Self catering cottage in Alpujarras, Spain
| country: | Spain |
| location: | Torvizcón, AndaluciaSee map here |
| price: | From €225 per week for the cottage (sleeps 4). There is extra space for up to 2 children at no extra cost. Please note: our main property is not available during Jul - Aug 2008. A second property is available during these months - see below. |
| late availability: | July & August still available, newly refurbished quaint town house with stunning roof terrace, gas barbecue, great facilities. Only €275 for a weeks self catering, up to 4 adults, we welcome children and don't charge for them. |
description
Our cottage is not isolated or secluded. It is part of a small traditional agricultural community in the Alpujarras region, near Granada. Puerto Juviley is a hamlet consisting of 15 farmhouses and a church, with no shops or bars and no concessions to tourism. It is in a beautiful unspoilt river valley. Lots of animals live near the river: wild boar, ibex, eagles, foxes, vultures, turtles. The sound of the gently burbling stream competes with birdsong and rippling leaves.
You can wander freely through the woods and fields and up the mountains. It is a natural playground for children, with no danger from cars. Discover nostalgic delights of making mud pies and dams in the streams! Local people are friendly and helpful and may invite you to join in their activities. In summer there are natural pools for swimming in the river, as well as public pools in Órgiva and Torvizcón. Autumn and spring are perfect for walking and cycling, and the display of wild flowers and almond blossom from late January onwards is spectacular. We are only 1km from the main road, but it is like a different world. However it is only 40 minutes to the beach, an hour to the city of Granada.
The cottage is part of an old inn and apart from the addition of a basic kitchen and bathroom, the cottage retains all the original features. It is not luxurious, but it is comfortable and reasonably priced. It’s ideal as a base for rural tourism and we welcome families with children. You will meet Spanish people and may get involved in village life.
The cottage comprises three interconnecting bedrooms, two of which open onto a covered balcony which looks over the beautiful river and valley. On the ground floor you can dine in the large room with an open fire, or outside in the patio, cook your food in the simple but well equipped kitchen and have a long hot bath while listening to a CD by candle light.
Cycling, walking & skiing: We are ideal as a base for mountain biking and country walking – there are at least a week's worth of routes starting at the front door with no need to get in the car. However, we are situated at the bottom of a 1km steep track, so not ideal for road cycling. We are one and a half hours by car from the ski slope, so fine for the odd day in the snow, but not suitable as base for skiing holiday.
You can wander freely through the woods and fields and up the mountains. It is a natural playground for children, with no danger from cars. Discover nostalgic delights of making mud pies and dams in the streams! Local people are friendly and helpful and may invite you to join in their activities. In summer there are natural pools for swimming in the river, as well as public pools in Órgiva and Torvizcón. Autumn and spring are perfect for walking and cycling, and the display of wild flowers and almond blossom from late January onwards is spectacular. We are only 1km from the main road, but it is like a different world. However it is only 40 minutes to the beach, an hour to the city of Granada.
The cottage is part of an old inn and apart from the addition of a basic kitchen and bathroom, the cottage retains all the original features. It is not luxurious, but it is comfortable and reasonably priced. It’s ideal as a base for rural tourism and we welcome families with children. You will meet Spanish people and may get involved in village life.
The cottage comprises three interconnecting bedrooms, two of which open onto a covered balcony which looks over the beautiful river and valley. On the ground floor you can dine in the large room with an open fire, or outside in the patio, cook your food in the simple but well equipped kitchen and have a long hot bath while listening to a CD by candle light.
special things to do and see here
Activities you can enjoy whilst staying at the cottage include walking, cycling and bird watching whilst absorbing the stunning scenery. Experience the beaches and snow on the same day! You can also enjoy artistic activities, alternative and holistic therapies, fun at fiestas, outdoor cafe life, rich cultural, architectural and artistic heritage. Cycling, walking & skiing: We are ideal as a base for mountain biking and country walking – there are at least a week's worth of routes starting at the front door with no need to get in the car. However, we are situated at the bottom of a 1km steep track, so not ideal for road cycling. We are one and a half hours by car from the ski slope, so fine for the odd day in the snow, but not suitable as base for skiing holiday.
rooms, food and facilities
We can arrange a starter pack of basics such as milk, bread, tea and coffee, the ingredients for a simple pasta meal, snacks, drinks and breakfast to get you through the first night if you arrive on a late flight or on a Sunday (€15 for two people). If you have any special dietary requirements we can lay on supplies and you pay us when you arrive.
