Maison Mailhes

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House |5 bedrooms |Sleeps 10

Carresse in Salies de Bearn

From £700 per week |  From £300 per night

4 nights minimum stay

Changeover flexible

4 out of 5

3 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, beach or lakeside relaxation, balcony/terrace, car advised, private garden, may take pets - please enquire

About the home

Maison Mailhes easily accommodates 10 people in 2 double (both with en suites) and 3 twin bedrooms, with space for cots if required. Inside and outside dining tables seat up to 12, and two comfortable sitting rooms mean there is no shortage of space to relax indoors. Thick stone walls and modern insulation make the house cool in summer, warm in winter.

With its fabulous private pool and easy access to the stylish resort of Biarritz and the famous Atlantic surfing beaches, Maison Mailhes is an obvious summer destination, but having full gas-fired central heating and double glazing it provides a comfortable base for a memorable holiday at any time of year.

The surrounding countryside is perfect for walking and cycling enthusiasts, whilst a relaxing interlude at the thermal spa, a round of golf or a game of tennis in Salies-de-Béarn is just 10 minutes away. There are numerous activities, sights and attractions close by, and in winter skiing in the Pyrénées makes an outstanding day trip.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
On the ground floor:

Large sitting room – double aspect with 3 seat sofa, 2 seat sofa and 2 armchairs, other chairs and furnishings, 32" LCD TV (UK Freesat channels), DVD player and selection of DVDs, iPod dock (charger and speakers).

Small sitting room – 3 comfy chairs, a variety of games, books and toys.

WC with wash hand basin

Utility room with automatic washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board, vacuum cleaner.

Kitchen/dining room – Measuring over 6 m x 6 m, with exposed beams and fitted with stainless steel appliances and granite worktops, this is a truly stunning room. It is wonderfully light with three french doors, one leading straight on to the terrace for effortless al fresco dining. There is a wide range of equipment including a food processor, electric kettle, filter coffee machine, espresso pot and milk frother, together with an extensive selection of pots, pans and utensils, and plenty of crockery, cutlery and glassware. The hand-made solid oak dining tables were commissioned from a local craftsman, who designed them to join together to seat up to 12 or to be used singly to create a more intimate environment for a smaller group. A highchair, which can be used with its own tray or at the table, is available for our youngest guests. For days out there is a large cool box together with picnic plates, bowls, tumblers and cutlery.

On the first floor:

Bedroom 1 – double aspect with King size bed, and en suite with bath, separate shower, basin, bidet and wc.

Bedroom 2 – double aspect with double bed, and en suite with shower, basin, bidet and wc

Bedroom 3 – twin beds, antique furniture

Bedroom 4 – twin beds with a light and airy feeling

Family bathroom – bath, separate shower, basin, bidet and wc

Large built-in cupboard to store suitcases and bags.

On the second floor:

Bedroom 5 – twin beds under original beams

Attic – pool table (hot in summer and cold in winter)

There is a cot, complete with bedding, which can be accommodated in bedrooms 1, 2 and 5.

All the bedrooms have a wardrobe and chest of drawers, and there is a bedside table and light for each person.

Further details outdoors:
Off-street parking for up to 4 cars
Terrace with dining tables and chairs for 12 and large parasol.
10.5 x 6.5 metre swimming pool with sun loungers and parasols.
Large BBQ (charcoal supplied)
Folding garden chairs
Shed with storage space for bicycles, surf boards and skis
Grassy areas where children can play

Further details

The price includes:
Welcome pack
Bedding appropriate to the season
Bed linen
Extra pillows
Bathroom towels
Tea towels and hand towels in the kitchen
Hand towels in the WC
Swimming pool towels in summer
Electricity
Gas
Water
BBQ charcoal

There are no hidden extras. Two week bookings include a mid-stay change of bed linen and towels, a kitchen and bathroom clean, and essential pool cleaning and maintenance.

Our English-speaking managers live nearby and can easily be contacted.

