The five-star Casa Velha do Palheiro just outside of Funchal is a golfing retreat that is revered across much of Europe. A beautiful country house of exceptional character and year-round appeal thanks to the ideal climate for a holiday in Madeira was formally a hunting lodge built by the 1st Count of Carvalhal in 1801 as a summer residence. Marcus Binney wrote in his book The Blandys of Madeira published in 2011: "Casa Velha was Madeira's first country-house hotel, situated 500 metres above sea level and looking on to one of the loveliest gardens on the island. The drive runs through woodland to emerge in a clearing shaded by the magnificent trees which are the hall marks of the Palheiro gardens". The hotel is a member of Relais et Châteaux  and provides 32 rooms and five suites, each one singular in style and personality. The lounge area and bar are comfortable, beautifully furnished and decorated with gilt framed oils, Madeira prints and fresh flowers picked from the garden that lend colour and vitality. The hotel's award-winning restaurant is highly regarded, and a deserved gourmet reference point. The Palheiro Spa, a short walk from the reception, features a veritable array of treatments and beauty therapies. The facilities include heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Turkish bath and sauna plus a smart gymnasium which further enhances the wellbeing experience. There's an all-weather tennis court next door and the less energetic can play croquet on the lawn below the property. The hotel borders the famous Palheiro Gardens and the Palheiro Golf course – a superb 18-hole, par 72 Championship layout – and offers privileged access and preferential rates to guests staying at Casa Velha. Keep your eyes peeled for the summer offers including free golf throughout your stay.