Key
Facts :
|
Location
: |
Mimizan
16 kms |
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Type
of location : |
Forest |
|
No.
of bedrooms : |
3
: 3x doubles/twins (beds can be separated to make twins) |
|
Sleeping
capacity : |
6 |
|
No.
of bathrooms : |
3
en-suite shower rooms |
|
Style
of property : |
Traditional Landaise cottage |
|
Quality
guide : |
GOOD
QUALITY - what
does this mean? |
|
Prices : |
|
| »
Check availability & prices for this property GO |
Rental price includes: Spare set of linen available for bookings of 2+ weeks. Beds made for arrival. Bathroom towels and tea towels. Water, gas, electricity
Compulsory extras: none
Optional extras: Babysitting €8 per hour. Meals on arrival day & during holiday - please enquire. Housekeeping - arrange & pay for locally if required. Aga cookery tuition 35 EUR per hour (pre-reserve and pay locally). Surfing or windsurfing 50 EUR per 1.5 hr session (pre-reserve and pay locally, subject to Thierry's availability).
Security deposit: EUR 200 security deposit payable on arrival, cash or cheque, Sterling or Euros
» Read important information about security deposits & insurance |
|
Linen
arrangements : |
Beds
made for arrival. Household towels provided with the rental
& towels are changed on the middle Saturday of 2+ week
bookings |
|
Cleaning
arrangements : |
The house is cleaned for your arrival and should be left as found please
» Read important information
about cleaning
|
|
Arrivals
& departure : |
Arrive
Saturday 4-6pm and depart Saturday by 10am. There is some
flexibility in the off season
»
Read important information about
arrivals & departures |
|
Nearest
beach : |
Contis-Plage
20 kms |
|
Nearest
boulangerie : |
Onesse 12 kms |
|
Nearest
airport : |
Biarritz
& Bordeaux airports both 1 hour approx. |
|
Nearest
ferry port : |
St
Malo 7 hours approx |
|
Swimming
pool : |
Yes - fenced off for safety and lockable gate. 8x4m length/width,
depth 0.80-1.65m. Roman steps into the pool. Clients are
asked to sign a 'Swimming Pool Disclaimer' on arrival -
please ask us if you would like to see a copy in advance |
|
Facilities
& equipment : |
Dishwasher
& washing machine (owner's house next door); video player
& CD player; BBQ; bikes ; windsurf boards; surf boards
& body boards |
|
Suitability
for children : |
Quiet
for teenagers but large & safe grounds to play. Horses
in a paddock next door - suitable for short ride. Bikes
& surfboards available to borrow |
|
Suitability
for infants : |
Cot,
cot linen & high chair available
Large grounds to play; safe distance from the road.
Pool
fenced off |
|
Things
to see & do : |
Cycing,
surfing & windsurfing, nature trails, golf, horse riding.
Visit Bordeaux, Arcachon, Biarritz, Basque Country, Pyrénées,
Spain (Bilbao & San Sebastian) |
|
House
rules : |
Pets
allowed. No smoking inside the house please |
|
Location
: Map
Ref B4
The cottage is located 2 kms outside of the small village of Escource,
in a small forest clearing consisting of half a dozen or so houses,
set well back from the road. Escource is just a 5 minute drive
from the RN10, the main road connecting Bordeaux to Biarritz and
is equidistant between the two.
Mimizan (16 kms) is the nearest main town. The beaches of the
Côte d’Argent are 20 minutes’ drive.
|
Accommodation
:
Standing in a large plot of land shared with the owners’
house next door, you can imagine arriving here 100 hundred years
ago and not much would be different. Life here is faithful to
the Gascon traditions of living off the land – good food
and good wine and every chance of living into your 90s!
Escource Cottage Landaise functions as both a rental cottage and
a chambres d’hôtes. Each of the 3
bedrooms is equipped with en-suite facilities including
shower, wash-hand basin and wc. In keeping
with its status as a chambres d’hôtes, breakfast and
evening meals can be cooked – at an extra cost of course.
The cottage dates back to the 18th century and has been renovated
to a high standard, retaining its character and original features.
Wooden beams feature both inside and outside and the cottage has
been tastefully furnished with antiques sourced locally. Guests
will have to mind their heads on low beams -
a common feature on traditional properties such as this.
The cottage is owned by Emma and Thierry. Emma is English but
has lived in France for 20 years. Both Emma and Thierry are on-hand
to assist guests in exploring the local region and pursuing a
wide range of activities at the cottage and nearby, such as photography,
surfing, sailing, and learning French.
Thierry is a former French national windsurfing
champion whilst Emma’s aga cooking skills
have featured in Time Out magazine! Please
enquire with us to see what is possible for the season ahead.
