Time was when finding a villa in Spain away from the Costas or their immediate hinterland was difficult. In recent years, the choice has widened. Increasingly, it is possible to rent houses far from the package run, close to cities such as Granada and Seville, in the high Alpujarras, in the rural heart of Catalonia where the eating can be outstanding, or the Picos de Europa in the green north, a region of remote villages and glorious mountain views. Here is a selection - some close to busy holiday resorts, some far from the crowds.
For families
Benimadroc
Just outside the Costa Blanca town of Javea, this is a simply furnished, three-bedroom, two-bathroom villa, with whitewashed walls, wooden floors and a pool with a shallow end for children. It has a large garden and mountain views, and is equipped with a washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, TV, video and barbecue. A pre-bookable service allows you to order up to three days' groceries in advance to save shopping with fractious children en route. This and private nannies are available for additional charges at all the operator's Costa Blanca properties.
Where to book: Weekly prices per person for a party of six start at £319, including flights and car hire. Something Special (01455 852229, somethingspecial.co.uk).
Villa Ca'n Joan
This stone finca is set in citrus groves and offers views of the mountains but is only five minutes' drive from the semicircular bay at Soller in north-west Majorca and 20 minutes from Palma. The property, which sleeps up to nine, has a pool. The fitted kitchen includes washing machine, dishwasher and microwave. There is mini-golf in Soller and windsurfing off the beach, but this is not fried breakfast, disco and lager land, so it is best suited to families happy to create their own entertainment.
Where to book: Weekly rental from £940 to £1,660. Alternative Mallorca (0870 754 4545, alternativemallorca.com).
Casa Almijara
Within walking distance of beaches, diving schools and tennis coaching, this villa is recommended to families with teenage children. The villa, which sleeps 12, is situated at Punta de la Mona, halfway between La Herradura and Almunecar, and 45 minutes' drive from Malaga. It offers views from the pool and Jacuzzi straight out over the Mediterranean. In addition, there is an outdoor bar, table tennis and, for an extra charge, a powerboat with water skis berthed in nearby Marina del Este.
Where to book: Prices range from £2,765 to £5,740 per week. International Chapters (08450 700618, villa-rentals.com).
For beach fans
Villa Flor
Situated a mere 900m from the beach at the Catalan harbour town of Tamariu, with its cafés and restaurants, the villa is also less than 10 minutes' drive from other pleasant Costa Brava beaches, including those at Llafranc, Calella de Palafrugell and Aigua Blava. The three-bedroom, single storey property is surrounded by trees, and has a large terrace.
Where to book: Weekly prices, excluding flights, ferries or car hire (which the firm can arrange), start at £379. Spanish Harbour Holidays (0870 165 2604, spanish-harbour.co.uk).
Es Lloquet
Pollenca is arguably the most pleasant of Majorca's resorts. The villa is an impressively converted farmhouse in sheltered gardens at the end of a lane just over a mile from Old Pollenca and less than five minutes by car from the beaches. It sleeps six to eight, and has a pool.
Where to book: from £740 in April and from £1,245 in June (rental only). Freelance Holidays (01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk).
Casa Bourani
One of only approximately 15 villas in a quiet valley between Estepona and Casares, Casa Bourani is some 15 minutes by car from the coast. It sleeps up to eight, has lovely gardens and a pool, and is close to a choice of golf courses and within comfortable driving distance of Andalucia's white villages.
Where to book: one week, rental only, between May 4 and June 14, for example, costs £1,660. Ilios Travel (01403 259788, iliostravel.com).
For walkers
Los Cerezos
From the large, rambling garden, a gate opens into northern Andalucia's Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla - one of the wildest areas of Spain. This is superb walking country, with views of the distant, snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Golden eagles hunt there, and in spring, wild peonies bloom. As the name suggests, this was once a cherry orchard. A small pool in the garden, which is full of roses, herbs and figs, is shared by tenants of two villas and the owner, who has a house there. The town of Cazorla is reached by a narrow road.
Prado Toro
Farther south, in the Alpujarra is this Cortijo that has been recreated with an artistic eye by an itinerant German, a former antique dealer, who settled here. Past the pool, a short step takes you to the long-distance GR71 footpath. A short drive away is Capileira, starting point for a magnificent hike to Mulhacen, Spain's highest mountain. After that, relax on the terrace; on a clear day you can see Morocco.
Where to book: A week's rental in May, including car hire but no air fares, costs £477 for the smaller villa at Los Cerezos, which sleeps two plus one child, and £621 at the larger, which sleeps four. There are two options at Prado Toro, one sleeping two, the other four. For the same period, they cost £556 and £766, respectively. Individual Travellers Spain (08700 773773, indiv-travellers.com).
For romantics
Casa Roja
Hung with traditional Andalucian tiles, the pretty, pink-painted Casa Roja is about 16 miles from the beaches and restaurants of Marbella but seems remote from the crowds. Set high on a hill in the countryside near the village of Coin, it has views of the mountains and its own pool. The master bedroom has a four-poster and en suite bathroom.
Where to book: One-week packages start at £719 (based on twin share). Price includes flights from Gatwick (£25 extra from Manchester or £65 extra in Whitsun week), car hire, twice weekly cleaning service and welcome food hamper. Meon Villas (01730 268411, meonvillas.co.uk).
