Arena, where the garden meets the dunes.

As the name suggests, you are right on the beach. From the sitting room and main bedroom you see your lawn, the sand, and the sea. And at the end of the garden, you walk down some simple steps cut into the dunes and you are on the beach. This is first and foremost a beachfront property, and you will get your first glimpse of the sea on both sides of the house as soon as you drive in or walk in.

Arena is one of a dozen one-storey houses built around 20 years ago at the northern end of Roche’s beachfront. The garden is separated from the neighbours on both sides by hedges, and at the end of the garden there is a protected juniper tree that provides a lovely semi-shaded spot for contemplating the 8km of beach, which is pretty much empty for large periods of the year.

The house is built on a single floor, as a rectangle running back from the beach. The rooms with the sea views are the sitting/dining room and the main bedroom, both of which open onto the covered terrace and garden beyond. The recently reformed kitchen sits behind the main bedroom and opposite the front door and has a back door onto a separate dining terrace that is positioned on the southern side of the house. This is the main outdoor eating area, and it has views of the sea and an awning that can be adjusted for sun and shade. The other three bedrooms are positioned to the rear end of the house along with their two bathrooms.

So, Arena is pure beach house, and if what you want is to see the sea from the moment you wake to the moment you go to bed (and you will hear it all night too!) then it will be your kind of house. This is the only house we have without a pool; but who needs a pool when the high tide is literally a stone’s throw from the end of the garden!

A walk of about 500m will take us to the local shop, pharmacy, a couple of bars and restaurants, and childrens’ playground. Roche also has its own tennis and padel courts and five-a-side football pitches. In the summer months, there are several beach bars/restaurants to choose from within walking distance, some of which are now staying open all year. A 5-minute drive will then provide you with a far larger selection of both bars and restaurants. The area offers an endless list of activities and if you book with us, we provide you with detailed information on all our recommendations, details on local amenities, and our up-to-date guide to the best of everything! You could spend a wonderful holiday here without a car, and just hire bikes; but, assuming you will have a car, it’s 15 minutes to Conil, 20 minutes to the hill-top village of Vejer-de-la-Frontera, 30 minutes to Cadiz, 40 minutes to Tarifa and Jerez, and 90 minutes to Seville, all of which are well worth visiting.