How Sotogrande has become Andalucía’s most desirable place to live

It is believed that Guadiaro – a village bordering the elite Sotogrande urbanisation in southern Andalucía – is home to more professional golfers per capita than anywhere else in the world. With its tucked-away setting, outstanding sporting facilities and irresistible Mediterranean lifestyle and climate, it’s no surprise that premier athletes (along with many others) are drawn to this exclusive corner of Spain.

“From the start, I enjoyed the lifestyle here,” says James Stewart, who landed in Sotogrande in 1982 after a decade working in South America and Southeast Asia, having developed a “love affair with Andalucía” while spending time in Seville in the 1960s. “The people here were nice, the golf attracted me. It had rather a special feel about it, and I’ve been here ever since,” he adds.