Three renovated houses with land and pool.

Cascade House


A grouping of three fully restored rustic houses in excellent decorative order, with very realistic and substantial income potential, total of six bedrooms, 12m spring-fed swimming pool, standing in large grounds in an outstandingly beautiful location, gorgeous views.

This is a rarity – one of the most privileged locations in the region, and benefiting from a warm micro-climate.

The houses stand entirely on their own at the end of a cobbled street, tranquil and not overlooked, c. 100 mtrs from the village of Carvalhinhos. The village is obscured by a bend in the road. Beyond the houses is forest track, so there is almost no passing traffic. All three enjoy a sunny, south-facing aspect.

The view from all of the houses is quite breathtaking, down a wooded valley to the hills beyond.

The magical tropical gardens are bordered along 120m by a series of tumbling cascades.

Birdsong and the gentle rushof these cascades are normally the only sounds to be heard in this verdant paradise.

The property stands in the Serra da Lousã, Portugal’s ‘Tuscany’, one of the country’s loveliest and most diverse regions, noted for its lush countryside and warm, clear lakes and rivers (great for swimming).

Only forty minutes by car or train from the houses, Coimbra is the regional capital and Portugal’s third city. Here you can find vast shopping malls, as well as the quaint streets and squares one would expect of this medieval university city, on the banks of the River Mondego. It is known as ‘City of Doctors’, and has one of Europe’s leading university hospitals. Fast, reliable and cheap trains link the city to Lisbon and Porto.

For everyday needs, the town of Miranda do Corvo is only ten minutes’ drive from the houses. It has shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, cinema, public indoor swimming pool, a health centre and a railway station (to Coimbra). Five minutes’ drive through the forest takes you to Espinhal, which has a few basic shops, a pharmacy, bank, cafés, restaurant and Sunday market. The picturesque fortress town of Penela is just twelve minutes away.

The Main House

Lots of character. Massively thick solid stone construction under tiled roof, fully insulated, exceptionally warm and cosy. Double-glazed throughout. Diesel-fired central heating. Mains water (a pleasure to drink), electricity, bottled gas, drainage to septic tank. Floors are tiled throughout, except for bedrooms, which have wooden floors.

Comprises (all measurements are approximate and in metres)::

Entrance hall (4.6 x 3.5) High-ceilinged and spacious. Telephone point. Doors to utility room (3.1 x 2.6), which also has exterior door, plumbing for washing machine, central heating boiler; and fully tiled shower room ( 3.1 x 1.9), with two-person shower, toilet, bidet, washbasin.

Steps up from the hall lead along a wide corridor (with seating area) to: Bedroom 1 (4.3 x 4.2), built-in double wardrobes, south-facing balcony with stunning views, TV point; Bedroom 2 (3.7 x 4.6), built-in double wardrobes, south-facing balcony with stunning views, TV point, en-suite bathroom (3.5 x 2.7), with giant spa bath, toilet, bidet, washbasin built into mirrored wooden marble-top vanitory unit with lights; Bedroom 3/Study (3.4 x 3.1), built-in wardrobe plus large storage cupboard, telephone and TV point.

Steps down from the entrance hall lead to: inner hall (2.7 x 2.0), with lovely old stone wall and door to walk-in under-stairs cupboard with shelving and light; door to kitchen (3.6 x 4.2), fully fitted with lots of built-in cupboards, long red-granite worktop, oven and hob, double sink, plumbing for dishwasher, feature stone wall on one side, exterior door to covered terrace.

The inner hall also leads to the sitting/dining room (7.3 x 5.7), an extraordinary room with a remarkable aura of peace. The original stone walls have been retained on three sides. Feature fireplace with fan-assisted log fire. Massive ancient chestnut ceiling beam. Feature tiled ‘carpet’ in dining area. TV point with satellite connection. French doors to covered terrace. Connecting interior door to Nut House (blocked by free-standing book-shelving).

Outside is a large partially covered terrace (14.0 x 3.5) with toilet, barbecue, power point, feature lights, gorgeous views.

