Nigel and Nicola Tomkins have visited many parts of the planet during their globetrotting careers in newspaper and magazine publishing, journalism and gardens photography. So many parts of the world have been visited either for business or pleasure – from Australia to Alaska, Mauritius to Mumbai. So why is it southern Spain and, in particular the Sotogrande area, that they decided to acquire a holiday base?
 
For gardens-writer and photographer Nicola it was the initial attraction of Andalusian wild flowers, exotic birds, windsurfing and catamaran sailing – plus the fact that as a child she has fond memories of when she lived in the region when her naval officer father was stationed at nearby Gibraltar. For Nigel, it was the high quality of golf (two San Roque courses, plus Valderama and Sotogrande on the doorstep), the investment opportunities – and the speedy ease of access especially from their home on the banks of the river Thames near to London.
 
‘We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have visited so many parts of the world in our lives. We have seen and experienced so much on our travels – good and bad – yet we adore this place. It’s very special to us,’ says magazine publishing consultant Nigel. ‘We have also grown to love the Spanish people here and their beautiful language and customs.’
 
The San Roque Club sits in an idyllic spot, nestling in ancient cork woods, peering down at the Mediterranean Sea. It benefits from the consistently high sunshine levels associated with the climate in this part of the world and takes relief from the cooling breezes that fan along the coast stretching from beyond Tarifa in the west to Marbella and Malaga in the east. The golf club itself offers a range of additional facilities from casual and fine dining, tennis, horse riding and social events, all within walking distance from the two houses the Tomkins own.
 
‘We bought our first house (number 6) here as an off-plan purchase about six years ago and then decided to buy another larger property (just 400 metres away) so that we could easily entertain larger groups of family and friends. This means we can now offer holiday accommodation for as many as 14+ people should that particular situation arise,’ says Nicola. ‘But, when Nigel and I are here together we meet up with friends from the area. We also love exploring the region and gazing at its architecture, its birdlife (golden eagles and colourful Hoopoes amongst others), trying local food delicacies, learning Spanish, lazing on the local beaches, sailing and golfing. I particularly enjoy the fact that I can safely undertake long exercise runs (up to seven miles) from and to the house. It’s a fabulous place to unwind – and only about three and half hours from our UK home,’ she adds.