Villa Dos Arcos

CHARMING VILLA AT THE EDGE OF AN HISTORIC VILLAGE IN THE NATIONAL PARK

VILLA DOS ARCOS (sleeps 4) with optional cottage CASITA DO PINTOR (sleeps 2)
My own website reviews please visit vilad.net (My own website reviews)

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.

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 king-size double, one twin) with fitted wardrobes and French windows leading into the garden. There is also a double sofa bed in the sitting room – the Villa can accommodate a maximum of 6 people.
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 (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 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.

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 )