This beautiful old country house resides in splendid isolation within its own 37 hectares of forest and farmland. Set on a wooded hillside of wild olives and
Spanish oaks, it's a quite magnificent
location, with the hills and dales of Los Alcornocoles Natural Park
spreading out across the horizon. Five kilometres south of Gaucín village, here goats, sheep and cattle graze contentedly in one of the most seductively peaceful settings imaginable.
To the south, the little country road winds gently down to Jimena de la Frontera,
another delightful Spanish pueblo with Gibraltar, the Mediterranean Sea
and Morocco not far beyond. The farm enjoys the best of
both worlds, quiet and completely secluded, yet conveniently close to all amenities. From
here its just a 45 minute drive to the coast.
Once a blacksmith's forge and dwellings, it has been in the same family for generations. It is their pride and joy and this shows in the care they have taken in its restoration and upkeep. Beautifully and thoughtfully refurbished, they have used traditional materials and finishes throughout, and decorated it with attractive antiques and country artifacts. It retains all its authentic rustic character and it's as pretty as a picture!
From the country road which links Gaucín to Jimena de la Frontera, a little farm lane (in excellent condition) winds gently down the hillside to the property. One enters through a lovely covered terrace to the side of the house (it's furnished and attractively planted) into the spacious living / dining room. Under the solid timbers of its beamed ceiling there's a sofa and easy chairs and comfortable bench seating too, a rounded, open fireplace (logs are supplied) and a dining table for eight.
Warm, welcoming colours and traditional decor are complemented by satellite TV, DVD, radio and a CD player. With the log fire and central heating throughout the house, this is an excellent choice for winter lets too.
The country kitchen alongside is equally attractive. Large, with plenty of workspace and a breakfast bar, it's fully equipped (oven and hob, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle etc). You will enjoy indulging your culinary creativity here!
Also on the ground floor are three of the bedrooms, one with a large wrought-iron double bed (and with French windows opening to the sunny terrace at the back of the house overlooking the fields and hills beyond), and the two neat and tidy twin bedded rooms. A bathroom (with a shower over a full tub) completes the distribution on this floor.
The whole of the upstairs floor is taken up by the huge master bedroom suite which has an en-suite bathroom (shower over small tub). It's a beautiful room, with fabulous views over the hills and dales of the surrounding countryside. Tastefully decorated, there's a comfortable sofa and chairs, a writing desk and other attractive furnishings as well as the double bed, surrounded by soft ochre-painted walls, with splashes of blue here and there to add contrast. All, of course, under richly dark wooden beamed rafters.
The lovely natural gardens at the back of the farmhouse are simply delightful. Part is lawned and fragrant mandarin and other mature trees offer plenty of shady spots. A little pathway leads across the lawn to the fenced off, filtered swimming pool, which is a good size (10 m x 5 m) and has all the accessories - sunbeds, sunshades, an outside shower, a brick built barbecue and sink - for a perfect day under the Andalusian sun.
A jasmine covered sun terrace at the rear of the house has a table and chairs for 10, perfect for those relaxing evening get-together's, where you will enjoy the views over the joyous countryside all around. If you feel like stretching your legs a little before diner, there's the whole finca, all 37 hectares of it, to explore. With so much outside space and the pool securely fenced, this is a fun place for children.
Gaucín is one of the classic white village of Andalucía, spectacularly situated in the mountains behind the Costa del Sol in the Serrania de Ronda. There are fabulous views at every turn. Its narrow streets house four supermarkets and a traditional butcher, an organic food shop, banks (cashpoints) and a pharmacy. It has an excellent selection of small restaurants and tapa bars, one of which hosts regular flamenco performances.
There's plenty to do around and about. Whether you want to explore the wonderful nature, breathtaking vistas and first class hiking of the Serranía de Ronda (guided walks, birdwatching and horse riding can be arranged), discover the culture and traditions of historic Ronda, or enjoy the beaches and golf courses of the Costa del Sol, there's something for everyone. And what better, at the end of a lovely day, than to return here to your own little piece of Andalusian country paradise!
