Property Description
If you are looking for countryside charm and rural tranquility - with views to match - then look no further than this beautifully renovated farmhouse in the hills to the north west of Ronda.
There is nothing - and nobody - to disturb your intimacy here, just sublime countryside as far as the eye can see. Rolling hillsides dotted with almond and olive trees are wrapped in a bowl of majestic mountain beauty. Right in the heart of some of Spain's most spectacular and exquisite scenery, the panoramic views are stunning …
It's as peaceful as can be. Sheep's bells clink gently in the distance, a fleeting shadow from an eagle or kestrel soaring high overhead; birds singing happily in the trees - just the wonderful sights, scents and sounds of pastoral bliss to keep you company. The nearest civilisation is the little white village of El Gastor, ten minutes drive away along a wide and reasonably well maintained farm track which winds down through the hills and pretty countryside. Ronda is half an hour away.
Set in its own 15 acre estate of olives, woods and grazing land, it's a wonderful spot and the farmhouse does its splendid location proud. It has been renovated and refurbished with real charm, completely in keeping with its lovely old character.
Quality furnishings abound (the owner runs a business which designs and creates high-end, bespoke furniture, so he knows a thing or two about beautifully crafted products) but the style remains relaxed, casual and very homely. It has a real "country cottage" ambience.
Old Moroccan doors lead through to a spacious sitting room. A plump white sofa and comfy armchairs, bright cushions, colourful rugs and throws, books and carefully chosen artifacts all fit together around its ancient fireplace. It's a cheerful room. A large flat screen TV (freeview satellite so it receives BBC, ITV and other UK terrestrial programmes) is discretely placed in the corner, a music system at its side. There's WiFi internet too.
The living room opens through to an attractive country kitchen, its wooden cabinets topped by black granite work surfaces.
Divided off from the living space by a splendid wooden kitchen island (made, of course, by the owners' company) and with the dining area to the side, it's one big room really, flooded with light on both sides.
The kitchen has all mod-cons and equipment (gas oven, gas hob, huge American-style fridge-freezer, a separate drinks fridge, dishwasher, toaster, juicer, kettle et al). Which is all the more remarkable because there is no mains electricity in this quiet, rural part of the world. Everything is fuelled by a state-of-the-art generator or by gas.
The fridge-freezer and dishwasher are housed in a utility room just behind the kitchen which also offers plenty of storage space. Opposite is a laundry room with washing machine.
Alongside the kitchen, the wooden dining table comfortably seats eight. There are colourful, modern paintings on the wall, a gorgeous old drinks cabinet and, of course, wonderful views across the olive dotted hillsides to the mountain peaks beyond. Double glass doors open to the bougainvillea-covered dining terrace outside.
This is another fabulous spot, looking out beyond the cobbled side patio to the surrounding hillsides. Sitting here on a warm evening, a decent glass of Rioja to hand, shadows lengthening under the golden glow of the Andalusian sun setting behind the mountains, there's not a lot wrong with the world …
The three downstairs bedrooms follow on beyond the dining room. A cosy double bedroom has double doors opening to the cobbled terrace. The pretty twin bedroom (the beds are pushed together) has views over the equally tranquil hillsides on the other side of the house.
These two bedrooms share a walk-in shower room and separate W.C, just a step or two away across the hallway.
Five steps down is the beautiful master bedroom suite with its huge, king-sized double bed. This is a really gorgeous, country-style room, delightfully rustic under its traditional cane and wood-beamed ceiling. Comfortable, colourful and spacious, it has a sofa and an antique wood burning stove in the corner.
Two sets of double doors open to the pool terrace outside, the views far and wide, down the long valley to the craggy peaks of the Grazalema mountains in the distance, a million stars twinkling brightly up above. The en-suite bathroom has both a walk-in shower and bath tub.
External stairs on the other side of the house will take you to the fourth bedroom on the floor above. Ideal for a couple who want a little independence from the rest of the guests, it's spacious, with a king-sized double bed, sofa and wood-burner under its high cane and wood-beamed ceiling. A walk-in shower room is alongside.
From the bedroom there are lovely balcony views; just outside, three more steps take you up to its own private, sunny roof terrace - and more fabulous vistas.
All rooms have ceiling fans as well as traditional terracotta floor tiles which keep everything cool even in the hottest months. Apart from the master bedroom, the other two doubles (one downstairs, the other upstairs) can both be made up as twin rooms if preferred.
The salt-water filtered swimming pool measures 9 m x 4.5 m and has a wide terrace surround furnished with good quality sunbeds. A covered terrace just above is furnished with a table and chairs.
Arguably this area enjoys the very best views of all, the mountain scenery extending for mile upon mile, the village just visible far below. From here you can watch the sun rise in the morning, pass high overhead and then sink slowly behind the mountains in a blaze of red, yellow and gold. One of the most beautiful sunsets imaginable …
And if the children splashing around in the pool are enjoying themselves a bit too much for your liking and you seek a little more peace and quiet, then a few steps will take you down to a lawned area just below the pool. More steps will take you to another little terraced area, lower down, this one shaded by a cane awning. And, of course, you have acres of wild, wonderful nature to explore.
