This charming country house sits in the hills just outside Santa Barbara de Nexe, elevated for far-reaching views and set in its own private, mature gardens. It’s a kick-back-and-relax sort of a place that works very well for families or a group of friends looking to get out and enjoy the green natural landscapes of the Algarve as well as its famous golden beaches.

As is so often the case with more traditional villas, the space is very generous, with plenty of comfy seating both inside and out, and multiple terraces for sharing time together or enjoying a quiet moment to yourself. We particularly love the master double on the upper floor, complete with a fabulous, hard-carved headboard and a large sun terrace with magnificent views all the way to Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago on the coast. There’s a bath or shower room for each bedroom, so no-one in the group needs to feel short-changed, and loungers for all around the lovely, south-facing swimming pool.

Days can slip lazily by here with no need to think about anything except perhaps a nicely chilled Portuguese white wine and some fresh sardines for the barbecue, but when you feel like exploring locally, Santa Barbara de Nexe is a delightful place to start. Surrounded by gentle hills and olive and almond groves, it’s an authentic and thriving little town, popular with expats looking for peace without isolation and well-served with small restaurants and shops for all the daily essentials. If you’re here in the cooler months there’s an excellent network of short and longer hikes to enjoy through the surrounding hills, or if the coast is calling, you can be at the beach in around 30 minutes. For impatient younger travellers, Faro airport is a very convenient 15 minute drive away, while pretty Loulé, with its excellent covered market, is the same drive time in the opposite direction.