The Big Six: Andalucian boltholes

Casa Olea, Priego de Cordoba

This recently opened farmhouse B&B, half way between Granada and Córdoba, is proof that you can go green without sacrificing luxury. The traditional "cortijo" has under-floor heating and king-size beds topped with Egyptian cotton sheets in the six bedrooms – plus a log fire in the lounge and swimming pool and hammocks in the grounds. However, the Biomas boiler runs on recycled olive pellets and solar panels heat the hot water.

Casa Olea, near Zamoranos, Priego de Córdoba (00 34 696 74 82 09; casaolea.com ). Doubles start at €85, including breakfast.

Hoopoe Yurt Hotel, Cortes de la Frontera

The camp is surrounded by olive groves and cork oak forest with views over the rugged Grazelema mountains. Swing in a hammock listening to the dreamy sound of goats bells and cicadas or cool off in the chlorine-free pool. There are five styles of yurt, each with an acre of private meadow: Afghani, Jaipur, Safari, Maimani and Mongolian. The camp is run on solar power and there are private bathrooms complete with locally made olive-oil soap.

Hoopoe Yurt Hotel, 23 Apartado de Correos, Cortes de la Frontera, Málaga (00 34 696 66 83 88; yurthotel.com ). Yurts start at €120, including breakfast.

Casa Cinco, Vejer de la Frontera

A whitewashed Arabic-style house in a hilltop village, Casa Cinco has a higgledy-piggledy charm, roof terrace with sea views and five rooms – which come with CD players but no televisions. Named after the five senses, rooms are all individually designed. "See" has French windows and a wrought iron balcony, while "Aroma", accessed from the roof terrace, has exposed beams and a canopied bed. The décor throughout is retro and eclectic with one-off flea market finds and 1970s pieces.

Casa Cinco, 5 Calle Sancho IV el Bravo, Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz (00 34 956 45 50 29; hotelcasacinco.com ). Doubles start at €81, including breakfast

La Alcantarilla, Ronda

If you fancy having your portrait painted while you lounge in the garden, Gabriella, the owner of this lovely old farmhouse, is an artist and lives next door. The villa is in a sleepy valley near Ronda, surrounded by gardens, terraced fields and orchards.

La Alcantarilla, Apt 504, Ronda, Málaga (00 34 665 787 191; alcantarilla.co.uk ). Weekly rental starts at €500 self-catered; sleeps six.

La Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda

This luxurious hotel dripping in wisteria was once an 18th-century olive mill. The terrace restaurant serves gourmet organic food while the 11 rooms feature open fireplaces, 19th-century artworks and private terraces.

La Fuente de la Higuera, Partido de los Frontones, Ronda, Málaga (00 34 952 11 43 55; hotellafuente.com ). B&B starts at €158.

Finca Las Encinas, Los Juncares

Clive Ridout, a Welsh chef and his Japanese wife, Maki, converted this finca into a charming four-bedroom guesthouse. Outside, there's a vine and jasmine-draped arbor and pool, while Clive runs contemporary Andalucian cookery lessons.

Finca Las Encinas, Los Juncares, Iznajar, Córdoba (00 34 629 61 07 83; finca-las-encinas.com ). Doubles start at €55, including breakfast.