151 - Chalet des Herons  Le Cap Ferret (400m)

In our opinion

What makes Chalet des Hérons a great holiday rental

Chalet des Hérons captures the spirit of Cap Ferret - you won't find manicured luxury here, but much laid-back charm. It's somewhere to leave the car behind: you can get to the boulangerie in five minutes, the summer daily market in 2-3 minutes more. The village centre with chic cafes, boutiques and restaurants is 10 minutes or so away by foot; so are both the Atlantic and bassin d'Arcachon beaches. Cap Ferret is a region known for being relaxed and where people appreciate good living, somewhere French people return to year after year - after two weeks at Chalet des Hérons we think you'll want to too!

Best for:
People of all ages wanting a chic, unspoilt French sea-side destination.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - cot & high chair available.
• Teenagers - very good destination for teenagers to be independent
• Reduced mobility - grounds slope a little; 2 bathrooms & bedrooms at ground floor level

Anything to watch out for?
Upstairs bedrooms have sloping ceilings & are best suited to children. (Please seeAccommodation Details for more information.) The Chalet adjoins a rental apartment, Nid des Hérons, at the rear; the owners have been meticulous about ensuring the best possible insulation from neighbouring noise and visual screening so you are not overlooked. In July & August the owners live in the apartment and are on-hand for help or information if required, but will otherwise leave you in complete privacy.

Why Cap Ferret?
Cap Ferret village is one of France's chic-est holiday destinations featuring smart boutiques, cafés and restaurants in a low-rise, laid-back setting - the ambience is casual, relaxed but appreciative of good living. The bay is renowned for sailing & oysters, the Atlantic beach is superb. It's easy to get around. It's an Aquitaine gem.

Accommodation

A well-equipped house with all mod-cons for a relaxing, enjoyable holiday.

Chalet des Hérons is a wood-panelled, chalet-type property that has been entirely renovated in the stylish, unpretentious way that characterises Cap Ferret. It is a good size overall: 100m2 inside, and in 350m2 of grounds outside. 

Inside:

The entrance is reached via a short path from the road leading to a door at the side of the house. (There's parking for two cars on the side of the road.) The entrance leads into the main living room, a spacious, convivial area (40m2) comprising modern, fully equipped kitchen (washing machine, dishwasher, oven/hob, microwave), dining table, fireplace and lounge corner with television. French doors open onto the south-facing terrace.

A corridor leads from the living room to two downstairs double bedrooms, one south-facing, the other west-facing; both are a good size, 10m2. Downstairs there is are two shower rooms, both with WCs.

Stairs from the living room lead to two further bedrooms via a small mezzanine area. The upstairs bedrooms are built into the sloping roof - because the height varies from 6ft down to 3ft, these rooms are best suited to children, or adults that don't mind stooping as it's not possible to stand upright. The sizes are 14m2 (the twin room, quite spacious) and 7m2 (the double, quite compact).

Outside:

The outside terraced garden is 350m2, south-facing and is equipped with garden furniture and barbecue. Cover from arbousiers (trees that produce a orange, lychee-sized fruit) and pines provides dappled shade. Through the trees you can see the top of the Phare, Cap Ferret's emblematic lighthouse.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.64704399, -1.253063679)

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 · Degustation ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Foot ferry or water taxi to Arcachon & Dune de Pyla
• Stroll around central Bordeaux
• Médoc vineyards and wine-tasting
• St Emilion (UNESCO world heritage site)
• Fishing trip from Cap Ferret jetty

Our Personal Highlights

• Daily shopping in Cap Ferret food market
• Visit the oyster-farming villages and stop for dégustation - Cap Ferret, l'Herbe, le Canon & Piraillan
• Explore Cap Ferret's wonderful forest cycle trails (pick up 500m from the house)
• Boat trips around the Bassin and to Dune de Pyla
• Le Petit Train trip across the peninsula is a delight
• Mussels, chips & Bordeaux sauvignon at l'Escale or Chez Hortense - perfect!

The Local Area: Le Cap Ferret (400m)

The Cap Ferret peninsula is a treat for the senses - the scent of the pine forest, the constant rumble of rollers washing up on the western coast, the salty, slippery taste of oysters washed down with a Bordeaux blanc and, at the end of the day, sitting on top of one of the dunes overlooking the Atlantic and watching the sun go down. Bliss!

All these experiences and more are within very easy reach. The Atlantic beach ("l'Horizon"), popular with surfers, is about a 600m away to the west, the bassin d'Arcachon beach at Cap Ferret village, with amazing views over to the Dune de Pyla, is 400m to the east.

On the way you pass through Cap Ferret village, 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.

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 the Atlantic beach 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 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.

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.

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