A new home for Sawday's Special Self-Catering Places in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Eire, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal

Pool, hot tub, play park, bar and a sensational panorama from the farmhouse terrace. Lively beaches too, for these rustic-modern cottages...

The road is steep but the views spilling over the Atlantic take your breath away – blue, sparkling, unbroken. This old Portuguese farmhouse and its outbuildings have been sensitively converted and extended. Rooms have a rustic, modern simplicity: solid wood furniture, pretty tiles, embroidered cushions, colourful pottery. There are wood-burning stoves and microwaves, shelves of books, private terraces and barbecues; it's sophisticated yet cosy. For complete privacy, choose Casa do Forno, the converted bread oven; tiny, gorgeous, intimate, it is the ultimate in ergonomic design. Although temptingly near lively beaches and Loulé town, it's hard to drag yourself away from those views: the roof terrace has a horizon-wide panorama from the foothills of Monchique all the way to the Algarve coast. A terraced garden, swimming pool, hot tub and shady patio bar add to the choice of places to linger; feel yourself unwind. Rosa and Mike welcome young families and have their own: there's a play park and tons of baby equipment, and nappies in the welcome pack!