Sasosa

Lie back with drinks and tapas by the pool, immerse yourself in the silent beauty of Spain. Tucked into the mountainside with only the odd bird or goat for company, there is nowhere more relaxing in Almeria. The house is an authentically, beautifully modernised cortijo, with an ancient front door and a big cushioned veranda at the back. Inside is equally charming. A striped rug on old tiles; a decorative mirror on a whitewashed wall; shuttered windows to keep out the sun. The sitting/dining area is simple and open plan, with logs by the fire for winter stays. The kitchen is rustic Mediterranean, with all the basics – from small oven/grill to essential coffee maker – opening to the veranda with a super big table and a built-in barbecue. A double bedroom, and the house bathroom, are downstairs; the rest are up, each with a white draped bed beneath a dark cane ceiling, hanging shelves with rails and bedside tables. Tear yourself away – you can try! – for secluded coves, a big beach at Mojácar, and lovely authentic eateries in sleepy Bedar, 5km down the steep winding road.