Our first visit to Portugal and it couldn't have been better. A warm welcome from Ellen, Rafa, Nina and Pumpkin! The location is absolutely stunning, everywhere we went was so picturesque. Lots of great recommendations for places to visit and local restaurants. It was so peaceful and the garden was totally private. I slept like a log the whole time, thoroughly recharged my batteries! Thanks to Ellen for her wonderful hospitality. Maybe see you again..

Enjoyable stay

We were delighted to stay at Tree Tops having had to cancel last year. It was everything and more that we'd hoped for. The accommodation has a lot of character and is clean and well equipped. It is in a beautiful location surrounded by trees on the border of the Serra D'Arga national park. Their are stunning views and lovely walks plus lots of historic towns to visit nearby. Also with easy access to the coast. The owner Ellen is lovely and couldn't be more helpful

The photos do not do this place justice - it is a fabulous cottage with wonderful views across the valley through the trees. We were welcomed with wine from the local region and every morning and evening we were greeted by Ellen's super friendly dog, Rafa. It is a great location for exploring the beautiful Minho area.

Great property in a quiet rural area , yet near a charming village with a couple of restaurants, bars, shop and bakery. The host, Ellen gave us great directions to find the property and then lots of useful information about the area. Would love to come back to same property. Thank you.

Wonderful place, friendly and welcoming host. Whole experience was excellent from start to finish. Highly recommended.

I never thought this place would blow my mind, because no picture will ever do it justice. The hard, long work and tons of love put out by Ellen (the owner) in this property, really shows. It’s absolutely mind blowing. It is the soul definition of heaven on earth. I’m still processing everything: the place itself, the outdoors, the smells, the sounds, the warmest of welcomes… I’ve travelled extensively, and I’ve never stayed at a place like this. What a bliss! I experienced true happiness. The cottage has everything you will ever need and some. The bed is comfy and the shower is wonderful. You have your own private outdoor space, on the terrace or at the garden. The pool is ever so inviting with the most amazing views. The property is huge, totally secluded and private. The only sounds are the ones of Nature. The house has all the commodities and great Wi-Fi. For a lazy evening you have a large Tv with all the channels. The kitchen has everything you may need to cook your meals. All the details have been observed by Ellen. Yes, Ellen… an American who fell in love with the region in the 80’s and never looked back. A being of light, with such good and soothing energy. A warrior who manage to create with her own hands, this beautiful breathtaking haven. She’s the perfect host! Will great you with all her pets, wine, honey from her bees, fruit from her trees, eggs from her chickens, and a honest and lovely smile. She will tell you all you need to know, and all you must see, so you’re in good hands. She’s a true “Minhota” at heart. I could go on forever, as I feel that nothing I may write, will ever do any sort of justice to this place, to Ellen, or what I’ve experienced. Also, let’s not forget her sweet dog Rafa, who always payed us a visit in the morning and in the evening. What a sweet, sweet puppy. Everything and everyone are so special. And I’m ever so grateful.

Ellen has truly made a remarkable getaway in Portugal. Her treetop home is amazing. The entire property is like paradise with flowing fountains, flowers, fruit trees, and so much more! Ellen was a most attentive and gracious host. Knowing we were arriving later in the evening she had stocked the kitchen with juice, milk, fresh eggs from her chickens, fresh honey from her bees, plums, butter, bread and two bottles of wine to make sure we would have food for breakfast in the morning. Ellen was very quick to respond to texts ( which was a good thing when we missed a turn and needed directions, which she gave us step by step)! She warmly greeted us along with her pup Raffa. Ellen’s “Green Bible” helped us navigate and her restaurant recommendations were spot on. O’ Dias was our favorite! The best steak we have ever had and so cheap! The pool was a welcome relief from the heat. By the pool Ellen shared her story of how she ended up in Portugal, which is truly amazing. She is an incredible lady. Our stay from start to finish was wonderful and we would definitely stay again.

A piece of heaven hidden here on earth

Great place to stay if you want to get away from it all . Beautiful surroundings and lovely cottage

We would definitely recommend Treetops for any couples looking to get away from it all and enjoy amazing scenery, friendly people and fantastic food and wine. The cottage is beautiful and a great deal of thought has been put into making it comfortable for guests. It is very well equipped for a self catering holiday. The owner is friendly and helpful but also respects your privacy. The fresh bantam eggs, homemade honey, strawberries and local wine were greatly appreciated. The insider tips the owner has written in the 'green bible' are fantastic. It saved us a great deal of time searching for places to eat etc. We ate in 3 of the places recommended in the 'green bible' and every meal was fantastic. The owner's pets are just like herself . . . amazingly friendly but also discrete.

