Surrounded by Spain's finest cork oak and chestnut forests, this is one of six lovely cottages providing quality accommodation and excellent facilities in truly sublime surroundings ...
"While the kids are busy climbing trees, splashing in the pool, playing tennis or riding donkeys, parents can have a taste of the good life".
Situated among some of the finest scenery to be found anywhere in Spain, amidst cork oak and chestnut forests, these six cottages provide an extremely comfortable retreat in a unique and very beautiful setting.
Winner of the Huelva Province Tourism Award for 2002 and accredited as “Quality Accommodation” by both the Spanish and Andalusian Tourist Boards, the six stone cottages horseshoe around the upper reaches of a broad sweep of garden, looking out to the verdant Alajar valley. Views over the valley and surrounding hills are as magnificent as they are seductive.
The Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Criss-crossed with ancient paths, some dating from Roman times, the area is a green oasis even during the hot Andalusian summer. This is an ideal starting point from which to explore this magnificent region.
"This place has the magic charm and warm welcome of the owners Monica and Peter Jan that you hardly find anywhere else".
Just twenty minutes (one kilometre) walk away from the very pretty village of Alajár, the cottages are traditional in design, rustic in style, beautifully furnished, well equipped and all have private terraces.
Enveloped in a wide bowl of densely wooded mountains, birds and crickets singing contentedly and not a car in sight (or in earshot), their secluded location in the midst of all this beauty is difficult to beat.
Shared facilities include a spacious and welcoming, wood-beamed communal room (the old Mill house) which has a sitting area in front of a large open fireplace, a table football machine and a large barbecue terrace.
The Mill House also has a wide selection of DVD’s and music CD’s to choose from, which you can take to your cottage to watch or listen to.
"Facilities are outstanding and the cottages have everything you need. Scenery is stunning, fantastic walks and a nice pool to come back to".
A little below the Mill House, you will find the splendid 11 x 5.5 metre swimming pool where you can enjoy a dip under the dappled shade of the ancient oak tree or enjoy the sunshine lounging on the grassy bank. There are sunloungers and deck chairs, of course, and the pool is walled and gated so secure for young children.
Alongside there’s an excellent artificial grass tennis court too, with night lighting (there is a small charge if you want this switched on).
Please bring your own equipment (racquet, shoes etc) if you wish to use this facility. Bicycle hire can also be arranged, a great way to explore the beautiful country lanes all around.
You can pick your own fruit and vegetables (in season) from the the orchard and the carefully tended organic vegetable garden. Firewood is provided free of charge. Donkeys can be hired on an hourly basis for guided treks through the countryside.
"We had a thoroughly lovely stay. Peter and Monica were so nice and relaxed, that we couldn't fail to unwind as soon as we arrived. The kids loved the dogs, the tennis and especially the donkey trek".
The delightful, very friendly but unobtrusive Dutch owners have a knowledge of the area which is second to none and our clients always sing their praises for the kind, considerate hospitality they provide.
Detailed walking routes and itineraries are available. Typical regional meals can be ordered from a restaurant in Alajár for delivery to your house or for takeaway.
The six cottages, their thick walls built from local stones painstakingly collected from old houses and ruins, stand on raised ground overlooking the hills and valleys all around. Creating them was a labour of love for Peter and Monica, the Molino’s owners. All of the base elements were locally sourced; chestnut beamed and planked ceilings, terracotta floor tiles and walls of locally-quarried red sandstone which give the buildings a really warm, integrated feel.
Little pathways lead up from the communal room and the car park through the lawned surrounds. The abundance of greenery between the cottages guarantees your privacy.
Carefully designed and constructed to look and feel like they have been there for years, they are very pleasing on the eye and the attention to detail is superb.
One client described them as “like a film-set”. The warm, amber light is enhanced by the dark golden and honey hues of chestnut beams and windows and the reddish tones of hand-made clay tiles.
It is obvious that great care has been taken over furnishings and comfort. They are decorated with an appealing mix of locally crafted and antique furniture.
And a good range of comforts too: underfloor heating (and a hearth or woodburner for winter); TV, DVD and CD player (you can borrow discs from the communal library); bedrooms are simple and rustic, with iron beds and colourful bedlinen; bathrooms have pretty hand-painted sinks and Moroccan-style rain showers. Little touches include a bottle of wine awaiting you on arrival; welcome packs are available on request.
"The cottages are well appointed, comfortable, practical. The pool is beautiful, the tennis court awesome. Kids favourites were the donkeys and the dogs. Adult favourites were the views, the privacy and the perfect weather".
Cottage La Tortuga
All on one level, La Tortuga is perfect for a family, sleeping five in two bedrooms, one double, one with three singles. It has recently been fully refurbished and expanded.
