The woodcutter’s forest home, half an hour from Santander beaches

Valles Pasiegos, Cantabria, Northern Spain Property Ref: AC20
  • Doors
    2 Bedrooms
  • Sleeps
    Sleeps 4
  • Property Ref: AC20

A very well put-together cottage, nicely located between Cantabrian mountains and the coast at Santander. Sleeps 4.

Booking information for AC20

  • We don't consider this property to be suitable for toddlers.

  • Check-in time: from 18:00h to 22:00h; Check-out time: 12:00h

  • Pets may be permitted on previous request. Special restrictions normally apply. Please ask us.

Changeover day AC20

  • Start and finish day: has some flexibility except from early June to early September when the changeover day is Sunday.

+ Booking information and changeover day for AC20
From €107 per night
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Property Ref. AC20

Valles Pasiegos, Cantabria, Northern Spain

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Summary

A very well put-together cottage, nicely located between Cantabrian mountains and the coast at Santander. Sleeps 4.

Facilities

  • Bedrooms
    2 Bedrooms
  • Bathroom
    1 Bathrooms
  • Beds
    Sleeps 4

Enjoyment

TV (Spanish channels only) with USB port; Sauna; 2 Sundecks; Barbecue.

Self-catering
4-ring vitroceramic hob; Electric oven; Microwave; Toaster; Coffee-maker; Small fridge-freezer, Clay oven in barbecue hut.

Practicalities
Washing machine & dryer; Iron & board; Hairdryer; Central heating; Log fire (a reasonable amount of firewood included); Wooden outdoor furniture; Outdoor lighting; All bedding and towels provided; Dressing gowns provided; Cot (on request); Private parking for 2 cars.

Layout

Ground floor
Open plan dining room-kitchen; Archway to living room; Bathroom/WC (shower over full bathtub); Utility room with washing machine/dryer.

First floor
Bedroom 1: Double bed; Bedroom 2: Twin beds.

Exterior
Patio terrace; Sauna hut; Semi-open, furnished barbecue hut with viewing terrace; Private parking.

+ Full facilities detail

Overview

This amiable, self-catering rustic retreat is an opportunity to get well away from it all and enjoy a natural experience all to yourselves. Even though you’re secreted away here, glimpses of Santander Bay remind you that beaches and the elegant town itself, with its ferry and airport, are only half an hour away.

The solidity of the cottage’s local stone-and-wood architecture is testimony to the sure hand of its craftsman, who has smoothed and polished interiors to a neat finish in a meticulous design.

Hidden away in its forest setting, we thought it the kind of tidy home the woodcutter in Little Red Riding Hood might have built for himself, when he was no longer busy rescuing maidens and their grandmothers. Maybe the sauna was added afterwards, for special visitors.

You reach the supremely private property along a maintained track of some 300 metres from a country lane. The house, obviously well-made even at first sight, sits on firm rock, where it feels protected by the canopy of trees that surround it.

Steps go down a large, furnished and covered barbecue hut for wood-fired roasts (see photos). The terrace here has a tremendous view.

Directly outside the cottage is a brick-built sauna, which works efficiently and is included in the rental: an interesting luxury facility that one wouldn’t expect to find at a cottage here.

We found the house practical (everything works well) and attractive. It’s all tastefully decorated and more than adequately equipped for self-catering holidays.

The ground floor has a dining room with kitchen, connected via an archway with the living room where a glass-protected log fire can be lit for winter stays, in addition to central heating.

The beds have quality latex mattresses on chunky wooden bedsteads, lighting is gentle and homely and nights couldn’t be more peaceful. You wake up and look out onto the forest. Dressing gowns are provided.

Just bear in mind that the bathroom is downstairs and the staircase railing has gaps: we wouldn’t recommend the cottage to families with very young children. The staircase can, however, be gated but the gaps between wooden railings would remain a danger for small children.

Older children will love the place. It really is hidden away in nature where they can feel very safe, playing games of hide-and-seek, perhaps discovering a feel of freedom away from electronic devices for a refreshing change.

