Cloud House Farm

Genalguacil 29492, Malaga, Spain; www.cloudhouse.es; +34 654242819

There are yurts and there are yurts – and as an experienced glamper (don’t remember the careers advisor ever listing that one!) Cloudhouse is in the “truly exceptional” bracket, paving the way for the new generation of UK glampers to warmer climes.

My kids have grown up cool camping and are as well accustomed to staying in tipis and yurts as they are under more the traditional forms of canvas and, er nylon. So, worried that they might declare being “yurted out” it was with slight trepidation that we hauled them onto a cheap flight to Seville in the early hours of a drizzly English June morning.

How wrong (thankfully) we were. From the moment our plane broke through the clouds to reveal the Spanish landscape below, the kids were excitedly yelling, “we can see Spain, where’s our yurt?”

Three hours after clambering into our frighteningly lime-green hire car we were sitting in the most beautiful garden of wildflowers outside our Cloud House yurt, drinking ice-cold “cerveza”.

I say three hours. It only takes about 2½, but we stopped at the fantastically old-fashioned “super-mercado” in the typically- whitewashed village of Algatocin. As well as the fresh melons, avocado, tomatoes, bread, wine and the all important ice (the yurt fridge is an ice-box) we could have bought the most fabulous terracotta crockery, if only our baggage allowance would have allowed. 

A note on driving in Andalucia – once you’ve got to grips with being “on the wrong side of the road” in a strange car, on mountain hairpins, it’s actually a dream. There’s so little traffic around and the views as you climb further up – then down, then up again, into the Rio Genal Valley – are outstanding.

We spent our time swimming in river pools, eating out under the stars, waking up to the sound of bird-song so piercing it seems un-real and eating the freshest, sweetest oranges you will have ever tasted.

Cloud House can be any accommodation you want it to be, because of its amazing – and remote - location. It’s an “outside the box” self-catering holiday, with acres of space to explore and play games in. It’s rustic outdoor living, with endless hiking opportunities. It’s a luxurious boutique retreat, with great eating experiences only 20 minutes drive away. It’s a place to blast out your fave ipod toons, or perhaps just meditate. Either way, however you use it, once you’ve been, you’ll wish you were there right now.

Cool Factor

A chic yurt set in its own Mediterranean garden, surrounded by olive groves – overlooking three “pueblos blancos” across the beautiful valley.

Who’s in?

Families, Couples, Honeymooners – yes.
Large groups - no.

Onsite fun

Hammock, rope-swings, swing-ball, platforms with deck-chairs, shaded by ancient cork oaks, olive, orange & lemon groves and stunning views. Total privacy. The yurt has wooden floors, a dream-tastically comfortable double bed, large chest of drawers, 2 single futons (for sitting or sleeping), a wood-burner, solar powered electrical sockets, bedside lamps and an ipod-dock. Outside is your dining area, shaded by a grapevine and bougainvillea. The wooden outdoors “kitchen” has running water (not for drinking), a gas hob, cool-box and all the utensils required for cooking breakfast right through to paella. And fresh herbs growing a plenty. Wander down a little track to your private wooden wash-room, with spotless traditionally tiled shower fed by a mountain spring – and a compost loo with a view to die for.

Offsite fun

The local village of Genalguacil (20 mins drive, or about a 45 minute walk up, up, up the valley) is home to an Arts Festival every two years, so its tiny little alleyways are full of pieces of sculpture and many of its white-washed walls painted with ultra-modern graffiti.

The local rivers Rio Genal and Rio Almarchal have several natural pools – perfect for swimming – especially in the heat of the day.

The historic hill-top town of Ronda is just over an hour’s drive away and if you need the coast, enjoy a mountain road drive to the sandy swathes of Estepona – about 1 hr away.

The damage           

£65 per night for 2 adults (including welcome pack). Kids under 4 free. Children aged 4 + extra £8 per night.

Open

June – October. Out of season by arrangement.