Serene, elegant and peaceful
Spacious, elegant and very peaceful, this lovely country house down by the river on the edge of town has lush, semi-tropical gardens and overlooks a beautiful nature reserve ...
"What an AMAZING villa – the photos don’t do it justice! The house is beautiful and spacious, with everything you need for a relaxing break. The house is based around a natural spring which provides a cool, calm retreat in the heat of the day where you can bbq or relax and enjoy a drink.
The swimming pool area is secluded and relaxing (it even has a pool bar!) and we have fresh mangos and limes from the gorgeous lushess gardens which surround the house.
It sits on the edge of the very pretty, friendly town but with views onto nature reserve – so you have great views, but also excellent restaurants only a short walk away.
The owners were exceptional, I cannot speak highly enough of them – in fact it’s hard to express what an amazing house, location and family this is – it felt almost magical!
We will definitely be back!"
"We stayed at ZC55 for a week in June. The villa is spacious and beautiful. Everything you need for cooking and grocery in walking distance. The owner is a wonderful host and will help with anything you need to make you stay comfortable and stress free. The pool is very private and relaxing, the gardens around the villa are beautiful and provide some fresh produce as well. Oranges, lemons, limes, and avocados, were available when we were there. There are excellent restaurants in the village as well, with everyone helpful and friendly. We rented a car which made it easy to take plenty of day trips, including Ronda, Gibraltar, Tarifa, and Tangiers. But the villa is so relaxing and beautiful that you may just want to stay there. We had a great week and would recommend this for anyone."
"The location of the house is stunning and we had a few wonderful walks in the national park. The owner was friendly and couldn't do more for you. Lovely location. Thanks for a wonderful time!"
"My partner and I were loathe to return home from this little sliver of paradise. The property is just a brisk drive away from Gibraltar but it feels like a different world. The house itself is well appointed and spacious, with lots of air and light, and a wealth of tempting places to sit and drink or read. But the gorgeous garden on the terrace, the enchanting fish pond and fountain, and the pool, were the real stars for us. We had a lovely welcome from the owner who made sure we were well cared for but it still felt very private. You quickly think of yourself as the lord of your own little castle. A couple of days we walked the trail up into the spectacular national park, which begins literally where the boundary of the property ends. If you're energetic you can quickly climb quite high and appreciate some beautiful, craggy scenery. But even staying at the house itself for the whole week would have been fine by us - all in all, it was just a very relaxing place to be. We went on the recommendation of a friend and though it was a slight stretch for our purse, we ultimately felt it was worth every penny. If we had had kids, it would have been even more so. "
"This is a beautiful house set in one of the more stunning locations in andalusia, and there are many! The house itself it quietly located on national heritage property in the most beautiful setting and is built in a hacienda style. The gardens are simply wonderful and your charming hostess has created a unique dream home, with swimming pool and some of the most comfortable beds around! (Incidentally if you have any questions she is always around to ask and is extremely helpful but never intrusive; no-one knows the area as she does). To sit outside on a summer's evening on the terrace or by the pool is to commune with nature. Everything is arranged for you, the visitor. You can have a sublimely quiet time there with your family and small children or party with your friends: it's all there. I have stayed in the house over the years and from the first time cannot wait until the next! Everything has been designed for maximum comfort in the most elegant of styles. This may sound full of superlatives but it is quite simply one of the warmest, most comfortable houses I have ever stayed in. Anything I have to say cannot explain how marvellous it is, Go there! Don't forget your camera and you will have the holiday of a lifetime!"
Bedrooms
Four (three doubles, one twin bedded).
Pool
Private swimming pool
9 m x 4 m, 1.0 - 1.9 m deep.
Location
On the outskirts of Jimena de la Frontera in the Western Costa del Sol region (Province of Cádiz).
Price
From 980 € to 2,440 € per week.
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Villa Description
What a wonderful holiday
"What a wonderful holiday - we feel quite cheated that we have only had one week. Next time it will certainly be at least two!"
This old country house is set in 2,000 m2 of lush, semi-tropical gardens in a superb location near the river at the foot of Jimena de la Frontera, one of Andalucía's prettiest little towns.
On the edge of town (and just a 10 minute walk to the centre) there are other properties around and about, tucked away on the hillside behind.
But there's a real sense of being away from it all too, as it borders the river walk and looks out onto a nature reserve, one of the best bird watching paradises anywhere in Europe. Views encompass the reserve's rich natural heritage, eucalyptus lining the river bank and the surrounding hills.
