051 - Borde Larrundarra  St-Jean-de-Luz (3 kms)

In our opinion

What makes Borde Larrundarra a great holiday rental

Superbly appointed, a large pool, beautiful and verdant gardens, views of la Rhune, a golf course down the road, a short drive from St Jean de Luz...Borde Larrundarra has a lot going for it!

Best for:
The living accommodation is split between the main house and the integrated ground floor apartment; as such Larrundarra is an ideal rental for larger groups such as two families. The ground floor studio annexe is ideal for an elderly parent or two.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - pool has cover; baby equipment available; limited garden space
• Teenagers - quiet spot but short drive to resort, golf, surf
• Reduced mobility - good: ground floor accommodation

Anything to watch out for?
Not really. It's not possible to walk anywhere from the house - a car is essential.

Why St Jean de Luz?
One of our favourites. A colourful and proudly Basque fishing port and holiday resort. A superb & safe town beach, excellent for the 'little ones'.

Accommodation

Basque house with peaceful gardens, super pool and views.

Built to the Basque model of whitewashed exterior walls, terracotta tiles, painted timbers and shutters, Larrundarra comprises the owners’ main house, a three-bedroom villa apartment plus a newly converted studio room.

The main house offers the more luxurious accommodation whilst the ground floor apartment and studio are informal, bright and 'summery', especially popular with kids.

The gardens are well-kept, the views are calming and there is hardly a sound – perfect for sitting on the terrace witha book and a glass of chilled Sauternes. The pool terrace is perfect for lazy afternoons, aperitifs and meals.

Inside:

Main House
The polished floors, contemporary fittings and elegant furnishings combine to create an outstanding home. Rooms are large, and rather grand, each decorated and furnished to a very high standard.

Leading off the entrance hall is the huge kitchen, the sitting room, a balcony terrace overlooking the pool, a wc, plus the main corridor. This corridor leads to the dining room, study and master bedroom.

The American-style kitchen is itself bigger than most apartments on the coast! The marble work surfaces and kitchen units are custom-made. Appliances include two fridge freezers, conventional oven, microwave and dishwasher. The kitchen is fully equipped with all mod cons. At the far end of the kitchen is a small dining area with glass table seating four persons.

An east-facing terrace is accessed from both the kitchen and sitting room. It is a perfect spot for breakfasting in the morning sun. The sitting room is extremely spacious and is tastefully furnished with rugs, antiques and fine wood furniture.

For home entertainment, satellite TV is beamed into a large-screen TV is tucked away in an antique armoire alongside a CD stereo system.

Just outside of the sitting room are French doors opening on to the main balcony terrace, large enough for dining and for lounging in the sun; the balcony overlooks the pool and gardens, and the hills to the south. Views include the symbolic Basque peak, la Rhune. There is an electric canopy for shade if required. An external staircase leads from the balcony to the pool area.

The main dining room is designed for more formal entertaining. Features such as solid wood furnishings, polished marble floor and recessed lighting are once again apparent.

Just off the landing is a convenient alcove study area, and at the end of the corridor is the master bedroom. Overlooking the pool and countryside, this bedroom comprises a separate dressing area with walk-in wardrobes, en-suite bathroom (bath, separate shower and wc), sitting area, balcony and a king-size bed.

A wooden staircase leads to a sitting area on the upper landing. Two further bedrooms, one king-sized and one twin, are located on this upper level. Both are spacious and more straigh-forward, and share a bathroom - they work well for kids.

There is also a small loft area which stores a plentiful supply of children's games, plus high chair and cot, etc.

The utility room is also on the ground floor.

The old gym has been converted (in 2010) into a studio bedroom with double bed, shower room with WC plus small kitchenette. This room leads directly to the pool. It's a very handy option for grandparents, for instance.

Apartment
Constructed in an ‘L-shape’ arrangement, the apartment accommodation is spread over 140 square metres and is all on one level. This ground floor apartment is accessed by stairs from the main house kitchen.

The apartment is brightly furnished, airy and has a tiled floor throughout - all of which creates a summery feel. The open-plan kitchen and living room has French doors leading to the terrace. Wicker sofas and chairs provide plenty of seating for guests in the lounge area and there is satellite TV available. The dining table seats six people. The kitchen is well-equipped with microwave, stove and dishwasher.

