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Minho Countryside. Ground Floor Farmhouse & Garden
Apartment, Covas (near Cerveira), Minho, Portugal
Apartment in old farmhouse. Eco-friendly, garden, patios, vines, sun room, views
Hills, forests, rivers, coast, villages. Ideal for quiet holiday in countryside
2 Bedrooms. Sleeps 4. From € 450 per week.
Ref.
1004
Out-door dining area, with a BBQ
A sunny area
A lovely corner in our garden
A charming ground floor apartment in a renovated eco-friendly farmhouse. Owners live upstairs. The house has been carefully renovated to keep its original charm. All the modern comforts. Two en-suite double bedrooms, with sofa-beds in the two living rooms. Sleeps 4-6. Based in the small rural village of Covas, in the Coura valley, with mountains all around. Peaceful and calm, but not far from small towns and villages. The historical city, Porto, is in about an hour's drive south and the charming coastal city, Vigo in Spain, about 45 minutes' drive north. Lovely coastline with sandy beaches close by and endless historical sites. We have a big terraced garden with lovely views over the valley and mountains around, with many different corners to enjoy. A shared swimming pool close by. Outdoor and indoor dining areas, barbecue on the terrace. Wireless internet access. Ideal for people wanting a quiet holiday, interested in enjoying and exploring the unspoiled Alto Minho.
The kitchen and dining table in the Sun room
The other living room
The Wine Room´s living room
The Wine Room with the original wine-press still in place
The swimming pool
The Birds Nest as we call it
The house and chapel
Our house at the edge of a village
Covas seen from the Serra
In our garden
Quiet corner
Village festivals
PRICES
Notes |
Start Date |
End Date |
Per Night |
Per Week |
Per Month |
Minimum Stay |
For two persons |
01-05-2013 | 30-06-2013 |
€ 450 |
4 Nights |
||
For four persons |
01-05-2013 | 30-06-2013 |
€ 550 |
4 Nights |
||
For two persons |
01-07-2013 | 31-08-2013 |
€ 550 |
4 Nights |
||
For four persons |
01-07-2013 | 31-08-2013 |
€ 650 |
4 Nights |
||
For two persons |
01-09-2013 | 20-10-2013 |
€ 450 |
4 Nights |
||
For four persons |
01-09-2013 | 20-10-2013 |
€ 550 |
4 Nights |
Notes about prices and payments
Prices are from 450 Euros depending on number of guests, please contact owners. We supply banking details at the time of booking and require a 25% non-refundable deposit upon booking and the balance to be paid 4 weeks before arrival.
Notes about changeover day
Changeover days are flexible. We ask guests to vacate by 10.30 so we have time to clean and prepare. The rooms should be ready to receive guests by 14.00.
ACCOMMODATION SUMMARY
Property Type
Apartment
Catering Basis
Self-catering
Floor area (m²)
50-100
Sleeps
4
Number of Bedrooms
2
Theme
Charming, Great Outdoors, Hideaway, Historic, Luxury, Mountain, Nature, Rustic, Sightseeing, Traditional Region, Unwind
Suitability
Children Welcome, Non-smoking only
Accessibility and Safety
Not Wheelchair Accessible, Smoke Detectors, Fire Extinguishers, Locks on all doors and windows
INDOORS
A lovely old farmhouse built in 1706 that has been carefully renovated and modernized. The property is in a small village, overlooking both farmland and woodland with the Serra de Arga beyond. The garden is terraced with lots of private corners to enjoy. It has beautiful views over the Coura Valley and beyond. Close to beaches, towns, small villages and historical sites. Ideal for people wanting a quiet holiday, interested in enjoying and exploring the unspoiled Alto Minho.
Bedrooms
| Bedroom 1 | Sleeps 2. 1 Double Bed, Ensuite |
| Bedroom 2 | Sleeps 2. 1 Double Bed, Ensuite |
Bedroom notes
Two bedrooms with double beds, en-suite bathrooms and private living rooms (with sofa beds). Bedrooms have TV´s.
The Wine Room is bigger and still has the old wine press in place. The Birds Nest has a calm feeling left behind by the birds who used to nest there. The whole area has been renovated and modernized but still has the feeling left from being an old farmhouse. Wi-Fi internet access.
Bathrooms
| Bathroom 1 | Toilet, Shower |
| Bathroom 2 | Toilet, Shower |
Bathroom notes
Two en-suite bathrooms with showers. Shower gel and hairdryers provided.
Kitchen
Fully-equipped kitchen, Gas or electric stove, Grill, Microwave, Fridge (large), Freezer, Kettle, Coffee-maker, Toaster, Tap water drinkable, Water filter
Dining Areas
Seats: 6. Dining Room, Dining Table
Living room notes
Two living rooms with sofa beds. We have a large collection of books and DVD´s which you are welcome to borrow. DVD-players are available. We have decorated the area with the many pieces of art and crafts we have acquired during our time working in various parts of the world. We hope this will give you the same pleasure it gives us.
