Off-grid life, honest stories, and the slow magic of building something real. From crumbling Andalusian walls to open mountain roads — read it all here.
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After nearly three months away, we finally made it back to our rural Spanish farm — breakdowns and all — to find the grapevines had taken over and nearby wildfires meant clearing dry vegetation suddenly became our most urgent job.
Read more: Returning to Spain: Breakdowns, Overgrown Vines & Preparing for Wildfire SeasonA year into living in Spain, we're sharing the everyday things that have genuinely won our hearts — outdoor living, affordability, community, friendly neighbours and the family-focused lifestyle we never expected to fall so in love with.
Read more: After One Year In Spain, Here's What We Love Most 🇪🇸At the end of 2024 we collected the keys to our €40,000 abandoned farm in Spain. Eighteen months on, we're looking back room by room and acre by acre at just how far this Andalusian farmhouse has come.
Read more: How We Turned a €40,000 Abandoned Farm Into a Home | Then vs NowWe turned an overgrown corner of our abandoned Spanish farm into a safe family space — fencing it off, building a DIY gate, laying a stone flower bed and giving the kids (and Patch the puppy) somewhere new to call their own.
Read more: We Created A Family Space On Our Abandoned Farm In SpainFor over 20 years this corner of our abandoned Spanish farm was left completely untouched. We finally brought in a digger to clear it, then burned through the scrub to reveal a whole new hidden area of Cortijo Renacer.
Read more: We Opened Up Hidden Land On Our Abandoned Farm In SpainTwo big moments at Cortijo Renacer — we welcomed rescue dog Patch to the farm, and finally said goodbye to bucket showers with our first proper hot water installation. Plus Andalusian clay lampshades and plant pots at the gate.
Read more: We Got a Dog, We Got Hot Water | Cortijo Renacer UpdateWe imported a left-hand drive Volvo C30 from the UK to Spain in 2026 — here's the full cost breakdown including the car, import and registration fees, and travel. Plus why we chose UK over buying locally in Spain.
Read more: Importing a UK Car to Spain in 2026 | Full Cost Breakdown: £3,950 TotalSnow in the mountains above the farm, more rain stalling the olive harvest, Hayden building steps, a caravan found on a rainy marketplace browse, and the electric olive harvester that changed everything in three hours.
Read more: Electric Olive Harvester, a Guest Caravan & 23 Litres | Cortijo Renacer UpdateWhen storms stalled the harvest, we turned to indoor tasks — curing our own table olives, bottling our first olive oil for family back home, installing a breakfast bar, and fixing a chimney leak that threatened the kids' room.
Read more: Jarring Olives, Bottling Our First Oil & a Chimney Scare | Cortijo Renacer LifeAfter a year of clearing, pruning and nursing our neglected olive grove back to life, we finally harvested our first olives in Andalusia — six crates, a race against the rain, and 12 litres of our very own olive oil.
Read more: Our First Olive Harvest at Cortijo Renacer | 12 Litres of Our Own Olive OilBack at Cortijo Renacer in December — cutting back the grapevine, battling low winter solar from a mountain-shaded panel, a car that wouldn't start, and olives so ready they're falling off the trees. Just waiting on the crates.
Read more: Off-Grid Living in Winter Spain | Grapevine Drama, Low Solar & Olive Harvest CountdownAfter three months of travel across Vietnam, Thailand and the UK, we finally returned to our off-grid farm in Andalusia. Here's what we found — the good, the worrying, and the moment we knew the olives were ready.
Read more: We're Home | Returning to Cortijo Renacer After 3 Months AwayAfter a mid-air turnaround and monsoon arrival, Phuket gave us exactly what we needed — hermit crabs at Rawai Beach, the best Thai food of the trip, water monitor lizards, a surprise art class by the ocean, and an unforgettable day at a rescued elephant sanctuary.
Read more: Phuket with Kids | Flight Drama, an Elephant Sanctuary & Our Tropical ResetBangkok doesn't ease you in — it throws itself at you. Three days of ancient temples, a golf buggy tour, river taxis, Chinatown, and BBQ crocodile on Khao San Road. Our honest family review including costs.
