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Key
Facts :
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Nearest
town : |
Orx
2 kms, southern Landes. Hossegor 15 kms |
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Type
of location : |
Countryside
but close to coast |
|
No.
of bedrooms : |
5
bedrooms: 4 doubles & 1 twin; two extra mattresses plus
cot also available |
|
Sleeping
capacity : |
10-12
(supplement of 75 GBP pw applies to parties over 10 people) |
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No.
of bathrooms : |
5x
en-suites (4x shower rooms upstairs and 1x ground floor
bathroom with bath & shower).
Very handy additional WC by the pool |
|
Style
of property : |
Converted
farmhouse, renovated to provide clean & uncluttered interior |
|
Quality
guide : |
GOOD
QUALITY - what
does this mean? |
|
Prices : |
|
» Check availability and prices for this property GO
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Rental price includes: Linen (beds made for arrival and spare sheets available for 2+ week lets), bathroom towels, tea towels, electricity, gas, water
Compulsory extras: Heating EUR 100/wk Oct-Apr - pay locally. 75 EUR pw supplement if party size exceeds 10 (max 12)
Optional extras: Cooking, arrivals meal, baby-sitting, housekeeping etc. Contact housekeeper directly nearer your holiday for prices and services
Refundable security deposit: GBP 500 or Euro equivalent cheque to owner (not cashed)
» Read important information about security
deposits and insurance |
|
Linen
Arrangements : |
Included
in the rental price. A spare set is supplied for guests
if a mid-stay change is required |
|
Cleaning
Arrangements : |
»
Read important information about cleaning
|
|
Arrival
& Departure : |
Saturday
changeover - arrival 4-6pm; departure 10am. Fortnight bookings reequired July & August please
» Read important information about
arrivals
& departures |
|
Nearest
beach : |
Hossegor
and Capbreton, both 15 kms |
|
Nearest
boulangerie : |
4
kms (Bénesse-Maremne; deliveries possible) |
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Nearest
airport : |
Biarritz
(35 kms) |
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Nearest
ferry port : |
St
Malo 8 hours drive, Bilbao 1.5 hours drive |
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Swimming
pool : |
Yes,
10 x 5m. Depth 1.25 - 1.75m with Roman steps. Protected
by fence. Saltwater filtration. The owner might occasionally use the pool - but
only with your consent.
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Facilities
& Equipment : |
DVD
player, CD player, BBQ, table tennis |
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Suitability
for children : |
Very
suitable; large & enclosed gardens. DVD and VCR too! |
|
Suitability
for infants : |
Complete
Baby Kit provided (stairgates, sterilisers,
cot with linen & mosquito net, high chair, potty, baby
bath, pram). Babysitting available.
Grounds are safe for infants, no roads. |
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Things
to see & do : |
Swimming,
surfing, cycling, water-sports, beach, wildlife, food &
wine, heritage. Visit Biarritz, Bayonne, Basque
Country and Spanish delights such as San
Sebastian. |
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House
'rules' : |
No
pets & no smoking in the house |
|
Location
:
Map
Ref B5
Domaine
d'Orx is located on the outskirts of the village of Orx in the
peaceful landscapes of the southern Landes, only 10 mins drive
inland from the stylish seaside resorts of Capbreton and Hossegor
and 20-30 minutes north of Biarritz and Bayonne. It is a place to enjoy both the beautiful sandy beaches, busy
nightlife and multitude of restaurants on the coast and yet have
a pecaeful countryside base to retreat to.
This amazing environment is just over half an hour's drive from
Biarritz airport. The TGV from Paris serves the
Biarritz's central station. The channel port of St Malo can be
reached in a good eight hour run; the other way, Bilbao is about
a 90 minute drive.
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Accommodation
:
Domaine d'Orx was created from a former farm outbuilding and converted
to provide stylish holiday farmhouse-style accommodation, whilst
retaining many original features and its rural feel. It has been
renovated in a 'clean, unfussy' style, ideal for holiday rentals.
