The Yellow House Casa Rural

The Yellow House Casa Rural now offers new and improved rooms and facilities for guests to enjoy. It has one double bedroom with an en suite bathroom, and a second bedroom also with a double, and a second bathroom. The large fully equipped kitchen has views of the Maliciosa mountain range. An extra large lounge with a fire place provides the perfect place to relax in the evenings. A large balcony which overlooks the garden provides outdoor dining and loungers for relaxation. Please note that children are not permitted.

THE PROPERTY is situated in Mataelpino a small village which nestles at the foot of the La Maliciosa mountain range and the Pedriza Regional Park. Yet it is only 45 minutes by car to the cultural city of Madrid. There is a direct bus at the end of the road. The area offers a wealth of natural beauty and a variety of activities all year round. Swimming, ski-ing (weather permitting), walking, cycling, horse riding, climbing, fishing, painting, wild flower and mushroom collecting. It is an ideal place to enjoy bird watching, with some rare and interesting species, especially Nightingales, Bee Eaters, Golden Oriels, Storks, Azure Winged Magpies, Eagles, Kites, Vultures and other Raptors. Numerous bird and species of butterflies visit the garden. Only a ten minute walk away there are a number of mountain trails.

This peaceful natural environment offers spectacular scenery. Take a picnic, a camera, and some binoculars and enjoy the incredible views. In addition, gastronomical tourism and the week long local fiestas in Mataelpino and the surrounding villages offer a unique opportunity for you to enjoy the real 'flavour' of Spain.

The self contained apartment is on the first floor of the house. The owner lives on the ground floor and shares the garden and the pool. The apartment has access to the beautiful typically English garden where you can enjoy the scent of roses whilst swimming, or relax by the pool and taking in the views of the mountains. There is also a spacious balcony for outdoor dining or relaxing on the sun loungers.

The English owner has lived in Mataelpino for many years and has a wealth of knowledge about the area and its surroundings. She also speaks Spanish, should you need any assistance.

HILL WALKING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING AND CYCLING: There are a large number of trails from Mataelpino which lead to many points of interest along the mountain ridge, there are some maps and routes available in the apartment.

SKIING: Weather permitting, winter skiing at Valdeski (16 km) or Puerto de Navacerrada (22 km). These slopes are ideal for beginners.

CULTURAL TOURISM: Local Fiestas in Mataelpino and the surrounding villages are held from July to September. The three towns of Mataelpino, Cerceda and El Boalo celebrate their fiestas on three consecutive weeks in August. The fiestas begin with the crowning of two teenagers who become a Prince and Princess for the week. The fiestas are colourful events with music, singing and dancing in the village square every evening. In addition there is a fun fair, and market stalls selling handicrafts line the streets. Each fiesta culminates in a communal dinner outside in the town square followed by a light show or a display of fireworks at midnight.

Each village also has a fiesta to celebrate its own patron saint and these are occasions for both solemnity and merriment. The fiesta of Saint Sebastian, the patron of El Boalo is on the 18th January. Mataelpino's patron, Saint Agueda is celebrated on the 5th February. Our villagers carry her on their shoulders through the village to the main square where they enjoy a glass of vermouth. Afterwards the women share lunch or dinner together in a local restaurant. The fiesta of Saint Isidro is held on the 15th May. San Isidro is particularly interesting and lots of fun. His effigy is carried in procession through the nearby town of El Boalo, through the surrounding fields and up into the mountain to the small local church where a mass is celebrated. Meanwhile, outside the church in the area at the foot of the mountains, a giant party takes place. Awnings are erected, BBQ’s are lit, and the local inhabitants enjoy a communal picnic. Musicians play, whilst horse riders in local costume canter through the crowds, and children play on the bouncy castle.

GASTRONOMICAL TOURISM: Mataelpino and its environs boast a number of superb restaurants serving excellent Spanish cuisine, such as The Azaya Restaurant which is within walking distance, El Cenador Salvador (Michelin 2 stars) in Moralzarzal (4 km), Don Astuto in Mataelpino and The Taberna in Becerril de la Sierra (4 km) famous for its lobster rice. Also in Becerril is Las Terrazas which serves a traditional home cooked food and has a reasonably priced set menu during weekdays. You can also order a fabulous paella here to take away. La Morada also in Moralzarzal is great for lunch, serving novel and interesting dishes based on typical Spanish cuisine.

Breakfast is an institution in Spain and can consist of anything from deep fried sugary sticks (churros) dunked in thick hot chocolate, to the more traditional toasted bread served with mashed tomatoes, garlic and olive oil, or croissants flavoured with azahar (orange blossom) and coffee. Dom Ca Pastelleria in Becerril (4 km) is a must for breakfast foodies.

Our local wine bar, whose owner Jose grows his own grapes, and makes his own wine, is a wonderful place to sample some excellent Spanish wine and tapas.

Every year in March each village organises a Tapas Festival where the owners of the local bars compete for the prize of 'best tapas in the village'.

The larger local towns also host a weekly food market where you can sample some of the best of our produce. You can also buy wonderful home-made bread, cheeses and home cured cold meats and hams at the Artisanal Medieval Markets.

For anyone who enjoys quality of life this is the perfect place for a long or short stay, and somewhere you can come back to time and time again, and still discover new things.

PLACES NEARBY: The following areas of interest are within a short distance:

• The Castle at Manzanares el Real - enjoy some history and then a beer or an ice cream in the plaza (10 km)
• The Monastery at San Lorenzo, El Escorial (28 km)
• The Monastery of El Paular (38 km)
• The ancient city of Segovia - with many restaurants serving delicious roasted suckling pig (45 km)
• Navacerrada with a flea market (rastro) every Sunday morning - incredibly cheap bargains from the arts and crafts era, as well as all the usual car boot fair curiosities. Navacerrada also has a classic car meeting on the first Sunday of the month. (7 km)
• Puerto de Navacerrada - skiing (16 km)
• Laguna de Peñalara (25 km)
• Puerto de Cotos - the highest point in the area (22 km)

MADRID: The magical city of Madrid has many streets and plazas to explore where you can enjoy a cool beer or a glass of delicious Spanish wine with tapas. In addition, it offers numerous galleries, museums and heritage sites, including the Prado, the Thyssen, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Palace, the Retiro Park (with its book market and boating lake) and the Botanical Gardens. There are also 15,000 bars and restaurants, including El Botin, founded in 1725, which according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the oldest restaurant in the world!

For anyone who enjoys quality of life this is the perfect place for a long or short stay, and somewhere you can come back to time and time again, and still discover new things.