Casa El Balcon

Standing in the grounds of an organic fruit farm, this detached house is perfect for keen walkers and those simply seeking a peaceful base from which to explore the diverse landscapes and traditional towns and villages of northern Gran Canaria. The surrounding farming estate, Finca Ayala, covers approximately 50,000 square metres, most of which are used for the cultivation of orange, lemon and grapefruit trees, but there are also plums, peaches, avocados and almonds, and a stroll though the estate is particularly rewarding when the latter are in bloom.

Built in the early 1800s for the farm's steward, Casa El Balcon stands in an elevated position in the centre of the estate, so that he could survey most of the land from the wooden balcony on the upper floor from which the house takes its name. Although carefully restored and modernised in 2011, the house retains all its old-world charm, with its thick, rough-plastered walls, wooden ceilings and a handsome hipped roof. You enter directly into the homely living-dining room with two sofas, satellite TV (limited English-language channels), a CD player and a dining table for six people. The small kitchen is separate and equipped with a fridge-freezer, four-ring ceramic hob, microwave, toaster and coffeemaker, and a washing machine is provided in the downstairs shower room, which has been adapted for wheelchair users. The three bedrooms all have twin beds arranged side by side. One of these is on the ground floor, the other two are reached by a flight of stairs from the living room. One of the upper-floor bedrooms is open plan, and there is a second shower room upstairs. WiFi is provided free of charge, and the house benefits from central heating as temperatures can be a little cooler in the winter up in the hills in the north of the island.

There are paved terraces and lawns on both sides of the house, with comfortable sun-loungers for whiling away sunny afternoons and enjoying the tranquil setting and unspoilt country views. There is also a small splash pool filled with spring water for cooling off on hot summer days.

One of the most appealing aspects of Casa El Balcon is that in spite of its delightfully secluded setting, the house is just a 10-minute walk from the village of El Madroñal, which has a couple of typical local restaurants, and just a little further from the larger village of San Mateo, so it is possible to enjoy a carafe of the local wine with your dinner without having to worry about having to drive home afterwards (do remember to bring a torch though). For a more comprehensive range of facilities, the small town of Santa Brigida is a 10-minute drive away, while the bustling island capital Las Palmas can be reached by car in approximately half an hour.