For practical purposes, La Cavada 10 minutes from the house has shops and restaurants. Our favourite resturant is La Cava, although it may close in low season, if that´s the case there are other great places to eat out a few miles further from La Cavada village.

The local area is a joy to explore no matter which way you go. To the west are the Pasiego Valleys, to the east the Ason river valley. You’ll find waterfalls, caves and little old villages. The salmon-rich Ason river is just 30 km long and ends in marshes at Santoña on the sea, famous for its fine anchovies, another local delicacy.

There are no wolves in the forest hoping to meet Red Riding Hood but you can visit them — and bears, too! Just 30 minutes from the cottage, Cabarceno wildlife park has a variety of animals living in semi-liberty in an area of some 750 hectares. It’s here that you can find wolves and the very rare Cantabrian brown bear, now both endangered species with only very few examples still living in the wild. You’ll also see more exotic mammals, such as rhinoceros and gorillas, lions, emus and pigmy hippopotami. At Rustical Travel we are not zoo lovers ourselves but Cabarceno is different.

In summertime, the seaside becomes another significant reason for a holiday here. Along the coast, 30 minutes away, you are spoilt for beaches. Laredo has immense, very natural, sandy beaches: La Salvé is over 4 km long and El Regatón with El Puntal not much less.

Santander is the main town and point of reference. As well as being one of Spain’s most attractive coastal towns, it is the normal point of entry from abroad, whether by plane or ferry.

+ Full description

Photos

Copyright © Rustical Travel. All rights protected. + See all 40 Photos

Location

Setting

Secluded in pristine wooded valley. In the unspoilt "Pasiego" region.

Location

At the end of a 300-metre track, in secluded wooded grounds. La Cavada village (most facilities) is 12 mins drive away.

La Cavada 10 km
Bars, restaurants with WiFi, shopping
Pasiegos & Ason 10 min
Beautiful green valleys, walking
Cabarceno 35 min
Wildlife park
Santander 35 min
Sardinero urban beach
Laredo 40 min
Surfing area, unspoilt beaches
airport Nearest Airports
Santander (SDR) & Ferry 35 mins
Bilbao (BIO) & Ferry 1 hr 15 mins

Prices

Rustical Travel charges in Euros, VAT is included, no surcharges apply.

 
FromtoPrice per week
03 Jan 202403/01/2024 22 Mar 202422/03/2024
€750
23 Mar 202423/03/2024 06 Apr 202406/04/2024
€1,300
07 Apr 202407/04/2024 31 May 202431/05/2024
€750
01 Jun 202401/06/2024 30 Jun 202430/06/2024
€870
01 Jul 202401/07/2024 31 Jul 202431/07/2024
€1,110
01 Aug 202401/08/2024 31 Aug 202431/08/2024
€1,350
01 Sep 202401/09/2024 30 Sep 202430/09/2024
€1,140
01 Oct 202401/10/2024 18 Dec 202418/12/2024
€750
19 Dec 202419/12/2024 02 Jan 202502/01/2025
€1,300
 
 
FromtoPrice per week
-- --
Prices pending (*)
(*) Prices pending. Please send enquiry and we will confirm availability and price

Booking information for AC20

  • We don't consider this property to be suitable for toddlers.

  • Check-in time: from 18:00h to 22:00h; Check-out time: 12:00h

  • Pets may be permitted on previous request. Special restrictions normally apply. Please ask us.

Changeover day AC20

  • Start and finish day: has some flexibility except from early June to early September when the changeover day is Sunday.

+ Booking information and changeover day for AC20

Availability

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YOUR REVIEWS

Aga | August | 2023

It is a lovely and charming cottage. Helpful host. We had a great time."

