Guincho Lodge, a beach house in Portugal

Ocean Breezes Incoming: An Architectural Retreat on the Atlantic

Set above the softly rolling Atlantic dunes of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, this Guincho Beach house by Luis Pereira Miguel offers ocean vistas and a sand-dusted boardwalk. Clean-lined and contemporary, the oceanfront lodge was designed with easy waterfront living in mind. Decks surround the architectural getaway, positioned for privacy under a canopy of windswept pines in a green lawn contoured by coastal rocks.

The décor vibe across the four-bedroom house is coastal minimal, featuring rooms of pristine white walls and crisp white linens, accented by classic wood ceilings and shining concrete floors. Large windows and sliding doors allow ocean breezes and sunshine into the bright space, and the home’s living area is fittingly open plan and easygoing, with a woodstove, movie projector, and places to dine around both a table and the sleek kitchen island. A work-if-you-must office space also offers ocean views.

Around

Framed by rugged, oceanfront rocks, Guincho Beach is a Cascais-area favorite of big wave surfers and kite surfers as well as walkers and cyclists. The coastline here is marked by cliffs and rocky outcroppings, with trails weaving through the rugged coastal terrain backed by green hills inland. The Praia do Guincho is a three-minute walk from the house, and it’s known for its wind and waves, making it an ideal beach for wave, kite, and windsurfing. Cyclists can enjoy a scenic ride from the lodge to the town of Cascais along a well-marked oceanside path atop the cliffs, and mountain bikers can take to the nearby Sintra Forest area for trails of all skill levels.

Surfers also gather on Praia Grande, a 20-minute drive north of the property, for its sizable swells, and those seeking more seclusion can try out the waves at Praia Pequena. Beachgoers seeking calmer sands gather at São Pedro beach about 20 minutes’ drive south of the house, and 20 minutes beyond it is the Costa da Caparica with its varied waves for surfers of all levels. Inland activities range from a pick-your-own vegetable park in the Quinta do Pisão, to climbing and bouldering in the Sintra forests, to golfing on multiple area courses and exploring the coastal communities of Cascais and Sintra. Cascais offers historic charms, a great food scene along its cobbled streets, and a vibrant local and expatriate community. The town’s elegant and colorful architecture ranges from fishermen’s homes to gigantic palaces, the latter evidence of the city’s former role as a royal retreat. Sintra, too, offers links to a royal past, with fairytale palaces, imposing castles and mysterious gardens perched on high.

After visiting these storied urban areas, outdoorsy types can head to the neighboring woods to explore the many trails of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, home to waterfalls, deep green forest passages, and moss covered boulders and outcroppings.