Entire home

Modernised cottage with Annex and swimming pool in beautiful peaceful setting

Photo gallery for Modernised cottage with Annex and swimming pool in beautiful peaceful setting

Pool
An aerial view of the main area
An aerial view of the house
Entrance
Exterior
Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Sertã, Castelo Branco
  • Popular LocationIgreja Matriz de Cernache do Bonjardim4 min drive
  • Popular LocationSeminario de Cernache do Bonjardim4 min drive
  • Popular LocationSao Nuno Alvares Pereira5 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Master bedroom

1 King Bed

Optional Annex (extra)

1 Double Bed

Twin bedroom

2 Single Beds

Annex ensuite

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Downstairs shower room

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Modernised cottage with Annex and swimming pool in beautiful peaceful setting

As seen in Channel 4’s “A New Life in the Sun” Series 6, Episodes 16, 17 and 18.
Open all year round, Casa dos Cavalos is a Modernised detached cottage in Central Portugal, with optional Annex and a swimming pool, set in 2.5 acres of olive groves, fruit trees and a small forest. It is located in a little village called Arrifana, 6km from Sertã, 4km from Cernache du Bonjardim and a 5 minute drive from the main road IC8 and a few minutes walk to two local cafes/bars. It is very easy to get to, being close to main routes, but in an extremely peaceful setting surrounded by nature.
Sertã is a hidden gem in the centre of Portugal, set amongst river valleys, rolling hills, forests and little villages.
We are a registered Alojomental Local with Sertã council and comply with their rules and guidelines.

THE SPACE
Casa dos Cavalos is a modernised cottage with log fired heating system and all the amenities you would expect, tv, free wifi, microwave, cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, gas BBQ. The main house accommodates 4 people in 2 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms, lounge and kitchen/diner. There is also the option to rent the Annex, suitable for up to 2 people, containing 1 bedroom and bathroom at a small additional nightly fee. The Annex is only available to rent as an addition to the main house. A cot and high chair are available upon request. The lounge has a traditional Portuguese stone floor and log fire, the bi-folding patio doors lead to the shaded pergola with dining table and outside cooking facilities and looks out at the swimming pool, Annex and paddocks. The sparkling pool (built within the old threshing circle) for your exclusive use, is located in a lovely sunny position to the rear. It is cleaned and checked daily. There are corner steps leading into the shallow end and another set of steps in the deeper end. The depth of the pool is 1.0m at its shallowest and 1.5m at its deepest, the average summer water temperature is approximately 27°c. The pergola and patios are equipped with sun loungers, table and chairs and a gas BBQ and burners for outdoor living. The back garden is edged mainly by cork oaks, elm oaks and pine trees. You will be surrounded by nature, finches, tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches, siskins, squirrels and many other birds and there are bird baths and feeders to encourage the birds into the garden. The small forest is also full of wildlife activity. The paddocks are fairly flat and filled with olive and fruit trees, such as orange, lemon, cherry, Fig, plum and nectarine.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Sertã is a very pretty, bustling market town nestled in the hills of Central Portugal. It has plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars and cafes. You can enjoy a glass of wine or your dinner overlooking the river which flows through the town. The local wine, beer and food is good value, fresh and locally sourced. It has a tourist centre, chemists with English speaking pharmacists, a library with an English section and internet access and a sports centre boasting both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There is also a small renovated 1930s cinema.
Around the area are many beautiful river beaches, which are sections of river dammed off to provide safe swimming. They are provided by the councils, free to use and most of them contain changing, shower and toilet facilities and an on-site restaurant/cafe/bar. During the summer there are many local music, culture and food/drink festivals in Sertã and surrounding towns.
We are located just off junction 29 of the IC8, both Lisbon and Porto airports are within 2 hours drive away. Within 1 hours drive you can visit the larger historic towns of Tomar, Coimbra and Castillo Branco. The nearest costal town is a little over 1 hours drive away.

YOUR HOSTS
Your hosts, Alison and Rod, who will be there to welcome you on your arrival, are living at and renovating a neighbouring property. We respect your privacy, but you will often see us attending to the swimming pool or working in the paddocks tending to the trees, cutting grass etc. Please feel free to come and talk to us at any time. We moved from busy lives in the UK to this beautiful part of Europe in June 2016 to enjoy a quieter, healthier life in a better climate. We are very enthusiastic about our hometown and would love to share our enthusiasm with recommendations for places to visit and restaurants to try. Each day we are still astounded by the beauty of the surroundings, culture and friendliness of the people here and Portugal has been announced as the 3rd safest country in the world.

PLEASE NOTE
We do not have facilities for wheel chair users, the doors are not wide enough and we do,not have a wet room. However, if you have someone who cannot manage stairs, the detached Annex is ground floor level located to the rear of the property accessible via a path with one step which can be bypassed by using the grass. Anyone requiring this facility please ask.

Property manager

Alison and Rod Smith
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Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children must be supervised at all times

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please supervise children at all times and do not enter locked or fenced off areas

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 94467/AL

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Serta

Located in Serta, this vacation home is in a rural area. Capela de Sao Pedro de Castro and Penela Castle are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Malhadal River Beach and Praia das Rocas. Traveling with kids? Consider Sao Nuno Alvares Pereira and Geodesic Center of Portugal. Kayaking and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding nearby.
Map
Sertã, Castelo Branco

What's nearby

  • Igreja Matriz de Cernache do Bonjardim - 4 min drive
  • Seminario de Cernache do Bonjardim - 4 min drive
  • Capela do Bom Jesus - 4 min drive
  • Sao Nuno Alvares Pereira - 5 min drive
  • Pedrogao Grande Park - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • GALERIA Restaurante - 4 min drive
  • Lagar da Ribeira - 7 min drive
  • Santo Amaro - 6 min drive
  • Club da Sertã - 7 min drive
  • Club - 4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Modernised cottage with Annex and swimming pool in beautiful peaceful setting pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 6 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful
Lovely cottage in it's own grounds at the end of a quiet lane, but only10 mins from Serta town.Small but useful Pool, and all ameneties. Alison and Rod were the perfect hosts with excelent local knowledge. Perfect for a relaxing stay. We would recomend it to anyone. Thanks again, Joanne and Mark.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lauren Dempsey

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location and helpful hosts
Super week with river swimming and the festival in Sertã. Beautiful plum jam from Alison and a fabulous garden.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Andre H., Hoeven, nederland

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
August
We had a great time.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ronny H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastisch verblijf
Heel ruime , nette woning gelegen in het midden van Portugal. Ideaal om de streek te verkennen of even uit te rusten tussen citytrips naar Porto en Lissabon met kinderen.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

angelo n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
simplesmente lindo..... e tranquilo
para quem gosta da natureza e da tranquilidade não encontramos melhor que a casa dos cavalos, extremamente limpa, acolhedora, com tudo o que precisa para se sentir confortavel .o sr. Alison e sra Rod são de uma simpatia extrema e de um cuidado inigualavel. bem hajam : queremos voltar
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Alison and Rod Smith

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