Ground floor (half a step from the garden and pool terrace, 6.5 steps or a ramp from the parking area): Open plan living room, office, kitchen and dining area, 1 bathroom, 2 twin bedrooms, and 1 double bedroom with en-suite shower room. The front door opens out into the living room/office/kitchen/dining area which has high vaulted cypress wood ceilings. The living area has an elegant wood sofa with bordeaux coloured fabric, 2 matching armchairs, a coffee table, a TV stand with the TV, DVD player and satellite box, a fireplace with utensils, lace curtains, inset stone shelves with an ancient iron and a clock, a dining table and chairs, and a sideboard. One window faces south west to The White Mountains, one window overlooks the garden, and thick double doors open out onto the main outside dining terrace, which is shaded with a pergola and is furnished with a dining table and chairs, and a large terracotta pot. A stone archway leads from the dining area into office/kitchen. In the winter of 2011/2012 the kitchen at Horseshoe Cottage is being renovated and extended (not reflected in the current photos). A desktop computer with WIFI internet access sits on a wooden desk which has a matching chair, and there are 2 large terracotta pots, and a basket with a selection of books. The kitchen has dark wood cabinets, wooden wall shelves, an electric cooker with a cooker hood, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a large fridge/freezer, a kettle, a coffee maker, a toaster, a sandwich toaster, lace curtains, and a window to which looks out to the mountains. A doorway from the office area leads into a long hallway which has the doors to the 3 bedrooms, bathroom, and to the rear patio and small arboretum. The main bathroom has grey tiles, a full size jacuzzi bath with a shower attachment, a dark wood vanity unit with a marble top and sink, a large mirror with an overhead brass and glass lamp, a toilet, laundry basket, a washing machine, and a frosted window to the pool terrace. The first twin bedroom which has 2 carved dark wood single beds, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a wardrobe, curtains, a chair, and a window to the front garden and pool terrace. The double bedroom is the door at the end of the hallway and has a carved dark wood double bed, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a dressing table, stool and wall mirror, a wardrobe, curtains, an en-suite shower room, and a window which looks out to the front garden and pool terrace. The en-suite shower room has cream and beige marble effect tiles, a corner shower cubicle with sliding doors, a washbasin, a mirror with an overhead lamp, a toilet and a frosted window. The second twin bedroom is on the opposite side of the hallway, at the rear of the cottage and is smaller than the other bedrooms. It has 2 carved dark wood single beds, 1 bedside cabinet with reading lamp, a wardrobe, curtains, and a window that looks out to the mountains, and door that leads out to the rear patio and gravelled areas with fruit trees. The cottage has a path that leads all the way around the property, therefore the bedrooms can access the entire garden and pool area from either the rear doors or through the living room.

Only 5 minutes walk from Horseshoe Cottage is the centre of the tiny hamlet of Maza. A bouainvillea covered kafenion is situated next to the tiny chapel of Agios Nikolaos and ruined buildings which an feature ancient olive press. 2.7km from Maza is the village of Vrysses which was built on the River Voutakas in 1925. A number of tavernas have been built under the tall plane trees on the banks of the river. Vrysses is primarily a working village that is rich in agricultural products and is famous for its cheese, yoghurt and honey. There are many shops in Vrysses including 2 bakeries, 2 butchers, 2 supermarkets, a bank, a chemist, a post office, clothing shops, a book shop, a jewellers, and a fantastic cake and ice-cream shop. The beach resort of Georgioupolis is 8km’s from Villa Maris and it has many kilometres of sandy beaches as well as an abundance of shops, cafes, and tavernas. Set at the mouth of the Almyros River, there is a small fishing harbour and the Chapel of Saint Nicholas which set at the end of a small causeway in the sea just off the beach. Water sports, miniature golf, and horse riding are all available from Georgioupolis, and the younger members of the family particularly enjoy taking a canoe or pedaloe up the river to feed the turtles in the summer months. The lovely village of Alikampos is close to Horseshoe Cottage. Alikampos is set on a terraced hillside. The wonderful chapel of “The Koimeses” is situated in a tranquil spot below the village, overlooking a gorge that is thickly forested with conifers, olive and orange trees. Built in 875A.D. the interior walls are completely covered in impressive frescoes that date from the 14^th Century. Also near Alikampos is the Dourakis Winery which produces delicious local wines. A tour around the winery and fresh home-made food are all available. The cottage is perfectly situated to explore both the north and south coasts. The road that leads to the south coast runs through Vrysses and leads to the Imbros Gorge, and then onto the Aradeina Gorge. The Imbros Gorge has higher walls that the more famous Samaria Gorge and takes approximately 3 hours to walk through. The small port village of Chora Sfakion is only 50 minutes from Horseshoe Cottage. Here you can take ferries to Loutro or to Agia Roumeli, the village at the bottom of the Samaria Gorge. Horseshoe Cottage is also only 20 minutes from the lovely beach village of Almyrida which is lined with excellent tavernas, has a scuba diving centre, a sports station which rents out windsurfers, kayaks, catamarans, and mountain bikes, Villas Crete Holidays for tourist information, boat trips, horse riding, and guided walking tours and coach excursions. For those of you looking for even more activity, the historic town Rethymnon is only 35 minutes away by car and the stunning town of Chania is only 45 minutes away.

Any steps? How many?
6 steps or a ramp from the parking area to the garden/pool terrace, a half step from the garden into the cottage.

How private?
Very private.

Nearest neighbour?
40m.

CAR HIRE IS NECESSARY WITH THIS VILLA.