El Limonero
GUALCHOS, GRANADA
A charming, characterful and established licensed Bed & Breakfast business in the hills above the Costa Tropical with sea views.
VIDEO
EL LIMONERO, PLAZA DE CONSTITUCIÓN, GUALCHOS
€439,000
511 m2 Built Area
435 m2 Plot Area
4 lovely Guest Bedrooms/Suites, all with ensuite bathrooms
Beautiful private owner’s apartment with terraces and garden
Guest Dining Room
Guest Kitchen
Several sitting/living areas
Patio
Large Guest Roof Terrace with mountain and sea views
Ibiza-style covered outdoor living room with sea views
Plenty of storage
Heating/Air-Conditioning
Open fire
9.7 Booking.com rating
Furnished
It’s not often that a property comes as a really unexpected surprise that excites and delights. This lovely village Bed & Breakfast business is one such property, tucked away in a corner of the main square in an equally delightful village. Gualchos is a relatively undiscovered jewel that sits on the hillside above the Costa Tropical and the beaches of Castell de Ferro (part of the municipality). From this elevated position, there are tantalising glimpses of the sparkling sea and as a backdrop the mountains begin their ascent towards the Alpujarras and the Sierra Nevada beyond.
The property was once part of a much larger coaching inn, and it has only recently been sensitively and thoroughly restored with great attention to detail and an obvious desire to maintain the integrity of the building’s history. Inside, every room has its own character that has only been enhanced by the renovation. Every inch of space has been used to create very comfortable accommodation, storage, sheltered outdoor areas and sitting areas that are tranquil and calming.
Roof terraces are generous and afford wonderful views in all directions; there are frequent tempting flashes of turquoise sea through windows and over rooftops.
Guest Accommodation
Ground Floor
The main front door opens into a very welcoming reception area with a seating area and space for the guests’ honesty bar. To one side of this reception area there is a kitchen for guests’ use; a welcome addition for those guests who do fancy preparing a light lunch or supper. Behind the kitchen there is a large walk-in laundry room and storage area.
From the reception, an inner hall leads to the guests’ dining room, used primarily in the winter months. There is an understairs area that houses a refrigerator and space for breakfast accoutrements. A door at the rear opens onto a pretty patio and stairs to the first of the roof terraces.
First Floor
Stairs leads from the reception hall to the main first floor where there are two guest suites.
Guest Room 1 is at the front of the house and has a double bedroom with adjacent sitting area (day bed), and ensuite bathroom (full bath) and a large wardrobe.
Guest Room 2 is at the rear of the house and has a large bedroom with double doors to a sweet balcony overlooking the patio, an adjacent sitting room (with day bed) and ensuite bathroom (full bath). Outside the bedroom there is a day room with table and chairs for breakfast.
From the first floor landing, there is a staircase up to a delightful and capacious summer living room - a covered area that used to be where previous owners would dry their garden produce. Now, the space has been restored to provide a Mediterranean-style verandah with chill-out sofas and views of both the village square and the sea.
From the patio at the rear of the house, there is access to:
Guest Room 3. This is the smallest of the guest rooms, but it is no less characterful. A generous bedroom with ensuite bathroom and large wardrobe. The scent of jasmine and lemon blossom drifts through the door and window.
The patio has a door into a large workshop/store room, and there is a smaller understairs cupboard. Double doors provide one route into the owner’s apartment, and a flight of stairs lead up to the main guest roof terraces.
Guest Room 4 has a door from the first of the terraces and this is a lovely suite with exposed timber beams and a really rich character. Ensuite bathroom and large wardrobe.
Owner’s Apartment
As well as the doors from the central patio, the apartment has its own private access from a neighbouring street. On its own, this is a lovely property and it certainly doesn’t feel like an apartment; it still feels an integral part of the property as a whole, despite the privacy it affords.
Entrance hall.
Kitchen/Breakfast Room. For the keen cook, this space is a dream with hand-built kitchen units, recycled timber door and cupboard fronts, a large range cooker and a deep larder. A step leads up to a breakfast area. Sunny, bright and peaceful. Double doors open onto the private terrace at the back, and from here there are steps down to two lovely private garden areas. There would be space to install a hot tub here, if required.
The sitting room is lovely - a cosy hideaway with an open fire and door onto the terrace; a haven away from the business side of the property.
In summary, for anyone looking for a tourism business in an undiscovered corner of Andalucia, only 13 minutes’ drive from the beach, in an area rich in hiking and cycling routes and nestled on the side of the mountains that rise from the coast, this is ideal. You can collect the keys and start generating income from day one in a property that exudes comfort and homeliness with a significant nod to the building’s past.
More useful information about Gualchos below ⬇️
LOCATION
GUALCHOS
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT GUALCHOS
The municipality, which includes the beach town of Castell de Ferro, has about 2,500 residents. The village of Gualchos itself has 433 residents. It is, therefore, a relatively quiet village for its location, so close to the coast. It's for this reason that a moderate population of non-spanish people have bought houses there. We would say that the village is predominantly Spanish and most of the residents have been born and brought up there. There is a very healthy community spirit.
The drive from the coast (Castell de Ferro) or the motorway takes you up a windy but well maintained tarmac road. We have timed it and, as long as you are not stuck behind a tractor, it will take you 13 minutes to reach the village.
The village layout is very traditional, meaning that driving into the centre is not advised! Parking in the main square is not possible although dropping off is allowed and some of the roads leading to the centre are very narrow. In our opinion, this is part of the charm of these traditional Spanish villages. The Town hall has provided a number of easily accessible and large car parks all within easy walking distance of the main square. There is never a problem parking, even in the height of Summer.
The view from Gualchos to the sea is stunning! One of the main forms of employment in this area is farming, mainly centred around the fruit and vegetables grown in poly tunnels. Although not nearly as visible as they are further along the coast towards Almeria, some poly tunnels are visible from the village and, in our opinion, do not mar the view at all but for some this may be a consideration. It's important to remember that this method of farming is one of the primary sources of income and employment in the area.
Gualchos is very popular with cyclists. There are fantastic cycling routes right up into the Sierra Nevada mountains (which you can see from the village too) and if you were thinking of buying a property for an investment, cycle tourism would be an increasingly valuable sector to tap into.
The village has a Coviran supermarket in the main square, along with two bars and a pensioners' club. We have eaten and enjoyed a few beers in Bar La Plaza; it’s a hub of activity for locals and tourists alike.
In summary, Gualchos is a traditional hill village but very close to the beach and all the cosmopolitan benefits that the beach provides. It's a safe haven from the hustle and bustle of a resort but close enough to be part of it if you want.
Gualchos - Castell de Ferro (beach) - 13 minutes
Gualchos - Motril - 30 mins (bus and taxis available)
Gualchos - Malaga - 1hr 30 mins
Gualchos - Almeria Airport 1hr 15 mins
The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) Website: https://www.gualchos.es/