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Casa Branca

Selfcatering House
Salgueiro da Lomba (Figueiro dos Vinhos). Sleeps: 8

Casa Branca - Click on photo for more photographs from Casa Branca.

This 100 year old house has just been beautifully and lovingly restored by designer / owner Robert Conway together with a team of local craftsmen using traditional materials. Being built on a hillside it is afforded spectacular views over the valley and mountains beyond.

Throughout the house the floor is tiled with traditional terracotta, the walls are smooth white plaster and the ceilings are painted wood with traditional beams. The whole is lit by dimmer controlled spotlights.
The three bedrooms are situated on the ground floor, two (one of which is en-suite) have large French doors opening onto a covered patio with steps down to the courtyard. Also on this floor is the large family shower / bathroom plus the utility / laundry area. A large open staircase leads to the stunning, vast, living / kitchen area which opens through French doors on to a huge veranda with fantastic views over the valley and mountains beyond.

There is also a built in BBQ and an open staircase leading down to the large courtyard which can be used either for leisure or parking. Off this there are steps to a large grassed garden area which in turn leads to the beautiful 15mx10m chemical free/natural Bio-pool surrounded by water plants.

Facilities:

Two wood burning stoves
Cooker with ventilation hood
Freezer
Fridge
Washing machine
Spin dryer
Dishwasher
Kettle
Toaster
Microwave
Cd player / radio
Electric oil heaters
Iron
Hairdryer

Meals (If Available):
Welcoming meal / drink supplied subject to time of arrival.

Extras (if any):

Number of bedrooms: 3

Prices in euros:
PRICES PER WEEK THROUGHOUT YEAR 2010

GROUP SIZE..............PRICE

02 PEOPLE..................491€
04 PEOPLE..................710€
06 PEOPLE..................975€
08 PEOPLE................1075€

Notes:

- Prices for 3 / 5 / 7 people on request.

- There is a 10% reduction on the second and consecutive weeks of bookings.

- Prices subject to variation due to exchange rates and mix of ocupancy eg. double / singles.

- Additional accommodation available via our other properties see Casa do Pomar and Casa da Lomba & Annex

- 25% deposit required with booking, balance 14 days prior to arrival by euros or sterling equivalent. No credit cards.

- Welcoming meal / drink supplied subject to time of arrival.

- For those looking for something special/romantic for 2 people please look at the Main Annex on our property ref.Casa da Lomba & Annex

- Weekend rates and longer stay prices on request.

- Our Mission Statement- if we have forgotten to provide anything, we will within reason put this right.

Guestbook for Casa Branca

After having had the opportunity to visit numerous great places in Portugal over the last two year, we can truly say that we have kept the best for last !
You have created a jewel. We will highly recommend your place and will try to come back.
Family Möller - Wenner - Cascais - Portugal

*************************************************************************************

Senhor Robert
What an amazing holiday!
We surmised from the details and your emails that we were coming to something special but they could not adequately prepare us for the reality. You have built a wonderfull place here. The house, the location and the pool by themselves would have made it a holiday to remember but it has been your presence that has really made it so special. Your welcome, attentiveness, helpfulness and company have really greatly enhanced our stay. You have given us more awareness of local and national places of interest, history and customs that we would never had gained by ourselves. Thank you for everything - we have had the most glorious three weeks.
Rob, Hellen, Anna, Katie, Paul and Sharon
Milton Keynes - England UK

*************************************************************************************

Barcelona Team
Best landlord I've ever had !!!
Thank you for your time, your conversation, your humor, you precise information !!
We enjoyed alot as you've seen, short journeys, Bio-pool, long breakfasts, pool again, late barbeque, lakes and rivers. We'll hire you for our future house in North Barcelona, so improve your Spanish !
Un abraço !
Jordi, Oriol, Theo and Yolanda - Barcelona - Espanha

