Olmares Manor House is a step back in history, with wide oak beams and shuttered windows. It’s location in a quiet village, with views across the valley and hills and handy for exploring Potes and the Picos mountains, is fantastic. The house would benefit from some minor renovations to bring it up to modern expectations without losing its wonderful character, especially in lighting and in the kitchen, but everything works and the kitchen is equipt with most things that a chef needs. The garden and courtyard area were well used for meals and there is outdoor furniture and shade umbrellas. We were there in late August and the mosquitoes were fierce at night, which meant keeping windows closed and made the bedrooms a bit stuffy, with no fans provided. However, the overall experience was that you felt you had had an authentic Spanish holiday!

Our group of six thoroughly enjoyed our stay in particular the location. The house was extremely interesting and offered all the modern comforts in a very old dwelling. The view was spectacular and the walks around the area were equally as good. The home was always warm and there was ample hot water for our group. Richard was attentive and offered plenty of suggestions for things to do and see. We would recommend a stay at Olmares for anyone looking for a peaceful stay in the mountains.

The Liebana Valley and the 'Big House' at Olmares really is one of those truly special places and we can honestly say that in many years of travelling far and wide we have never found anywhere so perfect. If you love stunning mountain scenery, not the harsh rocky type but the sort that is filled with dramatic mountain peaks that tower over verdant valleys filled with ancient oak forests and an abundance of flora then this is the place for you. These secretive and properly wild mountains and valleys are comparatively unknown and little visited, they are a true bastion of exciting wilderness and home to wild boar, brown bear, eagles and wolves, completely uniquely..in Europe certainly. My kids..boy 13 and girl 8 loved it..the 'Big House' is a beautiful, big old village manor house filled with history and character that sits magnificently on the side of the valley with views from every beautifully shuttered window, that each deserve individual awards. The real great outdoors is right on the doorstep and after a couple of days of driving off to further flung walking spots [of which there are loads!] we realised after a massive breakfast at the huge old kitchen table that demands such breakfasts, that all we had to do was don our boots and head in any number of directions from the front door to find some proper wilderness adventures right there. It's real 'Boy's Own' stuff..wild boar tracks everywhere, sticks to whittle and streams to dam..when we were there it was sunny and warm [in April] and we didn't see another soul! The other great piece of news, for all of us, was that the valley is filled with some absolutely fabulous local inns and restaurants, not the prissy michelin type, but small places run by charming people that serve some of the biggest, freshest and tastiest steaks you'll ever eat and washed down with delicious local wines. Of course, there is all sorts of other delicious local fare on offer and which we enjoyed, but the steaks took the biscuit and all at a very reasonable price! The house is full of books to read, maps and guide books, Suzanne and Richard have lived in the valley for years..know everyone and everything and are hugely welcoming and helpful.

My family and I have just returned from our third trip to Olmares in the Picos de Europa in Northern Spain. The house is so beautiful and well situated that it is difficult to make ourselves do anything other than lean out the windows and stare at the fantastic views or sit in the garden and soak up the atmosphere. Having said that, there is much to do. We have taken many walks which start from the house ranging from a stroll down to the stream which is perfect for little children to a challenging hike through the forest behind Basieda. The town of Potes is a twenty minute drive away and has excellent restaurants, several grocery stores and lovely little lanes to wander down. We have also twice taken the cable car to the top of Fuente De and then walked down through spectacular scenery. As the house at Olmares is so big it is a great place to holiday with friends- we have fit up to seven adults and six children in at once. It is always clean and well equipped. Richard is also very helpful in recommending good restaurants nearby, walks to take and sites to see. I cannot recommend it more highly. My only hesitation in giving Olmares a glowing review is that too many people will discover our favourite getaway!