Read more: Three Days in Bangkok with Kids | Ancient City, Grand Palace & Khao San RoadFrom olive groves to Vietnam's most vibrant city — we explored Ho Chi Minh City as a family of four. War museums, a colonial museum, the Saigon Zoo, egg coffee, and a water taxi ride for the whole family under £4.
Read more: Ho Chi Minh City with Kids | Life Between Borders, History & the £3 Water TaxiWe sold everything, bought an abandoned farm in Spain for €40,000, and started over. This is who we are, why we did it, and what Cortijo Renacer really means to us.
Read more: From Debt to Freedom | The Renacer McGlynn StoryA super typhoon rerouted us from Hanoi to Phu Quoc — and we found £22 villas, the world's longest cable car, a free island bus, and a giraffe restaurant. Four days on Vietnam's most beautiful island on a family budget.
Read more: Phu Quoc Island with Kids | Typhoon Detour Turns Into Our Best Surprise YetWe swapped our off-grid farm in Andalusia for four days in Hanoi — street food, murals, museums, Train Street, and a super typhoon that changed everything. Family travel in Vietnam with real costs included.
Read more: Four Days in Hanoi, Vietnam with Kids | Worldschooling, Street Food & a Surprise TyphoonWe drove Dave from our off-grid farm in Andalusia all the way to Calais — free camping beside a Spanish castle, croissants at a French farmhouse, and a pizza vending machine. Full trip cost breakdown included.
Read more: Vanlife Europe: Andalusia to Calais | Family Road Trip on a BudgetWe nearly split into two channels — but we've decided to keep everything right here. Here's why, where we're heading next, and the honest numbers behind our UK-to-Spain lifestyle change.
Read more: One Channel, Our Full Story | Farm, Travel & The Real Cost of This LifeBehind the scenes of real off-grid living in Andalusia — how we power our home with solar, reuse every drop of water, cook on gas, and keep the family cool in the Spanish heat.
Read more: How We Actually Run Our Off-Grid Homestead in Spain | Solar, Water & Family LifeNine months since we got the keys to our abandoned Spanish cortijo in Andalusia — here's the full off-grid transformation story, from overgrown land to olive groves, a DIY river rock kitchen, and solar-powered family living.
Read more: Nine Months on Our Abandoned Andalusian Farm | Full Transformation UpdateCan you really run air conditioning off-grid in Spain? We finally did it! Three aircon units installed and powered by solar, plus a major land clear-up on our Spanish homestead. Here's how it all went down.
Read more: Off-Grid Air Conditioning in Spain — We're Finally Cool! Plus Our Big Land Clear-UpWelcome back to our off-grid adventure in Andalusia, Spain! This week, we tackled one of the more unpleasant remnants of our abandoned Spanish farmhouse: a termite-eaten interior door. The termites are long gone, but the damage they left behind wasn’...
Read more: 🛠️ From Termite Damage to Rustic Charm | Off-Grid Farmhouse UpdateHola from Renacer McGlynn! We're Jemma, Callum, and the kids—a UK family chasing freedom, sunshine, and self-sufficiency on a €40,000 Spanish farmhouse. In this blog post, we’re answering your biggest questions: How are we living in Spain without a v...
Read more: No Visa? No Problem! Our 2025 Move to Spain & Software-Powered FreedomHola from Renacer McGlynn! We’re the McGlynn family, and since buying our off-grid farm in Andalusia, Spain, in September 2024, we’ve been on a mission to bring electricity to our little slice of paradise. It’s been a whirlwind seven months of surpri...
Read more: Our Off-Grid Solar Solution: Powering Our Spanish Farm for Less!Have you ever dreamed of ditching the rat race, going debt-free, and starting fresh somewhere sunny? That’s exactly what we, the McGlynn family, did—and we’re spilling all the details in our latest YouTube video! After years of feeling like financial...
Read more: How We Bought an Abandoned House in Spain for €40,000 – Our Off-Grid Adventure Begins!Nestled in the heart of Andalusia, the village of Almanzora is one of the closest spots to our off-grid farm. This beautiful rural location is rich in history, natural beauty, and a deep-rooted agricultural tradition. In our latest video, we take you...
