Levante Wind:

1. Direction: Blows from the east or southeast.
2. Speed: Tends to be stronger and more persistent than the Poniente. It can reach speeds of up to 40-60 km/h or even higher.
3. Effect on the Climate: Brings warm and humid air from the Mediterranean, causing an increase in humidity and the heat index. In summer, it can make temperatures feel stifling.
4. Effect on the Sea: The Levante usually causes rougher seas and larger waves, making the sea less safe for nautical activities.
5. Visibility: Can reduce visibility due to mist or suspended dust, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar area.
6. Duration: Can last several days, sometimes up to a week, without interruption.

Levante wind blowing in Sotogrande

Poniente Wind:

1. Direction: Blows from the west or southwest.
2. Speed: Generally gentler than the Levante, though it can occasionally be strong.
3. Effect on the Climate: Brings cooler and drier air from the Atlantic, which usually cools down temperatures, especially in summer. It is typically a more pleasant wind.
4. Effect on the Sea: Produces calmer seas with smaller waves, making conditions better for nautical activities like sailing or paddle surfing.
5. Visibility: Usually improves visibility, clearing the sky and providing a clearer, drier environment.
6. Duration: Poniente periods are usually shorter, though they vary depending on weather conditions.

Gibraltar

In summary, the Levante is a hot and humid wind that stirs up the sea and can be uncomfortable, while the Poniente is cooler, drier, and favors calmer sea conditions. Outdoor activities in Sotogrande can be significantly influenced by which of these winds is prevailing.

@holmesotogrande.com

The post Key differences between Levante and Poniente winds in Sotogrande. appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Ref. EMP-1847   A nice townhouse in the Ribera del Emperador near to the El Octógono beach, tennis club and the sea.

Ref, MAR-1626   Fantastic sought-after south facing 3rd floor three- bedroom apartment in Ribera del Marlin with stunning views.

Ref. HSS4-1090   A contemporary villa bordering a green zone in Sotogrande Costa.

Ref. HCIM2-1339 Front line golf modern style 3 bedroom villa in Las Cimas 2 with views of the Almenara Golf, the countryside and the sea in the distance.

Ref. HCIM1-1000  One of only seven villas built in one of the most privileged enclaves of the Almenara golf course. With truly spectacular views of golf with a backdrop of the Mediterranean in the distance.

Ref. HSN6-1338 Spectacular brand new modern villa in a quiet street of Sotogrande Alto.

The post Holmes El Periodico advert 1/7/2021 appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

View these six wonderful properties online on the links below.

HSN3-1357. Fully renovated fron-line golf villa in a private enclave within Sotogrande Alto.
HSS3-403. A charming renovated villain a established sought after area set on attractive landscaped gardens with many cork trees adjoining Guadalquitón.
THL-1795. Sunny townhouse in the popular development of La Loma which offers not only a private gated grassed area with swimming pool but also 2 tennis and 2 paddle courts all within well maintained communal gardens.
HSM-602. An unfurnished townhouse with a South facing aspect in the popular development of Sotomar which offers communal gardens and swimming pool.
THL-1387. Corner townhouse located in the popular development of La Loma with great communal areas.
Last but not least,
THC-779.  A lovely townhouse conveniently located, adjacent to and with lovely views of the 9th fairway of the Alcornocales section of the Almenara golf course and inland to the hills.

The post Holmes advert Periodico Sotogrande 16/10/2020 appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Stay in Sotogrande for Christmas and you’ll be in for a magical time. There are plenty of fellow expats about as well as locals spending Christmas in a unique way that’s subtly different from ‘back home’.

In Sotogrande, true to Spanish tradition, you’ll find Beléns (nativity scenes) gracing popular spots such as shops, restaurants and churches. Take a careful look and amongst the characters on the nativity scene you will find a gnome-like figure called a Caganer (a pooper doing business that would ordinarily be confined to the toilet) hiding in the background, often taking the form of someone in the public eye. Apart from the pooper, what’s in store for the Christmas season in 2018? Here’s what to look forward to in Sotogrande

8 December
The official switching on of the Christmas lights at the marina when Father Christmas will personally receive his letters from the children.

12 December
Show cooking: surprise your guests with a delicious Christmas menu at La Reserva Club, 11:00hrs

15 December
Pop down to the Christmas Market at the marina, a great place to stock up on your festive goodies, 13:00 hrs.

