011 - Escource Cottage  Mimizan 16 kms

In our opinion

What makes Escource Cottage a great holiday rental

This perfectly-preserved 18th century Landaise cottage certainly gives a feeling of being away from it all. Over 300 years old, it has plenty of character and a wonderfully tranquil and natural surroundings. Inside, the cottage has a wealth of original features and simple antique furnishings from local brocantes.

All in all, Escource Cottage provides a truly French experience - this is as good an example of a traditional Landaise cottage as you will find.

Best for:
Ideal for younger kids who will appreciate the space, nature and wildlife, but who will not want to be too far from beaches. Especially good for children who like to ride horses - there is a paddock next door.

Also, this is idyllic for Francophiles who want to a genuine taste of France and who simply want to relax on holiday - the immediate area is best enjoyed for it's beaches, forest and lakes rather than its towns or culture.

Of course the cottage also works well for visitors on a budget - it's not easy finding a house with private pool for less than 2000 Eur!

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - perfect
• Teenagers - probably too quiet & remote
• Reduced mobility - ground floor bedroom

Anything to watch out for?

• Owners live next door. However, this is a bonus as they can offer supplementary services such as meals, aga cookery tuition or windsurfing lessons. Emma & Thierry will respect your privacy and leave you in as much peace as you want.
• Mind your head on the low beams!
• Because of the relatively remote setting, a car is vital.
• No TV in the house - unusual but it's that kind of 'retreat'!
• We wish to point out that the house is simply furnished with antiques - it is not a luxury rental

Why Les Landes?
This area of Gascony is the least populated region of France. Dominated by the pine forests, punctuated by freshwater lakes and bordered by the Atlantic this is a real summer playground.

Accommodation

Traditional Landais beamed cottage with pool and near coast

Standing in a large plot of land shared with the owners’ house next door, you can imagine arriving here a 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 nineties!

The cottage dates back to the 18th century and has been renovated tastefully and sympathetically, retaining its character and original features. Wooden beams feature both inside and outside and the cottage has been nicely furnished with antiques sourced locally.

The cottage is owned by Emma and Thierry. Emma is English but has lived in France for 25  years. Both Emma and Thierry are on-hand to assist guests in exploring the local region. Thierry is a former French national windsurfing champion whilst Emma’s aga cooking skills have featured in Time Out magazine!

Inside:

The large open-living area downstairs incorporates traditional French kitchen with wood stove, extensive lounge and separate dining table. 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:

Includes 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 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.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.14946486, -1.051608324)

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 · Kayaking · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Course Landaise · Wine-tasting ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Arcachon and the magnificent Dune du Pilat - Europe's highest sand dune
• Watersports at Biscarrosse-Parentis lake - the Big One!
• Basque Country resorts Biarritz & St Jean de Luz and underrated Bayonne
• Spa & thalassotherapy pampering in thermal station Dax
• Feeling 'beached out'? Hit the vineyards & chateaux south of Bordeaux

Our Personal Highlights

• Chill out kayaking or fishing on the serene lakes
• Contis Plage - less busy than Mimizan Plage in summer
• Exploring the forests, lakes & ocean via cycle trails
• Heading 'off-piste' and finding a forest track leading to your own bit of beach
• Supper & a beer on the seafront at Mimizan Plage watching the sunset

The Local Area: Mimizan 16 kms

Escource
A small village with church, tennis court and village shop.

Mimizan-Plage
Enjoys an enviable setting where the pine forests give way to sand dunes and the rolling surf of the Atlantic Ocean. There's 10km of sandy beaches to enjoy here but the reality is that the sand continues, unbroken, north and south for a long, long way. There is a covered market every day in summer and in the main town Mimizan-Bourg there is a market every Friday all year round - this is a great way to enjoy French life.

Aureilhan
A charming village close to Mimizan in the heart of Les Landes forest. Aureilhan lake is classified as a nature reserve and here you will discover plenty of bird life from a variety of species. The lake area is very attractive and at the far side there is a sandy beach with watersports and children's play area. A great way to enjoy the Aureilhan area is to hire bikes and take the many cycle paths near the lake and ocean. Take a picnic and enjoy lunch in the lakeside forest.

Leisure activities on the lake and nearby (NB some activities are seasonal - July & August only):

• Sailing, canoe & pedal boat
• Sea-kayak
• Horse-riding
• Tennis courts
• Altantic beach surfing & body-boarding (beach is supervised in July & August only). Surf Schools at Mimizan Plage
• Fishing
• Petanque
• Cycle paths

To learn a little more about life in the Landes over the centuries, visit the Ecomusee at Sabres.

Useful Web Links
Mimizan Tourist Office
Mimizan Plage Kids' Summer Station

Customer Reviews

“Everything was great, the house was the sweetest I have ever stayed in France and we go almost every year so that is high praise indeed. Emma and Thierry were great hosts giving the right mix of privacy and help and advice. The cooking afternoon with Emma was my personal highlight. If we ever visit that area again we would definitely return to the same house. Recommendation to next year's guests to get Emma to cook a dinner for you at least once during your stay.”

Mrs D Parkhouse, stayed in 2008

Mrs l Burdon, stayed in 2008