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House sitting in beautiful rural Galicia, Spain

  • Last activity : 29 Apr 2025

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    UPDATE: We are now looking for long-term Workawayers to house and cat sit and to help look after the garden throughout the winter months. (Please note we don't have any availability in the summer now and ideally need someone who could stay from November through to early January 2026).
    Your tasks will be looking after and cuddling three beautiful cats: Laranxa is everyone's friend and the leader of the pack. He will supervise everything you do and sneak into your bed if he can. Jelí is a live wire. Initially timid with new people but follows his brother's lead so will soon be asking fir belly rubs. He rarely sits still. Tiger is our elderly ex-feral outdoor cat. He has never been part of a household until this year, takes a while to get used to strangers but is an absolute cuddle bunny once you win his trust.
    In addition, you will keep the house clean and warm and water our plants/weed/cut the grass as needed. Use of our car may be possible if you have a relevant licence for Spain.
    Please message to discuss further and arrange a WhatsApp video call.

    Ideally we are looking for a couple as you will be spending time alone at the property; responsible, independent, mature outlook, tidy and respectful. No smokers please. Good English essential and Spanish useful as this is not an area where English is widely spoken.
    Please read the whole profile to check if this is a suitable placement for you. Thank you.

    Some of the jobs you might be asked to help with are: fruit picking and preserving, cutting trees, stacking wood, weeding, planting and watering, or looking after both houses and our three beautiful cats while we are away.
    We would expect a maximum of 15 hours help a week and would prefer a minimum of two months stay to allow us to get to know each other. We love to engage with our helpers and expect you to be flexible and use your initiative. It is important that you are responsible, clean and tidy. One of your tasks will be to thoroughly clean your accommodation before you leave.
    You will have your own separate accommodation with en-suite bedroom, lounge and kitchen, and plenty of time to explore this beautiful region. Digital nomads are welcome and we have cable internet at the property.
    Food is not included, but you are welcome to share veggies and fruit from the garden.
    Own transport is not essential but useful. We are a half hour stroll to a small town with supermarkets, schools, bars and restaurants. There is a bus service there to major cities and we are always happy to give you pointers of places to see.

    We look forward to hosting you soon.

    Lisa & Stewart moved to beautiful rural Galicia in 2007, self-restoring our old stone farmhouse. Having almost finished this task in 2014 we took on a second project in the same hamlet.
    Thanks to many enthusiastic Workawayers we have now finished both restorations but we have enjoyed our Workaway experiences so much we want to continue inviting people to our homes to help us with everyday tasks such as weeding, landscaping, bramble hacking and fruit picking in our organic allotment and other outside jobs like mortaring the stone walls and painting.

    The autumn and winter can be wet in Galicia, but equally we often have warm sunny days which are perfect for long walks and long lunches. Our local village has its fiesta in November and there is a tapas competition in our local town so food is never far away.
    Our homes are heated by wood burning stoves which get you warm twice, stacking the wood and burning it!
    Galicia is truly a unique area so come and discover a new aspect to Spain, we look forward to welcoming you.

    No smokers only please.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
    House sitting
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are English and have lived in our adopted country for 18 years. We therefore have many experiences to share with people. In addition we love to hear new stories from our helpers from around the world. We believe social interaction keeps the world going. We love Galicia and are more than happy to share this beautiful place with you.

  • Help

    Help

    Volunteer tasks will vary from day to day and month to month depending on the season. We are currently looking for long-term helpers of two months or more. You will only be working a few hours a week (depending on the projects) so plenty of time to explore or do your own thing. No food with this placement, but you will share in our eggs and the veggies and fruit we will grow and pick together.

    We prize flexibilty over experience, and initiative taking over all else. At the moment we are mainly looking for clean, tidy and respectful people to house and cat sit and keep our allotment while we are away. We have a number of garden projects which we would love your help with. We are also always looking for outdoor help in the gardens; bramble clearing, fruit picking, leaf collecting (for mulching the beds) and maybe some diy. A willingness to get stuck in is a quality we look for.
    We have a large organic allotment which keeps us pretty much in vegetables, fruit and nuts year round. You will be able to share in this bounty. From June through to November there is plenty of opportunity for fruit and nut picking and to learn preserving skills in the kitchen if you wish (drying, jam making, bottling). In winter there is wood cutting, leaf collecting (for mulch) and more bramble clearing to be done.
    We look forward to meeting you.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will have your own comfortable, separate accommodation with an ensuite bedroom, large lounge and kitchen and small courtyard garden. You are also welcome to grow things you like to eat in the allotment if you are staying a while. Please note we are trying to be as eco friendly as possible and would appreciate your co-operation with this. The house is heated by wood-burning stoves in winter; there is NO central heating. We will provide wood and explain how to use the stoves if you are not familar.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Galicia is one of the most beautiful areas of Spain; unspoilt, tranquil, green and friendly. There is lots to do nearby. We are situated in a tiny hamlet with woodland walks and tracks outside the door, both houses are still only a 20min walk into a small market town with supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, many with wifi access. In return for your enthusiasm we offer your own comfortable accomodation. Food is not included but we are happy to share eggs from our chickens and veggies from the garden. Non smokers ONLY please. Digital nomads are welcome. We have an extensive library of paperbacks and DVDs. The Ribeira Sacra is a beautiful and not widely known area and well worth exploring. We are happy to take some trips out to explore with you or point you in the right direction. On the 1st of each month there is a local farmers market and the walled Roman city of Lugo is worth a trip. In winter the thermal spa baths in Ourense are a must. If you wish to explore further afield we have a resources file available with lots of ideas accessible by public transport. These past 11 years we have had lots of help from wonderful workawayers. We are looking forward to meeting more lovely people soon.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    You will have your own quiet accommodation. We have cable 5G internet at the property.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Happy to host campervans but do message to discuss your requirements as flat space is at a premium here and larger vans may be difficult to accommodate.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 118397425719

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Photos

The image depicts a cat reclining on a chair on a porch, with a serene garden visible through the railing in the background.
The image depicts two cats, one black and white, the other orange, sleeping on an orange cushion on a yellow couch.
The image depicts a serene outdoor setting with a pond, surrounded by lush greenery and people relaxing on the grass.
The image depicts two hikers ascending a dirt path towards a hill, with a winding road and wind turbines visible in the distance.
The image depicts a room with a bed, table, and chairs, featuring a large window and a door, with a white wall and a gray floor, providing a simple yet elegant space.
The image depicts a kitchen with white walls, a granite countertop, and wooden cabinets, featuring a stove, sink, and refrigerator, with a stone fireplace in the background.
The image depicts a serene rural landscape, framed by a window, with a field of golden wheat, a stone building, and trees under a blue sky with white clouds.
The image depicts a stone wall with a tower, illuminated at night, featuring a grassy foreground and a dark sky above.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a house nestled in a forested area, with trees displaying a mix of green, brown, and yellow hues.
The image depicts a rustic stone building with a tiled roof, a wooden cart with flowers, and a lush forest in the background on a sunny day.
The image depicts a charming white house with a red door and window, surrounded by lush greenery and a tree with hanging grapes.
The image depicts a rustic stone house with a lush garden, featuring a tree with sprawling branches and vibrant flowers, set against a serene blue sky.
The image depicts a woman standing amidst a lush garden of tall green plants and vibrant pink flowers, set against a backdrop of trees and a bright sky.
The image depicts a man tending to chickens in a grassy area, with a rustic fence and a stone building in the background.

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