El Gastor, the nearest village, is a ten minute drive away (a very pleasant 40 minute walk, a little longer on the way back as you will be going uphill). The village has several bars and restaurants, a number of shops (bakery, butcher's, greengrocers etc.) and a petrol station. The people of the village are very welcoming and you are bound to make new friends should you venture out for lunch or dinner.
For trips out, you are spoilt for choice here. Ronda is half an hour away. Straddling the extraordinary Tajo Gorge which plunges to a depth of more than 150 metres, it is known to locals as the "The City of Dreams". With its mansion houses, quaint narrow streets, museums, art galleries and Spain's oldest bullring, it is well worth visiting.
There are excellent restaurants close by including the Michelin-starred "Tragabuches" in Ronda and the superb "Al Lago" restaurant a short drive away in nearby Zahara. All of the local villages have friendly tapas bars where you can try the local wine, best drunk young as mosto.
The Grazalema National Park begins, literally, on your doorstep. This is one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe, with an astonishingly diverse flora and fauna. There are deep gorges, high peaks and some of Spain’s most attractive rural architecture. Most villages in the Park date back to the Moorish period and their names reflect their Berber origins: Zahara, Benamahoma, Torre Alháquime … A visit to La Cueva de la Pileta cave to see its 25,000 year old troglodyte paintings is another must.
The pretty white villages of Grazalema, Zahara and Setenil are all close by and worth visiting. Sevilla, just an hour and a half to the north west, is a fabulous day excursion. Granada can be also be visited as a day trip. Jerez with its numerous sherry bodegas and the Royal School of Equestrian Art is an hour away. The beaches of the Costa del Sol are only a little more than a one hour drive to the south; the lesser-known but quite sensational Atlantic beaches are a couple of hours to the west.
The perfect place to relax and unwind, reveling in the serene, wonderful countryside all around, this lovely, comfortable farmhouse in the hills is also an ideal location for exploring much of the best that Andalucía has to offer.
Contact Us
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00 34 958 763 381
Property Details
Main House (sleeps 6)
All on the ground floor :
Entrance Hall
Open-plan living room / kitchen / dining room
Kitchen utility room
Laundry Room
3 bedrooms :
(1) master bedroom with king-sized double bed, living area and en-suite bathroom (walk-in shower and bath tub)
1 twin bedded
1 double (it can be unzipped as twin beds if preferred)
Walk-in shower room
W.C.
Dining patio (furnished)
Pool terrace (furnished)
Lower shaded terrace
Lawned area, gardens and grounds
Independent Bedroom Suite (sleeps 2) : All on the first floor, accessed by an external stairway:
1 double with king-sized bed (it can be unzipped as twin beds if preferred)
Walk-in shower room
Roof terrace
Facilities
Flat screen Satellite TV (Freeview) • DVD • CD Player • Selection of DVD's and books • Table tennis • WiFi Internet (bring your own laptop)
Open fireplace in the living room and wood burning stoves in the master bedroom and in the independent bedroom suite • Gas heaters • Ceiling Fans in all rooms
Gas Oven • Gas hob (4 rings) • American-style Fridge / freezer • Drinks fridge • Toaster • Juicer • Kettle • Coffee pot • Cooking utensils • Cutlery • Crockery
Washing Machine • Iron & board
All linen is provided (including pool towels) • Hairdryer • Cot & Highchair available (on request)
Salt filtered swimming pool (9 m x 4.5 m, 1.2 m deep)
Pool terrace • Pool shower • Sunbeds • Weber Barbecue • Outdoor dining and garden furniture • 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 mid September)
The property is not available in the winter months from November through to late March
The house has no mains electricity; however, it has a very efficient, capable generator which handles all power requirements very well. But please don't overload it. For example, it's not a good idea to run the dishwasher, the washing machine and a couple of hairdryers, all at the same time
There are railings on two sides of the pool, but a short drop down on the further side, making this property unsuitable for unattended small children
Welcome hampers can be provided for 50 € per person. All must be ordered in advance but are payable locally on arrival. There is also a 10 € delivery charge.
Rental start and finish days for this property are flexible
Location
Accessed by a 3 km dirt track (easily negotiable in an ordinary car with due care and attention), 3 km from El Gastor (basic facilities, bank, restaurants etc.)
Ronda 30 mins; Grazalema 30 mins; Arcos de la Frontera 1 hr; Costa del Sol 1½ hrs; Málaga 2 hrs; Jerez 1½ hrs; Sevilla 1½ hrs
See the location map above
Airports
Málaga 1½ hrs; Jerez 1½ hrs; Sevilla 1½ 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 Ronda Mountains
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