Garden villa with lovely pool in green Andalucia valley near coast

There are also some stone paths which are not completely stable for people with reduced mobility. But then, as the photos show, there’s a main lawn that runs far and wide from the villa’s upper level, to boomerang round a palm-treed centrepiece before sweeping all the way back to the lower floor accommodation and the double circle of mother-and-daughter swimming pools.

It gives a dynamic feel to a perfectly peaceful property.

Indoors has a quirky, old-world feel to it. What once could have been a luxury home for wealthy owners, is now a house that mixes fantastic architectural design albeit with some dated and other modern features, in an eccentric combination.

Expect both new and outdated furniture mixed together; air conditioning and Wifi, yet quite a basic kitchen; some new and some downgraded beddings...

It has a huge, vaulted living and dining room, flanked in a split-level arrangement by a study and the kitchen.

The living area is flooded with natural light from an array of French windows and skylights. Long pink sofas, scattered deliberately with old-fashioned cushions, are an open invitation to repose and, off to one side, a study sitting room provides a writing desk.

The accommodation has large and very comfortable spaces, and the equipment is good: some people expect brand new facilities these days but this villa, with its remarkably vintage vibe, isn’t your typical Spanish villa.

The dining table seats six very comfortably and we estimated it sufficient for eight people to enjoy meals together.

Outside, looking out onto the gardens, there’s a covered, furnished dining space and a large sitting area, as well.

Downstairs on the lower level are three en suite bedrooms. A feature to note is that the baths and showers are designed to be open-plan with the sleeping areas, an arrangement that works nicely in the warm climate of this Mediterranean valley, but may come as a surprise at first. The WC is always a separate affair, of course.

Windows set high in the bedroom walls invite natural light to illuminate the interiors, which might affect late risers as they are not curtained like the lower windows.

We especially liked the privacy of this villa in its exuberant gardens and valley location. And the way you step down from the upper terrace to the lower garden, for example, under a perfect arch described by palm fronds.

The swimming pool is as big as it looks, and the adjoining children’s pool, also circular, is about 3 metres across.

There’s a hypermarket en route from the airport where you can stock up on shopping, and local shops 5 km away in Casares village. Even closer are a choice of country restaurants opening lunchtime and evenings.

The seaside is only 20 minutes away. Sandy beaches and Mediterranean marinas line up along coast at Estepona, while those who venture further west past Tarifa are rewarded with some of the very best beaches inSpain and the exciting Atlantic.

The area is a paradise for golfing enthusiasts. There are two dozen golf courses including the nearby Finca Cortesin, which is one the best in Europe. In 2012 it held the World Match Play Championship.