16 December
Get set GO is a Christmas Charity Race starting from the marina that includes a fun Santa Run – all in aid of charity. 13:00hrs

22 December
Get in the swing with the Christmas Golf Tournament at La Reserva Club, an event that’s sure to prepare you for the up-coming festive day. More details from the club

25 December
If you aren’t in the mood for cooking, there’s always the popular Christmas Lunch at La Reserva Club. Make your reservation now so you don’t miss it.

29 December
The final putt – say farewell to 2018 by taking part in a golf tournament that will bring in the new year with a swing. Another great get-together organised by La Reserva Club.

31 December
Join in with New Year’s Eve Dinner and celebrations at the beautiful Hotel Almenara, 20:15 hrs. Book early.

1 January
Just when you thought it was all over, how’s the head? There’s always the delicious New Year’s brunch to soak it all up at La Reserva Club, 11:00 hrs. Happy New Year!

The post Christmas in Sotogrande   appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

In Sotogrande on the southern shores of Spain there are developments of architectural excellence, both completed and under construction, that fall into the jaw dropping property category. Here master builders and landscapers are once again creating real estate that has been conceptualised and designed to astonishing degrees.

As featured in a recent article in the UK’s Telegraph newspaper, Sotogrande has become a haven of remarkable residential areas that feature homes designed to exceed the high demands and expectations of the wealthy.

Sotogrande is a large privately owned estate located in an area of beautiful Andalusian countryside a short distance from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was established over fifty years ago and has become a special location in many ways: Sotogrande became the first home for the sport of polo in continental Europe and was a successful host of golf’s Ryder cup in 1997.

A pivotal development within Sotogrande is La Reserva, a luxurious community based estate where residents can enjoy privacy, space and every modern amenity dreams can imagine in large opulent villas. La Reserva’s incredible centrepiece is the recently completed The Beach —Spain’s only private beach resort and a handmade oasis that comprises a lagoon style pool, water sports lake and divine sandy beaches surrounded by olive groves.

Sotogrande literally has ‘brought the beach to the mountain’ as stated by Sotogrande’s CEO Marc Topiol in the Telegraph article, who describes how the The Beach was created as a private paradise for residents.

In even grander and more wondrous terms the groundwork for The Seven, a new Sotogrande residential area, is also taking shape. Construction has begun for seven of the most extraordinary properties that have ever been built in Spain. The Seven is a reference to the term ‘seventh heaven’ as these will not only be unbelievable villas but they will also be set in the magnificent landscape of Sotogrande, on a hilltop and facing the sea.

Each of the villas has been designed by a world renowned architectural practice that includes Studio MK27 from Brazil, Holland’s UNStudio and Gumuchdjian Architects from London.

The vision for Sotogrande was to create a private residential area that could compare with the most prestigious of European real estate, like La Zagaleta in Marbella and the Algarve’s Quinta do Lago. It is arguable that they will actually exceed these dreams.

About Holmes
Holmes Property Sales is Sotogrande’s longest established property agency; located at the heart of the estate the company provides a professional, friendly and knowledgeable service to those interested in Sotogrande real estate.

Image courtesy of: La Reserva Sotogrande

The post Architectural excellence continues in Spain’s Sotogrande appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

There are many luxury resorts but few like Sotogrande. This is even true of the Costa del Sol, of which it forms the western extreme. Nearby Marbella is also undeniably luxurious and glamorous – and a great neighbour for Sotogrande residents and property owners to have at close range – but Sotogrande has a feel all of its own.

Indeed, this charming place does luxury in a very understated, elegant and dare we say it, ‘classy’ way, and it is this refinement that characterises Sotogrande. It’s a residential resort town where luxury villa suburbs border the sandy shore and expand inland alongside the meandering greenery of renowned golf courses. Here you will also find a horse riding centre overlooking open countryside, the famous Santa María Polo Club and a river that flows back towards the beach clubs and the popular racquets club. Once within earshot of its tennis and padel tennis courts you will also be within walking distance of the social hub of Sotogrande – the charming pastel-toned marina whose canals and berths wind their way towards the marina’s centre.

Pioneering beginnings
Sotogrande has evolved out of the mind’s eye of Joseph Rafael McMicking y Ynchausti and Mercedes Zobel de Ayala y Roxas, the pioneering couple of Hispano-Philippine high society background that first fell in love with this beautiful spot in the early 1960s. They bought five farms here in 1962, having realised that this setting close to the point where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean meet would make an ideal resort. Following the American pattern, they created a luxurious country club that followed a clearly thought-out master plan, thus establishing the foundations of Sotogrande’s excellent infrastructure and sense of space.

