ROAD 

Road links to northern Spain have been improved, with the A7 toll motorway running more or less right through to the ferry ports of Northern Spain, or connecting to fast roads up to the Channel tunnel.

The new motorway RM 2 will be open in a few months, placing Hacienda del Alamo in a really strategic location. Very close to the sea and the main cities of the region. Exit number 27 will provide access to Hacienda del Alamo.

Sail from Plymouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries - www.brittanyferries.co.uk 08703 665 333 - or from Portsmouth to Bilbao with P&O - www.poportsmouth.com 08706 000 613 - then it's 860 kilometres to Fuente Álamo.

 PLANE 

Four airports serve this corner of Spain; Alicante, Murcia, Valencia and Almeria, and another is opening in a few years time at Corvera, the closest to Fuente Álamo. So with Spanish roads tending to be better, wider and emptier than in the UK, it's easier to choose the nearest airport you wish to travel from in the UK, and, possibly, leave a longer but more pleasant drive from the Spanish airport.

Directions from Murcia Airport (San Javier) to Hacienda:
As you leave the airport follow signs for the A7 motorway to Cartagena. Take this motorway until you get near to Cartagena and then take the exit for the A30 to Murcia. After about 15 minutes there will be an exit signposted Roldan, Fuente Alamo and Balsapintada. Take this exit to the roundabout and turn left to Fuente Alamo and Balsapintada. Keeping going for about 5kms going through the village of Balsapintada, when you reach a roundabout go straight across and go into Fuente Alamo. You will come to another roundabout which is a strange shape turn right here, there is a signpost for Hacienda del Alamo.

Directions from Alicante Airport to Hacienda:
When you leave the airport follow the signs for the motorway to Murcia (E7). After about 45 minutes, just before you reach Murcia the road splits and you then need to follow signs for A30 Murcia/ Cartagena. You actually stay on the same road. As you go through Murcia the signposts just say A30 Cartagena. Keep going and you will go over some mountains. After about 15 minutes you will see an exit signposted Roldan, Fuente Alamo and Balsapintada. Take this exit and at the end of the slip road turn right towards Fuente Alamo. Keeping going for about 5kms going through the village of Balsapintada, when you reach a roundabout go straight across and go into Fuente Alamo. You will come to another roundabout which is a strange shape turn right here, there is a signpost for Hacienda del Alamo. Keep going along this road for about 3kms and Hacienda del Alamo will be on right.

 TRAIN 

A £41-billion investment in Spain's railways over recent years ensures fantastic train services between Spanish cities. From Waterloo, take the Eurostar to Paris - www.eurostar.co.uk 08702 649 899 then change for the TGV Atlantique which goes to Barcelona. The Euromed - www.raileurope.co.uk 08705 848 848 - service will whisk you to Valencia in three hours or Alicante in four and a half.

 DISTANCES BY ROAD 

MURCIA 27 minutes
CARTAGENA 20 minutes
LA MANGA 30 minutes
SAN JAVIER AIRPORT 30 minutes
MAZARRÓN BEACHES 23 minutes
ALICANTE AIRPORT 55 minutes
MADRID 4h 10 minutes
GRANADA SKI RESORTS 2 h 30 minutes