Nut House

Brick construction under tiled roof, insulated. Thick walls with cavity. Double-glazed throughout. Mains water and electricity. Bottled gas. Drainage to septic tank. Electric oil-filled radiators in every room. Floors tiled throughout, except for bedroom, which has wooden floor. Very suitable for letting, guest accommodation or ‘granny flat’.

The front door opens directly onto the open plan kitchen/dining/sitting room (6.1 x 5.1) with fitted cupboards, granite worktop, oven and hob, double sink, wood-burning stove, under-stairs storage with electric cylinder, feature stone wall, TV point with satellite connection, connecting door to main house (blocked by free-standing cupboard).

Wide, shallow steps lead up to a landing (2.5 x 2.0), with doors to fully tiled shower-room (2.6 x 2.0) with roomy single-person shower cabin, toilet, bidet and washbasin with mirrored cabinet; and to bedroom (4.7 x 4.3), very roomy, with built-in wardrobe, two south-facing windows and recess suitable for sofa or child’s bed.

Outside is a south-facing terrace (3.5 x 5.0) with barbecue. Lovely views.

The Cottage

Very charming and cosy, standing higher than and separately from the main house across a large terrace. Solid stone construction under tiled roof, insulated. Double glazing throughout. Mains water, electricity, bottled gas. Drainage to septic tank. Oil-filled electric radiators in every room. Floors tiled throughout, except for two bedrooms and staircase, which are wooden. Very suitable for letting, guest accommodation or ‘granny flat’.

The front door opens straight onto large open plan sitting/dining room/kitchen (5.2 x 5.1). Feature beamed ceiling. Shuttered window. Large log fire with glass door. Fitted cupboards, oven and hob. Double sink. TV point with satellite connection. Under-stairs storage cupboard. Door to Bedroom 1 (5.6 x 2.3), shuttered window, curved wall, telephone point (inactive).

From the sitting room stairs lead up to landing with fitted cupboard which houses electric cylinder. Door leads to Bedroom 2 (4.2 x 3.4), with built-in wardrobe, vaulted wooden ceiling, south-facing balcony with heart-stopping views. Other door from landing leads to fully tiled shower room (3.7 x 1.6) with brick-built single person shower, bidet, toilet, washbasin with mirrored cabinet.

Outside is a very large terrace (c. 6.6 x 6.3) with barbecue, wood storage and wonderful views. Partial shade from spectacular tangerine tree.

The Grounds

There is covered parking for two cars, plus space for three more.

The total plot is c. 5,000m2 (1.25 acres), terraced, south-facing, bordered by a lively stream, which tumbles down a series of cascades and chutes - enchanting. The gardens are truly fairy-tale, perhaps even more so when illuminated at night, and conceived to resemble an Asian tropical garden. It is a maze of winding paths, little terraces, giant rocks and moving water. There are several very grand and mature trees, a number of fruit trees, as well as unusual and exotic plants one would normally associate with the tropics, but which survive here in the warm micro-climate.

Below the cottage is a lawn and rose garden with water tap, and below that a 12 x 3.5m swimming pool. This is very special, in that it simulates a local river. Fresh water is drawn from the stream (which is spring-fed) through 600m of black piping in the sun. The water is delightfully warm in summer and, being without chlorine or salt, silky on the skin – and no red-eye! The smooth shingle on the floor of the pool is very pleasant to the feet.

By the swimming pool is a small wooden pagoda with straw roof, table and chairs and a portable barbecue.

Immediately below the main house is a lawn, across which runs a little stream.

To the side of Nut House is a brick-built shed (3.1 x 4.7), used for the storage of firewood and tools, with electric light, power point, water tap and gas water-heater.

Below Nut House is a pretty little walled garden with sunken Japanese-style soaking tub for two adults, with hot and cold running water. Soft lighting makes this an especially romantic way to pass a summer evening!

A little further down is a fish pond into which water falls from around 4.5m above. Below this is a small vegetable garden.

On a crag in the middle of the garden stands a little red Chinese pagoda with wooden seating and electric light.

The automatic irrigation system (drawing water from the stream) is also included in the sale.

For all its size and great beauty, this is a low maintenance garden, which with a little care will bring immense pleasure to the buyer in the years to come.

Price €795,000.00

http://www.propertyforsaleincentralportugal.co.uk