La Amapola is located 25kms inland between Malaga and Granada, nestling on the hillside between two tiny mountain hamlets, La Amapola is secluded yet within easy reach of several inviting bars and restaurants and all local amenities. The bustling market village of Periana is a ten-minute drive and the beach half an hour away. The white hilltop villages of the Axarquia, Granada and the Alhambra and the picturesque beaches of Nerja are just some of the nearby attractions.

The farmhouse is very spacious and has been tastefully renovated in traditional Andaluz style, with polished terracotta floors, exposed beams, handmade tiles and whitewashed walls. The interior is cool and airy even in high summer, thanks to the high ceilings with ceiling fans and the numerous sets of french doors leading out to the terraces and gardens. On a more practical level, the house is beautifully appointed and equipped and offers every modern comfort and convenience, including the most fabulous kitchen-diner (55m2) complete with range style oven, huge chrome fridge, dishwasher and, for the keen cook, masses of cookbooks and specialist cookware.

A door leads from the kitchen-diner into a cosy den with French doors onto a terrace with corner seating and Moroccan table. The den makes an ideal retreat to read or listen to music. There is an extensive paperback library with hundreds of books catering for all tastes and ages. There are also TV, DVD and video, a large collection of films and a stereo with jazz, folk, soul and classical CDs, not to mention Spanish guitar and flamenco!

A step leads down from here to the pretty ground floor bedroom with doors leading onto a terrace garlanded with flowering climbers. On the first floor the spacious double bedroom benefits again from the spectacular views, with French doors opening out onto a raised terrace with seating for two which can also be accessed from the garden. An en-suite shower/WC is shared with the third bedroom which has two small double beds, one on a mezzanine platform which is reached by a ladder -very popular with older children and teenagers, but perfectly suitable for anyone agile!

Stroll through the olive grove, up a flight of steps cut out of the hillside, to the large private pool and a viewing terrace set even higher than the pool area. From here the views are truly breathtaking, sweeping down to the lake and sea, with the mountains as a dramatic backdrop. The pool measures 10 by 5 meters and runs from 1 meter deep at the shallow end to 2.4 meters at the deep end. There is a pool shower and a large terracotta tiled terrace around the pool, with 6 sun-beds and a large cane-shaded canopy. The pool features underwater lighting and the pool terraces can be floodlit at night, should you fancy a moonlight dip! The pool and pool terraces are for the sole use of clients and are utterly private and undisturbed. For families with young children, access to the pool via the gated entrance to the pool steps can be closed off if required.

The farmhouse and pool are set in 3 acres of private land amidst olive and almond groves, surrounded by vine-covered terraces and pretty gardens. The gardens are lush with a profusion of flowering and scented climbers as well as herbs and fruit trees including pomegranate, apricot and peach. Guests can help themselves to fruit from the fruit trees as well as lemongrass, mint, laurel and more from the well-stocked herb garden.

In all, there are more than 300 meters of tiled and gravel terraces and lots of wonderful places to relax in the sun or shade. There is plenty of terrace furniture, comfy sofas with masses of throw cushions, Moroccan tiled tables, cane and wicker chairs and rockers and all kinds of pretty, hidden corners in which to read a book, sip a chilled drink and get away from it all. For children (and adults!), the grounds are a treasure trove of natural splendor, with wildflowers, birds, butterflies and even, on one occasion, a wild tortoise! There is unlimited space for children to run about and virtually no traffic passing by, apart from the occasional horse-rider or herd of mountain goats.

Accommodation

La Amapola sleeps 6 in 3 double bedrooms each with double bed. There is a folding bed for an additional child and cot on request.

There is also a platform bed which can sleep 2 additional adults. This bed is reached by a vertical ladder and is therfore not suitable for young children, the elderly or infirm.

The house is fully equipped with washing machine; dishwasher; ceiling fans; wood-burning fireplaces; portable radiators; wall safe; built-in outdoor barbecue/kitchen; cool box. Plus: TV & Video; DVD; stereo; large collection of CDs; library of hundreds of books and films to suit all tastes and ages.

For children there’s library of books and films; Selection of board games; Cot and/or highchair on request.

Private swimming pool: 10 x 5m; 1-2.4m deep; serviced twice weekly; pool lighting; pool shower; pool and terrace furniture.

Services: Weekly linen change; towels provided; welcome pack and house book with local information provided on arrival; Optional weekly cleaning service can be provided upon request.

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