034 - Villas du Lac  Carcans (4 kms)

In our opinion

What makes Villas du Lac a great holiday rental

• Superb summer playground of lakes, pine forests and glorious sandy beaches
• Larger groups can share facilities yet have their own private space
• Just a short drive to the world-class vineyards of the Médoc

Best for:
An ideal venue for larger gatherings of family and friends who want to be together but who also want a bit of personal space! This feature is often asked for but few properties can genuinely deliver it.

Villas du Lac will be enjoyed most by guests who want to enjoy the numerous activities on offer (eg watersports, surfing, hore-riding, cylcing, golf) but who also want to retreat to somewhere quiet to relax.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - ideal grounds for playing safely & the lakes offer safe bathing. The little ones will also enjoy the wildlife visiting the gardens!
• Teenagers - need to be content in a quiet location but there's an abundance of activities to enjoy in the area
• Reduced mobility - accommodation all on ground floor

Anything to watch out for?

• Simple furnishings in both cottages
• There is a small campsite across the road which may generate some noise during summer although it hasn't ever been highlighted as an issue by previous clients. Please consult the Google map (see Location tab) for further details.

Why Lacanau?
The nearest ocean resort, famed for its surfing, kitesurfing, golf and watersports. It combines lakes, forests and ocean to provide a superb summer playground. The huge nearby lakes of Hourtin-Carcans and Lacanau add a superb extra dimension offering an array of watersports and the lakes themselves have excellent sandy beaches.

Accommodation

Two neighbouring cottages with extensive gardens in tranquil location, each with private pool.

Both cottages offer 3 double-size bedrooms and a large open-plan living area all on ground floor level. The large spaces and tiled floors give the cottage a distinctly summery feel. Traditional features have been utilised wherever possible.

Accommodation detail - Villa du Lac:

• Master bedroom has en-suite shower facilities and a king-size bed.
• The second bedroom contains twin beds whilst the
• Third bedroom has two sets of adult-size bunk beds - this has proved to be an excellent kids' room. The main cottage can therefore sleep up to 8 people. There is plenty of storage space provided.
• Additionally there is a small annexe connected to the cottage by a gazebo. This could sleep another two older children in the bunks provided. This room also contains a sink unit and a range of games and equipment including body boards.
• Additionally there is a separate family bathroom with bath, shower and wc.
• The living area of the cottage consists of a large lounge, oak refectory dining table for 8 and a good-size integrated kitchen. The lounge is dominated by a huge open fireplace. There is plenty of comfy seating including two new sofas. TV and vcr provided.
• The kitchen has an English 'country kitchen' design and is well-equipped to include washing machine, dishwasher, two fridges, freezer, electric cooker, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster.

Accommodation detail - Villa Hélène:

• Master bedroom with queen-size bed, en-suite shower facilities, and French doors to the garden.
• Second bedroom contains twin beds
• Third bedroom with two sets of adult-size bunk beds and French doors to the garden.
• A separate family size bathroom includes bath with shower fitting and wc.
• The living area of the cottage consists of a large lounge, dining table for 6 and a fully-equipped integrated kitchen. The lounge has two sets of French doors opening on to the patio and plenty of comfy seating plus TV, DVD & vcr.
• The kitchen has breakfast bar, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge freezer, gas hob and electric oven, microwave, coffee machine, kettle and toaster.

NB There is wi-fi internet access in Villa du Lac.

Outside:

The setting is highly tranquil. Ste-Hélène-de-l’Étang consists of just nine houses and the land is surrounded by forest. There is abundant wildlife including frogs, toads, rabbits, lizards, deer and a variety of birds.

The entrance to is shared between the two homes which are a stone’s throw from each other and between them occupy a one-acre plot of land. The gardens are extensive and there are patio areas for dining outside. There is a private swimming pool at each property:

Villa du Lac - 10x5m length/width and max depth 2m, Roman steps. Saltwater filtration, unheated. Approved alarm.

Villa Hélène - 8x4m length/width and max depth 2m, Roman steps. Saltwater filtration, unheated. Approved cover.