Conditions

A 25% deposit is payable on booking.
The balance is due eight weeks before arrival.
A deposit of £500 is due with the final balance. This will be refunded, less the cost of any breakages or damage within two weeks of your departure.

Except in high season start days are flexible, please contact us.

Photos

 

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The view of house and terrace from the private pool

 

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Maison Mailhes

 

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Lunch on the terrace

 

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Comfortable and spacious - the large sitting room

The Aquitaine / Dordogne / Pyrenees Atlantiques region

The Pyrénées Atlantiques offers a fascinating mix including Basque villages, historic medieval towns, lush countryside, rushing rivers, beautiful beaches, vineyards, fantastic restaurants, chic cities, and the rugged mountains of the Pyrénées.

This diversity produces a huge range of activities – from surfing to bird watching to walking to cycling to golf to tennis to fishing to white water rafting to skiing to gastronomy. There is truly something for everyone, and so you will never be short of relaxation and fun.

The beaches on the Atlantic coast are 45 minutes away, and offer a wonderful choice including stylish Biarritz, enchanting and family-perfect Bidart, surfers’ paradise Hossegor, and famous Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This region of France, Aquitaine, has the longest stretch of sandy coastline in Europe. It's easy to combine a trip to the beach with a visit to Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque region, and origin of wonderful food ranging from traditional chocolate to dry cured ham.

Even closer (18km) is Lac de Sames which has a sandy beach, water slides and pedalos. Lac d'Orthez (25km) has all this plus "bumper" boats. Or try Aqua Béarn, a charming water park in the village of Estialescq between Pau and Oloron-Sainte-Marie, which is great fun and suitable for all ages.

In less than an hour you can drive to San Sebastián, a cosmopolitan Spanish city with a strong Basque character and fabulous beach. Or why not cross the mountains to spend a day in Pamplona, a city full of history and deep-rooted traditions, and see its famous bullring? Venture a little further into Spain to visit the amazing Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Do a little shopping in Spain – the tax on alcohol and other purchases is even lower than in France.

Guests of all ages will enjoy the nearby Grottes d'Isturitz et d’Oxocelhaya, but for real excitement visit the Grottes du Betharram, which are considered some of the most beautiful, and definitely amongst the most interesting, in France.

Lourdes, celebrated as the holy shrine of St. Bernadette and visited by many thousands of pilgrims each year, is just one hour away,

Ski-resorts such as Le Pierre St. Martin are 100 km or a mere one hour's drive, and make Maison Mailhes a great destination for families looking for variety during a winter break.

Those who love to shop should visit Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, Tarbes, Lourdes and Pau which are all full of small and fascinating shops.

La Rhune, the highest peak in the Pays Basque and the westernmost peak of the Pyrénées before they meet the sea, can be climbed on Le Petit Train de la Rhune, a cogwheel train built in 1924. The views from the peak along the northern coast of Spain and the Atlantic beaches of France towards Bordeaux are truly spectacular.

Many of the greatest French wines are produced in Aquitane, and no visit to France is complete without sampling the local wines. A day visiting the local vineyards, which produce Jurançon and Madiran, is a lovely way to see some beautiful landscapes and sleepy villages.

There is much more in this wonderful region – visit Maison Mailhes and make your own discoveries.

The Salies de Bearn / Carresse area

Carresse is a flourishing village. People come from several miles around to the excellent bakery, just 200 metres from Maison Mailhes. There is also a hotel-restaurant, two cafés, a post office and a pharmacy all within 400 metres.

Maison Mailhes is situated 6 km east of Sorde l'Abbaye, a UNESCO site with Roman mosaics on the Chemin de St Jacques (Way of St James), an ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella which is still followed today. Travelling 6km in the opposite direction will bring you to the beautiful and historic spa town of Salies-de-Béarn with its thermal baths, shops, restaurants and sporting facilities including golf and tennis.

There are other fascinating medieval towns to explore close by, including Sauveterre-de-Béarn, Orthez, Navarrenx and St Jean Pied de Port. A 25 minute drive south brings you to Saint-Palais, a market town in the Basque region and so with a very different style and culture.

