Quinta da Cebola Vermelha

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A restored farmhouse of Provençal inspiration with shimmering pool and sun-trapping terrace a short drive from a five-mile beach

First and foremost this is a steal, but it’s not only the price that’s attractive; 'Red Onion Farm' is a delight from top to toe. Dutch run, warmly welcoming and quietly stylish - a country house in the sun. Orange and lemon trees are scattered around a well-kept garden, there are olive trees and beds of lavender. Step into a cool sitting room and find French windows that draw you out onto a bamboo- shaded terrace. Stop here for meals or follow a path down to a saltwater pool. You'll find a big terrace, cushioned benches and candle lanterns.

Back inside, a fire burns in winter, family portraits hang in an alcove and generously-priced local wine waits in a bookshelf. Rooms are nicely simple, cooled by thick walls, with terracotta floors and shuttered windows. Some are big, some are smaller (but not small). You get crisp linen, rattan arm-chairs, underfloor heating and rafters painted white. Noor’s vibrant art adds colour; arched windows overlook the garden. The beach is close, as is golf at Vilamoura. You're in the middle of the Algarve, so whizz along the motorway and explore it all.

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