At The Finca

The Pool

Relax by the 17 metre pool and spend hours in silence watching the sun slip over the valley. At 55 feet by 25 feet (7 metres) it's as wide as most holiday let pools are long. Luxurious terraces give majestic views over the valley to the south and are fully equipped with loungers, poolside furniture and terrace shower and WC - pool towels provided. The 8 metre long pergola offers shade by the pool throughout the day.

The Gardens

For lunch: Find a spot with a light breeze high on a terrace and watch the goats and horses amble in the valley below followed by a siesta under a shady old oak. As the valley cools, sit by the pool with a drink and listen to the cicadas as the sun sets over the Sierra de Loja.

The Valley

Pack a picnic, grab a mountain bike from the courtyard and set off into the morning. Follow the flat valley along the Camino de las Cabreras, or head into the hills and get muddy amongst the olive trees. In Andalucia hikers and bikers have the right to roam across any unfenced land, and that means virtually all of it. So pack some water, put on your boots, pick a spot - and go.

The Games Room

After the sun has set enjoy balmy evenings with a cold beer or glass of wine over a game of pool, table tennis or table football.

Within Walking Distance

Antonio's Bar in Fuente Del Conde

If you feel like going out, walk 20 minutes back over the hill and down into the next valley to the village of Fuente del Conde for a good selection of Riojas and delicious tapas at Antonio's Bar (Bar Los Pajaritos).

The Goat Farm and Animals Along the Lane

Half way to Antonio's you walk past the goat farm. Both the owners and goats are very friendly and enjoy a visit. A walk down the lane takes you past sheep, peacocks and chickens.

Within 5 to 25 minutes

Local Restaurants

There is a good selection of local restaurants serving delicious Spanish and European cuisine. Within easy reach of the Finca there is of course Antonio's as well as an Italian restaurant, two restaurants at the 5 star Bobadilla Hotel, Tapas and a number of very good Spanish restaurants at Salinas, Iznajar and Antequera. If you're having a day on Iznajar beach there's a great beach bar to have a big lunch or watch the sun go down over the lake.

Horseriding

Tennis

Complementary and Beauty Treatment Salon

Iznajar - The Town and The Lake (15-20 min)

Spend a morning wandering the ancient cobbled streets of Iznajar, followed by drinks and tapas in one of the many bars or at the beach bar by the lake. Savour the romance of the floodlit Moorish palace.

To experience the wild wide-open spaces of Andalucia walk around the stunning lake, or press further north into the Sierra Subbeticas Natural Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty thronging with Iberian flora and fauna.

The Real Spain

See the real Spain, visit the nearby towns of Antequera and Archidona, each brimming with regional and artesanal architecture and plateloads of Andalucian zest.

Day Trips - Short and Long

Torcal

A 40 minute drive west of The Finca takes you to Torcal. Picnic amongst awe-inspiring rock formations. There are a number of recommended walks for visitors of different ages and levels of fitness.

Granada

Only 60 km from The Finca it is a quick and easy hour's drive to Granada.
"Give him alms woman! There is no greater sorrow than to be blind in Granada !"
Some poetic licence here. But this Alhambra-dweller's response to a partially sighted beggar is only a minor over-reaction.

Five things about the Alhambra and Granada:

1. If you've been, go again. You've forgotten how beautiful it is. Take someone you love.
2. Book early, especially in summer: on line www.alhambra-patronato.es or at any branch of BBVA bank (London branch +44 207 623 3060).
3. Don't forget the Generalife , the Alhambra's exotic but under-rated neighbour. Especially if you've already visited the Alhambra.
4. Granada is beautiful and would be without the Alhambra.
5. A round trip to Granada can take in the romantic Alpujarras mountains.

Sierra Nevada

Spectacular year round (approx 2 hours)

Malaga

For a change, have a day on the coast - You can get to the sea at Malaga in 1 hour.

Sevilla and Cordoba

The Finca's unique location makes it ideal for day trips to the Andaluz capital Sevilla (approx 2 hours, perhaps via Ronda) and fascinating Cordoba (approx 1 ½ hours), shunned by coach tour operators despite the astonishing Mezquita.