A short stroll takes one to picnic and swimming spots. And for anyone who loves walking this could be an ideal rental; the owner has compiled a booklet of her eight favourite walks (some long, some not so long) through the surrounding countryside.
Magnificent
"The surrounding country is magnificent and we have visited many beautiful white villages and eaten lovely food. We will be back".
It's a big house (400 m2), spacious, elegant and peaceful. Everything here has a serene calmness.
Inside, the main living room, all 80 square metres of it, comprises a rouge-toned lounge with high, Catalan vaulted ceiling and large open fireplace with a choice of dining areas. Bouquets of dried flowers, bowls of aromatic herbs and pot-pori, authentic paintings, antique furnishings and artefacts create a lovely atmosphere.
Rugs are spread out on the old stone-flagged floor and cushions abound in this impressive living space, softly lit by attractive lamps and lanterns.
It's a beautiful room, with plump, comfy sofas and armchairs, a settee under one of the large windows.
Serene calmness
"We have never stayed in a lovelier house and gardens. And the service we received was discreet but very thorough. Thank you to everyone who made this such a great holiday".
Open-plan, with the attractive kitchen at one end, this opens through to a spacious pantry / second kitchen beyond. Outside, the barbecue patio with its ancient spring and fish pond is shaded by a huge banana tree.
The front terrace can be accessed directly from both the sitting room and the entrance hall. From the entrance hall there is also access to the downstairs bathroom, through a beautifully carved old wooden door.
The staircase takes one up to a book-lined landing and to the four first floor bedrooms, two of which have en-suite bathrooms. The master bedroom, with its own private lounge and views on the garden.
A double bedroom, with its king sized antique bed and silk bedcover, and walk-in dressing, the later alcove is curtained off and has a spare bed for a child.
A pretty twin bedroom and another attractive double bedroom, both enjoying good views of the upper gardens. A utility / laundry room completes the upstairs distribution.
A shaded, furnished terrace runs the full length of this first floor with great views, over the river to the Alcornocales (cork oak) Natural Park beyond. The rocky mountain terrain on the other side of the river is home to colonies of vultures and eagles as well as being on the major migratory route for birds passing across the Straits between Africa and Europe.
Places don't come much better than this for keen bird watchers.
A beautiful place
"We were full of plans at the beginning of the week, but instead we spent a lazy time relaxing by the fabulous pool and enjoying the garden. Marvellous house".
Other attractions are manifold: some will be intrigued with the original artwork that fills the walls wherever one wanders; others will want to delve into the extensive reading matter that guests are welcome to enjoy or take advantage of the wireless internet access.
All will be be enchanted with the exotic gardens that have matured within the walls of the property's 2,000 m² estate.
Completely private and secluded, it is lush with flowers, shrubs, banana and orange trees, providing a magical setting for the turquoise blue waters of the delightful kidney-shaped swimming pool which is at the side of the house, completely enclosed within its own lush, mature gardens.
The pool and garden is lit at night which creates yet another setting for dining al fresco.
Joy for all
"Everyone will enjoy their stay in this fabulous place. Vilja is not only a wonderful host but a fabulous gardener and has brought plants and trees back from all over the globe. Her 'tropical jungle' brings joy to all".
All around the swimming pool, up garden steps and along paths (which lead to a very private suntrap) and around the ivy covered rear of the property are well-established date palms, avocado, fijoa, tall cacti, orange, lemon, caqui, nispero and banana.
Apart from being beautiful they also create valuable shade. There are canna lilies and pink datura and a whole host of colourful, scented and rare plants and shrubs.
The coolest, shadiest spots are by the springs, especially by the ancient Artesian well on the barbecue patio. A fish pond is home to healthy coy, barbel and goldfish.
A short drive away
The famous white towns and villages of Andalucía; Gibraltar and Morroco are on the doorstep as are the beaches of the Med and Atlantic as well as several top golf courses, polo fields, horse riding, tennis and much more ...
Jimena de la Frontera is one of the most charming of Andalucia's small towns, its Moorish castle presiding over a village well known for its traditional houses, narrow winding streets, bars and restaurants.
With a population of just over 10,000, it is located 35 kilometres inland from Gibraltar on the road which heads north to Ronda. High on a steep hillside, it lies between two rivers, Hozgarganta and Guadiaro.
Surrounded by the majestic beauty of Los Alcornocales Natural Park, it is a real, white-washed pueblo, colourful flower pots and planters decorating many of the houses, the town dominated by the impressive ruins of its Moorish castle.