The holiday cottage accommodation adjoins the owners' (family of four) accommodation. The
pool and most of the grounds, apart from the area outside the
cottage entrance, are for guests' exclusive use. The owners may or may not be present during your stay.
If you want it, the owners can offer a range of holiday services
to help you relax, either directly themselves, or arranged through local friends (all services should be pre-booked and payable locally). Or, if you prefer, they will leave you in peace and privacy!
Ground Floor:
The entrance (at the rear of the house) is via a covered
veranda sheltered by vine leaves which provides an escape
from the midday sun and an idyllic spot for a bit of reading.
It leads into an impressively spacious, stone-tiled hallway.
To one side is the dining area (seating for 10-12),
separated from the hall by some of the property's original wooden
beams; to the other side on a lightly raised level is the living
area with paintings, two sofas, television and video.
The décor is a blend of rustic simplicity and contemporary
style. A DVD and CD player are also provided.
Also on the ground floor is a fully equipped modern kitchen,
with stainless steel range and all essential appliances (dishwasher,
washing machine, etc).
One double bedroom is on the ground floor, with
a large window overlooking the garden and fields beyond. This
room has a private bathroom with bath, shower
and WC.
First Floor:
A central wooden staircase leads from the hallway to the upper
level, where there are a further four bedrooms (three doubles
and a twin room, all with with modern en-suite shower rooms).
Every room is decorated differently, making excellent use of the
different layout and light in each one.
Outside:
From the veranda a small path leads to the swimming pool
on a raised level at the rear of the house.
There is a common misconception that saltwater pools are full of salty sea water - as is sometimes the case in countries like India and Mexico, when close to the coast. In fact, the swimming pool is filtered by sand instead of felt and treated with salt instead of chlorine. The salt actually transforms to chlorine but is natural and therefore much better for thé skin, throat and eyes. This is the way pool installation is going in France and it is, of course,
more efficient and eco friendly.
There is a handy outdoor
wc and changing room by the pool. The garden is about one acre,
mostly lawned and fenced all around, mostly hidden by shrubs and
hedge.
Leading from the living area is a new patio area which captures the morning sun.
There is plenty of room of football, badminton, etc and a BBQ
is provided for alfresco meals. The views beyond the garden overlook
the fields all around. It really is incrediby peaceful; at night
the stars shine very brightly here too!
In brief, Domaine
d'Orx is a rare place where for two families or a group of friends
can enjoy both the coast and the countryside of Aquitaine
- the best of both worlds!
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Local
Guide:
Orx
& Nearby
A typically small French country village whose main features
are a bar-restaurant-post-office, fronton (for playing the basque
game of pelota) and a church - a genuine example of south west
France country life! Benesse Maremme - 4 km away - is a little
larger and is the location of the nearest boulangerie (deliveries
to the house can be arranged), tobacconist/newsagent and pharmacy.
There are also weekly markets at Capbreton
and Saubrigues, both within 15km.
Region
Most of the south west of France is something of an outdoor
playground and this southern area of Les Landes is certainly
no exception. Take your pick from surfing, watersports,
sailing, cycling, tennis, horse-riding, nature-spotting
and golf to name a few.
Golfers are spolit for choice with the range
of excellent standard courses locally: the two nearest courses
are the 1930s-built Golf d’Hossegor and Seignosse, a water
and forest monster of a course ranked in Continental Europe’s
Top 50. Also in 30 minutes drive are Moliets (also in the Top
50), Biarritz le Phare, Makila, Arcangues and Chiberta.
Surfers will now all about the Côte d'Argent
and can enjoy the pick of waves at Hossegor and
Capbreton - some of Europe's best waves.
Cyclists can enjoy the many safe forest tracks
that connect between the villages inland and coastal towns.
Particularly enjoyable is to take bikes (and picnic) along the
minor roads which hug both the southern and northern banks of
the Adour. It’s a scene straight out of Wind In The Willows!