Read more: Discover Almanzora: A Hidden Gem Near Our Off-Grid FarmLooking Back at Our Off-Grid House Hunt in Spain: A €50,000 Close Call Are you dreaming of an off-grid lifestyle in Spain? So were we! We are the McGlynn family, also known as Renacer McGlynn, and we moved to Andalusia, Spain, to restore an off-grid...
Read more: Looking Back at Our Off-Grid House Hunt in Spain: A €50,000 Close CallAre you dreaming of buying an off-grid home in Spain? We are the McGlynn family, also known as Renacer McGlynn, and we moved to Andalucía to restore an off-grid farm into a self-sufficient haven. Before we found our perfect €40,000 farmhouse, we almo...
Read more: We Almost Bought a Sinking Farmhouse in Spain!Hola, friends! I’m Jem from the McGlynn family, and I’m thrilled to share how we bought an abandoned farmhouse in Andalusia, Spain, for €40,000 and turned it into our off-grid dream . Welcome to Renacer McGlynn —a house reborn! Our latest YouTube vid...
Read more: Buying an Abandoned Farmhouse in Spain for 40,000 Euros: Our Off-Grid DreamA Day Trip to Carboneras: From Farm to Sea Introduction : Hey there! It's been a while since we've taken a break from the farm, but we finally decided to treat ourselves to a day out. Living in the beautiful Almanzora Valley, we're surrounded by natu...
Read more: Discovering Carboneras, Almería: Hidden Gems, Fresh Fish & Sunset ViewsCreating a natural barrier for shade and privacy is a game-changer for any garden. In this post, we’ll share how we planted a Callistemon hedge on our mountainous land—battling rocky soil and large stones along the way! Plus, we’ve added some handy t...
Read more: How to Plant a Fast-Growing Callistemon Hedge for Shade and Privacy | Care TipsHello, Renacer McGlynn community! In our latest adventure, Jem takes on a relentless 'ugly dead bush' that's been blocking our picturesque view of the valley. Armed with determination and her trusty chainsaw, this task turned into an epic showdown be...
Read more: Unveiling Our Valley View: Jem vs. the Stubborn BushWhen we first set eyes on our abandoned farm in the stunning Almanzora Valley, it felt like a dream come true. Little did we know that a hidden Spanish law would soon threaten to turn that dream into a nightmare. In our latest YouTube video, we share...
Read more: Did We Almost Lose Our Dream Farm in Spain? The Shocking Truth About Spanish Land LawsWelcome back to Renacer McGlynn! Today we’ve got some seriously exciting news – we’ve finally secured our fire license, and it’s time to put it to good use. In our latest adventure, we’re taking on a sustainable land-clearing project by burning away...
Read more: Wahoo! Fire License Secured – Our Sustainable Land Clearing & Burning Journey with the McGlynnsWelcome back to Renacer McGlynn ! If you’ve been following our farmhouse renovation, you’ll know that we started transforming our old tiles using natural marble rocks collected from the rambla at the bottom of our land. This week, we’re finishing the...
Read more: From Dated to Dreamy! DIY Tile Makeover with Andalusian Marble Rocks – Part 2If you're a fan of serene mountain views , uncrowded destinations, and exploring unique places off the beaten path, then Sierra Nevada in Granada, Spain during the off-season should be at the top of your list! In this video, we explore the empty ski...
Read more: Sierra Nevada Off-Season Tour: Hidden Stadium & Empty Ski Resort in Spain's MountainsWelcome back to Renacer McGlynn ! This week, we're making a start on a truly unique DIY project—transforming our old farmhouse tiles using beautiful natural marble rocks gathered from the rambla at the bottom of our land. Bringing the Outdoors In Our...
Read more: Turning River Rocks into Stunning Tiles | Andalusian Marble Rocks (Start of a Stunning Farm Makeover)Welcome to Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park , one of the most beautiful, and often overlooked, regions of Spain . Located in Almería , in the southeastern corner of the country, this park offers a mesmerizing landscape of dramatic volcanic coastlines...
