From Easter to New Year there are Fiestas celebrated in all of the villages around the lake, such as Alcaucin, Vinuela. Join in with the locals as they parade from village to village in their traditional Spanish costumes. Dancing in the streets and fireworks at night all add to the fantastic Andalucian atmosphere.
There are four local restaurants (including an Indian Restaurant with views from the outside terrace) all within a ten minute drive of the house. In the winter months it is only about an hours drive into the SIERRA TEJADA and SIERRA NEVADA mountains to take part in the APRES SKI. Drive up into the hills and find two beautiful restaurants in PERIANA and COMARES, great for a long languid lunch looking down on the lake!! There is a mini-market, restaurant, bar and a bakery in the village. GOLF Courses are available at BAVIERA GOLF(20 minutes) a beautiful course with sea, mountain and countryside views. ANORETA GOLF (25 minutes) just off the N340 motorway, a challenging course with tight fairways and water hazards. GRANADA and the ALHAMBRA PALACE are under two hours away and SEVILLE with its beautiful ancient buildings is only two hours away by a very easy motorway link. Fishing: Fishing on Lake Vinuela offers a quiet and relaxing environment with beautiful views of valleys and mountains. There are some areas where you can drive very close to the edge of the lake, and some jetties are available. No motorized sports are allowed on the lake, so there is little to disturb the tranquillity. Here you can catch mirror and common carp (up to about 8 lbs,) bass, eels and the ubiquitous terrapins. Walking:
There are numerous paths and tracks, offering spectacular views and the chance to enjoy the local wildlife. These tracks range from the easy stroll to the more physically demanding, and a guide can be provided if required.
Bird Watching:
Make sure you pack your binoculars! The area offers a variety of species from common pied wagtails to honey buzzards and eagles. Our local sparrow hawk patrols the territory close to the house, and in the summer., flocks of bee-eaters line up on the telephone wires. In the autumn, we witness hundreds of buzzards and eagles soaring over the house, to gather at a local rocky outcrop, before making the long flight down to Gibraltar and across to north Africa.
Painting and Photography
There are great opportunities for creating your very own bit of magical Andalucia to take home. Tranquil olive groves, ruins of old fincas, lakeside vistas, picturesque villages or soaring mountains. The choice is yours.
Cycling: Quad Biking and Kayaks on the Lake
The Spanish are a nation of cyclists, and the tracks around the lake and it's surrounding are perfect for mounting biking. Quad bikes are becoming very popular and Quads can be hired or you can join one of the local quad tours. You could take a kayak out on the lake for a few hours, a very nice way to have a look around the lake!!
Village Festivals
The village festivals, which start in May and continue throughout the summer are unique to Spain and are not for the faint hearted as they always continue well into the early hours of the morning with music and dancing for everyone from babies to grannies and grandpas. During the days there are lunch time festivals where you will often be offered food prepared by the local housewives, and in the afternoons the men like to show off their horse riding skills. All through the summer you will hear the festivities going on around you and because of our unique position you will be able to go down to the villages and take part or sit on our hill top and view from afar.
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