Orchard Villa
Orchard Villa
... nestles in a half-acre hillside olive-grove, amongst a few villas attractively scattered along Skiathos best coastal viewpoint - Katsarou ridge overlooking sandy beaches below and the stunning '7-island' 60-mile panoramic view across Skiathos bay to Skopelos, Evia, and Skyros islands.
It's only 10 mins drive to Skiathos village and harbour, with tavernas, cafes, bars, and shops - and 10-25 mins to the many beaches.
More details, click here: "About Skiathos", and for how to get here, Travel to Skiathos.
Travel - extended Skiathos Airport brought fares down for direct daily UK and European charters, or budget flights to Athens and onward by local flights or express hydrofoil. It's also surprisingly quick and practical as a car tour.
There's a shared gated entrance and the whole setting is a very peaceful and quiet location. It's a traditional Greek island villa with blue shutters, red-tiled roofs, and - rare on Skiathos - its own Cycladic-style roof terrace. There’s a large cool flag-stoned living room, split-level to the winter log fireplace and sofa, four air-conditioned bedrooms with exposed timber beams and roof, and a fully-equipped open-plan kitchen, with a bar and stools. You can sleep 2 - 8 in cosy bedrooms, with an en-suite wet room and two shower rooms. The villa's pretty pool is fenced and gated, and set into the terraced garden with beautiful views across the bay to the nearby islands.
DINING - inside, and in courtyard
The split-level living room is open-plan to the well-equipped kitchen, and doors to two guest wings with four air-conditioned bedrooms. There’s a wine rack, full cook-book library, and lots of books for that rare rainy day. Four French windows open onto a tastefully furnished vine-covered split-level courtyard overlooking a half-acre hillside olive-grove garden with three terraces for sunbathing, partying, and drinks by the pool. You enjoy unmatched views over Skiathos bay and channel with its seven islands (nine if you look carefully!), and over sixty mostly sandy beaches and hidden coves. The courtyard patio with its tasteful wood furniture is your extended living-room, sheltered from breezes and warm enough for dinner and drinks 'til after midnight; with the garden lights and moonlit sea views across to the diamond necklace of village lights on Skopelos and Evia Islands.
Open-plan KITCHEN and BAR
Open-plan across bar and stools, with modern ceramic cooker and hood with fan oven, microwave, toaster, electric kettle, filter coffee, two fridges with freezer compartments, work surfaces, double sink, dishwasher, and loads of storage. And there’s a washing machine, ironing board, and steam iron - plus a large outdoor ‘umbrella’ drying rack.
BED / BATHROOMS
4 air-conditioned bedrooms, 3 shower rooms.
Double master bedroom with en-suite shower room, double vanity unit with glass vasques, w-c …
Plus - three twin bedrooms sharing 2 shower-rooms with single vanity unit and w-c.
SUPPORT-SUPPLIES
Although the holiday rental is for a self catering unserved furnished villa (so not hotel-type "serviced accommodation"), your payment includes rent plus support and supplies requested by your booking, which I provide to your order as part of the price. These are: weekly bed- and bath-linen (but not beach towels); basic domestic supplies, end-cleaning, pool and garden maintenance, breakdown maintenance on -call, welcome pack. If pre-booked (but payable locally), I may be able to arrange 'at cost' ... extra cleaning, barbecue party, shopping delivery, etc.
INTERNET
There's a good internet signal for 3G-4G-5G mobiles or as a wi-fi hot-spot to connect tablets or laptops (no fixed-line wi-fi - sorry, not manageable).
... plus free wifi access at most tavernas, cafes, and bars, on beaches and in the village and harbour-side.
GARDEN, TERRACES and POOL (see villa Photos)
The villa and grounds are quiet and not overlooked, fenced, with car parking (4 cars) on a private drive.
There are 4 terrace areas, all with superb views ... rooftop; split-level courtyard with four French windows into villa; top ‘party’ terrace with sun-loungers; terrace over pool with slate-top drinks table and seat; grassed picnic slope below pool. The large secluded roof sun-terrace has 360° views, from Skiathos Bay with the ‘7-islands’ view, round to the wooded hillsides of the Kechria valley to the Skiathos north coast beaches
The above-ground pool is attractively set in-ground on a ledge landscaped into the hillside. It has pool-side sun-decking (new for 2023), with access 2 steps down from the lower terrace with its slate-top aperitifs table and bench, and child-security fenced from above., for a cooling dip rather than doing "lengths", and an aperitif enjoying the stunning panorama over Skiathos bay and beaches.
BEACHES, FACILITIES - all close. For full details, click menu tab 'Skiathos' - or ask for an advance copy of our free 3-part "Orchard Villa Guest Guide"
Picturesque Skiathos Village (10 mins) and harbour saw the ‘arrival of the fathers’ in "Mamma Mia" (with the wedding in Agios Ioannis church on nearby Skopelos). Paved traffic-free alleys lead to two taverna-lined harbours and marinas, scores of shops tavernas, night-clubs and bars, and all services.
Skiathos has a world-class scenic coast and views, with literally scores of beaches and coves - most sandy – and the dozen or so larger ones with tavernas and water-sports. All are within 5-25 mins drive, or by water-taxi from the harbour, plus maybe a scramble down to a favourite secluded cove.
Away from the beaches are dozens of village and country tavernas; hill and forest hikes and drives, horse-riding, trail biking; and restored decorated Byzantine chapels and monasteries (sorry, no classical ruins!).
But - if you prefer not to drive, or spend most of the time at the villa, good local transport: bus, reliable radio-taxis, bus, water-taxi … and ferries for inter-island or mainland excursions.
The villa is 12 mins walk to three top-10 (and affordable) taverna/restaurants - "Olive View"; and "Anastasia" (Paradise Hotel), and Kivo Creative Greek restaurant and wine-bar(Kivo Hotel) both with scenic pool-bars usually open to you. (Check them all on "Trip Advisor - Skiathos" site)
Local transport is good - bus, taxi, water-taxi… and ferries for inter-island or mainland excursions. The villa is 14 mins walk to three top-10 (but affordable) taverna-restaurants - 'Olive Thea (view)'; and 'Anastasia' (Paradise Hotel), and 'Kivo Creative Greek Restaurant' (Kivo Hotel) both with scenic pool-bars usually open to you.
... and again, full details of all this in "Orchard Villa Guest Guide": part 1- Villa Living; 2- Skiathos & the Islands; 3 - Food, Drink, some handy Greek.
CERTIFICATION
Orchard Villa has been offered via 'Owner’s Direct' since 2005, and the press since 1992. It is certified by the Greek Tourist Authority (see villa Photos) to be short-leased on the regulatory basis of landlord to tenant (not as hotelier to guest).