*************************************************************************************

Firstly I want to congratulate you on renovating with taste and quality. I can't get you authentic Portugal out of my head. I really appreciate you design and taste especially having rented and viewed so many properties in Portugal where quality wasn't always the same as my expectations and standarts. So many properties say renovated but are done by DIY enthusiasts with more enthusiasm than skill or taste. Well done for turning a small corner of Portugal in to a picturesque hamlet worthy of any rustic holiday post card.
Vickie Henderson / Malaysia

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CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Situated in the small mountainside village of Salgueiro da Lomba ( Willows on the Hill) with its stunning views near the charming town of Figueiró dos Vinhos, are five properties owned by English designer Robert Conway who over the last few years, together with a small team of local craftsmen has lovingly restored these properties.
One of the properties, Casa da Lomba has been featured in Portugal's leading house design magazine, Casas de Portugal.
The village is situated in the very centre of this beautiful country. The location offers a great jumping off point to explore so much that Central Portugal has to offer. Lisbon and Porto are approximately one and a half hours by car or train from the local station, 20 minutes away, thereby making daytrips easy and overnight stays need not be expensive . The trains are great and very cheap. For those wishing to potter locally there are a wealth of interest and activities. The Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is an easy 40mins drive and has mile after mile of golden sand backed with pine clad dunes. Beira Litoral is the name of this region which spans inland as far as Pedrogão Grande and adjoins there the regions of Beira Alta and Beira Baixa, all three areas are now known as Central Portugal.
The west of the region contains more or less flat countryside and then gradually climbs eastwards as far as the spectacular Serra da Estrela, Portugal’s highest mountains with a peak of just under 2000m, and this just two and a half hours away.

FIGUEIRÓ DOS VINHOS AREA

Locally is the historic world heritage city of Tomar (30 mins), and Òbidos the medieval walled city (90mins) deserve a visit. Then there is Coimbra (45mins) Portugal’s University City with Conimbriga, Portugal’s Pompei on route. The countryside in this area and eastwards is cloaked with a variety of trees including eucalyptus, cork oaks, mimosas, wild cherry, sweet chestnuts and pine making for a heady mixture. Our nearest town is Avelar (5km) offering the essentials and Pombal (30mins) has good supermarkets and mainline railway station. Figueiró dos Vinhos (15 mins) the local administration centre has a great Saturday market and it’s backstreets are worth a wander .

ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

Rockpool swimming (10 mins)
River swimming with sandy beaches (20 mins)
Municipal indoor pool (15 mins)
Water park (30 mins)
Horse riding (45 mins)
Donkey rides
Fishing / sea and river
Sailing
Canoes / kayaks
Mountain biking
Cycling
Rock climbing
4x4 offroading
Paintball
Rope rappel
Quads
Power gliding
Golf (60mins)
Hiking
Bird watching
Fauna / Flora
Painting / photography
Tennis
Sea sports / great winds and waves
Etc, etc
All of the above and more can be arranged for you.

The alternative being just a rural / countryside / beach relaxation.
So if you are looking for stimulation of both body and mind this area offers all.
* Our 15mx10m chemical free/natural 'mini lake' swiming area is now fully operational. The surrounding water plants will be then grown in by the Summer of 2009.

VENUE FOR ALL SEASONS

Activities / Nature / Relaxation

Most people when considering Portugal for a holiday think Summer / Algarve. Having lived in Central Portugal for the last six years I’ve discovered that this country has so much more to offer, and having made my home in the very centre of this beautiful country I know that I have so much that is an offer on my doorstep.

Yes High Summer is great but there are the wonderful periods of SPRING and AUTUMN which offer very different types of vacation. ‘GOOD WEATHER’ normally starts in APRIL and MAY can be so lovely, remember the seasons here are at least one month ahead of the south of the UK. The countryside is so fresh and green and alive with herbs and spring flowers. The skies are crystal blue and temperatures are warm enough to eat out of doors. Yes early mornings and evenings can be chilly but nothing compared with what you have endured back home, plus evenings around a log fire can be great.
It’s also a quieter time to visit cities such as Lisboa and Porto, both of which can be a days visit by train or car and overnight stays need not be expensive. We also offer to escort you so you discover the ‘locals’ cities.
SPRING is also a great time to drive through Portugal’s highest mountain range, maybe even with snowcapped peaks. Then there’s the coast just 40mins easy drive (Portugal’s road network is very good with light traffic) Here you may even have some sunbathing weather on the mile after mile of deserted golden beaches, backed by pine forested sand dunes. Not that you will encounter many Portuguese as they consider any period either side July / August as winter !

