Deep in the heart of the Valley of Happiness
Superbly situated, on a hilltop with stunning 360º views, this converted 19th Century farmhouse is now a beautiful villa which exudes quality, comfort and style ...
"It was absolutely wonderful - we just love it so much and need to book for next year. Must check school dates. We are all day dreaming about our stay and had a lovely hot Monday-Friday. The boys are now skiing addicts and did masses of swimming too. The house is just so well equipped and caters for everyone. What else to report?! Nothing except we just LOVE it and need to book ASAP. I want to go back tomorrow!! "
"Fabulous, beautifully equipped villa - the spirit of family and generous host exudes from every corner of the house. We loved our stay and hope one day to be back again - thank you. "
"Thank you for sharing your beautiful villa - We had a wonderful stay. "
"15 days of dreams in a wonderful setting. Happy holidays in the Andalucian countryside."
"Return visits often disappoint but certainly not to this house. Weather even better this year, garden flourishing, particularly the butterfly and bees and swimming pool perfect for learners, Evie now diving and and Wilf swimming. We take back more happy memories to the olive groves of Odiham!"
"Wonderful holiday. Truly inspiring."
"After a surprising and thrilling arrival, up the hill. Arrival was wonderful, a beautifully appointed and well decorated house and stunning garden in flower. Such a treat! Visited Granada, Málaga, Córdoba, Herradura beach, Nerja Caves. As well as spending time around the pool (often with cava, rioja and local wines, mmm!) Thank you, we will be back!"
"Our expectations were high. But over then, nothing could have prepared us for this breathtaking place. Comfort, Style, Homely, Relaxing. Your home away felt right and we were taken back by its beauty from the get go. The kids enjoyed every (and I mean every!) space that could explore! We visited, we relaxed, we shopped, we...just lived. And it was great! Thanks for all of it! Oh...! And we even celebrated a wedding! Ceremony up on the grassy hill and superb photos our the back door. Your villa now provides us with memories we will absolutely never forget. With respect and love, cheers!"
"Three generations of my family have loved spending a week in this remarkable and highly personalised property. We may have missed RHS (Royal Horticultural Show) Chelsea but who cares when we can enjoy the planting in this property."
"A week in this beautiful and charming house, an amazing and rare family time in this dramatic environment. Everything was just perfect and we have loads of memories...Thank you so much and goodbye Restábal!"
"Wonderful holiday in this beautiful villa. Many thanks."
"Wonderful family holiday, could not be more comfortable and everything beautifully furnished."
"Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful villa. This is not just a holiday home, this is a special very comfortable and loved by the owners and their family. A place we will always cherish. Thank you."
"An incredible week, our first time here and we will definitely be returning! Fantastic mountain bike, thank you!"
"Beautiful views, fantastic villa - what a wonderful place to stay. The children loved swimming in the lovely pool. The house manager looked after us very well thank you!"
"" Such a beautiful home and property. A trip of a lifetime "
" We've had an incredible holiday in your wonderful home. Thank you. Belen is a legend! "
" Despite our comings and goings that was a fantastic holiday! Thank you and especially the wonderful Andrea for all your help that made it so relaxing and enjoyable. ""
" I feel like Boabdil "
" Un formidable séjour. Gratitude! "
" Gratamente sorprendido por la belleza y comodidad de esta casa tan especial, en un ambiente especial de España. Éramos 9 personas que disfrutamos de los cómodos ambientes de esta casa. Felicitaciones y gracias a los propietarios. "
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"" This house was the perfect get-away home for our family to reconnect , recharge and enjoy peaceful holiday. The weather was incredible and we made the most of the gorgeous terrace and lovely garden. "
" Amazing half term break. Bobby's first skiing experience. Thank you. ""
"" Such a beautiful home and property. A trip of a lifetime "
" We've had an incredible holiday in your wonderful home. Thank you. Belen is a legend! "
" Despite our comings and goings that was a fantastic holiday! Thank you and especially the wonderful Andrea for all your help that made it so relaxing and enjoyable. ""
Bedrooms
Five (all double bedded).
Pool
Private heated swimming pool (12 m x 6 m, 1.6 m deep).
