168 - la Cabane Pecheur  Cap Ferret

In our opinion

What makes la Cabane Pecheur a great holiday rental

This is a simple, charming fisherman's cabin-style cottage in the heart of one of Cap Ferret's oyster-farming districts. One of the most authentic French sea-side holiday homes on our website, but well-equipped for modern holidaymakers too.

Best for:
Families with pre-teenage children (under 10 years) in particular will appreciate the cosy accommodation and being able to walk to the lovely local beaches (just 50-100m away).

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - cot & high chair available; beaches in l'Herbe are toddler-friendly
• Teenagers - can walk to beaches, & cycle beyond independently; space could feel tight if more than 2 teens
• Reduced mobility - accommodation all at ground level.

Anything to watch out for?
The cabane can sleep up to 6 (2 adults + 4 children), but in our opinion is more comfortable for 2 adults + 2 children.

Why l'Herbe & Cap Ferret?
l'Herbe village is a photogenic area of similar, characterful properties, an authentic small oyster-farming community on the Cap Ferret peninsula, about 6 kms north of Cap Ferret village itself. L'Herbe's amenities include a good hotel-restaurant, a lovely sandy beach at low tide, and plenty of places to try oyesters direct from the producer! Cap Ferret is an area of natural, unspoilt beauty – in spite of its reputation as a upmarket destination it is not conventionally luxurious in the same way as Cap Ferrat (on the Med, often confused with Cap Ferret), but has a laid-back ‘beach-chic’ style of its own.

Accommodation

Although it's quite a small property, la Cabane Pecheur has much character and is one of the most charming & authentic on our website. It is also designed with contemporary holidaymakers in mind, with equipment including a modern kitchen, wifi, a plasma TV + a DVD player.

Inside:

The house is wooden throughout, with dark stained floors, although there have obviously been reparations over time the house on the whole is original and traditional and you would not notice the work that has been done to restore the property.

The side entrance leads directly into the kitchen and through this door you can see through the long hallway that leads throughout the house. The kitchen leads directly into the lounge area which then leads into a hallway that takes you to the bedrooms. On entering the house you immediately sense that it is a small property, but equally it's charm is captivating! Steeped with tradition, but also has modern contrasts.

As you enter the kitchen there is a small table with 4 chairs to the left. To the right are modern kitchen units, all white with contrasting black and white tiles along the back wall. The units are new and of a high quality, as is the cooker, hob and large fridge freezer. There is also a dishwasher, and espresso machine. The cupboards’ are all well equipped with matching plates, bowls, cups, glasses etc all of which are of good quality and again look new. The kitchen is a light room and although quite small does not feel unduly cramped.

There is a wall-mounted television (with DVD, French channels only) which swivels around so that it can be watched from the kitchen or the lounge. As you walk through the kitchen into the lounge there is a door to the left which is the other entrance. The lounge again is small but bright and cosy, and has a warm traditional feel. There are two whicker chairs with soft cushions which sit by a window to the left. There is then a double sofa (futon style) that is covered by a throw. A small coffee table is situated in the middle of the room and a traditional wood burner faces the sofa in the far corner. The room also has air-conditioning if required.

The bathroom leads off of the lounge from the right. The bathroom is painted white throughout. There is a sink unit, shower and toilet. They are bright, well maintained but simple. The boiler is also housed in the bathroom. The bathroom is however a reasonable size. There are blinds that hang across two small windows. There is a large mirror over the sink and small mirrored tiles to the left of the shower unit.

On leaving the lounge there is a door that leads into the bedroom areas, this area is very traditional. The floor, ceiling and walls are all dark wood, you walk into an area that has two large wardrobes with long cream drapes as doorswhich serves as a ‘dressing room’, with the two bedrooms leading off of this area.

The main bedroom is small but characterful and traditionally decorated. There is a double bed, a double wardrobe and a long mirror that faces the bed. The second bedroom houses two sets of bunk beds. This room is larger and there is space for dressing or children playing.

Outside:

The cabane is one half of a wooden, one-storey chalet-style building, entirely independent of the neighbouring cottage. (Each has an independent entrance, it's very difficult to tell they adjoin.) The cottage is screened from the street by a fence covered in trailing plants (including passion fruit). A path at the front leads round the side to the covered dining terrace with table, chairs & large gas barbecue/plancha.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.69061981, -1.232882738)

We endeavour to be as accurate as possible using Google maps but some error is possible.

