Wake up to the sounds of nature, slide open the glass door and there in front of you is the sparkling pool. The view is stunning - by day and by night. Watch the mist lift over the mountains in the early morning, and at night enjoy the twinkling lights of the villages around in the distant landscape.
The house is surprisingly spacious - with its high wooden beams and pine ceilings.The bi-folding doors on the veranda give the house extra space and light and the wood burner gives warmth and atmosphere on cold winter nights (note: all the rooms have central heating as well).
The two bedrooms have large wardrobes, comfortable armchairs, tables and chairs, bedside lockers, rugs and lamps.The front bedroom looks over the pool, the garden and the distant mountains and valleys, the back bedroom overlooks trees and nature.
The bathroom is quite unique - with a heavy tinted glass wash-hand basin, a large shower and state of the art towel rack for warm towels on chilly Winter days.
The kitchen is equipped with a washing machine, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, cooker, hob, microwave and hand-chosen crockery, pots, pans and glassware. The kitchen table seats 6 and the table on the veranda seats 8. The wood burner on the veranda uses wood, provided by the owners.
The kitchen has a table, chairs, satellite TV, DVD player, books to read during your stay and the glass doors open onto the veranda, with table/chairs, sofa, wall-mounted satellite TV (which has Netflix) - overlooking the pool, a stone's throw away.
There is Wifi throughout, even on the veranda.
The owners live at the main farmhouse (a stone's throw away from the Pool House) and are there should guests have any queries, or just want general info about where to eat out or go shopping.
It is a large, salt-water pool, with an additional bathroom and terrace below. There are sun-loungers and tables and chairs around the pool. Towels are provided by the owners.
The farm is a working vineyard, making red and white vinho verde. Guests are given a bottle or two during their stay. They are also welcome to help themselves to fruit in season (figs in the Autumn, kiwis, oranges and lemons in winter and plums/passion fruit in the summer).
All around there are excellent walks - through the forest to Sameiro or Bom Jesus. Down in the valley you can walk part of the Santiago de Compostela trail. In Taipas you can go to the thermal spa, with hot pool, sauna, Turkish bath. Or, go visit the nearby Celtic settlement of Citânia de Briteiros.
Before coming, Virignia always sends guests a list of ideas of what there is to see and visit in the area - there is a lot, with Guimarães, Braga, Porto, Ponte de Lima, Esposende, Gerês all nearby.
If you just fancy a quiet holiday, with the odd walk and good food - this is the place for you. There are many restaurants in the area - catering for all budgets. The nearest is just 5 minutes drive away - or a 20 minute walk (but quite a steep road). And, the bread van comes to the house daily - so, you won't go hungry!