Each town has its weekly market day with local farmers and producers selling their goods. There are a number of supermarkets within a 10 or 15 minute drive for more routine shopping.

As well as Hotel-Restaurant Tissier in Carresse, there is an excellent Michelin recommended restaurant, La Belle Auberge, 4 km away in the small village of Castagnède and a variety of restaurants in nearby Salies-de-Béarn.

The only independent wine producer in the Béarn, Pascal Lapeyre, is just a few minutes away in Salies-de-Béarn. The Lapeyre family has been making wine here since 1909, and it is generally agreed that they produce the best wines in the Béarn. Look out for them – Domain Guilhemas and Domaine Lapeyre – in local restaurants and shops. Better still, call in and taste them and have a look at the huge oak barrels containing the aging wine before buying a few bottles to drink at Maison Mailhes or to take home as souvenirs.

The Gave (river) d’Oloron is within 10 minutes walk of Maison Mailhes. It is one of only 2 rivers in France where the salmon still return naturally to their spawning grounds each year, and is reputedly one of the best fishing rivers in France. Our managers can organise fishing permits for our guests. The Gave is also good for swimming and kayaking, and there is white water rafting upstream.

Maison Mailhes is an ideal base for a cycling or walking holiday. Whether you bring your own bikes or hire them nearby, there is space in the shed to keep them safely locked away when not in use. Walkers of all abilities and aspirations are well catered for, with walks ranging from gentle strolls through the beautiful countryside to demanding mountain hikes in the Pyrénées.

Fêtes are a way of life in the Pyrénées Atlantiques – you will be unlucky if you don't encounter one during your stay. There are fêtes throughout the year, but every weekend in the summer sees Carresse or one of the neighbouring villages "en fête", with food, drink, games, music and dancing. Come prepared for a warm welcome!

How to get there

Maison Mailhes What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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There are a number of ways to travel to Maison Mailhes depending on how much time you want to take and your personal preferences. All of them are easy.

BY CAR

A number of ferry companies and Euro Tunnel will take you from Kent to the north-eastern ports of France, but for those who prefer a shorter car journey there are a number of options:

• Brittany Ferries (www.brittany-ferries.co.uk) from Portsmouth to Caen, St Malo, Cherbourg, Santander and Bilbao; Poole to Cherbourg; Plymouth to Santander and Roscoff; and Cork to Roscoff. We can offer guests up to 10% discount on Brittany Ferries sailings between the UK and France or Spain.

• LD Lines (www.ldlines.co.uk) from Portsmouth to Le Havre; and Newhaven to Dieppe

• Condor Ferries (www.condorferries.co.uk) from Weymouth and Poole to St Malo; and Portsmouth to Cherbourg.

BY AIR

There are direct flights to:

• Biarritz (a 45 minute drive from Maison Mailhes) with:
o Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Stansted and Dublin
o Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) from Gatwick

• Pau (a 45 minute drive from Maison Mailhes) with:
o Air France (www.airfrance.com) from London City Airport
o Flybe (www.flybe.com) from Southampton
NB Ryanair no longer flies from Stansted to Pau

• Tarbes Ossun Lourdes (a 1 hour drive from Maison Mailhes) with:
o Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Stansted
o bmibaby (bmibaby.com) from Manchester

• Bordeaux (a 1¾ hour drive from Maison Mailhes) with:
o Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) from Luton, Gatwick, Liverpool (June to Sept) and Bristol (May to Oct)
o bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com) from Manchester (twice a week)
o Flybe (www.flybe.com) from Southampton (summer only), and Birmingham
o British Airways (www.ba.com) from Gatwick
o Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Edinburgh (April to October)
o Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) from Dublin (April to October)

• Toulouse (a 2¼ hour drive from Maison Mailhes) with:
o bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com) from East Midlands and Manchester
o Jet2 (www.jet2.com) from Edinburgh, Belfast, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford,
o Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) from Dublin
o Air Méditerranée (www.air-mediterranee.fr) from Shannon (May to September)
o Flybe (www.flybe.com) from Birmingham
o Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) from Bristol and Gatwick
o British Airways (www.ba.com) from Heathrow

All these airports are close to the motorway and have car hire available.

