In a verdant, wooded paradise, yet just 500 metres from lovely Jimena de la Frontera, this traditional house has been restored and converted into a delightful home ...
From its lofty position, the house looks out to a verdant paradise of dramatic hillsides, cork oak forests and limestone peaks stretching across the horizon.
This delightful and very tranquil property really does enjoy the best of both worlds: set deep within the gorgeous Los Alcornocales Natural Park – and with views to match – it is, nevertheless, just a couple of minutes (500 metres) from Jimena de la Frontera, one of the classic pueblos blancos of Andalucía.
A lovely, traditional house set in its own 3½ acres of wooded grounds and gardens, it has been restored and developed into a really delightful country home by its English owners.
It’s everything it should be – comfortable, homely and with all mod-cons.
Charming little Jimena de la Frontera clambers up a steep hillside between two rivers. From close to the top of town, a very pretty country lane descends down the other side of the hill heading towards the Hozgarganta River, deep in the valley below.
This is one of the oldest properties, carefully rebuilt to the highest standards, in the centre of Jimena, one of the traditional Andalusian white villages situated in the natural park of the Alcornocales, half an hour away from the Costa del Sol.
This beautifully rebuilt 6 double bedroom house in the traditional Southern Spanish way is built over 3 levels and is situated right in the centre of the village with the most spectacular infinity pool, extending halfway under the house. It has underfloor heating, TV and Wifi.
A large living room in Moroccan style boasts a grand piano, well stocked library and CD collection and Hifi. Further on the ground floor there is a large internal patio with fountain feature and adjoining a 66m2 area, which comprises a fully kitted kitchen with latest induction hob, built-in state of the art coffee machine and self-cleaning sliding oven, modern fridge.
There is an open fireplace which doubles up as barbeque in the centre of the kitchen. There is a large table seating up to twelve diners, an area of relaxation with 4 comfortable chairs and coffee table as well as large wall mounted flat screen TV. One can access through foldable doors to before mentioned patio and to the large terrace with seating and facility for al fresco dining enjoying the spectacular views. Adjoining is a small larder which houses a large freezer. The ground floor fully accessible by wheel chair is complemented by a large spectacular view terrace with al fresco dining furniture, 2 double bedrooms(1 en suite) and a further bathroom/WC.
The huge basement has a cinema, Hifi, DVD and video player, satellite TV and surround system. A large collection of DVD, especially catering for children complements an ice hockey table and a small gym. At that level as well as a further laundry room with high capacity washing machine and tumble dryer, there is a further bathroom/WC on that floor and small kitchen with fridge to cater for the garden and pool, accessed through patio doors. There are 4 double bedrooms on the first floor, all en suite and decorated in old Andalusian style, but modern sanitary ware and powerful showers. One of bedrooms has a private terrace and cast iron bath and the other three have mezzanines. The top terrace provides a perfect spot to catch the late sun and has spectacular views of the distant hills, the village and even Gibraltar.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will always enjoy returning to this charming and very relaxing home.
And there's a different world ... immaculately manicured golf courses and polo fields, sandy beaches and all the sun, fun and frolics of life on the Med.
The owners have an intimate knowledge of the area and provide detailed walking routes and itineraries to help you explore the very best of it. No doubt you will be accompanied by ravens, golden orioles or huge buzzards soaring high overhead.
If walking in paradise is not your thing, you can choose between Mediterranean beaches on the Costa del Sol (just half an hour away) or, a little further on, the wilder beaches on Spain’s Atlantic coast. Sotogrande and Tarifa are both popular choices for day trips.
For golf enthusiasts, there are at least 25 top quality golf courses (including Valderrama, Sotogrande and San Roque) close by. Or, if you are looking for something really different, how about nipping over to Morocco for the day!
Heading 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, Genalguacil and, further to the north, delightful old Ronda and the mountain village of Grazalema are all very attractive, lovely places, all well worth visiting.
If you don’t want to take the car, try the wonderful, narrow gauge railway which runs from Jimena to Ronda, stopping at little white villages along the way. Further afield the great historic cities of Andalucía – Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba – are between two and three hours drive.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you will always enjoy returning to this charming and very relaxing country home.
The River Hozgarganta is just 10 minutes down the lane, a place to swim in its deep pools and walk along its banks within the magnificent National Park.
Jimena, just ten minutes walk up the lane (and only five minutes returning as it’s downhill), is one of the most charming of Andalucia’s small towns, its 13th Century Moorish castle presiding over the pretty town houses, tapas bars, restaurants and churches which climb up the hillside.
