One special Cottage with its own private pool, stunning grounds, lovely views.

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. Thank you also for leaving the cottage an easy clean. Much appreciated. It has been unusually hot from time to time - but the breeze holds up as ever to cool us down nicely. Very glad you enjoyed the pool and the new covered seating area. It is proving popular, especially in the late evening it seems ! I must update the photos... Welcome any time ...

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. So glad you enjoyed your stay. It is a special place for nature and peace....bit not so remote you can't get to supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies etc. very easily. It was great to meet you from two ends of Canada !

Thank you for taking the time to review the cottage. I am so glad you loved my gentle old dog.... Manuel He is a star! Even taking people on walks if they want to so they don't get lost... He is also good with children and visitors dogs, which is a bonus. Recalling my time of long hours and stress, it is good to hear that you got the much needed peace and relaxation. Your work schedule is intense so a do nothing time must be appealing. Hope I got the balance right - twice daily pool checks and being around if required whilst not intruding on your much needed privacy.. Thank you for leaving the place so clean much appreciated. Welcome any time

Thank you for reviewing the cottage and for leaving it an easy clean - much appreciated. So glad that you got your escape into peace as you said. We all need it from time to time. For sure if visitors need a lot to do other than bird watching, fishing, nature and historic sites then the Algarve would be the choice. There are actually a lot of historic things in the area but not well publicised. Villages around with quaint places and usually good views from high points. Settlements going back to pre historic times. I'm sorry if I didn't give you enough restaurant information as there are many! The town square in Ourique is lined with them. As with those on the ICI they are all maybe 20 minutes drive away but that's the exchange for total tranquility in the countryside I guess. Pleased you enjoyed the one in Ourique that you went to. Good food. Great to hear of places in the UK familiar to me. Stay safe and well -lovely to meet you.

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. It was kind of you. So glad that you enjoyed the privacy and peace of the cottage and pool to relax and unwind. Look at the views and listen to birds - no city noise. That is the aim. So many busy people come here to get away from everything !! Although if needed beaches etc are about 45 minutes away. Restaurants etc 15/ 20 minutes. Thank you also for leaving the cottage an easy clean. Much appreciated by us all.

Thank you for your kind review. Good to hear that you were comfortable in the cottage and enjoyed the peace and beauty of the place. The exchange for tranquility is being off made roads for the last part of the journey. That said we will put up a clearly visible sign at the turn off to help locate the cottage. It was a pity about the rain but badly needed in the winter after severe drought. The bonus is that our lake is back! Thankfully it didn't rain the entire time you were there so you did get to see the landscape. Welcome any time and thank you for reporting the small breakage! Very considerate.

Thank you so much for taking time to write a review - really glad you enjoyed your break from the world! Thank. you also for leaving the cottage easy to clean it is so much appreciated. It is meant to be a private retreat to totally relax. We try to ensure a good internet recognising that if people need to check in on work (ouch!) it can be stressful if the internet is not good. There are plenty of restaurants locally and it is easy to drive to the West coast or Algarve if any guests want the sea or a more noisy day! Take care of yourselves you are welcome any time to chill !

Wow that's a great photo from the highest point around but still on the land. In spring all that sun scorched grass is carpet of blue, white, red and yellow wild flowers and green grass. it is quite stunning and lasts until the sun becomes hot. It is hard to describe the place or take enough photos as there are so many different areas ... the pool with plants around overlooking the forest is quite different from the wider garden. Many hectares to explore. Often people keen on birdwatching stay and if family don't share the interest they can walk the tracks, go round the lake or laze by the pool ! Thanks for taking the time to do a review...

Thank you for your kind review. I am so glad you were re charged and relaxed after all the cities you visited! Rested and ready for the rest of your trip. Enjoy !

Gosh. Thank you for such a review! Very kind. It is a good place for bird life and I'm grateful for the list of those seen in various places nearby that you left for me. I do know people love to relax here. It is peaceful and re charges the batteries. Thank you for pulling off the bedding. Very helpful. You were lovely guests and are welcome any time...

Thank you for taking the time to review and for the lovely message you left me. Thank you also for leaving the place an easy clean.. so much appreciated. It's always great to hear that guests have had a good time. We try to be around to help if needed but vanish if not so people can have total privacy. We definitely need to get better photographs as everyone says they don't do the place justice. Very unusual for me not to be there but good to learn that our helpers can step up to the mark! You are welcome any time - lovely guests !

