We had a very relaxing holiday in this beautiful and interesting house. Lots of different places to relax outside and lovely views. We went to Porto for a few days first and it proved to be the perfect combination for a holiday.

We were an extended family of 5 adults, 3 children (4, 5, 7) and an 8 month old baby. The house was lovely, although a little cramped given our number, and we managed despite the single toilet. The area was attractive, hilly, green and with good swimming in local rivers. There was something for everyone, and the adults relaxed while the children splashed about. The Portuguese we met were extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful, and the prices were very reasonable. We had a terrific meal in Combria on our way to the house, and returned on a Monday to visit its recommended garden , but found it closed, so explored the University/library, which we found really interesting. (Do thoroughly check opening times, which were wrong when we looked!) We also visited its remarkable ancient Roman ruins on our way back to Porto. We could have done with an extra bathroom &/or toilet, but really enjoyed ourselves. We discovered what seemed to be a swimming pool in the garden, which we never used. We would recommend this is mentioned in the brochure together with advice about its usability, since it could be a risk for small, curious children. Overall, thoroughly recommended.

What a wonderful house and location. We loved all the thoughtful additions, which made the cottage so homely. This meant we barely explored the area, but what little we saw confirmed that we want to return. Loved all the natural wildlife, and Pickles too! It was so delightful to swim in the river and natural water pool too. Thank you.

A fabulous house and garden in a perfect location - beautifully furnished with all that you could wish for there....and more. We loved it instantly. The views from the terrace are breath-taking and the surrounding countryside well worth exploring. The green and fertile land round the River Ceira really is lush and productive thanks to their ingenious irrigation systems. What a jaw-droppingly beautiful country Portugal is! Some great quiet river beaches nearby to swim in too, as well as the busier ones. This was our first visit to Portugal and we would have been hard-pressed to have found anywhere better... and that was due in large part to the accommodation. The river beach just down from the house is a lovely spot - a dammed wide section of the river, full of fish with Dragonflies, Damsel flies & swallows darting everywhere. It is used by the locals too (it is more theirs than ours after all)- but that never caused any problems for us as we had no proprietorial feelings about it. If you should want total solitude there, you can always just pick your times. Lots to do and see in walking distance and short drives away. A drive up ...and up... into the Serra da Lousa is a must. A truly memorable family holiday in very relaxed and comfortable surroundings. Thank you so much to Alex the owner ......& to UTT :) Kind regards Liz & Konrad Hughes .... and from Ella & Jasmine too

We have thoroughly enjoyed our short break in this wonderful house-we are kicking ourselves now that we didn't book for longer! Thank you for offering your home to UTT customers-it really is truly wonderful! Em and Mark

Casal Do Pau' has been the most perfect place to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The climate, the welcoming locals and the slow pace of life is just what we were searching for. The Beira Litoral province is truly a rather special location. A lovely combination of isolation in the hills and sunshine. After 10 years of searching we may just have found our perfect holiday location. We have enjoyed cooking on the BBQ in the tranquil courtyard. The local supermarket in Vila Nova do Ceira has a good selection of fresh fruit/veg and fish/meat. Thank you so much for sharing your very special home. Claire and Nigel

My daughter and I have spent a wonderful 10 days here. The house is beautiful,the location stunning and the river amazing. We have found a part of the world that we love and look forward to more adventures here. Hannah and Georgia

We loved the river swimming, most of the roads were empty, great mountain views, colour,landscape, cheap food, friendly people. Loved it here, and feel Portugal for us needs more exploring. August 2011.

We chose to come here to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we could not have had a nicer stay anywhere. We went to buy a bottle of wine and almost came back with a house! Feel as though we have travelled back 100years. Wonderful. Thank you for sharing Casal Do Pau, it is a wonderful and inspiring place in an enchanting part of the world. Mark and Julie

We feel like we have found a beautiful and forgotten world. Thank you, we will always remember this week. We leave feeling relaxed and inspired, ready to face the world again. Kirsty and James