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Lakeside Boutique Hotel in the Wild Hills of the Lower Alentejo
- Mountainous
- Riverside / Waterfront
- Village / Rural
- Baby Equipment
- Internet Access
- Log Fire
- Beach nearby
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Horse Riding
- Therapies
- Walking
- Watersports
- Child Friendly
- Cook available
- Ideal for honeymoons
- Pet Friendly
A 10 bedroom boutique hotel with double rooms and family suites, right by a beautiful Portuguese lake. Complete privacy in a wonderful setting in the wild hills of the lower Alentejo with direct access to one of Europe’s largest and cleanest lakes. Nature, views, food, wine, included extras – and wonderful staff, whose total commitment to making your stay a success will draw you back again and again. Whether you are traveling alone, looking for a relaxing family getaway - even wanting to accommodate a bigger group - this Quinta will cover your every need. A charming and unique stay in Portugal.
Just north of the Algarve, in some of the most remote and unspoilt countryside in Europe, lies Quinta do Barranco da Estrada, a small oasis on the shores of a vast freshwater and mosquito-free lake. It nestles in the wild hills of the lower Alentejo - a sparsely populated region of exceptional and unique beauty. It really is rural tourism at its best. Sitting on the shores of one of Europe’s largest and cleanest lakes, just over an hour north of Faro International airport, this is a stunning lakeside location where you can really get away from it all in the real Portuguese countryside. This isn’t your average holiday accommodation - for a start there aren't TVs in every room, (it's hard to find one at all!), but if you want to come here to watch TV we'd prefer you saved your money in any case. This is a place that's special, in short, paradise! Despite being such a small and secluded venue, the Quinta has regularly won prestige awards, including Tripadvisor’s “Best of the Best” with over 500 reviews, and 92% rating the Quinta as “Excellent”.
Surrounded by Montados, (cork oak forests), and wild hills in a region of exceptional beauty, especially in the Spring, the Quinta is only an hour to the south or west coasts. The lake, right on your doorstep is one of the largest in Europe. For the active there’s plenty to do! Swimming, sailing, canoeing and fishing are available for children, beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike right on your doorstep, while a vast sparsely populated countryside dotted with small Alentejan “montes” set amidst hillsides of cork trees awaits all walkers; we’ll even provide the dogs if you want some company! The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of Cork Oak forests, ("Montados"), and self-sufficient homesteads, small farms and eucalyptus forests. It is in a wonderful birdwatching area and the Quinta's owner, Frank, is a professional Birdwatching Guide who's been running guided birdwatching and photography trips throughout the whole of Southern Portugal for over 25 years. Canoeing is included in the price of your stay, and there is a Lazer sailing dinghy available as an extra. With a coastline just short of 250 kms there’s plenty of scope for exploration, and with no currents these water-based activities are as safe and enjoyable as you can get. The Quinta’s lake is an excellent fishing location.
Getting There:
TRAIN: Faro is 1.5hrs away, and Lisbon 3hrs away via train to our nearest station (Santa Clara/Saboia). This is 10 miles away from the Quinta and there are usually 2 trains per day from either Faro or Lisbon. AIR: Flights into Faro or Lisbon via most scheduled or charter flights from most major airports. Faro is around 1.5 hours drive from the Quinta, and Lisbon around 2.5 hours. ROAD: The Quinta is happy to arrange collection from the airport, or guests can arrange their own car hire.
Nearest Airport:
Faro 65 miles
Nearest Train Station:
Santa Clara Saboia 10 miles
Nearest Bus Stop:
Top of the World 2 miles
Nearest Restaurant:
Private restaurant on the premises
Nearest Beach:
In the garden
Nearest Shop:
4 miles
Nearest Market:
10 miles
Car Hire:
Optional
Interior Details
The Quinta sleeps a total of 26 guests in 10 bedrooms – 8 twin / double en-suite rooms, and two family suites (one sleeping 4 and one sleeping 6). Each one is airy, cool and comfortable, and each ensuite bathroom is spacious. Decoration is a gentle mix of Portuguese and English and the overall feeling is simple and welcoming. It has two large drawing rooms with log fires, a sauna, a vine covered terrace and lawns within the 2 acre garden that drops down towards the water. There is a professional chef at all times -breakfast, lunch and dinner are available for guests. Much of the excellent home-made food is fresh from the organic garden; honey from hives on the hillside, free-range eggs from our chickens, bread baked daily with flour from the local mill and, of course, fish from the lake. The Quinta was designed and built by the present owner in an eco-friendly manner and thus doesn't need air con. We have an ipod dock connected to an amp and speakers rather than a cd player.
Exterior Details
There is a roofed terrace, a vine covered terrace and various lawns within the 2 acre garden that drops down towards the water. Everyone notes that we don't have a swimming pool; why should we with the lake on our doorstep?! The temperature for over four months of the year is the same as a heated pool in any case and, being clean enough to drink, it's a wonderful improvement on the cold, salty sea or a mouthful of chlorine!
Further Details
Ideal for Families, as a retreat for stress relief, for Honeymoon couples and romantic rendezvous', as a company incentive destination, for small special interest groups, for rental as a fully catered private villa, (with either three or ten rooms), for hen parties or private parties in general or as a film location. The Quinta provides a flexible, personalised service, and prides itself on its ability to respond to individual needs.
Conditions of Rental
Please contact the property for full details and any requests. The Quinta has one family suite that has disabled facilities and is wheelchair accessible, but in general, being on the side of a hill, it isn't the best venue for someone wheelchair bound.
