Los Pedregales de Estepona.
Los Pedregales de Estepona is a vast designated park of outstanding natural beauty set in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja mountains.
The villa is located just on the borders of the park, giving the most glorious views of the mountains, the valley below, and across the Mediterranean to Africa beyond.
The area is protected from development and completely tranquil and secluded, yet is just a few kilometres from the coast, the main roads and the town centre.
About Estepona.
Estepona is a lively resort town on the Costa del Sol with beautiful beaches and Moorish achitecture. It is essentially a still-working Andalucian fishing village that has embraced the tourist industry yet has managed to preserve its unique Spanish atmosphere and quieter charm, unlike many of its neighbours further up the coast.
The town is located 25km from the glamorous and exciting Marbella with its designer shopping and famous Puerto Banus.
It is an easy 45 minute drive from Malaga airport, with a direct motorway link between the two.
The main A7 (N340) coastal road and the new AP7 toll road motorway give easy access to the town and the rest of Andalucia.
Going west, and about 20 mins away, you also have the beautiful marina port of Sotogrande with its yachts and famous golf courses.
Estepona town is sheltered to the north by the Sierra Bermeja mountains. Los Reales, their highest point, reaches 1,449m. This gives Estepona a unique warm micro-climate which can be completely different from towns just a few kilometres away.
This climate is a big attraction for it has an average temperature of 18.7º over the year. Golf is also very popular here as there are over ten courses in this area alone out of over 50 on the Costa del Sol. Estepona also has a renowned Equestrian centre, should horses be your thing.
If you take some time to explore Estepona you will discover many quiet and interesting resting places.
Right in the town centre you will find the Plaza de las Flores (right). Here you can relax by the fountain, take your pick of the many quaint bars, and have a coffee, a beer or an al-fresco meal surrounded by flowers and orange trees.
On the outskirts of the town, heading west, is the town bullring. This white-washed building has a unique architectural style.
As well as the usual bullfights, the bullring regularly offers a selection of live concerts. Whatever your tastes you'll find something here to excite you - from Carmen to Flamenco to Rock'n'Roll!
Estepona's clock tower (below), which you will find in the Plaza del Reloj, was built by Henry V and dates from the 15th century. It still chimes out the hours in perfect time.
On Wednesdays there is a large outdoor market (one of the biggest on the coast) where you will find all manner of local produce as well as a good selection of African and Morrocan wares.
Estepona has a good local bus system and an ample supply of local taxis.
Its hotels are mainly low-rise, architecturally sympathetic and quite unobtrusive.
The beaches are very clean and well cared for and almost all have wooden beach bars on them.
In total there are over 20km of beaches, many of them proudly displaying the Blue Flag Award.
Most staff at shops, restaurants and bars speak English, German and French.
Estepona is ideally located to explore many places in Andalucia and the Costa del Sol.
Shopping, relaxation and nightlife.
If it's nightlife you want, the port in Estepona has any number of bars and dance venues and usually starts warming up with 'happy hour' at the popular Reinaldo's, where half price drinks from 8 til 9pm sets you up nicely for the evening. After that it's your choice according to your taste and stamina! It doesn't stop until you do.
A trip to the famous (or infamous!) Puerto Banus, with its impressive harbour full of multi-million pound yachts, nightclubs, designer shopping and people watching is about 20 mins away.
Marbella with its 5-star hotels, golden mile and even more designer shops is just along the coast from there.
All within easy reach.
Gibraltar, with its famous 'Rock', British lifestyles, Mediterranean climate and duty free prices is only 35 minutes away.
Sevilla is one of the largest towns in Andalucia with an envious history.
For the Atlantic coast consider historic Tarifa, only an hour away and a mecca for wind and watersports. From here you can also book a day trip to Morocco – get to see a bit of Africa!
North-east of Estepona and about two hours away is the beautiful town of Granada with its ever-popular Alhambra Palace.
A day trip to the mountains of Sierra Nevada, the skiing centre of Andalucia, is easily possible. You can leave the house and be on the slopes within two and a half hours.
Nearby you also have the beautiful white villages of Casares and Ronda, with its famous Roman bridge across the gorge.
Local Amenities.
One of the most popular of the Costa Del Sol theme parks is Selwo Aventura. If you can imagine a large Jurassic Park, where open-sided lorries drive you through various wild animal enclosures then you are in Selwo!
The park houses some 2000 animals in semi-wild conditions, all of which are kept in first class conditions and well cared for by its helpful and friendly staff.
Selwo is a unique and fantastic experience for the whole family. However, it is not a zoo! The animals are genuinely in almost natural habitats with sympathetic borders between them and the public.
There is plenty of space and plenty of variety of things to do. As well as the many animals on display, some of which are quite rare, there are the botanical gardens where you will see a wide variety of plants, and one of the most interesting walks through the bird canyon, a large netted area where the birds fly freely around you, just as if you were in the wild. Well worth a visit.
The Laguna Village leisure complex (left) is very close by and offers a good choice of up-market bars and restaurants, designer shopping and the exclusive PuroBeach “Oasis del Mar” beach club.
At Laguna Village/PuroBeach you can bash your credit cards, eat and drink in style, swim in the huge pool and/or sunbathe on the luxurious recliners.
Friendly and efficient waiters are always on hand to help you relax all day and party into the small hours in pampered luxury.
For keen golfers there are over 40 courses in the immediate region, of which some 23 are located within a thirty minute drive of the villa. Estepona Golf (featured right) is ten minutes away.
Facilities range from a modest 9-holes, to championship-quality country clubs, to the world famous Valderrama in Sotogrande, host to the 1997 Ryder Cup.
All of them are in perfect condition and prepared for visiting golfers of all levels, including those courses adapted for amateurs and tourists.
Details of all the region’s golf facilities can be located on the many golfing web sites dedicated to this area.