La Casa de la Isquina
Taking its name from an Isabel Allende novel, this villa has been restored with Arabic touches, including hand-painted tiles. Its top-floor sitting room opens on to a terrace with views across orange groves to Sierra Nevada. A walled patio surrounds a Moorish-style pool. Granada and the Alhambra are half an hour away.
Where to book: One week, rental only, May 3-23, for example, costs £1,250. Spain at Heart (01373 814222, spainatheart.co.uk).
For art lovers
Mas Canet
Contemporary art and antiques grace the ivy-clad, 18th-century Mas Canet in the Catalan hamlet of Torroella de Montgri. Sleeping six people, it sits amid lawns and mature trees. It has a pool, a cobbled dining patio and a vine-hung terrace, and there is a whirlpool bath in the master bedroom. There are beautiful villages in the area. Cadaques, the small coastal town where Salvador Dalí lived, and Figueres, where there is a museum of his work, are within 30 miles. And although the Costa Brava is a mere five-mile drive away, it will seem much farther.
Where to book: One week's rental ranges from £1,505 to £2,760. CV Travel (020-7591 2833, cvtravel.net).
For mountain lovers
La Pandiella
Be warned: the landscape would not be so green if the region did not receive a fair amount of rain. But the wild beauty of the north-western Picos de Europa mountains makes up for any inclement weather. Overlooking the gorge of Desfiladero de los Beyos in the Asturias village of Sames is La Pandiella, a house which sleeps four. The village has a bar and is visited by mobile shops. There is a restaurant three miles away, and it is about twice that distance to the market town of Cangas de Onis. Also within excursion range are Oviedo and the coast at Ribadesella.
Where to book: Weekly rental ranges from £340-£590. Casas Cantabricas (01223 328721, casacantab.co.uk).
For horse riders
Los Alamos
Horses are stabled about five minutes from Los Alamos, which is situated near Cape Trafalgar on the Atlantic coast between Gibraltar and Cadiz. Guests can ride along the beaches and up into the surrounding pine forests. The villa has a pool, orange and lemon trees in its garden, the services of a cook and a guide for those who fancy horse riding.
Where to book: One week, including all meals and a drinks supply, flights from Gatwick and transfers, and a day trip to the Royal Equestrian School at Jerez, costs £895 (£645 for non riders). In the Saddle (01256 338669, inthesaddle.com).
· Most operators quoting rental only prices can arrange flights and car hire or ferry crossings.
Where to book a Spanish villa
Tour operators offering villas
Alternative Mallorca (0870 7544545, alternativemallorca.com).
Aspects of Spain (01243 842133, villahols.com).
Barwell Leisure* (020-8786 3015, barwell.co.uk).
Bridgewater Travel (01299 271717, bridgewater-travel.co.uk).
Brittany Ferries (08703 665333, brittany-ferries.co.uk).
Casas Canarias (020-7485 4387, casascanarias.co.uk).
Casas Cantabricas (01223 328721, casacantab.co.uk).
CV Travel (020-7591 2833, cvtravel.net).
The EHS Selection (01993 700600, ehstravel.co.uk).
Freelance Holidays (01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk).
Greenslades Villas and Apartments (01823 332226, greenslades.co.uk).
Holmes Travel (01473 610666, holmestravel.co.uk).
Ilios Travel (01403 259788, iliostravel.com).
Individual Travellers Spain (08700 773773, indiv-travellers.com).
International Chapters (08450 700618, villa-rentals.com).
Interhome (020-8891 1294, interhome.co.uk).
Islands in the Sun (01920 484515, islands-in-the-sun.co.uk).
James Villa Holidays (01622 655900, jamesvillas.co.uk).
Lanzarote Leisure (020-8449 74410, lanzarote-leisure.co.uk).
Magic of Spain (0870 8880228, magictravelgroup.co.uk).
Manos (0870 2387745, uk.mytravel.com/manos).
Meon Villas (01730 268411, meonvillas.co.uk).
Mundi Color (London: 020-7828 6021; Manchester: 0161-848 8680, mundicolor.co.uk).
OSL (0870 1652607, osl-villas.co.uk).
Palmer & Parker (01494 815411, palmerparker.com).
PCI Holidays (pci-holidays.com, 01202 591890).
Simply Spain (020-8541 2208, simplytravel.co.uk).
Something Special (01455 852229, somethingspecial.co.uk).
Spain at Heart (01373 814222, spainatheart.co.uk).
Spanish Affair (020-7385 8127, spanishaffair.com).
Spanish Harbour Holidays (0870 165 2604, spanish-harbour.co.uk).
Style Holidays (0870 4444414, style-holidays.co.uk).
The Real Spain (020-8686 3638, citalia.co.uk).
Travel Club of Upminster (01708 225000, travelclub.org.uk)
Travellers Way (01527 559000, travellersway.co.uk).
Villa Retreats (01625 586586, villaretreats.co.uk).
Villa World (01223 506554, villaworld.co.uk).
Vintage Travel (01954 261431, vintagetravel.co.uk).
*Programme includes villa holidays at La Manga Club. NB: In the Saddle is not listed as the riding holiday described above is the company's only villa-based package.
