A Factoria Beach House - Hio, Cangas

A peaceful beachside retreat, modern and cosy. The house is embedded between the sands of blue flagged Area Brava and a secluded cove. Anchored on the very shore of the bay of Aldán, our home is a trove of light, sand and murmuring waves to forge luminous family memories and bonds to last for a lifetime. Equally well-suited to action –paddle surf, kayaking, biking— and relaxation –smart projector, fireplace—, let the song of the Atlantic Ocean and our hospitality lull you into a delightful stay. A bit of history From the very moment we spotted the austere bearing of the original construction –a remnant of an old fish farm—, we became aware of the uniqueness of its location and its dazzling possibilities. The building evoked the melancholy of a stranded whale, or that of a boat wrecked against the rocks, and bore the mark of long-lasting oblivion. Today, it is a modern space, comfortable, vibrant with light and family life: a home we feel lucky to live in and proud to show. The environment We find ourselves on the Galician coast, in the so-called Rías Baixas. Here, the fury of the Atlantic Ocean fades into the greenery of the rocky wilderness and the land’s soft, almost embracing relief –a permanent contrast to the ubiquitous blue of the bays. No matter how much you may argue against it: for us, this is the most beautiful place on earth –rain or no rain. However, this is also the heart of what us, natives, like to humorously call the Baja Galifornia: an imprecisely outlined geographic area blessed with a warmer and sunnier microclimate than the rest of Galicia. Here, summertime and beach days may protract themselves until early October, and two or even three-week spells of hot, sunny weather –with daytime temperatures well above 25 degrees and nigh-to tropical nights— are typical, if unpredictable. The counterpart of long days raining cats and dogs is also, always, a possibility –therefore our infamous reluctance towards assertions and long-standing dependence on the words “it depends” to answer whichever question you may pose. Just in case, pack a raincoat. The house The house holds 100 square metres of living space and is surrounded by a 300-square-metre garden. The layout holds three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one kitchen, two dining rooms –one inside and another one outside, both suited to accomodate a minimum of eight people— and a magnificent living room. The space can lodge up to twelve people, while the parking space can hold at least five vehicles. Logistics should be no trouble for your vacation! The beach There is choice here. The house sits atop a small promontory facing both a little cove and the vast sandy stretch of Area Brava –consistently blue flagged year after year. A short two-minute walk will take us straight to our destination of choice. The cove is not private to the house, but it is indeed rather quiet and usually not busy. Fishermen do make use of it –especially divers— and it is not infrequent seeing them come out of the sea holding a freshly-captured octopus, or even a fearsome conger eel! Aside from our own presence on the beach, the beach is always present in our house. From there your will see, your will breathe and you will hear, constantly, the sea. The bedrooms Each of the three bedrooms delivers its unique perspective of the bay, which in turn floods the rooms with natural light. Every bedroom holds a writing desk and a spacious closet. Two of them also hold cradles. Everything, from the hue of the wooden furniture to the colours of the bedspreads, has been lovingly selected to create luminous, warm living spaces. Although every bedroom affords their guests a modicum of essential privacy, these spaces are conceived in the spirit of communal living: standard beds have been replaced with bunk beds –brand new, comfortable and reasonably spacious (1,35 x 2 m for the lower beds and 90 cm x 2 m for the upper ones). It is a cosy setup, inviting confidences between siblings by the light of a lantern, or the kind of conversations between friends that do not wane until well into the little hours. One of the bedrooms has its own in-suite bathroom, fitted with a chromotherapy shower tray system, while the remaining two share a second one by the hallway, equipped with a reain-effect shower dish. (Included: daily linen change) The kitchen Perfectly equipped for the daily battle of feeding ravenous groups of friends and families with children alike –starting by our own. Thus, we are very aware of every contingency that may arise when the little ones are at home: here you should find anything you may need for culinary purposes and beyond. Should you have any special needs, please let us know: we are just one message away and we will do our best to accommodate you. Besides all the necessary cookware, the kitchen relies on