A cheap, readily-available fishing license gives you a lifelong permit to fish all over Spain, including our reservoir. Called 'Embalse de la Pedrera', it is about five miles long and is teeming with carp, barbell and other species.
Riding
Lo Rufete riding school, two kilometres away, takes pupils on daily hacks around the lakeland countryside at reasonable charges. Two local centres also offer Quad Biking and other outdoor sports.
Wildlife
At dawn and dusk, hundreds of birds pass over our house. Mostly seagulls in formation, but also groups of egrets and, sometimes, jackdaws. We see the occasional geese and ducks, each day heron visit the tranquil shore of the lake in front of the house. Little owls are everywhere about, by both day and night. We have visits from hoopoes, giant green woodpeckers and bee-eaters, as well as the more mundane sparrows, blackbirds, swallows and larks. Eagles often soar above the scrubland surrounding the lake. A family of beautiful turtledoves have recently arrived, but are seldom seen.The most exotic creatures seen around the lake is the giant lizards. Seen only in the summer months, sunning themselves on the track, they are up to two feet in length and walk off with their head held high into the scrub. We also see the occasional snake, mostly about two to three feet long. Rabbits, hares, foxes and partridges also survive in good numbers all around us.
Golf
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The area has many first-class golf courses; Villamartin, Campoamor, Las Ramblas, and La Finca are all within twenty minutes' drive. (please click the small map to see the location of the golf courses). There is a driving range just ten minutes away.
Bowling
There are half a dozen Lawn Bowls clubs in the area, with outdoor, carpeted greens, and good social facilities, which welcome new players.
Eating Out
There are six bars and four restaurants within five minutes' drive.
In San Miguel de Salinas, ten minutes away, there are excellent Spanish, Italian, Indian, and Chinese restaurants.
Swimming
There are half a dozen good beaches within thirty minutes' drive. There are many good swimming pools in the area, connected with leisure complexes, which make a reasonable charge. There are also a number of water parks not far away, for children to enjoy.