Holiday cottage under a Moorish castle
High above, Gaucín's 12th Century Moorish castle sits on the spectacular rocky outcrop which rises up directly behind this holiday cottage ...
"We had a fantastic holiday at ZC56, it really is a lovely place."
Bedrooms
Two (one double, one twin bedded).
Pool
Shared swimming pool
approx. 8 m x 5.5 m, 1.45-1.55 m deep.
Location
In the village of Gaucín in the Ronda Mountains region (Province of Málaga).
Price
From 550 € to 830 € per week.
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Villa Description
The best of both worlds
Situated below the dramatic and almost sheer rockface which rises up to the castle ruins high above, here you are in the village ... and out of it too.
This sweet, custom-built holiday home is in an enviable position at the top end of the village, situated below an impressive wall of rock which rises up, almost vertically, directly behind it. High above, perched on top of this spectacular outcrop sits Gaucín's 12th Century Moorish castle.
Built some distance away from the owners own house (Juan is a lovely man and speaks good English), guests staying in the cottage share the swimming pool, which is situated between the two houses, with him. But, being Spanish, he is not interested in being out in the sun and only uses it when the shadows are down in the evening. So, for the rest of the day, it's all yours!
It's a quiet spot, there are no other houses at this far end of the village.
Homely and comfortable
Simple but sweet, the little cottage is designed and furnished to enjoy the pleasures of a relaxing holiday in rural Spain.
There is a big terrace at the front, shaded by a cane awning and leafy greenery.
And plenty of space to enjoy the sun too, at the side of the cottage, not to mention the views which extend down to the village and beyond to Gibraltar on the coast and to Africa across the sea. Like most vistas from Gaucín, it's spectacular …
Inside it's homely and comfortable, with warm, bright colours contrasting nicely with the pastel-yellow walls and terracotta floor tiles. The main sitting room / diner / open plan kitchen is light, neatly decorated and well equipped, with an attractive glass-fronted wood burner for winter evenings and a ceiling fan to keep it cool in summer.
Behind are the two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and the bathroom.
The house has its own private entrance at the side of the house, where you can also park, and there is also a little utility room at the rear where the washing machine is installed.
A pool with a view
Guests staying in the cottage share the swimming pool with the owner but he uses only on occasional evenings. For the rest of the day, it's all yours!.
A few metres from the terrace is the lovely pool, which has an irregular, almost round shape, (approximately 8 metres by 5.5 metres). It is positioned to make the best of the views and there is a furnished terrace area where you can relax between dips.
One word of caution, however: there is a steep, unfenced drop on one side of the pool, so don't let the fun and frolics of the children get out of hand. Gates have been installed (see the photo below) to prevent them from running around the edge of the pool so this shouldn't be a problem. But do bear in mind that the pool isn't visible from the cottage, so young children should be accompanied.
One of Spain's most beautiful villages
A delightful tangle of narrow streets and flower-festooned, whitewashed houses, Gaucín is as pretty as can be.
From here, of course, it's just a short stroll to Gaucín's many bars and restaurants. One of the classic white villages of Andalucía, it is spectacularly situated in the mountains behind the Costa del Sol in the Serrania de Ronda.
Gaucín is one of Spain's most beautiful pueblos blancos, spectacularly situated on a mountain ridge, 629 meters above sea level. It's surrounded by beautiful countryside so there's plenty of wonderful walking and wildlife.
There are fabulous views at every turn. Its narrow streets house four little grocery shops and a traditional butcher, an organic food shop, banks (cash points) and a pharmacy. For a village of its size, it has an excellent selection of small restaurants and tapas bars.
Views are breathtaking, over the Genal valley to Gibraltar, the Mediterranean and Morocco. Gaucín is not only very pretty, it is also very well situated. Surrounded by nature reserves like the Sierra de Grazalema, Los Alconorcales and the Sierra de las Nieves, there's wonderful walking and wildlife.
There are lots of fascinating little villages and hilltop towns to explore.
A beautiful 45 minute drive will take you across the mountains to Ronda, brimming with history and interest. Ronda is a lovely town, Hemingway's favourite in all Spain. A visit to its famous bridge and bullring, reputedly the oldest in the country, is a must.
The Mediterranean, with its many beaches, golf courses and lively marinas is less than 30 minutes away. If you wish, visit a different world, just take a boat trip to Tangiers in North Africa!
There's plenty to do in this delightful corner of rural Andalucía.
