Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
English Comforts in the Heart of the Beautiful Portuguese Costa Verde
5 Guest Rooms
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Our home is situated in the village of Candemil in the very north of Portugal, on the Costa Verde. It is surrounded by wooded mountains and spectacular views over the Rio Minho and into Spain. We offer you a friendly, homely atmosphere, comfortable rooms, continental breakfast, TV lounge and use of our own private swimming pool and an acre of orchard to relax in. We offer 4 and 7 night golfing packages for the more dedicated golfer or a per room per night accommodation for a relaxing family holiday. Candemil is within easy reach of the many historic and ancient towns and cities of northern Portugal. Also the Peneda-Gerês National Park is within an hour's drive. The area offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, golf, horse-riding, painting, walking and water sports. If all this isn't enough and you just want to laze about for a day or so, the wide and sandy, uncrowded beaches of the blue Atlantic coast are just 10 km. away. Something for everyone!
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 1 April 2011 - 30 April 2011 | £15 | 1 | ||
| 1 May 2011 - 31 March 2012 | £25 | 1 |
Notes on prices
Prices shown are per person per night in UK Pounds. Continental breakfast is included in the price. For more detailed information about our room prices please see our website. Conversion to euro will be agreed at time of payment.
We have held our prices static for the fifth year in view of the present economic crisis, except for the winter period where we have had to take extra heating into account.
Changeover day
Arrival and departure times are at your convenience.
Notes on accommodation
The English House is a large reconstructed farmhouse in an acre of orchard.
We have our own private secluded swimming pool, surrounded by a half-covered patio area for lounging and eating and a large garden for playing games or relaxing.
Breakfast is served in the separate dining-room or on the patio.
This is a bed and breakfast establishment and guests are not normally allowed inside the kitchen. However, it is our desire that you should enjoy your holiday and we will do our best to meet all your needs, especially where young children are concerned. All bedrooms have tea and coffee making facilities, fans and extra electric heaters, if necessary. Hot water is provided via a solar panel which has an electric back-up if necessary.
Children are very welcome here, as you will find they are throughout Portugal. The Portuguese people adore children and will make a fuss of them whenever possible, especially in restaurants and shops.
Accessibility
Although our property has not been specifically adapted for wheelchairs, our property is on the level and the ground-floor rooms are easily accessible for wheelchairs. There is one small step from the car park to the patio area and another into the house itself. There is a further step down and up again to the corridor leading to the bedrooms. The garden area is fairly flat, although we are in a mountainous region and the surrounding countryside is fairly hilly.
Outside
You will enter The English House via the car park, which can accommodate six cars.
To your left is the house and secluded swimming pool area and to your right is a short path to the orchard. The swimming pool is 6m x 11m, 1m – 3m deep. It is surrounded by a patio area, covered on two sides by the house porch. The other two sides are hedged. The acre of orchard has plenty of room for the playing of ball games or for just relaxing with a book or chatting to friends. There is a round stone table with sunshade and chairs and also a rustic bench. Other chairs can be provided if necessary. Between the car park and the swimming pool there is a small courtyard with table and chairs. On the patio by the swimming pool there is a large table, which can seat up to ten people, where breakfast can be served if required. There is a small BBQ which we are happy to man if requested. Two other tables and loungers are also available in this area, as well as a comfortable sofa.
Coast/Beach
The nearest coastal beach is at Caminha, 10 km. away, at the estuary to the Minho and there are several more to choose from along the coastal road to Viana do Castelo, 40 km away. There are also several small river beaches at Cerveira, 4 km, and beyond. All the beaches are very large and sandy and almost deserted for most of the year. There are also several areas with rock pools. There is also a beautiful river beach at Ponte de Lima, 30 km.
Golf
We offer special golf packages, which include transport to and from Oporto airport and the golf courses for up to 4 people, B&B, all golf fees and an evening meal in a local restaurant, or you can mix and match your golf with a family holiday.
We use two golf courses – Ponte de Lima, a 6605yd. par 71 woodland course, in Portugal and Mondariz, a 6369 yd. par 71 parkland course, in Spain. Ponte de Lima is a beautiful, well laid out undulating course. The 3rd hole, a 684 yd. dog-leg right is the longest hole in Portugal and one of the longest in Europe. The Mondariz course runs alongside the river Tea and is reasonably flat with elevated tees and wide fairways, with well-protected greens. The signature hole 17, Par 3 has water on the right and a ten foot high sheer faced bunker on the left. The 7 night package includes 5 rounds of golf and costs £466 p.p and the 4 night package includes 3 rounds of golf and costs £266 p.p.
Special interest holidays
Golfing packages available on request.
Travel
The nearest airport is Oporto, which is an hour's drive along an almost deserted motorway. Although we are willing to transport visitors from the airport, car hire is highly recommended as the village itself is quite isolated.
