Secluded and peaceful, this holiday villa has tremendous character as well as one of the most beautiful countryside locations in all Spain ...
Deep within the forested hillsides of a 500 acre private estate, all around is joyous countryside and magnificent scenery.
A little country lane winds gently down the hill from the Gaucín to Ronda road, descending deep into the beautiful and very serene Guadiaro Valley.
It’s a wonderful part of rural Andalucía, between the Alcornocales Natural Park and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, with the spectacular backdrop of the Serranía de Ronda mountains all around.
Deep in these gloriously forested hillsides, a kilometre from the little village of La Cañada del Real Tesoro (also known as Estacion de Cortes, where the wonderfully scenic Ronda-Algeciras railway stops), you will find the entrance to this superb estate. It comprises more than 200 hectares (500 acres) of joyous countryside, rich in flora, wildlife and stunning beauty.
It’s a great location with plenty of nature to explore and enjoy all around. Organic vegetable gardens, fruit, walnut and ancient oak trees, little streams and waterfalls, this is the Spanish landscape at its best.
Inside it's an eclectic, some might say eccentric, mix of styles - somewhere between antique Spanish and the mid-sixities - with a bit of Asia thrown in.
Everywhere the views are magnificent, with the attractive pueblo of Cortes de la Frontera glistening white on the other side of the valley, the Sierra de Libar rising up to 2,100 metres beyond.
The surrounding terrain of the estate itself and the Sierra de Grazalema beyond provide plenty of opportunities for lovely walks amid spectacular scenery.
Befitting such a spectacular location, this refurbished, three bedroomed country villa (which is accessed by a 3½ km countryside track) offers good quality accommodation in a magnificent setting. Constructed of natural stone with its imposing tower clearly visible on approach, it’s a unique building.
With its huge, circular sun terrace at the front, a lovely 10 m x 6 m swimming pool to the side and sublime countryside all around, this is a property which offers a truly original holiday experience.
With its exposed ancient stonework, vaulted ceiling and minstrel's gallery, the huge entrance hall sets the tone.
It’s a villa full of character. One enters the grounds through security gates (keeping the estate entirely private). Inside, original stonework is exposed, offset by solid oak furniture, artwork, carpets imported from India, and eclectic finishes to create an interesting Spanish / Asian ambience.
The main house has three bedrooms. Just to the side, a new annexe has been added with two beautifully crafted and furnished 4 poster bedroom suites, enabling parties of up to ten people to be comfortably accommodated.
There is garage parking (the garage even features a Roman oven) and steps lead up from here to to the huge sun terrace above, with its Moroccan table and chairs and extensive views.
The massive wooden front doors of the main house open through to an interesting and very extensive entrance hall. With a vaulted ceiling and a minstrel gallery it sets the tone of the place.
To the left this leads through to the first sitting room, an unusual but attractive living space with its high arched ceiling and wooden-beams. Walls are painted with powder blue lime wash.
Comfortable and serene, the room is furnished with sofas and an armchair distributed around a coffee table. A large glass window at the end looks out to the pool and countryside beyond.
In the traditional Spanish way of things, the interior of the old house is cool and tranquil. The summer heat doesn't penetrate its metre thick walls.
Straight ahead from the hall is the second, larger living room with its L-shaped sofa and a coffee table around the open fireplace. Under its timber beamed ceiling it’s quite a dark room, decorated in earthy colours, rather rustic and old fashioned, both in its style and furnishings. But there is a DVD and music system and the old TV (which appears in our photos) has now been replaced by a modern plasma screen.
At one end doors lead through to the pool and gardens; at the other end it opens through to the kitchen which in turn opens through to the dining area (which can also be accessed to the right of the entrance hallway).
The kitchen, albeit in a rather “mid-sixties” style, is decently equipped with an oven, and ceramic hob, a microwave and dishwasher. The fridge/freezer and washing machine are situated in the larder alongside.
The pool and it's wide, lawned surround is delightful with nothing but glorious countryside, golden sunshine and blue skies to keep you company.
The three bedrooms of the main house are upstairs, each of them with splendid views. Two are double bedded and there is one twin (with the two beds pushed together). Each bedroom has an en-suite shower room. There is also access to the little lawned garden and barbecue area behind the house from this floor.
The pool and it’s wide, grassy surround is delightful, with sunloungers on the grass under little palm sunshades.
Add the comforting sound of water cascading gently through the rocks on the bank above the pool, glorious countryside all around and some of Andalucia’s famous sunshine and blue skies and this is just about as good as it gets!
Just to the side of the house, the two recently constructed bedroom suites are roomy and spacious with lots of plants to lend character to their traditional styling (see photo opposite).
Both have four poster beds (one is a double, the other has twin beds pushed together) and sitting areas with sofas and easy chairs.
Please note that these are not made available for smaller groups (paying the six person price).
Why not explore some of Andalucía's best and most dramatic countryside on the fabulous train which stops at nearby Estacion de Cortes?
Basic provisions can be purchased in La Cañada del Real Tesoro, just four kilometres away. Cortes de la Frontera, nine kilometres away, has a greater range of bars and restaurants and is well worth a visit. The charming and unspoilt village of Gaucín is fifteen minutes by car, with its excellent selection of restaurants, tapas bars, tennis courts and, of course, all the customary local traditions of an Andalusian ‘pueblo’.
There are several excellent day-trip destinations: to the historic towns of Ronda, Jerez de la Frontera and Cádiz, each of them offering good shopping and fine restaurants as well as lots of history and architecture of great beauty. Each has its own unique atmosphere.
There are charming villages too, Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema and Jimena de la Frontera to name but a few. For those who want a day on the beach, Mediterranean resorts are just an hour’s drive to the south while the white Atlantic beaches of the Costa de la Luz are ninety minutes away.
And for something a little out of the ordinary, why not explore a little of Andalucía on the fabulous train which stops at nearby Estacion de Cortes?
One of Europe’s great short rail journeys, this 50-mile stretch through the Ronda mountains runs through a landscape which offers constantly plunging and spectacular views. The single track line is so steep (by rail standards) that sand must be deposited onto the rails when wet to avoid slippage. There are four trains running daily between Algeciras on the coast up to Ronda, stopping at little hill town pueblos – San Roque, Castellar, Jimena, Gaucin, Cortes and Benaojan – along the way. It’s a remarkable and wonderful way to see some of Andalucía’s best and most dramatic countryside.
Whichever direction you head off to, one thing is for sure: you will be returning to a very enjoyable and relaxing holiday property. One that offers real character amid great natural beauty.
"Words almost fail me! This is without doubt the most well appointed & beautiful rental property we have ever stayed in."
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it’s not heated, the normal swimming season is from late April to September, inclusive)
Clients are welcome to help themselves to fruit and vegetables grown on the Estate
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday in summer
Maid service (2 hours on 2 days per week) is included in the price
A weekly change of linen and towels is included for rentals of more than one week
A welcome pack is included
RB/VTAR/MA/00515
| 2024 Season Dates | Sleeping 6 per week | Sleeping 8 per week | Sleeping 10 per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st January to 30th June | 1,840 € | 2,160 € | 2,490 € |
| 1st July to 1st September | 2,360 € | 2,690 € | 3,020 € |
| 2nd September to 22nd December | 1,840 € | 2,160 € | 2,490 € |
| 23rd December to 5th January 2025 | 2,360 € | 2,690 € | 3,020 € |
| 2025 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
In open countryside, accessed by a 3½ km track (in reasonably good condition); 4 km from La Cañada del Real Tesoro (only basic facilities); 9 km from Cortes de la Frontera (most facilities) in the Ronda Mountains region (Province of Málaga).
