Alhaurin el Grande, Andalucia, Spain

Alhaurin el Grande, situated in the province of Malaga is a medium sized traditional market town near Coin and Alhaurin de la Torre. The town has seen one of the largest influxes of foreign migrants in Andalucia during the last 10 years. Walk down any street and you can't fail to notice the number of British people around and a substantial number of English named shops and businesses. This is due to the fact that it is in a very central location and near the Costa del Sol so it appeals to buyers looking to live and work near the coast yet enjoy the "traditional Spanish way of life".

Alhaurin el Grande makes an interesting place for the day visitor with a surprisingly large number of historic buildings and traditional architecture making it one of the more attractive Andalucian town in the area. The old Moorish Cork Mill on the edge of the town is worth a visit. It dates back to the 15th century and is still operational with water from the Fahala river. The area around makes for a pleasant stroll and is shaded and very tranquil.

There is a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants in Alhaurin el Grande and it is only 10 minutes drive to the La Trocha shopping centre on the outskirts of Coin. The recently built La Trocha has a good selection of stores and multi-screen cinema. A Dunnes store and El Corte Ingles food hall are located there.

The mountainous golf course at Alhaurin Golf Club is just outside the town on the road to Mijas and Fuengirola. It offers spectacular views and the course itself is very challenging. There is a new course planned next to Alhaurin Golf Club and a further course less than 5 minutes away to cater for golfers who do not want to travel to the coast.