Washing and Storage
Washing machine, Drying rack, Iron, Ironing board, Vacuum cleaner
Extras
Bed Linen, Bathroom Towels, Beach Towels, Hair Dryer, Soap, Cleaning Products
Internet and Communications
Internet/ Wifi, Printer, Local Area Guide, Maps
Entertainment
TV- satellite/cable, DVDs, DVD player, Books- all ages
Heating and Cooling
Room Fans, Heating (central), Insulated
Included in Price
Cleaner
Available upon Request
-
Extra notes
-
OUTDOORS AND GARDEN
The property overlooks farmland and woodland with the Serra de Arga beyond. The garden is terraced with lots of private corners to enjoy. It has beautiful views over the Coura Valley and beyond. The garden is full of flowers and outside the rooms is a small courtyard full of roses and screened by vines. There are many corners where you can enjoy the peace and quiet. If you want to sunbathe, there is a beautiful area with sun-loungers and a parasol if it gets too sunny. There is access to a shared swimming pool just up the road!
Garden Summary
Private Garden, Patio Area
Pool and Spa
Shared Pool
Outdoor Amenities
Barbeque, Outdoor Dining, Seating Area, Garden Furniture, Deck Chairs, Parasols
Sports Equipment
Not Available
Parking
Parking On Street
Extra Notes
LOCATION
Natural setting
Beaches/Coastal, Countryside, Cultural/Historic, Hills, Mountains, Nature Reserves, Rivers, Villages
OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Pursuits in the area
Birding, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Horse Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Water Ski
Pursuits at the property
Not Available
COURSES
Courses in the area
Art, pottery, photography etc, Cookery/ gourmet/ wine-tasting etc
Courses at the property
Not Available
In one of the small villages around Covas you may be able to attend a course in Pottery or Yoga. We may also be able to arrange a Port-wine tasting as we have some very knowledgeable individuals in our village. These courses or tastings are not always on-going, but we might be able to arrange for you to see or experience something special. We also have in our village some great cooks, who both make traditional Portuguese food, served in their home or can a prepare dinner for you.
DISTANCES
Distance to nearest place
| Place | Place Name | Distance |
Airport |
Porto |
90 Kilometers |
Train Station |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Restaurant |
Covas |
2 Kilometers |
Café |
Covas |
2 Kilometers |
Bar |
Covas |
2 Kilometers |
Bank/ATM |
Covas |
2 Kilometers |
Hospital/ Health centre |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Supermarket |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Mini-market |
Covas |
2 Kilometers |
Local street market |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Shopping area |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Petrol station |
Covas |
3 Kilometers |
Car repair/ garage |
Cerveira |
12 Kilometers |
Recommended transport
Car |
Car necessary |
|
Local transport |
Local transport not recommended |
Map Generating ...
REVIEWS |
Reviews Average: 5 of 5
Rating 5 of 5
My relaxing vacation.
By: Gudrun From: Iceland Visited: 10/2010
By: Gudrun From: Iceland Visited: 10/2010
I highly recommend this wonderful old farmhouse as the perfect countryside stay in north Portugal. It has been renovated in a very artful way, jet true to its rustic country setting.Every detail mirrors the fact that the owners are both artists, and have traveled all over the world. I truly had a most comfortable and relaxing week. The beds are great, the bathroom and kitchen are also very good.You will enjoy exploring the countryside surrounding the property. Mountain, beach, small towns etc
GUEST BOOK COMMENTS
August 2012
We rented this lovely accommodation for two weeks last summer and I can honestly say it is one of our best family holidays. The accommodation is simple, clean, and has been lovingly restored by the owners. Yet it has everything you could need. It worked so well for us with our teenage girls having two sitting rooms. It has a lovely terrace with great views and was so peaceful for relaxing, yet the pool is a short walk away if you want to cool off. The owner has thought of your every need and comfort to make your holiday perfect and our girls just loved Nesi (the dog).
June 2012
he village is rustic and charming, the mountains and surroundings are beautiful, and the accommodation is perfect. The locals are some of the friendliest folks we've met: when out walking with our three-year old in a stroller, the skies let loose a mighty downpour of rain and within a minute a random car passing by pulled up, the driver rolled down the window and handed us an umbrella... And Hjordis, our host at the Gallery Covas accommodation, saw to all our needs and made sure we enjoyed our stay. The perfect vacation. We look forward to returning to Covas.
