N65 Casa da Barge Venade, near Caminha

A feature of this delightful 100 year old house is the summer house, housed in the Espigueiro a few yards from the main house and which consists of a kitchenette (with 2 gas hobs electrical plate and a gas water heater) and shower room on the ground floor. A steep, unprotected, open stair case leads to the first floor where there is a double bed. The pool area is overlooked by an outdoor eating area beneath a canopy of grapevines, kiwi fruit and passion fruit. On the first floor is the main living/dining room with balcony, fully equipped for eating al fresco, which in turn overlooks the valley and the pool. The compact kitchen is fully equipped. Bedrooms consist of a double and a twin both with en-suite shower and a further two doubles sharing a full bathroom. At ground floor level, down a wide, winding staircase is a huge games room with half size snooker table, cable TV and sound system and working fireplace. Double doors lead out onto the courtyard. Also at this level is a shower room and a small single bedroom. A renovated Portuguese country home, it has the traditional stone stairs (not guarded by a handrail) on the outside to access the first floor.

Our Opinion
A truly delightful house, full of character with plenty of space and set in very rural surroundings. The small room in the Espigueiro is a romantic hideaway. The enormous games room gives an alternative soft sitting area. Now our favourite house in the North.