Gaucin Vacation Rental : Gaucin

SPECIAL INTEREST HOLIDAYS

The house is large enough to be the base for special interest groups. The whole house sleeps 12, and we have ready access to other accommodation if your party is bigger. Our house Manager has a minibus seating 9 for airport collection as well as nature field trips, art and photography locations. Although we are a short walk to a selection of bars and restaurants, we can arrange for various levels of catering: a full time or part time cook/housekeeper, food to be cooked to order, (from genuine paella to elegant salads and casseroles), and brought into the house to be self-served in the garden, or simply help with shopping and laying-out breakfast and lunch. We can provide maid, laundry and babysitting services, and extensive advice about where to go to get the best out of your holiday.

WALKING HOLIDAYS, GUIDED OR INDEPENDENT

We are now proud to offer a new service at La Palmera, for walkers, photographers, naturalists, botanists and birdwatchers etc. At a very reasonable cost, our house managers Alma and Jorrian organise a variety of superb guided walks in the area, for small or large parties, and will give you information without charge if you wish to explore independently. It is always best to pre-book, but often walks can be arranged after you arrive. For further information on charges and possibilities, we can help you contact Jorrian when you book La Casa. Parties taking the whole house who would like a tailor-made walking holiday are welcome. Jorrian has discovered many new routes through the countryside, and has done much to open up the little used paths. He is knowledgeable about local wildlife and local plants and flowers, and has photographed many rare plants, especially orchids. There are rare bats in a cave below the castle, and the wild flowers in spring are spectacular.

ART GROUPS

The house is perfect for an art group, painting, printmaking, or photographic holiday. The owner has held many successful courses at La Palmera, and Peter Partington, Sarah Holliday, and Jacky Simmonds have also brought painting students to the house. The garden and two courtyards are filled with attractive flowery corners, palm trees, collections of old dishes, jars and baskets, and provide views over the village rooftops to the mountain beyond. Many students seem happy to spend all the time in the house and garden, but the village itself offers many attractive vistas. We can provide plenty of advice about special places to visit in the surrounding countryside where artists can set up an easel, from the hilly streets and the spectacular bridge and gorge in Ronda, to the rugged mountains and rocky landscape within 10 mins of the village. The Studio in the house can be set up for groups, or used by a single artist to live and work, and the outer courtyard can contain a large table.

BIRD WATCHING

In the village itself, all year round, are birds of prey like the Bonelli eagle, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle and Short -toed Eagle, Kestrels, Eagle Owls and a huge colony of Griffon Vultures. During the April-September period Gaucin also hosts a few Egyptian Vultures, big groups of Crag Martins, Swallows and Bee -Eaters, along with Swifts, who put on spectacular aeronautic evening displays over the village rooftops. Gaucin is on the migratory route for birds crossing the Straits of Gibraltar, and many rare and exciting birds have been spotted. Apparently the Algeciras rubbish tip is a must for birdwatchers (40 mins), and the famous Donana wet-land area near Jerez is a 2-1/2 hour drive. Near San Roque there is a stork colony nesting on the electricity pylons.

HISTORY

The Christian leader Guzman el Bueno died in Gaucin in a 13th century battle against the Moors at the Castle of the Eagle. Eagles still visit the castle which remains quite magical, especially in silhouette against the morning sky. Just across the river Genal are the 1st century BC remains of a 'lost' Turdetanian/ Roman town, Lacipo, (25 mins drive), and the Phoenician vaulted bath house at Manilva sulphur springs, where you can still swim (25 mins). The Pileta caves are a must with its stalactites and 25,000 year old prehistoric drawings viewed with old tilly lamps, (40 mins drive). The Roman town Bolonia, which possesses many spectacular standing columns, and an early fish sauce factory, is next to a wonderful sandy ocean swimming beach (near Tarifa, 1-1/2hours) There are substantial Roman remains at Ronda La Vieja, and the town of Ronda itself has had a colourful history, centered on its famous high bridge over the gorge, and its sublimely beautiful 18th century bull-ring.

SWIMMING & SPORTS

The small pool in La Casa has a jet-stream for swimming. In summer, there is a large public pool in the village, a paddling pool for children,and a public tennis court. Many of the surrounding villages boast wonderful pools, charging only small admission, and with very reasonable cafe/bars, are great to keep the kids happy all day. The river below Gaucin has pleasant swimming holes. The Mediterranean is 25 - 35 mins drive, Estapona, Casares beach & Sabinillas, all have pleasant beach bars and sun beds. The Atlantic beaches, beyond Cadiz (Tarifa and Bolonia 1.1/2hours) with wind surfing and golden sand, are famous for fresh fish in their beach cafes. There is a water park on the coast for a fun day out with the kids, a riding school in the village, and horse riding in the countryside. Mountain bikes can also be hired. The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf so many challenging golf courses are within 25 - 40 mins drive: eg:Valderrama, Puerto Duquesa, and Estapona.