Casa da Portela de Sampriz

Breakfast was varied and generous, with different things on different days, which was great during a longer stay. The owner also shared useful information about the area and the national park. English communication was sometimes difficult, but we managed. The owners are genuinely kind and keen to look after guests, though at breakfast the attention could feel like a bit much. Sometimes I just wanted three quiet minutes to eat without being asked or offered something. I’m sure they mean well. We stayed in the tower room at the top of the building. The furniture suited the room, everything was very clean, and the bathroom was spacious and modern. There are only two small windows in a corner, so it’s rather dim. That might be welcome in very hot weather, but at other times it can feel depressing if you spend long stretches inside. The beds are on the small side, as is often the case in Portugal, so taller or larger people may not find them very comfortable, though they’re manageable. The estate sits in the hills, and getting there means taking a winding road up and back down to Ponte da Barca. Driving through the countryside to the heart of the national park takes around an hour, and it’s a tiring trip, so we didn’t want to make it often. One other thing: the clean sheets smelled strongly of chemicals. I’d prefer milder detergent, or simply less of it.