The surrounding countryside is a joy for nature lovers and those looking for calm and relaxation. Just outside Los Alcornocales Natural Park (named after its handsome and beautifully kept cork forests, the largest in Europe), there are stunning mountain and hilly landscapes in every direction.
So there is plenty of scope for great walking and horse riding, while Sevilla, Ronda and the beaches and water sports at Sotogrande and Tarifa are popular choices for day trips.
One great day out not to be missed is on the narrow gauge railway which runs from the coast to Ronda. The little train stops at the little white villages along the way (including Jimena) and passes through fabulous landscapes; it's air-conditioned and you can buy drinks on board!
The nearest golf courses are in Sotogrande, on the Mediterranean coast, the most famous of which is Valderama which has held many of the famous Ryder Cup events. Sotogrande is approximately 25 minutes drive from the villa and has four other golf courses.
If your idea of heaven is to sit in a beautiful garden amid glorious nature, enjoying the sun on your face and just relaxing completely, this villa could be the perfect place.
Villa Details
The Villa in Detail
All the facts and features about this villa
Distribution
Ground Floor
- Entrance hall
- Open-plan living / dining room / kitchen
- Pantry / kitchen
- Bathroom (shower only, no bath tub). This can also be accessed directly from the front terrace
- Shaded barbecue patio (furnished)
- Part-shaded front terrace (furnished)
- Gardens, pool terrace and grounds
First floor
- Library landing
- 4 bedrooms :
- 1 double (the master bedroom) with a king-sized bed, an en-suite bathroom (bath tub and shower) and also an additional bed for a child
- 2 double bedded
- 1 twin bedded with en-suite bathroom (bath tub and shower)
- Laundry / Utility room
- Large, shaded terrace (furnished)
Facilities
Entertainment
- Satellite TV (Via Digital, various channels in English; also German, French etc)
- DVD
- VHS
- CD Player
- Books, videos, DVDs and games
- WiFi Internet - throughout house (bring your own laptop)
Amenities
- Open fireplace in the living room
- Heating panels
- Portable Fans in all rooms
- Washing Machine, Iron & board
- All linen is provided (including pool towels)
- Hair dryer
- Cot available (on request). Cot linen is not supplied
Kitchen
- Electric oven
- Gas hob (6 rings)
- Microwave
- Fridge / freezer
- Dishwasher
- Toaster, Juicer, Kettle, Coffee machine
- Cooking utensils, Cutlery, Crockery
Outdoors
- Filtered swimming pool (9 m x 4 m, 1.0 - 1.9 m deep)
- Pool terrace
- Sun beds
- Outdoor dining and garden furniture
- Barbecue (brick)
- Night lighting on the terrace and by the pool
- Gardens & Estate grounds
- Parking
Notes
The property is available from Easter through to the end of October. The swimming pool will be open throughout this period (although, because it's not heated, the normal swimming season is from late April to September, inclusive).
Maid service is once a week. Pool & terrace areas are cleaned three times a week. Caretaker service is available at all times.
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday, but can be flexible outside of high season.
A booklet of the owners' favourite walks in the surrounding countryside is available at the villa.
Garden and pool maintenence (each morning) is included.
Villa Prices
Prices and Seasons
ZC 55
| 2019 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st January to 12th April | 980 € | 1,760 € |
| 13th April to 26th April | 1,440 € | 2,590 € |
| 27th April to 31st May | 1,230 € | 2,210 € |
| 1st June to 28th June | 1,440 € | 2,590 € |
| 29th June to 30st August | 2,440 € | 4,390 € |
| 31st August to 13th September | 1,440 € | 2,590 € |
| 14th September to 29th November | 1,230 € | 2,210 € |
| 30th November to 31st December | Pending | Pending |
ZC 55
| 2020 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | --- | --- |
Security Deposit
A 250 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.
Villa Availability
ZC 55
Availability 2020
Please contact us for latest availability and to reserve the villa.
Your browser does not support this calendar (Javascript is not enabled). For availability you can contact us directly via our contact form, email or by phone.
Villa Location
Location Map
On the outskirts of the small town of Jimena de la Frontera (most facilities) in the Western Costa del Sol region (Province of Cádiz)
Location
On the outskirts of the small town of Jimena de la Frontera (most facilities) in the Western Costa del Sol region (Province of Málaga).
