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Casa de la Era is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage with private gardens and pool situated in the hamlet of Tijola, about 3kms from Orgiva, the capital of the Western Alpujarras and 50kms south of Granada in the province of Andalucia.

The property nestles in the campo (countryside) with panoramic views, including those of the stunning snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range. It offers the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding flora, fauna and dramatic landscapes in an area renowned for its’ outstanding natural beauty. Part of the casa is over 200 years old and has recently been lovingly restored and extended, offering accommodation of a high standard.

Visit the ‘white’ villages, with their hand-woven rugs, pottery and locally cured hams; the bustling cities of Granada, Jaen and Cordoba with their Moorish palaces and gardens, or ski in the morning, discover sun soaked beaches in the afternoon and the local tapas bars and restaurants in the evenings!

Alternatively, it’s a great place to chill! Soak up the sun by the private pool, or relax in the shade of the ancient olive trees, take in the views and the perfumed blossom from orange and lemon groves and end the day with the company of cicadas and a crystal clear sky full of stars.

There is always manana!

Acommodation

Inside

BEDROOM 1: double bed and access to private patio.

Outside

POOL
There is a large filtered pool for the sole use of guests which can be enjoyed by swimmers and non-swimmers alike as steps lead down to a gentle incline in depth. It is enclosed by a large paved area, with sunloungers, table, chairs and parasol. Two gnarled olive trees, a date palm and bamboo provide shading if required.

GARDENS
Private gardens lay to the front and the side of the casa, with further seating.
There is a large terrace perfect for outdoor living with seating, table and gas barbeque.
To the rear of the property is a patio with table and chairs, accessed from the double bedroom, perfect for the intimate, peaceful hideaway from others!

Surrounding area

Cottage location
The cottage is off a country lane which runs eastwards from Orgiva through the hamlet of Tijola before turning into an unsurfaced track which climbs to the head of the valley. Westwards, the lane soon reaches Orgiva which has a selection of banks, internet cafes, shops, health food shops, bars, restaurants and an impressive Baroque church. Every Thursday there is a colourful market with local produce, arts and crafts, something for everybody.
There is very much an ‘alternative’ feel in the area and it's easy to pamper oneself by booking one of the many complementary health treatments available, such as massage, aromatherapy, reiki, or iridology. There is also an English mobile hairdresser!

Immediate area
Orgiva is about 5 minutes drive or 25 minutes walk from the Casa. The whitewashed ‘pueblos’ (villages), of Pampaneira, Bubion and Capiliera are about 16 km [10 miles] away. Beyond them the road runs through Pitres, Portugos and Busquistar for another 18km [11 miles] to Trevelez, Spain's highest village at just under 1500m [5000 ft] and famous for its dry-cured hams.

At Pampaneira with its shops selling hand-made shoes and rugs the road enters a Parc Natural and beyond that enters the Sierra Nevada National Park. Lanes, tracks and paths branch off to reach smaller hamlets and other white villages and some climb to the peaks over 3000m above sea level. There is a visitor centre above Capleira which can be reached by car or minibus. Beyond that one must bike, walk or ride. An extensive network of marked paths lead throughout the Alpujarras and Sierra, served by village posadas [hostels] and mountain refuges.

Further afield
Lanjaron, 20 minutes drive west, is renowned for its waters and there are spa baths and the Moroccan Baths in Granada are worth a visit.

There are regular buses to Granada which is about an hour's drive to the north and on the other side of the mountains. It has: a vibrant night-life; the Alhambra Palace; wonderful 16th Century Churches; caves inhabited by gypsies and a nearby ski area. Hostal Dona Lupe offers clean rooms for about 20 euros per person overlooking the Alhambra entrance should you wish to make a night of it! They even have a roof-top pool.

Alhama de Granada [not to be confused with the Alhambra! The name comes from the Arabic 'al hamman' which means 'baths' ] is 50 km east with free access to a piping hot river. There are two other springs slightly closer at la Malaha and Santa Fe.

Motril is 30 minutes away on the coast and is a bustling port with large supermarkets, brilliant fish markets and all the usual local services. Salobrena is a little closer and where Laurie Lee spent time during the Civil War after he "Walked out one summer morning". It has a 12th Century castle towering over the houses tumbling down the rocks below its ramparts. The beach restaurants all serve fresh fish with menu del dia's at around 10 euros per head including a drink. El Molino is our favorite, with El Penon perfect for a romantic dinner a deux seated on rocky ledges lapped by the sea.

