Does your dream Spanish home combine a village setting in pretty countryside with easy access to beaches? If so, the northern Costa Blanca could be just the place for you.  Let’s take a closer look…

Value for money and the chance to tap into a peaceful Spanish lifestyle within a short drive from sandy beaches are luring British and other foreign buyers to the inland villages of the northern Costa Blanca.

And who could blame them? Not only do property prices fall once you leave the coast but you’re also treated to the wonderful natural scenery and tranquillity of the Orba and Jalón Valleys. Here, unspoilt villages such as Murla, Parcent, Benidoleig, Alcanalí, as well as Orba and Jalón, offer a selection of old and new properties, often within a short walk of local Spanish bars and restaurants. Meanwhile, beach resorts such as Dénia, Jávea or Moraira are little more than 20 minutes’ drive away.

“Many people don’t want to be in a beach resort, especially given how busy they get in the summer months,” said Sally Veall, an expat who writes for SpainBuyingGuide.com. “They prefer a more rural, Spanish lifestyle but at the same time, like the thought of being able to jump in the car and be bathing in the Med within half an hour. Access is another benefit of the northern Costa Blanca – you have two airports around an hour away, at Valencia in the north and Alicante in the south.”

One couple looking forward to regular holidays in the Jalón Valley are Giles Taylor and his partner Janet, who have two daughters. They completed on a second home in Murla in September 2015, paying €87,500 for their semi-detached villa.

Originally from the home counties in the UK, Giles and Janet now live with daughters Ciara and Alanna, and their four dogs, in Switzerland. One of the reasons for buying in the Costa Blanca was the ease of getting there by car or plane from their home near Geneva.

“We also like the area because it is less developed than other regions further south,” said Giles. “Our property is in a quiet location but the beach and larger towns are still accessible.” Giles and Janet were won over by the location and outside space of their property when they first viewed it. In total, they saw around 10 properties with local agency HomeEspaña.

The family’s two-bedroom property, which they plan to visit four times a year, sits on a 200-square metre plot, with a small garden and covered terrace. They are five minutes from the nearest town and just 20 minutes from the pretty beaches of the northern Costa Blanca.

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