El Nobo

A wonderful B&B (or summer house rental for up to 12) with a heavenly pool: you feel like gods gazing down from Mt. Olympus

The view from El Nobo across the vast campo de Gibraltar to Morocco is awe-inspiring. Perched on a rocky hillside just outside pretty Gaucin, El Nobo was once a humble farm. Now it's a magnificent cortijo built around a Moorish-style courtyard leading to a terraced garden and a spectacular pool. From here the surrounding lawns melt into wild flower meadows, a tennis court and 11 acres of almond and citrus orchards. Sally von Meister has created a flamboyant and stylish home combining English antiques, chintz, Andalucian and Moroccan furnishings with great taste.

Stay in one of the 3 rooms in the main house or, for extra privacy, La Cancela, the spacious Casita. If you prefer to self-cater, an adjacent cottage and secluded villa are available for weekly rental. During the summer they also rent out the whole of El Nobo on an exclusive basis. Either way, it will be memorable and makes an ideal base for hiking and exploring Andalucia's white villages and the unspoilt beaches of the Costa de la Luz.

Highs

• The hillside swimming pool and Jacuzzi, with views to die for
• The rooms are full of character, spacious and feel very much like home
• Sally's delicious home cooking and wonderful garden (the roses are at their best in April/May)
• The tennis court and copious offerings of wine!
• The laid back atmosphere and friendly dogs, Rose, Buttie and Humphrey

Lows

• A car is essential as it's a difficult walk into Gaucin and the location is generally quite remote
• Be prepared for the abundant potholes on El Nobo’s winding drive - a well-trod old Roman road
• Not for those seeking the services of a hotel - this is a private home run as an upmarket B&B with a mildly eccentric English feel (which is also why we like it so much!)
• Steep terracing makes it unsuitable for toddlers