This area is one of the most desirable in Galicia: the Rias Baixas (southern estuaries) region which benefits from a much milder climate than the northern coast, a microclimate where wine grapes and even kiwi are cultivated.
Here you are very close to Portugal and its natural border of the River Miño, also pretty beaches, the picturesque historical town of Tui, and Monte Aloia Natural Park.
There's a great deal to explore in a leisurely way, without having to drive far.
The cottage itself is an attractive place to spend a holiday. You have the comforts and facilities of a proper holiday home in the setting of an inhabited hamlet, with a garden, a barbecue and a large swimming pool backing onto woodlands.
Shops are a short drive, but there's a restaurant at walking distance that specializes in large lunches of barbecued meats and salads.
With its pillared porch and stone build, finished with plenty of wood, the cottage is typically Galician. The interior is smartly rustic, very neatly presented and cared-for without being ostentatious.
The villa is arranged on two levels, joined by a few steps.
On the lower level, an inviting living room with a series of large windows that fill the room with natural light has a delightful extension in the form of a new conservatory, which doubles as another living and dining room and opens to the walled garden; there are two matching bedrooms here also.
A few steps lead up to an open-plan kitchen and dining room, a bathroom and a third bedroom.
The living room and conservatory have views of the garden. A door opens to the lawn, where garden furniture is arranged for you to savour sweet, countryside air over a quiet lunch or a barbecue.
The kitchen also opens to a furnished porch-terrace for sitting out.
Slip out the rear gate of the garden by the wooded area, and the shortest of paths –just a couple of steps– takes you round to a separate and private fenced-off pool area with a good-sized (8 m x 4 m) swimming pool and sunbeds. There are a couple of houses nearby, but there is still good privacy here. The property is bordered at the back by woods.
The rural location is perfect for those seeking a well put-together house in a quiet spot, yet near interesting attractions.
Just 20 minutes from the villa, the briefly named Tui is situated on the broad River Miño, which marks the frontier with Portugal. It’s a delightfully small, historic cathedral town of old stone buildings and squares, a lovely place to walk around and explore.
From here you can continue over the old iron bridge built by Gustav Eiffel into Portugal and drive to beaches. Or drive directly up into Natural Park of Monte Aloia, where paths and streams crisscross the pine forests and there are picnic spots. The mares here are said to be made pregnant by the wind (the Galicians are Spain's most superstitious inhabitants).
You can also take river trips from Tui and rent kayaks or bicycles. It's a lovely, green area of Spain.
Also 20 minutes away, on the coast, beaches are a big draw and the port of La Guardia has fish restaurants that are worth the trip alone. A great chance to sample the seafood for which Galicia is famous throughout Spain. La Guardia dock has a fish auction at four in the morning –not that we expect you'll want to miss out on sleep to be there, but this long-standing tradition is quite an event. La Guardia also has an interesting well-preserved fortress from where the view stretches to the Cies Islands (you can take a boat there).
On the way to La Guardia, there are two detours that we recommend. One takes you to the Muiños do Folón: nineteen water mills, the oldest of which dates back to the 12th century, built in a cascade down the hillside. The other takes you up Mount Tecla to hilltop Celtic ruins and extraordinary high views down the River Miño estuary and over the ocean.
Portugal and another beach are even closer to the villa. In ten minutes you can be lazing on the small but well-kept river beach at Vila Nova de Cerveira.
It's exciting to be able to experience another country and culture so easily and we thoroughly recommend Vila Nova de Cerveira for its charm and culture. A medieval fair is held here in the summertime, there is hilly countryside with great views, and the river beach has lawned areas to spread out towels, and a very good outdoor bar-café.
If Galicia and its wonderfully generous cuisine is a pleasure, Portugal offers even cheaper options. For sandy coastal beaches, simply follow the road down to Ancora, which is superb.
The area around this villa is perhaps best known for its wines. The Rosal vineyards produce some of the best albariño white wines in Spain. A chilled glass of albariño with fresh fish or prawns is one of the highlights of a holiday here.
If you want to visit one of the Spain's most beautiful small cities, Santiago de Compostela is an hour and a half by car. Santiago also has an airport with low-cost flights.
Vigo is the closest airport for the villa, but do consider also Porto in Portugal, a major airport with an easy motorway link to southern Galicia.