August 2012
We were a group of 2 families with 3 children (ages between 5 and 8). The villa was perfect with the two separate living rooms, bedrooms, and a common kitchen + back garden. Apart from "harvesting" vegetables from the garden, it was really cool that the children could play safely there! The swimming pool is on different premises a short walk away, but not a big deal - in fact, better this way that the kids could not accidentally walk into the pool.
The view from the villa and garden are spectacular - the valley immediately below and hills rising on the other side. At peace with nature.
Our hosts were very friendly and went out of their way to make our stay very comfortable.
Covas itself is a sleepy little village, barely on the map. We took a pre-booked cab from the Oporto airport and stayed local for the entire week. There is a small but reasonable grocery store about a km from the villa, but beware of small-village-timings and Sunday closures! Not any restaurants to speak of, so if you plan to self-cater for the most time, it's fine. However, if you bring your car, there are more eating options, as well as beaches and other attractions not very far from there.
May 2012
It was a vonderful stay in fascinating and peaceful surroundings. The accomodation were beautiful and comfortable where old times and new met in good hamony.
The guesthouse is situated in a small, restful village, but a bigger one is not far away.
I can recommend to everyone to spend their holydays there and promise they will come back refreshed and most likely want to go back there at first opportunity.
May 2012
It was wonderful to arrive in Covas to relax, after a long walk on the Way of St. James the Pilgrims-way to Santiago de Compostela (El Camino de Santiago), in Northern Spain. My husband Ásgeir, our daughter Halla Bjork (16 years) and I, fully enjoyed our stay. What charmed us most, was to stay in this beautiful house, with all the modern facilities, but in a small country village, were a lot of things were like the "time had stood still". The house is tastefully decorated, the rooms well equipped, the beds comfortable and the garden beautiful. There are many walking trails around and a short drive to beaches and bigger villages and towns.
Hjordis, the owner is a lively hostess and takes good care of her guests.It was interesting to see Hjordis and Robin’s workshops, where they make jewellery and turn wood.
We will definitely come again.
For our summer holiday in 2011, we wanted to find somewhere close to civilisation, but also a bit secluded, and in Gallery Covas we struck gold.
The apartment that we stayed in was luxury itself, with ample space and beautiful furnishings.
We felt spoiled from the moment we arrived, as our hostess Hjordis took us out for a ride round the village and introduced us to local shopkeepers and restaurants. There was even a bottle of the local white wine that appeared in the fridge - quite delicious.
The facilities were ideal for us, with a well equipped kitchen for the days we wanted to cook for ourselves, and even a BBQ in the garden with an outside patio area.
Treats abound here - as we were invited to sample the produce in Robin and Hjordis' garden including tomatoes, grapes and raspberries.
Use of a pool just a few minutes walk down the road was a bonus, and the area is stunning, with local walks and interesting towns and beaches about 30 - 40 minutes drive away. Vila Nova de Cerveira is a charming town, just 30 minutes drive away, and in the other direction, near to the coast, the town of Cominha is definitely worth exploring
I just cannot praise this holiday highly enough. Hjordis made us feel so welcome and also introduced us to her homeland of Iceland, which is now on our 'places to visit' list.
All I can say is - Go there!
Jonathan and Beverley Evans
OWNERS PROFILE
About
About
The owners are Hjördís Guðbjörnsdóttir (Icelandic - Public Health Nurse) and Robin Bovey (Canadian/British - Biologist with a lot of interest in Nature Conservation). We worked for many years for International Humanitarian Organisation´s in different parts of the world. Since we bought the house in 2006, Hjördís has been in charge of the house renovation but Robin is working for UNEP in Sudan. Robin is also a keen woodturner so when he is at home he spends a lot of time in his workshop - you can take a lot of his work on his site http://logs2art.eu/ We also have a web-site where you can get more information about us and the area http://gallerycovas.com/
What is special about the property
We travelled a great deal over the years for work and wanted to find a house where we could create a calm and peaceful accommodation for guests, as that was often what we needed ourselfs. We think we have managed to create that. The house is peaceful and quiet and the Alto Minho is a very interesting area, full of natural beauty and interesting historical sites to visit. What is great about the location
What is so great about Covas is how rural it is - it is just a small country village. But still so close to all the things you want from a city. Beaches are close by, both in Portugal and in Spain but we are very close to the border of Spain. All around Covas there are big and small villages and towns with different things to look at. 
CONTACT OWNER
Property Ref.
1004
Hjordis Gudbjornsdottir
Languages spoken:
Icelandic, English and minimum Portuguese
Icelandic, English and minimum Portuguese
This form may only be used by those interested in staying at the property.
Contacting owners for commercial or marketing purposes is strictly prohibited.
Contacting owners for commercial or marketing purposes is strictly prohibited.
© Copyright - Alexander Corrie (Hideaway Portugal). All rights reserved. Todos os direitos reservados.
