Casa da Ermida de Santa Catarina

A secluded, utterly beautiful lakeside guesthouse, with heaps of contemporary designer flair; perfect for R&R

If total serenity coupled with deep comfort figures high on your holiday wishlist, Santa Catarina will be your kind of place. Set at the edge of a peninsula, which nudges out into the Caia reservoir near Elvas (230km from Lisbon), expect to see little in the way of passing trade. Instead a heart-stopping visual feast awaits: an inspired rehab project, with masterful use of wood and glass, has opened out a traditional farmhouse to the water, sky and rolling olive groves of this forgotten corner of the Alentejo.

After a day spent reading on the deck and kayaking on the reservoir, I sat transfixed, as the sun dropped beneath the far side of the water and birds winged past against the blushing sky. But if the views are what you’ll remember most, the interior decoration, too, has been fashioned with buckets of zest and colour by the architect owner, Carlos. There are enormous fish paintings, Moroccan rugs, tables crafted from old ploughs and water wheels. And, more home than hotel, there's buckets of space to relax, both inside and out. If you want to escape the world for a while, there can be few better places.

Highs

• A sublimely peaceful location and one of great natural beauty - this is one of our favourite ever escapes, and the sort of secret gem you want to keep to yourself
• Colourful, comfy rooms, with shutters to keep them dark and cool. The suite is 100% worth splashing out on
• Resident housekeepers João and Isabel care for you with real warmth and kindness
• The inspirational, all-glass frontage allows the lake to be in constant view
• Best for couples, though this would make a perfect house rental with friends or family (sleeps 14): the sitting room is made for big gatherings

Lows

• You'll need a car to get here
• Only breakfast and picnics are served and the nearest restaurant is a 15-minute drive away
• Expect very basic English from your ever-willing housekeepers
• Some may feel the picnics are expensive, but the food is tasty and the experience as a whole is fantastic
• No TV in your bedroom, nor internet connection, but this place is about pulling those mundane plugs from their socket