The large open-living area downstairs incorporates
traditional French kitchen with wood stove, extensive lounge and
separate dining table. The kitchen manages successfully to incorporate
modern appliances such as dishwasher and fridge (with freezer
compartment) - the washing machine is in the owner's house next
door. Oak beams and pillars feature throughout the room and the
floor is tiled in terracotta. The lounge is full of natural light
and there are sofas and chairs for relaxing in the evenings after
dinner. A TV is also provided in the lounge.
The three bedrooms maintain a consistent theme
of oak beams, antiques and tasteful furnishings. Each is en-suite
and one of them is downstairs off the lounge. The bedrooms all
consist of twins which can be pushed together to make doubles
if preferred.
A wooden staircase leads from the dining room to the two rooms
upstairs.
Outside, there is a lovely large lawn for adults to relax and
kids to play. There is also a beautiful swimming pool which is
fenced off for safety. The kids will also enjoy the abundance
of animals including Emma and Thierry’s dog who likes nothing
better than to play football with guests!
Beyond the garden is a wooded area, also part of the property,
where you can enjoy nature walks or horse-rides. Surf boards and
bikes are available for guests to use free of charge. A cot and
high chair are also available on request.
A covered terrace lies to the side of the cottage
and is perfect for summer evenings dining on Gascony’s finest
dishes of duck and foie gras.
The house is not centrally heated but there are electric heaters
or a wood stove/chimney in each room.
|
Local
Guide :
Whilst Escource Cottage Landaise is ideal for those seeking total
calm and relaxation, you will also find a range of activities
available locally plus a host of potential day-trips slightly
further afield…Bordeaux, Biarritz and the numerous vineyards
of the Gironde, for instance.
Thierry is an expert surfer and windsurfer
and can suggest local beaches and lakes or even take you there
for a lesson. If you want to try your hand at shooting,
Thierry is again the man to consult. For activities based around
the cottage, Emma provides tuition on fitness, pilates,
cooking with an aga, photography and learning
French.
There are plenty of opportunities locally for horse-riding,
canoeing / kayaking and golfers should
head to Moliets, Biscarrosse, Gujan Mestras or Arcachon (the course
at Mimizan is only 3 holes). Arcachon is great for sailing
whilst for cycling and walking
there are many peaceful forest tracks to enjoy. Fishing
enthusiasts are blessed with a choice of rivers, lakes and ocean.
Similarly, birdwatchers will enjoy the abundant
birdlife around the lakes and the Bassin d’Arcachon, particularly
at Ile aux Oiseaux (Bird Island)
Two more unusual pursuits to try are flying over
the forests in a small plane and cross-country skiing
on pine needles!
If you’d like to learn more about the Landaise culture and
traditions, visit the eco-museum at nearby Sabres.
The nearest ocean beaches can be found at Mimizan-Plage
and Contis-Plage. The former is much more popular
with families in the high season. Both are 20-25 minutes drive.
The older inland town of Mimizan has a busy market on Fridays.
Escource is the nearest village but being on the small side, it
has little to offer other than the bare essentials – a post
office and bread depot. There is also a tennis court here.
Suggestions for day-trips include:
•
Arcachon. This popular and stylish French favourite provides
plenty of options for visitors. Ferries run from Arcachon to a
host of destinations including Cap Ferret, a
smart resort on the other side of the Bassin d’Arcachon
and to the beautiful Banc d’Arguin, a sand-bank
nature reserve. The Banc d’Arguin sits at the foot of the
famous Dune du Pilat which at over 100 metres
is the largest sand dune in Europe. A journey to the summit (try
it without the staircase provided!) is a must; sunrise and sunset
are the best times.
Back
into Arcachon, stroll along the seafront or through the delightful
Ville d’Hiver (Winter Town) and explore
its fabulous collection of eclectic villas. There is also a
lovely park to cool off in the shade and watch the locals play
petanques. The Bassin d’Arcachon is packed full of oyster
farms and you will have no difficulty finding a supply of these
slimy crustaceans to dine on in one of the town’s many
seafood restaurants.
• Biarritz and St Jean de Luz. An hour’s
drive south are the sophisticated resorts of Biarritz and St
Jean de Luz, the south Atlantic’s riposte 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 or 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 40 minute drive from Escource Cottage
Landaise. 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 safer
bathing for children. Rather like the Lake District in England,
each lake - or étang - has its own
atmosphere. Near to the cottage are the étangs Aureilhan
and Léon. Both are relatively small
and delightfully tranquil; at the latter you can canoe from
the lake along the serene Courant d’Huchet
to the ocean’s edge.
• Vineyards. If you’re feeling
‘beached out’ why not take the opportunity to explore
some of the region’s vineyards? The famous Graves
and Sauternes vineyards are an hour’s
drive north east in the direction of Bordeaux and Langon.
For further information try the links below. Please note that
we cannot be held responsible for the content of third party
sites.
Les
Landes Tourisme Guide
Mimizan
Tourism Guide
Arcachon
Tourism Guide
UK
Tourist Office for France
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