Portugal Escape to the Continent

Behind me, the Atlantic Ocean stretches

uninterrupted for thousands of miles, all the way to the Americas.

And it's thought that this particular stretch of coastline

gets its name from the glistening of the sun against the sea.

But where am I?

Find out in just a moment.

Today, the house hunt prompts our couple to talk of separate living.

-Six months there, six months here.

-Or I could have that one,

-you could have this one.

-THEY LAUGH

We showed them the high life...

You don't get much better views than that, really, do you?

It's beautiful.

..but in the end, it's the simple things that matter.

-I can see a glint of blue down there.

-A glint of blue!

That's got a smile on my face.

Welcome to Escape To The Continent.

We're in Portugal, in the town of Peniche, an ancient fishing

port that features this beautifully preserved fortress.

It was built in the 16th century by order of King Joao III

in order to protect this busy port against pirates and invaders

that came from as far afield as France, Algeria and even Britain.

But today, it's a different kind of traveller that's drawn to the

charms of this region, known as Portugal's Silver Coast.

Located in Southern Europe, Portugal is less than three

hours by plane from the UK.

The area known as the Silver Coast begins halfway up the country

and stretches from the capital, Lisbon,

north for more than 100 miles towards the city of Porto.

With no major cities, the towns and villages of the Silver Coast

enjoy a relatively quiet pace of life,

relying on traditional industries of fishing

and agriculture for much of their livelihood.

The area is rich in history, with no shortage of monuments.

From the hilltop castle in Obidos,

built on the site of an 8th century fortification to Portugal's

largest church, which can be found in the town of Alcobaca.

As one of the country's first Gothic buildings,

the medieval monastery of Santa Maria

is now a World Heritage site.

But of course, the main draw is the coastline, which offers miles of

sandy beaches, from family resorts like Foz do Arelho to

internationally famous surf spots.

It's thought the biggest wave ever surfed was right here, in Nazare.

With its spectacular coastline and unspoilt countryside,

it's not hard to see why the Silver Coast is drawing potential

escapees to its shores.

For those who choose to relocate to Portugal permanently,

the good news is that property prices here are still very

competitive, despite the growing interest from discerning expats.

And here on the Silver Coast, there are plenty of detached,

three-bedroom properties for less than £100,000.

Now, that's way under half the national average back home

and around 20% cheaper than the Algarve.

But it really does depend what you're looking for.

Property along the popular seaside resorts can come on a premium,

with buyers expecting to pay an extra 40% for a sea view alone.

So it may be worth considering something more remote inland

if you are after a bargain.

So, will it be coast or countryside for today's buyers?

Let's meet them and find out.

Our house hunters today are Sue and Andy,

who currently live in rural Leicestershire.

They first became an item whilst working together at a bank.

-We met about...15 years ago now?

-Yep.

And we were an office romance.

-Married...

-Married for how many?

Putting me on the spot now.

-About 12-ish year.

-Well done, yeah.

-OK, cool.

-Yeah.

Now a self-employed financial consultant,

Andy works on contracts around the world,

a fact which means home doesn't have to be in the UK.

With what I do as a job, it has kind of really cemented

what we've been thinking about for the last four or five years

about moving to Portugal.

So, after many happy holidays in Portugal,

last year they decided to spend six weeks north of Lisbon.

I wanted to sort of experience what it would feel like after that

holiday niceness has happened.

And we just sat there one day on a terrace thinking,

"This is true Portugal."

-That for me was the first seed...

-That was... Yeah.

..that actually I could live here.

And it is not just the two of them involved in this move.

So, we will be moving with our two dogs, Bert and Ernie.

-We've got two chocolate Labradors.

-Two brothers. Chaos. Mental.

-Yeah.

-But puts a smile on your face every day.

-Yes.

They are our life, really, aren't they?

So they have their pet passports ready.

Yeah, they have.

So they have been already to Portugal twice, and they loved it.

Having left the banking world many years ago, Sue retrained as a

yoga teacher, and it is a career she hopes to continue after the move.

So I do my own personal practise on a daily basis.

And then I also teach various different types of classes

during the week.

Both Sue and Andy regard it as a chance to take life down a gear.

In the UK, you are expected to have a full diary, rush here,

-do this, do that.

-Work long hours.

Work long hours and all these things,

whereas that is not the Portuguese way.

That, for me, is the lifestyle change I'm looking for -

more of a slow down in pace for me.

You know, just relaxing.

You know? That's what we're looking for ultimately.

And with their present house under offer,

it's a move that could become reality very soon.

You only have one life and you've got to grab every opportunity.

And there's no point having a what-if moment.

We're going to give a damn good go of it.

And it'll be five years, ten years,

however long it takes to make it work.

So we're not going to give up on it.

As Andy will need to access Lisbon Airport for work,

we're focusing our search within a manageable hour

and a half's drive north, in the villages around the town

of Caldas da Rainha, on the Silver Coast.

To get more on the detail of their proposed relocation,

we're meeting on Portuguese soil.

Well, Sue and Andy, welcome to the Silver Coast here in Portugal.

Now, this is an area that you two know really well.

We do, we've been 15 years, better part of,

travelling around the area - little villages down the coastline.

It's been beautiful. We just fell in love with the area.

But, Sue, what is it about this particular region of Portugal,

the Silver Coast? Because lots of people come to Portugal,

but they might not have discovered this area.

And I think that's probably exactly the reason why we like it.

It doesn't feel so Englishy, touristy.

Here, we could really try to become part of the Portuguese community.

What are you looking for here in Portugal?

I, ideally, need a pool.

My dream is to finish work, get back to the house

-and just dip my feet in that pool.

-And we've got lots of nephews

and nieces that are desperate to come out and enjoy having a holiday.

And when you go on holiday to a warm country, you want a pool, don't you?

So, now you're going to be inundated with all your friends and family...

-We are!

-..coming to stay,

but what else are you looking for with the property?

