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Manager: Margaret Armitage
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Overview
Description
CHARMING VILLA AT THE EDGE OF AN HISTORIC VILLAGE IN THE NATIONAL PARKVILLA DOS ARCOS (sleeps 4) with optional cottage CASITA DO PINTOR (sleeps 2)
This charming and unusual property , very near the coast, will suit any combination of guests from 2 to 6. It has great character, a beautiful garden with private pool and commands dramatic views over the countryside.
VILLA DOS ARCOS (sleeps 4):
Detached villa built in 1985 to traditional design and using traditional material. Separate cottage in the grounds (Casita do Pintor, sleeps 2) available as an option.
Sitting Room - 25ft sitting room at first floor level with open fireplace and wood burning stove, satellite television with DVD player and dining area. Extensive views to North and South over the village and the surrounding open countryside. French doors to spacious terrace. Free Wi=Fi.
Kitchen - Well equipped sunny kitchen with breakfast bar. Kitchen facilities include washing machine, fridge-freezer, oven, microwave, hob, kettle, toaster, cutlery and crockery.
Bedrooms - 2 bedrooms (one kingsize double, one twin) both with fitted wardrobes and french windows leading into the garden.
Bathrooms - 2 bathrooms with bath, shower, hand basin and w.c. (one also has a bidet)
Outside - Wide south facing sun terrace at first floor level with stunning views and steps leading into the gardens. Delightful garden with barbeque, wall lighting, gazebo, pergola and orange, lemon and peach trees, fruiting vines: visitors are welcome to pick the fruit.
Swimming Pool - Private swimming pool in walled garden with floral sun terraces, regularly cleaned. The pool is shared with the Casita, but the garden is separate.
General - Outside furniture includes loungers and there is a vine-covered pergola with dining table and chairs beneath it.
Linen and towels are provided but please take your own beach towels.
Suitability - Family friendly - cots are available and an infant's crib and high chair . English speaking babysitter available.
CASITA DO PINTOR (Optional cottage , sleeps 2):
N.B. Only available in conjunction with Villa dos Arcos.
Delightful cottage converted from two old barns.
Sitting room/Kitchen - Light, sunny sitting room with kitchen area and french windows to the patio.
Bedroom - Twin bedroom with fitted wardrobes. There are two additional sofa beds in the sitting room but the cottage is most comfortable for 2.
Bathroom - Shower, hand basin and w.c.
Outside - Patio with barbeque.
SWIMMING POOL - Private swimming pool (shared with Villa dos Arcos), regularly cleaned, with floral sun terraces (N.B. The Casita is not suitable for infants due to its proximity to the pool).
GENERAL
Outside furniture includes loungers and dining furniture.
Linen and bath towels are provided but please take your own beach towels.
Suitability - Family friendly - cots are available and an infant's crib. English speaking babysitter available. Owing to its proximity to the pool, the Casita is not recommended for infants unless they are constantly supervised.
The nearest beach is reached by a glorious short walk through a valley dotted with fig and bamboo groves, and medieval wells, with abundant bird and butterfly life. It is sheltered by cliffs all round with a ruined Roman fortress on top, and there is sometimes a freshwater lagoon. Because it cannot be reached by car it it tends to be deserted even in high season.
There is a small white-washed fishing village about the same distance away, reached on foot or by road in a couple of minutes. On its expansive, sandy beach fishermen land and sell their catch, mooring their colourful boats; several restaurants charcoal-grill the freshly-caught sea food, although recent 'improvements' have sadly led to some of its quaint character being lost.
There are many other deserted beaches and small coves within easy reach, with superb cliff-top walks between them, making this one of the finest stretches of untouched coast-line in in Europe.
Visitors are thus able to enjoy the unique combination of authentic village life, together with the comforts of a modern villa and pool normally found only in the development areas which have destroyed so much of the Algarve. They offer that rare discovery - the best of both worlds.
The Villa has a cottage in its grounds (CASITA DO PINTOR) which is available as an option ; two or more families (or generations) wishing to go on holiday together but wanting a measure of independence may favour this arrangement. Large parties (eg. golfing parties) can be accommodated using all three properties (maximum number 16).
The houses are attractively furnished in traditional Portuguese style and include bed linen, towels, and complimentary welcome pack with selection of food and wine.
An English speaking baby sitter is available..
FACILITIES NEARBY (with times by car):
Golf: Parque da Floresta. A fine 18 hole championship course, never crowded, in a charming forest setting with many water holes and challenges. Concessionary rates have been negotiated. ( 3 minutes) Details on request.
Palmares. 18 hole seaside links course. (20 minutes)
Penina. 36 hole woodland course(s). (30 minutes)
Boa Vista. 18 hole cliff-top course. (15 minutes)
BIRD WATCHING.
There is an abundance of bird life, including Sardinian and Melodious Warblers, Montagu's and Marsh Harriers, and Egrets. There are many other rare species in the area including Pratincoles, Stilts, Hoopoes, Bee-eaters, Black and Red Kites, Vultures, Booted Eagles and migrants (en route to Africa).
Professionally guided tours to breeding grounds and, by boat, to watch Petrels and others far out at sea. ( Details on request). Lagos has a centre where large birds of prey are flown and demonstrated daily . There is a vast wetland bird reserve at Palmares.
A bird-watching log-book is kept in the Villa, which you are welcome to up-date.
