Description
This unique, modern two en-suite bedrooms rural Andalusian farmhouse sits on a hillside peninsular, overlooking Lake Beznar Reservoir with stunning panoramic views. Welcoming comfortable tranquillity, situated at the end of a private road protected by high-tech 'SMART Home' security. Although, secluded the location is not isolated due to it's central location offering easy access to cultural Granada, Costa Tropical beaches, local village essentials, water-sport, even skiing adventures!
Casa Description:
Built in 2011 the spacious house has 2 bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms and extensive living accommodation situated in a completely private & unique location at the end of a winding farm track with panoramic views of the mountains on three sides.
The modern Farmhouse is built on one level flowing across the width of a hillside terrace with wide level patios on two of the south facing sides. At one end is a large tower room, reached by external steps, an ideal place to take advantage of the stunning views and cool breezes in the heat of summer. The house blends into the countryside and is designed for easy living and comfort. It is warm in winter with underfloor heating throughout, double glazing & well fitting exterior doors and windows. Internally it is well equipped with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, a large open plan kitchen and dining area and comfortable lounge area. Outside the shaded terraces can be used for sunbathing, eating out, sunset cocktails and watching the wildlife on the lake.
The house is an ideal base to explore the Lecrin Valley & Alpujarras with numerous local walks and a variety of flora & fauna. Although Casa Moginar is in a secluded and peaceful spot it is only 10 minutes drive to the Costa Tropical Motorway linking Granada to the coast. Granada is a city of culture with a vibrant arts scene and the World Heritage Alhambra Palace and its nearby Ski Resort of Sol y Nieve. To the south the motorway gives access to the beaches of the Costa Tropical only 35 minutes drive away.
This is an ideal property for a relaxed holiday away from it all but with easy access to Granada and the Costa Tropical. The house is suitable for a family with a baby but not suitable for young toddlers due to the steep nature of the land falling away from the plateau and terrace the house is built on. Once children are old enough to understand the danger it again becomes suitable for a family holiday as the large level plateau above the house offers is a large area for children to explore and safely play with adult supervision.
We have our own local representative who looks after the house and will meet you in Talara to show you the way down to the house and explain how everything works. It essential to arrive in Talara in daylight hours so that you will easily remember the route down to the house, you will be send meeting point location details as part of your booking confirmation email.
Access to Casa Moginar
A car with good ground clearance is essential for a stay at this house as it is a slow 10 minutes drive from the nearest village of Chite down a narrow concreted farm road that winds through the orange and lemon groves with numerous drainage humps to cope with winter deluges and some steep curves as the road winds down towards the lake. Some renters hire 4 wheel drive cars but this is not essential, just try to avoid low ground clearance and small engines if there are going to be 4 of you with luggage - we’ve hired a VW Golf, a Caddy and a Citroen Berlingo. We found a Fiat 500 was amazing fun on the road but struggled to cope with more than two people on the steep slope curves out, especially if you add luggage!
You arrive at the house up a steep drive entrance to a level gravel area stretching in front of the house and from there a wheelchair friendly ramp leads to the level front terrace with access to the front and lounge doors. Park outside the house to unload and then drive up the extended drive up to the top plateau to turn round where there is space for numerous cars to park.
The tower room is accessible more directly by external steps at the far end of the front terrace, or for wheelchair, guests via the plateau at the of the extended concreate slope's longer route.
The Interior Layout
The entrance hall opens out with a large storage cupboard for coats, sports equipment and shoes, a large cloakroom with WC. The left arch entrance leads to the bedroom suites at one side and right turn leads through double doors to the living areas on the other side.
- Bedroom 1 has a large double bed (1.8 x 2.0m) large storage cupboards, an en suite bathroom with shower and bath etc and windows looking out onto the lake and mountains. The bedroom has a ceiling fan and windows can be opened to take advantage of cooling evening breezes.
- Bedroom 2 has two single beds 1.9m x 0.80m which can be put together to form a double if required. Large built in cupboard, ceiling fan and again views of the lake and hills complete this slightly smaller room which has a wet room bathroom with level floor and walk in shower also suitable for wheelchair use.
- Sofa-bed (bookings of 6) in the lounge has access to the wc and washbasin in the entry hall for guest comfort. A travel cot can be provided upon request.
Going through the same level flow double doors to the main level living areas opens into a large kitchen/dining room. The kitchen on the left is fully equipped with all modern equipment adequate crockery, glasses and cutlery for 8 people, fridge/freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. A central island unit provides a two stools breakfast bar for early risers or a place to sit and support the chef whilst helping to keep all glasses charged.
The dining area to the right holds table seating for up to 6 people (8 at a squeeze) looking out over the terrace lake and mountains views.
An open arch leads through to the large living room with sofas, 55” flat-screen SMART TV and hi-fi equipment. A second door leads out to the front and side terraces offering a further 6 seater table for outside al-fresco summer dinning.
A wood burning stove sits in the arch between the kitchen/dining room and living room with glass fronted doors on both sides providing dual aspect cosy warmth on cold autumn evenings when the underfloor heating is not really required.
All heating and power is provided by our own self contained system using solar energy, a wind turbine and diesel generator. The system is completely integrated and usually provides more reliable supplies than the local electricity provider; the only thing that may need changing is the gas cylinder under the hob unit, which is 50:50 electricity and gas.
