We have enjoyed 20 years living on a small fruit farm.  Originally it had only Nispero, Oranges, Lemons and Avocados.  In addition to those commercial crops we now have Olives, Bananas, Mangos, Dates, Papaya, Figs, Pomegranates, Chiramoya, Walnut, Pistachios, Almonds, Guavas, Lychee, Lime, Caqui, Apples, Macedonian nut, and Quince.

We still have 123 nispero but are gradually reducing that number replacing them with Avocados, now 45 trees and mangos, now 11 trees.

We use our 25 olive trees for olive oil through a local small press and the best olives we process for eating during the following year.

Clementines and Satsumas have earned us little money but are very useful Christmas presents when we drive home to Scotland for the festive period.

There are productive grape vines and both Canary and Spanish bananas

Many plants are grown just for their flowers such as the abundance of birds of paradise.  For 5 of the winter months 80% of the terraces and ground are covered in Oxalis.  This plant is widespread in our area and smothers other weeds with a clover like leaf and a mass of pretty yellow flowers.  During the hot dry summer we liked the terraces to be clean with only groups of weeds that flower well or are interesting without being invasive

This Callosa valley is the centre of nispero growing and holds the world’s only denomination for quality nispero fruit,   We chose it for its available water supply.  There is an extensive ancient acequia system from which we can draw water without charge for flood irregation of our terraces.

Whilst most of the ground is terraced there are three larger flat areas where large quantities of vegetables can be grown, far far in excess of personal needs.

There are many geckos and lizards as well as a huge range of interesting small insects.  Spring and early summer brings the nightingale who sings close to the house nearly all day, among the many other birds  are the colourful hoopoe and bee eaters but our favorite is the very tame Sardinian Warbler who sings to us most of the day.

The house has electricity, Piped water into the house, Internet, Mobile phone reception, Solar panel for hot water and flat roofs very suitable for the addition of solar panels for electricity.  Two separate gas boilers can provide hot water to all outlets and cooking is by gas with all other appliances being electric.

The main part of the house is just over 10 years old and is built with insulation and double glazing by a local builder who is still in business and a good friend.  The much smaller original part was completely restructured and upgraded.

There are 4 air conditioning units.  One in each bedroom and one in the kitchen to serve the main area.  The windows have mosquetera fly screens, persiana blinds and rejas,

There are 3 bedroom and 3 bathrooms all with showers and one with a bath

As most of our time is spent outside we have a large porch facing south west giving us views of sunsets and mountains in the evening.

An unnecessarily huge horno,wood fired oven, allows us to cook pizzas, and all other food items combined with a BBQ area, and twin kitchen sinks, which together make up our outside kitchen.

The septic tank was built to the same excessive scale as the horno and should not require maintenance.

The flat roof is reached by .a ”moorish” set of stairs at the end of the outside kitchen.

There is space for 5 cars to be parked.

An almacen for doing practical work and storing tools and equipment is complemented by a metal shed

The access road is 1.6 miles with the first half being a good condition road of council responsibility.  After the bridge crossing the river Algar the road deteriorates and is mainly concrete which is maintained and paid for all people living beyond the position of any repair.  The last 150 yards before our house is in poor condition and is due to be repaired.  It, and the road generally, will put many people off our property but for us they give us excellent privacy and security.

The other negative is that the Callosa valley is an intensive nispero growing area.  The fruit when sold achieves the highest prices when completely unmarked so netting is erected to prevent wind from blowing the fruit against leaves which marks the sensitive skin.  We have no netting and are not troubled by the netting at all which is on most fincas in the valley.  With the change in avocados replacing nispero the need for netting is changing as avocados do not mark.

We reach the quieter Benidorm Poniente beach which is superb for swimming in half an hour.  Albir and Altea beaches are a similar distance and Calpe beach about 45 minutes.

We are in the foothills of Bernia mountain which is the height of Snowdon and face Puig Campana and Aitana which is the height of Ben Nevis.  To our North and West are small villages and rugged mountains and valleys.

Callosa like most Spanish villages and towns have many extensive fiestas, which can include up to a week of partying.  It is not a tourist town but a working agricultural town.  It has an amazing range of bands and orchestras so all types of music can be heard often outdoors and without charge.

Our finca and Callosa offer a very different way of life and culture, we are lucky to have excellent friendly and. helpful neighbours.

Our decision to leave our little paradise of 6500 square meters of land and 145 square meter house is prompted by family commitments and health where continuity of regular treatment in Scotland has become necessary and Brexit  has made this more difficult