Overseas: Galicia, Costa del silence

Perched above Portugal, Galicia, on the northwest tip of Spain, is a region packed with rivers, pretty beaches and rolling fields. However, it's not somewhere your average sun-worshipping, Costa-loving tourist tends to head for because of its position on the Atlantic rather than the Mediterranean coast. The sea can be rougher and winters can be cold, often bringing snow to high ground, and though the climate is mild for much of the year it can also be very wet. But if you're looking for charming properties in an unspoilt location, it could be the place for you

"There's a reason Galicia is so green," says Mark Adkinson, a British agent who gave up his life as a genetic research specialist to move to the region. Adkinson and his wife have lived in the area for 30 years and, as well as selling property through his company, Galician Country Homes, he helps people relocate to the area. "Galicia is like Cornwall," he says, "with some of the best beaches in Europe and a fabulous local community. It's a very relaxing place to live."

Properties on Adkinson's books are mainly rural, as he works in the inland areas around Lugo, and range from ruins priced from under £30,000 to small hotels costing over £600,000. "For less than £80,000 you can find perfectly habitable properties," he says, "though they may be old fashioned and you'll probably want to do them up over time. One house I'm currently selling has five bedrooms on 1,000sqm of land for £40,000, but it will need to be done up quite a bit."

Adkinson knows the area so well that he is able to recommend builders, should you want to invest in that dream renovation project, and he says building work is often better quality than the UK. However, if you just want to move in and do nothing, it's also possible to find substantial brand new or restored homes for around £160,000 to £300,000, often with large tracts of land.

Like many areas, prices inland are much cheaper than on the coast but Adkinson points out that it's only around an hour to the stunning beaches of the north or west coast on empty roads. He also feels that coastal areas tend to be busier and offer less value, with an apartment in a coastal location such as Pontevedra or Cediera selling for the same price as a three-bedroom country house with land.

Juan Rodriguez Freire, who owns property and tourism agency, Destination Galicia, says he's seeing increasing interest from non-Spanish buyers. These are mainly people looking for an escape or who have holidayed previously in the region and love it.

"Galicia offers stunning coast and countryside, Scottish-style lochs, historic towns and excellent food," he says. "As a place to live it offers a good lifestyle, friendly people and has one of the lowest crime rates in Spain."

Like Adkinson, Freire also sells more character properties to overseas buyers and claims newer homes are favoured by the Spanish, who head to the region from Madrid and the hotter southern areas during the summer.

He says there's a glut of old, stone properties for renovation and these can be picked up for an average of £40,000, while a family house will cost between £120,000 and £200,000 and new apartments start from around £70,000.

If you do want to sample the suburban delights of the region, there's the historic, holy city of Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña, a large port with a historic quarter, where one or two-bedroom apartments typically start at £70,000 to £100,000 and go up to over £400,000 for something central with three or more bedrooms.

However, the area has many more attractive small towns and fishing villages, such as Noia and Rianxo, where prices for sea-facing houses and apartments are comparable to busier towns. Friere also thinks the pretty, protected coastal region from La Coruña to the town of Mouros is currently a good place to buy.

"It's an underdeveloped stretch of coast with fantastic landscape and beaches, and due to current building laws it won't be destroyed," he says. "But in a couple of years these areas will be connected by new motorways, which will make properties there more attractive."

It might not have year-round sun, calm waters or the resort-style facilities of Spain's Mediterranean coast but with beautiful countryside, affordable homes and communities that have retained their traditions, Galicia may be just what you're looking for.

Galician Country Homes: 00 34 982 390 959, www.galicianrustic.com; Destination Galicia: 00 34 881 886 582, www.destinationgalicia.com; Quintessentially Estates: 0845 224 3658, www.quintessentiallyestates.com

Buyers' guide

*There have been reports of dishonest agents operating in Galicia. Never pay a cash deposit directly to an agent, it should only be paid to the vendor once a deposit contract (the arras) has been drawn up.

*Many older properties have never been officially registered and getting documentation to prove title and boundaries can be difficult, so always use a lawyer. Insist that details of boundaries and property specification are finalised at the time of signing the arras, before the final contract (the escritura) is signed.

*Getting a mortgage on unregistered properties can also be tricky, speak to your lender about it first.

*English is not widely spoken outside the main towns and a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish is useful for anyone moving into the area.