Buy an idyllic haven

The views from the upper terraces are astounding as you peer through the Moroccan-shaped windows and into the glaring sun. You feel like a prince in a mountain palace observing your kingdom, the valley stretching endlessly before you and the hills dotted with whitewashed farmhouses.

You turn around and see the room you are in is adorned with North African carpets and decorations, making you feel relaxed and inspired. Soon you drift into a deep sleep on the verandah after a cool swim in the pool.

This could be a typical day in your life if you decide to move in to El Molino del Carmen in Gaucin.

The rare four-storey relic, considered to be one of the pearls of the countryside property market, is currently being sold at a reasonable price by its owner for personal reasons. The former olive mill has since been converted into six separate apartments with a total of 10 bedrooms. The largest apartment (135m2) is currently the home of the owner while the rest are booked out as self-catering holiday apartments with many return visitors who are attracted by the area's relaxed appeal.

The present proprietor, Darryl Laurin, a Canadian who came to live in Andalusia 20 years ago, has resided in El Molino since 2000 and by renting the remaining five apartments for self-catering holidays, avoids the hassles of providing daily catering, cleaning etc.

That allowed Darryl to lead an everyday life as described above but without any of the discomfort that might be associated with a rural existence. "I came here to escape from a Costa del Sol getting crowded with developments and found the lifestyle here in Gaucin to be very civilized and with a quality of life that exceeds that of other parts of the world," said Darryl.

Having fallen in love with the area when he arrived, Darryl quickly made friends and felt quite at home here. It was only the sad passing away of his wife after a long battle against cancer that is now forcing him to sell up and leave.

"Gaucin has unique topographical features," says Darryl. "This is a prime place for walking, cycling and socialising and unlike some areas, has year-round community life. The great infrastructure, multi-faceted environment and cultural events make this a special place in which to take roots."

The Molino has been the frequent haunt of lawyers, businessmen and professional couples with the tendency being for them to settle in pretty quickly into the relaxed lifestyle. And with the amount of restaurants, local bars. and other entertainment available in the town, there is never any shortage of evening entertainment.

The Molino itself is a labyrinth to behold and discover, with its hanging gardens, swimming pool and terraces. Its history is also compelling.

El Molino was bought by the previous owner as a ruin in 1984 and was finally opened as an hotel in 1988. Over the course of years, it has been featured in many UK magazines and travel journals. The BBC used El Molino as a location for a TV programme in the early 1990s. Canada's largest circulation newspaper, ‘The Globe and Mail', did a full-page feature based out of the Molino in 2003 and it has been photographed and painted numerous times.

For those not familiar with Gaucín, it is one of the famous Andalusian ‘white villages'. It lies 620 metres above sea level, perched in the saddle of a mountain with stunning views down to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and the Riff mountains of Morocco. It is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Serranía de Ronda. It is within easy reach of several airports: Malaga (90 minutes), Gibraltar (45 minutes), Jerez (90 minutes) and Seville (two and a half hours). Also, it is only 30 minutes' drive from the beaches and many golf courses on the Costa del Sol. And at 1.5 million euros the property is also a great investment, especially as the recent town plan has stopped building in the Gaucin municipal area. "It is going to be very, very difficult to get planning permission here in the future. This property is probably one of the last opportunities anyone will have of acquiring a large hotel-style building in this area," said Darryl. The whole property has already been valued at close to 1.8 million, but as the owner wants a quick sale, he has put the value down and included all furniture (except in the owner's apartment). Mortgages are also available on 80 per cent of the cost at Spanish banks.

If anyone is interested in seeing El Molino, they can contact Darryl Laurin on 952151277 email him on info@molinodelcarmen.com or visit www.gaucinhotel.com.