This is the third time we have now stayed at treetops, We love the area, The area is stunning, both inland and by the sea, and what compliments this is having a property that you can return to , that is comfortable with wonderful views. The property is well fitted out, you want for nothing.Ellen is a marvelous host with lots iof information on the area , each time we have been we have found new places to visit, and also able to revisit all the places we liked in previous visits, we shall return to the area and hopefully our first choice of accomadation will be treetops

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Treetops, thank you Ellen for all your help, you were a great hostess! Raffa, the friendly dog, and the two cats also made us very welcome. It is a beautiful setting on the wood-covered hillside (welcome shade when the sun is hot) and the pool is great to cool down in. It is a good area for walking, especially the Serra da Arga not far away. we were lucky to have some cooler, cloudy weather, as well as hot sunshine. The local beaches are beautiful and clean.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Treetops, thank you Ellen for all your help, you were a great hostess! Raffa, the friendly dog, and the two cats also made us very welcome. It is a beautiful setting on the wood-covered hillside (welcome shade when the sun is hot) and the pool is great to cool down in.It is a good area for walking, especially the Serra da Arga not far away. we were lucky to have some cooler, cloudy weather, as well as hot sunshine. The local beaches are beautiful and clean.

Quiet peaceful location with privacy, nice touches from the owner and plenty to explore locally.

Everything absolutely fabulous. Ellen is a great host. Hope to return. Thank you Ellen X

This lovely property is in a beautiful setting among mature trees ideal for relaxing in the shade on very hot days and on the patio for the sun worshippers. Everything was as described if not better and our host, Ellen, could not have been more helpful. A wonderful getaway from a busy life but within easy reach of so many delightful places of interest. Ellen has friendly animals who really made Tree Tops a home from home. We could not fault it and would love to return in the not too distant future. Wonderful.

The property is in a beautiful peaceful location in super unspoilt countryside. Internally it is well equipped with everything a couple need and externally there is plenty of areas to sit and relax. Wonderful walks locally and the excellent beaches are 40mins away. Ellen and her dog Rafa are good hosts and you are made to feel very welcome - thoroughly recommend it.

Ellen’s treetop cottage is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway. Nestled amongst the hillside overlooking Covas, we found it to be wonderfully peaceful and the perfect escape from city life. It had everything we needed for our stay and really did feel like a home-from-home. With plenty of beautiful towns and villages, just a short drive away, we were never bored once during our stay! Whilst we weren’t blessed with perfect weather, we did manage to squeeze in a visit to a local beach and it was certainly worth the trip after we were met my golden sands overlooking the ocean. We couldn’t fault Ellen as a host, her green guest book came almost everywhere with us and we took it upon ourselves to tick off as many things as we could during our week-long stay. Plus we couldn’t go without mentioning Ellen’s gorgeous and friendly dog, Rafa, who greeted us on the terrace each day with a wagging tail. I would highly recommend this lovely accommodation to anyone wishing to visit northern Portugal and all the delights it has to offer.

We really enjoyed staying at Treetops. The location is great for exploring northern Portugal and the cottage is well equipped and furnished. Ellen is very hospitable and a great source of local information

We verbleven 11 dagen in mei (15-25/5/2018) op deze toplocatie. Van onze 5 vakanties in Portugal, van zuid tot noord, was dit veruit de beste. Schitterende ligging, summum van rust, privacy, maar ook prima uitvalsbasis voor korte trips naar de kust of historische locaties: Ponte de Lima, Valença, Caminha, Santa Tegra (Spanje), Viana do Castelo (Het in een zijstraatje gelegen visrestaurantje "Portas da Ribeira" is een aanrader, maar ook de lunch in de "Iate Clube")... Of een fikse wandeling in het nabije natuurgebied Serra de Arga. Prachtig weer ook, of hadden wij gewoon veel geluk met enkel dat beetje regen de laatste avond? In en rond de cottage is alles aanwezig voor een perfecte vakantie: zon & schaduw, een heerlijk wilde tuin, een goed bed, ruime keuken (als je tenminste zelf wil koken met zoveel spotgoedkope restaurantjes in de buurt). Wij konden ook bijzonder de details appreciëren: de aanwezigheid van zout, peper, basiskruiden, olijfolie & azijn, verse eitjes "van het huis", fles rood & wit, (oplos)koffie, keukenrol, enz. Ellen was een zeer behulpzame, taalvaardige en vriendelijke gastvrouw. Luis de stille kracht op de achtergrond, en de hond Rafa alom discreet aanwezig. Een plaats om zeker nog terug te keren, en dat willen wij graag nog eens doen, in de toekomst in de herfst of zo. Er is nog veel te zien, te doen en te rusten…

We loved it. We have never felt so welcomed. Ellen treated us to delicious honey from their own hives and eggs from the resident chickens. The cottage was delightful. It was a real escape and there was lots to do even in the rain. We look forward to returning in the future.

