Monte da Lagoa Seca
Location
Monte da Lagoa Seca is situated in an ecological reserve between the town of Ourique and the village of Santana da Serra. Despite its rural location, it is easily accessible both from the Algarve and from Lisbon, being less than 10 minutes' drive from the IC1 highway. Your travelling time from Faro Airport would be 70 minutes, and from Lisbon, 2 hours. The town of Ourique is a 15 minute drive and there you will find banks, a post office, chemist, supermarket, shops and restaurants. The village of Santana da Serra has its own quiet charm, situated as it is close to the Barragem (dam) de Santa Clara and retaining many of the traditional ways of the past. It is particularly well-known for the production of honey, and also cork, an important crop throughout this region. At Lagoa Seca we are ideally situated both for a relaxing break in the heart of the beautiful Alentejo countryside, and for exploring the surrounding area, which has so much to offer in terms of historical interest and natural history.
The Algarve coast, with its wide choice of beaches, shops and excellent restaurants (fresh fish is a speciality) is only 40 minutes away, while approximately 1 hour's drive will find you on the West Coast with its rugged scenery and many quiet beaches.(This is where the Portuguese like to take their holidays). A drive of 90 minutes will take you to the renowned and beautiful World Heritage City of Evora, well worth a visit. Closer to hand are the historic towns of Beja, the capital of the Lower Alentejo; Mertola, with its Moorish influences; and the lovely mountain town of Monchique, famous for its handicrafts and the healing waters of the nearby spa.
The Accommodation
The rooms have been simply, but comfortably furnished in contemporary, rustic style. All have terracotta floor tiles and internal wooden shutters. Ample storage is provided by the built-in wardrobes. The en-suite bathrooms, all tiled in white, have a shower, wash basin and w.c. and hot water is provided by a solar water-heating system. The rooms, being north facing, remain comfortably cool, even during the height of the Alentejo summer. We offer two double rooms and one twin-bedded room.
Activities
This area lends itself to a wide range of outdoor activities. It is particularly renowned as an excellent region for bird-watching and you may catch sight of birds of prey such as the Red Kite, the Great Bustard and the Montagu’s Harrier, as well as the brightly coloured Hoopoe, or a flock of Bee-eaters. Within walking distance or a drive if you prefer, is the Santa Clara barragem, a vast artificial lake, popular for fishing, boating or simply sitting on its shores, enjoying the peace and quiet of this beautiful setting. Horse-riding is another popular activity in this region and may be arranged for you, on request. If you like to draw or paint, you will not be short of vistas to inspire you and in fact we have a high viewing point here where the views are breathtaking. If you are in need of refreshment, why not visit one of the region’s vineyards and sample the local wines. For eating out and experiencing the local cuisine there are several reasonably priced restaurants within the locality. If you are still in need of de-stressing, a range of holistic and alternative therapies, including massage and kinesiology may be arranged at your request.
Environmental awareness
We have tried to minimise our impact on the environment in various ways, including:
- Use of solar energy for heating the water
- High standards of insulation and double glazing
- Re-use of existing stonework and use of locally available materials in the construction
- Use of low-energy bulbs in most locations
- Re-cycling of glass and plastics used in the house.
With this in mind, we will change towels on alternate days only and hope this will not inconvenience you.
A few more points
Unfortunately, the accommodation and grounds are not child-friendly, so we cannot accept bookings for children under 16, and children between 16 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Also, we do not accept pets.
Smoking is not permitted in the bedrooms or guest lounge.
Our rates and opening times
Currently our season runs from 1st April until 31st October.
Our rate for bed and continental breakfast is £35 per night, per room.
Single occupancy is charged at £30.
No minimum booking period.
A non-refundable deposit of 50% must be paid at the time of booking, the balance to be paid 4 weeks prior to arrival.