Villa de Loulia

Rooms

Bedrooms are all in the old house, which stands 20 paces beyond the pool. Rooms on the ground floor are cooler; those on upper floors look over the hills or the village. The ground-floor Suite opens onto a second (smaller) courtyard garden that is geometric in design, while the first-floor Junior Suite overlooks the pool and gardens. Lovely rooms (all named after tracks on ‘Treasure’ by the Cocteau Twins) are light and airy and similar in style. Expect Corfu colours (reds, yellows, pinks and blues), cast-iron beds, thick stone walls and painted beamed ceilings. Crisp white linen covers the beds, green shuttered windows help keep you cool at night.

You might get a mirrored armoire, an old wood dresser or an exposed fireplace. There are bathrobes, towels for the pool and bathroom, furry lime green blankets and a carafe of home-brewed liqueur. No clutter; instead, the natural grace of the building is allowed to sing. Don’t feel you have to splash out on the best room; Standard Doubles up in the eaves are well-sized, very pretty and have great views, while Superior Doubles have high ceilings and one has a private entrance up a stone staircase in the garden. You’ll find TVs, fridges and good bathrooms, too.

Eating

Breakfast is served from 9.15am until 11.30am; lie-ins are obligatory. One tree in the garden provides sweet oranges, the fruit of which is pressed for breakfast. Much is homemade and home-grown. Marmalades (you can buy a jar), olive bread and home-buzzed honey from the village all make it to table, along with lots of fruit, cakes and yoghurts, even feta. You can eat in the dining room or outside on the vine-shaded terrace by the pool.

Wander round the garden and you’ll come across a very productive vegetable garden. Cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and aubergines are picked, washed, sliced, eaten. If you’re around for lunch, Loukia will happily whisk you up something simple on request: fresh fish and omelettes, salads and Corfu sausages, delicious home-made cheese and vegetable pies.

Dinner, available on request (give notice though as everything is made from scratch), is more substantial. You might start with lentil soup or courgette balls, then move onto a Greek salad, find room for a main course (lamb or beef pastitsada, ocean-fresh fish, stuffed tomatoes and peppers), then polish it all off with delicious puddings: wonderful orange pie or strawberry and almond cake (a Corfu specialty).

You’ll find simple tavernas sprinkled along the north coast, ask Loukia for recommendations. If you want to head down to Corfu town (a 40-minute drive), you’ll find plenty of restaurants that spill onto pavements and squares. For the best food on the island, dine at Italian restaurant Etrusco’s, but make sure you book.

Features include:

• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Head half a mile west to the beach, a narrow sandy strip set beneath sunset-facing cliffs, and reached via a long flight of steep steps. And there are more beaches all along the north coast - Cape Drastis, Almiros, Astrakeri - or follow your nose south and take your pick (the west coast is less developed than the east)
  
• Stroll through the sleepy ancient village to see Corfu as it used to be
  
• Horse riding in the interior can be arranged; as can sailing (with a group or solo)
  
• Sign up for cooking lessons and spend an afternoon making marmalade and jams
  
• Work up an appetite with a good walk. You can follow your nose out of the village and up into gentle hills, but there’s also an excellent guide book at the hotel, so take to the hills, the cliffs or hidden country
  
• Water sports are available at Sidari, an English resort up the road
  
• For those in search of a little history, head up into the mountains of Perithia and discover the ancient abandoned village; locals used to flee here in the time of pirate invasions

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Sailing
• Windsurfing

Kids

Villa de Loulia is a quiet romantic place and therefore not recommended for children. However, the 2 suites have a single sofabed available for children aged 12 and over.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Book either of the 2 suites as they have a single sofabed and plenty of space.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Villa de Loulia is in the charming traditional village of Peroulades on the North West coast of Corfu (Kerkyra), renowned for some of the best panoramic views and sunsets on the island. Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands off the west side of the Greek mainland.

By Air:
Fly into Corfu (35km - restricted flights) or Athens (550km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

By Sea:
Car ferries from the mainland arrive at Corfu Town. They run all year round (weather permitting), more frequently between May and September. From Igoumenitsa (6-hour drive north from Athens) ferries run almost hourly, with journey time taking up to 2 hours. In high season, there is also a twice-daily hydrofoil express which takes 30 minutes. From Patras (3-hour drive from Athens) there are several weekly ferries, each taking 7 hours to arrive in Corfu.

By Car:
You will need car hire to make the most of the island - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions are provided when your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Greece and getting around