Read more: Hidden Wonders of Cabo de Gata: Volcanic Landscapes & Mediterranean MagicMojácar , a hidden gem in the heart of Andalusia, is a white-washed paradise that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. 🌟 If you’re looking for stunning Spanish charm , history , and beautiful landscapes , Mojácar is a must-visit s...
Read more: Mojácar Magic: The Most Beautiful Town You've Never Heard Of!Join 8-year-old Hayden as he takes you on a special tour of the Route 66 Café located in the Tabernas Desert , Almería! In this fun-filled video, he offers his honest review of this quirky and iconic café along the famous Route 66 . It's an off-the-b...
Read more: Exploring Route 66 Café in the Tabernas Desert | Kid’s Tour & Review!Welcome back to our journey of farm restoration and olive grove revival here on our abandoned farm in Almería, Spain ! 🌿 In this video, we're taking on one of our biggest challenges yet: bringing century-old olive trees back to life. These beautiful...
Read more: Chainsaw Newbies vs Century-Old Olive Trees: The Second Day of Transformation | WORX Cordless 20V ReviewThe moment has arrived! After battling challenging weather conditions, countless hours, and 9 full battery charges, I’m finally wrapping up the patio cleaning project using the WORX Hydroshot Cordless Pressure Washe r . In this follow-up video, I sho...
Read more: Cordless Pressure Washer vs YEARS of Grime: The Finish Line with WORX HydroshotIf you’re living off-grid or restoring a home, you need tools that are as reliable and versatile as your lifestyle. That’s why we’re so excited to share our experience with the WORX Hydroshot Cordless Pressure Washer —a perfect addition to our WORX b...
Read more: Cordless Pressure Washer vs Years of Grime – WORX Hydroshot ReviewWelcome to the latest chapter in our Spanish farm restoration journey! In this exciting episode, we're tackling our first major pruning project on our abandoned farm , focusing on century-old olive trees that haven't been maintained for over 20 years...
Read more: Chainsaw Newbies vs 100-Year-Old Olive Grove - Can We Revive It?Join the McGlynn family as we embark on a thrilling treasure hunt right here on our Andalusian cortijo ! While working on our farm, we stumbled upon a mysterious box , and of course, the excitement was palpable – is it treasure or something ominous ?...
Read more: Cortijo Treasure Hunt: Kids' Exciting Mystery Box Reveal in Rural AndalusiaJoin the McGlynn family on our journey to make our Andalusian cortijo more accessible and welcoming for everyone, especially for grandparents . In this exciting episode, we tackle the challenge of building a gentle ramp through our olive grove to hel...
Read more: Cortijo Renovation: Building an Accessible Ramp in Our Andalusian Olive Grove🌟 Join the McGlynn family on a special journey to the heart of Andalusia as we experience the Albox Festival in the beautiful Almería region of Spain! We’re soaking up all the magic of this traditional Spanish celebration, and we’re taking you along...
Read more: Hidden Gems of Andalusia: Albox Festival Highlights | Family Travel Vlog👋 Join us as we explore the stunning Lorca Castle in Murcia, Spain! On this family outing, we visited one of Spain's most remarkable medieval fortresses , perched high above Lorca town and surrounded by breathtaking views of the countryside. While th...
Read more: Roadside Discovery: Exploring Lorca Castle in Murcia ,Spain🚐 From Andalucía to the UK : Our family’s road trip wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it was an unforgettable adventure filled with stunning coastlines, charming castles, and, of course, a little chaos along the way! Our journey took...
Read more: Castles, Coastlines & Chaos: Our 3-Country Motorhome Adventure from Andalucía to the UKJoin our family on an unforgettable day out at the Mini Hollywood Oasys in Tabernas , Almería , home to Europe’s only desert ! 🌞 After settling into our new Spanish home, we decided to take a break from unpacking Ikea boxes and venture out into one o...
Read more: Our Wild Adventure in Mini Hollywood Oasys - Exploring Europe’s Only Desert! 🌵🎬Welcome back to another exciting chapter in our Spanish adventure! This time, we encounter an unexpected challenge with our trusty motorhome, Dave, as we navigate the rough terrain of our new property in Almería . In this episode, you’ll see how the...