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Melvin | July | 2023

We loved our stay at the Woodcutters cottage. It was an oasis of peace in the woodland and truly private in its own wood. It is well furnished and has everything you need for a weeks stay in terms of kitchen, dining, and relaxation. The sauna was an excellent bonus and the barberque area was lovely both daytime and in the evenings. Great views across the countryside each morning as the sun rose. Easy to reach shops nearby and well located for day trips such as Santillana del Mar and the amazing Cave of Altamira as well as the port of Santander.Etel was very helpful with suggestions of places to eat and visit."

+ Read more
Thomas | July | 2023

The location is really wonderful!! Completely isolated and alone. A place with lush vegetation - quit another world. THe reality is even better and more beautiful as you can see on the pictures. And really only half an hour to Santander beaches. A very good butcher in La Cavada, a nice place to have always a good cold draft beer :-) We´ll come back !"

+ Read more
Alexandra | June | 2023

Very nice house. Perfect place. Recommend it!"

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Carina | May | 2023

Place was just like the photos. The host was very nice and easy to contact. Very happy with our stay"

+ Read more
Tom | September | 2022

The cottage is very nice, very quiet and it is very nicely decorated full of details. We enjoyed it a lot."

+ Read more
Beata | July | 2022

The property was amazing and the location ideal for us. The host, Etel, was most friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The booking process with Rustixal Travel was straightforward and we got prompt replies to any enquiries we had. I'd highlyrecommend Rustical Travel and I hope to reurn to the Woodcutters Cottage in future."

+ Read more
Diederik | September | 2021

We had a good time in the house, which is cosy, comfortable and well equipped. The sauna and outdoor kitchen area are very nice extras. When it is cloudy/rainy the house can be a bit dark, and we believe it would be nicer if some trees were selectively pruned to allow more sunlight and also a better enjoyment of the surrounding landscape. The driveway starts to get a bit overgrown too."

+ Read more
David | July | 2021

The house was everything we were looking for, just as it was represented online. We would have stayed much longer if we were able to."

+ Read more
Steve | July | 2019

A beautiful property which we enjoyed very much. We had very comfortable beds. The facilities in the cottage were complete. The caretaker Etel received us perfectly. She was extremely helpful with tips and local information. Again thank you for all the good service that we received."

+ Read more
Annette | March | 2019

We had a most enjoyable time in the woodcutter’s lodge.It’s really very special.I think it’d be a good idea to point out to future visitors interested in hiking that they should organisemaps etc. beforehand as it was impossible to obtain any information in the tourist offices.Still we had some nice walks but will make sure to be better prepared next time as we intend to go back"

+ Read more
Graham | October | 2018

The whole experience was excellent. From using your website to booking, then the after sales care, were all very good indeed. Arrival at the property was good, although we got thee from Bilbao a lot quicker than the time you suggested. Meeting with the manager of the property was excellent. She showed us everything we needed to know about the property, and we thought the property itself was absolutely lovely. We'll be booking with Rustical Travel again."

+ Read more
Michael | September | 2018

Nothing to say other than EXCELLENT!!"

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Graham | August | 2018

We had a great time at the cottage, Etel (the host) was very helpful and shared many great ideas for spending our time - food, beaches and special places of interest. It is very well located for some fantastic beaches and interesting local villages. The only downside is the fact that is so overgrown with trees and bushes that it is difficult to see the amazing views or find a spot in the sun - we could not eat/spend time outside in the sun as much as we would have liked."

+ Read more
Fiona | July | 2018

Beautiful property with a hideaway feel. The house is passionately and immaculately renovated and has all the facilities one would need. The outside cooking area with clay oven is also full of character and atmosphere. Great welcome from the keyholder who gave us much advice about places to visit and eat. Close to some amazing scenery and easily accessible to the beach. The only improvements I'd make is some general pruning and care of the vegetation around the house to make the terraced garden area to the back and the steps more accessible and appreciated. I must add that Rustical Travel has excellent customer service with clear, prompt and useful communications at all times."

Rustical Update

We have passed to the property manager the suggestion to prune the vegetation around the garden area.

