Home > Accommodation > The Stork's Nest

Holiday villa accommodation, private pool, 3 bedrooms

Sleeps 6.
near Fuzeta, Olhão, Moncarapacho

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Description (Property Reference: 129) "What's the most important thing about a property ?" "Position, position and position." Oh, and did we mention position ? The Stork's Nest is isolated, high up, has 360º views and is a very short flight to the marshes and lagoons of the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve; in fact, the ideal place for a stork to build its nest. But add in the pool, the huge outside terrace with sun beds, dining table and outside kitchen with a barbeque, and it is an ideal place for you to spend your holiday. You'll love the view, you'll love the feeling of being above and looking down on everything, you'll love the air of freedom and lightness that it gives you. And if you love nature, bird watching, walking, cycling and beaches, then you'll love having it all on your doorstep and you'll love staying at The Stork's Nest.

Prices

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Period Price GBP 15 Jul 2010 to 2 Sep 2010   GBP 1299 2 Sep 2010 to 30 Sep 2010   GBP 999 30 Sep 2010 to 4 Nov 2010   GBP 799

Notes Prices are for the property per week, regardless of the number of people (up to the maximum number of people for the property).

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Facility Comment dishwasher YES oven YES hob YES - gas / electric microwave YES fridge/freezer YES electric kettle YES gas kettle YES toaster YES coffee machine YES - filter expresso maker YES - café type machine iron YES ironing board YES

Facility Comment wood burning fire YES heating YES - radiators and warm air air conditioning YES hair dryer YES swimming pool YES - private, 9.0 x 4.5m, 1.0 - 1.8 m deep barbeque YES - built-in in outdoor kitchen Sky TV YES DVD YES baby cot YES high chair YES washing machine YES

What is the accommodation like ?

The accommodation in on two floors. On the ground floor, there is a circular lounge, equipped with English satellite TV, DVD player, air conditioning for summer and a wood burner for winter. There is also a selection of DVDs and CDs for your enjoyment. The lounge has full length double glass doors opening out onto the pool terrace.

From the lounge, you go up three steps to the dining area where there is a table and chairs for six. The dining area also has full length double glass doors opening out onto the terrace. The kitchen is open-plan with the dining room. It is a fully fitted kitchen which is very well equipped for self-catering. Opening off the kitchen is a utility room which contains a washing machine, iron and ironing board, and a dishwasher. There is also a seperate cloakroom with WC and hand basin.

Also opening off the dining room is access to the downstairs double bedroom and its bathroom. The bathroom has a bath with a shower in it, WC, bidet and double handbasins. The bedroom has fitted wardrobes, air-conditioning and full length double glass doors which open out onto rear terrace area behind the outdoor kitchen and which give views to the sea.

Climb the spiral staircase in the tower to the upstairs and you will find the second double bedroom, with its compact en-suite shower room. The bedroom has air-conditioning and large windows with super views over the lagoon and to the sea. It also has a glass door out to a large first floor roof terrace, where you can soak up the sun, the fresh air and the views. There is bathroom on this floor which can be used by both bedrooms, which has a bath with a shower in it. The third bedroom is a twin bedroom, again with air-conditioning and great views to the sea. Also on this floor is the door  giving access to the upper roof terrace, the real 'stork's nest' with panoramic 360º views.

What outside spaces and facilities are there ?

In the summer months, you are going to live outside here, and that's where the Stork's Nest really comes into it own. All along the southern side of the house is a huge terrace which is high up and looks directly out over the Ria Formosa to the sea, giving a fabulous coastal panoramic view. The terrace contains the pool, which is equipped with sun loungers with cushions. There is also a large wooden dining table and chairs for your outside meals. At the western end of the terrace is a covered and shaded area which includes the outdoor kitchen and bar and a further seating area with table and chairs. In the outdoor kitchen, there is a gas hob, a built-in barbeque and a sink. And there is a bar from which you can serve your family and friends a sun-downer or a lunch time beer. There are two large sun shades for use on the terrace.

Because the terrace is built above a high retaining wall from which the land slopes away down to the lagoon, you are high above everything. This gives the terrace a great, free and open feeling as you look down on everything around you. A great place to spend your holiday.