Sailing enthusiasts should head for the Capbreton
Marina - 5 kms south of Hossegor.
Being so close to the Pays Basque border, sporting life also
includes the legendary game of pelota. You
can watch a game at many a village fronton or watch the professionals
in action at Bayonne. Another great spectator sport of th the
region is course landaise. This is
south west France's more human version of bull-fighting where
the bull leaves the arena still breathing. In fact, it's more
circus than bull-fighting. You can enjoy this spectacle at nearby
St Vincent-de-Tyrosse.
The Adour is a vast river fed by the melting
snows of the Pyrénées and "Les Barthes"
is the name given to the floodplain on the north bank which,
each year without fail, fills up with the river’s surplus
water. This swampy prairie is home to a secret ingredient used
to feed the famous thermal spas of nearby Dax
which are so craved for their therapeutic powers.
The ecology of Sud Landes makes it something of a special environment
for bird-watching (Marais d'Orx
is another prime location), nature studies
and spotting the small but friendly poneys barthais.
Of course, the Adour itself is fertile territory for fishing
enthusiasts; eels, pike and salmon are just a few of the varieties
to be found and obtaining a licence to catch them is refreshingly
straightforward – and inexpensive.
The Pays Basque and this southern stretch of Les Landes are
rich in attractions; here are just a few suggestions for day-trips:
• Biarritz and St Jean de Luz.
A short drive south are the sophisticated resorts of Biarritz
and St Jean de Luz, the south Atlantic’s competition to
the Côte d’Azur. Both provide excellent beaches,
cuisine and up-market shopping as well as a good introduction
to the Spanish-influenced Pays Basque. If you have time, drop
into the regional capital, Bayonne. Famed for
its ham and its chocolates, Bayonne was under English rule for
300 years. It is much under-rated and worth a trip to see its
cathedral and walk its ancient streets.
• Spa & thalassotherapy. In France,
the south west is known for its rejuvenating waters, both salt
and fresh varieties. Dax is the official spa
capital of France and is a 20 minute drive from the farmhouse.
The Côte Basque – Hendaye, St Jean de Luz
and Biarritz - is home to numerous
thalassotherapy centres.
• Lakes. The freshwater lakes that punctuate
the forest provide a great alternative to the ocean and offer
safer bathing for children. Rather like the Lake District in
England, each lake, or etang, has its own atmosphere.
Try étangs Blanc, Soutsons and Léon; at the latter
you can canoe from the lake along the serene
Courant d’Huchet to the ocean’s edge.
• Chalosse Country. To the south of Dax
and Mont-de-Marsan you start to enter rural Gascony,
which means several things: foie gras, floc de Gascogne
(a sherry-like aperitif) and a pleasantly slow pace of life.
The food is marvellous, the towns are half asleep except for
market days, and the countryside is highly relaxing. Montfort-en-Chalosse,
Mugron and St. Sever are good stopping
points.
• Basque Country. The delightful rolling
green hills and picture-perfect villages of the Pays Basque
are a must. la Bastide-Clairence, Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette
and Ascain all perfectly demonstrate Basque
village life. A visit to Cambo-les-Bains is
recommended not least to visit the magnificent Villa Arnaga,
home of the late Edmund Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac.
• Parc National des Pyrénées.
A little further south and you can hike in the mountain air,
walk or mountain bike through the Forêt d’Iraty
or des Arbailles and try your hand at a variety of life-threatening
pursuits such as rock-climbing, parascending or white-water
rafting.
• Spain. It’s an hour to the border
and only a short distance further to the majestic city of San
Sebastian, the Spanish Basque country’s equivalent
of Biarritz. The more adventurous could drive another hour or
so further along the northern coast to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim.
For further information try the links below. There is an excellent
tourist office in Hossegor too. Please note that we cannot be
held responsible for the content of third party sites.
Biarritz
Tourist Office
Landes
Tourist Board
Basque
Country tourist information
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