Casa Gustavo is an English family run, friendly and informal guesthouse just five minutes drive from the old market town of Potes in the valleys of Liebana, twenty five minutes from the cable car at Fuente De and an hour from the coast.
The main building dates back around five hundred years to medieval times and was once a farmhouse, since converted by the Stuart family, retaining many of the original features, and now run by Lisa and Mike. It's shared with cats and dogs, mostly rescues from the streets, well behaved and not allowed in bedrooms.
This ancient, solid house feels part of the natural landscape and full of history. It has an atmospheric charm with its thick stone walls, substantial oak beams, wonky wooden floors and interesting doors.
We have endeavoured to maintain its character when carrying out any restoration work. 
The bodega of the main part of the house was once home to livestock, they would have kept a pig and chickens inside, as well as a storage area for cheeses and hams (mountain-cured jamón serrano) hanging from the rafters.
The barn area on the other side of the courtyard was originally fully enclosed and also used for livestock below and hay storage above.
We have since opened up half of it and it now houses our barbecue area.
When the family bought the house there was no bathroom and we've been told that the last family to live here bathed in a tin tub in the courtyard!
The house is warmed in winter by central heating, a Spanish Aga type stove in the kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace in the sitting room on the top floor. In winter the thick stone walls hold the heat in while in summer they help to keep the house cool inside and the heat of the Spanish sun out.
Outside there's a flower-filled courtyard and barbecue where dinner is served on summer evenings. The flowers attract butterflies and Hummingbird hawk-moths. And we've been treated to "fly-pasts" during our evening meals outside including Stag and Rhinoceros beetles, numerous bats and, one June evening, an Eagle owl!
Inside there's a dining room with a large table for convivial meals in winter. 
Evening meals are three set courses, prepared daily, with an internationally rustic bent, making use of as much local and seasonal produce as possible. They could include goat cheese and pear salad, Lisa's lentils with chorizo or one of Mike's barbecues, all accompanied by plenty of our “extremely quaffable” house wine. Beers and liquers are also included.
Delicious vegetarian meals can be cooked with prior notice.
Earlier meals for children can be arranged, with high-chairs if needed.
Packed lunches can be booked, as an optional extra, on a daily basis. 
Half-board or just B&B are optional.
Breakfasts are simple continental affairs of cereals, yoghurt, deliciously dark local honey, a selection of fruit, juice, toast (and the indispensible Marmite), sobaos (little Spanish cakes), English tea and freshly brewed ground coffee.
Our sitting room and south-facing balcony, with its views across the valley towards the highest peak in the Cordillera Cantabrica - Peña Prieta, is a suntrap and a favourite spot for bird watching (the balcony often hosts nesting Barn swallows and/or Black redstarts) and for reading, studying and identifying from our growing collection of field guides, poring over our supply of Picos maps or just relaxing, and is cosy in winter with its wood-burning stove.
The five bedrooms are all en-suite with comfortable beds, more books and magnificent views. Two have french windows, one is a double and one has two beds + a sofa/bed and can sleep 4/5. Cots can be provided.
For large groups we can accommodate more guests in our neighbour's self-catering apartments in the village.
Having lived here for over 20 years now, our wealth of information and knowledge of the topography and nature of the Picos de Europa, Liébana and surrounding areas is at your disposal.
Casa Gustavo makes an ideal base for groups of friends, families, motorcycle tourers/road bikers or university field study groups.
Group discounts available!
Here's what some of our guests have said......
“We had an excellent holiday in the beautiful old stone house, Casa Gustavo; a very good centre for exploring much of the Picos de Europa. We were made very welcome by Lisa and Mike and had wonderful Spanish food with the family. Because of their excellent local knowledge and interest in conservation, together with their library of maps and books, they were extremely helpful planning our daily walks. Although we are nearly in our 80´s we walked every day exploring the lower Picos hills, sometimes even in the snow. When the clutch on our car broke, Mike could not have been more helpful in finding and negotiating repairs for us at a local garage. We look forward to returning as soon as possible.”
Jean and John Slee-Smith, Cumbria.
To enquire about prices and availability please send us an email here or text or whatsapp +34 660551307.
For our booking and cancellation policy click here, ignoring the mountain info if not on one of our guided holidays,
Casa Gustavo - Aliezo 39584 - Cillorigo de Liebana -- Cantabria - Spain
Tel: 0034 660551307