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El-Andaluz House Rentals and Sales
Self catering Watermill and village houses in the white village of Grazalema, at the heart of the Parque Natural "Sierra de Grazalema". Stunning country side. Selected houses also for sale
Casa rural - Huerta la Terrona "Huerta la Terrona" with more than 300 years of history, offers a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere and all the modern conveniences our guests can expect in a contemporary Country House. A two story building with five large guest rooms, three on the upper floor and one on the main floor, affords maximum comfort for our guests. Each bedroom includes mattresses and linens of the highest quality, unique décor, a private bathroom, individual heating units and magnificent views of the Park, in particular of the mountain pass “Puerto de las Palomas”.
In this web-log you will read about the changing colours of the Sierra de Grazalema and surrounding areas through the seasons. Verdant spring is alive with birdsong and wild flowers, this melds into the summer heat with its chirring cicadas and a heavy scent of natural aromatic oils. The autumn rains signify re-growth as dormant seeds germinate within days blanketing the soil with green once again. These are a keen amateurs notes about the flowers, wildlife and general nature in and around the parkland. Some of the areas we explore may pique your interest for a future holiday or solve a question from a previous visit. Please make use of the comment board.
If the idea of a nature orientated holiday somewhere in Iberia interests you then search through the wide selection in our website Wildside Holidays
It is a tradition in many countries to have a horseshoe near your front door for luck. One question we have often asked in different areas we have stayed is, which direction should it be hung and there are various answers and reasons. If the open ends point upwards this is said to catch the luck and preserve it for you, or on the contrary should the ends point downwards thereby allowing the luck to flow freely? That said will the luck flow at our doorstep this week due to a different, much larger, horseshoe which passed by – a Horseshoe Whip Snake!
There are many impressive flying insects on the wing during the summer months. Some due to their colours or intricate design and others are just large. In this last category fall the Carpenter bee, the Hornet and the Mammoth wasp. Many people flap their arms in fear at these airborne creatures - whereas standing still and observing them may be better practice. They are generally docile and quite attractive if viewed calmly. (Unless you are poking the hornets nest of course!)
The Sierra de Grazalema has recently celebrated 30 years as a Biosphere Reserve - designated by UNESCO due to the exceptional wealth of flora and fauna. The aim of this special weekend is to demonstrate this diversity of fauna, flora and habitats through digital photography and share this with all at the website of 'Biodiversidad Virtual'. This is a Spanish website dedicated to mapping the biodiversity of Iberia and is quickly becoming an exceptional educational tool due to its enthusiastic members.
May is a fabulous time to walk, cycle or drive through these mountains as roadside verges, pastures and scrubland turn glorious colours with a varied selection of wild flowers. The springtime rains have ensured a vivid display and many plants compete for space in a hurry to flower and set their seeds before the ground dries out during the summer months. Hillsides can turn yellow with shrubby Retama, whereas the many meadows are a tapestry of pastel shades brimming with annuals.
During the month of April the field borders and roadside banks transform after the spring rains from a lush green to a profusion of mixed colours as the flowering plants make the most of these ideal conditions. Bright 'planting schemes' can appear where soil has been cleared from winter landslips and left in mounds, now smothered in fast growing annuals that reach their peak before the summer heat arrives. As with the March page I have divided a selection of the more obvious wildflowers into colour sections.
March is accompanied by many spring flowers, the number of species rising throughout the month. Many can be seen adorning roadsides, pastures, arable field edges, mountainsides etc. Some of the larger bushes are obvious from a vehicle but other, smaller plants will remain hidden until you walk about if they are in singles, or are occasionally seen in swathes carpeting orchards.
January is a busy time for harvesting the olive fruit and during this same month the almond trees begin to flower. Slopes scattered with these stark black, wizened trunks which appear lifeless, quickly turn to delicate shades of soft pink. Although these are orchard blooms, they are very photogenic and especially pleasing to the eye when combined with the wildflowers of broad-leaved iris beneath.
Although December may bring rain and frost to the mountains it is a time of growth, spurred on after the prolonged rest enforced by the heat of summer. This rainfall nourishes the ground and triggers the flowering and fruit production of a few species, a process which now picks up spead with more and more flowers appearing each month until the summer heat strikes again. This is part of an ongoing project to create a complete flowering calendar for the sierra.
‘Grazalema has the highest rainfall records in Spain’, this is a phrase that is commonly found on the internet, but without further explanation could be very off putting to the holiday maker! Mountains will always alter their local climate where-ever they are in the world, and this is no exception. Note that only a few hours drive away at the eastern end of Andalucia is Europe’s only desert!