We need a minimum of four bedrooms in the property, which is

what we've got now.

And ideally, we'd like some form of annexe so that when our

beautiful friends and family do come, we can have a little bit of space.

-We can get rid of them.

-THEY LAUGH

I like that. You are managing their expectations from day one.

-Very good. What else?

-We need an area for the dogs.

-Can't forget the dogs.

-No.

And then I would like to try and work the land a little bit,

maybe have an orchard.

So outside space is actually quite important, which is why the climate

is so appealing for us here.

-And so you have an absolute passion for yoga as well, don't you?

-Yes.

I need yoga space.

I'd like my own yoga room inside the house and then also space

in the garden to create a yoga room, if you like, outside as well.

Fabulous. And, Andy, from a work perspective,

are you going to be looking for something locally?

Eventually, I want to be living and working in the Lisbon area.

I think for the first couple of years, I'll work in the UK.

In terms of travel,

one hour to one and a half hours from Lisbon Airport,

given that when I do need to travel, it'll be once a week,

so that is totally manageable.

Any compromises along the way?

-I personally wouldn't compromise on a pool, but...

-But I would.

All right. Well, that leads me to the next question.

So moving is always stressful, isn't it?

Moving to another country, well, it's really,

really putting the pressure on you two. Have you thought it through?

Is this exactly what you want to do

100% in your minds?

We have spent many years thinking about this, haven't we, Andy?

-We have.

-I 100% feel we are making the right decision.

-I like that.

-Absolutely.

-Positive spirit.

Yes, we are positive people.

-Determined.

-And determined, yeah.

Right, come on then, remind us of your budget.

-How much have we got to spend over here?

-250,000.

Right. We have got some splendid properties to show you.

One, of course, is going to be our mystery house. Will it have a pool?

Will it not? Have to wait and see. So, shall we get started?

-Excellent.

-Absolutely.

-All right. If you'd like to follow me...

-BOTH:

-Thank you.

-..we'll get going.

For a maximum budget of £250,000,

we are looking for a house with...

And we've got four impressive offerings,

all of which could deliver the way of life they are looking for.

And to get a better sense of what it might be like to live

here, they'll be staying in a typical Portuguese house

rather than a hotel.

Our final property is a mystery house,

which gives a surprise twist on what our buyers have in mind.

We're starting in the village of Torre,

one hour from Lisbon Airport and just 15 minutes from the coast.

It's three miles outside

the much larger town of Caldas da Rainha,

which supplies amenities to the surrounding area.

It was established in the 15th century by Queen Leonor

when she founded a hospital on the site of some thermal springs.

Today, it is home to many museums

and galleries as well as being a centre for shopping and socialising.

The village of Torre itself is small and rural

but does have some facilities of its own,

with a church, community centre and cafe.

Down a short, quiet track is our first house.

-And this is the first property.

-OK.

-Lovely.

-Very nice.

-It's white.

-Yes.

-It's very traditional.

-It's beautifully...

Slightly concerned, it looks like it is semidetached...?

It is attached, you're absolutely right. You do have neighbours.

This is their part of the property, the pink side.

So that is your property.

As you mentioned, a very traditional colour scheme with the yellow

-and the white. But there is more to this house than meets the eye.

-OK.

-I'm so excited.

-Come on then.

The house is 150 years old, but has been completely modernised.

Rather than go through the front door, however, we were entering a

courtyard, which reveals a surprise -

there's more than one building.

So, step inside your courtyard.

OK, wow.

Oh, that's interesting.

THEY LAUGH

So two separate properties.

One of the things you asked for was

-somewhere for your parents to come and stay.

-Yeah.

So we're going to explore that one second,

cos I wanted to take you into, well, your side first.

-Yes.

-Excellent.

-Sounds good.

-So...

-OK.

-This property, very open-plan.

-Yeah!

-I like that.

I like that. That's nice.

So, the dark wood - very traditional, very Portuguese.

How do you feel about the open-planness of it?

I'm in two minds.

The reason I'm in two minds is

I don't like my dogs in the kitchen area.

-Right.

-So that is the only thing - we'd have to rethink our house rules.

Because Bert is a bit of a thief. THEY LAUGH

-Ah!

-I think he'd be trying to get in my food cupboards.

So, we don't have children locks on cupboards, we have doggie locks.

That's right.

There is always a solution we can find.

I actually like the open plan.

There's a lot of villas we've stayed in previously,

and it's really nice to have that kind of open space.

-We'll get round the dogs.

-So, for the two of you and the two dogs?

-So far, so good.

-So far, so good. OK, well, let's continue.

And to the rear of the house is a private terrace.

There's also a useful downstairs shower room with the main

bathroom located upstairs.

It's a two-bedroom property, but as the house does get rented out,

the owners have put in an extra bed in the large upstairs landing area.

But this could become a yoga space. And then there's the master.

So... Come on in.

Because I want you to see that view.

-Lovely.

-It's wonderful.

-I like that view.

-Yeah.

You might just about see something else out there.

-I can see a glint of blue down there.

-A glint of blue!

That's got a smile on my face.

OK. Well, we've seen where you're going to live,

-let's see where we're going to leave the guests.

-OK, yeah.

Across the connecting courtyard is the second property, which is

actually a converted barn.

So when I say second property, in a way, I mean part two.

It's really big. It's much bigger than I thought.

This could be ours.

-We've got a choice of either or.

-We've got a choice. We could swap.

Six months there, six months here.

Or I could have that one,

-you could have this one.

-THEY LAUGH

I'm guessing you're liking the look of this one.

-I like this a lot, yeah.

-That's really interesting.

Pleasantly surprised on this one.

It is, in actual fact, smaller than next door

because you've got one bedroom and a bathroom upstairs.

-OK.

-I like it. I like it a lot.

-Good.

-And I've still got one more thing to show you.

-Excellent.

The main house and annexe have gone down very well.

Will the outside give them the whole package?

