Galicia holiday villa near unspoilt coast and Santiago Compostela

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Rustical´s review                See prices

There are very different aspects to the Galician coastline, the soft lines and sandy beaches of the southern rias baixas contrasting enticingly with Galicia’s wild, virgin Costa da Morte in the north.

From here you can explore them both.

For some time now, we have been wanting to invite our discerning clients to discover the Muros Estuary especially, but also the Costa de Morte, and we are pleased to be able to offer this accommodation for four people in an enviable location, just 1 km from where the river opens to the sea at Muros, offering a typical Galicia ria beach, attractive and unexploited.

At just 30 minutes from delightful Santiago de Compostela and its Airport (see Galicia map), it's not just a very interesting option, it's also surprisingly accessible.

The stone-built cottage is an unpretentious affair. The interior is neat and unadorned. It has its own distinct charm and everything you need for a perfectly pleasant holiday stay.

The garden to the rear with its lawn, trees, flowers and complete privacy is quite lovely and the furnished terrace is, we thought, the property’s best spot.

The house’s living room is divided by a stone arch between a warmer area with a fireplace for winter fires, and a fresher, more summery sitting area, with access to the terrace and garden. An eclectic choice of furniture places together comfortable sofas, a rocking chair and 1970s-style armless chairs.

The kitchen is the focal point of the house. It’s modern country-style with a wooden ceiling and has immediate access to the gardens. There’s a barbecue patio at the front of the house, too, decorated by flowering plants and climbers. This is a great spot to enjoy local charcoal-grilled fish or meat without having to leave home.

Upstairs, two wood-floored bedrooms, unfussily functional but with pretty views of the gardens, share a bathroom. 

The small terrace and back garden, utterly private, are quite irresistible. Once outdoors and you go beyond there, though, you are surrounded by woods and unspoilt nature, stealing the limelight from the relative simplicity of the interior decoration. There's a beach just 15 minutes' walk away.

Although the owner told us that many people are pleased to simply enjoy the immediate surroundings, we urge you to venture out to make the most of what for us is a very exciting area, starting with one of Spain’s most beautiful, historic and likable cities: Santiago de Compostela, just 30 minutes away from the cottage.

The house belongs to Porto de Son and the Muros e Noia estuary, an area of great potential for tourism and nevertheless still quiet and undeveloped. Being within the estuary mouth, the beaches near the cottage are less exposed and their waters warmer and gentler than many on the coast, where tidal undertow can make swimming unsafe. Ornanda beach, 1 km away, is the closest. It is very safe and has beach facilities. It tends to be pretty popular in the summer, although hardly a problem in an area where beaches abound, including naturist options at Castro Baroña and La Furna.

Muros is an enchanting old village on the sea made from the same granite that characterizes this final stretch of the Rías Baixas estuaries and the Costa da Morte (Coast of Death) to its north. Narrow, twisting streets end in small, columned plazas. It’s 40 km from the cottage and well worth a visit. In summer, a ferry will take you (and your car) from the yachting port of Portosín (just 4 km away) across to Muros, cutting out the road which skirts the estuary and getting you to Muros even earlier for some seafood, a wine or two, or a trip on a small launch from the pretty fishing village.

In the same Muros area, geometric rock formations emerge from the hillside of Monte Louro as if designed to please the eye of those who ramble its slopes; but you don’t need to go that far to enjoy fine walks, what with the granite hills of Sierra de Barbanza much nearer the property. Here you find dense forests and a thunderous river called Des Pedras. From the top of Mount Curota the views are tremendous, one of those rare vistas embracing mountain and sea, with the beautiful Arousa ria to one side and the Muros & Noia estuaries to the other.

Those who harbour a fascination for ancient human civilization will want to search out the Sierra de Barbanza’s 5,000 year-old Arca de Barbanza dolmen, or the one in the Mouro Cave. These megaliths represent extraordinary archeological treasures – but they’re not so easy to find: you have a challenge! 

Also recommended is a visit to the coastal hill top ruins of Castro de Baroña, the Iron Age fortified village once inhabited by the Celts. You can see this in one of the photos. It's nearby at Porto do Son.

Don’t miss the protected beach area of the Corrubedo Natural Park, just 30 minutes from the property. Its transient dunes and beaches of finest sand are a natural marvel. Kept virtually free of human exploitation, this is one of the most important and valuable ecological enclaves of the Galician coast.

Finally, we come to the Costa da Morte to the north. It’s a good hour from the house but powerfully impressive. Here, the sea shows its ferocious aspect on a coast battered by the Atlantic. It’s Galicia at its most savage and mystic. Along this fearsome rocky coast which bears the name of death, hundreds of sailors have lost their lives over the centuries. Here it is nature, not man, that calls the tune.

Facilities
4-ring vitroceramic hob; oven; microwave; wood-fired oven; coffee maker; toaster; fridge-freezer; washing machine; TV/VCR; open fireplace (no central heating); private gardens and furnished patio with barbecue; all linen provided; parking is 30 metres from the property.

Distribution:
On two floors
Ground floor: from patio to kitchen / diner with garden access; summer & winter living areas with access to garden.
First floor: two double-bedded rooms with shared bathroom/WC (shower over bathtub) .
Exterior: front patio with barbecue; rear garden and terrace.

Notes:
-Arrival at this property is from 6 pm to ensure a thorough and complete clean and preparation for you.
-Pets are not accepted here (sorry). Please ask us if you want to take a pet on holiday: we´ll find you somewhere else.

Location and Distances
The last house in a small hamlet (no services!), with forest to the rear and a 15-minute walk to the nearest beach. Shops, restaurants and bars are 3 km away.

Muros ria beach (summer bar restaurant)	1 km
Major supermarket, bars, restaurants	3 km
Portosin (summer ferry to Muros)	4 km
Noia (all facilities, Sunday market)	7 km
Muros (seaside village)	40 km
Corrubedo Natural Park (dunes and beaches)	30 mins
Santiago de Compostela (historic town and airport)	30 mins
Costa da Morte	1 hr
A Coruña (La Coruna) Airport	2 hrs
Vigo Airport	2 hrs 30 mins
Porto Airport (Portugal)	3 hrs

Booking information for this property
Start and finish day: has some flexibility.

Prices and dates