Of the two cottages, Villa du Lac has the largest garden and patio area and consequently it is here where most time is spent by guests.

In addition to the pool, outside facilities include a BBQ at each cottage and plenty of garden furniture.

The gardens are extensive and there are patio areas for dining outside.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (45.11246289, -1.066864729)

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 · Golf · Cycling · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Fishing · Spa & thalassotherapy · Wine-tasting · Degustation · Mountain biking ·

Day-trip Ideas

• A day of watersports on the lake at Hourtin, Bombannes or Maubuisson
• Oysters & sophistication in Cap Ferret
• Chateau touring & wine-tasting in sleepy Medoc
• Scale the amazing Dune du Pilat near Arcachon
• City culture in Bordeaux, particularly the old town quarter

Our Personal Highlights

• Exploring the vast pine forests on bikes
• Kayaking along the immense Hourtin-Carcans lake
• Quieter beach resorts such as Carcans Plage and Hourtin Plage
• Lakeside picnics en famille
• 18 holes at Lacanau Golf d'Ardilouse then into the surf at Plage Sud

The Local Area: Carcans (4 kms)

Carcans
A charming Medocaine village with essential shops and amenities plus a weekly market.

Local Area
Beach lovers have the choice of ocean and lakes. The Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans and Lac de Lacanau provide safer bathing and have their own sandy beaches plus there is outstanding watersports potential. Hourtin-Port and Maubisson are the main beach resorts at Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans and both are great for sailing; there is a marina at Hourtin-Port.

Lacanau-Océan is the most popular resort on this stretch of the Côte d’Argent and hosts a world-pro surfing tournament in August. For less crowds try Carcans-Plage and Hourtin-Plage.

Cap Ferret and Arcachon are the favoured sunning spots for wealthier Bordelais folk. Near to Arcachon is the magnificent Dune du Pilat – Europe’s highest sand dune. Set on the southerly edge of the Bassin d’Arcachon, the town is perfect for boat trips, seafood, boutique shopping and a good old-fashioned stroll along the promenade or the beautiful Winter Town.

Montalivet-les-Bains and Soulac-sur-Mer are the main beach resorts on the north coast. Soulac, like Arcachon’s Winter Town, is full of eclectic villas and mansions dating to the late 19th century and built by wealthier residents of Bordeaux. Soulac also has its own Unesco World Heritage Site – the Romanesque Benedictine Abbey, Esplanade Alienor d’Aquitaine. Further north still, at the Pointe de Grave, you can take a ferry to the resort of Royan.

For wine-lovers, the nearby Médoc region is home to several world-class vineyards including celebrated appellations such as St-Julien, Pauillac, Haut-Médoc, Margaux and Médoc itself. The warm climate and gravely soil combine to produce some of the world’s most sought-after red wines. Naturally there are plenty of wine-tasting opportunities. To visit the best-known châteaux such as Lafite Rothschild and Margaux, you are advised to make a booking in advance.

And if drinking wine isn’t enough, you can also bathe in it. Yes, vinothérapie is the latest in hedonistic body-revitalisation treatments and you can indulge in this treat at Martillac, just to the south of Bordeaux.

Golfers will be pleased to hear that they are a short drive away from the prestigious championship courses of Golf du Medoc, Les Châteaux and Les Vignes. Slightly further away, just outside of Lacanau, is Golf d’Ardilouse, a lovely 18-hole course set in the pine forests.

The city of Bordeaux is an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s forboutique shopping, sight-seeing or culture. Walking around the 18th century old town centre (Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine the city’s commercial and maritime past.

Customer Reviews

“Villa du Lac ref:014. We had a wonderful time. What a beautiful house, we think that it is the nicest holiday cottage we have stayed in (and we've stayed in a few!). It was also great having it so clean on arrival.”

Mr M Slack, stayed in 2010

“Villa Helene ref:015. We had an excellent holiday with superb service plus a wonderful property at which we enjoyed a thoroughly lazy week.”

Mr M Skehel, stayed in 2008

“Villa du Lac ref:014. We loved the house and had the best time. The house was just like a home.”

Mrs M Bilton, stayed in 2008