ALTHOUGH based only a few miles from the sunshine costas, themed weeks
offered by The Magic of Spain introduce holidaymakers to some of the
least spoiled parts of Andalucia.
On a painting week in Barriada de Cancelada or Jimena de la Frontera,
a private-house party of about a dozen guests (with a professional
instructor) will get their inspiration from some of the most spectacular
scenery, flora and fauna in Spain.
Horse-riding weeks are based around a privately-owned ranch near Ronda
and the week includes four days' riding, as well as a visit to the
famous ''white'' horses of Jerez.
All meals are included in the price. Painting weeks in June and
October cost #825 per person; riding weeks, in November, January and
February, cost #860.
The same company offers a range of holidays in other parts of
Andalucia, including Seville, and on the Costa de la Luz, a relatively
undiscovered area east of Gibraltar on the Atlantic coast.
* The Magic of Spain: tel (081) 748 7575.
* A LARGE selection of privately-owned country houses and villas, many
with their own swimming pools, are offered by Vintage Holidays -- whose
property in a village is often the only one there for rent. One of its
larger houses, in Catulunya 20km from the seaside resort of Palafrugell,
is Mas Angalada, a stone-built ''Masia'' or Spanish farmhouse for 14
people, surrounded by 30 hectares of vineyards, a vaulted dining room
(with its own oil press), and a billiard room.
The cost for a week is from #1995-#3250, for the property only.
In Mallorca, Casa el Molino, a converted mill will sleep six people in
its three bedrooms, each with a bathroom. There's a traditional
farmhouse kitchen with open hearth, while outside are lawned gardens
with mill wheel, large swimming pool and a barbecue house. Cost of this
property is from #395-#1045 for one week. Air fares are not included,
but may be obtained at low prices.
* Vintage Spain: tel (0954) 261431.
* PARADORS, the Spanish state-owned chain of hotels -- sometimes
purpose-built in areas of interest with a shortage of tourist
accommodation, but more often brilliant conversions of ancient historic
buildings -- have always been difficult to book, the trouble being that
Spaniards get there first.
Unicorn Holidays specialises in holidays based on these hotels. They
vary from a converted ninth-century castle to an ultra-modern building
in Segovia -- and the UH brochure illustrates 77 of them. The company
can tailor-make holidays either to suit a traveller's personal
requirements, or it can suggest pre-planned itineraries. Its ''Three
Classic Town'' programme includes stays at a converted Moorish palace
near Seville, at Cordoba, and at the glorious little Parador San
Francisco in Grenada.
The price for this tour costs from #686-#752 for six nights, including
air fares, car hire and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
* Unicorn Holidays: tel (0582) 834400.
* THE Brittany Ferries service from Plymouth to Santander takes about
24 hours on one of the line's most luxurious car ferries -- the Bretagne
and Val de Loire. (In winter the service sails from Portsmouth.)
Once in Santander, you can either roam free, using pre-paid hotel
vouchers, or follow a pre-booked 14-night route the ''The Pilgrim's
Way'' to Santiago de Compostela, returning via Villafranca, Burgos,
Pamplona and Fuenterrabia.
Self-catering apartments in the enchanting medieval village of
Santillana del Mar provide a perfect base for exploring this fascinating
region, with the sea and some excellent beaches only a short drive away.
The ''Pilgrim's Way'' self-drive tour costs from #619 per person
including return ferry, and 14 nights' hotel accommodation with
breakfast. Seven nights at the Golf Pedrena apartments cost from
#197-#361, including the ferry crossings.
* Brittany Ferries brochure service: tel (0752) 269926.
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