This June - Look after our animals and windmill in Portugal!
Portugal, Mação, Santarém
Pets
- Dog(s)
- Cat(s)
- Goat(s)
We have a very sweet border collie that loves attention, two cats, as well as 8 goats.
Dates
- 1 Jun 2026 to 17 Jun 2026 (No sitters have applied for these dates yet. Be the first!)
About this assignment
We are ideally looking for a responsible couple with experience looking after animals and good references. We prefer people who are looking to stay close to the mill, rather than those looking for a base to explore from. Also it can get very hot in June, so you need to be prepared for that. There may be more opportunities for future house sits also, as we go away a few times each year.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
Mainly feeding the animals, letting out the goats and getting them back in again, watering the plants and walking the dog twice a day, as well as taking care of the property. It would be good to have someone who is confident handling goats, although they are pretty well behaved.
What are the good features of the property and location
The windmill and the surrounding nature are beautiful! The location is rural and feels remote, though we are just 10 minutes away from the main road to Lisbon (1.5 hours drive) and also 10 minutes to the nearest town, with supermarket, pharmacies, restaurants, etc. The windmill is a fun, quirky place to stay, the views are awesome, and the animals very friendly!
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
Because it's remote, you'll need to be able to drive, but not necessarily have your own transport - we can pick up from the train station and leave you our car to use. We ask that you are at the property for the animals each morning and evening, and we do prefer people who are happy to stay close, rather than adventure too far afield. It can get hot in June so you need to be prepared for hot weather, we have no air conditioning.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
9 April 2026
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Testimonials
Amazing experience!
Fiona and Simon are a lovely and very welcoming couple. Simon picked us up from the local train station and after showing us some of the responsibilities, took us out for meal. The animals are all interesting and well-behaved (except for a couple of times when the goats got too curious about new places to graze ;-). The surrounding area and vistas are chock full of trails, trees, rocks, bridges and ruins. Except for a couple construction workers, we felt like we were the only people on earth. So peaceful and tranquil. We communicated through WhatsApp and any problems were dealt with immediately. We highly recommend this house sit .Thank you, Fiona and Simon. We hope to come back again!
Jennifer, Uruguay, January 2025
Highly recommended, unique stay with undemanding animals
What a unique property and location! My patner and I thouroughly enjoyed our pet and property sit here. All necessary items were available in the “moinho” and both Fiona and Simon were in communication throughout. Macao has all facilities and the city of Abrantes is large and fairly close as well. This is a real, non-touristy area of Portugal which we loved.The animals were well behaved and simple to care for. If you prefer countryside and peace and quiet, we readily recommend this sitting oppurtunity whenever it is available again.
Herb, United States, November 2022
Magical experience!
I still can´t believe at this amazing opportunity I had to house-sit in a restored windmill in central Portugal! Fiona and Simon are a wonderful couple and I am very grateful to them for their trust right from the beginning. I received very clear instructions about the intricacies of the place, and they made sure I was connected with other locals, in case I should need assistance. There were no pets to look after when I was there. I loved the solitude and quietness of the location and if I had the chance, I would for sure repeat the experience! Very highly recommended to people who like quiet spaces and enjoy being by themselves!
Rocio, Spain, February 2020
Lovely people and interesting place.
Fiona´s windmill is definitely a special place, surrounded by a beautiful landscape in a remote but accessible area, our daughter loved the place and the owners. Fiona and Simon are great people, friendly and so cheerful, they deserve every help they can get, I just wish we could do more there, but the time was very short and we got an electrical problem that prevented us to help more. All the happiness for you guys. If you are looking for a special and rare place to sit, the windmill is a great choice.
Ricardo, Brazil, July 2019