Head off in the other direction and within minutes you will be down by the river side. Popular in summer (because one can swim in its deep pools), it’s a very beautiful spot whatever the time of year.
From Jimena’s Moorish castle (another lovely walk from the house) there are uninterrupted views to Gibraltar, Africa beyond, and mile upon mile of fertile valleys, orange groves, forests and mountains.
The surrounding Los Alcornocales Natural Park is heaven-made for great walking.
Jimena de la Frontera has a rich historical and cultural background, a quality that is frequently found among the features of the village. Its history dates backed to when it was first inhabited by the Romans, who called the village Obba.
Later by the Moors who built on the existing castle, a landmark for which the village is known. It became a look-out post for the Christians in the war against the former (the Moors). The remains of the castle have fantastic views over the surrounding countryside, the village below, the Alcornocales Natural Park and Gibraltar.!
Presently, Jimena is better known for its international music festival, cork production, mushroom picking season and its natural park, located only one minute away from the house.
This area of southern Spain is renowned as an outstanding area for hiking and hill walking, and even mountain biking; its easily accessible, diverse and stunning routes running through the national park, surrounded by beautiful flora are also a habitat full of biodiversity, perfect for those into activities such as bird- watching. The village is also known for its unspoiled river, the Hozgarganta with its old watermills and the remains of the old Royal Bomb Factory commissioned by King Carlos III and dating back to the times of the siege of Gibraltar around 1777, when cannonballs were produced locally . There are a number of musicians and artists, local and from abroad, who have settled in the village and offer a wide variety of music, painting or ceramic courses. There is always an art exposition or concert of some sort occurring, as well as plenty of other activities, such as yoga, being held somewhere in the village or neighbouring villages.
There are many restaurants and bars to choose from, in some of the most exquisite traditional cuisine as well as many local delicacies are on offer, such as the very well known Chanterelle mushrooms, wild asparagus and game from the Alcornocales. If you prefer, there is always the option to buy locally sourced fruit and vegetables, we recommend the world famous oranges from San Pablo; delicatessen such as chorizo and morcilla sausages from Ronda or locally produced goats cheese, just to mention a few. Fresh bread is also available from the local bakery. All these village shops are just 20 metres away from the house. Supermarkets and pharmacies can be found in the upper and lower sections of the village, which should provide all necessary house hold supplies.
Other services and leisure facilities within Jimena include a local health centre, an open air municipal pool and a covered swimming pool at the nearby camping. All within easy walking distance, as well as tennis and paddle courts located at the bottom of the village next to the indoor sports hall and several play parks for children. There is a gym in the lower village, as well as horse riding and a polo school just outside the village. Lessons can be arranged. Bike tours and rental is available.
The house has a proper, lived-in ambience and all mod-cons which include air conditioning, central heating and an extensively equipped kitchen.
We started this total restoration in 2007 employing only people and craftsmen from the village and sourcing the majority of the materials locally. Our three children went to school down the road and enjoyed the freedom and safety of village life.
We return on a regular basis to our home and hope that our guests will enjoy their stay as much as we do. As a retired orthopaedic consultant and with my wife, a nurse, we tend to fly in from the UK to greet our guests and make sure everything is ready for their comfort and also help with planning trips, transportation and suggestions in order to make it a memorable holiday. We will have fresh fruit, local cheese and bread, milk and some wine for when our guests arrive to greet them.
All the facts and features about these villas
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)
Please note that this hillside property has some unfenced drops around the pool and a lot of steps around and about the property. Due care and attention must be taken.
It is not suitable for the elderly or anyone with wobbly legs and children under seven are not accepted.
A weekly linen change and house cleaning are included; the house is also given a light clean mid week
Rental start and finish days for this property are usually flexible
In winter months the underfloor heating if it is required in advance there is a supplement of 200 Euros per week. To be paid locally on arrival.
Special offers in last minute bookings
A 500 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.
A 400 Sterling Pounds security deposit is required on each booking (payble in cash on arrival). This will be transferred two weeks after your holiday to your bank account, subject to any reductions for breakages or damage. See Terms and Conditions for full details.
RB/VTAR/CA/00678
| 2024 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Same price through the Year | 3,230 € | 6,460 € |
| Rest of the year | N/A | N/A |
| 2025 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
InJimena de la Frontera (most facilities) in the Western Costa del Sol region (Province of Málaga).