Broad, American-style avenues and leafy residential roads were built, lined with elegant villas set upon spacious private plots that ran from the seaside to the gentle hills just inland. By the time the first equestrian centre, beach club and golf course were established, Sotogrande was already a firm favourite of an international jet set centred upon British and Spanish high society. They continued the refined, understated charm of the resort that the McMicking’s had first imbued Sotogrande with, and to this day it retains an air of tranquil sophistication and beauty.

More golf courses, hotels, luxurious residential areas and of course the marina and the polo club were added, further enhancing the glamorous appeal of a privileged country club resort that has its roots in the pioneering vision of a very special couple – who approached its creation not as a commercial enterprise as much as an idealised version of ‘paradise on earth’.

If you would like to know more about Sotogrande please contact the local property and lifestyle experts, Holmes Property Sales Sotogrande.

The post Sotogrande – the making of a singular resort appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

With Hanukah, Christmas, New Year and Reyes (Epiphany) to celebrate, this festive season is all about family. There is a huge range of different properties to choose from in Sotogrande and the surrounding areas—from romantic pied-à-terre boltholes, perfectly designed for couples seeking escape, to sprawling contemporary mansions with large glass windows and shining white walls, ideal for chic cocktail parties and sophisticated entertaining.

However, families wanting to make the most of the festive season—in comfort at home but close to markets, special holiday events, celebrations and restaurants—tend to have a different set of priorities when choosing their home in Spain. So imagine, if you will, some of these spectacular family homes dressed for the holidays and full of excited family chatter and cheer!

Already oozing traditional charm and character, this exceptional cortijo style villa would look amazing with some festive styling. The huge country kitchen is made for large and noisy family gatherings and there’s plenty of accommodation for visitors, with seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, including a two-bedroom guest cottage. Situated on an extensive plot of 8,000m2, there’s plenty of space to enjoy as well as stabling, so scope for creating riding facilities although the Ayala and Santa María Polo clubs are very close by as well. Rustic charm at its very best.

Slightly more modest, this five-bedroom family home is conveniently located right in the heart of Sotogrande Costa. Walking distance from the beach and golf course, you’ll be in the best place to make the most of all that’s on offer in Sotogrande over the holiday season. The mature gardens surrounding the villa ensure a family’s privacy at home while the brand new kitchen diner is superb for feeding the children and catching up on their news day today.

The golfers in the family will love the golf and sea views from this five bedroom family home located on popular Almenara golf, not far from the renowned Sotogrande International School. The dining room could have been purpose-designed to host festive family banquets and the additional reception rooms are all warm and inviting. The underfloor heating and heated pool are just two of the features that make this property ideal for all year round living for families with children looking for a brilliantly safe and secure residential location.

Of course, a property in Sotogrande is not just for Christmas alone, but the holiday season is an important aspect of life in Spain where the significance of family is first and foremost.

For more information on properties in Sotogrande suitable for your family, contact the local experts.

The post Sotogrande properties with the New Year wow-factor appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Christmas in Spain is quite different from in Northern Europe and other cooler climes. For one thing, the sun is usually shining! Mild days do give way to cooler temperatures in the evening, but outdoor living still prevails and there’s no better time to enjoy Sotogrande than around the holiday period.

In common with most of the Costa del Sol, Sotogrande turns on their Christmas lights during the first week in December. An enormous Christmas tree is lit with enough lights to represent each one of the Sotogrande residences and the all-important Santa’s grotto is opened ready for important business!

This night really does signify the beginning of the month-long festive period and the Sotogrande calendar is packed with Christmas markets, charitable fundraising events, Christmas golf tournaments and polo matches.

Music plays an important role in the celebrations. The local private college, Sotogrande International School, is known for its phenomenal choral performances showcased all year round but particularly during the Christmas period with concerts taking place in the main Sotogrande marina, Sotogrande church and the school itself. For a more Spanish experience, flamenco Christmas carols are a favourite around the port area – best enjoyed with a glass of chilled cava!

Several of the local hotels offer special Christmas and New Year packages with banquets and festivities to rival any other, offered alongside special promotional golf green fees or spa treats. The golf clubhouses are also great locations for Christmas dinners, whether corporate or family, with La Reserva known to open its ice rink around mid-December. Sotogrande restaurants create Christmas menus to make your mouth water with typically rich Spanish dishes and seafood specialities featuring on most.

