. Fabulous house at a fabulous price. This really is a great buy as it is merely tired and in need of some love and attention. Please don´t be put off by the untidy outside areas as I have seen this property when a gardener has spent two days there and it is amazing how beautiful the external areas can look. 

There is a long driveway a bit like Tracey Island for those Thunderbird fans out there leading up to the property. The gates can be adapted easily and modestly to motorised with a remote control. 

There are at least four sectioned parts of land either side of the driveway so if you have dogs or perhaps even horses (less than five) they can have their own space. The owners have two wonderful dogs who are big but very playful. 

There are options for parking as there is a garage/carport, well it´s less than a garage but more than a carport and there is the parking area in front of the house in a semi-circle shape where a number of cars can be parked. 

To the right is a lovely BBQ area and another BBQ area is next to the pool, a circular pool no less and lots of terrace area for relaxing and/or sunbathing with really amazing views of the mountains. 

There is a pathway giving access all around the property and two more separately fenced areas of land as well as the main piece of land which has an olive orchard to the rear with access gates for a tractor. 

I guess we should mention the house at some stage. The property is distributed as a 4 Bed 2 Bath but that doesn´t really work as two bedrooms are co-joined, is that a word? So, my plan is to make it into a 3 Bed 2 Bath and the Master Bedroom would have its own Dressing Room and Bathroom. This could be done so very easily I promise, no walls to take out just a change of usage of space. There is another double bedroom and bathroom from the rear of the kitchen and another smaller bedroom near to the Master. 

The kitchen is typically Spanish, actually, it´s bigger than typically Spanish and it has plenty of cupboard space and the units are functional – functional is an Estate Agents word which means you can wait a few weeks before replacing them. 

The Lounge/Diner is a super room and has A/C that works superbly well. There is a feature log-burning fireplace and it´s a very decent space that is easy to work with and then, next to the lounge/diner is my favourite part, the very spacious extra room which is like a Conservatory but it´s more than just a conservatory and it has loads of glass that open to allow the mountain breeze to enter and close up to trap the winter sunshine. 

There are a number of small outbuildings. A tool shed type thing, a pool room for the pool pump and filter, an outside toilet for the pool users and at least one other.

The location is excellent, almost equidistant from Salinas and the bigger town of Sax. The access is by tarmac roads and not a single dirt track. Outside of summer, you can walk to Salinas but it´s not what I would class as real walking distance. He countryside around the property is magnificent and your neighbour would be a lovely Spanish family, the mother speaks almost perfect English and knows everyone in both towns and can help you with almost anything although that is really our job. Her husband is an agricultural specialist and he would be able to look after your orchard for you if you don´t want the hassle. Why Sax?

There are no traffic lights, it has a 13th-century castle and there are no traffic wardens but there are streets full of restaurants, bars and cafes. What? That isn´t enough?

Sax is so popular because it is far enough inland to be “inland” yet it is only 30 minutes to Alicante Airport and 35 minutes to the beach.  Access is by the A31 Dual Carriageway Alicante to Madrid road which runs just outside of the town, by rail and coach from Alicante so you can go to the beach and not have to take your car, and now we are only five minutes away from the AVE station at Villena. The AVE is the high-speed train from Alicante to Madrid which has only four stops and we are five minutes away from a station that on boarding will have you in Madrid in 2hrs 9mins for as little as 25€.

Let us stick with the town of Sax for now rather than escape to the beach or the capital city of Spain. Sax is dominated by its 13th-century castle known as the Headlight and Guardian of The Border a landscape of history and rock. When driving back home to Sax after daylight the sight of the castle, fully lit, and seemingly floating in the air is one of the most welcoming sights I have ever experienced.

Commercially, Sax was only affected in a minor way by the economic crash as it is the home of three major international businesses selling “persianas y toldos”, window blinds and sun canopies and a shoe industry that means if you recently bought a pair of shoes in a department store in the UK, for example, the chances are they could have been made in Sax or nearby Elda.