There's just over a third of an acre of land, a spectacular pool

and I've got a surprise up my sleeve.

-What is that?

-That is a one-bedroom apartment.

-HE LAUGHS

-Self-contained.

-Wow, OK.

-Didn't expect that.

Andy, take a step forward and just admire your pool for me.

And it is a pool, isn't it?

It's one I could see myself spending many happy hours in.

I'm loving all them. The trees and the shrubs...

Feels like there's lots of different little areas of the garden

to go and explore. Good space.

-So enough space for the dogs.

-Definitely.

-Great place for yoga.

Yes, it is. Yeah.

As we first approached the property, you both noticed the pink building,

which was attached. That is your next-door neighbour.

You can't see it at all from here, can you?

You wouldn't even know they're there, would you?

So we've got to put a price on this property.

Either way, I probably should be saying properties

cos there's three in one.

Let's see how you feel. Your top budget is £250,000.

What do you think the asking price is?

I'm going to go for our top budget - 250.

-OK.

-I think it's got to be over budget.

We're getting three properties. I think it's 265, 270.

-Around that. Yeah.

-OK.

I think you both are going to be slightly shocked

by the asking price.

-OK...

-Oh, no! THEY LAUGH NERVOUSLY

Good shocked or bad shocked?

Just over...

£229,000.

-Get away.

-No!

-Absolutely.

-Really?!

-Yes.

-I'm liking that even more now.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

-That's really... That's...

That surprised me signi... That's very surprising.

-That's a lot of properties for our money.

-Yeah.

So I'm guessing you'd probably both love to explore on your own

this time. Still got plenty to see.

-Why don't you start off with the building next to us?

-Thank you.

Let's go. Thank you.

Priced at a substantial £21,000 under budget,

this house delivers...

LAUGHING: OK.

Another great big area.

-That's a big kitchen as well.

-Nice big kitchen.

First impressions when we arrived, I liked the look of it, the location.

And then it just got kind of better

and better as kind of each surprise kind of unfolded.

I think my favourite bit is sat behind me,

and it's a beautiful pool. It is a superb pool.

I would seriously be tempted of putting

money on the table for this property.

OK, I'm really liking this property.

It's peaceful. It feels rural. It is rural.

But not isolated.

I'm liking it so much that we could potentially think about living

here, cos the location feels just right.

So if Andy got his chequebook out and said,

"Right, so we're going to go for this house,"

I'd be like, "OK, let's give it a go."

-Have you seen enough?

-For now, I think so.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Pleasantly surprised.

-A good start. It's only property number one.

-An excellent start, Nicki.

-Let's go.

It's the end of our first day house hunting

here on the Portuguese Silver Coast.

To offer our buyers a feel for what living in this region might

be like, they're staying ten minutes up the road,

on the outskirts of Caldas da Rainha, in a typical residential property.

Of a similar spec to the kind of house they're looking for,

it'll give them a chance to live more like the locals.

-Very modern.

-Yep.

Lovely.

-It's lovely, the pool, isn't it?

-This is nice.

Having had a look round, they need to unpack before heading out.

To explore the area and enjoy some authentic local life,

they're going to a traditional taberna for dinner.

Unlike in the more touristy Algarve, English is not widely

spoken in this region and often doesn't appear on menus.

So, patinhas de bacalhau com arroz de feijao.

Not sure what that is, but I know it has something to do with cod.

-Boa noite.

-Boa noite.

You go first.

Could I have the beef steak?

Bife grande.

Mm-hm.

Um bocadinho grosso.

-Mm-hm.

-Sim.

-Ta bom?

-Yeah? Sim.

-Salmao grelhado.

-OK.

-Excellent.

-OK.

-Sim. Obrigada.

-Obrigado.

The cost of living is, on the whole, lower than in the UK.

It's not unusual for a good two-course meal with wine to

cost around £12, but watch out for portion sizes.

-Wow, look at that.

-That's a big steak.

That's a big piece of meat.

-Wow.

-Hope you're not...hope you're hungry.

-Obrigada.

-Bom apetite.

-Thank you. Obrigada.

There's actually a steak underneath the steak.

Oh, my God. I can't even get through it.

A lesson learned, though.

When we come out here and we've got Mum and Dad, your mum and dad,

that'll be more than enough between the six of us.

Anyway, bom apetite.

It's day two of our house hunt here,

on the Silver Coast of Portugal, where we're helping Leicester

couple Sue and Andy find a home to begin a new continental life.

They're sampling what life might be like when they make the move.

That property yesterday, it's going to take some beating.

I think we've got a job on today, haven't we?

I think we have got a job on today.

And with more houses lined up, we've got a busy day ahead.

I must admit, I was a little concerned yesterday,

showing Andy and Sue our first home.

After all, this is a couple that have vast experience in this

region already.

But it seems our first property, or should that be properties,

went down really well.

So let's see what today brings.

-Good morning.

-Morning.

So what did you get up to last night?

We thought you'd like some time on your own.

-We had some really exciting news last night.

-Go on, tell me!

We got a phone call from our solicitor.

We've legally exchanged our property.

-Congratulations! One step closer to the move.

-So we've got a move date.

Yes, we're very excited.

Well, we can really, really crack on today with our properties then,

-can't we?

-Yes.

-There's no pressure, but four weeks' time,

-we've got no house.

-THEY LAUGH

Better find you something, hadn't I, Andy?

-Please.

-Shall we get started, then?

-Lovely.

-Yes, let's go. Thank you.

For our second house, we're heading five miles northwest to the village

of Campo, which is well within an hour's commute to Lisbon Airport

and just 15 minutes from the beach.

The name Campo means field, and this village is set in plenty of them.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the area and the small local population

is served by a church, a community centre,

a bakery and three cafes.

Our second property is found in the heart of the village.

So, let's see if I can tempt you with our Portuguese home.

OK. You come in from the road, and it's a lot bigger than you expect.

