Viewed from hills above, Panormos Bay with its crescent of white pebbles and sand separating green forest and the translucent blues of the sea, is one of the most beautiful coves in the Sporades.

What better place then to find the superb new Villa Skalopati set in the hillside above the cluster of houses and shops behind the beach that is Panormos village, the villa enjoys total privacy with no other buildings overlooking it on any side. Trees behind, the Aegean in front, dotted with islands stretching as far as Evia in the distance, and all within a few hundred metres of the village. Seclusion doesn’t often come with this much convenience!

A lot of thought has gone into the design of the interior. The spacious open plan ground floor has a well equipped kitchen and dining/living room, cool yet welcoming, with polished wooden floors and stairs. Modern furniture includes a comfortable sofa bed. The tiled shower and toilet lead off this room. A large picture window beside the glass patio doors ensures that the incredible view can be enjoyed from inside the house.

There are two bedrooms upstairs, a double and a twin, with exposed beams and wooden ceilings and a separate toilet with wash basin The large landing could accommodate another bed if necessary.

The patio doors open onto a shaded veranda and dining area with the swimming pool just a few steps further on set into the tiled terrace. Comfortable sun loungers are provided.

Panormos Beach becomes more crowded as the day progresses and tour boats and caiques arrive from other islands. Perhaps the best time to enjoy it is in the morning, before the crowds arrive, for a refreshing swim before indulging in a Skopelos “special” breakfast of locally grown fresh fruit, yoghurt with island honey and freshly baked croissants; all this a few steps away from the water! The village has a wide choice of bars and tavernas and naturally that ubiquitous Greek institution, the mini-market, which somehow manages, within a very small space, to display goods and products that in England would need an entire streetful of shops!

Quieter beaches can be found a short drive along the coast in either direction, and the villa is equally well placed for exploring the fertile and unspoilt interior of the island.