A lot of people who go to La Alpujarra want to go walking and it's some of the best there is, the mountains are great and you can walk from one little village to another.

But if you don't feel up to it or want to do something different or learn something new, there's a really good opportunity to do pottery or painting in little Mecina Fondales, pretty as a picture itself, hidden away at the end of a country lane below Pitres.

Sheilagh Mulry's ample studio forms part of the downstairs of a lovely old house at the bottom of the village. She has two pottery wheels and plenty of space for small groups, but also teaches individuals.

Sheilagh used to be an arts-and-crafts teacher, she's expert and enthusiastic, but there's no need to feel overawed, she's wonderfully welcoming and patient, happy to take on complete beginners (like me) or guide anyone who wants to develop. She'll have you making ceramics before you know it (even odd looking creations like mine have their charm), otherwise you can try watercolours or acrylics. Sheilagh has a lot of her own work on display including silk paintings, but told me she doesn't teach silk painting because the material is so costly.

The best thing is how she (and partner Conor -- he's one of the Alpujarra's best-known walking guides) will make you feel at home. I got offered home-made lemonade as soon as I walked through the old wooden door to their house, and there was no sense of clock-watching when my "time was up", very country-living taking-it-easy experience. Thoroughly recommended (and not expensive).

Sheilagh's phone number is (+34) 958 85 73 23.

I'll look and see if I have a couple of photos and add them here later.