Distances
We are 4 kms. from the A3 motorway and 110 kms. from Porto. The nearest town is Vila Nova de Cerveira, which is 4km. The Atlantic Ocean is 10 kms. away but there are beaches all along the river from Vila Nova de Cerveira onwards. The tourist town of Caminha is 10 km. and Valença is 7 km. The town of Viana do Castelo is 41 km. and Braga,and Vigo, in Spain, are both 50 km.
Ponte de Lima is 30 km. The beautiful Peneda-Gêres National Park is 40 km.
Further details
There is only one small shop and café in the village but there are excellent restaurants and opportunities for shopping and sight-seeing in the surrounding towns of Valença, Viana do Costelo and Ponte-de-Lima. You may even catch one of the many festivals.
Banking is available in all these towns and cash-point machines are abundant. They all give information in your chosen language when you insert your card. Valença has a fortified city which has been turned into a tourist attraction where you will find shops selling all the local handicrafts. Towels and linen are particularly cheap. Every town also has a weekly market where these items are also available. An hour’s drive away is, of course, the city of Porto where you can visit the port wine lodges and take a trip down the Douro valley.
The area offers excellent opportunities for bird watching, fishing, golf, horse-riding, walking and cycling, water sports and much more. The Serra DÁrga is a nearby mountain range where a major road takes you over the mountain from Covas to Caminha and beyond. This route is ideal for bird watching and walking and there is an information centre and a beautiful picnic area on route. From Vila Nova de Cerveira you can drive up to the Stag monument with wonderful views over the Rio Minho and the surrounding countryside. Just over the river Minho is a celtic village with incredible views. Close to Ponte-de-Lima is a lakeside area designated to the conservation of birds and wild-life, where designated walks are laid out and cycles can be hired. Slightly further afield is the beautiful Peneda-Gêres National Park. Horse-riding can be arranged nearby.
The river Coura runs from Paredes de Coura into the estuary at Caminha, where it meets the Rio Minho. Both rivers contain trout. River boat trips are available in season.
Ponte-de-Lima has one of the best golf courses in the area. Discounts can be arranged.
Booking notes
A deposit of 25% is required on booking and the remainder is payable on arrival. We will accept cheques in Sterling and/or you can pay in euros or travellers cheques. Please quote ownersdirect when booking.
Guest comments
We have enjoyed our stay with David & Christine. Good tips on where to eat and where to visit. We have had a great time and are impressed with North Portugal. Thank you very much. A&P
Thank you for a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Your advice on everything from where to eat and the best restaurants to what to see in each location has been invaluable. We have had a wonderful time. W&K
Thanks for a wonderful stay at Candemil. We have enjoyed ourselves very much and have greatly appreciated your hospitality. R & S
Owner profile
Your hosts
About the owner
Our names are David and Christine White and we are semi-retired and live here full time. Between us we have six grown-up children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and lots of friends in England who enjoy coming here for their holidays. We have also made lots of friends in the area from all nationalities. At the moment we have two dogs. Sandy is a medium sized brown dog who was found wandering in a pack on the golf course and who produced six pups within eight weeks of moving in with us, all of whom we found homes for. Chalkie is a little off-white terrier type dog who arrived on the patio one day and decided he liked it enough to stay. Both dogs get on very well together although Chalkie tends to be a bit of a fighter and will take on any dog no matter what.
Year purchased: 2001
Why the owner chose a guest house in this location
We first visited Portugal in 1981 and immediately fell in love with the people and the laid back way of life. We then spent many years travelling around the country and the further north we came the more we liked it. We decided to look for a house anywhere north of Lisbon but preferably north of Porto close to the coast but also near the mountains and the beautiful Peneda-Gerês National Park. When we first saw this house we realised that it had everything and more than we originally wanted - a full size, secluded swimming pool, six bedrooms and an acre of ground. It was being run as a B & B so we decided to continue this on a casual, part-time basis. The extra income helps with the winter bills and we enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and speaking English with them.
Unique benefits of the property
The property is 4km. from the A3 motorway an hour's drive from Porto airport and within easy reach of many historic towns and tourist attractions as well as wide uncrowded beaches. For golfers we can obtain discounts at the beautiful and challenging Ponte de Lima Golf course.
There are several bars and restaurants in the surrounding area and we can recommend the best places to try the various local specialities.
We have an extensive library if you wish to borrow or exchange a book to read and we have several guide books and maps and tourist brochures that you can peruse at your leisure.
We run a small private bar and will provide sandwiches if given prior notice. You may also make use of our BBQ on request. Tea making facilities are available in your room.
For booking and further information
Property Ref P3870
Contact Name:
Christine White
(PORTUGAL) +351 251796755
preferably by email
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref P3870
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