an island table to combine social life with the hustle and bustle of pots and milk bottles: you will learn to love it for its practicality, while enjoying some lively banter around it with a glass of wine at hand. Additional services and fares: - Show cooking – We are happy to arrange show cooking demonstrations in our kitchen for a price to be agreed upon together with you, according to the cost of the ingredients and number of guests. Do not be afraid to ask, it will be worth it! - Breakfast: It is possible to subscribe to a daily service where we provide fresh bakery every morning. - Welcome kit: You can give us a list of all the supermarket products you would like to have available at your arrival and we will fill up the fridge for you. The price will include our own fee plus the actual price of the items. The living room No other area in the house better encapsulates the success of what we envisioned when we tackled the renovation process. Our motto is: comfort, functionality, modernity. We would have built those four walls with light, were it possible; in fact, one of them is the next best thing: a five-meter-long picture window facing the vibrant blue of the bay of Aldán. Thus, nature becomes an endless extension of our own space. It is like dipping one toe by the shoreline and suddenly feel the whole of the ocean engulf you. This is the heart of our home. Here, life happens: the ruckus of laughter and heated debates, the music, the scampering of the children –but also the sharing of silence as the night breaks into the room and you realize that the night sky is brimming with stars. And in the dull, grey days, nothing beats contemplating the bay while sipping from a warm cup of coffee, just to discover why watching the rain come down over the sea is the greatest spectacle on earth. Whenever the cold roars outside –you will never feel it inside: all rooms are warmed by underfloor heating— and the pine trees whisper to the house walls, do not think twice and fire up the hearth. Turn on the projector for some mundane entertainment and enjoy your favourite series with a bucket of popcorn. This is a warm, versatile space designed to guarantee your tribe’s delight under any circumstances. The garden A neat green tapestry stretching across 300 square metres. This outdoors space enjoys the same breath-taking views onto the ocean as the rest of the house. Althought we are one stone-throw away from the beach, this space will prove particularly convenient whenever in need of fresh air while still remaining inside the property: from a family brunch outdoors to sun-bathing while doing the laundry or patiently waiting for our paella to finish cooking. At night, we may admire the perfectly illuminated area from the house —enticing us to come out on it for a midnight stroll, perhaps looking for a more private venue without entirely ditching our group. The experience As soon as you set foot here, all the clocks in your existence will come to a halt –but for the one you carry inside you. The only deadline governing your life will be the brief lapse between waves as they reach the shore, delivered by an ocean of endless patience. You will hear them break until they become as subtle and essential as your own breathing. Should you wish a closer contact with the waves, feel free to give it a try with any of the two paddle surf boards and/or the two kayaks at your disposal. You may also choose to paddle along the shore on an inflatable boat suitable to up to five people. Or, if you belong to those who would rather feel the earth under their feet, the area offers the chance for discovery along several hiking trails. You are most welcome to hop onto any of our four mountain bikes; currently, we have two adult-sized bicycles and two child-sized ones on offer, perfectly suited to a family excursion into the surroundings. The 100m2 house has a spacious garden (around 300m2) for private use with views to the beach and the sea, and one precious olive tree in the middle, and surrounded by the Aldán sea. The living room has a 5 metros wide windows to the sea and another windows-door of 3 meters to the garden that enables the opening of the living room to the garden. The kitchen and the living room share a big space. The kitchen has a island in which bar its possible to enjoy funny evenings talking while cooking, or enjoy showcooking sessions with friends. There are two dining tables for at least 8 people, one inside, one outside. It is possible to park at least 5 cars. It is possible for a small rend to enjoy equipment for paddle surf and a boat for 5 people. We have perfect equipment for families (for babies to sleep, play and eat). There is a smart Beamer, with Netflix, that enable to watch films or a favorite serial on the wall of the living room or outside in the garden. We are 24-7 available per email, phone or WhatsApp.