Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

Down a dusty track, past yawning fields and grassland, is a fabulously rustic finca... not Argentina – Mallorca! Hidden in unspoilt countryside 30 minutes from the island's southeast coast, this is a place for biking, birdwatching, hiking, for lazing by the pool and roaming the estate with the dogs. Lovely to return, through a cactus archway and pretty courtyard cascading with geraniums, to a drink on the sun deck or to barbecue with other guests. Challenge your friends at chess in a sitting room streaked with bold purple and yellow, strum a guitar, take over the jacuzzi: it's that kind of place. The four apartments are as vibrant and straightforward as your Yorkshire-born hosts, and each has its own personality: light-hearted Orange has floaty curtains framing country views; romantic Yellow is tucked under the eaves; a wood-burning stove makes big Blue cosy, Green has a four-poster! In basic kitchens are huge welcome baskets groaning with oranges, cheese, chocolate, and eggs from the hens that peck outside. Expect not formality, not perfection, but generosity of spirit, relaxation and adventure. Good value, too.