The main door opens into a hallway with a window showing the enclosed patio. To the right is the spacious sitting room with galley kitchen. The dining table is placed by a large bow-window looking out over the lawns to the hills beyond.
It is well equipped with TV, CD/DVD player and telephone. Music and movies can be borrowed from the common room, where there is a good collection to choose from. There is under-floor heating as well as the open fireplace.
The kitchen area has a five-ring gas hob, electric oven, fridge, microwave and stainless steel cookware, cutlery and crockery.
The main bedroom (which also has under-floor heating) has a double bed and a stylish bathroom in sea green. The second bedroom has three single beds and en-suite bathroom. Both bathrooms have walk-in showers, there’s no bath tub.
"I was able to relax by the pool after a strenuous game of tennis, go for a walk down the river gorge into the most beautiful countryside, stroll into town".
The terrace is a delightful spot, providing the opportunity for dining outdoors while enjoying the pristine Sierra air and the wonderful countryside tranquillity.
As one client said, “we stayed in La Tortuga and it was spacious, well equipped and very comfortable. The underfloor heating was great!”
A short walk from your cottage, along little country lanes lined with stone walls, will take you to the village of Alájar, as pretty as a picture postcard, with its white-washed houses and winding, cobbled streets.
There are bars and restaurants here which have both cosiness and character. High above the village towers La Peña de Arias Montano, a craggy cliff with the sixteenth century hermitage Nuestra Señora de los Angeles set on its peak.
"Monica and Peter are superb hosts, welcoming, kind and considerate. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they have great knowledge of the area".
Many consider it to be the most beautiful of all the region’s villages.
The name Alájar comes from the Arab word for stone, appropriate as it is this stony peak that dominates the village and presides over the life and doings of its 800 inhabitants. From here the village below shines whitely, like the cut-out silhouette of a giant lizard against the green of the surrounding forests and meadows.
It is an ideal starting point from which to explore this magnificent region. The Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche is an area of outstanding natural beauty, criss-crossed by ancient paths which offer some of the best walking anywhere in Europe.
It’s a land of glorious woodlands and far-reaching views, of soft, rolling hillsides and crystal-clear streams. The hills are thickly wooded with sweet chestnut and cork oak, giving the area a marvellously green and verdant feel.
"You are cared for as though in a boutique hotel. The cottages are beautifully decorated, a cosy counterpoint to the cacophonous nature on your doorstep".
Aracena is only a twenty minute drive along scenic roads. A pretty market town, it is relaxed and friendly like so many here, set on top of the Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave Of Wonders), one of Spain’s most impressive caves, and dominated by its splendid Moorish castle on the hilltop above the town.
And even closer are two of the best restaurants to be found anywhere in Southern Spain. We wholeheartedly recommend Restaurante Arrieros in the nearby village of Linares and others speak just as highly of Mariscastaña (open at weekends only) in Castaño del Robledo, another little hamlet just a few kilometres away.
For a complete contrast, there’s marvellous Sevilla, little more than an hour away from here. Cities don’t come any more vibrant – or any more beautiful than this one. And, in the opposite direction, there’s enchanting, beguiling Portugal, so, so different from Spain.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, you are guaranteed comfort and tranquillity when you return here.
Relax, read, swim, play tennis … to the accompaniment of crickets, birdsong and the water in the river below … It’s a fabulous place!
All the facts and features about this villa
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open from mid May to mid September
The owners have five very friendly, well behaved dogs who are around and about in the grounds and more than happy to be taken on walks. Great if you like dogs but we do not recommend this property to those who are allergic to dogs
Rental start and finish days for this property are flexible
Note that the wooden stairs up to the mezzanine bedrooms have open treads and there is a gallery rail at the top (where the bedrooms are). Not appropriate accommodation for toddlers in our opinion
Prices are inclusive of firewood and heating costs. Extra firewood is available for €10 per barrow
Welcome packs can be provided on request
Babysitting is available on request, payable locally
Other cottages on the Estate :
ZH11 (1) La Cigüeña 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4/6
ZH11 (2) El Conejo 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4/6
ZH11 (3) El Buho 1 studio bedroom, sleeps 2
ZH11 (5) El Águila 2 bedrooms, sleeps 2 plus 2 children
ZH11 (6) Zoya 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4
RB/CR/HU00083
| 2024 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st January to 5th July | 1,430 € | 2,860 € |
| 6th July to 31st August | 1,530 € | 3,060 € |
| 1st September to 31st December | 1,430 € | 2,860 € |
| 2025 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
Access is by a 400 metre track which is negotiable in an ordinary car but please note that it is very narrow, with stone walls either side … not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for a seven-seater
