Rooms

The main house has 4 bedrooms - 3 lovely doubles and 1 simpler twin, which share 2 bathrooms between them (1 with shower and 1 with tub). If you need more space, the outhouse has 2 more double bedrooms (1 upstairs, 1 downstairs), sharing a small shower room. If 1 twin room is not enough, the owner can, by prior arrangement, convert one of the doubles into a twin for you.

The 3 main-house doubles are gorgeous, especially the master double with its 4 windows and pretty wrought iron balcony, and the other corner room, with its muslin-canopied double mattress on a low wooden platform. All share views over chestnut boughs to the Aegean Sea. The twin room is best suited for kids, as the beds are smaller and there is less privacy (it is set off the landing, behind a thin wood-and-glass wall).

Rooms are beautifully understated, with unadorned white walls, dove-grey ceiling beams and shutters, a colourful rug on gleaming tiled floors, a handsome dresser or wardrobe, and a few decorative finds - a basket of wave-smoothed pebbles, a reading lamp tucked in a niche. Thick walls and mountain breezes keep rooms cool in summer (you won't need A/C), and there's central heating for the cooler months.

The outhouse is simpler and more compact but (we think) perfect for teenagers, who won't mind spiralling down a narrow staircase to the downstairs loo. The bright upstairs room is another mattress-on-wooden-platform affair, the darker downstairs double has a venerable iron bedstead.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

There's a small but well equipped kitchen which looked more than adequate for rustling up dinners for up to 12 people: no surprise, given that the owners often cook here for extended family. We saw 2 coffee machines (1 filter, 1 Nespresso), a kettle on the electric hob/oven, a gorgeous marble sink with pull-down spray tap, at least 2 dozen stemmed wine glasses, stacks of white crockery and pretty ceramic bowls, a very professional looking block of chef's knives, and a few staples (seasoning, herbs) on the shelves. There's a marble-topped kitchen island too, and a vast fridge-freezer.

The same stylish white-grey colour scheme continues here, reflected in a strip of pretty geometric floor tiles which leads to the bistro-style dining table for 8. But most likely you'll eat on one of the terraces, either under the shade of the chestnut tree or the other side in the sun overlooking the lawn.

If you don't fancy cooking, Tsangarada is a few minutes' drive (or 15-20 minute walk) uphill. In the central part of the village, near the famous "1000-year-old" plane tree, we recommend the Lost Unicorn for upscale cuisine from a delightful English-Greek couple; Aleka's House on the main road for more trad (but still delicious) Greek fare; or Dipnosofistis (July/Aug/weekends only) for cocktails and jazz. If you're willing to drive a bit further, there's no more picturesque spot than one of the seafront tables in Damouhari.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Toaster
• Barbecue

Activities

• It's a 5-minute drive to one of our favourite beach hideaways in Pelion, the pirate-like cove of Fakistra; and a 10-minute drive to the cliff-backed beach of Mylopotamos, with its crystalline waters and much-vaunted rock arches
  
• It's a delightful 30-minute hike down an ancient footpath to the tiny fishing harbour of Damouhari, used as a location in Mamma Mia
  
• At Damouhari you can hire sea-kayaks to explore the rugged turquoise coast, with its hidden coves and sea-washed rocks - one of which hides a kryfó scholió, or secret school, in a cave
  
• Heading upwards, you reach the leafy squares and handsome stone-and-slate mansions of Tsangarada (10-15 mins walk), a scattered village with 4 'parishes'; have a coffee under a 1000-year-old plane tree, or visit Doris' Serpentin Garden, a one-woman labour of love which bursts with berries and herbs and flowering shrubs
  
• Above that lie the beech- and oak-shaded flanks of Mt. Pelion, perfect for hiking or mountain biking in summer, mushroom picking in autumn, or skiing in midwinter (normally open from Jan-March)
  
• It is also possible to arrange horse-riding to a hilltop church, scuba-diving, windsurfing in Horeftó, and canyoning trips down the Mylopotamos gorge - though you'll need to make the arrangements yourself
  
• Nearby Kissos has a handsome 17th-century church with intricate wood carvings; Anilio a women's co-operative selling preserves and baclava; Zagorá a bustling high street with cafés, fountains and apples galore

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Canyoning
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and this would make a lovely spot for an extended family (or two-family) gathering – though it's not ideal for toddlers or high energy kids, given the unprotected drops in the garden and the lovely furnishings. We think it's perfect for adventurous older children, who want to get stuck in to the outdoorsy activities hereabouts. There's no TV or DVD player so bring your own if that is important. And there are no cots or high chairs for very little ones.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Families can use any room if they do not mind sharing a double bed with their kids or if bringing smaller kids, a small mattress (e.g. for 2-5 year olds) can be put next to the low double bed in the 2nd double bedroom. If bringing teens, the only room with 2 twin beds is a bedroom on the upper level of the main house.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 5 hours (Athens) / 4 hours (Thessaloniki) / 90 minutes (Volos)
• Doctor: 30 minutes
• Shops: 7 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Architect's House is situated on the edge of the scattered village of Tsangarada (or Tsagarada) on the eastern flanks of the Pelion peninsula, on the east coast of mainland Greece. It's 40-50 km (about 1 hour's drive) east of Volos, along winding roads via Milies.

By Air
Fly into Volos (Nea Anchialos, 70km), if you can find a suitable flight. Otherwise Thessaloniki and Athens are respectively 4 and 5 hours' drive away, and are much better connected.

By Car
You'll need a car, as it's hard to reach by public transport, and you'll want to explore the coast below the villa, not to mention some of the villages nearby. See our car rental recommendations.

By Boat from Skiathos
It's possible to combine Pelion with Skiathos using boats and hydrofoils in and out of Volos (1 hour+ from the hotel), or the summer caique connection into Katigiorgis (1 hour 30 mins' drive away). Skiathos has an airport with charter flights from the UK and a few other countries, as well as domestic flights from Athens.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Greece and getting around.