During the Summer months there is an open-air disco every weekend, supplementing the other Saturday night disco which flourishes for the whole year. Sorbas is not a town for "ravers", however. As yet it is totally free of lager louts and we hope it may long remain so. Those of our guests who venture into town will find themselves most welcome, though no-one speaks much English.

We recommend two bars in which it is possible to eat a typical Spanish evening meal for a very reasonable price. Neither can accommodate more than a dozen or so guests without prior notice but either can provide a paella for up to 40 with sufficient warning. There is one excellent restaurant in Sorbas and there are others within easy driving distance.

TABERNAS

From Almería city there is a motorway all the way to Granada, A92. 20 minutes this side of Almería city is the junction for both Sorbas and Tabernas.

The town itself is not renowned for anything except its castle, perhaps recognisable as having been used in the film El Cid, but all around lie the Tabernas Bad Lands, the "lunar landscape" of so many spaghetti westerns.

The film sets of these and many more films still survive and can be visited. One can wander down streets evocative of The Good the Bad and the Ugly and a Fistful of Dollars.

One can eat lunch in the Bonanza Ranch and explore the Temple of Doom. Some of the machines featured in Mad Max 2 are on view alongside stage coaches.

MOJÁCAR

This is rather prettier and perhaps a little more up-market than Benidorm, but is basically a foreign dominated Playa with English bars and lots of souvenirs. 53800c5f-59e0-4884-96c4-60e427eb1ae0

NÍJAR

Coming directly from Almería airport on motorway E15 towards Sorbas, one bypasses this ancient town, which is worth a visit to admire, if not to purchase, the woven rugs and blankets.

In our opinion the pottery made in Nijar is not as good as that of Sorbas, but the town is a centre for ceramics from the whole of Andalusia and somebody looking for a really Spanish keepsake that is not a raffia donkey will surely find something to their taste here.

CABO DE GATA

The small sea-side town of Cabo de Gata is little visited by foreigners and has little to specially recommend it, but it is within the National Park, near in importance to Doñana as a home for water birds, including flamingoes (see our section on ornithology).

A huge salt mountain dominates one end of the salt flats making one wonder why sea-salt is so expensive. The rest of the coast-line consists of astounding cliffs and unspoilt beaches. Geologists and geomorphologists come to see the volcanics and usually finish up enjoying a swim!

CARBONERAS

The fishing port has recently been extended. With its gypsum processing plant and coal-fired power station, this is now quite a thriving town. It still boasts the best fish in the Mediterranean and is the place to sample sardines, squids, prawns, mussels etc. straight from the sea.

ALMERÍA

The provincial capital is worth a day's visit to appreciate the Moorish Alcazaba, the Cathedral and the many other fine buildings. It is also worth looking for good quality leather shoes, which are very much cheaper than in England.

GRANADA

The Alhambra Palace needs no recommendation from us. Thanks to the new motorway Granada is now only 2 hours' drive away.