ALTHOUGH based only a few miles from the sunshine costas, themed weeks

offered by The Magic of Spain introduce holidaymakers to some of the

least spoiled parts of Andalucia.

On a painting week in Barriada de Cancelada or Jimena de la Frontera,

a private-house party of about a dozen guests (with a professional

instructor) will get their inspiration from some of the most spectacular

scenery, flora and fauna in Spain.

Horse-riding weeks are based around a privately-owned ranch near Ronda

and the week includes four days' riding, as well as a visit to the

famous ''white'' horses of Jerez.

All meals are included in the price. Painting weeks in June and

October cost #825 per person; riding weeks, in November, January and

February, cost #860.

The same company offers a range of holidays in other parts of

Andalucia, including Seville, and on the Costa de la Luz, a relatively

undiscovered area east of Gibraltar on the Atlantic coast.

* The Magic of Spain: tel (081) 748 7575.

* A LARGE selection of privately-owned country houses and villas, many

with their own swimming pools, are offered by Vintage Holidays -- whose

property in a village is often the only one there for rent. One of its

larger houses, in Catulunya 20km from the seaside resort of Palafrugell,

is Mas Angalada, a stone-built ''Masia'' or Spanish farmhouse for 14

people, surrounded by 30 hectares of vineyards, a vaulted dining room

(with its own oil press), and a billiard room.

The cost for a week is from #1995-#3250, for the property only.

In Mallorca, Casa el Molino, a converted mill will sleep six people in

its three bedrooms, each with a bathroom. There's a traditional

farmhouse kitchen with open hearth, while outside are lawned gardens

with mill wheel, large swimming pool and a barbecue house. Cost of this

property is from #395-#1045 for one week. Air fares are not included,

but may be obtained at low prices.

* Vintage Spain: tel (0954) 261431.

* PARADORS, the Spanish state-owned chain of hotels -- sometimes

purpose-built in areas of interest with a shortage of tourist

accommodation, but more often brilliant conversions of ancient historic

buildings -- have always been difficult to book, the trouble being that

Spaniards get there first.

Unicorn Holidays specialises in holidays based on these hotels. They

vary from a converted ninth-century castle to an ultra-modern building

in Segovia -- and the UH brochure illustrates 77 of them. The company

can tailor-make holidays either to suit a traveller's personal

requirements, or it can suggest pre-planned itineraries. Its ''Three

Classic Town'' programme includes stays at a converted Moorish palace

near Seville, at Cordoba, and at the glorious little Parador San

Francisco in Grenada.

The price for this tour costs from #686-#752 for six nights, including

air fares, car hire and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

* Unicorn Holidays: tel (0582) 834400.

* THE Brittany Ferries service from Plymouth to Santander takes about

24 hours on one of the line's most luxurious car ferries -- the Bretagne

and Val de Loire. (In winter the service sails from Portsmouth.)

Once in Santander, you can either roam free, using pre-paid hotel

vouchers, or follow a pre-booked 14-night route the ''The Pilgrim's

Way'' to Santiago de Compostela, returning via Villafranca, Burgos,

Pamplona and Fuenterrabia.

Self-catering apartments in the enchanting medieval village of

Santillana del Mar provide a perfect base for exploring this fascinating

region, with the sea and some excellent beaches only a short drive away.

The ''Pilgrim's Way'' self-drive tour costs from #619 per person

including return ferry, and 14 nights' hotel accommodation with

breakfast. Seven nights at the Golf Pedrena apartments cost from

#197-#361, including the ferry crossings.

* Brittany Ferries brochure service: tel (0752) 269926.