Small off-grid homestead near Guarda, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi! I’m Daniel, 33, and I live in the house on the land with my friend Aled, 26 who lives in a campervan. We’re originally from the UK, building a small off-grid homestead and working toward opening a campsite and café on the land down the road. Life here is relaxed and unconventional—we balance practical DIY with quiet time, movies, and laughter. The homestead is always evolving, so every stay is a little different.
  
  Right now, we are in a bit of a quiet phase focused on targeted projects around the house and land, like granite lime pointing, rebuilding stone terrace walls, sorting out drainage, and maintaining our vegetable garden. Everything is done at a flexible pace with the goal of learning and sharing skills. Evenings are often spent cooking, watching films, or relaxing with our 2 dogs and 5 cats. We enjoy meeting open-minded, self-sufficient people who like sharing stories and connecting in a calm, grounded environment.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Carpentry

  

  Architecture

  

  Astronomy

  

  Videography

  

  Van life

  

  Technology

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Music

  

  Gardening

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Art & design

  

  Animals

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Winter sports

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Staying with us is about sharing everyday rural life and learning together in an authentic off-grid environment. You can gain hands-on experience with practical DIY tasks like traditional granite lime pointing, stone terrace rebuilding, basic drainage, and keeping a small vegetable garden going. We’re always figuring things out as we go, making it a great space to swap practical ideas, problem-solve together, or practice off-grid living concepts.
  
  We are originally from the UK, so English is our primary language, but we are actively navigating life in rural Portugal and picking up the language. Evenings are low-key—whether that’s chatting about different cultures and experiences, sharing music, watching movies, or swapping favourite recipes in the kitchen. We enjoy meeting self-sufficient, open-minded people who appreciate a calm, grounded atmosphere, good conversation, and the freedom to explore the local region at their own pace.

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  Help

  We are currently in a quiet phase focused on a few specific, hands-on tasks. Volunteers can help with traditional granite lime pointing, rebuilding stone terrace walls, sorting out drainage, and keeping our vegetable garden limping along. We are also figuring out a composting toilet system and preparing to bring in chickens down the line. Everything is done at a flexible pace with the goal of learning and sharing practical skills alongside us, rather than following a strict task list.
  
  If you enjoy creative projects, you are also welcome to help with photography or video to document daily off-grid life. This is purely for personal, educational, or hobby purposes and is not a commercial activity—just a fun way to capture real moments on the homestead.
  
  There is no strict daily schedule, and we might have days where we're just relaxing, watching movies, or going off-site to help friends or work extra jobs. We are looking for self-sufficient, open-minded people who enjoy a mix of practical DIY learning, quiet downtime, and a calm, laid-back atmosphere.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Portuguese: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Bringing a campervan, motorhome, or your own self-contained setup is by far the best and most comfortable way to stay, as we do not have an indoor guest room ready just yet. At a push, we do have a tent and an inflatable mattress stored away if you are happy to camp on the land, though having your own setup is much preferred. We are happy to provide water and power hookups.

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  What else ...

  What to do in your free time & Local Sights:
  When you're not relaxing on the land, the local area offers plenty of peaceful rural charm and outdoor exploration. We are located near the Serra da Estrela mountain range, making it a great base for hiking, exploring nature trails, or visiting historic mountain villages like Linhares da Beira. Nearby Celorico da Beira features a medieval castle and traditional local markets.
  Transport & Getting Around:
  The nearest town is Celorico da Beira, which has both a train station (CP rail network) and a express bus terminal (Rede Expressos), connecting us to major cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. Public transport options directly in the immediate rural countryside can be infrequent, so having your own vehicle or campervan gives you much more freedom to explore, though we can assist with occasional pickups or trips to town when schedules line up.
  A Quick Note on the Property :
  We like to keep full transparency with all our guests: there are overhead power lines running near a section of our land. While it doesn't bother us or affect daily life, we know this can be off-putting for some people, so we want to make sure you're aware before booking your stay!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We are flexible and relaxed, making this a good setup for digital nomads or remote workers needing a quiet space to focus. While we provide power, water, and Wi-Fi, we are currently in a tight financial spot and prioritizing our funds for our animals. Because of this, we ask that nomads contribute by providing groceries or cooking a daily meal for the household in exchange for their stay, rather than requiring formal physical homestead tasks. That said, if you ever want to pitch in and help out with projects when you have free time, that's cool too! If you are self-sufficient and comfortable with that arrangement, you’ll fit right in.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Right now, bringing a campervan or motorhome is the best way to stay. We can provide water and power hookups, and there is plenty of space to park on the land. Please note that we cannot accommodate a guest room just yet, although renovating the house to create proper guest space is something we hope to complete down the line. We are also still in the process of setting up a composting toilet system, so having your own self-contained setup is ideal. The atmosphere is relaxed and homely, perfect for open-minded, self-sufficient people who enjoy being outdoors and chilling in a quiet rural setting.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We have 2 dogs and 5 cats, so animal lovers will certainly feel at home here. That said, hosting pets requires strict coordination. One of our dogs, Pipoca, was attacked in the past and can be nervous—she is aggressive toward outside cats and only accepts ours because she raised them as kittens. We also have a mother cat who is very territorial. If you are traveling with pets, please reach out to us first so we can discuss the dynamics. Any visiting animals must be kept strictly secure, separated, and managed safely for everyone's peace of mind.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Bailey (10 years)

  

  Gizmo (3 months)

  New Kitten

  

  Stormy (3 months)

  New Kitten

  

  Stripe (1 year)

  Hera son

  

  Dyno (1 year)

  Hera son, black and white

  

  Hera (2 years)

  

  Pipoca (5 years)

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