moving over to Spain advice on areas to live which are peaceful

If you live out in the country side you will get dogs barking as everyone living out of town has a dog for security, once one barks the others start, in towns the Spanish have small dogs so not so loud but still barking, we live semi country and each house where we live have two or more dogs, they don't course me a problem and I like my quite time, it is luck of the draw that you don't get near dogs that just bark for the sake of it and not because someone is near the house, good luck, get a GOOD solicitor and Estate agent, much more important then dogs barking!!

Hi my name is Kathy we are selling our house in a lovely peaceful village called Encebras outside Pinoso it is definitely in the country and a absolutely beautiful spot. If you would like to take a look at our home look on The Olive Tree Pinoso web site who are selling it for us. This estate agent is excellent and will take you through the whole process of selling with confidence that everything will be done correctly. they are English and our neighbours so any problems they are always there to help. 

Hi Kathy

Your house looks lovely. HOW FAR IS IT FROM A VILLAGE/SHOPS ETC? We may move to Spain but don't want to be too remote. Idfeally, walking distance to a town or village. We are pretty fast walkers so don't mind 1-2 miles...Thanks,  Alison PS What is the asking price please?

Hi we are about 8 minute drive to Pinoso we have walked it before now. Pinoso has all the shops and supermarkets you need. There is also a great market every week. There is a nice balance of British and Spanish living here. It's quiet and surrounded by mountains.   The reason we are selling is I want to go back to the West Country. There is also a lovely little bar in the village run by a fabulous friendly Spanish family where they have live music once a week. The bar is about 10 minute walk. The asking price of our house has just been reduced to 215.000 it has 11.000 square metres of land including a young orchard. Take a look on the olive tree web site ref 2094. Thanks for the interest all the best Kathy 

Hi Alison,

As comments before stated, everyone living in the campo (countryside) seems to have at least 1 dog or more. We live in a village called Agost - 15 mins drive from Alicante. Our house is in the campo. There are dogs all around us & mostly kept outdoors. We have got used to the noise of barking & I'm sure you would relatively quickly.. I too would also advise getting an English speaking solicitor (abogado) to really thoroughly check the legality of the house you buy. There are many lovely houses for sale so maybe spend a while renting before you buy. That way you will see the area better, rather than a short visit where you don't get a true picture. We rented for 6 months in Hondon de las Frailes where there is a big population of Brits so plenty of English speakers, & it's the village next to Hondon de las Nieves. We used a builder in Pinoso for much work on our house, so can recommend him if you wish. There are plenty of Brit communities around - it depends what you're looking for. There are also many communities offering free Spanish lessons for foreigners. I'd be happy to pass on any information if you pm me. 

Good luck with your search. Nicky

I'm Spanish, and I live over there. My advice. Never buy a house outside a village. Try to live inside in the village. Pinoso is a quite place, no problems, you can live there quietly. Places around, except Sax,or Elda, are too. Outside is not bad, but in the last time we are having several robberies. Diseminate areas has not vigilance. Dogs are nos useful for thiefs. 

I would recomend you a not typical place: Fuente-Alamo, Almansa or Montealegre, 60 km away from Pinoso. Small, quite villages with not English people. Quite life, relax, and good, good wine. Good and cheaps meals. That's real Spain, and you will be welcome. 

Hi Pinoso is a lovely friendly town and it has everything you need for day to day living. We live in a village outside the town and we are selling our house, it's on the olive tree web site ref 2094 it's a beautiful 3 bed 2 bathroom house with a gorgeous swimming pool and a orchard with grape vines apples figs plums peaches cherries mandarins apricots pears. We also have a number of almond trees and olive trees,   Along with that we have 11.000 sq mts of land. The village has a great little bar with live music each week. It's a 5 min drive down the lane. The house has a roof terrace with 360 degree views of the beautiful mountains. The community is made up of Spanish and English.  The land has been ploughed regularly so is ready for planting.  Please have a look on the web site and if you want peace and quiet and lovely neighbours this is the house for you. 

Thank you very much for your comments.  We will try and buy in Pinoso area. We are also looking at Lorca.  We will go to the places you recommended at least for a meal and a drink 

Look at the Hondon Valley. 

Hondon de Las Nieves is nearer to the airport but both Nieves and Frailes have their Spanishness. 

I haven't heard many dogs. We don't like barking dogs either. I lived in West Wales in the countryside and you seldom heard a dog. We stayed in Catral and there were dogs everywhere. 

So rent locally and then travel around. You must ensure that any land you buy is legal!!!!! 

We are in the process of buying a plot on the edge of Hondon de las Nieves. Lots of form filling by the lawyer and the builder. It has taken about 6 months to organise. But I hope worth it when it is finished.