Luxury, tranquillity and golf…Almenara

Almenara is the highest point of Upper Sotogrande (or Sotogrande Alto) and commands magnificent views across golf courses and out to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and the shores of North Africa.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal areas, Almenara’s privileged position attracts those seeking peace and tranquillity, within easy reach of traditional Spanish villages such as Castellar and Guadiaro. Along with this comes all that Sotogrande has to offer: the shops, bars and restaurants in its cosmopolitan port, sandy beaches, polo fields, water sports, horse riding, a highly rated international school and, of course, golf. The world famous Valderrama course is close by, as are the La Reserva and San Roque golf courses, but Almenara has 27 holes of its own to entice golfers of all levels.

In fact, most of Almenara has been built around the golf course. It is an area that undoubtedly appeals to those who enjoy the sport and resultantly nearly all of the villas look out onto the green fairways, deep bunkers and the two lakes that form part of the course. Homes in the area are by definition luxurious, featuring architectural styling and positioning carefully planned to ensure optimum views from all angles. Stylistically, no one school of design predominates, resulting in a pleasant range of classical Andalusian, modern contemporary and also avant-garde villas.

The golf course itself was designed by British Ryder Cup champion Dave Thomas to resemble parkland, with cork and pine trees lining the long fairways. The large clubhouse features floor to ceiling windows that allow visitors to admire the view and watch players tackle the nearest holes. Almenara Golf’s academy boasts its own extensive driving range where those looking to improve their game can be videoed by professionals who will then analyse such details as swing, stance and position. The golf club is also home to a pitch and putt area, pro shop, deep bunker practice area, piano bar and fine dining restaurant.

Overlooking this fine domain is the luxury four-star NH Almenara Hotel. Its grand entrance and landscaped gardens hint tellingly at the opulence and comfort to be found inside, where 148 comfortable rooms and suites overlooking the course and Mediterranean await you after a challenging round of golf or day on the beach! The hotel has two bars, the contemporarily styled Pentagram within the main building and the Cucurucho Beach Club a short drive away on the seashore. Two restaurants offer some of the best dining in the area in the form of the international cuisine of Gala or the more informal atmosphere Veinteocho. The latter offers stunning views and a large terrace for alfresco pre-dinner drinks.

If you desire more pampering than putting, the hotel’s large outdoor lagoon pool is complemented by the Elysium spa where guests and visitors can book a whole range of innovative health and beauty treatments in one of the ten luxury cabins or experience their hydrothermal circuit and wellness club.

Almenara is the perfect antidote to the more hectic resorts on the Costa del Sol and has much to offer families and couples looking for a more tranquil, peaceful setting amid great amenities, complimented by easy access and truly magnificent views.

The photos that accompany this blog are from just one of our fantastic property listings in Almenara. Please contact us for more.