Location
In open countryside 5 minutes drive from Restábal in El Valle de Lecrín region (Province of Granada).
Price
From 1,400 € to 3,900 € per week.
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Villa Description
A gorgeous location
There is nothing - and nobody - else around as far as the eye can see, just splendid mountain scenery in every direction.
This beautiful home on a hilltop has a gorgeous countryside location, deep in the heart of what the Moors rightly called "the Valley of Happiness".
Just a couple of kilometres above the unspoiled village of Restábal, it's midway between Granada to the north and the Mediterranean coast to the south. Both are an easy 30 minute drive away.
There is nothing - and nobody - else around as far as the eye can see, just splendid mountain scenery in every direction. The nearest neighbour is a kilometre away.
The lakes at Beznar (actually it's a reservoir but who would ever know the difference) are clearly visible from the front of the house, enclosed by the southern mountains which rise up spectacularly before crashing into the Mediterranean Sea beyond.
Heavenly …
The gardens are richly planted with orange, lemon, pomegranate, fig, quince, cypress and olive trees, lavender, rosemary and other Mediterranean delights.
To the side, and from the pool, the views are equally fabulous, over patchwork fields and orange and lemon groves to the snow capped peaks of Sierra Nevada which rises up dramatically across the horizon.
Just a few minutes drive through the dales and then up into the hills from the centre of the village, access couldn't be easier. A private (concreted) lane takes you right to the front gates of the villa. There's plenty of parking space on the gravelled courtyard in front.
One enters through the villa's gates to an attractively planted central courtyard, the bright colours of the pretty flowerbeds competing for attention with the azure blue pool gleaming up from the terrace just below.
A palm tree sways gently in the breeze, its base festooned with red geraniums, the hillsides down and below the house (it's a two acre estate) are richly planted with orange, lemon, almond and olive trees. It's heavenly …
Fresh and modern
Originally a 19th Century farmhouse it is now a very comfortable home, completely refurbished with excellent good taste.
Originally a 19th Century farmhouse - and, from all accounts, a stop-over for banderos travelling with their contraband between the coast and Granada - it is now completely refurbished with excellent good taste.
Fresh and modern in style, it remains suitably traditional with its terracotta floors, wrought iron window grilles, wooden interior shutters and its lovely old, weather-beaten roof tiles.
The huge, timber-beamed living / dining room is fabulous with big windows and double French doors opening to the outside on three sides.
Like the rest of the house, it's very comfortable with two plump white sofas and matching armchairs gathered around the wooden coffee table in front of the fireplace. On the other side of the room a lovely old oak table can seat ten for dinner. Attractive original paintings and other classy furnishings complete a lovely room.
A real pleasure
There's satellite TV and DVD, a good quality HiFi system and WiFi internet connection. The house has under-floor heating throughout.
The TV receives free-to-view programmes as well as Spanish stations and there's DVD and a good quality Hi Fi stereo system. There are lots of magazines and books to choose from, plus WiFi internet connection. The house has under-floor heating throughout.
On its fourth side, the living room opens through to a superbly equipped and very attractive kitchen. Everything is of the highest quality and there's not a chef in the land who wouldn't be happy here.
There's lots of marble-topped work space, a large electric oven, five ring gas hob, an eye-level grill / microwave combination, Magimix, a huge fridge / freezer, double sinks, dishwasher and even a warming oven too - to complement all the usual kitchen bits and pieces.
It's a kitchen which is a real pleasure to be in. Just around the corner, beyond and to the side of the living room, a beautiful, antique sideboard is home to hotplates and there is also a little, self-contained drinks area with a separate fridge, wine rack and lots of quality glasses. You will wine and dine in style here!
Also on the ground floor, one wing of the villa has been converted into a bedroom suite, perfect, perhaps, for the children. There are two attractive bedrooms, both with small (4'6") double beds, separated by the walk-in shower room which they share. Both bedrooms have double doors which open to the courtyard and gardens outside.
Both have direct access from the gardens, but note that from indoors, the furthest one can only be reached by passing through the first one.
Lovely bedrooms
Top quality beds, bedding and furnishings are common to all of the bedrooms as are crafted, built-in wooden wardrobes and cupboards.
