Andalucia self guided walking holiday, Spain

Environment

Almeria is a low rainfall area and so travellers are reminded that fresh water is a very precious commodity and should not be wasted, so we use a minimum for showering and washing. We ask that guests ensure that lights and ceiling fans are switched off when not required, and not to leave the TV, Video, Hi-Fi etc in standby mode – switch off at the set.

Separate household waste is sorted into general waste, glass, paper & cardboard and plastic for deposit to the village recycling bins. Free logs are provided for winter heating to minimise conventional oil fired central heating.

Planting drought-resistant or tolerant plants has reduce the need for watering. Producing walking routes that keep to established historical trails has meant that wildlife and flora and fauna corridors are not interfered with.

We encourage visitors to leave their car in our car park and to walk to the village to help reduce carbon footprint.

Wind up torches now replace battery powered torches and reusable plastic bags available for shopping in village.

As this is a walking holiday all main transport is done with your own two feet, reducing our carbon emissions and ensuring the area is preserved.

Community

The past 20 years has witnessed a steady decline in the traditional industries of agriculture, mining and animal husbandry and the Mayor, along with the support of the Provincial and Regional Governments, is committed to the introduction of tourism as a replacement industry. Work has started on identifying and marking the old donkey trails that criss cross the almond and olive groves in the Sierra de los Filabres around Lubrin as walking routes. We are proud to be part of the quest to breathe new life into the village of Lubrin.

We employ a single parent local woman to carry out the domestic cleaning, and a retired farmer to maintain the gardens. We use a local builder to maintain the fabric of the old Cortijo and outbuildings, and a local plumber and electrician to maintain the infrastructure. We locally purchase hard and soft furnishings, white goods and electrical items. We also locally purchase our food and household items and encourage travellers to do the same.

We provide travellers with a map of the village showing the locations of the village shops together with the bars and restaurants. We sponsor a village website and are listing the local services to show travellers that there are all the basic necessities on our doorstep.