For foreign residents missing their treats from home, Gibraltar’s supermarkets are just a short drive away and there you can find all the delicacies that you’re used to enjoying at Christmas from Quality Street to Christmas puddings and turkey with all the trimmings – even Christmas crackers. Best not to leave it to the last minute as stocks can run low, and don’t forget your passport!

Of course in Sotogrande, Christmas Day is only one small part of the holiday celebrations. Christmas and New Year activities lead on to preparation for the visit of the Three Kings on the night of 5^th January when the Spanish children will receive the bulk of their presents.

In Sotogrande, Christmas just keeps on giving!

The post Spend the festive season in Sotogrande appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Autumn
When the cooler breezes of September reach the coast, life returns to normal after the hectic summer. The beaches become less crowded as Spanish and foreign summer tourists return home and the more relaxed pace of life for which Sotogrande is revered can begin once again.

However, it’s on the greens and fairways of Sotogrande where things are about to get a lot more exciting. September heralds the start of the golfing season, an important sport for many residents and visitors to the area. The extensive choice of championship courses in Sotogrande entices players from all around the world to test their skills and spectate at some of the world’s most important tournaments including, in 2017, the Andalucía Masters at Valderrama.

Winter
Winter’s ideal for exploring some of the amazing sights within easy reach of your Sotogrande base. While the heat of summer can make touring less attractive, the comfortable temperatures and blue skies that we enjoy throughout most of the winter months are perfect for inland hikes through the countryside. A couple of hours north of Sotogrande, the Grazalema Natural Park, which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977, is known for its incredible landscapes (with Andalucía’s biggest cave system as well as cliffs and gorges), its flora and colonies of Griffon vultures.

Spring
As the days slowly begin to lengthen, Sotogrande’s equestrian centres come into their own, welcoming the start of their competition seasons. First, the dressage specialists with the Andalucian Cup among other events before the warm-up to the main polo summer season gets underway. Important entries on the European polo tournament spring calendar include the José Ignacio Domecq Memorial Cup in March and Conde de Guaqui Memorial Cup in April, both featuring teams from the UK, Belgium, Ireland and Spain.

The polo tournaments gather momentum throughout the spring and summer, culminating in the main event, the Sotogrande International Polo Tournament, which runs through August attracting visitors and competitors from all over the world.

Summer
Away from the land, summer is all about sailing in Sotogrande. Although there are regattas hosted throughout the year by the Real Club Maritimo Sotogrande, it’s summer when things get serious. The Sotogrande Regata Cup, Trocadero Copa de España and Championship Tour see the elite sailors compete, but there are also many less well-known regattas, as well as opportunities for juniors and beginners to test their skills on the water with many schools offering lessons or RYA training courses.

Sotogrande is unique in southern Spain for its eclectic range of sports and activities on offer throughout the year, from shopping through to stand up paddle and Segway tours. For more information on properties in Sotogrande and the surrounding areas, contact us.

The post A SOTOGRANDE FOR ALL SEASONS appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.

Sotogrande’s long association with polo, golf and yachting means that other sports may be overlooked and rugby is unlikely to come to mind when thinking of Sotogrande sporting facilities.

Nonetheless, the Club Rugby del Estrecho was set up to bring together all Rugby lovers, from young children to the senior team.

With this in mind, Holmes Sotogrande was very pleased to announce this week that we have become the main sponsor of the club. Holmes is very much a part of the local community, having been established in Sotogrande since 1979. We are thrilled to be the main sponsor for the 2017 – 2018 and 2018-2019 seasons. The club released a statement declaring its pride at having a local company as sponsor and therefore enabling it to continue with a wide range of grassroots sporting projects. One such event was a summer camp organised by the Gibraltar Rugby Club, which gave our excited youngsters the chance to be coached by members of the professional Gloucester Rugby Club and have their photos taken with Samoan rugby star Terry Fanolua.

The Holmes Sotogrande sponsored shirts look great and we are looking forward to seeing them being worn by the winning team!

If you want to be on the winning team when you are looking to purchase a property, contact Holmes Sotogrande!

The post HOLMES SOTOGRANDE SPONSOR CLUB RUGBY DEL ESTRECHO appeared first on Holmes Property Sales.