Deceptive, yeah.

And it's a very traditional Portuguese property, isn't it?

With the stonework and the blend between stonework

-and the white brickwork again.

-Yes.

-And you have the signature tiles on the wall.

-I know, I love that.

Love the little boat tiles, the little blue tiles.

Well, let's start off with the house itself.

-Let's go and see what you think inside.

-OK.

The house is just 50 years old and started life as a small,

single-storey dwelling, which has been extended over the years.

I'm curious to learn what our house hunters will make of the interior.

-Through the beaded curtain.

-OK.

-I'm going to start off with the kitchen.

-Ah.

Wow, this is really nice.

-That's a really good-sized kitchen.

-Yeah, I like this.

It's a massive kitchen.

It looks like the doors will close off,

so we can keep our beautiful dogs from stealing our food.

-That's important.

-That's quite important.

So that's... Um, yeah, that's good.

-Excellent. Right, let's keep going.

-OK.

-So, keeping on the large room theme...

-OK. Yes, it is. Yeah.

-We have our living room.

-OK.

-That's a quite open space.

-Yeah, this is a good size again, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It's a big size room. And it does look a lot of open space.

But I'm struggling to picture it with our furniture in.

-OK.

-That furniture is kind of clouding my view of the room. Yeah.

Downstairs, you've got a double bedroom. It's a small size.

And you've got a study.

You've got another double bedroom here with an en-suite just

to our left.

-Then on the other side, you've got the family bathroom.

-OK.

-And then above us, you've got a huge bedroom.

-OK.

-Right.

I'll let you explore a little bit later.

-But that would lend itself to being your bedroom.

-OK.

-I want to take you outside and show you something else.

-Excellent.

Come through here.

The main house gives three bedrooms and huge living spaces.

Out in the grounds, there are further elements to this property.

Across the front lawn is an outhouse,

which could lend itself well to Sue and Andy's needs.

So, here is...an outside room.

In a way, it's like your garden kitchen.

OK. This is nice.

They've actually enclosed it, but I think, originally,

it was probably just an outside kitchen area here.

-But it could be great for yoga.

-Yeah.

And then over my shoulder...something for Andy.

-You've got your own games room.

-Excellent. Is that my pool?

THEY LAUGH

Eh... I'm not going to give too much away yet,

but hopefully the snooker table might be a good compromise.

THEY LAUGH

I have got a pool table back home

-which we'll need to find a house for.

-Really?

-Yeah.

Which will be coming over with us.

I've got a games room at home which I need to replicate somewhere.

So it seems this outbuilding has hit the spot with the two of you.

-So I do have one more thing for you to explore.

-Excellent.

-OK.

To the side of the property is an almost secret archway which

reveals the final part of the jigsaw -

a hidden half acre of land.

And in the first lawned section is a one-bedroom, self-contained

villa which delivers the fourth bedroom.

In a further section, is an orchard of fruit trees,

extensive vegetable plots and a chicken coop.

-That's a lot of land, isn't it?

-Yeah.

That's surprising, from when you first walk in.

Does this part appeal to you?

Very much so, actually.

This has all the things that were on my little vision I had of Portugal.

-You love the outdoors, don't you?

-I do.

-But the garden rooms are really important to me.

-Yeah.

-Very much one with nature.

-Yeah.

-This does satisfy it, doesn't it?

-Absolutely does, yeah.

-Andy, what's going through your mind?

There's no pool.

Now, there is no pool. I love the way you say it. "There is no pool."

But there is so much land here.

And if you actually look where the aviary is at the moment,

it's actually got a pond for the birds.

-That could be the perfect place for the pool.

-Yes, it would work there.

Or at the side of the property.

You do have a lot of land, it is deceiving.

-Just so that you know, to put in a pool, it's about £12,000.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-Let's see how much you think it's on the market for.

OK, I'm going to go with...

Because of this amount of land, 260.

OK. Andy?

I think this could be under budget, so I'll say...

220, 225.

Andy, you actually are the closest.

But you're still quite a bit out.

The asking price is just over £198,000.

-OK.

-OK. So 210 with a pool.

-See?

-Hm!

I like what you did there.

Well, have another wander on your own

and I'll catch up with you in a minute. Thank you.

-Thanks, Nicki.

-Thank you.

For a huge £52,000 under budget,

this option comes in the shape of...

OK, so this is a big space.

I just think, we have a wooden floor,

wooden walls and kind of straight into a wooden ceiling.

-It just feels as if it's...

-A sauna?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

When we first turned up and saw the initial view of the house,

it was traditional Portuguese.

But then, I think, the property itself didn't really live

up to the expectations of the outside.

It doesn't have the layout that we need.

I like the amount of land you get - the garden,

the beautiful space, the orchards...

What I didn't like so much, particularly,

was the layout of the upstairs.

As you went upstairs, you were straight in the bedroom.

There was no closed off space there.

Well, Andy and Sue, you've had a chance to wander around on your own.

-We have.

-We're on a mission.

-We are.

-You've sold your house in the UK.

-I've got more to show you, that's the good news.

-Excellent.

-Let's go.

Each year, two million Britons go on holiday to Portugal, drawn

to its beaches, golf courses and over 300 days of sunshine each year.

There are also over 30,000 expats who now call this country home.

But selling up in the UK and buying property here is just

the start of the adventure, and there's a lot to learn.

So we're heading inland to the village of Lubases which,

nestled up in the hills of the central region,

is home to expat couple Kevin and Steve, who,

along with their dog, Fred, moved here from Norfolk ten months ago.

Kevin is a horticulturalist and garden designer while Steve

works in finance and regularly travels back to the UK on business.

Having already done what Sue and Andy are about to do,

-they should have some words of wisdom to offer.

-Hi.

-Hello, Kevin.

Hi, Steve. Great to see you.

Can I introduce you to Sue and Andy?

-Hi there, welcome.

-Welcome to Cantinho da Granja.