SPORTS
Squash, Tennis (3 minutes), Riding (Hacking and lessons) in Burgau (8 minutes). It is possible to ride for miles over wild countryside and beaches.
Wind-surfing in Salema (3 minutes). Excellent board and body surfing at numerous nearby beaches
Sailing, Micro-light hire in Lagos (15 minutes)
"Slide and Splash" Aquatic Park (30 minutes)
Scuba diving also arranged
Donkey sanctuary nearby (3 minutes)
Fishing: Superb sea fishing all along the coast
Big Game, Marlin and Shark fishing in Lagos
Beach-Barbecues: (arranged by boat). Scooter hire and local market in Salema (3 minutes)
Entertainment: Museums, Churches, Galleries, local handicrafts, cinema, wide range of restaurants and night life in Lagos (some, of a more modest nature, in Salema)
Local Art School (English speaking) in Burgau (8 minutes )
Bedroom Details
Bedroom 1
1 x King Bed
Bedroom 2
2 x Single Beds
16 Reviews
Leave ReviewA Charming Villa
By Mark L on 02-Oct-2018This delightful villa is in an old and atmospheric Portugese village, well away from most tourists. The villa is charming, elegant and authentic. The traditional bedrooms and facilities are simple but entirely adequate. The delightful sitting room has a superbly light and sunny outlook; its terrace overlooking the garden and pool is most inviting and a wonderful place for indulgent lunches. This villa is highly recommended (except for those seeking very luxurious modern accommodation).
Peaceful and secluded
By David E on 20-Feb-2019Casa dos Arcos sits on a high point in a village which has avoided the blights of mass tourism. Its walled garden and swimming pool area are bedecked with flowering shrubs and trees which produce an irresistible combination of scents and colours. Pleasant walks lead to unfrequented, unspoilt beaches. Winds from the Atlantic ensure the Algarve's heat is moderated.Simple restaurants serve fresh cuisine ( especially fish) and local wines. To summarise; anyone wishing to escape to a quieter and slower way of life should head to Casa dos Arcos!
A charming and most unusual property
By James A on 12-Sep-2013The house is elegant and tasteful with light, spacious rooms, well equipped and immaculately maintained. The gardens and pool are a delight ( brilliant bougainvillea , oranges and lemons straight from the trees) : we had a wonderful fortnight. What distinguishes it from most other rental properties is its situation in an authentic , and historic, rural village with all the usual attributes ( our neighbours happily gave us some of their produce and our children made new friends - despite the absence of a common language!) The bird life is astonishing and we much appreciated the informative , up-to-date bird log added to by successive previous visitors. Lovely simple meals in the village restaurant and marvellous walks, both short and long, to the various secluded beaches , all with perfect sand. We will be back next year - and probably for several years after - we just hope that it remains so unspoilt.
Ein schoene und ruhige Oase
By Hans L on 20-Feb-2019Wir hatten das Glueck , diese ungewoehnliche Villa zu entdecken, danz anders als so viele andere. Wir hatten eine herrliche Woche in einem authentisch portugiesischen Dorf , weit weg von den touristischen Gebieten , aber nur wenige Gehminuten von herrlichen einsamen Straenden und praehistorischen Staetten . Die Villa war sehr sauber, komfortabel und gut ausgestattet , und die Gaerten und Pool waren sehr gepflegt und ganz privat . Die Angestellten waren aesserst freundlich und hilfsbereit. Die umfangreichen Blicke in beide Richtungen waren herrlich, abwechslungsreich, und mit viel Wild, insbesondere mit einer Vielzahl von Voegeln , mit mehreren verschiedenen Greifvoegeln. Es gibt kein Nachtleben im Dorf abgesehen von zwei einfachen (ausgezeichneten) Restaurants. ( Jungenlich koennten es langweilig finden, obwohl sie vielleicht auch die Freuden der sanfteren Genuesse entdecken wuerden. ) Wir werden auf jeden Fall zurueckcommen und hoffen, dass der Massentourismus diesen idyllischen Ort nie erreichen wird.
Lovely stay in an unspoilt village
By Nicky P on 09-Oct-2014We have had a wonderful week in Villa des Arcos. The house had everything we could want and we greatly valued the complete privacy of the beautiful garden and pool - picking fruit from the trees and enjoying meals under the vine- covered pergola. Whilst not a luxury villa (it never claimed to be one) it was comfortable and spacious, well equipped and with sensational views in both directions. The walk to the delightful, secluded beach was a joy, easily accomplished by all the family in fifteen minutes. The village restaurant had excellent local food at astonishingly cheap prices. We can't wait to return next year as there is so much more that we still want to see and do.
Thank you for a wonderful week
By Hugh M on 07-Mar-2015To our suprise and delight, all our expectations were fulfilled . The property was just as described ; a charming, comfortable house, well equipped, with a beautiful garden, fruiting trees and a large pool, in an astonishingly unspoilt village. We loved our breakfasts on the sunny terrace, lunches by the pool and barbecues in the garden, surrounded by brilliant bouganvilleas and lit by the distinctive -pattern thrown by the garden wall lights. It was spotlessly clean without being clinical or bland - both the villa and the village are full of authentic, traditional character. We bought warm bread daily from one of the two quaint little village shops, and the exceptionally fresh sea food was amazing. We saw many rare birds, including a booted eagle, and swam daily in the pool and once - brvely - in the sea (from the glorious beach which we had entirely to ourselves). This property is highly recommended . We will be back next year - but with our children and grandchildren.Recommended for: Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway.