Traditional Mountain Village Holiday Home, Comfortable and Welcoming
Hidden Away Below The Square, Near Shops, Cafe-bars, Restaurants and Internet, Fabulous Hiking Base
Sleeps 2 (1 Bedroom)
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Capileira is the most popular of all the captivating white villages of the high Alpujarra. Bars provide free tapas with drinks and wholesome, inexpensive meals are served at a number of restaurants. El Gato Negro (The Black Cat) has been home-from-home here for 15 years to couples and single travellers wanting to get to know or hike La Alpujarra and enjoy the comfort of a genuine village house. The original building, dating back to 1700, was completely and rustically restored in 2000. Built on one storey, with solid chestnut beams, a double living room and space to sit out in sun or shade, it has the charm of an old friend. The atmosphere is very relaxing, the furnishings are comfortable and it’s a great place to explore from. Trails along the spectacular gorge, down to the river or up into the Sierra Nevada mountains start from your doorstep. Good local facilities—including bar terraces, bakeries and craft shops - now include a cybercafe. The house has a DVD for quiet nights in.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2011 | €60 | €250 | 2 | |
| 1 January 2012 - 31 December 2012 | €60 | €250 | 2 |
Notes on prices
One very nice price all year, includes heating (but not firewood) in winter. For the property for 2 people, per week, in euros. Any day start and finish. Price unchanged since 2005. Short lets are available at 60 euros per night. Long lets may be possible (please contact us).
Changeover day
Any day arrival and departure. Arrival preferred at 2 pm, or between 6 pm and 10 pm. Departure by 10 am. We always try to be flexible about these times.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | One double-bedded room with walk-in wardrobe and shuttered skylight. |
| Bathrooms: | Bathroom with shower over full bathtub & WC. Hairdryer. |
| Kitchen: | Four-ring gas hob and gas oven; small fridge; washing machine; electric kettle and toaster. |
| Living Rooms: | Sitting area by kitchen with sofa and wicker chairs (which can be taken to sit outside). |
| Other: | Living room with second sofa, armchair, Hergom wood-burning stove, radio. TV and DVD player. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels and bedlinen included and changed weekly (although please bring own towel for beach/pool use). The house is cleaned once prior to arrival. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge washing machine iron/ironing board tv room fans cot |
| Suitability: | pets accepted |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
Heating is provided with gas and electric heaters and all gas and electric is included in the rental price. The living room also has a very efficient, glass-fronted, wood burning stove (firewood not included, but available locally). Insulation in the roof and thick stone walls help keep the house cool in summer and warm during cooler months.
Accessibility
The house—and village in general—are a challenge for people with mobility difficulties. Not advisable for anyone restricted to a wheelchair.
Outside
The narrow, traffic-free street (except for a few goats) widens to form a broad, semi-private corner where the house is located. Guests often sit out here in the sun or the shade of the fresno tree.
Coast/Beach
The Costa Tropical is one hour away by car. Salobreña beach, with sardine barbecues and plenty of facilities, is popular. Further along the coast just past La Herradura, is Cantarriján, a naturist beach. On a clear day you can see the Mediterranean Sea from the village.
Golf
Nobody has yet proposed a golf course in the mountains.
Skiing
The ski resort in Sierra Nevada is on the other side of the mountains. The facilities are very good but it's a long (nearly two-hour) drive.
Travel
Malaga Airport, just under two and a half hours. Granada airport, one and a half hours (if flights return there in 2012). Buses run from Granada bus station to Capileira, but only three a day — which makes car hire the preferred option, especially as it gives you the opportunity to explore the villages and mountains further east (with even more hiking trails), to get down to the coast or visit Granada.
Distances
Although nicely hidden away, the house is close to the main square, which is where you will find shops, bars, restaurants, an interent cafe, art shop and gallery, people chatting and children playing in the late afternoon. It's very relaxed. There is no end of lovely old villages to visit by car or on foot. Historic Granada with the incomparable Alhambra Palaces is an hour and a quarter's drive.
Further details
Nearby are the bank, pharmacy, two bakeries, butcher's, little supermarkets, art shop and gallery, craft shops (inc. leather goods) and an internet cafe. The Caja Granada bank has an ATM and changes money. Well-trodden paths leading into the mountains or down to the river start less than a minute from the house. During the summer season a mini-bus takes visitors up and into the National Park and a large open-air swimming pool at Pitres campsite (10 mins by car) opens to non-campers. You can also drive up as far as the entrance to the National Park: simply leave the car and start walking! Excellent pottery and painting courses are available at a lovely old house in another village. Experienced English and Irish guides can be hired for day hikes.
Booking notes
Bookings are confirmed by e-mail on receipt of a 40% deposit by bank transfer. Although the balance is officially due 4 weeks before the holiday starts, it is sometimes possible to pay the balance in cash on arrival. So if your international bank transfer costs are high, please ask about this.
Guest comments
Many folk, from Iceland to New Zealand, have stayed at the 'Black Cat' and left encouraging comments, including plenty of honeymooners. "Our fantastic rental cottage" is what (not so) Crazy George calls it in the caption to his photo on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/crazygeorge/ We'll leave you to make your own minds up!
Owner profile
About the owner
I am an Englishman who made his home in Spain in the early nineties and here I still am. I have worked teaching, translating, helping to run a rural tourism agency and doing building work when all else failed.
Spain remains a great country to live in and I have always felt very much at home with these warm, easy-going people.
Year purchased: 1998
Why the owner chose a home in this location
It was the house I first lived in when I came to Capileira in 1995. At that time, I had no idea that I would stay in the village for nearly a decade or that it become the one place to which I always return.
It is here that I have good friendships in a village where you don't really need to lock your door and that's something money can't buy.
The mountain world of the Alpujarra is spectacular and peaceful. I like the pure air, spring water in the fountains and chatting over a beer and tapa or two in the bars. I also like the fact that you get four marked seasons here, from log fires in winter to real summer heat.
Further from the madding crowd impossible... Only an hour from Granada or the coast and the road up from Orgiva is good, yet the high villages remain a world apart.
Unique benefits of the property
The best thing about the 'Black Cat' apart from its winsome cottage atmosphere is its location: just below the village square but in the quiet corner of a traffic-free street. So you're nicely hidden away yet
very close to paths out into the countryside, shopping, bars, restaurants, bakery, bank, parking.
It's a genuine, traditional village house, at least 300 years old with big old chestnut beams and has plenty of space for two people. I renovated it in 2000.
A significant advantage (for guests and myself) is that my sister looks after it so well. She also lives in the village and is always on hand if people need anything.
For booking and further information
Property Ref S4655
Guy Simpson
Tel: (Spain) + 34 626 721 704
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in June 2006,
and has advertised this property with us since June 2006.
Property Ref S4655
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