El Cancho

A wonderfully secluded beach house (sleeps 4-6) on a hillside in a natural park, with views across the straits to Morocco

Just 3km north of Tarifa, and a short stroll from the windswept beaches of the Atlantic, lies El Cancho - a contemporary pre-fab beach house on a grassy hillside, surrounded by rocky outcrops and pine forest. The house was originally designed for Milan’s Salon del Mobile (1998) by Swedish architect Thomas Sandell and Wallpaper*. It's a feat in compact living, although it sleeps 4-6 people (its smaller neighbour, Boston Beach House, is now set aside for the owners' use). The simple, open-plan setting suits young couples looking for a romantic hideaway, or groups of kitesurfing friends, thanks to the strong winds the area is famous for.

While the house may be a new build, this is a real back-to-nature experience with eco-friendly ideals: solar panels provide electricity for lighting and power, whilst gas heats water directly from the mountain spring. The local farmer still herds his goats around the hillside, so you may have the enchanting soundtrack of jingling goats' bells while you siesta. And you won't see a car - the house is a short walk (across a stream, then downhill) from the parking spot.

Highs

• The house is a comfortable distance from the hubbub of the main road and Tarifa town, but not completely cut off from civilisation
• You feel at one with nature, sharing the hillside with cows, goats, pigs, owls and swooping red kites
• Nothing beats a BBQ on the terrace as the sun goes down, along with the melody of goat bells in the distance
• There are kite and windsurfing beaches aplenty, and some of the most beautiful secluded bays in Europe are within a short drive
• The location affords total solitude and privacy - perfect for sunbathing on the terraces

Lows

• It's wholly dependent on natural energies, so without sunshine you may find yourself without power (but the owners promise "a limitless supply of tea lights and twinkling stars")
• On rare still nights, the traffic can be heard from the main road
• The open-plan sleeping arrangement might be off-putting for some, but it adds to the ‘glorified camping’ charm of the place
• The strong winds can be exhausting, but this is what many people travel to Tarifa for
• Access is via a slightly treacherous single-track road, with the last 30-100m on foot; a car is essential
• There's no air conditioning, but the wind is a natural fan
• Bear in mind the minimum stay of 7 nights from May to September