Property Description
Hidden away in a forest just above the traditional white village of Montecorto, just 15 minutes to the north-west of Ronda, this delightfully romantic hideaway is sculpted around a limestone outcrop, its huge rocks ingeniously integrated into the design of the house. As one client put it, " I think this is the most beautiful house I've ever seen."
Views are inspirational, the infinity pool amazing, the house decorated and furnished with great style and imagination. With its extensive collection of paintings, music, films and books, this is a place to drink in the views, pour yourself a glass of cava and slip into celebratory mood. Here your spirits will soar!
At the very top of the village, you reach the house via a steep track which arcs up through the forest to a mountain spring. From here a narrow path flanked by rosemary, lavender, honeysuckle and mint climbs up to the house’s main entrance. Looking quintessentially Andaluz from the outside, once you pass through the door a wonderful architectural surprise awaits you … the limestone outcrop on which the house is built has been beautifully incorporated into its interior design.
The mountainside has been wrapped into the fabric of the building and its huge rocks, planted out with cacti and succulents, add a stunning decorative element. It's a house where fantasy came first in its design brief.
A pyramidal atrium is the visual axis around which the open-plan lounge / diner / kitchen turns: sunlight floods in during the day and you look up to starry skies at night. Your eye is immediately drawn to the stunning, wrap-around views of the peaks of the Grazalema National Park. Here you really feel you are on top of the world; right in the heart of some of Spain's most spectacular mountain scenery, it's an exquisite vista to behold.
Three huge drop-arched windows lead out to a wonderful terrace which enjoys the best of these superb views. It's a terrace to die for … at one end is the gorgeous little infinity-edge plunge pool, its azure blue waters seeming to merge into the distant mountains and the sky above. Add the fragrant herb garden just beyond the pool, a second comfortable seating / dining area and a lovely solarium (accessed by a little path up from the pool) with shade provided by an Australian sail and an old carob tree, and you are going to find it very difficult to tear yourselves away from this divine spot.
The transition between outdoor and indoor living is seamless. The living room, kitchen / diner and study are one huge open space with each window offering a new aspect of the stunning southerly views.
The clever use of light and space is fully complemented by carefully chosen, comfortable furnishings and bright, eclectic paintings, a fascinating mix of oriental, contemporary and African art, the colours inspired by the Mahgreb. There’s satellite TV and a huge collection of CD's (flamenco, blues, jazz, classical, world, folk) and DVDs for you to enjoy.
And hundreds of really good books too (including those written by the property's owner), maps and an iMac computer with free 24 hour Internet connection which is housed in the study.
The kitchen / diner is as attractive as the rest, with its black slate floors lots of space and everything you need to self-cater in style. There are masses of herbs and spices. A good bottle of red wine will be awaiting you as well as a bottle of cava in the fridge.
Delightful local lady, Paqui, looks after the house, spending an hour late each weekday morning cleaning, making the beds and keeping everything neat and tidy for you. But, if you prefer her not to come - no problem.
There are two bedrooms. The large master bedroom with its king-size double bed and walk-in wardrobe is really romantic - Moroccan in style with rugs, wall hangings and rich colours.
It is reached via a staircase that winds down through the rocks. It has a really comfortable bed with an excellent mattress as well as a thinner top mattress (Scandinavian style). If you've never slept on a bed like this you'll be amazed. Linen is top quality and light Indian quilts are supplied as well as blankets. The bedroom has a fabulous view out to the mountains: the house was designed with a slightly lower-than-average window so that you can laze in bed and lap up the view, waking each day to a stunning, panoramic view of the Grazalema peaks. There is a huge walk-in wardrobe with masses of shelf and hanging space.
Also on this floor is the amazing bathroom. Another flight of fantasy with its huge round tub sculpted between the rocks and an enormous shower rose (specially made for the house in the Fez medina). The huge window has also been designed so that you can lie in the bath tub and look at the distant peaks of the Grazalema Park.
There is a long wooden dressing table / sink with masses of space for all your soaps, creams etc. And even in the bathroom there are framed prints, some from India, others from Spain. And lots of potted plants. The light scree floor, the rock and the views help make this a truly memorable bathroom - one you will never forget. Run a bath, pour in the essential oils, light a candle: there’s plenty of room for two!
At the very top of the house, reached by a staircase that winds between the rocks, is a second, smaller double bedroom. Also really romantic it has been decorated in the greens and blues that are typical of Moroccan Riad design. It has a door leading out to a top roof terrace.
Private and secluded, hidden away amongst stands of bamboo, olive and almond trees, this is a delectable place to hide away with a loved one, a perfect place for a first (or second) honeymoon …
Honeymoon or not, most guests who stay here don’t move very far. Watching the sun setting over the mountains with a glass of Rioja in hand is very special … and with so many books, CDs and DVD's to enjoy, you may just want to stay home and abandon yourself to the peace and beauty.
There is nothing to disturb your intimacy here yet you can stroll down to the village in less than ten minutes. Montecorto, just below the house, is home to 950 people, two restaurants, a number of bars, several small shops - there is a bank, chemists, post office and a doctor's surgery - and very friendly locals. Just wander down from the house through its little streets to buy fresh bread, fish and vegetables, not forgetting to stop at Pepe’s huerta (vegetable garden) on the way back to buy fresh, seasonal organic fruit and veggies.
For trips out, you are spoilt for choice here. Ronda, with its extraordinary gorge dividing the old and new quarters, is just a quarter of an hour away. With its mansion houses, quaint narrow streets, museums and art galleries and Spain's oldest bullring, it is well worth visiting. There is good shopping here, too: best buys include excellent shoes, leather belts and bags, and locally made pottery.