Alumunecar, Nerja and Torre del Mar occupy the Costa Tropical to the west of Salobrena towards Malaga, where there are flights to most parts of the world. There are many beaches generally accessible by car and most with good restaurants and bars. In high summer some beaches have shuttle mini-buses or Land Rovers to avoid congestion.

West of Malaga the Costa del Sol stretches from Torremolinos through Fuengirola and Marbella to Estapona and Sotte Grande before reaching Gibraltar, a three/four-hour drive and a long day trip.

Eastward is Almeria where John Lennon reputedly wrote Strawberry Fields whilst filming and the Cabo del Gato with its desert climate and fine sandy beaches. Charlton Heston's 'El Cid' was filmed in the area largely because of the reliable weather and the quality of the light. Inland from Almeria is Mini Hollywood where Clint Eastwood's westerns were made. It is best reached via Granada and Guadix and is a longish day trip.

Special Interests and activities

There are a number of excellent riding stables in the area offering short afternoon/evening rides, day trips or longer treks. Mountain bikes can be hired with or without leaders. Paragliders are frequently seen overhead and rides or course can be booked locally or in advance. The mountain and forest tracks are perfect for trail-riding. Golf courses are found on the outskirts of Granada, about 45 minutes by car and there are more along the coast towards Malaga, the nearest between Salobrena and Motril, 30 minutes drive away.

Alpine skiing, (61km of pistes), cross-country skiing, snowboarding and dog-sledding are all available at the Sierra Nevada ski resort, which is about 1hr 30 mins away. Snow cover is remarkably good and with top runs starting at 3400m [11,000 ft] and a fall of over 1400m, the area compares favorably with some of the chic Alpine resorts. Snow conditions are generally good at altitude with frequent 'spring snow' which can offer some perfect runs. The slopes are open from early December though to the end of April . Being so far south healthy tans are guaranteed even if its cloudy.
In summer one can drive to through the resort and reach an altitude of about 3400 metres (11000 feet) and experience stupendous views as far as the Atlas Mountains of Africa

The area is perfect for walkers, ornithologists and artists alike. The network of walks linked by the GR7 and old mule trails which lead through the national parks, can often lead to a sighting of a soaring golden eagle and an abundance of wild flowers.

For those who prefer wheels, quads can be hired locally and motor bikes in Malaga.

Paintballing and archery can be booked locally. Waterskiing is available at Marina Del Este. Windsurfers, dinghies and Hobie Cats can be rented by the hour at la Herradura. There a pedillos for hire at most busy beaches as are jet skis

For the more tranquil moments its possible to drive up to the Buddhist Monastery of Osel Ling where planned retreats are possible. Click HERE to find out more about the monastery,

GETTING HERE

Granada Airport is served by RyanAir from Stansted or Liverpool, Monarch from Gatwick or Iberia from Heathrow and Gatwick via Madrid. Other flights connect to Barcelona, the Balearics, Morroco and other Spanish cities. It is approximately a 1 hour drive.

Malaga connects with most UK airports and many international destinations. It is a 2-3 hr drive depending on traffic, time of the year or time of day.

Whilst we would strongly recommend renting a car for your holiday, for non-drivers or those who prefer to use Spain's excellent public transport, there is a regualr airport bus from the airport to Granada centre with connections to Orgiva. Malaga airport bus runs every half hour and a bus leaves for Orgiva every day at 3.30 pm arriving about 6:45 pm. The fare is 9.16 euros. The return bus leaves at 8:15 am and arrives Malaga bus station at 12 noon. There are more frequent buses from Malaga to Salobrena or Motril on the coast where a taxi can be found for the final leg of the journey.

Spain has an excellent rail network and it is possible to make interesting excursions by train from Granada. Fast trains and overnight 'TrenHotels' link Granada with Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, and Barcelona, connecting with the Euro-rail network. Eurail passes can be used.

Cars can be arranged to collect clients from either airport or meet buses. Rates vary according to the airport and number of passengers so please request a quote and book early as space is often limited.