...The Location

Cool Sierras is based at the Cortijo Los Tolmos; nestled in the lap of the "Penon de Los Tolmos" the cortijo commands a prominant location (1100m a.s.l) overlooking the Wheat fields of "Campo de San Juan" and the gorge of the "Rio Alharabe" in the head waters of the Rio Segura.  The border region of Murcia, Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha

Dominated by an imposing rock stack of some 70m, Los Tolmos occupies 80 acres of pristine mountain side.  Walnut, Almonds and Olives grow on the terraces and Apples, Grapes, and Fig Trees thrive in the soft fruit orchard. The cool, fresh mountain spring water runs along ancient irrigation channels to make sure the crops are watered and the thirst quenched.  Circled by Golden Eagles, Los Tolmos shows evidence of human habitation since neolithic times.  It's not hard to understand why.

A protected sanctuary for both flora and fauna, Los Tolmos has cared for its inhabitants for millenia.  The earliest Iberians settled here, with traces of a permanent community all around.  The abundance of nearby Iberian rock art dating back some 8,000-10,000 years gives the area an atmosphere of continutiy and persistance; unchangeing for thousands of years.  The drawings depict people hunting deer and boar, bee-keeping, farming the land, socialising. Still essential ingredients of the local culture.

The slopes of Los Tolmos are blanketed with spanish oaks, and wild orchids and flowers and whilst rare, wild mountain Deer have been seen leaping around the rocks.  A very special place.

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