There are excellent restaurants close by including the Michelin-starred "Tragabuches" in Ronda and the superb "Al Lago" restaurant a short drive away in nearby Zahara. All of the local villages have friendly tapas bars where you can try the local wine, best drunk young as mosto.
Acinipo is a spectacular Roman theatre, hewn out of solid limestone standing on a high plateau just above the village. And the Grazalema National Park begins, literally, on your doorstep. This is one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe, with an astonishingly diverse flora and fauna. There are deep gorges, high peaks and some of Spain’s most attractive rural architecture. Most villages in the Park date back to the Moorish period and their names reflect their Berber origins: Zahara, Benamahoma, Torre Alháquime … A visit to La Cueva de la Pileta cave to see its 25,000 year old troglodyte paintings is another must.
The pretty white villages of Grazalema, Zahara and Setenil are all close by and worth visiting. Sevilla, just an hour and a half to the north west, is a fabulous day excursion. Granada can be also be visited as a day trip (there is a good train service which dovetails perfectly with a visit to the Alhambra). Jerez with its numerous sherry bodegas and the Royal School of Equestrian Art is an hour away. The beaches of the Costa del Sol are an hours drive to the south; the lesser-known Atlantic coast beaches are a couple of hours to the west.
For the more energetic, there are all manner of activities to enjoy. Algodonales, just a few kilometres west of Montecorto, has recently staged the World Paragliding Championships and is home to a number of paragliding schools with courses for beginners as well as tandem flights.
Horse trekking into the high sierra can be arranged at stables just ten minutes drive from the house. Bicycle hire is easily arranged in Ronda. There are excellent cycle ways in the area including the Via Verde which runs along an abandoned railway line as well as far more challenging tracks for mountain biking.
There is no more thrilling way of viewing the Ronda mountains than from a balloon. End your once-in-a-lifetime flight with a champagne breakfast overlooking Ronda’s old town.
The area around Grazalema and Ronda is a great place for bird watching, especially for spotting the big raptors. There are binoculars and guide books at the house and guided trips can be arranged with an excellent English-speaking ornithologist.
Just a ten minute drive away is the Zahara reservoir where different water sports are on offer. Swimming is also possible at a number of secluded coves along the lakeside.
This is also a fabulous base for a walking holiday. The property's owner leads guided walks in the area. His own walking guide, "Walking in Andalucía" has become a trusted companion for thousands of walkers. The book (there is always a copy in the house) including six fabulous walks in the nearby countryside.
And, when you return here, what a reward for your day's exercise. Just above the village and looking out to a heavenly panorama of mountain, hill and wooded slopes, this "House of the Rocks" is a really lovely, unforgettable hideaway-for-two. Whether chilling out, recharging your batteries, or as a base for walking through the magnificent countryside, this is the ultimate place "just to be".
Contact Us
Would you like to book this property? Any questions? We are here to help
00 34 958 763 381
Property Details
Ground Floor :
Open plan living room / kitchen / diner
Study (leads off from the living area)
Shaded furnished terrace, furnished dining terrace, garden, solarium and infinity plunge pool
Lower Floor :
Master double bedroom with king-sized bed and walk-in wardrobe
Bathroom (shower over bath tub)
Upper Floor :
Small double Bedroom
Roof terrace (furnished)
Facilities
Satellite TV (Free to view) • DVD • CD (with iPod docking system) • Radio • iMac computer with 24 hour internet connection (please note that laptops cannot be connected to this system) • Extensive library including many books on Andalucía and Spain • Extensive library of CD's and DVD's • Excellent guest information including a copy of the owners walking guide to the area (it includes six great walks within easy driving range) as well as extensive listings of recommended visits, the best tapas bars and the best restaurants
Glass fronted wood burning stove in the living room • Electric Radiators • Air conditioning in the living area and kitchen / dining area
Gas Oven • Gas hob (4 rings) • Microwave • Fridge • Freezer • Dishwasher • Toaster • Juicer • Kettle • Blender • Coffee pot • Cooking utensils • Cutlery • Crockery • Herbs and spices
Washing Machine • Iron & board
All linen is provided (including pool towels) • Hairdryer • Cot & Highchair available (on request)
Filtered, infinity edge plunge pool (3.0 m x 3.0 m, 1.55 m deep)
Solarium (accessed by a little path up from the pool) • Garden • Sunbed • Charcoal Barbecue • Outdoor dining and garden furniture • Parking
Notes
Weather permitting, the plunge pool pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it's not heated, the normal swimming season is from late April to September, inclusive)
The house is built on several different levels and there are some steep slopes around and about so it is not suitable for children, the elderly or infirm
Prices are inclusive of daily cleaning (approx. one hour each day), Mondays to Fridays. This is optional, if you prefer to be left alone, this is not a problem
Paqui (who looks after the house) can also prepare delicious, traditional 'tapas' style dishes for you. Full details are in the house along with bilingual order forms.
Please, no smoking in the house
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday
Location
Access is by way of a steep track up through the forest, but it's negotiable in any type of car
Just above the village (a few minutes walk away) of Montecorto (basic facilities, bank, restaurants etc); Ronda 20 mins; Grazalema 25 mins; Arcos de la Frontera 50 mins;
Costa del Sol 1 hr; Jerez 1 hr; Sevilla 1½ hrs, Málaga 1¾ hrs
See the location map above
Airports
Jerez 1½ hrs; Sevilla 1¾ hrs, Málaga 1¾ hrs; Gibraltar 2 hrs
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
Car Hire
We offer competitive rates for car hire from Málaga and other airports in Andalucia. Click here for full details
Find Out More
About the Ronda Mountains
You may find it useful to view our frequently asked questions