Gaucín (most facilities) 20 mins; Sotogrande 30 mins; Gibraltar 45 mins; Estepona 50 mins.
Ronda 1 hr; Tarifa 1 hr; Marbella 1 hr; Málaga 1½ hrs.
Jerez 1½ hrs; Cádiz 1¾ hrs; Sevilla 2½ hrs; Granada 3 hrs; Córdoba 3 hrs.
Nearest Airports
Gibraltar 45 mins; Málaga 1½ hrs; Jerez 1½ hrs; Sevilla 2½ hrs.
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
Around and About
This is an excellent base from which to explore this delightful and very beautiful part of Andalucía.
Excursions
- There are a plethora of beautiful white villages and hilltop towns to explore and enjoy in the magnificent countryside all around – starting, of course, with Jimena de la Frontera itself (10 minutes walk to the centre). One of the most charming of Andalucia's small towns, its Moorish castle presides over a village well known for its traditional houses, narrow winding streets, bars and restaurants. It's charming.
- Others include Gaucín, Casares, Genalguacil and lovely old Ronda, all surrounded by the majestic mountain scenery of the Serranía de Ronda and the fabulous Los Alcornocales Natural Park which starts immediately on the other side of Jimena. It's a paradise for walkers, riders, bird watchers, nature lovers and anyone looking for calm and relaxation.
- To the south there's Sotogrande (30 minutes away), a a completely different world of indulgent opulence and immaculately manicured golf courses and polo fields. Immediately beyond lie the sandy beaches, sun, fun and marinas of the Med. Resort towns include Estepona (50 minutes) and glitzy, glamorous Marbella (an hour away).
- From here you are equally well placed to head for the Atlantic beaches on the Costa de la Luz. Gibraltar, steeped in history, VAT free shops … and fish & chips, is less than an hour away, but perhaps of more interest is Tarifa on the southernmost point of Spain, an hour from here. Looking directly across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco, Africa is so close you feel that you can almost touch it!
- Beyond lie mile upon mile of magnificent white beaches.
- A taste of Morocco perhaps? The fast boat from Tarifa to Tangiers takes 35 minutes, so you can be exploring the local souks in just a few hours. Fascinating and colourful, it really is a different world.
- Spain's unique sherry wine region (Jerez and Sanlúcar), is well worth a visit, enhanced no doubt by stopping at one or two of the famous bodegas along the way! Jerez de la Frontera is a 90 minute drive.
- Cádiz (1¾ hours) continues to evoke the romance, intrigue and mystery of centuries of trade (some legal, some not so) between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
- One of Europe's most important wetland reserves and bird sanctuaries, the Doñana National Park, is a popular attraction for nature lovers (4 hours). Its enormous variety of bird species include everything from flamingos to imperial eagles.
- From Gaucín (20 minutes away) a beautiful road winds over the spectacular mountains to Ronda (45 minutes from Gaucín), with its spectacular gorge and Spain's oldest bullring, Hemmingway’s favourite town in all of Spain.
- Sevilla takes 2½ hours. It is impossible not to be captivated by its exuberant atmosphere: stylish, confident, ancient and proud, yet also convivial, intimate and fun-loving. If you don't know what alegría means, Sevilla is the place to learn!
- The fantastic railway between Algeciras on the coast and Ronda, to the north, stops at nearby Jimena. One of Europe’s great short railway journeys, running through landscapes which offer constantly plunging and spectacular views, this is a remarkable and wonderful way to see some of Andalucía's best and most dramatic countryside.
- Córdoba and Granada are both 3 hours drive from here
Activities
- Here you are in the heart of the "Costa del Golf" with at least 25 top quality golf courses (including Finca Cortesin, Valderrama, Sotogrande, and San Roque) all within half an hour's drive.
- On the coast (both the Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz) there’s every beach pursuit imaginable, from sailing and windsurfing, diving and snorkelling to whale and dolphin watching.
- Jimena de la Fontera has a decent municipal pool and there's excellent swimming in the pools of the nearby Hozgarganta river.
- The surrounding Los Alcornocales Natural Park is heaven-made for great walking. A bird watchers paradise too, no doubt you will be accompanied by ravens, golden orioles or huge buzzards soaring high overhead.
The Area
Costa del Sol
The western Costa del Sol and its beautiful rural hinterland extends south from Marbella to the rocky British outpost of Gibraltar …
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Jimena de la Frontera
Surrounded by the majestic Alcornocales Natural Park and dominated by its Moorish castle, Jimena is a real Spanish gem …
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