Read more: Stuck in Spain: How We Solved Dave's Muddy Predicament with a Stone Ramp! 🚐🪨 #MotorhomeLife #SpanishAdventureWelcome to Part 3 of our adventure! The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived. Step inside our Andalusian farmhouse (or as we like to call it, our cortijo ) and experience the magic of seeing it for the first time. In this episode, we wa...
Read more: Part 3: First Peek into Our Andalusian Farmhouse – Starting Our Dream in Spain! 🇪🇸🏡 #MoveToSpain #NewBeginningsWelcome back to Part 2 of our incredible adventure as we make our way from the UK to our new home in Almanzora, Spain ! This episode takes us from the scenic roads of France to the excitement of finally reaching our abandoned Spanish farm . The antic...
Read more: Part 2: From French Roads to Spanish Keys – Our Abandoned Spanish Farm Adventure Continues! 🇫🇷🚐🇪🇸We’re officially starting our epic motorhome adventure from the UK to Spain , and we couldn’t be more excited! In this first episode of our family road trip series , we’re journeying from our home in the UK to pick up the keys to our abandoned Spanis...
Read more: From UK to Our Abandoned Spanish Farm: Our Epic Motorhome Adventure Begins | UK to Spain Road Trip!Before we set off on our first motorhome road trip from the UK to Spain , we decided to enjoy one last adventure in the UK. We spent the day exploring the beautiful Castle Ashby Gardens , the historic home of the 7th Marquess of Northampton , soaking...
Read more: Castle Ashby Gardens Day Out: Our First UK Road Trip Before Heading to Spain!In today’s video, we’re super excited to introduce our new off-grid internet solution: the Starlink Mini ! With our big move to Spain and plans for an off-grid lifestyle on the farm, staying connected is a big priority. So, we unbox and set up our ne...
Read more: Starlink Mini Setup for Campervans: Wi-Fi Anywhere with Starlink (Field Test)As we get ready for our big move to Spain , we’re taking the first step toward becoming more self-sufficient and off-grid by setting up a solar-powered system for our future cortijo life. In this video, we unbox and set up the Bluetti PS54 power stat...
Read more: Off-Grid Power Setup: Unboxing the Bluetti PS54 & Solar Power for Our Spanish Adventure!We’ve officially upgraded our off-grid power game with the Bluetti AC200 Max , and we’re thrilled to share our unboxing adventure with you! This powerhouse is going to be the heart of our solar-powered setup when we make the big move to Spain and sta...
Read more: Unboxing the Bluetti AC200 Max: Our Off-Grid Power Station for Spain Adventure!We’re getting our motorhome ready for our upcoming adventure to Spain , and in this video, we’re taking you through an essential part of the process: checking the gas system ! Whether you’re new to the motorhome lifestyle or have been living on the r...
Read more: Motorhome Gas System Check: Preparing Our Motorhome for the Journey to Spain!The moment of truth has arrived for our eBay motorhome ! Will our motorhome pass its MOT inspection, or will we face unexpected repairs that could jeopardize our road trip to Spain ? Our dreams of an epic adventure in Andalusia are hanging in the bal...
Read more: MOT Results Are In! 😱 Will Our eBay Motorhome Pass? | Spain Road Trip at Stake 🚐🇪🇸We’ve officially hit the road! The McGlynn family’s first overnight trip in our new motorhome was nothing short of unforgettable. From celebrating a special 89th birthday to discovering the beauty of the New Forest and encountering wild horses and do...
Read more: Our First Overnight Motorhome Adventure: New Forest, Wild Horses & Mottisfont!Have you ever made an impulsive decision that completely changed your life? Well, we certainly have! After a few drinks on our wedding night, we made the craziest eBay bid ever — and it turned into the dream motorhome we never saw coming. In our late...
Read more: We Bought Our Dream Motorhome – The Craziest eBay Bid Ever!We’ve got some exciting news to share with you all – the McGlynn family is moving to Spain ! After months of planning, we’ve taken the plunge and purchased a Cortijo (Spanish country house) in the heart of Almería , Andalusia . But here’s the twist:...
Read more: Big News: We’re Moving to Spain and Restoring an Abandoned Cortijo!
