Ever thought of spending a morning as a goatherd? A farm in Casares lets you milk, make cheese and take it home

Most people picture a day out on the Costa del Sol at the beach with a cocktail in hand, most wouldn’t envision working as a goatherd and ending with cheese in your bag that you have made with your own hands.

A family story that began 90 years ago

Crestellina is an organic farm and dairy run by the fourth generation of the same family. Siblings Juan and Ana Ocaña look after a business whose roots go back roughly 90 years, and they still use the recipes handed down by their grandparents and great-grandparents. Their goats are the Payoya breed, a hardy native Andalucian goat that is officially listed as endangered.

Milking before the herd heads for the hills

Guests start by preparing the ingredients for a fresh cheese, following the family recipe. While it sets, you will hear how the farm came to Sierra Crestellina, the protected mountain range around Casares, and meet the goats themselves.

Then comes the best bit. Just before the herd wanders off to graze, visitors step into the milking parlour and try traditional hand milking, a daily task for any goatherd. The goats feed freely on natural pastures in the sierra and the Guadiaro Valley, and their milk goes straight to the small on-site dairy each day.

Grazing is where they do their best work, the herd feeds on Andalucia’s firebreak pastures, areas kept clear to slow the spread of wildfires, so the animals help reduce the risk of blazes. As they roam, they scatter seeds and fertilise the soil naturally, which supports local wildlife and plant life.

Make your own cheese and take it home

Back in the dairy, you will learn to shape your own fresh cheese in the traditional way, working with the milk from start to finish. Each person packs their creation to take home, and a short film shows how the cheesemakers work in the full-scale dairy.

Your morning ends with a guided cheese tasting, where you will learn to judge flavour, aroma and texture, served with a glass of local wine. The farm shop sells its own cheeses and yoghurts, plus regional wines, honey, preserves and cured Iberian pork products.

This day is something totally different, authentic and a real piece of Spain. The experience lasts between two and a half and three hours, as places are limited and schedules vary, check dates and prices with the farm before you set off.