The three bedrooms consist of two twins and a queen-size double. One of the twin bedrooms has French doors opening out on to the terrace and pool area. Each room has dedicated hanging space for clothes. The room with double bed has en-suite facilities including a shower.

There is a separate bathroom with bath, shower and wc plus an extra wc off the hallway.
A cot and high chair are available for infants.

Outside:

The swimming pool and terraced patio are immediately to the rear of the villa. The pool can be covered for safety and there are steps leading into the shallow end. There are plenty of sun-loungers plus a good size wrought iron table and chairs for dining outdoors. There is also a BBQ provided for guests’ use.

The main driveway to Larrundarra is operated by electric gates and the house has its own garage parking.

Reduced occupany option for smaller groups:

If you like the house but don't need 7 bedrooms, it is possible to rent the 4 bedrooms of the main house at reduced rates. You still have exclusive use of the pool & grounds (uninhabited parts of the house are not rented out). Please enquire for prices.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.38751478, -1.625193357)

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

Things to Do & See

Nearby Activities
Surfing · Windsurfing · Sailing · Golf · Horse-riding · Birdwatching · Spa & thalassotherapy · Pelote Basque · Hiking · Mountain biking ·

Day-trip Ideas

• Tour Basque Country villages: Ascain, Ainhoa, Sare, Espelette
• Visit Bayonne, the under-rated ‘capital’ of the Pays Basque
• Cross the border into Spain - San Sebastian, Pamplona & the Guggenheim
• Explore the Pyreneees National Park for its wildlife, walks & scenery
• Taste the glitz & glamour of 'Belle-Epoque' Biarritz

Our Personal Highlights

• Strolling St Jean de Luz's bustling streets, before drinks & supper!
• Sampling the pintxos - Basque tapas - in St Jean de Luz or Ciboure old town
• Catching a game of Basque pelote at one of the village frontons
• A visit to Ainhoa & Sare - both 'picture perfect' Basque Country villages
• 18 holes at gorgeous Golf de Chantaco - then lunch in the clubhouse
• Experiencing an assault on the senses at St Jean's daily market

The Local Area: St-Jean-de-Luz (3 kms)

St Jean de Luz
Whether its beaches, boutiques, culture, restaurants or festivals you are looking for, this town is hard to beat. Stylish but without the pretence of the Riviera, St Jean is an authentic and colourful seaside town and working fishing port. It has plenty to offer discerning visitors of all ages. In particular, this is a great place to eat out - St Jean de Luz is recognised as the capital of Basque cuisine and is noted for its seafood (it is one of Rick Stein’s favourite places).

Ascain
There are good restaurants and traditional shops here - it's a great place for an evening meal. Of historic interest is the 16thC church and the three-arched medieval bridge crossing the Nive. Ascain is also a good base for hikers and from here you can catching the funicular train to the summit of La Rhune. On the outskirts of the village, 1km along the back-road to St Jean de Luz, there's a sports area with tennis courts and outdoor pool.

There is a tourist office in Ascain on Rue Ernest Fourneau: www.ascain-tourisme.fr

Hendaye Plage
Sitting at the foot of the Pyrénées bordering Spain and the Atlantic ocean, Hendaye boasts an enviable and spectacular location, dominated by a 3kms stretch of sandy beach. The ocean location means there are all sorts of watersports to be sampled here...surfing, kite-surfing, wind-surfing, sailing, kayaking as well as diving in some of the quieter coves along the coast. Also, situated at the marina, is Serge Blanco's thalassotherapy centre and Hendaye casino.

Try the old town (Béhobie) for a more authentically 'Basque' experience, whether it be a pintxos bar or a game of pelote.

Boat trips run up and down the Bidassoa river, including trips to the Spanish side of the Bay. A visit to the village of Hondarrabia (Fuentarrabia) is a must. Famous for its tapas restaurants and bars, it's amazing to sense the immediate cultural change of being in Spain.

Customer Reviews

“It exceeded our hopes. The owners could not have been more helpful. It's expensive but worth it.”

Mr D Coldwell, stayed in 2010

Mr Williamson, stayed in 2011