+ Read more
F.J.A | June | 2018

It's a beautifull house and we've had a wonderful stay. It is high in de mountains and most of the time we lived in a cloud. The owners did not do much at garden and space around the house. A lot of very high trees, so you can not see much from the hills .The stairs outside are covered with green and gras, very uncomfortebel when it's wet ."

Rustical Update

The grass on the steps is actually moss, we are informed by property manager that if its removed the steps may be more slippery. In our visit to this property in November 2018, we were explained by property manager the difficulty of having gardens other than semi wild as it is not easy to domesticate nature in the forest. We personally found this semi wild garden in the forest with colourful hydrangeas quite magical.

+ Read more
Arno | May | 2018

We had a very pleasant stay. Everything you need is present in the cottage, a beautiful cottage by the way, nice surrounding, quiet. Friendly reception!"

+ Read more
Steve | September | 2017

Just to say a big thank you. The Woodcutters Cottage was simply charming and the sauna an added bonus. The surrounding area was very beautiful and unspoilt and the local people very friendly - beating in mind our almost total lack of Spanish. Lierganes is a lovely town and the service from Rustical Travel was superb. Best wishes."

+ Read more
Gerry | August | 2017

My family and I rented this cottage for the second part of our Spain trip, after a stay in the South, near Malaga. This property surpassed every description we saw online. Our contact there, Etel, was very friendly and helpful throughout our holiday. The cottage was clean and well equipped but the surroundings and the geography of the plot are the main attraction. A very nice outdoor seating are with a barbeque and clay oven is available and for the more chilly nights you can cuddle up in front of the fire or have a nice relaxing sauna. A few very small niggles could be: the property felt very damp, due to the woodland surroundings so whenever you got into the fairly small bed, the sheets felt a bit damp. Also, for those who want total seclusion without any wi-fi or cell reception, this is your cottage. For those who need communications, be aware of the very poor reception. All in all, this fairy tale cottage comes very recommended. It's location, not far from the Sierra's or the beaches at Santander is excellent. Etel was a wonderful help during our stay. Five star cottage!"

Rustical Update

In our visit in Novenber 2018 we had 3G / 4G coverage outside and only coverage for phone calls inside.

+ Read more
Jen | July | 2017

We really loved our holiday at the Woodcutter's Cottage. A very different kind of holiday for us in the middle of nowhere and without wifi, but just what we needed! We live in Barcelona so it's pretty busy and hectic so a complete back to nature contrast for us! Etel, the keyholder was absolutely lovely and incredibly helpful, sending us restaurant recommendations, links to places of interest in the area and general info, she couldn't have done more., The house itself is really nicely done, quirky and rustic with lots of interesting features. We especially loved the outdoor seating area and the sauna was a great little treat everyday, especially somewhere pretty remote. Also the jacuzzi bath was another welcome luxury and the view from the bathroom window will stay in my memory banks for a long time. We've got two more dogs and of course they loved it too! I've also recommended Rustical Travel to a lot of people. I'm really impressed from the outset at your communication and obvious passion for Spain. I wanted to find something a bit off the beaten track and you definitely deliver that. The description, photographs and information you provide is great. I'll be booking again and thank you so much for your attention to detail. Until the next time, Muchas gracias"

+ Read more
Michael | April | 2017

The cottage is fantastic... Rustical Travel staff were brilliant as was Ella who came to meet us at the cottage... There's nothing more to say"

+ Read more
Mike | May | 2016

The Woodcutter's Cottage is unique and beautiful. This was our second visit, we enjoyed it just as much as the first. If you like rustic cooking in a wood fired oven, barbecuing, bird song and the sound of cow bells, it's the place for you. Near enough to a village and small town not to be isolated and only 45 minutes from Santander. We had first class service while we were there."

