Autumn Break

We have just come back from a week in this lovely part of Spain and was wowed by the sheer beauty of the area and the fanatastic accommodation. The location is excellent for touring the area and there's lots to do and see. We particularly loved the Wildlife park -Carbarceno, especially the bird demonstration - not to be missed!! Santillana del Mar is charming and you can spend hours wandering around the cobbled streets admiring the stunning architecture and soaking up the history. Loads of fab beaches near by, walks in the mountains and not too expensive restaurants to try. The owners of the property are extremely helpful and friendly and very respectful of your privacy. We hope to see them again in the not too distant future.

We have recently returned from our first family holiday to Spain and would definitely recommend staying in the Studio Apartment - our 11year old daughter loved her own space in the loft bedroom !! The living area compact as described, but more than adequate with the addition of a sheltered deck and BBQ - we all enjoyed the alfresco dining...
Becky and Robert were very welcoming, thank you for that cup of tea on our arrival !! Also, the never ending advice and suggestions on locals sights and attractions - also the supermarket opening times !!
Santillana was well worth a few visits, the Saturday morning quieter which made for easier browsing around the many shops, cafes and interesting buildings.
We especially enjoyed the local beaches, Playa de Luana for great surf and Comillas our favourites.
Having driven through France, we didn't feel equal to long day trips into the mountains, but did enjoy San Vicente and Santander - the car ferry to Portsmouth recommended for ease of travel.
Thank you again for a great holiday - you and all your family (pets included!!) made our time in El Chaparral very special, we hope to meet you again.

We spent 8 days in this property and enjoyed every minute.
The description of the property was very accurate, small but adequate for us as a couple, very well equipped and clean.
We would have no hesitation in recommending this to our friends but would make clear that you are most definitely out in the country and the property has animals, ok if you are a cat lover.
The owners were really friendly and helpful, nothing was any problem to them or their kids.Information about the area was shared by them and proved to be helpful.
The area had lots to offer both in the local vicinity and further afield if you had a car, which I would recommend in order to get the most from this lovely area.
Beautiful beaches close by really worth a visit,the village was beautiful, lots to see and do. Lovely restaurants, a bonus if you can speak the language.
We liked best the Picos de Europa, especially the visitors centre, Suances beach and eating churros for breakfast in the village square.

Andrew,Gillian, Olivia 13,Alexander 10.
In the words of my children "The best holiday ever." What more can you ask for!
We hired a car which we picked up form Santander airport.The directions to the appartment were easy to follow and when we arrived the beautiful rural location surpassed our expectations.
The appartment is well equipped and tastefully furnished.
The owners Rob and Becky were available for friendly chats and helpful advice on places to visit,shops and days out if required.We would recommend;
1) Picos Europas -For spectacular mountain scenery and great walking.

2) Santander. For White sandy beaches and free bike hire.
3) Bilboa - For Guggenheim museum and art/culture
4) Carbarenco . For one of best wildlife parks in Europe.
In summary This area is one of Spains best kept secrets!
Would love to return and great value for money .

Excellent accomodation in a peaceful location. The apartment was well equipped and spotlessly clean. The grounds are large enough for you not to feel on top of one another. Lots of space for children to play in.
Very welcoming owners providing information and ideas about things to do in the area, but leaving you alone when you want to relax.
Great region for exploring - variety of beaches from large and busy to small coves, lots of interesting villages, Picos mountains an hour or so away. Great surf - good for children too. Would recommend a trip to Santander. Pleasant walk (approx 1km) in to Santillana on tracks means you avoid the traffic.
Very easy to relax so beware of spanish time - get up late, eat late - shops close for long lunch. Easy to access from motorway and Santander ferry.

Other than the trip to and from the ferry (Robert and Becky offer a taxi service for this - by arrangement), we had a fantastic holiday using only the local bus services. You'll need to walk regularly into Santillana - a pleasant walk in itself - but our children didn't mind. Seasoned walkers can walk to the Altamira Caves, which you can see in the distance before you turn in to Chaparral. Our day trips by bus included the local beaches, and much further afield to the beautiful mountain-top town of Potes - stunning. And tired out each day by walking or swimming, coming back to good local food and wine to have while the sun sets was . . . well, you get the picture. We were lucky with the weather though, which makes a big difference. Lovely location and great hosts. A perfect holiday.

This is a lovely place to use as a base for sightseeing with some great beaches for summer-time visitors ! The property is very clean with every modern convenience. I recommend this wonderful farmhouse to all my friends. To find it from Santillana del Mar turn up the hill signed towards Comillas, Tagle, Suances, the little lane is on the left at the top of the hill signed Bo La Tejera, ( Try to find it in the daytime !)

Northern Spain was recommended as somewhere a holidaying New Zealander may enjoy. It certainly was a highlight of my trip to Europe and when I am next here I will definitely return to Santillana and the accomodation at El Chapparal.

The accomodation was clean and comfortable, and I had everything I needed. My hosts had a great deal of knowledge about the local area, and there was a lot to see and do. Highlights were the local beaches, the Spanish food (including the Churros) and the Picos. There is so much to do around the area and when I return I would certainly base myself at this location.

Many thanks for a great stay!