Local produce is usually available, we will give you guidelines on how to buy fresh, organic and specialist foods in the nearby towns. Eating out is relatively cheap if you know how and where (€10 buys a three course meal). There is often a local fiesta going on where the entertainments are generally free. There is also a large variety of complementary and alternative therapies available, such as massage, reflexology and aromatherapy: many practitioners speak English and will do home visits. The English owners (Cathy and John and their children Juanito and Tomas) live nearby. They all speak good Spanish and can give you lots of help and information if required, but will otherwise be unobtrusive. They have experience of helping in a medical emergency and other holiday crises, as they have been running this holiday cottage for 17 years. The telephone number of their home can be used as an emergency contact number. (Mobile phones do not always work inside the houses).
Baby friendly: Having brought up our own two boys here, we understand about nappies (we can buy them in advance for you and help you dispose of them or wash them), special foods, fresh food preparation, breastfeeding in public, medical attention in case of problems and give advice re coping with heat and sun. We also have a cot, high chair and baby toys. We do not usually offer use of our solar powered washing machine but can do the odd load and of course will provide fresh bedding if required. Normally once a week, eco products used.
By train: The nearest train station is Granada.
By car: Directions by car sent after booking.
€275 per week for the house (sleeps 4). There is extra space for up to 2 children at no extra cost.
A sensitively restored old town house on two floors, with a large roof terrace and stunning views. Lots of quirky cupboards and original features preserved. The house is in a central location facing south, in a large village with lots of facilities, including a public swimming pool, eccentric esparto grass museum and modern children’s play park. It is in the Alpujarras region of Andalucia, in the mountains of the Contraviesa - to the north are the Sierra Nevada mountains and Granada, to the south is the Costa Tropical, the Mediterranean coast, some of the most unspoilt beaches in this part of Spain.
The house has recently been restored to a high standard by our friends Jesus, German and Mikel, together with our own work. We have tried to maintain the character of the house while making it more comfortable.
Ground floor:Large living dining room with television, video and DVD, stereo. Sofa bed. Bathroom with bath, bidet, basin and toilet. Solar heated water with back up immersion Kitchen, separated with hatch. Fridge with small freezing compartment, dishwasher, gas cooker, oven, and basic cooking equipment for six people.
First floor: Large bedroom with twin beds/giant bed. Large living/sleeping room with two sofa beds, open fireplace, rotary fans. Shower room with large shower, basin, bidet and toilet. Opening skylight for cooling and light Roof terrace. Shaded area, seating and table, barbecue and cooking area, sink, washing machine. Wonderful views.
All the windows have fly netting and are double glazed. In the heat of the summer there are shutters and curtains to use against the fierce sun during the day.
Local produce is usually available, we will give you guidelines on how to buy fresh, organic and specialist foods in the nearby towns. Eating out is relatively cheap if you know how and where (€10 buys a three course meal). There is often a local fiesta going on where the entertainments are generally free. There is also a large variety of complementary and alternative therapies available, such as massage, reflexology and aromatherapy: many practitioners speak English and will do home visits. The English owners (Cathy and John and their children Juanito and Tomas) live nearby. They all speak good Spanish and can give you lots of help and information if required, but will otherwise be unobtrusive. They have experience of helping in a medical emergency and other holiday crises, as they have been running this holiday cottage for 17 years. The telephone number of their home can be used as an emergency contact number. (Mobile phones do not always work inside the houses).