+ Read more
Suzie | April | 2016

We had a fabulous, calm and peaceful holiday in the Woodcutter Cottage. A fabulous combination of rustic charm and all modern facilities.....and more. The cottage was equipped with even more facilities than listed. Despite the weather being wet a lot of the time (which was to be expected when we went in April) we still enjoyed fantastic views across the mountains and to the sea. Indeed on the wettest day we 'went for it' and had a BBQ in the covered terrace. We found the people of this area to be particularly friendly and helpful bearing in mind this is not a 'full English breakfast sold here' (thank goodness) area. Made use of the sauna too which was a lovely bonus. The owner actually speaks very good English which was helpful as our Spanish is non existent. We would recommend this property for those looking for a country retreat holiday. Our only comment, which didn't effect us personally is that if two couples were to share the property the lounge only has comfortable seating for two on a small sofa, but for a couple there is no problem. Must also mention the very friendly bar/restaurant at Bustabaldo(?) very good food, amazing prices and fantastic people, definitely worth a visit, or two."

+ Read more
Camilla | September | 2015

We had a wonderful holiday. The house was even better than the photographs; it was the kind of place I imagine Heidi would have chosen after moving out of her grandfather's. It's unusual to find a holiday cottage made and furnished with such craftsmanship and imagination. Not only was it superly cosy inside but it also had all the creature comforts you could wish for - plus an outdoor wood oven and the best view from a bath I've ever had. The location was ideal; secluded woodland and within half an hour of lovely beaches and spectacular mountain scenery. We were met by the property owner who was very friendly and was always at the end of the phone if we needed help. Her English is excellent which really helped as our Spanish is very basic. We also found RusticalTravel very professional and responsive to our correspondence. The directions to the house were very comprehensive (with photographs of key junctions and rendezvous point) and the suggestions for places to visit/eat nearby were much appreciated."

+ Read more
Trudy | July | 2015

The property was wonderfully secluded and very well equipped. We were given a lovely welcome by the owner who also texted a few days later to check all was well. The surrounding area is beautiful. We were also very impressed by the service offered by Rustical Travel and hope to use it again in the future."

+ Read more
Anna | June | 2015

This was a delightful cottage in a wonderful setting, peaceful, calm, just what we needed. The sauna was definitely an added bonus. We did find the lack of view a bit frustrating, there was so much we could have seen if the trees weren't quite so close to the house, however, in the heat of summer ( or a canicule as we have now) then I am sure it would have been most useful! Loved it Anna"

+ Read more
Scott | June | 2015

We had a lovely week at the woodcutters cottage, and even in the misty rains of June it has a very special feeling to it. A lot of love and care has gone into the restoration and the owners are wonderfully welcoming. A great place to just sit back, slow down and refresh yourself."

+ Read more
Sandrina | October | 2014

The stay at the cottage was like a visit to a fairy tale The view from the jacuzzi bath must be the best in the country certainly better than the five star hotel we stayed in before we visited the cottage The owners daughter who met us was really helpful and the whole experience was one of peace and relaxation The interior of the cottage is really artistic and interesting We loved it"

+ Read more
James | July | 2014

We cannot speak highly enough with regard to this property. We have hire many cottages over the years and very few have come even close to this one. Location, facilities, and welcome were all first class. We are seasoned travellers when it comes to seeking out and staying in Rural locations such as this, but the woodcutters cottages takes this to another level which we greatly appreciated. However we do feel that your description on the web site should do more to warn of the some of the cottages more rustic features."

+ Read more
Mike | June | 2014

Not long back from 2 weeks in Property AC20. One of the best holidays we've ever had. The house is beautiful, very well equipped, we have never before had a garlic crusher, pestle and mortar or a blender, let alone a clay oven.The owner is very friendly, considerate and helpful. She speaks perfect English too. I have a feeling we will be back."

+ Read more
Kieran | May | 2014

Our stay at the woodcutter's cottage was magical. The setting is private and peaceful and the aesthetic of the house is rooted in traditional materials and impeccable rough-hewn craftsmanship. Everywhere you look there is rustic charm and beauty. We could have been living in another century. Except we also appreciated the modern conveniences - including the electric sauna. The owners, who built the cottage, are also wonderful and gracious. We highly recommend staying here and hope to return next year. Eileen & Kieran"

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