Cake & Wine

Located in the Catinha hills in southwest Madeira, this villa's elevated position offers guests some rather special views of the island's countryside and the Atlantic Ocean stretching on into the distance.

As you would hope, there are plenty of vantage points at this renovated farmhouse cottage, whether that's standing on one of the balconies, dining alfresco in the covered barbecue area or taking a refreshing dip in the swimming pool.

However, there's more to this home than the stunning landscape that surrounds it. The billiards table is sure to stoke up some rivalries among guests — friendly, of course — while the rooftop gym means that it's possible to keep up your fitness regimen during a stay. The clean design throughout, particularly in the minimalist kitchen, is well worthy of a mention, too.

When it comes to filling up the itinerary, there are hiking routes further inland and some of the island's beaches lie a short drive away in the opposite direction, including Praia da Calheta taking just over five minutes. The island's Museum of Contemporary Art is a similar amount of time away, as well.

Home truths:
*Four of the bedrooms are in the main villa, but the last one is in the annexe along with the billiards room
*There's secure parking available for up to four vehicles
*The home is spread across three floors and there are no bedrooms on the ground level, so it might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*A cot and high chair can be provided upon request
*Towels for the swimming pool are provided