Beneath the terrace, once the land slopes down, you will find your own, private stone picnic table in the garden - if you fancy a change from the terrace.

At the front of the house, there is private off-road parking - shaded for one car - which is gated and fenced. A wheel chair ramp leads up from this parking area to the back of the house and into the ground floor double bedroom. There is a large rear garden between the wall and the track that leads to the house.

What is it like walking from the property ?

A staircase leads down from the terrace to the land at the rear which belongs to the property. The land slopes steeply before flattening out. At the bottom the land you hop across the railway line, and you are in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and right on the 'Ecoway', the Algarve coastal footpath.

If you want to stick to the path, to the east it will take you past salt pans and salt marsh all the way into Fuzeta. You can walk to Fuzeta's town beach this way or to the ferry that takes you to the ocean beach on Ilha de Armona. From Fuzeta, the path carries on through the Ria Formosa to Arroteia, St Luzia and to Tavira and beyond. Going west will take you through the Ria Formosa into Olhão.

You can also walk off the path and deeper into the Ria Formosa, exploring the network of bunds that run between the salt-pans, the salt marsh and the lagoon. It is an ideal place for bird watchers as you have great birding literally on your doorstep. There is a good bed of sedges just below the house which will test your ears more than your sight. And in the salt pans and salt marsh you will see a large variety of waders and water birds, including Avocets, Black-winged stilts, Spoonbills, White stork (of course !), Flamingos and many more. Walking in the Ria in front of the house is incredibly peaceful and lovely at the end of the day as the sun is going down; highly recommended.

Walking from the front of the house, you can explore the local lanes and small roads, and again, take a lane down to the shore and come back along the coastal path to the house.

How close is the nearest beach ?

The nearest beach is Fuzeta beach, a ten minute drive away or a fourty five minute walk away along the coastal path.

How close are the nearest food shops ?

The nearest small food shops and a good, small local fresh produce, fish and meat marke are in Fuzeta, a ten minute drive away. There is a big selection of good supermarkets together with large, municipal food markets at Olhão, between ten and fifteen minutes drive away.

How close are the nearest restaurants ?

The nearest restaurants are at Fuzeta or Olhão, both about a ten minutes drive away.

How far is the nearest airport ?

The nearest airport is Faro airport, about a thirty minutes drive away.

Do we need to hire a car ?

Yes, you will need a car to get to shops, restaurants and to explore further afield.

What is there to do ?

The main activity at The Stork's Nest will be gazing out from the terrace, watching the Ria Formosa change with the light and the coming and going of the tide, and clocking the local train as it rattle past below you every now and then. If you are a birdwatcher with a spotting scope, you can even scan the salt pans from the terrace, and at night you scan the stars from any of the house's three terraces. The house is also an ideal venue to explore the Ecoway on foot or on bicycle. We can arrange bicycle hire for you, just ask us for a quote.

Are children welcome ?

Yes, of all ages. There is a cot and high chair at the house for the smallest.

Are pets welcome ?

No, sorry.

Can we smoke in the property ?

No, sorry. Smoking outside only.

On which day(s) can we arrive/leave ?

For 2009 we have a flexible changeover day. Why not stay for 10 nights instead of 7??? Or any amount of time you like. Check-in time is 15:00 hrs and check out time 11.00 hrs. Where ever possible we can be flexible on these times.

Is there a minimum/maximum length of stay ?

The minimum length of stay is one week. But you will probably want to stay longer. If you stay for three weeks, you probably won't ever want to go back home.

Are there any dangerous/safety features for small children ?

The house is walled, fenced and gated all around, so tiny ones can be contained. There is a trellis fence in the lounge stopping tiny ones from running straight out to the pool.

There is a stair case running up the tower, but this has a door to it which can be closed. Entrance to the pool is at ground level, so small ones must be supervised once on the terrace.

Is there anything else I should know about the property ?

The local train line runs past the back of the property at the end of the land. Trains take about a minute to go past, and they and infrequent enough, small enough and far enough distant and below you to be interesting rather than disturbing.

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