Casa Gabriel. Cortijo-style beach house, 600m to sea

Following a major refurbishment in 2017, Casa Gabriel has been transformed into the perfect family house. Built around a central courtyard in true Andaluz tradition, spaces are generous both inside and out. There are large living areas (indoor and outdoor) and terraces for every time of day and season. And the 1,500sqm garden is particularly large for Roche, with extensive lawns, a table-tennis area, and a good-size pool (9x5m) with optional fence.

On the ground floor a large living room with a dining area at one end, runs down one side of the courtyard, and the bedroom wing surrounds the other two sides. The courtyard itself has a large dining table and sitting area, part of which can be covered on hot days. The kitchen seats 8 comfortably, should you wish to eat there. And just off the kitchen there is a covered breakfast terrace, perfectly positioned for the early morning sun. The bedroom wing has two floors: 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on the ground floor, and 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on the first floor. Two of the bedrooms have double beds and en suite bathrooms, three have twin beds, and one has a bunk bed plus a single bed.

Outside there is a large front lawn and parking area, while the back garden contains the pool and its covered and uncovered lounging areas, complete with built-in bbq. To one side of this is a corner ideal for competitive family table-tennis competitions! The garden is undoubtedly one of the attractive features of this house; just the right number of tall pines give the ideal combination of sun and shade (plenty of sun on the pool and dappled shade on the rest of the garden), and there is more than enough lawn for running around. The choice of covered terraces means that adults can enjoy long lunches and teenagers long afternoons on their own! The owner has thought of everything.

Casa Gabriel is a house for bigger groups. It sleeps 13 comfortably, and can accommodate two more people on a sofa-bed on the mezzanine overlooking the sitting room. And the choice and size of the living areas is such that bigger groups will never feel squashed. Its light decoration and spacious feel keep it cool in summer months, and the sitting room has large comfy sofas and a wonderful fireplace for the winter, and of course central heating throughout.

A walk of about 400m will take us to the local shop, pharmacy, a couple of bars and restaurants, and childrens’ playground. Roche also has its own tennis and padel courts and five-a-side football pitches. In the summer months, there are several beach bars/restaurants to choose from within walking distance, some of which are now staying open all year. A 5-minute drive will then provide you with a far larger selection of both bars and restaurants. The area offers an endless list of activities and if you book with us, we provide you with detailed information on all our recommendations, details on local amenities, and our up-to-date guide to the best of everything! You could spend a wonderful holiday here without a car, and just hire bikes; but, assuming you will have a car, it’s 15 minutes to Conil, 20 minutes to the hill-top village of Vejer-de-la-Frontera, 30 minutes to Cadiz, 40 minutes to Tarifa and Jerez, and 90 minutes to Seville, all of which are well worth visiting.