Danni Menzies is on the stunning Greek Island of Kefalonia with Paul and Kelly. The couple run a pub restaurant in County Durham, and can’t wait to escape the heat of the kitchen to soak up the sun and grow their own fruit and veg in the garden of their very own holiday home. Danni has rustled up 5 amazing properties for their £120,000 budget, but will Paul and Kelly be impressed?
Kefalonia is the 6th largest of the Greek islands in the Ionian Sea. A direct flight from the UK takes about 3 and a half hours. It has over 150 miles of coastline with more than 40 beaches, that are perfect for watersports and swimming, including the picturesque Mertos beach which was the setting for the Hollywood blockbuster Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, no doubt one of the main attractions for the 70 thousand visitors who come here each year. Kefalonia’s climate is hot and dry in summer and mild but rainy in winter (its lush landscape owing to the rainfall during its wetter months between Nov-Feb). Average daytime temps in winter peak 14+ degrees and around 30 degrees in summer.
Our first property is in a small village called Davgata, which is a 10 minute drive from the capital of Kefalonia, Argostoli. The property has a courtyard garden with space for small raised bed area for planting and a BBQ. There is also a covered upstairs terrace with separate access via an external staircase, which offers views over the village and towards the sea. This property is no longer available, but you can visit the agent's website here.
Next we’re heading less than half an hour north to the coastal village of Zola. It’s nestled in the hillside close to the Northern tip of the Palliki peninsular overlooking one of the island’s most beautiful beaches – Agia Kiriaki – surrounded by lush green hills for walking the many hiking trails. This is a one-bed, one-bath detached house with land, it has a garden with fruit trees and great sea views across the beach. No longer available, see more from the agent here.
Valsamata is nestled in the beautiful Omala Valley around a 20 minute drive from Argostoli and just under half an hour from the airport. This is a two-bed, two-bath detached house with outbuildings. It has terraces wrapping round the outside of the building, and there's a garden at the back that would be perfect for growing vegetables. View the property here.
Next we’re heading to the South of the island, around a 20 minute drive from its Southernmost tip to the village of Markopoulo. Our fourth property is a one-bed, one-bath house with a one-bed guest house plus separate kitchen. At the back is a split level terrace complete with outside BBQ and mountain views. The building next door has a living room, shower room and double bedroom. Then in the third building along there’s a twin bedroom, and another room currently used for storage. No longer on the market, view more properties from the agent here.
For our last property we’re heading to Kontogourata, a small village set into the hillside overlooking the dramatic coastline of the Paliki Peninsula across the Gulf of Agrostoli. It's a two-bed house with a one-bed annexe, it has a terrace at the front of the property with amazing sea views. View the property here.
This luxury villa is split across three levels with five en suite bedrooms. Positioned right at the northern tip of the island it has an infinity pool and enjoys panoramic views over the Ionian sea towards other Greek islands and in the distance mainland Greece. View the property here.