Outside Areas
There are two main terrace areas on a level with the house, the front terrace has a table under a shaded gazebo and this gets the benefit of any evening breezes as well as spectacular sunsets. If more protection is needed then the side terrace is again on the same level but surrounded and protected on three sides also an overhead sunshade. It is a veritable sun trap and you can often eat out there in December. There is a large wheeled gas Bar B Q in this area for cooking while watching the sun go down.
The tower room is an added bonus for hot summer days providing a shaded retreat with gentle breezes and spectacular views across the lake. We keep a couple of sun loungers there for afternoon siestas!
Above the house is a large gently sloping plateau divided into two areas. The above ground pool occupies the higher area with ample space for sitting out under an awning and relaxing. The pool itself is entered by wooden steps and is 7 metres by 4.5 metres wide. Its not an exercise pool for serious swimmers but is ideal for a refreshing dip and children who have learnt to swim love to play while remaining a constant depth. The pool has 360 degree views of the plateau, lake and different mountain ranges but is far enough away from the hillside villages to feel completely un-overlooked. It is heated from solar panel energy, remaining pleasantly refreshing from May to October. The lower area of the plateau contains young almond and olive trees and a large area left to nature which makes an ideal stroll and exploring area.
Facilities Nearby
The Lecrin Valley is a semi-tropical area of outstanding natural beauty filled with with orange, lemon and olive trees largely untouched by tourism. A phrase book or working knowledge of Spanish is useful in the local bars. If you want to explore more of Spain using the Lecrin Valley as a base it is best to do this early in the year when temperatures are moderate (70 – 75c).
It represents the real Andalusia and yet is close to sophisticated Granada and the Mediterranean coast. Several villages in the valley offer shopping, restaurants, bars and other basic facilities. The nearby village of Albunuelas is the highest village in the valley, with a weekly market and several historic buildings, including a 14th Century Moorish Tower. Melegis offers more shops and holds the three-day festival of San Juan in late June. From Chite you can walk down to Lake Beznar. Near the motorway, Talara contains the ruins of an Arab castle and also offers some nightlife for young people! Durcal is a bigger town at the head of the valley offering a daily market, some nightlife, a mountain bike hire shop and access to the Sierra Nevada Parque Natural. Cordoba is a 2 hour drive and definitely worth a stopover night whilst Antequera, Seville and Cadiz are all around a three hour drive on very good roads.
- Granada (30 minute drive) is a beautiful historic Moorish city with the superb palaces and gardens of the Alhambra and the Generalife, the Old Islamic Quarter of the Albaicin, a wide variety of restaurants, theatres and cinemas, good shopping, many cultural pursuits by day and by night, and its own bullring. The Summer Music Festival in the Alhambra is not to be missed! If you are planning a visit to the Alhambra go on line and book a date well in advance it is one of Europes most popular tourist attractions.
- The Mediterranean Coast (35 minute drive) is easily reached and offers beaches and seaside pleasures at many coastal villages and towns. Drive down to Motril or Salobrena (25 mins) and then along stylish Almunecar, the pretty horseshoe bay of La Herradura, and to Marina del Este where you can watch the boats from one of several waterside restaurants. Keep going along the Costa Tropical to the sandy beaches of Nerja or to the Costa del Sol where Malaga and Marbella await you!
- Drive into the picturesque Alpujarras or visit the magnificent Sierra Nevada with world class skiing resort of Sol y Nieve less than an hour away. The ski station, located at an elevation of 2,100 metres, has 19 lifts and 61 kilometres of pistes, plus extensive snow-making equipment.
A truly central location as a gateway to so many nearby activities the list goes on; walking or hiking to enjoy the valley scenery, golf and tennis (nearby in Murchas and on the way Granada), mountain biking, horseback riding, local non-motorised water sports on the lake.
Granada Airport (BA and EasyJet) is about 35 minutes away by car and Malaga Airport with a wide variety of charter and scheduled flights is about one and a quarter hours away by Motorways (we will send detailed driving instructions when you book).
The Lecrin Valley seasons are clearly defined here and each have their distinctive highlights;
- White Almond blossom appears first in Spring and then the valley is perfumed with the scent of oranges and lemons.
- Summer is highlighted with hot sun and blue skies but always with gentle breezes wafting down from the mountains. The scents are rosemary, lavender and thyme in the hills whilst in the villages racks of tomatoes, chilies and peppers lie drying in the sun.
- Autumn is a period of mellow warmth with more acceptable temperatures for Northern Europeans with plenty of evening warmth to eat out. In the evening the villagers sit shelling almonds by machine or hand and the Olive orchards then ring to the clatter of sticks beating the branched to bring the olives down from the trees, grapes are gathered and there is the strong smell of fermentation of the new vintage.
- Winter brings colder nights, snow and skiing in the mountains and often rain to refresh the fields and wash down the dusty streets. The hill villages now smell of wood smoke and frost and it’s an ideal time to walk and visit out of the way villages. Wet days never last long and are interspersed with bright blue skies and warm winter sun, all the locals gather on street corners absorbing the warmth and discussing the year to come. Winter is also the time of festivals and Saints Days and hardly a week passes in the Valley without a parade, fireworks display or outdoor festival somewhere, visitors always being most welcome.