- Three bedrooms
- Upstairs covered terrace
- Bathroom with hot water
- Bath, bidet, basin and flush toilet
- Kitchen with basic equipment
- Seating/dining area outside
- Plenty of space round house
Baby friendly: Having brought up our own two boys here, we understand about nappies (we can buy them in advance for you and help you dispose of them or wash them), special foods, fresh food preparation, breastfeeding in public, medical attention in case of problems and give advice re coping with heat and sun. We also have a cot, high chair and baby toys. We do not usually offer use of our solar powered washing machine but can do the odd load and of course will provide fresh bedding if required. Normally once a week, eco products used.
how to find us
By plane: The nearest airport is Granada (one hour away) or Malaga (two hours away). By train: The nearest train station is Granada.
By car: Directions by car sent after booking.
second property
Available during July and August 2008 only. €275 per week for the house (sleeps 4). There is extra space for up to 2 children at no extra cost.
A sensitively restored old town house on two floors, with a large roof terrace and stunning views. Lots of quirky cupboards and original features preserved. The house is in a central location facing south, in a large village with lots of facilities, including a public swimming pool, eccentric esparto grass museum and modern children’s play park. It is in the Alpujarras region of Andalucia, in the mountains of the Contraviesa - to the north are the Sierra Nevada mountains and Granada, to the south is the Costa Tropical, the Mediterranean coast, some of the most unspoilt beaches in this part of Spain.
The house has recently been restored to a high standard by our friends Jesus, German and Mikel, together with our own work. We have tried to maintain the character of the house while making it more comfortable.
Ground floor:
First floor:
All the windows have fly netting and are double glazed. In the heat of the summer there are shutters and curtains to use against the fierce sun during the day.
how this holiday makes a difference
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When we first saw this house and fell in love with it, Antonio the shepherd was living in it. He lived in a very simple way, without running water, a cooker or a toilet, no kitchen or bathroom as we would recognise it. We have tried to keep the cottage exactly as it was, but you can now enjoy both its simple rustic charm and some creature comforts! Some of the floors are still lime plaster, one of the ceilings is painted with ochre coloured earth, the open fire where Antonio cooked has been preserved. It is basically as it was a hundred years ago. We have done the least possible to our ancient houses which have stood the test of time being made of stones and earth or lime cement, with roofs of clay and bamboo.
Solar powered lighting is the biggest boon! There is no street lighting (no streets!) so please bring a torch. There is no mains electricity or water, drainage or rubbish collection. We separate and recycle everything possible and are very conscious of waste products in general. We also maintain the spring fed water supply ourselves and make sure that waste water is put to good use. If in winter we need to use a petrol generator to top up the power, we wash clothes, charge laptops and watch a video and play the electric guitar and use machinery all at the same time so as not to waste energy. We have facilities locally for recycling bottles, plastic, tetrabriks and we burn all paper and cardboard that has no other uses. Our neighbour Expira has even taught us how to reuse a burst balloon and a holed bucket! There are no shops or bars here (nearest 10mins by car) and our neighbours have been mostly self sufficient for years, but we have to buy a lot more, as do our guests. Living here makes you more aware and you can’t just pop out to the shops, but need to fit shopping into other trips. Use local shops and businesses as much as possible and encourage our guests to do likewise. We buy local fresh produce daily, especially vegetables and fruit. We try to be good neighbours and fulfil our social obligations, taking an active part in organising fiestas and maintaining communal facilities such as the track and irrigation channels. I work as a volunteer at a charity shop run by the local women’s association, to which we donate all surplus toys books and clothes, and which is a centre for recycling everything from batteries and cooking oil, to old X-rays and mobile phones. We limit the number of adult guests to four to diminish the impact on the life of the village and on the facilities. We welcome children and find that they (and most of our adult guests) respect and are interested in the local way of life. Speaking Spanish helps, but smiles and friendly gestures go a long way! If you choose to experience a simple traditional way of life you can do so here, in relative comfort. |
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