4-star Hotel / Parador
HMIN1, Seixas, Caminha, Portugal
Elegant Quinta with pool overlooking the river Minho and sea
This elegant, beautifully presented manor house is in the parish of Seixas, two kilometres from the seaside town of Caminha in the Alto Minho. It could not command a better position, with spectacular views of the magnificent River Minho, and across to the mountains of Spain and the Atlantic Ocean.
Not long ago the manor stood almost in ruins: the owner, Ilya, a true perfectionist, saw its potential and turned it into the gem of a hotel it is today, with seven immaculate, very comfortable and spacious bedrooms, set in a delightful creatively landscaped garden with swimming pool and charming seating areas.
It's a haven of peace and comfort, with a spa and sauna (massages available on request), bicycles for roaming the local countryside, and excursions arranged if wished.
The very friendly attentive staff will make you feel at home at once, while chef Ana cooks delicious food using mostly organic locally sourced ingredients.
Accommodation
Five double rooms and two suites, each named for an aromatic herb, are on two floors, and are individually decorated, with great attention to detail, with some pieces of antique furniture.
Beds are king or queen sized. All rooms have a desk, hairdryer, safe, tea and coffee making facilities, water and fruit, cable LED TV, free WIFI connection, air conditioning, bathrobes and minibar. The en-suite bathrooms (some with bath, some shower only), are very well appointed and equipped.
Some of the rooms have a balcony, the others a private terrace. They have either river/ sea and/or mountain and garden views.
Hotel Features
Outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and a lawn area. Decking area and BBQ. Lovely garden with fruit trees, a pond and sitting out areas. Magnificent views across the valley to the River Minho.
Wellness facilities with a spa and sauna (included in the price) and massage services by arrangement.
Bicycles available.
Free parking in the grounds.
Various comfortable sitting areas throughout the house.
Dining room for breakfast and for dinner on request. Complimentary soft drinks (hot and cold), home-made cakes and biscuits, and fruit available here throughout the day.
Air conditioning and radiant floor heating.
Restaurant
A delicious breakfast is served in the first-floor dining room, on the first floor terrace looking onto the garden, or in your room. Fresh fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juice, locally baked bread, cakes and pastries, cereals and home-made yogurt and jams, cheese and ham and a special surprise each morning produced by the excellent and very lovely chef, Ana. If there is anything you particularly want just ask her! Almost all products are locally sourced and organic.
Dinner is available on request. Ana specialises in local Portuguese dishes with an innovative touch, but is happy to discuss your food preferences with you.
Complimentary hot and cold drinks, home-made cakes and biscuits, and fruit are available throughout the day, in the dining room.
There are many restaurants in the area, including highly rated Amandio in Caminha for typical, but imaginative dishes of the region, and Restaurante Ancoramar in Ancora for fish and seafood.
Hotel Facilities
Tour Booking ServiceWiFi all areas
Spacious Grounds
Adults Only
Garden/Patio/Terrace
Shared Lounge / TV Area
Luggage storage
Laundry Service
Air Conditioning
Sports and Wellbeing
Swimming Pool (outdoor, all year)Swimming pool (indoor)
Spa
Bicycle hire
Room facilities (all rooms)
En-suite bathroomHeating
Air conditioning
WIFI
TV
Fridge / Minibar
Coffee maker
Tea/Coffee making facilities
Walk-in shower
Shower over bathtub
Bathrobes
Hairdryer
Safe deposit box
Desk
Dining
Resaurant / dining room for guests onlyBar for clients only serving drinks and light snacks
Honesty bar for clients only
Accessibility
Not suitable for guests with reduced mobilityParking
On-site parking (free)Seixas, Caminha, Portugal
In the Alto Minho region, just two kilometres from the historic town of Caminha (centuries back a great riverport, flanked by the River Coura to the south and the River Minho (the Spanish border) to the west, the parish of Seixas is made up of several small old villages with fishing still its staple industry.
Spread out along the rivers, the villages stretch up to the hills and evergreen forests behind, the older parts with picturesque cobbled streets, stately homes, turrets, churches and chapels.
There are bars on the main road through Seixas and nearby Caminha has all the facilities you need, including some very good restaurants where you can delight in fish and seafood. There is a car ferry service from here to A Guarda in Spain across the River Minho, and a train station with a service to Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto as well as across into Spain, to Santiago de Compostela.
The lovely, long sandy beach of Foz Do Minho, backed by pine-woods is only six kilometres from Seixas and the beautiful, wild, windswept beach of Praia de Ancora a little further.
- The lovely old town of Caminha with its historical centre, seafront, weekly Wednesday market and monthly antique market, the Igreja Matriz, a fortress-church built in the 75 years after 1480 and the forest of Camarido, planted 300 years ago.
- Take the little car ferry from Caminha to A Guarda in Spain. Visit the fantastic Celtic settlement of Santa Tecla. Feast on perfect seafood and fish at A Guarda.
- Charming Vila Nova de Cerveira on the River Minho – art, interesting architecture, natural beauty..There is a biennial arts festival here when colourful umbrellas hang over the streets.
- The beautiful windswept sandy beaches of Praia de Foz do Minho and Praia de Ancora. Great for surfing and kite surfing.
- The fish market at Ancora.
- The bike route between Ancora and Caminha.
- The fishing port and historical centre of Viana do Castelo and Sta. Luzia church on top of the hill with an amazing view of the coastline.
- Monção and Melgaço, the interesting little old fortress towns with spas on the banks of the River Minho.
- The dramatically situated fortress town of Valença de Minho across the Minho from rivalling Tui on the Spanish side.
- Try the slightly sparkling, refreshingly delicious Vinho Verde “green wine” so special to this region. Follow a vinho verde wine route by bike or by car and sample this at the numerous wineries – Palacio Bregojeira, one of the most atmospheric.
- The beautiful natural park of Serra D’Arga with its spectacular scenery, watermills, lagoons and flora and fauna. Great for walking and all sorts of outdoor activities.
- Enjoy the hearty and tasty regional gastronomy at the many local restaurants – Barrosa beef, baby goat, wild seabass and other Atlantic coastal fish and seafood, lamprey, octopus, ”sarrabulhos” (blood stews), “caldo verde” (green vegetable soup), not to mention “bacalhau” (salt cod) cooked in so many different ways!
- Hire a canoe in Caminha, take a jeep tour into the hills or explore the area on horseback.
- Visit an old watermill with local corn bread cooking master class.
- Take the fast train from Caminha to visit Porto for the day.
- Enjoy a boat trip on the River Minho.