Would you like to come have a little look around?

We'd love to, thank you.

-Follow us.

-Thank you.

In the months since they've been here,

they've renovated the property, turning it into a stunning home.

And in the grounds, Kevin has created an impressive garden,

full of colour and exotic plants,

something budding gardener Sue is keen to find out more about.

She's helping with some planting.

So, Sue, this is what we're going to plant today.

-OK.

-A lovely lime tree.

-OK.

They're becoming really popular in Portugal now.

-OK, so the Portuguese for lime is...?

-It's lima.

-Lima.

-Perfect.

-Is that about right, do you think?

-Yep. Just offer it up.

-Yep.

Yeah, we're about good there.

So what do you think are the main differences trying to grow

vegetables here compared to what it would be like for me

in the Midlands, in the UK?

-Oh, the Midlands, wow.

-Yeah.

-It's a bit chilly up there.

-It is.

I think the main difference over here is you really have to

-work to the seasons.

-OK.

-Bear in mind, the seasons are a lot earlier.

-Right.

And they last a lot longer.

So you can actually harvest a lot more fruits and vegetables.

-So we've offered it now. We're at a good height.

-Hm-mm.

-And then we just start back-filling.

-OK.

Just pushing down a little bit.

There we go.

Perfect.

So, Sue, do you fancy a watermelon fresh from the garden for lunch?

-That would be wonderful.

-Let's grab ourselves a watermelon.

This one looks quite good at the moment. Very ripe.

Very dense.

-Perfect.

-How about that?

-Perfect. Let's go.

-After you.

-Thank you.

Great.

Cultivating produce is just one element in their planned move

to Portugal.

Setting up a new life in a new country is a daunting prospect

for our buyers, but maybe Steve and Kevin can allay some of their fears.

I'm mostly very keen on a pool. I really want to...

That's my dream in terms of getting over here.

You guys put your own in? How complicated was the process?

Well, we had the pool refurbished.

We had major problems with the pool when we arrived here,

so we made a decision to get a pool company.

And that's really one bit of advice I'll give you.

You've got builders that will build you a home or refurbish your home.

But I must recommend you get somebody that's a pool

company in to put your pool in.

And the guys don't really want to take on too much of a project,

but obviously, when you're moving, you don't have any contacts -

artisans, builders, plumbers...

How easy has it been for you to find great workmen here?

We were quite lucky to stumble on a family business.

Our builders don't speak any English at all, but we get there.

We point and we draw pictures.

-OK. That's really reassuring, actually.

-Absolutely.

Cos that is a big concern for me.

I speak a little of the language, but it's random words.

Not great grammar, but I know a lot of vocab.

Given you've been here ten months now, what have struggled with?

What have been the things that have annoyed you or you've not expected?

There is a different speed to things out here.

And you just have to go a little bit with the flow,

otherwise you get very frustrated.

The other thing you'll find is paperwork seems to

proliferate out here as well.

So if you want to go and open a bank account or something like that,

you will need to take reams of paper.

Even during your escritura, which is the contract.

When you exchange contracts at the attorney's office,

it is all done with paper and everything is read completely,

word for word, in English and in Portuguese,

and takes about an hour and a half.

It's not done immediately, like that.

So there are certain things that will take time. And by nature,

just ask the question, "How long is it going to take?"

And don't expect it to happen quickly.

One thing that is key, for both of you, is the internet,

something that we take for granted in the UK.

But what is it like over here? What are the speeds like?

Cos if you're running a business,

-it's got to be first-class, hasn't it?

-It has to be, yeah.

It tends to vary wherever you are.

That's part of the problem. We here are getting 8MB.

Friends of ours have got 30.

That just depends where you are in terms of where the line is.

Yeah, the boxes.

But again, that was one of the big things that we checked

out on before we bought the house, which is - what are the services?

So all of those basic questions that you might probably

take for granted in the UK, ask the questions beforehand.

Steve, you make it work successfully commuting, somewhat.

What advice would you give to Andy?

Train journeys, brilliant. Book over the internet.

You can get some good deals.

-And they run on time.

-Thank you.

Yeah, it's making me feel even more confident

and happy about this decision.

And, Andy, it makes the homeward journey

-so much nicer.

-THEY LAUGH

-The sooner you move over, the better.

-Excellent.

Well, thank you both so much.

-Hopefully, you're going to have some new neighbours soon.

-Thank you.

-Always welcome.

-Hopefully. It's been a pleasure.

-Thank you so much.

It's been a pleasure.

Should Andy and Sue go ahead with their Portuguese adventure, there

are some important considerations they'll need to factor in.

In Portugal, one of the biggest fees is the property transfer tax, like

the British stamp duty, which can be as high as 8% of the purchase price.

A deposit of around 10% must be paid at the exchange

of contract stage.

Also, getting tax advice before moving is advisable.

Even if you work and pay tax in the UK as a resident,

you may be liable to pay a top-up to the Portuguese authorities.

And since the European Union bailout, tax rates increased,

with a top rate at 56.5%.

However, commuting from the Silver Coast is relatively easy,

with 137 direct flights from Lisbon to five UK cities each week.

For our third house, we're heading to the village of Zambujeiro,

which is the closest of all our properties to the coast.

It's just over five minutes from the small beach resort of Foz do Arelho,

which has a unique combination of rugged Atlantic beaches

as well as a sheltered saltwater lagoon.

Zambujeiro itself is a hamlet of a few houses,

with the nearest cafe half a mile down the road.

It's surrounded by a lovely eucalyptus forest.

Brought to Portugal in the 19th century,

eucalyptus is an important crop used in paper production.

Set in the heart of this forest is our next offering.

So, for this Portuguese home,

we've brought you to a rather different setting, haven't we?

-Yes.

-Absolutely.

-I'm liking this. Very pretty.

-The first impression is very good.

This is the front of the property, but guess what,

-we're going to go in round the back, as the owners do.