Villa Details
The Villa in Detail
All the facts and features about this villa
Distribution
All on One Floor
- Kitchen / dining living room
- 2 bedrooms :
- 1 double
- 1 twin bedded
- Bathroom (shower only)
- Part shaded terrace (furnished)
Facilities
Entertainment
- Spanish TV
- Radio / CD Player
Amenities
- Wood burning stove in the living room
- Ceiling fan in the living room
- Washing Machine, Iron & board
- All linen is provided (including pool towels)
- Cot & Highchair available (on request)
Kitchen
- Electric Oven
- Gas hob (4 rings)
- Fridge / Freezer
- Juicer, Kettle, Coffee maker
- Cooking utensils, Cutlery, Crockery
Outdoors
- Filtered swimming pool (approx. 8 m x 5.5 m, 1.45 - 1.55 m deep), salt-filtered and chlorine-free, shared (occasionally) with the owners
- Pool terrace
- Sun beds, Sunshade, Deckchairs
- Pool shower
- Outdoor dining and garden furniture
- Barbecue
- Parking
Notes
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open from mid April to mid October each year
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday in summer
Please note that there is a steep, unfenced drop along one side of the swimming pool, so due care should be taken
Villa Prices
Prices and Seasons
ZC 56
| 2019 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st January to 12th April | 550 € | 960 € |
| 13th April to 26th April | 700 € | 1,270 € |
| 27th April to 3rd May | 590 € | 1,040 € |
| 4th May to 21st June | 700 € | 1,270 € |
| 22nd June to 23rd August | 830 € | 1,530 € |
| 24th August to 13th September | 700 € | 1,270 € |
| 14th September to 11th October | 590 € | 1,040 € |
| 12th October to 13th December | 550 € | 960 € |
| 14th December to 31st December | 590 € | 1,040 € |
ZC 56
| 2020 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | --- | --- |
Security Deposit
A 250 Euro security deposit is required on each booking. This is held against your credit or debit card and will be cancelled one week after your holiday, subject to any reductions for breakages or damage. See Terms and Conditions for full details.
Villa Availability
ZC 56
Availability 2019
Please contact us for latest availability and to reserve the villa.
Your browser does not support this calendar (Javascript is not enabled). For availability you can contact us directly via our contact form, email or by phone.
Villa Location
Location Map
In the village of Gaucin (most facilities) in the Ronda Mountains region (Province of Málaga)
Location
In the village of Gaucin (most facilities) in the Ronda Mountains region (Province of Málaga).
San Pablo de Buceite (basic facilities) 20 mins; Casares (most facilities) 25 mins; Jimena de la Frontera (most facilities) 30 mins.
Ronda 45 mins; Estepona 45 mins; Marbella 1 hr; Gibraltar 1¼ hrs; Málaga 1½ hrs; Tarifa 1½ hrs.
Jerez 2 hrs; Cádiz 2¼ hrs; Sevilla 2½ hrs; Granada 3 hrs; Córdoba 3 hrs.
Nearest Airports
Gibraltar 1 hr; Málaga 1½ hrs; Jerez 2 hrs; Sevilla 2½ hrs.
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
Around and About
This is an excellent base from which to explore this delightful and very beautiful part of Andalucía.
Excursions
- La Costa del Sol with its wealth of sandy beaches, sun, fun and nightlife is just 30 minutes away. Resort towns include Estepona (45 minutes) and glitzy, glamorous Marbella (under an hour).
- Gibraltar, steeped in history, VAT free shops … and plenty of fish & chips is 1¼ hours away.
- Tarifa on the southernmost point of Spain is 1½ hours from here. Looking directly across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco, Africa is so close you feel that you can almost touch it!
- Beyond lie mile upon mile of magnificent white beaches on Spain's Atlantic coast, La Costa de la Luz.
- A taste of Morocco perhaps? The fast boat from Tarifa to Tangiers takes 35 minutes, so you can be exploring the local souks in just a few hours. Fascinating and colourful, it really is a different world.
- Spain's unique sherry wine region (Jerez and Sanlúcar), is well worth a visit, enhanced no doubt by stopping at one or two of the famous bodegas along the way! Jerez de la Frontera is 2 hours.
- Cádiz (2¼ hours) continues to evoke the romance, intrigue and mystery of centuries of trade (some legal, some not so) between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
- One of Europe's most important wetland reserves and bird sanctuaries, the Doñana National Park, is a popular attraction for nature lovers (4 hours). Its enormous variety of bird species include everything from flamingos to imperial eagles.
- A beautiful road winds over the spectacular mountains to Ronda (45 minutes), with its spectacular gorge and Spain's oldest bullring, Hemmingway’s favourite town in all of Spain.
- Sevilla takes 2½ hours. It is impossible not to be captivated by its exuberant atmosphere: stylish, confident, ancient and proud, yet also convivial, intimate and fun-loving. If you don't know what alegría means, Sevilla is the place to learn!
- The fantastic railway between Algeciras on the coast and Ronda, to the north, stops at the little pueblo of Colmenar (20 minutes away). One of Europe’s great short railway journeys, running through landscapes which offer constantly plunging and spectacular views, this is a remarkable and wonderful way to see some of Andalucía's best and most dramatic countryside.
- There are a plethora of beautiful white villages and hilltop towns to explore and enjoy in the magnificent countryside of the Serranía de Ronda – Jimena de la Frontera, Casares and Genalguacil to name but a few.
- Nearby National Parks include the fabulous Los Alcornocales Natural Park and the Grazalema National Park, one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe. Jagged peaks, gorges, chasms, faults and caves, underground rivers and deep canyons are interspersed, here and there, by some of the prettiest villages in Spain, Grazalema, Zahara, Setenil and the other famous "pueblos blancos".
- Córdoba and Granada are both 3 hours drive from here
Activities
- Guided and self-guided walking, horse riding, mountain biking and yoga are all available in or around Gaucín.
- The village has an excellent municipal swimming pool, a tennis court and gymnasium.
- For golf enthusiasts, there are at least 25 top quality golf courses (including Finca Cortesin, Valderrama, Sotogrande, and San Roque) within 50 minutes drive.
- On the coast (both the Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz) there’s every beach pursuit imaginable, from sailing and windsurfing, diving and snorkelling to whale and dolphin watching.
