Several bars and restaurants are located within a 10/15 minute drive of the cottage in the villages of Cuesta de la Palma and Estacion de Salinas.
The Salinas railway station is now a restaurant serving excellent food and wines and the platform has now been transformed into an outdoor dining area.
Restaurant Manolo is a very friendly place to enjoy anything from simple tapas to á la carte.
The prices at all the restaurants and bars are surprisingly inexpensive and the tapas at the local bars are complimentary with every alcoholic drink!
In Salinas you will also find a small selection of shops including a butchers, a bakery and a ‘tabac’. For a ‘full’ shop to stock up for your holiday there are larger supermarkets in our nearest towns of Loja and Archidona which are about 20 minutes away.
Loja is situated on the western edge of the plain of Granada with its undulating countryside of olive groves and cereal fields. There are many interesting things to see and do both inside and outside the town.
We are only 10 minutes away from the main motorway which leads you to all the major tourist attractions of the area. These include Granada with the world famous Alhambra Palace and Antequera with its’ many churches, ancient burial chambers and an impressive golf course. Ronda is a beautiful place, the famous bridge spans the gorge joining the old and new towns. Then there is Cordoba which boasts its impressive Arabian mosque (the 3rd largest in the world).
Not forgetting Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso, which many people tend to overlook. There is a new museum opened to celebrate his work, a very good open top bus tour making sure you see as much as possible of this wonderful city and great restaurants and bars.
With the new toll road open Gibraltar is within reach and all the beaches of the Costa del Sol are only about an hour away.
And of course Seville, Andalucia’s largest city, and the very heart of Andalucian culture. Filled with historic architecture and quaint shops Seville is a very colourful and atmospheric place to visit.
For a more relaxing day out there are many lovely lakes in the area. Our nearest, Lake Iznajar some 30 km long, is only 20 minutes away. You can drive around the lake and find wonderful view points as shown in the picture to the right here. There is a sandy beach, lakeside bar/cafe and a picnic/bbq area.
The small town is situated on a promontory and is steeped in history. Easter week is the most important festival here and it is well worth planning your visit around this time to join in the festivities. The annual fiesta is in September.
A little further a field is Malaga’s ‘Lake District’, where 3 beautiful lakes join. Bordered by pine forests, there are lakeside beaches where you can relax, swim, and picnic on the lake shore. One of the best restaurants in the area is situated here, El Kiosko, pictured bottom left. Find yourself a table on the terrace with a view of the lake, and the friendly staff will serve you with excellent food and wine. You can spend many an hour over lunch here.
You can also visit the impressive limestone rock formations of the Torcal National Park. Wind and rain has chiseled away at the layers of rocks to form incredible shapes. There are 3 routes for walkers, a visitor centre and a panoramic viewing point where you can see as far as the African coast (on a good day). Good flora and fauna are found here.
Fuente de Piedra Natural Reserve, also known as ‘The Pink Lagoon’, is a natural salt lake and is a haven for birds with over 170 different species recorded here.
It is a well known breading ground for flamingos, the best time to see them is usually Springtime.
There is a lakeside visitors centre with guided tours available for observing the birds and other wildlife.
Lobo Park, situated just outside Antequera, can be enjoyed by all the family. There are 4 huge enclosures in 40 hectares of untouched natural park with European, Timber, Iberian and Polar wolves. There is a petting zoo and horse riding is also available. With a museum, cafeteria, bar area and souvenir shop a morning or afternoon is easily covered. Guided tours are a must and one of the special events organised for visitors is a ‘wolf howl night’.
The Donkey Sanctuary is situated near Fuente de Piedra. Donkeys from all over the world have been saved and are being cared for here.
Called El Refugio Del Burrito the centre relies totally on donations and admission is free. An adopt-a-donkey scheme has been set up to help towards running costs.
Skiing in the Sierra Nevada
The Sol y Nieve ski and snow boarding resort, situated south/east of Granada, is approximately 1hr 20 mins from the cottage. It is Europe’s most southerly ski venue and you will be surprised at the high air temperatures compared to other ski resorts in Europe. It is possible for you to spend your morning on the slopes and the afternoon around the pool sunbathing!
A wide choice of runs are available making the resort suitable for skiers of all levels from beginners to the more seasoned enthusiast.
Ski passes, hire of equipment and tuition are all available and are very inexpensive compared to other ski resorts.
Sol y Nieve has a snow making system which means that the season can run from December through to April.
Rio Frio is a small town approximately 15 minutes away and is well known for trout fishing and has its’ own trout farm. In recent times there have been recorded catches of brown trout up to 5.2kg. The season lasts all year round and the town has many very good bars and restaurants. Or you can buy your own trout and bring it back to the cottage to cook on the BBQ. There is a little market here every Sunday and it is a very popular place for the locals to go for their Sunday lunch.