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Kitesurfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Water-skiing · Jet-skiing · Kayaking · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Wine-tasting · Degustation ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Climb the Dune de Pilat (esp. by water taxi)
• Ride a tram through central Bordeaux
• Tour the Médoc vineyards and wine-tasting
• Walk around St Emilion (UNESCO world heritage site)

Our Personal Highlights

• Visit local market and oyster-farming villages.
• Explore Cap Ferret's wonderful forest cycle trails (pick up 500m from the house).
• Hang out in chic Cap Ferret village.
• Boat trips around the Bassin and to Dune de Pilat.
• Le Petit Train trip across the peninsula is a delight.
• Take ferry to the 'mainland': Arcachon and le Moulleau.

The Local Area: Cap Ferret

Cap Ferret is a beautiful sandy strip bordered by beautiful Atlantic beaches & dunes on one side, the gentle Bay shore on the other, and the scent of pine forest in between. It has a stylish, laid-back ambience and an unspoilt, natural environment which give it an 'island' feel - what could be better for a holiday.

L'Herbe is one of the small towns along the Cap Ferret peninsula, and is renowned for oyster-farming quarter: characterful, brightly-painted huts which line the Arcachon basin's shore. Careful raising of these exquisite delicacies has continued for over 150 years. Can oysters ever have tested better than here, at the edge of the waters where they grew? A stroll, stopping for a degustation, is a must!

L'Herbe's Hotel de la Plage is excellent for lunch, although summer weekends can be busy. Le Canon 2 kms away - or a 1 km stroll along the beach when the tide is out - offers local shops, tabac, its own oyster-farming quarter, local Bay-side beach and two good local restaurants. 'Le Truc Vert' is the nearest Atlantic Beach, about 3 kms away and easily cyclable along the quiet avenues which then join up with one of the peninsula's fantastic forest cycle-ways on the west. Piraillan, 3 kms to the north, is well known for its extensive covered food market (open July & August) - with a bit of planning you need never shop in a supermarket while you're here.

6 kms to the south, Cap Ferret village is the chic-est spot on the the Presqu'Ile. Smart boutiques, cafes and restaurants in a low-rise, laid-back setting - the ambience is casual, relaxed but appreciative of good living. A couple of 'bonnes adresses': it's worth stopping for a drink the stylish Tchanqué bar of the Hôtel Maison du Bassin (so named after the famous houses on stilts close to the Ile aux Oiseaux) - the address for an 'apéro'; and Fredelian, a salon de thé renowned for its patisseries, especially the local favourite (and ours), cnnelés.

From the village you can take a ferry over to Arcachon or Le Moulleau, but you'll probably miss your 'desert island' home quite quickly! Or try a boat tour spotting the oyster beds and bird life of the bassin d'Arcachon.

There's also a charming 'petit train' that runs from the jetty on the bassin side over to the fantastic Atlantic beach "l'Horizon" on the other side of the pensinsula; the trip takes 10-15 minutes and, especially if you have children, is a delight!

Heading on down to the Pointe is a must, stopping to climb to the top of the famous Cap Ferret lighthouse on the way - the views across the bassin to the sandy wild-life reserve of the Banc d'Arguin and over to the Dune de Pyla (Europe's highest sand dune) are breathtaking.

The famous '44 Hectares' of the Cap Ferret peninsula are situated south of the lighthouse. This is an area of villas built in the earlier part of the century set amongst the pine trees all served by unmade roads, owned by several French stars, Bordeaux vineyard owners and generations of Cap Ferret inhabitants of more modest means. It's probably the most natural, exclusive yet unpretentious housing estate in France and is worth exploring by bicycle. It is also home to the island's most famous restaurant, Chez Hortense - laid back (what else could it be here?) and popular with France's VIPs.

If you feel the urge to leave the Cap - and many don't while they are here - the famous appelations of Pauillac and Margaux north in the médoc rouge are not far away. There are many vineyards where you can visit and taste some of the famous wines. Two very approachable châteaux are the under-rated (and relatively inexpensive) Château Maucaillou, a medium-sized, family-run estate in Moulis-en-Médoc; there is an interesting museum exhibiting some of the history of wine-making. Or for a very special visit, Château Giscours in the Margaux region organises tastings of various vintages of its grand crus classés.

Around the other side of the basin is Arcachon, a popular French resort; a part of the town known as the Ville d'Hiver (winter town) is well worth strolling to see the quirky architecture of its many 19th century villas.

South of Arcachon is the famous Dune du Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe, standing at over 100 metres. A journey to the summit (try it without the staircase provided!) is a must; sunrise and sunset are the best times.

If you're feeling beached out, Bordeaux is about an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s boutique shopping, sight-seeing or culture. Medieval gems of the Gironde east of Bordeaux are also wonderful days out; St Emilion, with its 11th century basilica, is the best known but can be busy - get there early!

Customer Reviews

“Absolutely delightful house.”

Mr W Cabral, stayed in 2009