We spent a week at Tree Top Cottage, and loved it and the area. Ellen has made every effort to ensure that it is a bit of home away from home, nicely stocked and very comfortable. It has a unique history which Ellen and Luis happily share. We dragged the green info binder she has created with us everywhere, and explored all the little local areas she recommended. There are many very interesting day trips to be had, Or just sit and enjoy the peace while little Rafa visits, he likes to have his peeps around. Be sure to go to the restaurant in Fontella, a 10 minute drive, family run and good food. Thank you Ellen for making this week of our Portuguese adventure memorable. Kindest Regards C

This was our second stay at this cottage and we were not disappointed. The cottage sits in a secluded part of Ellens garden with spectacular views over Covas and the surrounding area. The cottage is well fitted out with everything you need for a self catering holiday although the restaurant's all serve up delicious food and inexpensive. Ellen has gone to a lot of trouble in identifying all the good spots to visit but you don't have to go to far to find your piece of paradise. The area, people ,food and wine makes your stay special and a must to consider time and time again. Ellen is a wonderful host and is always there to help if needed and of course Rafa the dog always their to greet you when you return home, making sure you are comfortable in the cottage before disappearing till the next time. Everything you need for a vacation, well done Ellen for letting us share your piece of Paradise

We spent a lovely fortnight at Tree Tops. Ellen obviously cares about her visitors having a good time. The cottage is really well equipped, and spacious for 2 people. It was great having the bikes available, and they were suitable for both a woman of 5ft 3ins and a man of 5ft 10ins. The roads were quiet and if you don’t mind hills there is plenty of cycling available nearby. We ate 4 times at Flor de Fontela (but never walked there). The 6 Euro lunch was amazingly good value and one night we had the fresh sardines (and they really were fresh). We used most of the restaurants that Ellen recommended and they all lived up to expectations.

A fantastic base for exploring all the beautiful places in the area. Ellen is a marvellous host, very helpful, friendly and knowledgable of the area. The cottage is quiet, comfortable and well appointed, as well as situated to overlook a beautiful valley. We used it as a base to explore the towns and mountains on our motorbike, but it would be equally as good for a centre for walking or cycling.

We arrived at the same time as a huge low pressure so had to wait until the end of the week before seeing Tree Top Cottage in all its glory. Fortunately Luis had very recently installed a wood pellet burner which fed the central heating and so we were cosy and warm in our treetop hideaway. When the sun eventually showed itself the views were amazing and we can quite understand why Ellen was drawn to this area, it is beautiful. Thank you Ellen for introducing us to village eating, the food was delicious and such good value. Where in the world would you be able to drink a jug of good wine and eat a three course meal followed by coffee for just 6 euros each? Being met by Ellen’s dog Raffa and showed to our accommodation was a first for us but obviously he is quite used to meeting and greeting. He really is adorable and we are surprised that no one has tried to take him back with them.

We had a delightful week in Treetops, once we had located the correct Covas! Apparently there are four places called Covas in Portugal - and you are supposed to READ Ellen's directions :-) Once we arrived the property took our breath away - and we were amazed by what we found. Treetops is full of personal touches, the area is beautiful (we had no idea before we came) the food tasty and people friendly. All this was enhanced by Ellen's enthusiasm and willingness to to help - pointing out which mushrooms to eat and how to cook them. Raffa (the dog) and his friends greeted our motorcycle every day, and Luis even gave us an insight in to how to drive a tractor! Thanks Ellen - you have put a dent in our lives and a soft spot in our hearts for your property and the beautiful area in which it is located.

Dear Ellen and Louis, thank you so much for a superb 10 days, you should be extremely proud of the paradise you have created here at treetops! Ellen was so helpful when we arrived, giving us a tour of the property and invaluable advice about the local area. The wine, honey, roses and personalised postcard were very much appreciated! Younger than her usual clientele, at 22 and 26, she never the less made us feel very welcome. We took her 'green bible' everywhere we went in our little smart car, we recommend all future guest do so as well! We did everything in there! A particularly good recommendation was the Yacht Club in Viana de Costello, we actually went twice it was that good. £17 will buy you a fantastic meal, drinks and dessert for 2 with about 10 varieties of fruit of fruit and veg on your plate! Ellen suggested the jet skiing next to the Yacht club, such good fun!! Camihna, Tui, Santa Tegra, Ponte de Lima were other highlights, to name just a few. Rafa the dog was just lovely, greeting us every morning and evening and accompanying us in a walk around the grounds. We enjoyed Ellen showing us her chickens, and Louis demonstrating how they made honey. The villa itself is perfect, we had everything we could possibly need - from a cafetière to a radio to a spice rack! The pool is great and the BBQ, bikes and film selection were a nice touch, all of which we enjoyed of an evening. Thank you again for a wonderful holiday, all the best xxx

Tree Top Cottage is a delightful accommodation from which to explore this beautiful area. Ellen and Luis have created an aesthetic and interesting place to stay which makes the most of the attractive location. The cottage is well-equipped, comfortable, and clean. From the moment we arrived we sensed the peace. It is so amazing to look out of the window and feel that you are up in the trees. The dominant sounds are the birdsong, and the water in the stream at the bottom of the valley. There is a lot to do in this area. Highlights for us were walking several trails in the Serra d'Arga: hills and valleys, wild horses, ancient rustic villages, streams flowing into waterfalls and pools - several of them big enough to swim in. We stayed for six days and it was barely enough. Ellen is a welcoming and interesting host, and has a wealth of information of how to make the most of your stay. Totally recommended.