A surge of interest from British buyers keen to relocate or establish a base in southern Portugal, in May there was a 36 per cent increase in searches for properties in Portugal.
 

Those who would like a taste of rural life without the hassle of doing up a wreck, the Ombria Resort in the hills above Loule is offering a mix of branded Viceroy hotel residences from € 595,350 and private villas from about €2.55 million. It prides itself on being an eco-friendly, sustainable village, with beehives, a bakery, organic farm, artists’ residency and musical events.

Julio Delgado, the chief executive of Ombria, says: “We have been surprised by the amount of international interest during lockdown. There are not just Brits who live in the UK, but also those who have a house here and are selling up in Quinta do Lago or Vale do Lobo. People want to live in low-density areas now.”.