Thank you Andy for your kind words. It was my real pleasure to welcome you and your family to this lovely area,and I am delighted that you enjoyed every moment you were here.Young Master James's company was an added bonus for me and I missed him after you returned to the UK indeed I still think about him from time to time and very much hope we shall meet up again in the not too distant future. Best regards Mike.

Thank you so much for the kind words and the lovely photos you sent me. I know that the cottage photos need updating as they don't show either it or the surroundings to the best - everyone says that. Very happy that you had a peaceful time and saw some lovely birds and the spring meadows. Thank you again for leaving the place so clean. Next visitors will start to enjoy the heat, the pool and the BBQ ! Quite different in the summer. Stay well and safe.

There has been a hitch in the response page so my reply to this is a bit late. It is always a happy thing to hear that guests have had a good holiday. Thank you also for your very kind comments. We try to accommodate everyone's needs. There if you want anything but vanishing if not so you get total privacy. The night skies are wonderful and the birds, frogs, sounds of the natural countryside alway give pleasure. Yet you can get to supermarket garage pharmacy etc in about 15 minutes max. Plenty of restaurants also. The west coast beaches are lovely.. there are also some pretty towns to visit - we can provide information if anyone wants it. Thank you for leaving the place an easy clean.... always helpful

Apologies for the late response to your kind review. It has just come up. Technology !!Firstly thank you for leaving the cottage so clean. It is really appreciated as I try to keep the hygiene/ cleanliness standards high and it was so helpful. Very happy to learn that you enjoyed the special peace and beauty of the place which still has a happy knack of being accessible to the town for supplies, restaurants etc. I try to provide plenty of different seating places for sun and shade and people can always go round the land or by the lake if they wish. You were great guests and welcome any time. Stay safe and well ......

Great to hear you all had a good time. That is the aim. I'm always around if guests need anything or want information. Or if guest want to be left entirely alone then that is what I do - no one sees me! You were lovely guests. Welcome any time.

Thank you first of all for leaving the cottage so clean. Much appreciated. Good to hear that peace and quiet except for the birds ! was just right for you. It is a place of tranquility to re charge the batteries although we do get families with children playing in the pool all day and having BBQ.. Then the parents watch sunsets in peace after the children go to bed. It is a place for total relaxation not for bars and night life though there is a DJ who comes every year and creates his own music scene for friends round the pool!! You were lovely guests welcome anytime.

Thank you so much for your very kind words. You were a joy to meet and kept the cottage so clean which we always appreciate. Spring here is stunning. An unspoiled area of the world yet close enough to necessary shops. The roads are owned by the municipal authority not by us so we cannot mend them After four years of severe drought, torrential rain for many days destroyed the repairs done last year. As you said it's just a need to be careful and drive very slowly for the last 3 km or so. Hope you enjoy the rest of your tour. Stay safe and have a great time.

Gosh that's great to hear ! Not many places where you can set your wake up call as a real golden oriole ! Right now many bee eaters just off the terrace. Thank you for leaving the cottage so clean. Most of the guests are very good with this but you were exceptional ! Hard to tell anyone had been there... thank you so much as it really helps to keep up the standards. Very sorry to have missed saying goodbye with your early start. It was lovely to meet you. Being vegetarian it is not easy in local restaurants. except for pizza and egg things So as I love vegetarian food and cook it a lot I will make sure you get something by way of a change. Al the very best and good bird watching....

Thank you for those kind words about the cottage! We really must get some better photographs to show off its comforts and views. We try to be around to help if asked ( or to be invisible if that is what's required). Happy to advise where different birds and other wildlife can be seen. Hopefully too we can direct anyone to good places to eat and interesting towns nearby to visit - or the coast . Thank you for adding to our list with the restaurant you visited - card on the board in the cottage. Great pleasure to meet you both - welcome anytime.

Thank you Simon and Erica for your kind review It is so helpful to potential new guests to learn much about the area and features they hope really do exist from the website information We as the owners love sharing our guest cottage with like minded people who appreciate this unique location We hope that it will soon be time for your return when you will notice some more little changes Best wishes Mike and Vicky xx