Beautiful traditional Galicia villa with gated pool and internet

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Rustical´s review                                                  See prices

Galicia is always an interesting challenge when it comes to finding that winning balance of traditional with comfortable. We see traditional houses that turn out to be monastic in their furnishing, and plush properties that we find simply soulless. We have to say “no gracias” and move on.

This property has it just right. The architecture is thoroughly traditional and the accommodation is not just comfortable, it’s warm and inviting.

You can have a wonderful family holiday here in greenest Spain, just half an hour from the coast.

At Rustical Travel we also like it appealingly rural and this is just what it is offered here. Quality, intimate gardens (and a pool) go with the house and the location is delightful: this is genuine Galicia.

The property forms an L-shape around a walled patio and is in fact two stone cottages in one. But you do not share with anyone else: it is rented together as a single property, although for dates that avoid July and August, the larger house may be rented on its own (and then the smaller cottage remains closed).

Having two cottages means that if you are two families holidaying together, you can still have some independence. The 3-bed and 2-bed house adjoin each other with their own entrances from the patio.

It also means double facilities: two kitchens, living areas, TVs and DVD, and WiFi internet. And you can all join together to share meals in the main house, which has a dining table and chairs to seat 10 people. We'd have liked a dishwasher, but we couldn't fault it otherwise.

Stone walls and rusticity in wooden floors and furnishings are contrasted with some colourful painting, good beds, smart fittings. It’s a holiday home with many qualities and a lot of heart.

We like it when houses have a bit history, too. The caretaker explained that she knew the property very well because many years ago it was old village school and she used to climb the stairs to go to class... Several original elements have been left in place when practical, appropriate and attractive, such as an old marble basin and a grand stone fireplace (firewood and central heating are included here).

The accommodation looks onto a lovely old patio and enjoys good privacy, backing onto other houses a decent distance away. In the corner of the patio (which is cobbled and uneven, but we found this was part of its genuine charm) is a sheltered recess resembling a wine cellar, set with barrels and stools.

The patio door opens to a parking area and from there to the private garden.

The garden is hedged round and landscaped on two levels. You have a beautiful, large swimming pool here, surrounded by a well-kept lawn.

There’s also a barbecue and, sheltered by trees, a children’s playhouse with a few toys, very neat and nicely kept. This is an idyllic place for a family holiday. The pool water is salt-filtered to be kind on eyes and the pool garden is gated.

The garden and pool are not overlooked and, in any case, in such a quiet rural location as this, the local people respect your privacy completely.

The centre of the village is just a few minutes’ walk. You can do your shopping here (there’s a particularly good butcher’s) and there are a couple of good places to eat out or have drinks, including a hotel and a rustic bar.

Just 6 km away, the small town of Pontecaldelas, prettily set by the River Verdugo, offers a number of restaurants. Galicia has a deserved reputation for food so expect to eat very well!

The area is beautifully unspoilt and within half an hour there’s so much to discover and enjoy: signposted walks along paths through lovely woods and to waterfalls, medieval architecture, petroglyphs, views of the ocean and estuaries from the Pontevedra mountains, including the legendary O Seixo, forested hills where wild horses and even an occasional protected wolf still roam.

The coast is a big attraction, of course! We place the nearest good, sandy beach at 40 minutes. Portocelo beach in Marin is not just the closest one, it has the accolade of a Blue Flag for its clean water and facilities. Nearby Poio offers other good beach options.

And by no means to be disregarded are some lovely river beaches for river swims and picnics. There’s one just 2 km from the villa.

In the same area, horse riding is possible for all the family, following routes through the countryside and over the river.

If you fancy a town visit, you can drive or catch a bus from the village to Pontevedra, which has a historic centre.

And this being Celtic Galicia, there is always an interesting atmosphere, some food fair or other going on, especially seafood, and the welcome of what we think are the friendliest people in all of Spain.

Highly recommended.

See other:  Large Villas in Spain

Facilities (Please note: AG27 is single property of two houses rented together and never shared with another family)
3-bed house
4 ring ceramic hob; microwave; oven; coffee maker; kettle; toaster; TV & DVD; Hi Fi; WiFi internet; hairdryer; central heating; glass-fronted log fire (firewood included); all bedding and towels provided, including pool towels.

2-bed house
4 ring ceramic hob; microwave; oven; old stone oven; coffee maker; kettle; toaster; TV & DVD; CD player; WiFi internet; hairdryer; central heating; open log fire (firewood included); all bedding and towels provided, including pool towels.

The property has:
Private, gated, salt-filtered swimming pool (10 m x 5 m and 1.10 to 1.60 m deep); sunloungers and hammocks; garden table and chairs; shady barbecue area; children’s play hut with a few toys; utility room with washing machine, dryer and iron and board; cot, highchair and baby bath (on request); private parking.

Distribution
3-bed house (on three floors)
Ground floor: open plan kitchen-dining room and a few steps down to the living area.
First floor: small reading room; twin-bedded room; bathroom (shower/WC).
Second floor: double-bedded room with ensuite bathroom (shower/WC) and balcony; twin-bedded room with en suite bathroom (shower/WC) and balcony.

2-bed house (on two floors)
Ground floor: recessed cellar bar beneath gallery; utility room and firewood store.
First floor: living room; kitchen / dining open plan; twin-bedded room with en suite bathroom (shower/WC) and door out to gallery.
Up a few steepish stairs to: double-bedded, wood-panelled room with en suite bathroom (shower/WC).

Exterior
Patio and bar area; gated garden with pool area and sunbathing area on lower level, and barbecue and playhouse on upper level; parking.

Notes:
-The pool is open all year round, weather permitting, but not heated and definitely unsuitable for winter swims.
-The two cottages are rented together and never separately to different clients. Outside the high season months of July and August, the larger, 3-bed cottage may be rented on its own and then the 2-bed cottage remains closed and unoccupied.

Location & Distances
On the outskirts of the village of Lama, near Ponte Caldelas.

Shopping, bar-restaurants, chemist, bank ATM	5 mins walk
River swims and picnic spot	5 mins drive
Ponte Caldelas (riverside village, good restaurants)	8 mins
Natural Parks for walking and waterfalls	15 mins
Pontevedra	30 mins
Marin (quality beaches)	30 mins
Poio (equally good beaches)	45 mins
Vigo Airport	45 mins
Santiago de Compostela (and Airport)	1 hr
La Coruna Airport	1 hr 40 mins
Porto Airport (Portugal)	2 hrs

Booking information for this property
Changeover day: Saturday from June to September.
When the property is booked for 6 people at the reduced prices, the 2-bed cottage is closed and unoccupied and you enjoy full private use of all exterior areas and facilities, pool and gardens.

Prices and dates