Stairs, guarded by two splendid, stone-carved ridgebacks on either side, lead up to the three main bedrooms on the first floor.
To the right (the stairs divide) is the lovely master bedroom suite with its 5' wide double bed and dressing table, pretty prints and paintings under its beamed, sloping ceiling. Its en-suite walk-in shower room is equally spacious and welcoming.
To the left, a mezzanine landing leads to the other two bedrooms (one with a 6' king-sized double bed with Tempur mattress, the other with a 5' wide double bed).
Both are big and attractively furnished rooms; both have excellent en-suite facilities (one has a walk-in shower room, the other has a bath tub with the shower over).
Top quality beds, bedding and furnishings are common to all of the bedrooms as are crafted, built-in wooden wardrobes and cupboards, and pretty rugs or carpets on the floors. The three upstairs bedrooms have heated towel rails in their en-suite bathrooms.
Wide, shady terraces
Choose from two different terrace spaces for your al-fresco meals. One looks over the lakes to the southern mountains beyond, the other to the peaks of Sierra Nevada.
All have ceiling fans and fly netting on the windows so they can be left open, keeping everything fresh and cool even on the warmest of nights. The insulation provided by the thick, original farmhouse walls helps too.
The gardens and terraces around the house have been attractively planted with orange, lemon, pomegranate, fig, quince, cypress and olive trees, lavender, rosemary. oleander and many other Mediterranean delights. They are immaculately maintained.
At the front, a wide, shaded terrace runs along the length of the villa, with ample space for both al-fresco dining around the granite-topped table (seating ten) and more casual relaxation in one of several cane armchairs. There is a free standing barbecue.
These areas look out, across the front gardens (which include lots of herbs so there are some divine aromas to enjoy too), over the lakes below and to the southern mountains beyond. There are worse places to be!
A gorgeous heated pool
The bathing terrace offers plenty of sunbathing space around the lovely, 12m x 6m heated swimming pool. Shade is provided by a cane-roofed pergola.
A pathway leads around the house to the courtyard on the other side, an equally pleasant place to be. This also has outdoor dining facilities (another granite-topped table which seats 10) and views to match. There is a bench placed between the olive trees where your gaze will take in the peaks of Sierra Nevada on the horizon.
A laundry room is accessed from this courtyard, with a washing machine, dryer and drying rack.
A few steps lead down to the bathing terrace just below, which offers plenty of sunbathing space around the gorgeous 12 m x 6 m heated swimming pool. There are six wooden sunbeds and two sun chairs. If you prefer a little shade, that's provided too by the cane-roofed pergola.
The pool is not accessible to small children as it is surrounded by wrought iron railings and gates with a bolt.
It all adds up to a great holiday!
A relaxing and beautiful villa in a splendid countryside location, it's ideally placed for trips to Granada or to the Mediterranean coast.
Restábal is a small and still very authentic rural village located at an altitude of 550 metres near Lake Beznar in the Lecrín Valley.
It's only a small village of around 500 people but it has a restaurant, a bank, a coffee bar, a pharmacy and two minimarkets. Hiking up into the hillsides is a joy with trails to other villages and, from higher up, views which extend to the distant Mediterranean.
The surrounding countryside is a vast semi-tropical valley, filled with orange and lemon trees as well as olive, fig and almond trees. It's real, rural Andalucía yet so close to sophisticated Granada and the buzzing Mediterranean coast. There are several other villages in the valley which offer shopping, restaurants, bars and lots of history.
Granada is, of course, a beautiful Moorish city with the superb palaces and gardens of the Alhambra and the Generalife, the old Islamic/Jewish Quarter of the Albaicín, a wide variety of restaurants, theatres and cinemas, good shopping and many cultural pursuits. It's a wonderful place just to stroll around.
The Mediterranean Coast is just as easy to get to, offering beaches and seaside pleasures at the coastal villages and towns. The closest is Salobreña with Almuñecar and the pretty horseshoe bay of La Herradura beyond. Keep going along the Costa Tropical for the wide, sandy beaches of Nerja and the Costa del Sol.
