Santander holiday apartment rental, Santillana del Mar with walking, beach/lake nearby, internet access, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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El Chaparral 2 Bed Apartment (apartment)

Home description

Our property is over 100 years old and is located in the north of Spain on the unspoilt coastline of Cantabria. We sit on over 30 acres and, being perched high on a hill, we have uninterrupted views of the Cantabrian sea and surrounding area. We are a family of four, originally from Berkshire, England and live within the property.

We are close to the medieval town of Santillana del Mar and the Altamira National Museum which is considered to be one of Europes leading museums of prehistory. Santillana del Mar is a place where time and art come together. Centuries of fine stone working have resulted in a beautiful town in which the memory of the past remains clear. The town stands in a dip between rolling hills covered in green meadows and woodland, dotted with the ochre walls and red roof of farmhouses. As the stones shed their accumulated moisture the landscape is often shrouded in a dream-like mist.

El Chaparral	Kichen
Dining	Lounge

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/45713

The North Spanish Coast / Cantabria Province region

The tiny autonomous region of Cantabria in northern Spain is one of the Iberian Peninsula’s hidden jewels and largely overlooked by the mass market tourist industry. Most British holidaymakers arriving by ferry at the Cantabrian capital of Santander only catch a glimpse of this gorgeous region through the car window as they pass through en route to one of the costas.

The Cantabrian climate supports a breath taking array of landscapes ranging from spectacular mountains bedecked with flower-filled meadows to lush green valleys and dense forests which provide a safe haven for some of the country’s few remaining wild wolves and bears.

There are plenty superb sandy beaches which never suffer the over-crowding of Spain’s eastern and southern coastlines, hidden coves and pretty fishing villages to be found along the Cantabrian coastline. Fresh seafood (including locally caught lobster and clams) is prominent on local menus and there are some exceptional dining spots to be found in converted monasteries and palaces. The El Capricho restaurant in the medieval town of Comillas was a former summer residence of the Spanish royals. The intricately decorated building is one of the few outside Catalonia to be designed by the great Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.

Santander / Santillana del Mar area

The spectacular Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) mountain range, to the south west of us, is one of the best places in Spain for hiking, climbing and various other outdoor pursuits. And for those more interested in history and culture, Cantabria is a treasure trove of medieval villages, ancient monuments, grandiose architectural gems and well-preserved prehistoric cave paintings.

One of the region’s most precious assets is the Altamira Cave where huge multi-coloured paintings dating back 15,000 years adorn the ceiling. Access to the cave is severely restricted these days but you can see a recreation of the paintings at the Altamira National Museum which is only a 15 minute walk from us.

The Cabarceno Nature Reserve, forty five minutes drive from us, is one of Cantabria’s top visitor attractions with its safari park where endangered exotic creatures from five continents roam semi-wild. The park is home to more than 500 species including elephants, leopards, bears, lions and kangaroos.

How to get there

Getting here couldn't be easier. We are only a simple 40 minute drive from Santander airport and ferry port. Bilbao is also within easy reach. Ryanair provide cheap daily flights from London Stanstead and Liverpool to Santander. Easyjet also fly daily from Stanstead to Bilbao. Car hire and pick-up is provided at both airports. If you wish to bring your own car (or hate flying) Brittany Ferries sail between Plymouth and Santander twice a week. P&O and AT Ferries also provide a twice weekly service between Portsmouth and Bilbao.

Activities near Santander

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Our two bedroom apartment has it's own ground floor external entrance and consists of two double bedrooms, lounge, kitchen including four ring hob, oven, microwave, fridge and washing machine and bathroom with bath/shower. All linen and towels are provided. All linen, towels and cleaning products are provided free of charge. A child's cot and high chair can also be provided at no extra cost.

Further details outdoors:
Whatever your level, beginner or expert, Cantabria offers a wide range of either on-road or off-road cycling. For those in search of steep trails and wild off-road routes the Picos de Europa mountain range is only an hour away. Local to us you will find traffic free trails suitable for all ages and abilities. We can provide a safe place for your bike, cleaning facilities, general tools and, for adventurous couples, a Cannondale mountain bike tandem to explore the local trails with.

For those wishing to improve their Spanish language we can organise private tuition for all ages.

If you’re considering a more permanent move to Cantabria we can provide advice about such things as residency, employment, property purchase, health care, etc. We can also help by providing introductions to local English speaking builders, architects, estate agents, independent solicitors and council representatives. Please phone for more details.

Further details

Babysitting 10€ Per Hour, Spanish lessons 25€ Per Hour, Santander airport pick up/drop off 50€, Santander Ferry pick up/drop off 50€, Bilbao airport pick up/drop off 100€, Bilbao Ferry pick up/drop off 100€. Relocation service (Please phone).

