Maison des Herons

What makes Maison des Hérons a great holiday rental

Maison des Hérons is a charming Basque-style house for up to 6 people in the lighthouse district of Cap Ferret village and a few minutes walk from the shops and restaurants of the centre. The dining and living areas open onto an east-facing wooden terrace with amazing views through the trees to the top of the famous 'Phare'. Beaches, the superb local market, good restaurants are a walk away. Maison des Hérons is a great place to enjoy this wonderful part of France

Best for:
Families and groups of friends wanting an easy holiday where everything you need is a walk or cycle away, in one of France's most chic destinations and which is laid-back too.

Suitability for:

• Toddlers - high chair and travel cot available (linen provided). Grounds are safe and enclosed, but sloping and include steps. Care may be needed on open staircase.
• Teenagers - limited garden space but walkable to beaches, cafés and nightlife.
• Reduced mobility - sloping and stepped access, plus upstairs bedrooms, make this rental unsuitable.

Anything to be aware of?

Maison des Hérons adjoins another rental we promote, Chalet des Hérons, on the south side; because the two properties are built on different levels, no walls are shared between living spaces, so noise insulation is excellent and you are not overlooked. It also adjoins another rental property, Villa des Hérons, on the west side; here again, the owners have been meticulous about ensuring the best possible insulation from neighbouring noise and visual screening so you are not overlooked. In July & August the owners live in the next-door apartment and are on-hand for help or information if required, but will otherwise leave you in complete privacy.

Why Cap Ferret?
Cap Ferret village is one of France's chic-est holiday destinations featuring smart boutiques, cafés and restaurants in a low-rise, laid-back setting - the ambience is casual, relaxed but appreciative of good living. The bay is renowned for sailing & oysters, the Atlantic beach is superb. It's easy to get around. It's an Aquitaine gem.

Accommodation

An attractive well-equipped holiday home in a exceptional location.

Maison des Hérons is a Basque-style house recently renovated using good quality materials throughout. It is a reasonable size overall: 80m2 inside, and in 200m2 of grounds outside, including a super east-facing terrace with lovely views of Cap Ferret lighthouse (especially at night), and a small north/west facing garden that catches the evening sun.

Inside - downstairs

The entrance is reached via a short, quite steep path from the road leading to a door at the side of the house. (There's parking on the side of the road.) The entrance leads into the kitchen/dining room; this is a spacious (18m2), bright area that includes a new, fully equipped kitchen (dishwasher, oven/hob, microwave), dining table and chairs. The large windows south and east offer lovely views into the woods.

The shower room off the kitchen also houses a washing machine.

The living room is located on the north side of the house. It opens onto the east terrace and north/west part of the garden (nicely planted). It is stylishly, quite simply furnished; there is a TV and DVD player, and 2 two-seater settees.

Inside - upstairs

Stairs lead from the lounge to the three bedrooms upstairs:
- Double bedroom (140cm x 200cm bed) with sloping ceiling (10m2) and shelves
- Double bedroom with queen-size bed (150cm x 200cm), dressing table and hanging space (11m2)
- Children's room (8m2) with bunk beds. This last room also has hanging space.
- Toilet and washroom

Outside:

The outside areas have been very nicely planted with local flora; there is plenty of garden furniture and a barbecue.

Bedrooms

Two double bedrooms + one bedroom with bunk beds

Bathrooms

1 shower room, plus upstairs washroom

Pool

No pool

Equipment

Kitchen

• dishwasher
• washing machine
• oven & hob
• microwave
• fridge freezer
• kettle
• coffee maker
• toaster
• iron & ironing board

Entertainment

• dvd player
• tv with French channels
• wi-fi

Outside

• bbq or plancha

House Rules

No pets

Location

Maison des Hérons is situated on the edge of the highly sought-after area of Cap Ferret village, just 500m from the lighthouse and a five minute walk from the village's first shops (including boulangerie - always essential) and a 10 minute amble from the centre (including Cap Ferret's summer daily market). In spite of its proximity to the village, the only noises you hear here are the rustling of wind in the trees, birds and, if you listen carefully, the rumble of Atlantic rollers a 10-15 minute walk away.

Local Amenities

Nearest village / town: Le Cap Ferret (300m)
Nearest beach: Le Cap Ferret (300m), l'Horizon (600m)
Boulangerie: Le Cap Ferret (300m)
Restaurant: Wide choice in le Cap Ferret (300m)
Market: Le Cap Ferret (400m)

Distance to nearest major transport connections

• Bordeaux airport: 60 kms
• Bergerac airport: 150 kms
• Arcachon railway station: 4 kms + foot ferry ride
• Bordeaux railway station: 70 kms
• St Malo ferry port: 600 kms
• Calais ferry port/tunnel: 950 kms

Things to do and see

Our Highlights

• Daily shopping in Cap Ferret food market
• Visit the oyster-farming villages and stop for dégustation - Cap Ferret, l'Herbe, le Canon & Piraillan
• Explore Cap Ferret's wonderful forest cycle trails (pick up 500m from the house)
• Boat trips around the Bassin and to Dune de Pyla
• Le Petit Train trip across the peninsula is a delight
• Mussels, chips & sauvignon at l'Escale or Chez Hortense - perfect!

Nearby Activities

• Surfing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Sailing
• Water-skiing
• Jet-skiing
• Kayaking
• Cycling
• Horse-riding
• Birdwatching
• Fishing

Day Trip Ideas

• Foot ferry or water taxi to Arcachon & Dune de Pyla
• Stroll around central Bordeaux
• Médoc vineyards and wine-tasting
• St Emilion (UNESCO world heritage site)
• Fishing trip from Cap Ferret jetty

The Local Area

The Cap Ferret peninsula is a treat for the senses - the scent of the pine forest, the constant rumble of rollers washing up on the western coast, the salty, slippery taste of oysters washed down with a Bordeaux blanc and, at the end of the day, sitting on top of one of the dunes overlooking the Atlantic and watching the sun go down. Bliss!

All these experiences and more are within very easy reach. The Atlantic beach, popular with surfers, is about a 600m away to the west, the bassin d'Arcachon beach at Cap Ferret village, with amazing views over to the Dune de Pyla, is 400m to the east.

On the way you pass through Cap Ferret village, 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), cnnelés.

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 the Atlantic beach 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 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!

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