Tarifa Shepherd's Lodge

Rooms

The main space is open-plan, with a living-dining area at the front and a nook with a double bed at the back. In the middle is a small but very well-equipped kitchen, and down a few steps to the right is a kids' bedroom with three bunk beds. It’s simple but cosy and well looked after. Décor is in keeping with the simplistic, contemporary vibe - you wouldn’t want much distraction from the stunning landscapes outside every window.

You’ll likely be spending most of your time outdoors, where there’s a shaded terrace with that all-important view. At the side of the house, a private plunge pool overlooks the glittering sea.

Features include:

• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Plunge pool
• Terrace/balcony
• WiFi

Eating

The house is completely self-catered and, while the kitchen isn't sophisticated, we wanted for nothing the entire week. There's a fridge-freezer, gas hob, blender, and all the necessary cooking implements and crockery. You'll also find a few basics such as salt, pepper, oil and washing-up liquid, plus a bottle of wine for guests booking through i-escape.

We cooked virtually everything on the fantastic gas BBQ on our terrace - from pork and sausages over the flames, to chilli prawns and asparagus on the hot plate. Our fondest memories are of dinners outside under the stars, sitting on huge floor cushions at a table adorned with candles. There's also an indoor table for rare rainy days. 

The food market in Tarifa’s Old Town is wonderful for fresh fish, meat and vegetables, and there are a couple of supermarkets on the road into town. There’s also a lively bar and restaurant scene both in Tarifa and along the main road (the owner will give you a list of recommendations). The nearest restaurant is at Hurricane Hotel, located on the main road at the turning to the house, around 800m away. In the Old Town, we loved Anca Curro, a tiny but famous tapas bar. Also worth trying is vegetarian restaurant Chilimosa, while friendly bar and grill Vaca Loca (‘Mad Cow’) is perfect for committed carnivores. Wherever you choose to eat, look out for local tuna on the menus (try it raw) - this stretch of coast is famous for the Almadraba tuna catch.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Tarifa is a mecca for kite and windsurfers from all over the world, and surf schools can be found along the beaches; Valdevaqueros is one of the best
• Keen bird-watchers need step no further than the terrace. The house sits directly under one of the most important bird migration routes between Europe and Africa, and from October to June you'll see flocks of white storks, black storks, lesser kestrels, short-toed eagles, Egyptian vultures, sparrowhawks, red and black kites, marsh and Montagu's harriers, ospreys, buzzards, booted eagles and more
• Go hiking: the house is within a natural park, so you can set off on foot for wonderful walks and breathtaking views. A small path takes you to a headland looking out over beaches in both directions - stunning at sunrise and sunset
• Venture north towards Punta Paloma and Bolonia and you'll be able to walk to some gorgeous secluded sandy coves. In Bolonia, allow time to visit Baelo Claudia: spectacular Roman ruins right on the beach
• From Tarifa, you can book deep-sea fishing, whale watching, or horse-riding along the beach
• Have a round of golf: there's a course near Vejer de la Frontera (approximately 25 minutes' drive)
• Visit Africa for the day! The ferry from Tarifa to Tangier takes just over an hour, so you can pop over to go bargain hunting in the souks

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kitesurfing
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Whale watching
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children are welcome and will love the beach, the space and the local animals. Our three-year old kept asking to go back, partly lured by the cosy cubbyhole beds and the Lego!

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

There are bunk beds for three children.

Cots Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The house is 3km north of Tarifa town, on the southern tip of Spain. It is set above Playa de los Lances and Playa de Valdevaqueros, with views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. 

By Air:
The nearest airports are Gibraltar (50km / 1-hour away), Jerez (80km / 1.5 hours away) and Málaga (150km / 2-hours away).

From the Airport:
The house is off the beaten track, so you'll want to hire a car to get here and get around.