Gandia Vacation Home for Rent

Discover the beautiful Valencian walking countryside with our illustrated self-guided walks. The area offers breathtaking views and stunning scenery. Based just 5kms from the cosmopolitan city of Gandia and 17 sandy beaches, Valencia walking accommodation is in a traditional newly renovated Valencian townhouse, which will sleep 4. (http://www.valenciaholiday.iowners.net) and is in a quiet area in the historic part of Palma de Gandia (http://www.palmadegandia.org/PagPueblo.htm) a small pueblo sheltering under the la Safor mountains and surrounded by orange groves which stretch down to the sea.

Ideally placed to discover the many National Parks and Nature Reserves of the Valencian walking countryside: the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), the Costa Blanca areas and the inland sierras around the Alcoy, Bocairent and Quadratonda areas.

You will discover rugged mountain ridges, craggy limestone peaks and pinnicles, deep gorges, and soft sandstone ranges. Other walks will take into fertile valleys, paddy fields, orange and olive groves and the history of Spain will enfold before your eyes: pre-historic caves, snow wells (neveras), old medieval forts, deserted towns and Arab castles. You will not be disappointed.

There are short strolls to 5hr hikes so there is something for everyone’s ability.

These self guided walks will allow you the unique opportunity to explore these landscapes and experience the Spain long forgotten.

Where the sun shines 300 days of the year this is an incredibly green region and sustains a variety of wildlife, flora and fauna.

If you get tired of walking the nearest beach is 5kms away where you can rest or perhaps a bit of sightseeing – there is plenty to history for you to take in and Valencia is only 40 minutes away on the train.

Some walks will pass through nature reserves where buzzards, kestrels, peregrines and griffon vultures can be seen. Wild boar, lynx, rabbits, hares and the odd wandering group of goats and sheep roam and geckos lay out on open ground sunning themselves. In spring, the area is heady with the exotic aroma of orange and almond blossom: herbs – lavender, rosemary and thyme – and wild orchids, broom, foxgloves and poppies and ferns hide in the fissures of the limestone. In the autumn the green leaves of the trees show their amazing vibrant colours with low lying scrub such as hornthorn, juniper and wild roses display their berries.

If you get tired or want a change, the beach is only 5kms away. Valencia is just 40 minutes on the train where you can do a self-guided walk around the city sights or be part of the café culture and take in some museums and art galleries. There are plenty of Theme Parks and Safari Parks to entertain you.

With lots of illustrated walks, most paths are clearly waymarked: PRV or GR routes - others are following the old Arab or Mozarabic trails which zig zags across the countryside.

The easy strolls are often short but may be a little steep in short sections. The moderate walks are more demanding and are for experienced fell walkers. The very difficult walks are often poorly waymarked where you will have to have a good sense of direction: are often high level walking footpaths and screes and which are for experienced mountain walkers.

When can you walk? Anytime! However, we recommend autumn, winter and spring being the best times: with the summer months being very hot so if you do contemplate this time of year, it is advisable to get on the hills or mountains early in the morning, take plenty of water, and aim to finish your walk at lunchtime.

We are sure you will enjoy this stunning part of Spain and if you would like to learn more about the Valencian countryside, click onto http://www.valenciawalking.iowners.net


THE COSTA DEL AZAHAR (ORANGE BLOSSOM COAST)

Self-Contained Holiday Rental – Sleeps 4

GANDIA 5km & over 17km of Blue Flag Beaches

If you have been hankering after the “real Spain” – you won’t be disappointed. The small pueblo of Palma de Gandia (known locally as Palma http://www.palmadegandia.org/PagPueblo.htm) is sheltered by the Safor Mountains and is almost surrounded by orange groves that stretch down to the sea and was featured on Channel 4 A Place in the Sun. You will be charmed by the authentic Valencian holiday home with its traditional vaulted beam ceilings and Valencian features which has been tastefully converted for modern day living – a home from home. Casa Ana is in a small quiet cul-de-sac of 4 other Spanish owned properties in the historic or Moorish part of town where narrow winding lanes and quaint passageways criss cross with small squares and shady parks. For more details click onto our web site http://www.valenciaholiday.iowners.net

The traditional Valencian door has shuttered glass windows and decorated ironwork rajas’ and opens onto a spacious open plan L shaped living area. Near the doorway is a casual seating area where you can sit in the summer and catch the cool breeze. A formal dining area has seating for 4. A second sitting area with comfortable settees and chairs has a TV/DVD/CD player and a cast iron electric fire. For chilly evenings there is a reverse air conditioning unit, electric heaters and a large portable gas fire.

2 bedrooms (1 double with ceiling fan and 1 twin with fan and of course air con in the main living area) each bedroom has a large floor to ceiling wardrobe and cupboards and window shutters to keep out the sun in the summer. The modern bathroom is fully tiled with vanity unit, wc, bath and shower. With seating for 4, the kitchen/diner has new kitchen units and appliances and opens onto the patio. This high walled private area has a southerly aspect and there are small shrubs and trees, garden furniture and gas bbq for al fresco dining.

Just seconds away brings you to the small Plaza de la Vella where Rosa and Jose have their bakery - ideal for your warm bread in the morning and not far to go! There is also a hairdresser and a public telephone box in the plaza and just round the corner is the butcher and a small supermarket and an English speaking Pharmacist. Nearby you will find “Bar Palma” where you can eat delicious home cooked food in the evening. There are various tapas bars in the town an English bar and a Chinese takeaway. Just 15 minutes stroll brings you to the restaurant “Aventura” where Moma has an excellent menu of home cooked food and delicious square pizzas. All the food is very reasonably priced. To complete your holiday, you should not miss the Viva Espana restaurant on the Gandia to Oliva road. At weekends there are excellent flamenco floorshows and Lipizzan horse exhibitions, however, its advisable to book. The food is excellent and we can certainly recommend the paella.

In the evening there are some lovely walks through the shady orange groves or you can meander along the town’s old narrow lanes down to the river. Nearby there is river and sea fishing and the town’s open air swimming pool is open in the summer months but the big pool is next to the sandy beach 5kms away.