107 - Villa Olhette  Ascain

In our opinion

What makes Villa Olhette a great holiday rental?

Villa Olhette is an attractive, well-equipped home near the pretty Basque village of Ascain, just 7 kms inland from St Jean de Luz. The property is situated in very pleasant, tranquil countryside with views of the Pyrenees, while the characterful ports, resorts and beaches of the beautiful Basque coast are only a short drive away.

Best for:

* Families wanting peace, quiet & privacy whilst having easy access to beaches.
* Groups of keen golfers.

Suitability for:

* Toddlers - spacious level grounds, no tricky steps or drops; cot & high chair can be provided on request.
* Teenagers - lots going on for teenagers in Hendaye or St Jean de Luz (car required)
* Reduced mobility - the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom is on the ground floor.

Anything to watch out for?
No.

Why the Basque Country?
The Basque Country is a world all of its own. Rolling green hills, pretty villages, dramatic Pyrenees peaks, beautiful coastline with lovely beaches, unspoiled sea-side towns & world-renowned surf if you want it. The regional cuisine is a delightful combination of French & Spanish influences, and features plenty of seafood! Biarritz and St Jean de Luz are authentically French sea-side towns, while there is also the Spanish chic of San Sebastien just over the border, worth the short trip for the tapas alone. It's a fantastic destination for a rich & varied holiday.

Accommodation

Spacious, well-equipped villa in peaceful location

The house is of traditional basque architecture, located in very calm surroundings,
facing an uninterrupted view of the mountains, and above all la Rhune.

Ground floor
The ground floor consists of : living room (with TV & DVD player) and dining room with French doors opening onto the terrace; fully-equipped open-plan kitchen (dish washer, washing machine, clothes dryer, fridge, freezer, microwave, oven, etc), plus another dining room area located beneath a large veranda.

There are two bedrooms downstairs: the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom which opens onto the terrace and garden, and Bedroom 2 with twin beds. There is also a shower room and toilet.

First floor
The first floor landing provides access to 3 further bedrooms, all doubles. One has a small balcony overlooking the garden; there is also a shared bathroom and toilet.

Outside
Outside is a large, mature garden (2500 sq.m) with lovely views of the Pyrenees. Outside teh kitchen is an attractive covered terrace with table & chairs seating six. The good-sized swimming pool (6m x 12 m) has an electric cover to retain heat when not in use and is protected by an alarm. There is also a pool house, with all accessories and garden furniture. A table tennis table is also available on request.

Prices & Availability

Location

GPS: (43.3343399655789, -1.660705804824829)

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 · Pelote Basque · Wine-tasting · Hiking · Mountain biking · Mountain sports ·

Day-trip Ideas

• A tour of Basque country villages: Ascain, Ainhoa, Sare, La Bastide Clairance Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette and St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. On the coast, take in Bidart & Guéthary.
• A visit to Bayonne, the under-rated ‘capital’ of the Pays Basque
• Wine-tasting in the vineyards of Irouleguy
• Visit Biarritz for boutique shopping, café-crawling & watching the surfers
• Crossing the border into Spain for a visit to San Sebastian, Pamplona or the Guggenheim museum at Bilbao

Our Personal Highlights

• Take Le Petit Train de la Rhune to the peak - over 900m high, and amazing views
• Enjoy a Spanish-influenced seafood meal in one of the pedestrianised streets of St Jean de Luz
  
• Cross the border for early evening tapas in San Sebastien - a must!
• If you're a novice try a surf taster lesson at Hendaye plage or, for more advanced surfers, Lafitenia
• Pamper yourself with a treatment at the Helianthal spa centre in St Jean de Luz, or Serge Blanco's centre in Hendaye

The Local Area: Ascain

Ascain
The local town of Ascain is a Basque delight. Half-timbered homes line the main streets, their ox blood red frames typifying the local architecture. The three Western Pyrénéan peaks of la Rhune, Jaozkibel and Les Trois Couronnes are all visible, rising above the rolling green foothills. Take a picnic and relax here for a few hours with a bottle of Irouleguy, the local vin. Ascain also offers basic shops for your stay - butcher, baker, pharmacy, etc - and a couple of good local restaurants. 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.

Towards teh ocean, the rugged coastline between Hendaye and St Jean de Luz (Route de Corniche) is a reminder of Cornwall's north coast, with its pounding seas and sandy coves. Thankfully it's a bit warmer here. The cliffside 19th century Château d'Abbadie is an enjoyable stop. The château was built by an Irish-Basque explorer with a fondness for astrology. The château contains some interesting and very fine furnishings and has its own observatory.

The beautiful Florenia Floral Gardens near Urrugne is another good option for spending a pleasant half-day (the parc covers 45 acres).

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).

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

“This is a good functional property which was ideal with small children who had room to run around in safe surroundings. There were excellent views and it was peaceful. ”

Mr M Jenkins, stayed in 2011