Hotel Tugasa Castillo de Castellar

Fantastic hotel with unique charm and soul, located within a castle. Getting there at night was quite an adventure due to the winding road, but during the day it’s a completely different experience – much easier and absolutely worth it thanks to the stunning views along the way. You can’t drive right up to the hotel entrance – parking is available along the road. When you reach the castle, you’ll first see the main square, but the entrance isn’t there. Keep to the right, and the second entrance is the correct one. We arrived around midnight and were a bit confused, but a friendly local named “Frog” kindly helped us find the right way. The peace and calmness of the village fill you with a special kind of energy. The views from the hotel are incredible – Gibraltar, Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco, Embalse del Guadarranque lake, the fairytale-like village, and the surrounding forest. Our room was very spacious and equipped with everything we needed – comfortable, clean, and thoughtfully arranged to match the charm of the place. My partner and I took some time to explore and hiked down to the lake. The trail isn’t marked, but it’s pleasant and relatively easy to follow. Just be careful in some areas where fallen leaves can make it slippery. Proper footwear is a must (trainers are fine) – definitely no flip-flops or light summer shoes. We brought water and some snacks and enjoyed peaceful moments by the small dock, watching birds, horses, deer, and nature itself. If you enjoy hiking, I highly recommend it. Breakfast was excellent, with a wide selection of cold cuts, spreads, fruit, and more. If you’re looking for a relaxed escape from the hustle and bustle, I highly recommend this hotel. The staff is friendly and happy to help with anything.

The situation on this hotel, part of a medival castle in a small hilltop village, is simply stunning. The views from the top are just incredible. Within the curtain walls of the castle is a small village in which some of the houses have been converted into self catering units which I believe are run by the hotel too. There is also an associated restaurant where we ate in the evening which was very good. Our room was very comfortable, we chose the one with the terrace at the top of the watchtower and while the room itself did not really have a fabulous view, it was more than made up for by the stunning roof top terrace. The bed was really comfortable and the bathroom spacious.

A fantastic location in the hills above Gibraltar (approx 35 kms away) overlooking a beautiful lake and surrounding countryside. An old castle converted into a modern hotel with rooms in the castle and also the surrounding village. The room was excellent. Huge with a bedroom, a sitting room, a mezzanine sitting area, and a separate bathroom. The bed was a King Plus, a very comfortable mattress, a choice of pillows, and beautiful bed linen. The reception staff were very helpful. We arrived much earlier than our predicted time of arrival because of inclement weather. The staff were accepting of this and managed to get us into our room even before the hotel prescribed check-in time (2.00pm). When the weather cleared up, we had a great time exploring the castle environs and the surrounding old village. Charming. We also took a short walk around the village extremities, finding a local bar, which was great for a beer and snacks before dinner. We didn't have the time or the correct footwear, but we noticed several signed footpaths, which looked like interesting countryside walks. Dinner was in the hotel's restaurant 200 m. outside the hotel. A large multi-levelled restaurant. We sat in one of the smaller rooms with about 5 other parties, plenty of space, good atmosphere. Food was traditional, local Spanish country food. Lots of meat choices! Plain but good ingredients well cooked and tasty. Breakfast was a buffet in the hotel. Excellent variety of products from cornflakes to fresh fruit to pastries to cold cuts to cooked bacon and tortilla. All lovely!

Second time staying here...my two nieces visiting Spain joined us. Was perfect in every way! All of our rooms were spacious, comfortable and tastefully decorated...with amazing views! Enjoyed dinner at the town Restaurant and a picturesque walk. All staff that we encountered were courteous and helpful as well. *Don't miss a visit to the rooftop of the castle for incredible pics of surrounding landscapes stretching out to Gibraltar on the coast! Thank you again ---Nancy Rosario

Big comfortable rooms with amazing rooms of the area. Wonderful to wander the narrow streets, and just sit to watch the vultures, surrounding countryside and sunset. The castle interior area is small so you have seen it all after less than half an hour, but it is also worth walking around the castle, walking down to the old Roman road. We have stayed here 3 times, arriving in the afternoon to enjoy a one-night stay to unwind.