Montaria Lodge

Montaria Lodge sits on the slopes of Serra D'Arga, a stone and timber house built for groups who want space without losing comfort. Six bedrooms sleep up to twelve guests beneath a vaulted wooden ceiling, with wide glass doors opening onto views over the Lima valley. The kitchen is fully equipped, the living areas generous, and outside a private pool sits in the garden with sun loungers and an outdoor dining area.

The village of Montaria moves slowly, its stone-cobbled lanes threading past old quintas and apple orchards. Mountain trails lead to waterfalls and lagoons for those willing to walk or cycle further. Ponte de Lima, with its fortnightly market, is ten minutes by car; Viana do Castelo, with its historic centre and the Basilica of Santa Luzia, is under twenty. The Atlantic coast is just over half an hour away.

Mornings start with coffee at the glass doors, the valley still catching the light. Afternoons are for the pool or the trails; evenings for watching the sun drop behind the peaks from the garden.