156 - Villa de l'Ocean  Le Cap Ferret (6kms)

In our opinion

What makes Villa de l'Océan a great holiday rental

This is a modern, stylish 4 bedroom villa that couldn't be more convenient: its own heated pool and sunny, teak-wood decked terrace, shops & restaurants within 100m, le Canon's historic oyster-farming village on your doorstep, the local beach a 5-10 minute walk, Atlantic beaches a couple of kms away and chic Cap Ferret village 6km down the road.

It's comfortable, light, airy and has the bonus of views over to the bassin d'Arcachon - the first thing you'll see as you breakfast on the terrace every morning. Villa de l'Océan is lovely place to experience an exceptional area of Aquitaine.

Best for:
One extended family, or two smaller families, with school-aged children, or groups of friends.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - steep drive and steps up to deck may be a challenge for toddlers or infants in buggies. However inside house is well-equipped for young children, especially the heated pool.
• Teenagers will enjoy easy bike ride to local beach (3 kms away); nearest night life is 6 kms away. 
• Reduced mobility - not suitable because of drive-way and steps to the house.

Anything to watch out for?

• The house can sleep up to 8 but is better suited to 6 (plus a baby or two) otherwise it may feel cramped.
• Steep drive.

Why Le Canon & Cap Ferret?
Le Canon is a small district with its own beach, restaurants and shops, plus charming oyster-farming district all of which can be explored on foot. The peninsula's cycle trail passes close by, and takes you to the Atlantic beaches (3 kms), Cap Ferret village (6 kms), etc, via scented pine forests.

Accommodation

A modern, good quality single-storey property, very 'open', easy & relaxing.

Villa de l'Ocean is a single-storey chalet-style villa built 'on stilts' into the side of a hill overlooking le Canon. It is modern, light, airy, and its raised position offers beautiful views - from two of the bedrooms, the open-plan living room and the terrace - over the village, through the pine trees and towards the shimmering bassin in the background.

It has been the owners' home and is decorated and equipped accordingly, with individual touches which make it feel like more than a 'bland' holiday rental. The owner also has two young children so the house is particularly well-equipped for groups with babies or toddlers. The style is modern Cap Ferret 'chic' - good quality, contemporary, unfussy.

Inside:

Stairs lead from the drive to the living level. Turning right at the top of the stairs is the east-facing terrace that runs the width of the house. The terrace dining table seats 4-6, from which is a lovely view over the houses of Le Canon to the waters of the bassin d'Arcachon behind. The table can sheltered by an awning if required, and also provides shade into the living room. 

Sliding glass doors lead from the east terrace into the central living room which is light, spacious and tastefully furnished, including dining table, lounge area (with TV & DVD), working fireplace for late spring/early autumn rentals. A broadband Internet connection is also available.

An integrated kitchen is located at the rear of the lounge, separated by a breakfast bar. It is newly built and equipped to a good standard, including stainless steel cooker and dishwasher.

The master bedroom (large double bed), with en-suite bathroom, is located at the end of a short corridor on the north side of the house. Through French windows opening onto the front terrace the Bay is visible in the bacground.

Three more bedrooms are located on the southern side, two further doubles and a twin. All are furnished to a good standard, modern and with style. All the bedrooms are approximately the same size, about 10-12m2. A further shower room is shared by these three bedrooms. French doors from two of the bedrooms open onto the pool terrace and from the third onto the front terrace, with the bassin visible in the background.

Outside:

The house is reached via quite a steep slope from the road - the steepness of the slope means it is less suitable for anybody not sure-footed.

Around the other side, through a lockable gate, is the south-facing heated swimming pool area and sunbathing terrace. The whole area is decked using high quality timber, right up to the edge of the pool - lovely to lounge around barefoot on. There is an area of raised terrace too behind the pool. Sunbeds are of course provided. French doors lead from the terrace into two of the bedrooms.

Toddler Kit available at Villa de l'Ocean:
2 high chairs and 2 travel cots
1 baby bath seat and 1 bath ring
1 express microwave steam sterilizer (Avent)
1 bottle drying rack
1 baby food steamer and processor (Babycook)
1 trainer seat
1 potty chair
Infant DVDs (Dora, Little Einstein, aristocrats, Nemo, Barbie, etc)
Baby toys (blocks, puzzles.)
And on request, pushchair and infant backpack carrier (Lowe Alpine) which is easier to take babies to the beach than a push chair.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (44.70270398, -1.229846478)

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 · Fishing ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Take a water taxi to Arcachon, cycle to the Dune de Pyla, and climb to the top!
• Tour and wine-tasting around the Médoc vineyards
• Walk around St Emilion (UNESCO world heritage site)
• Hire a boat and head out to the Banc d'Arguin at low tide
• Ride a tram through historic central Bordeaux

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, strolling around the 44 Hectares area. 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. Visit Médoc wine region (Margaux, Lafite, etc), revitalised Bordeaux, historic St Emilion.

Activities: surfing a must (schools at le Truc Vert and l'Horizon beaches), cycling, watersports, fishing too.

The Local Area: Le Cap Ferret (6kms)

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.

Le Canon is one of the small towns along the Cap Ferret peninsula, and is renowned for oyster-farming quarter: alleys of 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!

Le Canon 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, 1 km 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), canelés.

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

Mr K Burn, stayed in 2010

“We loved the property and location.”

Family Baviere, stayed in 2009

Mr S Grant, stayed in 2011

“We were particularly pleased with the swimming pool and the adjacent terraces. The owner was delightful and helpful.”

Mr G Gaddes, stayed in 2011

“It exceeded expectations, a lovely property just right for our needs. Lovely to be so near the centre of things and with such a lovely view. We used the cycle paths to reach the ocean at Le Truc Vert or to visit Cap Ferret.”

Mrs Morgan, stayed in 2011