Hi,
I'm looking to spend a mellow week close to the beach in Southern Spain, away from the tourist centres and party-towns. I'm looking to just chill out, find some olive groves and walks in the mountains. Cost is not really an issue, I'll be renting a house or some villa (my backpacking days are over now), I just want to avoid large, drunk and disorderly tourist spots. The farther away from people the better.
Thank you for your input.
Keep traveling!
Tamas
There are small places along the Costa de la Luz that should suit you. Read up on the various towns and villages along that coast to get a flavour of what they're like. I wouldn't like to give a specific recommendation because what suits me may not suit you. You may need a car to get to the best of the mountain walks in the nearby Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, even though they're not far away. A Google search will tell you more about the area.
On top of what Tony said: avoid Costa del Sol like the plague, that's your example of drunk and disorderly if I have ever seen one. There are still a lot of "undiscovered" spots in Andalucia and /or Spain in general if one bothers to let go of such creature comforts as everyone speaking English or big famous tourist sights being nearby. I really like your post, it seems you're looking for something I can happily and selfishly identify with which is anonymous tranquility. Google the town of Alcala de los Gazules, the region and town of Aracena, the region of Valle de Genal, or the province of Extremadura. Do you speak Spanish ?