of accommodation on offer. I stayed in the Complejo Leo 24h, a hotel-cum-truck-stop with two restaurants and shops, on the A66. That might sound strange but it was excellent, especially for a solo female walker. I loved it. There is another Hotel Leo actually in the town, as well.

Top photo: View of Almoharin from a local path that shadows the Mérida to Trujillo Cordel, but it higher up the mountain side