We have planned a stunning space, fronted by full length glass doors and panels to take advantage of the fabulous view . It will consist of a bedroom with double bed facing directly out to the garden and sea,sitting room, bathroom with bath and shower, and a small patio with two wooden sunloungers.

The villa offers the perfect romantic setting to relax and unwind, surrounded by gardens and with breathtaking views. Unlike many 3-bed villas, all bedrooms are good-size doubles and all main rooms look out to the garden and sea. The villa is the larger of Club Patara’s 2-bedroom designs and we have preserved the luxury of space in the interior, keeping sleeping acommodation to the bedrooms, not on sofa beds elsewhere.

Inside the main villa cool marble steps lead to the open-plan sitting room which has a Turkish feel to it with its traditional fireplace, Ottoman coffee table, antique artefacts, kelim rugs on the floor and as cushions on the generous and comfortable low seating. CD player, DVD player. Big French windows open onto the terrace.

The roomy and well-equipped kitchen, with marble worktop and plenty of cupboards, has a full-size cooker with extractor hood, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, toaster, electric kettle and electric coffee-maker. It looks out over the garden and sea, with a glazed door onto the terrace. The downstairs w.c. houses the washing machine, and there is an iron and ironing board.

Upstairs in the villa both bedrooms have the same wonderful views. The master bedroom has its own shower bathroom with WC and boasts an elegant four-poster double bed, draped in fresh blue and white cotton. The twin bedroom is decorated in soft, fresh colours, and there is space for us to provide a folding bed here for an additional child if required. There is a second shower room with WC. Bed linen, towels and beach towels are provided as well as one hair dryer.

Club Patara– also known as Patara Prince Resort – is one of Kalkan’s best addresses. Designed by the distinguished Turkish architect, Turhan Kaso, this delightful Mediterranean village-type development with a boutique hotel clings to the hillside just round the bay from Kalkan harbour. The houses with terracotta-coloured walls and pantile roofs are set in lush, tropical gardens running down to the water’s edge. These exotic gardens are a special feature, irrigated by recycled grey water.

As well as the swimming pools, which are large enough for serious swimming as well as more gentle fun, there is easy access to the sea from the rocks just below the house (the water is blue-flagged for quality), where there are also platforms on several levels with sunloungers and umbrellas. If you feel the need of sand between your toes, only 20 minutes’ drive away is one of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean, the 18 km long stretch of completely unspoilt beach at the ancient site of Patara. It is now a conservation area, where turtles return to lay their eggs. A short drive from Kalkan in the other direction along the coast road takes you to the dramatic setting of Kaputas beach, while Kalkan village itself has a small pebble beach. Club Patara’s main pool opens in April, the other outside pools slightly later.

There are other swimming choices around Kalkan Bay where you can swim from rocky platforms at various bathing clubs. Water-skiing, banana boat and ringo rides as well as scuba diving are available at Club Patara itself. Kalkan, along with nearby Kas, are major diving centres with several operators offering scuba dives and PADI courses.

A short boat taxi, conventional taxi or a ten-minute walk takes you into Kalkan. Whitewashed houses, old wooden balconies bright with bougainvillea and narrow stone-paved streets all contribute to the charm of old Kalkan village, which climbs up the hillside from the lively harbour. Kalkan is famed for its wonderful and varied selection of restaurants, from top-of-the-range cuisine to delicious local Turkish dishes. Market day is Thursday, with a wide range of tempting stalls.

From high cedar forests to dramatic coastal views, ancient Lycia offers spectacular scenery. Kalkan is well-placed for excursions to a number of classical sites such as Xanthos, Patara, Pinara, Tlos and Myra, or for the more energetic the Lycian Way offers waymarked trails in the vicinity . There are superb wild flowers, at their best in March, April and early May. From Kalkan or the pretty harbour town of Kas nearby you can hire a gulet to explore the beautiful coast or take a cruise to Kekova with its underwater ruins, stopping en route in isolated coves to swim in the clear turquoise water or drop anchor for lunch on board. A good choice of travel agencies in Kalkan offer several local trips, including a walk through Saklikent Gorge, horse-riding along Patara beach, canoeing down the Xanthos river or just a 30-minute drive along the spectacular coast road to picturesque Kas.

Kas market

Come in SPRING, when the oranges and lemons are on the trees, mountain peaks still capped with snow and the days are warm (April average, 21C), for wild flowers and walking with some swimming thrown in. (At Club Patara the main pool is filled at the start of April.) You can hire a car in Kalkan to give you the greatest freedom. Take a hunk of delicious Turkish bread, some local cheese, tomatoes and fruit with you for lunch and you are well-set for a day of exploration in the wild. Discover spectacular archaeological sites or walk along part of the Lycian Way, a well marked long-distance trail running from Fethiye in the west to Antalya in the east. Nearer Kalkan it takes you through empty countryside and tiny villages, past flocks of sheep and goats herded by traditionally-dressed country people, through ancient classical ruins, forested hills and aromatic herb-strewn slopes. Add flowers to all this, including red, purple and blue anemones, tiny purple irises, wild gladioli and stately asphodel, and you have the recipe for a superb holiday. Back at Kalkan you will find a good variety of restaurants to choose from, although not all open before May, and Patara Prince itself widens your choice with at least one restaurant open all year in the resort itself.