Property Description
Rustic and completely authentic, this lovely old farmhouse has one of the finest locations in all Andalucia.
Hidden away amongst wonderfully lush woodlands and surrounded by eucalyptus and olive trees, you would never guess that this heavenly spot is just eight kilometres from the Costa del Sol, and only 40 minutes from Marbella.
In an area which is usually famous for its luxury villas, this traditional farmhouse is an unusually rare find.
Private and secluded, it is set in its own grounds of approximately 13,000 m2, completely surrounded by gorgeous, verdant nature. Views are wonderful and there's nothing to disturb your idle revelry, just birdsong and the relaxing sound of the cicadas (crickets) chirruping away in the jungley undergrowth to keep you company.
Built on a hillside, its wild gardens ramble down the sloping terrain (a little steep in places) to a lovely pool situated on a lower terrace. Here, the wonderful views stretch out across the valley.
There's private parking to the side of the property. Leafy surrounds open through to a wide terrace running along the front of the farmhouse which makes the best of the views over the richly forested hillsides. There are a few other houses dotted about here and there, but all are in the far distance. It's both idyllic and very private.
Inside, the farmhouse is as rustic as a cottage in a children's story.
Although neatly renovated and comfortably furnished, all its lovely old nooks and crannies have been carefully retained and it is this traditional, old-world charm that makes this such a special place, its serene atmosphere enhanced by the gorgeously wooded countryside all around. One is immediately transported back to the Spain of days long gone by.
One enters through old wooden double doors to a large and really characterful, timber-beamed kitchen / dining room. Walls are roughly hewn but what was, not so long ago, the original hay barn, is now smartly kitted out with all mod cons.
There's plenty of work space around its double-oven range cooker, dishwasher and fridge/ freezer. An attractive, antique wood-burning stove keeps everything cosy during winter months.
At the heart of the house is the spacious living room, a lovely room with two comfy leather sofas gathered around a big wooden coffee table by the glass-fronted fireplace. With its double-height ceiling, weathered old terracotta floor tiles and intricate (almost delicate) timber beams, the ambience is cool, calm and mellow.
The four bedrooms lead off (one of them accessed by a flight of steps) at each end of the room.
The master double bedroom is pretty, in keeping with the old-world, folksy character of the property. This is perhaps best exemplified by the massive bathtub in its en-suite bathroom. Not quite sure how one gets in … or out of it … but it's a fine piece of workmanship. You won't find anything like it in Ikea!
There is also a twin bedroom (with en-suite walk-in shower room) and a second double (also with an en-suite walk-in shower room) at this end of the house, the latter upstairs.
At the other end of the living room, a long, narrow room has been furnished with bunk beds and leads on to a small walk-in shower room. This space was clearly not designed to be a bedroom but it just about works as one.
All in all, this is a very welcoming home, neat and tidy, furnished and decorated entirely in keeping with its romantic, country-cottage style. The delightful Irish owner and her young family lived here until very recently, as happy as can be. It's as genuine a piece of old-time rural Andalucía as you will ever find.
Which is all the more surprising because of its location. It is just off the minor road (access is easy, down a 50 metre track) which winds gently through the beautiful countryside between the little town of Casares and the coast, so getting around and about couldn't be easier.
Casares, is without doubt one of the prettiest of the classic white villages in Southern Spain, its hilltop position dominating some of Andalucia's most seductive countryside.
Several excellent out-of-town tavernas and restaurants are even closer. We had a superb lunch in one, Arroyo Hondo, which is owned by an English and Japanese couple. Their food combines the best of both cultures and is delicious. Others sing the praises of Venta Garcia.
If you head inland, the timeless beauty of some of Spain's most impressive Natural Parks awaits you. There are lots of charming towns and villages to discover along the way - Gaucín, Jimena de la Frontera, Genalguacil and, further to the north, delightful old Ronda and the mountain village of Grazalema are all attractive, lovely places, well worth visiting. The great historic cities of Andalucía, Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba are between two and three hours drive.
The Mediterranean coast is an easy ten minutes drive from here. The beaches of the western reaches of the Costa del Sol are much less "touristy" and less congested than those further east and it is still possible to find swathes of empty golden sand here.
But if you fancy some 21st Century activity, there are plenty of resorts to choose from as well. Estepona is the nearest, just twenty minutes away. Marbella, with all its glitz and glamour, and Gibraltar, take 40 minutes.
For golf enthusiasts, there are at least 25 top quality golf courses (including Valderrama, Sotogrande, and San Roque) within 30 minutes drive. Highly recommended is "Finca Cortesin", host to the Volvo Masters Matchplay Championships, less than ten minutes away.
Not, perhaps, the right choice for anyone looking for Marbella-style opulence or even just for straight walls and modern order (please note that there's no washing machine) … but for many, this is what a holiday in rural Andalucía is all about, a delightfully rustic home in beautiful surroundings, bags of authentic character and a multitude of things to see and do close at hand.
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00 34 958 763 381
Property Details
Ground Floor :
Large kitchen / dining room
Living Room
3 bedrooms:
1 double with en-suite bathroom (shower over bath tub)
1 twin bedded with en-suite shower room
1 with bunk beds (suitable for children) with en-suite shower room
Furnished terrace
Wild gardens and grounds
First Floor :
1 double bedroom with en-suite shower room
Facilities
Flat screen TV (Spanish programmes only) • DVD
Glass fronted fireplace in the living room • Wood burning stove in the kitchen • Radiators in the bedrooms • Room Fans
Double Gas Oven • Gas hob (8 rings) • Fridge / freezer • Dishwasher • Toaster • Kettle • Coffee maker • Cooking utensils • Cutlery • Crockery
All linen is provided (including pool towels) • Cot & Highchair (on request)
Filtered swimming pool (10 m x 5 m, 1.0 m - 2.0 m deep)
Grounds • Night lighting • Sunbeds • Sunshades • Outdoor dining and garden furniture • Private parking
Notes
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it's not heated, the normal swimming season is from mid April to September)
Because the grounds are steep in places and access to the pool is by a rough pathway down the slope, we do not consider it suitable for unattended toddlers or anyone with wobbly legs
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday
Location
4 km from Casares (most facilities)
Costa del Sol 10 mins; Estepona 20 mins; Gaucín 30 mins; Gibraltar 40 mins; Marbella 40 mins; Tarifa 50 mins; Ronda 1 hr; Málaga 1¼ hrs; Sevilla 2 hrs; Granada 2½ hrs; Córdoba 2½ hrs
See the location map above
Airports
Gibraltar 40 mins; Málaga 1¼ hrs; Jerez 1¼ hrs; Sevilla 2 hrs
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
Car Hire
We offer competitive rates for car hire from Málaga and other airports in Andalucia. Click here for full details
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About the La Costa del Sol
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