Casaroc

Casaroc is a traditional village house, restored and rebuilt about 12 years ago. It`s a fully equipped house with two twin bedrooms, 4 single beds - a kitchen, a full bathroom a terrace with a small barbecue and a dining / living room. There`s TV, WiFi and a large library of books and DVDs.

The house has been a holiday property catering for climbers and walkers since 2005 and there are many local walking routes and possibilities. The website www.casaroc.com has details, photos and facts about the village and nearby town of Villajoyosa with its tremendous beaches. Casaroc is on the highest street in the village with lovely views across the rooftops and mountains and down to the sea, 16 km away.

I really want a long swap, two weeks or more, somewhere in Leeds or along the Aire Valley - I don`t plan to have a car so proximity to the railway is important.

Alhough I shall most probably travel on my own, I need to be ble to host my grown-up family, so a house that accommodates four people would be essential.

About the location

Sella is about 450 metres up the Aitana mountainside - we look across to several mountain peaks, principally the Puig Campana, at 1408 m the second highest around. Highest point is the Aitana summit, 1505 metres, just around the back of the village.

We have route cards and guide books for walks both easy and challenging, There`s a 40 km hard mountain bike trail well waymarked through the village, over the hills and far away, and we`ve seen Chris Froome and others speed through the village on the mountain section of the Vuelta a España. Sella`s main claim to fame is a s a rock-climbing centre. Our climbers come from all over the world to enjoy Sella`s climbs, principally in the winter months.

But in July and August the municipal pool and cafe/bar is open, there are two natural spring-fed pools available all year round for swimming and in August there`s a week of music and culture as Sella celebrates its " Semana Cultural" ( see below). Also, one day in July or August, there`s the annual water fight in the Plaza - not to be missed!

Sella is a small village of 600 souls with 4 bar/restaurants and a recently opened take-away pizza place, two general shops / butcher`s, two wood-fired bakeries, a bank, 2 ATMs, and a chemist`s. The glorious sandy beaches of Villajoiosa are 15 minutes away and Benidorm, if you like that sort of thing, is also nearby. Safari parks, water parks, theme parks abound down near the coast but Sella is quiet, unspoilt and a haven of peace and relaxation with Alicante airport less than an hour away by car - and you`ll need a car. Sella has one bus a day.

In the summer months we have Sella`s Cultural week - theatre, traditional dance groups, and a concert with the Sella band, a really first-class musical event, and the main Plaza is host to weekly games of Pelota, the Valencian national sport, a bit like fives/squash/tennis all played out in the street.

Down at La Vila Joiosa (or Villajoiosa) you can get the tram South to Alicante city, well worth a visit, or North to Benidorm, Calpe, and Denia. Villajoiosa is also the base of a 40 - strong fishing fleet so the local restaurants serve really fresh fish.

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