Conditions

We require a 50% deposit on confirmation with the balance due four weeks before arrival. A refundable damage deposit is required on arrival. Payment by bank transfer or cash only. A charge of 35€ will be incurred if an apartment is not cleaned before departure.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Low	1 Dec 08	1 Jan 09	350£ 294	5042	5042	Flexible
Low	1 Jan 09	10 Apr 09	420£ 353	6050	6050	Flexible
High	10 Apr 09	20 Apr 09	805£ 676	11597	11597	Flexible
Low	20 Apr 09	23 May 09	420£ 353	6050	6050	Flexible
Medium	23 May 09	27 Jun 09	595£ 500	8571	8571	Flexible
High	27 Jun 09	7 Sep 09	805£ 676	11597	11597	Flexible
Low	7 Sep 09	1 Jan 10	420£ 353	6050	6050	Flexible

The owner's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.

We require a 50% deposit on confirmation with the balance due four weeks before arrival. A refundable damage deposit is required on arrival. Payment by bank transfer or cash only. A charge of 35€ will be incurred if the apartment is not cleaned before departure. Cleaning products are provided free of charge.

Guestbook

“Cosy and well-equipped with everything you could possibly need. The location is outstanding; peaceful and scenic but easily accessible. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone and we plan on returning ourselves in the coming year.”

“Our family visited El Chaparral last year at Easter time for a one week break. On arrival at the house we were greeted and given a warm welcome by our hosts. The Casa accommodation we had booked was every bit as delightful as we had hoped. It was homely, tastefully furnished, well equipped and had everything we wanted for a weeks stay, as well as being warm (important as the weather was mixed for our week). During our stay we had numerous chats with our hosts and nothing was too much trouble and our host's local knowledge and information about Spain enhanced the quality of our stay. 'Out and about' we tended to visit the numerous beaches of the area, spending our time surfing and walking. We were happy to self cater and generally chill out amongst ourselves. Our stay was memorable and we would certainly recommend this accommodation to anyone who wants to explore this really beautiful part of Spain.”

“We enjoyed a wonderful week exploring the magnificent coast, charming old towns and spectacular mountains. The location is green and quiet but very accessible and the accommodation is stylish and comfortable. Robert, Becky and the children are welcoming hosts and excellent neighbours.”

“We had a brilliant holiday, the owners and their children were so welcoming and friendly. The accommodation was modern, clean and very comfortable. Cantabria has everything, from fabulous beaches, some very close to the property, to rugged scenery. The area is ideal for walkers or cyclists or for just touring by car. Must see places to visit include Santillana and Potes and a ride on the cable car at Fuente De is unmissable.”

“We stayed in the two bedroom apartment in July/August 2007, a family of three with a two and a half year old daughter. The location of the farmhouse is stunning, in its own grounds with a view to the sea in the distance. The property is easy to find just at the top of the hill going west from Santillana. The property was very clean and modern, almost like walking straight into a room setting at IKEA! The layout of the property is ideal for a holiday let - open plan kitchen/living room/diner, with bathrooms and bedrooms off. The property is surrounded by farmland and is therefore really quiet. Rob and Becky were on hand to provide any help needed and for friendly chats and advice about what to do in the area, including advice on beaches, how to get to the Hypermarket, etc. We had no problems at all - the only thing I needed was with the TV remote control! There are loads of beaches nearby and plenty of lovely small towns to explore, such as San Vicente and Comillas (fantastic artisan ice crams in the little town square). The magnificent Picos De Europa Mountains are only just over an hour away - the cable car from Fuente De is amazing, and another good trip is the funicular railway inside the mountain to Bulnes. The Cares Gorge walk is also a must for hikers. The city of Santander is also worth a visit. The location is ideal if you are coming over on Brittany Ferries from Plymouth, as it's only a 30 min drive from the port. Cantabria is probably Spain's best kept secret, as there is so much to see and do and the beaches really are wonderful. The sea is not as warm as the med but you can get proper waves for surfers if you are into that sort of thing. It is also really child friendly too. To sum up - a great place to stay in a great part of Spain.”

“We had a wonderful time on our first visit to northern Spain. This accommodation exceeded our expectations. It is very tastefully furnished and has absolutely every thing you need to self cater, like home from home. Robert and Becky couldn't have been more welcoming and helpful during our stay. The surrounding area is beautiful with many interesting places to visit. We would certainly visit again.”

“Immaculately clean, nicely furnished and comfortable apartment. Very attractive and uncrowded coastline. Friendly and helpful hosts. Recommended.”

Availability

See below for next 6 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/45713

Contact details for home 45713 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Robert Williams
Fax:	+34 9 942716294
Mobile:	+34 6 05675176
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Advertiser joined: 8 Feb 2007 This property added: 7 Jan 2008

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