You can drive to the picturesque Alpujarras or visit the magnificent Sierra Nevada with its world-class skiing less than an hour’s drive away. The ski station, located at an elevation of 2,100 metres, hosted the World Championships in 1997 and 2000 and has 19 lifts and 61 kilometres of pistes.
All this, and a villa of the highest quality in a splendid countryside location to return to, one of the most relaxing and beautiful in all Spain … it all adds up to a great holiday!
Villa Details
The Villa in Detail
All the facts and features about this villa
Distribution
Ground floor
- Large living / dining room
- Kitchen
- Guest cloakroom /W.C.
- 2 bedrooms :
- Both with small (4' 6" wide) double beds, both with access to the courtyard and gardens. These are suitable for wheel chair access. Please note that one can only be accessed from inside the house via the other bedroom
- Bathroom (walk-in shower, no bath tub)
- Laundry Room (accessed from the courtyard)
- Gardens, covered furnished terrace and furnished courtyard (part covered)
First floor
- 3 bedrooms :
- (1) Master bedroom with 5' wide double bed, with en-suite walk-in shower room
- (2) Double bedroom with 6' king-sized double bed, with en-suite walk-in shower room
- (3) Double bedroom with 5' wide double bed, with en-suite bathroom (shower over bath tub)
Facilities
Entertainment
- Satellite TV (UK Channel Information)
This property has a Freeview box but due to changes to the UK satellite services currently does not receive UK terrestrial programmes, BBC, ITV etc. We will provide updates if this situation changes. - DVD
- Hi Fi CD Audio (Two Bose loudspeakers and a wireless loudspeaker to use with computers, IPads or mobile phones)
- WiFi Internet (bring your own laptop)
Amenities
- Open fireplace in the living room (logs are included)
- Under floor Central Heating throughout
- Ceiling fans in all bedrooms
- Washing Machine, Tumble Dryer, Iron & board
- All linen is provided (including pool towels)
- Hairdryer
- Cot and highchair available (on request). Cot linen is not supplied
Kitchen
- Large Electric Oven
- Gas hob (5 rings)
- Eye-level grill / microwave combination
- Warming oven
- Fridge / freezer
- Dishwasher
- Toaster, Juicer, Kettle, Coffee maker, Magimix, Mixer
- Cooking utensils, Cutlery, Crockery
- Nespresso Coffee machine (capsules not included)
Outdoors
- Gated, filtered heating swimming pool, 12 m x 6 m, 1.6 m deep) with underwater lighting (*See notes regarding heating)
- Pool shower
- Pool terrace
- Shaded pool area (furnished)
- Sun beds
- 2 dining terraces (furnished)
- Outdoor dining and garden furniture
- Built-in barbecue
- Night lighting
- Gardens
- Parking
Notes
The swimming pool will be open throughout the summer and will close for the winter from the end of October until the end of March.
*Pool Heating: The pool heater is used to extend the swimming season into spring (May) and autumn (September & October). The pool will be closed during winter months.
Please, no smoking in the house.
For smaller parties (up to six people), there is a reduced price, based on the use of 3 bedrooms. The other bedrooms will not be made up and will not be available during your stay.
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday in peak months. During the rest of the year rental starting and finishing days are flexible.
The property is cleaned and linens changed weekly.
A cook and child minder are available at this property - on request.
Prices are inclusive of firewood.
Villa Prices
Prices and Seasons
ZL 25
| 2023 Season Dates | Sleeping up to 10 per week |
|---|---|
| 4th January to 24th March | 2,000 € |
| 25th March to 26th May | 3,500 € |
| 27th May to 25th August | 4,500 € |
| 26th August to 27th October | 3,500 € |
| 28th October to 8th December | 2,000 € |
| 09th December to 3th January 2024 | 3,500 € |
ZL 25
| 2024 Season Dates | *Sleeping up to 10 per week |
|---|---|
| Prices Pending | --- |
Notes
Pool heating, if required is charged at 100 Euros per week. If you would like pool heating please contact us in advance of your booking as the owner needs a few days notice prior to your arrival to heat the pool. (See notes above regarding pool heating).
Security Deposit
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.
