Montinho Farm Cottage

Montinho is a fully renovated farm cottage with two double bedrooms and bathrooms, open-plan fully equipped kitchen and eating and sitting areas. It is situated in 60 acres of pastures, oak forest, organic orchard and olive grove. Montinho is a luxurious farm cottage surrounded by nature on a 25 hectare farm, with organic olive groves, pastures and oak forest, run by Peter and Rosemary Eden, who have been here for more than 25 years. They produce olive oil and also have a black sheep flock, a horse, donkey and mule which graze around freely. Wildflowers, butterflies and varied birdlife abound. This is a paradise for walkers, mountain bikers, bird-watchers and explorers. From the farm, there are views of the medieval fortified village of Marvão, perched upon its craggy hill-top. Montinho Cottage has 2 comfortable double bedrooms with bathrooms, open-plan fully equipped kitchen and eating and sitting areas with log burner, and shady patio with barbecue. Montinho combines comfort and a charming rustic Alentejo style. Outside there is a large saline swimming pool (shared with Moita Raza) with green lawns and garden, and many peaceful corners to read a book and dine al-fresco. - The main bedroom is furnished with hand-painted pine furniture and has a very comfortable double bed and ensuite bathroom. Double doors open onto a private patio with stunning views of Vale de Rodão and Marvão castle. -The twin bedroom features red Alentejana hand-painted furniture, a separate bathroom with a Raindance shower. -There is space for an additional bed if needed and cots are available. A complimentary welcome pack is provided on arrival including a bottle of local wine, freshly baked bread, fresh fruit and home grown organic olive oil. Firewood is provided in the winter and there is full central heating. Montinho has wireless internet and a dvd player. There is no TV so that guests can focus on soaking up the sun, the scenery and the fresh air of the Natural Park. There are mountain bicycles for guests to explore the local quiet roads and tracks and excellent riding stables close by. We provide maps for walking in the hills with instructions for some of the local tracks, as well as advice about the best places for birdwatching. Marvão and Castelo de Vide, both 5km, have various restaurants and cafes, and there is a Pingo Doce supermarket in Castelo de Vide. The nearest airport is Lisbon, a 2 hour drive on good roads to Castelo de Vide. The hills of the Alentejo, in which the São Mamede Natural Park is located are just two hours inland from Lisbon on Portugal’s border with central Spain, and are widely recognised as one of Europe’s most beautiful and unspoilt areas. The hills run along the border and spill over into Spanish Extremadura as the Sierra de San Pedro, with the highest point at 1,025 metres, Pico de Sao Mamede. It is a magical region of wooded hills, rocky crests and fertile valleys, criss-crossed with mediaeval tracks and archaeological remains – a region where time has simply stood still. Life has changed little in the picturesque white-washed villages where sausages, bread, cheeses and regional wines are still produced in traditional ways, and local produce feeds the communities. Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede The Serra de Såo Mamede, a Natural Park since 1989, is at the junction of the Mediterranean and Atlantic climatic zones giving a diverse fauna and flora typical of both. Cork oak woodlands and olive groves mingle with sweet chestnut and Pyrenean oak, and botanists will be interested in the numerous types of wild flowers here. It is also a fascinating area for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers being home to abundant wildlife such as mongoose, wolf, lynx, wild boar and over 120 resident and migratory bird species including several species of vultures, and eagles including Imperial and the Bonellis Eagle, the Park’s emblem. This beautiful mountain range separates the drainage basin of the Tagus to the north from the basin of the Guadiana to the south. The main rivers that have their sources in this range are the rivers Sever and Nisa, flowing towards the Tagus, as well as the Caia River and its tributary, the Arronches, flowing towards the Guadiana. The town of Marvão is an ancient fortified town located on a ridge of the range. Its emblematic castle is an archetype of medieval castle-building. It dates back to the times of the Reconquista, the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Besides Marvão, Portalegre, Castelo de Vide, Arronches and Alegrete are other towns in the area worth a visit.