BACK in 1998, when our daughter was a toddler of 18 months, we decided we needed a break from the long drawn out winter of Denmark to rejuvenate our souls with some southern winter sunshine.

Ryanair wasn't quite so prolific then, but we managed a flight from Billund to Madrid and, using public transport and backpacks, leisurely made our way south to the Costa del Sol for a holiday.

Back home in Denmark, it was a cold January and we were coming home one night when we realised that not being able to go into a bar or restaurant with our daughter wasn't quite the lifestyle we wanted.

First, we moved to La Cala, which was the perfect starting point for a new life in Spain, but it wasn't Espana.

During weekends and holidays spent camping in the Guadiaro Valley we often stopped for a drink in the bar opposite the railway station in Jimera de Libar.

Shortly after that, we closed down the bar we had in La Cala and promised ourselves a few years away from the bar trade.

That was until that very bar in Jimera became available! A points system helped the decision and, against our expectations, we got the place.

We'd run a bar before but this was different as 90 per cent of the clientele was Spanish. By experimenting we became a rural Spanish cafeteria with a few quirks.

Living in this valley is different from all other experiences, being half an hour away from supermarkets, with banks that close early and always having to check how much fuel there is in the car. But then you see the place!

Both sides of the valley are defined by mountain ranges that are simply stunning.

While you can't walk just anywhere, there are plenty of paths and tracks to explore and, when you ascend to the peak of one of the mountains, the views are amazing. Crisp, clear days allow you to appreciate the closeness of Africa and views north towards Olvera are breathtaking.

We have mainly been exploring on foot but there are plenty of other ways around. Riders of the lost trail in Cortes will get you motorized. We are looking to get on our bikes this autumn and enjoy sparse traffic that we have.

One of the other simple pleasures we have is free swimming. Being the part of Spain with the highest amount of rainfall, there is running water all year round and many places to swim for free. The ice cold Cueva Del Gato pool is favourite picnic spot and all the way down th river there are places to enjoy the refreshing water.

The nature in this valley is a joy to behold and if you are armed with GPS, www.wikiloc.com or www.groundspeak.com will supply you with routes to follow and coordinates to go geo-caching.

Outdoor pursuits play a big part in our life here, to the extent that we started guided walks and organized trips.

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From Bilund With Backpack
Sunday, 29 August 2010
BACK in 1998, when our daughter was a toddler of 18 months, we decided we needed a break from the long drawn out winter of Denmark to rejuvenate...

© 2012 - Secret Andalucia - Guadiaro Valley, near Ronda

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