Villa Availability
ZL 25
Availability 2023
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
In open countryside, 3 minutes from Saleres (basic facilities), 5 minutes from Restábal (basic facilities) in El Valle de Lecrín region (Province of Granada)
Location
In open countryside, 3 minutes from Saleres (only basic facilities), 5 minutes from Restábal (only basic facilities); 10 km from Dúrcal (all facilities) in El Valle de Lecrín region (Province of Granada).
Granada 30 mins.
Salobreña (and beaches) 30 mins; Almuñecar 40 mins; La Herradura 50 mins; Nerja 1 hr.
Nearest Airports
Granada 40 mins; Málaga 1¾ hrs; Sevilla 3 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
- Here you are half way (more or less) between Granada and the beaches of the Costa Tropical. Both are little more than half an hour away.
- The closest beaches are at Salobreña. Further along the coast, there's bigger Almuñecar, the beautiful bay of La Herradura and then the much more "international" resort of Nerja at the start of the Costa del Sol. With a strong British presence (you can have a curry here ... ) it boasts 16 kilometres of beaches with powdery sand and sparkling clear water.
- However, Nerja's most spectacular attraction is undoubtedly its magnificent caves - a series of huge caverns stretching for almost five kilometres and home to the world’s largest stalagmite, a 32 metre high column measuring 13 metres by 7 metres at its base. Located three kilometres out of town there are archaeological treasures galore including paintings over 20,000 years old and other pre-historic remains.
- One of the enormous natural caverns has been transformed into a concert hall, where many fabulous performances (classical and flamenco) are staged during the summer. The International Festival of Music and Dance takes place in mid July each year.
- Even closer than Nerja, just on the other side of the huge Cerro Gordo promontory to the west of La Herradura lies a splendid but isolated beach, Playa de Cantarriján. It's a favourite spot for many. Part of the sand and shingle beach has been designated a nudist bathing area, although the western end is normally occupied by conventional sunbathers. There are a couple of good beachbars/ restaurants open throughout the season.
- On this stretch of coast there are plenty of cheerful, peaceful, laid back places in the best tradition of the Spanish seaside. A relaxed lunch at one of the beach bars is highly recommended - even in winter if the sun is shining!
- In the opposite direction, Granada is, of course, a must-see city. Soaring high above is the spectacular back drop of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains. And what a city lies below, a city of classical beauty, the jewel in the Spanish Crown.
- The mesmerising Alhambra Palace and its exquisite gardens, one of the world's greatest wonders; the narrow, cobbled streets and beautiful walled gardens of the ancient Arab quarter, El Albaicín; the magnificent Cathedral, just one of many superb examples of Renaissance architecture; the caves of Sacramonte, nostalgic legacy of the gypsies.
- A city which inspired García Lorca, Andalucía's finest poet, it is, above all, a people's city, full of life and colour, energy and fun.
- On the northern slopes of Sierra Nevada, top class skiing is an hour's drive away. This can be excellent but avoid weekends, when the Granadinos swarm up from the city.
- If wonderful mountain scenery is your thing, then take a trip to Las Alpujarras. In little more than an hour you can be in the high mountain, Moorish villages such as Bubión or Capileira.
- Between the highest mountains in Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, this is a joyous land of sunshine, snowy mountains and some of the most splendid scenery imaginable. From the snows to the sea, there are panoramic views in every direction, from the peaks of Veleta and Mulhacén to the southern sierras and the Mediterranean beyond.
Activities
- There are lots of lovely walks in the surrounding hills, valleys and orchards of El Valle.
- And, of course, here you are well placed to travel to the ski resort high in La Sierra Nevada.
- On the Costa Tropical, activities on offer include scuba, cavern and technical diving, as well as horse riding and tennis, paragliding, climbing, and abseiling.
- In Granada there are a million things to do, it's a students paradise, with everything from flamenco dancing and guitar to Spanish language lessons available.
The Area
El Valle de Lecrín
South from Granada lies a vast and fertile valley encompassed within a bowl of mountains. The Moors named it the Valley of Happiness …
Read more
Restábal
Set amongst orange and lemon groves with the beautiful lake of Beznar just below, Restábal is a little country village (pop: 500), as peaceful as can be …
