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Cortijo Alcornocosa

El Bosque, Andalucia

  • 8
  • 4
  • 4

Accommodation

At a glance

  1. Sleeps 8
  2. 4 Twin Bedrooms
  3. 4 Bathrooms
  4. WiFi
  5. Table Tennis
  6. Fenced Pool
  • Ground Floor: Cloakroom. Kitchen (oven, microwave, dishwasher) with door to covered dining terrace. Sitting/dining room (fireplace, TV, DVD, CD, A/C) with doors to covered dining terrace. Four twin bedrooms (ceiling fans) with en suite bathrooms. Internet via 3G. Central heating throughout the main house.
  • Outside: Wide covered dining terrace. Lawn. Sun terraces. Table tennis. Laundry room (washing machine). Barbecue*. Courtyard. Private parking.
  • Private swimming pool (11m x 5m) with Roman steps, which can be fenced on request. Poolside shower.

Amidst the picturesque and unspoilt countryside of the Alcornocales National Park, we followed the private driveway of this grand estate as it meandered its way through gently undulating grounds of cork oaks. However, it was not until we reached a clearing and saw the imposing, gleaming white walls that encircle the fine house that we really appreciated how truly magnificent the setting of Cortijo Alcornocosa is.

Spreading out ahead of us was a vast, uninterrupted panorama encompassing what seemed to be miles and miles of breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Down below in the valley bottom, the turquoise green waters of the Embalse de los Hurones shimmer invitingly between vegetated slopes. Beyond, higher peaks of grey and green signal the start of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

Our delight at discovering such a spectacular location was increased even further as we made our way through the stone flagged courtyard and entered the house, for here beneath high pitched ceilings, exquisitely furnished rooms exude comfort and style. From the entrance hall, we gasped as we once again admired the view, clearly visible through the wide picture window that stretches from one end of the spacious living room to the other.

Beautifully coordinated sofas and armchairs have been thoughtfully positioned, some around a coffee table by the window and others either side of the fireplace. From the dining area, French windows open out onto a wide covered terrace, beyond which a pretty stone pathway curves through well kept lawns to the swimming pool. Within the main house, four smart bedrooms lie off a wide inner hall and all enjoy the comfort of en suite facilities.

With such fine accommodation and unrivalled views to enjoy, guests could be forgiven for not wishing to leave the grounds of the property. Nevertheless, the nearby whitewashed towns and villages are well worth exploring: the pretty 'pueblo blanco' of El Bosque nestles beneath green hillside just 12km away. A little further on, the leather making centre of Ubrique hangs dramatically over the Río Majaceite, whilst only 30 minutes from the house the larger centre of Arcos de la Frontera spreads out across a huge rock and looks out onto the Guadalete valley. For trips further afield, Jerez, Cádiz and Sevilla are all between 50 and 90 minutes' drive away.

  • The swimming pool can be fenced on request - Please ask at time of booking
  • *As this is a protected area of natural beauty, barbecue bans will be enforced from early June and an electric 'plancha' will be provided for outdoor catering.
  • Property Licence No. VTAR/CA/03173

Pricing & Availability

All Prices are per property, not per person.

Location of Cortijo Alcornocosa

Locality

Great Things to Do Near Cortijo Alcornocosa

Visit Doñana National Park

Take a boat from Sanlucar and see its southern edges or drive to Matalascanas and do the full tour in a 4-wheel drive desert bus! This is Europe's largest birdlife reserve and quite unique.

Horse Racing on the beach

Right on the beach at Sanlucar in August!

Take the Kids to Aquasherry Water Park

Just outside Jerez. Make the children the excuse and have a great time yourself on the slides and flumes.

Explore Sevilla

Discover its cathedral and the exquisite Moorish palace or Alcazar. You can even take a city bus tour – it’s a great way to see the sights.

See Cádiz

So rarely mentioned in any guidebook, but the old town is an absolute gem. Some of the things to experience: visit the Cathedral; climb the Torre Tavira; explore the castle and get a sense of its naval history. Or, simply sit in a patio, bedecked with flowers and people watch.

Fresh fish for the barbecue

Visit the trout farm in El Bosque, buy fresh trout to cook at home in the oven or on the barbecue. Or if you don't feel like cooking, pop into the Bar Majaceite opposite and enjoy a meal based on this local speciality.

Botany for beginners...

....and for keen botanists as well! Visit El Castillejo botanical garden in El Bosque and learn all about the flora of this area, then take a walk in the Sierra and see which plants you can identify.

Festival del Otono

Jerez de la Frontera holds its Festival del Otono (Autumn Festival) in celebration of the grape harvest with a programme of events related to wine and sherry, lifeblood of the town, flamenco music and dance and Andaluz horses and carriages. The Fiesta opens with a mass in the Collegiate Church and usually takes place during the second and third week of September. For more information, go to: www.turismojerez.com

Play Golf!

There are some great courses in the area, all available to non-members. Montecastillo at Jerez and San Roque near Algeciras are the most famous but there are several others: Montenmedio near Vejer and the new course at Benelup.

Gasp at the Magnificent Views !

From the terraces of your house.

Carthusian Horse Centre

Visit the national breeding facilities on the road to Jerez and see the best horses in the country! This place shows the sheer natural beauty of the animal.

Wander Around the Old Town of Arcos

Just a few miles away and you can explore its dizzy views and medieval streets and churches.

Sip Sherry in Jerez de la Frontera

Home of sherries - a surprisingly wide range of types of wine are made in the unique sherry method and you can watch it being made if you visit one of the several Bodegas in the region. Tio Pepe is especially well organized with tours and generous samples! It's easy to find too.

Visit Tarifa at the Southernmost tip of Andalucía.

See the kite surfers (you could have a go yourself!), explore the castle and the old town and marvel at the views across to Morocco. Africa is just 11 miles away across the Straits.

Explore Medina Sidonia

See the cathedral and the Roman fortress and explore the old town that was once largely owned by the wealthiest family of Spain.

Bolonia

Be amazed by the scale of these often overlooked Roman remains. A whole Roman city, tucked into a curve of the coastline. You can follow your archaeological exploration with a great fish lunch right there on the beachside!

Watch the Eagles and Vultures

as they cover miles of land with a flick of wing. Amazing!

Take a Drive and Explore

The scenery in this area is stunning; enjoy a leisurely car trip from Ubrique or El Bosque to Algar, Alcalá de los Gazules and back to Ubrique through Los Alcornocales natural park. You'll see some amazing views near Algar of the reservoirs and mountains.

See the Royal Equestrian School in Jerez

The grand centre of the equestrian arts where there are daily displays of horsemanship.

Visit Ronda

Enjoy the scenic drive there as well as the famous picturesque town itself, perched astride the gorge

Nearby

Towns/Villages

Algar 15 mins 
El Bosque 15 mins 
Ubrique 30 mins 
Arcos de la Frontera 30 mins 
Grazalema 50 mins 
Cadiz 1 Hr 15 mins 
Ronda 1 Hr 15 mins 

Beaches

El Puerto de Santa Maria 1 Hr 10 mins 
El Palmar 1 Hr 30 mins 
Cadiz 1 Hr 40 mins 
Sanlucar de Barrameda 1 Hr 40 mins 

Airports

Jerez 1 Hr  
Sevilla 1 Hr 30 mins 
Gibraltar 2 Hrs 10 mins 
Malaga 2 Hrs 20 mins 
Times are approximate

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