-OK.

-OK?

Go on, then.

The property is just 18 years old and is set in a plot which

could deliver a lot of what Sue and Andy are looking for.

Now, Andy, there's certain things I'd just like to get

-out of the way...

-OK.

-..straightaway.

And what do we have behind us?

-It certainly looks like a pool to me.

-It's a pool.

-We have your lovely pool there.

-Excellent.

-So, happy?

And then, the surrounding area.

I'm going to look at Sue because really garden is your domain,

-isn't it?

-Yes. Happy with this space.

-It's really pretty.

-It is pretty.

It's like a ranch. It's got a ranch front.

Yeah, the outside terrace is nice.

And here you really can appreciate, we are in the middle

of a eucalyptus forest.

-The smell is beautiful.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

And so I am thinking you are at one with nature,

I'm thinking yoga retreat as well as a possible home.

-So peaceful.

-Yeah?

-So peaceful, yeah.

-Shall we?

-Excellent, yeah.

-Let's.

-Let's go.

With a peaceful garden for yoga as well as the all-important pool,

the setting and the grounds are looking good.

But inside, what would they make of another traditional

Portuguese interior?

We're going to start the tour off with a sort of living/dining room

complete with bar.

OK. Yeah.

I am quite liking this space, actually.

It does feel a little bit dark. Only the one window and this one here.

I think it's got...options.

-As a living space, it's quite large.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-It's a good size.

-It's nice.

-You're absolutely right.

Now, there is a staircase leading, funnily enough, upstairs.

Just hold that cos I want to show you the downstairs of this

-property first.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

The living room could do with some updating,

but the kitchen is a much brighter prospect.

Here we've got a little bit of blue. We've got marble work surfaces.

-A fairly good-sized kitchen.

-Yeah, it's OK.

I think the kitchen would need replaced, if I'm honest.

I think I could live with this for a small amount of time,

but I don't know, I just get a sense that I'd want to rip this out.

And start again, yeah. I agree with Andy.

I'd feel that I'd want to redo this.

So on this floor, if you like, it's got another wing,

you can see, just going down the hallway there.

You've actually got three bedrooms, all on the ground floor.

How do you feel about all the bedrooms being downstairs?

That's not an issue to me.

It's not an issue to me.

I think if there's only three bedrooms,

then that may be the family issue.

That's an issue, yeah.

But as we see some surprises, I'll reserve judgment

-until we've seen the rest of it.

-THEY LAUGH

You've got the full picture now, haven't you?

-Let's head up those stairs, see what's up there.

-After you.

The three ground-floor bedrooms comprise of a master with

en-suite, two further spacious bedrooms and a family bathroom...

..which means upstairs is reserved for a substantial living space.

-So, up here...

-OK.

-Bet you weren't expecting this.

-No.

-A little living room, basically.

-Another living room. Yep.

A room for a pool table.

Yeah, you've got your little pool table space.

I would struggle to see what the function of this

room would be as it stands now.

For me, this would have to be additional bedroom space.

We wouldn't use it otherwise, cos the dogs are downstairs.

The dogs wouldn't be up here.

The main house might need some changes to make it as Sue

and Andy would like, but in the meantime, it is habitable as it is.

Outside is another building with potential.

You've got a building here.

Now, when the owner bought the land, she actually lived in this property.

-OK.

-It is basic, I'm not going to lie.

-OK.

-It's got a bathroom.

It's got a very small kitchenette.

So you would need to absolutely transform it, is the truth.

It wouldn't be up to scratch for your parents.

But that could be the annexe for the parents, for family,

-for friends when they came to stay.

-Yep.

So it does come to that time when we have to try and put a figure on it.

I'm feeling it's going to be more than I'd want to pay,

so I'm going to say 260.

-Andy?

-I'd say 250.

The asking price is just under

-£155,000.

-That's amazing!

-I guess now you want to have another wander around.

-Yes, please.

-Excellent.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks a lot.

Just shy of a significant

£100,000 under budget...

OK, so... Funny little space.

For me, this wouldn't be conversion.

-I think this would be demolish and build again.

-Yeah.

-To be honest.

It's a really weird one. It's, um...

You can really, really see the potential.

And the overriding factor is that you'd live in a location

which is absolutely like a dream location.

But in the back of my mind, I was thinking,

"Project, project, another project."

That is all about time and how quickly we could do that.

I love the location. I love the sound of the trees.

I love the size of the boundary.

I really need to sit and reflect, I think, on how I would feel

taking on some project work to the building to make it fit for purpose.

Well, tell me, a second viewing, has it made any difference?

-I think it's just added to the confusion, really.

-Really?!

OK. Well, we're going to leave it there, then, for today.

That'll give you even more to think about tonight.

-Cos we do have one more property to show you tomorrow.

-OK.

-Excellent.

-Shall we hit the road?

-Yes, probably.

-Let's go.

-Thank you.

It's the end of a busy two days property shopping

on the Silver Coast.

With so much to think about, it's a chance for our house hunters

to take some time out, recharge and contemplate their move.

-Hello.

-Ola.

-How was your yoga?

-Blissful.

-Yeah?

-It was lovely.

Do you know, it was really lovely, just with the sun setting...

I was timing my breathing to the sounds of the waves.

-Quite a beautiful setting, isn't it?

-Wonderful.

-So, would you do this on your own when I'm away?

-Yeah, definitely.

This is such a peaceful spot.

It's strange, it's one of the things I'm not worried about, about you...

I know what you're like when you're on your own.

There will be little windows when I'm, obviously,

-back in the UK or on some gig somewhere.

-Yeah.

But I don't worry about you being here on your own.

I understand it will feel a little different.

We're in a foreign country,

I've not quite got a grasp of the language yet. Um...

But... I'll go with the flow.

-So, full speed ahead?

-Yes.

-No looking back.

-THEY LAUGH

We're house hunting in Portugal with Leicestershire couple Sue and Andy.

