Charming farmhouse hideaway with pool near Asti

Cascina Caterina is our lovely holiday home. It is a chic C19th farmhouse in the verdant heart of Piedmont, famous for its beautiful countryside, vineyards and all things foodie. It's perfect for families and groups of friends - secluded and relaxing with an acre garden and a small private pool. The best-ever pizza restaurant is down the road, and it's well-placed for trips to the Ligurian coast, Turin, Milan & designer outlet shopping, wine-tasting and some of Italy's top restaurants at Alba. We bought our gorgeous farmhouse nearly four years ago. It is already a lovely, comfortable place to stay and we're only going to make it better. There are four double bedrooms, two with king-size and two with double beds. All have views over the garden and woods beyond. The main bathroom on the first floor has a large bath and wet room-style shower; there are two more, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. The kitchen is fully equipped with oven, hob, microwave, wood-burning range and two fridges with freezer space. There is a washing machine in the downstairs bathroom. Downstairs there is also a cosy reading room with three comfy chairs and a room with TV (please nite that it is not linked up to channels but there is a DVD player and a big library of films) with a sofa and chaise longue - ideal for lounging. The garden is large with peach, apple, pear and plum trees and is open to oak-filled woods that front the house. It's not a manicured space, so great for relaxing and playing. The pool - which is private and for sole use of guests at the house - isn't large (4.5m x 9.15m x 1.25m deep), but a great space for chilling together. There is a parasol and outdoor seating on the courtyard, a barbecue, plus another parasol and loungers in the pool area. You'll have the whole property to yourselves. I live in London, so you'll need to be a bit self-sufficient, but I'm always happy to talk via phone and email. Plus Marta, who'll greet you, is English-speaking and lives locally. You are within walking distance of the village of Belveglio which boasts a bar, shop and the best pizzeria in the area. The nearest supermarket is a five-minute drive. All around you is rolling countryside chequered with vineyards - they're a Unesco World Heritage Site. A 20-minute drive will take you to the beautiful city of Asti or the bustling non-touristy but equally charming town of Nizza Monferrato. Alba is 30-40 mins away; Turin is an hour. You will need a car to enjoy your stay properly. There is a parking area at the house. There are two mountain bikes (one women’s, one men’s) at the farmhouse, which you can borrow. At the moment I have to work in London during the summer months. It’s important for me that the house is enjoyed which is why I am renting it out. It is not a commercial venture - which is reflected in the price. And guests should note that this is a home not a hotel so please don’t expect perfection. This is an idyllic place for children but please note that the pool and garden are not enclosed so supervision is important outside. There are no child gates on the stairs. Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must be supervised and cleaned up after AT ALL TIMES. There is no fence around the property. The farmhouse is reached via a short private road, which is unsurfaced, but you don't need a four-wheel drive, just drive very slowly. The wi-fi is through satellite so is not super-fast. We don't have air-conditioning, but there are fans in the bedrooms. We are in the middle of the countryside so expect wildlife! There are beautiful deer which come to graze on the bank sometimes early morning and evening and there are pesky mosquitoes in high summer - so bring repellent. If you see a wasp nest, contact our housekeeper Marta who will get it removed. During July and August I only book Saturday to Saturday.