Description:

This 4.9 hectare plot, (more than 12 acres) at Vale de Engenhos, Caramujeira, is quite special, offering a beautiful, peaceful setting for a home for retirement in the sunshine or for a holiday home. It will be of no interest whatsoever to builders or developers who are looking for land on which to build many houses. This plot will be permitted to have just one house: see notes entitled 'Construction Limitations'.

There are very few such sites with building permission left to be acquired in the Algarve, and each one will have its own character, advantages and disadvantages. Those with twelve acres are very special, and those with virtually permanent protection against future eye-sores blocking their view of the ocean are even more rare. There may be none others that have this unique combination of size and stunning location, with future-proofed views.

The land itself is classified as a mixture of agricultural (rustica) and a rarely encountered type of land, 'Reserva Ecologica Nacional', or R.E.N. This is something akin to a 'natural reserve', meaning that it is identified as being especially attractive so that no one need be concerned that a housing estate might one day spring up on it and spoil the view or the nature of the area.

On the other hand, the owner must leave it in its natural state, and may not plough it, grow cultivated crops on it, nor of course, build on it. The right to build a house on the area that is classed as 'rustica' is implicit because of the presence of an old rustic farmhouse, which is in ruins. Such ruins are much sought-after, and fortunately, although it is not huge, this one is a little larger than many. See notes on 'Construction Limitations'. The 'rustica land, on which the ruin stands, may be farmed or laid out to gardens in any way required.

The plot has been uninhabited for many years. The present owner purchased it from a number of separate individuals who were the heirs of the last occupant. As mentioned above, the 'adobe' building is dilapidated and is invisible from the public road.

The approach to the land is from the East, or South-East, and is more or less flat. The track leading to the border of the land is overgrown and virtually impassable, but will be cleared by the Camara Municipal when construction work begins on the site of the ruin. Access to the area of the house, until the Camara carries out the necessary works, does not involve having to negotiate the slopes around the 'Engenhos' valley as the approach is fairly flat, but slopes away into the valleys to North and to East. The bulk of the land lies between two minor valleys that run westwards from the Engenhos valley. On foot, one need only make a detour on the western side of the approach. This involves walking over unfenced land that belongs to the heirs (now living in Lisbon) of the farmer who once tended this small area to raise crops, but it is now wild and overgrown with heather and other flora. There is no law of trespass for unfenced land in Portugal and right of way is therefore implicit, but will not be needed once the approach road is cleared.

From the ruin, at almost the highest point of the land, there is wonderful view across and down the valley to the ocean, with just a few villas dotted around on the hillsides. The ocean and beautiful beaches are far enough away not to cause problems for plants and lawns, but close enough to be easily accessed by car, by bicycle or on foot. There are numerous beaches all within a kilometre or so ('as the crow flies').



* Ocean view