Recently we have seen the opening of a Consum supermarket, the equivalent of a Waitrose or Marks & Spencer Food Hall whilst there has been a Hiperber and Mas y Mas, both excellent supermarkets for as long as I can remember, and if that isn´t enough there is a Carrefour (Think Tesco) eight minutes’ drive away within a shopping mall complex that has two cinemas one of which is showing films in English with Spanish subtitles.

Sax is served wonderfully well with schools, our son was eight when we moved here and reluctantly, we put him into a state school, he always went to a private school in Manchester, and within six months he was fluent in two languages and following five years in a secondary school went on to study Pharmacy at Complutense in Madrid one of Spain´s most famous and prestigious universities.

Crime rate; Sax has full employment and subsequently a very low crime rate. It is a small town where everyone knows each other and a Spanish family would normally feel shamed if a member was in trouble with the police. Their modern values are the ones we experienced growing up in the UK 50-60 years ago. I parked rather stupidly recently on the High Street (Gran Via) even by Spanish standards I was naughty as I popped into the bank. I received a phone call within 90 seconds from the Local Police who called me a “dickhead”, well the Spanish equivalent, no ticket no fine just a little humiliation.

For health, Sax and Spain, in general, are far superior to the UK. In the town, we have a brand-new Health Centre with eight doctors, two nurses, diabetes clinics and a 24/7 Emergency Walk/In Centre. Ten minutes away in Elda is the remarkable award-winning University Hospital El Virgen De Salud where the surgeons are second to none and the food is atrocious, well it can’t all be good!! Newly opened is the Fibromyalgia Centre offering support and therapies for those suffering from acute pain.

There are now four Language Schools in the town and the town hall ran a scheme for language swapping that well may be run again. Learning Spanish is a lot less difficult than it may seem and there are new ways of learning that concentrate on Spanish conversation.

There are restaurants and bars aplenty with prices that are at first beyond belief and a three or four-course lunch of good quality can easily be found for 12€ or less. For a special occasion, there is La Torreta but also there are great options such as La Braseria, Camila and La Senda. Coffee and toast for breakfast will cost no more than 2€ and the coffee is possibly the best in Europe. We have a Walking Group, two Golfing Societies, Ladies Who Lunch and probably lots more Social Activities to enjoy. Sax, it´s a great place to live.

Here are six great reasons to live in Salinas, Alicante, Spain:

1.    Tranquil Lifestyle: Salinas offers a peaceful and tranquil lifestyle, away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities. The village is nestled amidst beautiful countryside and provides a slower pace of life, perfect for those seeking a relaxed and idyllic environment. 

2.    Natural Surroundings: Salinas is situated in a picturesque setting surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. The area is known for its rolling hills, almond groves, and expansive olive orchards. It's an ideal location for nature lovers, with ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the countryside. 

3.    Authentic Spanish Culture: Living in Salinas allows you to experience authentic Spanish culture. The village preserves its traditional charm, and you can immerse yourself in local customs, festivals, and gastronomy. The warm and welcoming locals contribute to the sense of community, making it a great place to build lasting connections. 

4.    Proximity to the Coast: Although Salinas is a rural village, it enjoys proximity to the beautiful Mediterranean coastline. The popular coastal towns of Santa Pola and Guardamar del Segura are just a short drive away, offering gorgeous sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a range of water sports and recreational activities. 

5.    Accessible Location: Salinas is conveniently located within easy reach of major transport links. The nearby city of Alicante is less than an hour's drive away, offering an international airport, high-speed train connections, and a wide range of amenities, including shopping centers, restaurants, and cultural attractions. This accessibility makes it convenient to travel both within Spain and to other European destinations. 

6.    The town has a Medical Centre, a Pharmacy, a Mini-Market, a Bakery, two Banks, Five Bars, Five restaurants and an ironmonger as well as an outdoor public swimming pool. 

Living in Salinas, Alicante, allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds—a peaceful rural setting surrounded by natural beauty while still having access to urban conveniences and the stunning Mediterranean coastline.