As the leaves begin to fall from the trees there are a few flowers to discover. Berries and acorns are ripening, decorating the countryside and providing food for wildlife. Many plants will only just be emerging as the rain will usually have encouraged the germination of many seeds by now, giving a lushness to the pastures and roadsides that had been dry during the summer. This is part of an ongoing project to create a complete flowering calendar for the sierra.
Restaurant Al Lago, Zahara de la Sierra
A stunning setting with lake views from the terrace in which to enjoy a leisurely lunch, dinner or innovative tapas. Chef Stefan Crites, who trained in New York for many years, re-interprets some of Spain’s culinary classics with a creative and exotic touch using local organic vegetables, top quality meat and fresh fish from the markets in Cadiz.
Las Truchas
Las Truchas is a small hotel with a home from home atmosphere, located in the quaint town of El Bosque. Explore the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and the White Towns Route (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos) that are situated within easy reaching distance of this hotel. You can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding landscape from the hotel rooms.
Cortijo Valverde
Beautiful hotel with outstanding views of the surrounding countryside providing that special vacation destination for either a restful holiday, or a base from which to explore the many treasures that Andalucia and Inland Spain has to offer.
Villa Turistica Grazalema
This hotel is located 500 metres from the charming village of Grazalema, a place characterised by its whitewashed façades, its narrow and windy streets and set in the centre of the natural park
Hotel Fuerte Grazalema
Situated in the heart of the sierra de Grazalema natural park, Hotel Fuerte Grazalema is a paradise for outdoor walking enthusiasts and is set in oak woodlands 5 kilometres from the village of Grazalema. It makes an excellent base from which to discover this stunning part of western Andalucia
Nature and Environment
In this web-log you will read about the changing colours of the Sierra de Grazalema and surrounding areas through the seasons. Verdant spring is alive with birdsong and wild flowers, this melds into the summer heat with its chirring cicadas and a heavy scent of natural aromatic oils. The autumn rains signify re-growth as dormant seeds germinate within days blanketing the soil with green once again. These are a keen amateurs notes about the flowers, wildlife and general nature in and around the parkland. Some of the areas we explore may pique your interest for a future holiday or solve a question from a previous visit. Please make use of the comment board.
It is a tradition in many countries to have a horseshoe near your front door for luck. One question we have often asked in different areas we have stayed is, which direction should it be hung and there are various answers and reasons. If the open ends point upwards this is said to catch the luck and preserve it for you, or on the contrary should the ends point downwards thereby allowing the luck to flow freely? That said will the luck flow at our doorstep this week due to a different, much larger, horseshoe which passed by – a 
There are many impressive flying insects on the wing during the summer months. Some due to their colours or intricate design and others are just large. In this last category fall the Carpenter bee, the Hornet and the Mammoth wasp. Many people flap their arms in fear at these airborne creatures - whereas standing still and observing them may be better practice. They are generally docile and quite attractive if viewed calmly. (Unless you are poking the hornets nest of course!)
May is a fabulous time to walk, cycle or drive through these mountains as roadside verges, pastures and scrubland turn glorious colours with a varied selection of wild flowers. The springtime rains have ensured a vivid display and many plants compete for space in a hurry to flower and set their seeds before the ground dries out during the summer months. Hillsides can turn yellow with shrubby Retama, whereas the many meadows are a tapestry of pastel shades brimming with annuals.
March is accompanied by many spring flowers, the number of species rising throughout the month. Many can be seen adorning roadsides, pastures, arable field edges, mountainsides etc. Some of the larger bushes are obvious from a vehicle but other, smaller plants will remain hidden until you walk about if they are in singles, or are occasionally seen in swathes carpeting orchards.
January is a busy time for harvesting the olive fruit and during this same month the almond trees begin to flower. Slopes scattered with these stark black, wizened trunks which appear lifeless, quickly turn to delicate shades of soft pink. Although these are orchard blooms, they are very photogenic and especially pleasing to the eye when combined with the wildflowers of broad-leaved iris beneath.
‘Grazalema has the highest rainfall records in Spain’, this is a phrase that is commonly found on the internet, but without further explanation could be very off putting to the holiday maker! Mountains will always alter their local climate where-ever they are in the world, and this is no exception. Note that only a few hours drive away at the eastern end of Andalucia is Europe’s only desert!