Situated among some of the finest scenery to be found anywhere
in Spain, amidst cork oak and chestnut forests, these six cottages provide an extremely comfortable retreat in a unique and very
beautiful setting.
Winner of the Huelva Province Tourism Award for 2002 and accredited as "Quality
Accommodation" by both the Spanish and Andalusian Tourist Boards, the six stone
cottages stand on raised ground on the right bank of the river, commanding magnificent
views over the valley and surrounding hills.
The Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is an area of outstanding
natural beauty. Criss-crossed with ancient paths, some dating from Roman times,
the area is a green oasis even during the hot Andalusian summer. This is an ideal starting point from which to explore this
magnificent region. And, wherever you go, whatever you do, you are guaranteed
comfort and tranquility when you return here.
Just
twenty minutes (one kilometre) walk away from the very pretty village of Alajár,
the cottages are traditional in design,
rustic in style, beautifully furnished, well equipped and all have private terraces.
Enveloped in a wide bowl of densely wooded mountains, birds and crickets
singing contentedly and not a car in sight (or in earshot), their secluded location
in the midst of all this beauty is difficult to beat.
Shared facilities include a spacious and welcoming, wood-beamed communal room
which has a sitting / dining area in front of a large open fireplace. There is
a fully equipped kitchen here and food can also be prepared outside on the terrace
barbecue. Guests do, of course, have excellent cooking facilities in their own
cottage, too. The Sala Común also has a wide selection of DVD's and music CD's to choose from, which you can take to your cottage to watch or listen to.
A little below the Sala Común, there is a splendid 11 x 5.5 metre
swimming pool where you can enjoy a dip under the dappled shade of the ancient
oak tree or enjoy the sunshine lounging on the grassy bank.
And there is now an artificial grass tennis court for clients to enjoy, inclusive of night lighting (there is a small charge if you want this switched on). Please bring your own equipment (raquet, shoes etc) if you wish to use this facility.
You can pick your own vegetables from the well tendered organic vegetable garden
and firewood is provided free of charge. Donkeys can be hired on an hourly basis
for guided treks through the countryside. The delightful, friendly but unobtrusive
Dutch have a sound knowledge of the area and detailed walking
routes and itineraries are available. Each of the walks is circular (beginning
and ending at the Molino) and can easily be completed in a single day.
Typical regional meals can be ordered from a restaurant in Alajár
for delivery to your house or for takeaway.
The six cottages, their thick walls built from local stones painstakingly collected
from old houses and ruins, stand on raised ground overlooking the hills and valleys
all around. Little pathways lead up from the communal room and the car park through
the lawned surrounds. Carefully designed and constructed to look and feel like
they have been there for years, they are very pleasing on the eye and the attention
to detail is superb.
Inside, the décor is really great and they are super-comfortable. One client
described them as "like a film-set". The warm, amber light is enhanced
by the dark golden and honey hues of chestnut beams and windows and the reddish
tones of hand-made clay tiles.
It is obvious that great care has been
taken over the furnishings. All of the cottages have television, DVD and CD player, and, with one exception, a telephone; all have two-metre, good quality beds.
Little touches include a bottle of wine awaiting you on arrival; welcome packs
are available on request.
A short walk from your cottage, along little country lanes lined with stone walls,
will take you to the village of Alájar, as pretty as a picture postcard, with
its white-washed houses and winding, cobbled streets. There are bars and restaurants
here which have both cosiness and character. High above the village towers La
Peña de Arias Montano, a craggy cliff with the sixteenth century hermitage Nuestra Señora de los Angeles set on its peak.
Alájar's name comes from the Arab word for stone, appropriate as it is this stony
peak that dominates the village and presides over the life and doings of its 800
inhabitants. From here, the village below shines whitely, like the cut-out silhouette
of a giant lizard, against the green of the surrounding forests and meadows.
Aracena is only a twenty minute drive along scenic roads.
It's a pretty market town, relaxed and friendly like so many here, set on top
of the Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave Of Wonders), one of Spain's most impressive
caves, and dominated by its splendid Moorish castle on the hilltop above the town.
Enjoy the great delicacies of the local pork products, the delicious mushrooms
and the goat's cheeses, discover the wonderful countryside, villages and peoples
of the Sierra, on foot if you can, or by car. For a complete contrast, there's
Sevilla and Portugal too. Both are an easy drive away.
Best of all, perhaps, just
relax, read, swim and listen to the crickets, the birdsong and the water in the
river below, right here!