They've been staying in a local villa to get an authentic

taste of Portuguese life, something that's fast becoming a reality.

News that the sale of their house is going through means there's

no time to waste.

So, it's the final day of property hunting here on the Silver Coast,

and we've had a bit of a mixed reaction from Andy

and Sue on the homes that we've shown them.

But what has transpired is what they're really after is

somewhere in a peaceful and rural setting.

So today, I'm hoping our mystery house is going to provide just that.

For our mystery property, we're heading out of the Silver Coast

region to central Portugal and the village of Dornes.

It's an hour's drive inland away from Sue and Andy's beloved coast.

There are no beaches here.

Instead, the real draw is Castelo de Bode lake,

the country's second largest reservoir and an area

popular for swimming, fishing and all types of water sports.

With glorious view of the lake and wooded hillside, this more

mountainous region provides a very different landscape to the

coastline Sue and Andy are used to.

The village of Dornes, with its church and cafe,

is the closest to our final property.

Five minutes up the road, down a secluded driveway,

is a charming, rural retreat.

-This is your mystery house.

-Oh, my goodness.

-That looks, uh...

-Wow.

I love it.

-That looks beautiful, doesn't it?

-Mm!

-Yeah?

-I'm really intrigued.

-Stunning to the eye, first impression, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-We've taken you slightly more inland.

-Right.

That's why it's the mystery house.

OK. How far away are we here from...from the airport?

-Lisbon Airport.

-Right on the edge of your request.

-We are an hour and a half from Lisbon.

-OK.

-OK.

And once you get past the little winding routes around the lake,

-it's motorway the whole way down.

-Right, OK.

-Quite handy, really.

-Yeah.

I'm looking forward to getting inside now. I'm excited about seeing...

-Shall we start, then?

-Yeah, let's go.

This restored stone farmhouse is very different from the modern

Portuguese villas we've been looking at.

It's 70 years old but is packed full of rustic features.

-So if you want character, if you want charm...

-OK.

Step inside this kitchen.

THEY LAUGH

That's really cool.

-Is that a real oven?

-Yeah.

-Wow, is it really?

-Uses hot water.

I can see us going down to antique markets,

trying to find furniture bits to add into this.

-You like it so far?

-I liking so far, yeah.

-I am.

I could see myself cooking in here.

I'd be interested in seeing you cook with that.

I could make some bread, actually!

THEY LAUGH

-Have a go at that.

-Already getting creative, right. Follow me.

Let's go.

So this is your dining-cum-sitting room.

With a huge fire.

And then you have an additional room through there, which is

a lot lighter. Three window panes.

So you could have a winter room and a summer room.

Yes, this feels very cosy, like a little snug.

There's lots of little nooks and crannies and features.

It's got lots of character.

-It has.

-It's really interesting.

-Character, yeah.

That's the word, character, isn't it?

So the bedrooms are really on this level.

Actually, you go down just a couple of steps there.

There's a family bathroom and two bedrooms.

The furthest bedroom, when you open the door,

-actually reveals a third bedroom.

-OK.

-Interested?

-Yes, I am.

-You're waiting, aren't you?

I am waiting, cos that's only three bedrooms. What have you got hidden?

You know me too well now!

You're absolutely right, we've got something else.

-OK.

-Let's go back outside.

The main house has a basement with a utility room

and an area for storage.

But outside, an adjoining annexe is where the extra guest

accommodation can be found.

Now, I know an important part of this move is the annexe.

So here, separate from the house,

-you've got a one-bedroom, self-contained flat.

-OK, wow.

-That's a good size.

-That's really good.

-It is.

-The fact that it is completely self-contained...

-Yes.

-If this wasn't enough, you've got the same again upstairs.

-Really?

-Yep.

-So another bedroom, another bathroom?

-Another one-bedroom apartment.

-Wow.

-That one actually has a balcony.

It's got a nice feel about it, this property.

-It just needs a lick of paint and...

-Yeah.

-It's charming.

-"Charming."

-Hm.

-That's a good word for it.

It's charming.

-And I've got one more thing to show you.

-BOTH:

-OK.

Being so close to the lake, there's no swimming pool,

but there is plenty of room if Andy wanted to put one in.

Up on the rooftop terrace of the main house is the final surprise.

-There isn't a ladylike way of getting up here, but...

-OK.

-Sue, it's worth the effort.

-OK.

Just take a look at this.

-Wow, it's gorgeous.

-Isn't it beautiful?

-Yeah.

-You don't get much better views than that, really, do you?

-No.

It's beautiful.

And you can actually see your land from here

because you've got about 2.2 acres in total.

-Right, OK.

-OK.

It's terraced going down, so there's olive trees,

you've got a few eucalyptus trees.

Just behind this annexe, there's a huge shed. Massive, it is.

You could convert that.

And also, just off the courtyard, there's another shed. It's open.

-It's actually a double garage, but they use it as a workshop.

-Right.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-So lots of buildings, again. We have opportunity again.

-Got to put a price on this property.

-I'm going to say 270.

-I think it's going to be over budget.

-I think it's going to be 210.

It is actually under budget.

The asking price is just over £194,000.

-OK.

-SUE LAUGHS

I was thinking, "I can't afford it, so don't worry about it."

So that just gives us another dilemma. Thank you(!)

-So now you know you can afford it, go and explore.

-OK. Thank you.

-I'm staying up here. Careful going down those stairs.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

For £56,000 under their budget...

I think my instincts on this property - it is

a project that I would seriously have to give some thought.

You see that view and you can really see yourself really ending up

with something that could be quite special.

So this property has led me to two decisions, really.

Um...

It's helped me understand that it's OK to take on a project, to see

something that is tired with lots of potential.

But there's something about this particular building that isn't

right for me.

Would I be prepared to take on a property in this area that's similar?

Yes, I think so.

So that's it, you've seen our properties here,

on the Silver Coast,

but I wonder, have we given you clarity or have we confused matters?

