The fence is of trained quince plants for making the Portuguese 'marmelada' which accompanies cheese. There is also a cactus garden near the garden pergola.

The estate is behind the imposing but little used church of Senhor da Pedra. In the buildings surrounding the church are good restaurants and this area can be reached by a footpath from Casa d'Obidos.

In the garden is the pool and an asphalt tennis court and a barbecue area.

In the main house there are six bedrooms, three with double beds and three with twin beds. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms.

Guests also have the use of the lounge, a dining room and a games room which includes a pool table.

Breakfast is very substantial by Portuguese standards even the English wanting bacon, eggs, sausage, fried bread and black pudding might be able to have something more like home!

Nearby there are facilities for riding. Golf can be played at the local course of Praia D'el Rey where there is a discount of approximately 30%.

The attractive fishing towns of Nazare and Peniche are within an easy car drive and both are famed for their many fish restaurants.

The town of Obidos is one of the most visited towns in Portugal. It is known as "The Wedding City" since, from 1282, it was the traditional wedding gift of the kings of Portugal to their queens.

In 1444 King Afonso V, then aged ten years, married his eight year old cousin, Isabella in the old church in the central square in the town.

The active and adventurous should take a walk around the town walls but the uneven surface and lack of guard rails make it unsuitable for the young and elderly.

There is a fish market most mornings near the gates to the town and in October there is a festival of ancient music in various places around the town.

There is also a three bedroom cottage and a studio cottage on the estate.

A jounalist, Carla Harvey, writing for the American golfing site TravelGolf.com stayed at the house in 2001 and wrote the following:

"I took a break at Casa d´Obidos. Doña Helena Sarmento slipped a glass of port wine into my hand the moment I stepped through the doorway. This sort of generosity was typical of the family and their kind attitude towards guests.

Some fortunate American golfers have already discovered and re-visited Casa d’ Obidos. One group of six couples rented all rooms available for a golfing holiday last year and are expected back shortly. They set up a little bar in the upstairs lounge, and when they returned from golf, they played billiards and card games in the opulent upstairs lounge. Two guest cottages are charming and completely equipped for self-catering.

A pool is set below in the gardens and there is a tennis court. Riding facilities are nearby. Obidos is a visitor destination of note: called the ‘Wedding City’, it is the traditional gift of Portuguese Kings to their wives. Restaurants in the area include three next door to the church and accessible on foot from the house. A visit to the Pousada is a must.

Casa d’Obidos serves what is arguably the best breakfast on the manor house tour: from five styles of bread, muffins, cakes, ham, cheese, fluffy scrambled eggs and bacon, cereals, freshly squeezed juice, kiwis, melon and gallons of just perfect coffee. What a set up for a game of golf. Which is what I had to do in order to offset breakfast."