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If you’re a keen golfer, you’ll be in your element here. There are four golf courses in the surrounding area, where you can play to your heart’s content.

A standard par-72 course, which is always in good condition. It is situated a little inland from the beach, with rolling hills and carefully manicured fairways. Green fees range from €35.00 (9 holes) to €61.00 (18 holes). It has a driving range, a bar, a restaurant and a pro shop. Avda. del Mar, 4, Urbanización Marina de la Torre, E-04638 Mojácar, Spain. Tel.: +34 950 13 32 35, Fax: +34 950 13 32 30. info@marinagolf.com www.marinagolf.com

A well-maintained golf course offering a variety of challenges. Definitely worth a visit. Green fees range from €30.00 (9 holes) to €65.00 (18 holes), depending on whether it is high or low season. The golf course is well maintained and well looked after. It has an excellent driving range, putting and chipping greens. There is an excellent bar and restaurant, although a little pricey, and a pro shop. Opposite the golf course is the Hole In One Bar, which offers good food and drink at reasonable prices. A cosy bar in which to relax after a round of golf. Urb. Valle del Este, E-04620 Vera, Spain. Tel.: +34 950 39 87 43, Fax: +34 950 39 82 14. clubdegolf@valledeleste.es www.valledeleste.es

A first-class golf course with first-class greens and fairways. It features lakes and streams running through the course. Scattered around the course are sculptures and castings that, at first glance, seem out of place. But you’ll appreciate the natural beauty of this course. There is an excellent driving range and putting green. It has a pro shop, as well as good bar and restaurant facilities. Green fees €105.00 – €115.00. Tel. +34 950 091 518 or +34 637 861 591/92. golfreservations@almanzora.com www.desertspringsresort.es/golf

The province is famous as the location for the filming of many Spaghetti Westerns. The dry and arid landscapes of the Tabernas Desert – Europe’s only desert, which forms part of the Sierra Nevada National Park – provided the perfect backdrops for Sergio Leone’s films. David Lean also filmed some scenes there, including the Oscar-winning film Lawrence of Arabia. In the village of Tabernas, you can visit the film set locations. A fun day out is the Mini-Hollywood theme park Oasys Parque, where many of the old ‘spaghetti westerns’ were filmed. There are daily shows. There is also a swimming pool and a zoo. Mini-Hollywood is an area situated in the Tabernas desert. The unique, beautiful and mysterious landscapes provide the backdrops for historic, legendary films. Close to Oasys Parque lies Fort Bravo, where various films are still being shot. Fort Bravo is also well worth a visit.

Fancy a lovely ride on horseback? You can do just that at Rancho Leandra Andalucia.

Fancy exploring the area on a quad bike? You can do just that at Extreme Adventure Mojácar.

A range of packages for a fun go-karting experience. http://www.kartinggarrucha.es/index.php

An “oasis of fun” for young and old alike. This water park is located near Vera Playa, between Garrucha and Puerto Rey. It is open daily from early May to late September. www.aquavera.com

Cuevas de Sorbas is the trading name of Natur-Sport Sorbas SL. They offer various guided tours. You can visit the caves in different ways, depending on your physical ability.

To the east of the city of Almería lies the Cabo de Gata – Nijar Natural and Protected Marine Park, with its stunning and rugged coastline. Much of this coastline has limited access by car, so you’ll usually have to walk to get there, but it’s definitely worth the effort, because once you’re there, you can enjoy the crystal-clear waters and secluded coves, perfect for swimming and diving. Cabo de Gata is an area of volcanic origin. It is also a protected National Park and the largest protected coastal area in Andalusia. The rugged mountainous and rocky landscape of this area lies in isolation and is, geologically speaking, one of Europe’s most remarkable. The Sierra de Gata mountain range is Spain’s largest volcanic rock formation, featuring sharp peaks and steep, ochre-coloured cliffs (shell sand formations). Along the coast, the rocks rise steeply from the sea. They form angular and jagged cliffs, sometimes as high as 100 metres, which are split by ravines and gullies leading to secluded coves with white sandy beaches. Off the coast there are also many small, rocky islets and, beneath the water, extensive coral reefs teeming with marine life. Here you can book various tours.

The beautiful Sierra Nevada Natural Park extends into the Alpujarras in the province of Almería. A landscape full of white villages, protected and unspoilt forests, valleys and snow-capped mountain peaks. This is a region to which the Arabs, during their rule, were deeply attached; and that is understandable, as the Almerian Alpujarras is a stunning and captivating part of southern Spain, a world away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal regions – even though it is only a few hours’ drive away. The area also provides an excellent setting for outdoor activities: skiing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horse riding, hiking and much more. Granada, with the Sierra Nevada mountains, is about a 2-hour drive away and offers excellent skiing from December to April.