Set amid its own 150 acre estate of beautiful woodlands and looking out
over the blue and green hills of the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Aracena,
this is a truly wonderful villa, almost Tuscanesque in style.
Idyllic country retreats don't come much better than this. The British owners,
as charming and engaging as they are resourceful and multi-talented, have lived
here for more than 14 years now, offering small scale, high quality bed and breakfast
accommodation from their chosen - and not so little - corner of Andalusian paradise.
At certain times of the year (generally from mid-June to mid-September)
the entire property is made available for rental. It comfortably sleeps twelve
and the rental includes two permanent staff, not to mention the owners' two lovely,
friendly dogs which you can enjoy, but don't have to look after!
Less than an hour from Sevilla, the Estate has an enviable
location, deep in the heart of one of Spain´s most beautiful nature reserves.
Rolling hillsides are thickly wooded with sweet chestnut and cork oak, small groves
of olives and walnuts, orchards of apples, plums, peaches, figs and pears. There
are some lovely lakes and classically pretty villages too.
From this
stunning hilltop position, overlooking this verdant countryside, here you will enjoy all of this to the full.
With
150 acres of woodland estate, it goes without saying that there are plenty of
delightful outdoor spaces. To mention just a few, there is a lovely, vine-shaded
terrace which runs along the front of the house, a cool and tranquil spot to enjoy
your lunch or a late dinner, perhaps, under the stars.
To the side, where
there is another entrance to the house, the large courtyard, resplendent with
flowering shrubs and palms is another, where you will enjoy the soft hues of green
and golden nature all around, stretching out to the heather-covered escarpments
on the horizon. In Spring, the valley below the house is filled with white heather,
primroses and the song of nightingales.
And
then there is the swimming pool! Approximately 100 metres away from the main house,
it is reached by a stroll along a leafy lane. With its turquoise blue waters cascading
into the view beyond, the evening swallows sometimes swooping down to take a drink,
the sun setting over distant hills, it really is the 'ultimate' infinity
pool.
Big (11m x 8m), and gorgeous, it is flanked by a large poolhouse
/ pavilion with its own bar and comfortable indoor sitting area. There's a barbecue
and basic kitchen facilities too, so there's no need to go back to the main house
for refreshments. And if it all gets too exhausting, taking the occasional dip
and lounging in the sunshine, don't worry, there's a double bedroom (with en-suite
bathroom) right here in the pavilion …
The pink-washed walls of the main house emerge out of the oak and chestnut woods
at the end of the country track which winds gently down through the estate. A much-loved family home, built by the owners themselves using
materials salvaged from old buildings in the area. It looks - and feels - like
it has been here for centuries.
Features such as the panelled dining
room, the arched doorways and the sweeping wooden central staircase are older
than the house and look wonderful. Filled with pottery, books
and family knickknacks, it's a happy and eclectic mix of both Latin and Anglo-Saxon influences.
Downstairs, the principal rooms include a large, comfortable
drawing room with cosy, rosy sofas distributed around the fireplace, the pine-panelled,
candlelit dining room, a well-equipped farmhouse kitchen (the owner
is a wonderful and renown cook), the conservatory (with
a grand piano and a bar as well as panoramic views) and a study.
The
laundry room, a cloakroom, the entrance hall and the two outdoor terraces complete
this floor.
In keeping
with the rest of the house, all of
the bedrooms are charming and attractively decorated, each with its own character
and distinction, whether due to hand-painted walls, oriental hangings, a bath
tub with a view, or a fireplace. Windows open to the oaks and chestnuts of the forest … and to silence.
The Master Suite (a double with en-suite bathroom
and balcony) is on the first floor. Two other double bedrooms (one has an adjoining
sitting room which can be converted into an additional twin bedroom, if preferred)
and two other bathrooms are also on this floor.
A twin bedroom with
en-suite bathroom, a double (which can be unzipped to twins) and three more bathrooms
are one flight further up. Also on this second floor are two smaller bedrooms
which are best designated for children or staff.
And, just in case that's not enough bedrooms for you,
don't forget that there's another double bedroom (the beds can be unzipped into
twins), with en-suite bathroom, in the poolside pavilion.
Even though it's set deep within breathtakingly beautiful countryside, the property offers most 21st Century mod-cons, including satellite TV (BBC,
Sky News, CNN, ITN etc. as well as BBC radio stations and Spanish terrestrial
channels), a video and DVD player. There is fast internet connection (via satellite),
telephone and fax. Domestic help is included in the price and an excellent cook
can be provided by arrangement.
There’s lots to keep one occupied in this wonderful part of Andalucía.
The lovely town of Aracena, with its Moorish castle and stunning underground caves,
its weekly market, theatre and music concerts, is only a few minutes' drive away.
There are a host of pretty, whitewashed villages to explore in the hills all around
and opportunities to walk, ride or birdwatch galore.
There are excellent restaurants in the vicinity and,
throughout May to September, there are fiestas or romerias almost
every weekend in the nearby villages. The women don their flamenco dresses, the caballeros sit astride their horses and there is, of course, always a huge
party!
Then there's Portugal, somehow a different world away, yet just
60 kilometres from here. And if you crave urban adventure, the marvellous city of Sevilla is just an hour
and a quarter away.
However, be warned, Alastair Sawday, publisher of
the Special Places to Stay guides, chose this as
one of his twenty favourite hideaways with charm. You may just become so relaxed
here that you won't venture out at all!