Then there is FUN AUTUMN, feel like taking your UK frustrations out by ‘beating olive trees’ !!!
All part of the traditional way of olive picking which takes place during the end of OCTOBER / early NOVEMBER. You can even take home a bottle of your own pickings. But before that in late SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER comes the grape harvest . So if you feel like helping with the picking and sampling some of Portugal’s great and inexpensive wines (avoiding we suggest the locals homebrew !) just get picking.
But the AUTUMN season offers so much more, whilst you can squeeze lemons all year and make marmalade both in summer and winter – did you know that orange trees produce twice a year ? How do you fancy eating figs straight from the tree, and have you ever picked a pomegranate?
Sweet chestnuts abound in OCTOBER, great for log fire evenings.

Whilst this all sounds very charming don’t forget that most of the local people live off the land, cultivating small areas between the rocks, it’s hard and they are amongst the last of a dying breed as the youngsters head off to the cities – shame.

Then there are the other outdoor pursuits ranging from rock climbing to 4x4 offroading and even Lisbon’s famous Mini Marathons across the two beautiful bridges in March and September.

Throughout the year there are Festivals of all sorts in cities and most towns. Full details of all the above on request.

THEN THERE IS CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR
How about getting ‘Away from the Madding Crowd’ Log fires, country and beach walks and maybe Christmas lunch on the terrace in warm sunshine. Just avoid the locals invitation for Christmas Eve dinner – boil salted cod!

So for whatever season we will do our best to help you tailor a fantastic holiday, just get in contact.

Guestbook for Casa Branca

After having had the opportunity to visit numerous great places in Portugal over the last two year, we can truly say that we have kept the best for last !
You have created a jewel. We will highly recommend your place and will try to come back.
Family Möller - Wenner - Cascais - Portugal

*************************************************************************************

Senhor Robert
What an amazing holiday!
We surmised from the details and your emails that we were coming to something special but they could not adequately prepare us for the reality. You have built a wonderfull place here. The house, the location and the pool by themselves would have made it a holiday to remember but it has been your presence that has really made it so special. Your welcome, attentiveness, helpfulness and company have really greatly enhanced our stay. You have given us more awareness of local and national places of interest, history and customs that we would never had gained by ourselves. Thank you for everything - we have had the most glorious three weeks.
Rob, Hellen, Anna, Katie, Paul and Sharon
Milton Keynes - England UK

*************************************************************************************

Barcelona Team
Best landlord I've ever had !!!
Thank you for your time, your conversation, your humor, you precise information !!
We enjoyed alot as you've seen, short journeys, Bio-pool, long breakfasts, pool again, late barbeque, lakes and rivers. We'll hire you for our future house in North Barcelona, so improve your Spanish !
Un abraço !
Jordi, Oriol, Theo and Yolanda - Barcelona - Espanha

*************************************************************************************

Firstly I want to congratulate you on renovating with taste and quality. I can't get you authentic Portugal out of my head. I really appreciate you design and taste especially having rented and viewed so many properties in Portugal where quality wasn't always the same as my expectations and standarts. So many properties say renovated but are done by DIY enthusiasts with more enthusiasm than skill or taste. Well done for turning a small corner of Portugal in to a picturesque hamlet worthy of any rustic holiday post card.
Vickie Henderson / Malaysia

*************************************************************************************

Availability & Booking:

Contact the owner of Casa Branca direct.

Pure Portugal advertises on behalf of hosts / owners, who supply their details, and are responsible for accuracy and booking arrangements.
Pure Portugal Ltd is a workers co-operative company, registered in England no: 5123198
Registered Office: 93 North Street, Burwell, Cambridge, CB5 0BB, United Kingdom.