It has to be said that the views from this pretty cottage are enough to fall in love with.
The countryside of Andalucía never fails to amaze. Rough and rugged, soft and green, both are found around Villanueva de Concepción.
This sweet cottage is set in landscape which is breathtakingly beautiful. Rolling hills of open farmland spread out before you, the massive crags of El Torcal rear up in the distance, and little birds fly out from the verges as you drive along. From the main road, the dirt track to the property is about 1km, and although a little bumpy in places, easily navigable. You can’t drive too fast anyway because of the numerous partridge which keep running across the road!
The house was a goat herder’s ruin but the owners loved this area so much, they knew that this was their dream cottage; restoration was finished in 2003. The owners like to spend time here when they can, it’s their home when they come to Andalucía. For this reason, it’s very well maintained and furnished to a high standard. The house and gardens are kept crisp and neat all year.
Relax and breathe in this tranquil interior. The colour scheme is soothing and cool, a contrast to the holiday sunshine outside.
The first room on entering the house is the living room and dining area. The decor is very tasteful, done out in pale blues and with the white walls, the interior effect is calm and serene.Two two-seater sofas and a coffee table are arranged for relaxing, watching tv or perhaps taking advantage of the fast Wifi internet access. The living area has the benefit of five windows which allows the light and views to flood in. The kitchen is off the living area with the dining table in between. But why not eat al fresco on the lovely covered veranda?
The veranda, which leads directly to the pool, can be converted into a windproof glass room terrace, perfect for holidays taken earlier or later in the year. Innovative glass curtains on the sides of the veranda mean you can sit outside but be ‘inside’ enjoying the sunshine out of any chill breeze.
"The most wonderful holiday! The views, the home from home, the pool, the wildlife and the locals!"
Guests can fold back the glass curtains on the veranda, which opens it up to the air. This terrace is perfect for lounging, with an inviting comfy sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table for your holiday reading matter and drinks. There is a round dining table and four chairs on the veranda as no doubt you’ll want to eat ‘outdoors’, taking advantage of the amazing views that surround you.
The utter peace is like nowhere else. Watch the agricultural life going on and observe the ever-changing landscape. The few properties in the distance, seen from the cottage, are uninhabited. You may hear the soft bleating of a herd of goats and the tinkling of their bells. Goats cheese is a popular local product with milk from local goats being used at the cheese dairy you’ll see when you drive to the house. This cheese is for sale locally and what could be a better accompaniment to fresh, crusty bread, a handful of olives and a glass of wine. Simple pleasures couldn’t taste sweeter.
The house is surrounded by friendly, farming neighbours who have been known to drop off olive oil and almonds as gifts … that’s just what people do round here. By day, the green fields of barley sprout, grow and are finally harvested. By night, enjoy the unique experience of the bright starscape.
Imagine a candle-lit dinner on the terrace on a warm summer night … as the sunset fades, the candle flame will burn brighter, with hardly another light to be seen for miles around.
The villa is all on one storey and the bedrooms lead off from the living area. The double bedroom has a view overlooking the pool terrace and the rolling fields. For warmth during cooler times in the year and for holidays taken out of the summer season, there is central heating. Although there is no air-conditioning, with the ceiling fans and heavy curtains to keep out the sun, the bedrooms stay comfortably cool. All the bedlinen and towels are of the best quality brand.
From a soft, lilac dawn to the fiery, red sunset, the sky is big and blue, not a cloud in sight.
oth bedrooms have pitched ceilings, white walls, wooden furniture and pretty bedlinen. The double bedded room has a built-in wardrobe, chest of drawers and two bedside cabinets with reading lamps. The blue and white tiled en suite bathroom is pristine and comes equipped with a walk-in power shower. A large mirror above the sink makes getting ready in the morning a quick and simple process. This bedroom is west-facing and catches the evening sun.
A word should be said about the sunsets in this region … they are, quite simply, spectacular.
The twin bedded room is east facing and so catches the sunrise. The views from this room are of the garden. As with the other bedroom, it has en suite facilities with the benefit of a walk in power shower.
"Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful villa with us. There are very few places we would rather be."
The pool is sparkling and inviting, just a towel’s throw from the veranda. Accessed by shallow steps, it’s suitable for younger ones to just splash around in as well as for swimming. A poolside shower is close by, as is a Weber charcoal barbecue, to make some fun holiday meals. The laundry room is also outside, housing the washing machine and fridge freezer.
The owners are horticulturalists with considerable expertise. Their home in England has been in the National Garden scheme for twenty years. As you would expect from such keen gardeners, their garden here is very important to them. They have used native plants suitable to the climate: colourful margaritas, succulents, palms, lavender and citrus, as well as their favourite roses, to create a very pretty Mediterranean-style cottage garden.
" A beautiful and peaceful oasis away from our busy lives! Waking to the green hills, mountain views, birds singing and the goat herds going by is certainly the relaxing week we wanted."
The house is a fifteen minute drive from the town of Villanueva de la Concepción. The town has all the amenities you’d need for a villa holiday: supermarkets, banks, post office, pharmacies. The ancient town of Antequera with more facilities is a bit further down the road and the city of Malaga is an hours’ drive away.
The national park of El Torcal is quite close and is a unique site. Weathering by water and wind have eroded the limestone cliffs into weird and wonderful formations resembling statues, stacks of plates, faces and animals. A visitors’ centre tells you about the wildlife here. Walking routes are marked out, colour coded according to difficulty.
Another specialty that this area has is its birdlife: from the big birds of prey soaring over the crags of El Torcal, to the exotic migrants like the bee eaters and flamingos. Laguna Fuente de Piedra is a lagoon 50 kms away which is home to Europe’s second largest flamingo population.
There’s always a day trip to the beach for a change of scene. Take a dip, breathe in the sea air, and when you’ve worked up an appetite, head for a seafood lunch.
Drive to the coast taking the minor road which follows the route of the river Río Campanillas. This deserted, winding road goes along a Hobbit-like valley, past rustic smallholdings and scenery of rural Spanish life.
Antequera, rich in history, is well worth a visit in its own right despite being best known as the “Crossroads of Andalucía” for its geographical location. It lies just off the motorway network which links Sevilla, Málaga, Granada and Córdoba, with Ronda and Marbella not far away. It’s an ideal starting point for those who want to explore more of southern Spain.
The owners absolutely love their house and their visitors’ book is packed with comments from guests who have loved it too:
“We’ve been coming to Andalucia for about 7 years and this area 4 times. This has to be the nicest property we’ve stayed in”
“We came here to relax and now we’re too relaxed even to say … a beautiful house, beautifully done and a swimming pool in the sun on the edge of most quiet and magnificent hills…what more could anyone ask?”
"Words almost fail me! This is without doubt the most well appointed & beautiful rental property we have ever stayed in."
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday in summer months, but there is flexibility so please ask.
Please, no smoking in the house.
A 350 Euro security deposit is required on each booking, payable directly to the owner by bank transfer ten days prior to your arrival. It will be returned within ten days of your departure, subject to any deductions for any items that are damaged, broken or need to be replaced, or for additional cleaning or repairs should the property (including gardens, pool and outbuildings) not be left in a similar condition to when you arrived.
The house is unavailable from 1 Jan to 26 April 2024 and from 27 October to 31 December 2024.
Although the tap water is safe to drink in this region, most comes from an underground well system. We would recommend bottled water for drinking.
Pool heating and central heating are only available with off season/winter rentals. There is a charge of 300 Euros per week for each, which is paid locally to the owner.
The swimming pool will be open throughout the entire time that the villa is available.
Since the pool is not fenced and access to it cannot be closed off we are unable to accept bookings for parties containing children under the age of eight.”
RB/CR/MA/00495
| 2023 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 27th April to 26 October | 1,750 € | 3,500 € |
| 2025 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
15 mins drive from Villanueva de la Concepción (most facilities, bars, restaurants, shops, banks) in the Antequera region (Province of Málaga)
