A fortune made in the Americas built this elegant mountain hideaway in 1850. By the ivy-clad bridge that gave it its name, a four-storey house rises from the Rio Gandara in the bosky Soba Valley. Ebullient owner Emilio restored the hotel to its former glory: rough-hewn stone, tiled floors, exposed beams and comfortably stylish furnishings bestow an air of relaxed elegance. Pretty views, deeply comfortable beds, chic bathrooms with power showers. There are also three delightful self-catering apartments for families. Find dining and sitting rooms inside and gardens and terraces out, for eating, drinking, lounging, with only the murmur of the river breaking the silence. Breakfast is complet and satisfying, lunch and dinner thoroughly Spanish, and Andalucian cooks rule the kitchen; the restaurant is reassuringly popular with locals. After trekking in the Cantabrian wilds, the free hot tub and sauna are a welcome end to the day. All just an hour from Santander or Bilbao