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Our best advertisement is the row of sunhats on the wall, each the property of a tutor from a University or College. These hats are concrete pledges of their owners' intention to return and most have been taken down and rehung several times already. |
Urra stands centrally within the Sorbas Basin, which has received much attention world wide. Despite almost continuous research since the mid sixties by English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish geologists, we are assured that "there are still a lot of doctorates waiting to be picked up" in the basin, some within walking distance of the house.
Urra already features in the acknowledgements of many dissertations, doctoral theses and papers in scientific journals. |
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The Field Centre
(Opened 1990) |
For first degree mapping projects or dissertations in Geography, Geology, Geomorphology, Sedimentology or Environmental Studies, we can provide sufficient diversity for large numbers of students to follow their separate interests.
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477f1961-6615-45c2-ad83-91ccadd155af We are still building up our library whic already holds several hundred papers pertinent to study here. It also contains books to help with the identification of plants, reptiles, etc.
Urra's ninety hectares include the western edge of the Sorbas Gypsum Karst. Geomorphologists can study a landscape formed by occasional torrential rains upon a substance 154 times more soluble than limestone. Average annual rainfall within this part of S.E. Almería over the last 40 years has been 250mm and sunshine averages 3000 hours per annum. Summer temperatures frequently reach 40ºC.
Spectacular erosion is a regular feature of our winters. Civil engineers will be able to marvel at the new roads cutting their way through the mountains and spanning the "barrancos", the river beds dry for so much of the year but full of boiling grey mud and boulders after the storms.
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The best-developed Bad Lands outside the United States, the Tabernas Bad Lands, are within half an hour's drive. The alluvial fans there are spectacular.
For teaching purposes, we have been used as a base for instruction of first, second and third year undergraduates and for MSc work. Several University Departments have prepared Field Work Manuals and their authors are willing to share their suggestions for work. |
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THE HOUSE AND ITS FACILITIES
The house where parties will be staying was originally built, probably many centuries ago, to house farm workers. It is constructed of uncut stone from the surrounding mountainsides, bonded with gypsum plaster quarried and processed on site (the quarries, which were still in use 30 years ago, can be explored).
We have tried to retain the original character of the building while ensuring that the necessary facilities for modern living are provided. Our success in doing this has been recognised by a singular honour: Urra Field Centre was the first winner, in 1993, of a new award to encourage the conservation and restoration of old buildings throughout the municipality.
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There is a large sitting-room, a major venue for socialising on chilly evenings...
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The other big room is furnished as a study. Both these rooms have woodburners and can be cosy even on the coldest nights (which are never very cold, after all!). Since Autumn '92 we have had a large additional area for socialising, especially useful when the house is full. |
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SHADY GROVE is our world famous bar... though not as a bar! It featured in the still remembered "squeaky earring" TV commercial for the 1990 VW Golf.
We have not only the building but even the hanging sign! More to the point, we have another large recreation area.
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The library area lies between the two main rooms, encouraging browsing; A small lab holds all the equipment we think anyone is likely to expect.
The kitchen is designed and equipped to enable several groups to cook at once or, alternatively, for a small team to cater for up to 48. The kitchen leads into a large dining hall. Both the dining hall and the sitting room open onto a huge marble-floored courtyard with vines - a pleasant place to eat breakfast or supper (perhaps from the barbecue) for much of the year.
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The three loo/shower blocks will comfortably serve a full complement of guests. Half a tonne of water is gas-heated to 50ºC three times a day, which should be enough for all. Cold water is unlimited.
As we cater almost exclusively for undergraduate groups we hold supplies of such things as safety helmets, maps, mapping pens... it is always worth asking.
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THE DORMITORIES
The rooms upstairs are arranged as follows for maximum occupancy:
A - 5 beds, with access from external staircase (fire escape) or via B
B - 5 beds - access from landing or though A
C - 10 beds - access from landing
D - 7 beds - access from landing
E - 11 beds - access from landing
LANDING - 3 beds - usually those ejected from other rooms for snoring! |
The different sizes of rooms give, we hope, sufficient scope for groups to be booked with suitable accommodation for their needs, bearing in mind the sex ratios of the group. Unless liaison has produced mutual agreement, different groups will not be expected to share rooms.
We like at least one senior staff member to sleep in the house and provide a double room off the reception area for this, free!
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A three bedroomed annexe (twin bedded rooms) is also available at a slightly higher charge. Simple addition will reveal that we have 47 beds, but we cannot recommend a booking of more than 40 in total for everybody's comfort and convenience when washing, cooking, eating etc.
The beds in the dormitories are not normally supplied with bedding apart from pillows, and guests will need their own good-quality sleeping bags between say September and the end of May. During high Summer sheet sleeping bags will be perfectly adequate. Lecturers' room´s and those in the annexe are supplied with full bedding and it can be hired by students too, if they prefer. We would like notice if this is to be for more thans a few.
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INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL PARTY ACCOMMODATION
As well as the annexe, it is sometimes possible to book the dormitories as two to four bedded bedrooms, with all bedding supplied. This enables us to accommodate up to twenty people in relative luxury when there are no student parties.
Of course, there is always the Cortijo! |
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| WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT GROUP LEADERS MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THEIR PARTY BEFORE LEAVING ENGLAND
A field study centre is not a hotel. Guests will normally be adults (past their 18th birthday) and will be expected to behave as such. We live on the premises and will do our best to help you and to make your stay enjoyable, but basically you will be looking after yourselves. We empty all the waste bins daily and are responsible for the cleaning of the loo/shower blocks, but all the rest of the cleaning is left for out guests to do themselves, as in most youth hostels. Unlike the average hostel, however, we prefer not to impose our own standards and have rarely had to do so.
We expect our groups to organize their own rotas for cleaning and cooking. A cleaner from Sorbas can be hired on a daily basis for two hours or so in the morning and a cook can be hired for the evening meal if this is preferred when all guests i.e. a. "full house" are in agreement over the extra cost involved.
The possible provision of breakfasts and/or picnic lunches must be organised with the manager at the time of booking.
Guests have no need to shop for themselves, for personal requirements such as shampoo or chocolate, as these are available from our shop, open for a few hours every evening. Beer and wine are also available, very cheaply. Coin operated public telephones are available on the premises.
We are able to offer such cheap accommodation because no staff are employed but we must have the time to do the necessary work. We assume that our guests are here to enjoy the outside environment and that they will not normally be inside the house between 9.30am and 5pm, weather permitting.
In an area where people come to study hydrology and desertification it is essential to wear appropriate shoes and clothing and to take sensible precautions when out on the hills.
In high summer the temperature is often over 40ºC and it can be impossible to find shade. Water bottles and hats are not cissy but essential. A fall down a ravine could leave one stranded for many hours and it is therefore essential that guests always leave information on where they are going and do not go wandering the hills alone.
Party leaders must be responsible for the safety and conduct of their groups. We cannot take any responsibility for mishaps or accidents to our guests and/or their belongings and strongly advise that all members of parties should take out their own insurance.
We are inside a Parque Natural governed by Environmental Protection laws which forbid samples of soil rocks or plants to be taken without prior permission. This can be easily obtained with sufficient notice but MUST be applied for if appropriate.
For more information click here to contact us! |
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