-I think a bit of both for me.

-Yeah?

-You've definitely helped us, though,

-Nicki, so thank you very much.

-Good.

I guess you guys want some time on your own to have a think.

And when I next see you, you can tell me

what your next move is going to be.

-OK.

-Excellent.

-Thank you.

-Let's hit the road.

Portugal is known for its ceramic heritage.

From glazed wall tiles to dinnerware,

it's found in and on homes all over the country.

One of Portugal's most famous ceramicists,

Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro,

founded a factory in Caldas da Rainha

over 125 years ago.

Today, I'm meeting marketing director Nuno Barra to find

out more about this unique artist and his work.

So again, this was the factory of Bordallo Pinheiro.

-Let's take a look.

-I'd love to.

Working in the late 19th century, Bordallo Pinheiro produced

highly glazed pottery, a technique known as majolica.

My word!

As you walk in, I wasn't expecting something on that scale to

greet me as you come through the door. So many different designs!

He did a lot of different pieces.

He was a naturalist and he did plates, animals...

In totally different sizes - small things...

It's a feast on the eyes, isn't it? An absolute feast.

I can see some more through here.

Bordallo Pinheiro's rural and naturalistic influences

came from his strong association with the peasant working classes.

He was also a journalist and satirical cartoonist who lambasted

the social and political elites and was ground-breaking in bringing

this political comment to his works with ceramics.

This is a character he created.

-His name is Ze Povinho.

-Ze Povinho?

Yes. And he represents the Portuguese people.

This character was very critical, again, against Portuguese politics.

He created this character that is one of these iconic pieces.

-And what's this expression called in Portuguese?

-Toma.

Toma, which means no.

-In a rude way.

-SHE LAUGHS

Bordallo Pinheiro also created a unique range of homeware with

many of the rustic vegetable designs becoming cult classics today.

Now, Nuno, I find this piece particularly exciting.

I'll tell you why. Because we have one of these at home.

Now, I don't know whether it's an original or not. It belonged

to my grandmother and my mother still uses it,

and we have jam in it.

It's a slightly smaller version.

And I didn't know where it came from, and I now know today.

It's not surprising

because it's one of the most popular pieces of his work.

The cabbage is a symbol of rural peasant life,

so getting it into the households and onto the dinner tables of the

bourgeoisie was all part of

Bordallo Pinheiro's subversive humour.

The factory is still in production today, manufacturing

many of the classic designs, some from the original moulds.

But it is also developing new projects, such as a series

of hand-painted sardines,

the fish so intricately linked to Portuguese culture.

-And I'm going to have a go.

-So we start with the moulds.

And we have to put the liquid ceramic inside these moulds

to produce, for example, in this case, it's a sardine.

-But we have to close the mould first.

-OK.

And then we take one of those cups.

So has this changed, this process, much over the years?

Well, the change...it changed a bit, but we keep some of the most

important parts of the production exactly how Bordallo used to do it.

-So they look level, what's the next process?

-Everything is perfect.

Right, now you have to take the liquid ceramic.

This is why I've got the apron on, isn't it?

-Just in case.

-And you have... With your left hand, you...

Exactly.

That's OK.

-Next one?

-Next one.

And then how long will it take for the moulds to set?

It takes around one hour and 15 minutes

until you can take the sardines out.

In another mould already prepared, the ceramic is now set

and the fish ready to be taken out.

I'm going to be very gentle as I do this.

I don't want to ruin anybody's work.

-And there they are.

-So we have now four new sardines.

-There we have it.

-Here you are.

I'm quite pleased with him.

The sardines, like all the ceramics, are then fired in the oven

and hand-painted, making each one unique.

With many of Bordallo Pinheiro's original designs

still in production today, the legacy of this irreverent

artist lives on in homes and on dinner tables across the globe.

We've come to the end of our Portuguese house hunt

and it's time for our buyers to pack up and gather their thoughts.

All right. Let's go catch up with Nicki.

We've now shown Andy

and Sue our homes here, on Portugal's Silver Coast.

Now, we know this couple are primed to move,

but have they been tempted by any of our property offerings?

Let's find out.

So, Andy and Sue, we've had a fabulous few days here, haven't we?

-We have.

-You know the Silver Coast extremely well, however,

it's the first time you've ever been out here with fresh eyes.

It isn't a holiday, it's about finding your future home.

So out of all the properties we showed you,

have we got close with any of them?

I think the answer to that is yes, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yeah.

-Absolutely.

-We loved the first property.

-Yes!

Yeah, that particular house,

it's the one that impressed us both the most.

What is it about that house that works so well for you both?

It was ready to go

and also the location was almost perfect from what we'd ask for.

-And the pool for me.

-Oh, I was going to say...

You've got to say that.

So we're going to sort out financials in the next four weeks

whilst our house completes and we'll arrange for a second viewing

and I think we'll look to buy it.

-My goodness! This is serious talk, isn't it?

-It is, it is.

So my last question to you is -

timeframe, what are we looking at?

-Well, four weeks before we complete on our house and then ASAP.

-Yes.

Back home, check the diary, book the flight.

-Great. Let us know how you get on.

-We will. Thank you.

All the best with your new life here, on the Silver Coast.

-Thank you, Nicki.

-Thank you for this experience, we really appreciate it.

-Yeah, thank you.

-Most welcome.

Having sold their home in the UK, there was

really never any doubt of Sue

and Andy's commitment to living on the Silver Coast,

but I do think the last few days has cemented for them

in their hearts that the Portuguese way of life is truly for them.

Who knows, our three-in-one first property that we showed them,

that could be their new rural retreat.

I truly hope so. I'll see you again soon, bye-bye.

Sadly, Sue and Andy missed out on the first house,

which sold just before their second viewing.

However, they have agreed the purchase of a similar property ten

minutes up the road and are planning to move in in the next few months.

We wish them the best of luck in their new life.