BY TRAIN

The journey from Paris to Puyoo (15 minutes) or Orthez (25 minutes) takes around 5 hours on the TGV. There are some direct trains; others involve a change in Bordeaux or Dax. Car hire is available very near the station in Orthez (www.ada.fr).

AUTO TRAIN

Auto Train operates between operates between Paris and Biarritz, taking your car while you take a passenger train.
NB Motor Rail is suspended for 2011.

With over 30 years experience holidaying in this part of France we can advise on travel options wherever you plan to start your journey, and we will send you clear instructions on how to find your way to Maison Mailhes from any port, airport or train station in France.

Activities near Salies de Bearn

Reviews

Review: 1 to 3 of 3

13 Jul 2011

“Beautiful area and lovely house and pool” We all loved this holiday. The owners are really helpful. We especially appreciated the clear directions to the house so that we were able to find it easily at the end of the journey. It's... more

11 Jul 2011

“Beautiful house and fabulous area” What a great location with things for everyone to do. We loved the beaches and with the mountains nearby too we got the best of both worlds. There are so many activities there's no way you... more

29 May 2011

“Wonderful house and a super holiday - hope to go back” The house is in a great location for an authentic rural French holiday which is not too far from the beach. The gardens were good for relaxing in and there were enough local activities to keep our... more

Review: 1 to 3 of 3

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Guestbook for Maison Mailhes

I always had a good feeling about Maison Mailhes. Whenever you sent us any information, it was always well considered, answering all questions whether or not they were posed. And so it has turned out. We've recently returned from our fortnight where the children, in particular, had a wonderful time. We were also most impressed by the range of features and facilities. Many thanks! Stuart and Joan W and family, Leicestershire.

What a lovely place to spend a holiday. The house is gorgeous (especially the kitchen!) & we appreciated the gift pack and extra touches – soap, pool towels, etc. Katie G, Rugby

Thanks for a wonderful week which made the kids hols really special. They got great fun out of the pool, and the house and kitchen were lovely. Will recommend. K family, Dublin

A really good stay. House very comfortable and to be recommended. B family, Surrey

Lovely skiing and so warm in February. The thermes in Salies are a must. H family, London W12

We have had an amazing time and nobody wants to leave. The sun has shone and we were all relaxed and happy in this wonderful house and garden. Hilary R, Sheffield

A wonderful 10 day break. This is by far the best equipped, cleanest and smartest house in 40 years spent visiting the region. Patricia and Paul B, Surrey

Rental prices

Prices for group size 6
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Low Season	7 Jan 12	2 Jun 12	700£ 700	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	2 Jun 12	21 Jul 12	1100£ 1100	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	21 Jul 12	1 Sep 12	1600£ 1600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	1 Sep 12	29 Sep 12	1100£ 1100	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	29 Sep 12	22 Dec 12	700£ 700	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	22 Dec 12	5 Jan 13	1600£ 1600	300300	300300	4 Nights
Low Season	5 Jan 13	1 Jun 13	700£ 700	0-	0-	1 Week

Prices for group size 10
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Low Season	7 Jan 12	2 Jun 12	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	2 Jun 12	21 Jul 12	1300£ 1300	0-	0-	1 Week
High Season	21 Jul 12	1 Sep 12	1600£ 1600	0-	0-	1 Week
Mid Season	1 Sep 12	29 Sep 12	1300£ 1300	0-	0-	1 Week
Low Season	29 Sep 12	22 Dec 12	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas & New Year	22 Dec 12	5 Jan 13	1600£ 1600	300300	300300	4 Nights
Low Season	5 Jan 13	1 Jun 13	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Outside High Season start days are flexible, please contact us with your requirements.

Rental rates for long lets are negotiable and will be considerably less than the quoted weekly rates.

We can accept payment by cheque or bank transfer in Sterling or in Euros.

A refundable security deposit of £500 is payable with the final balance.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

2 years listed You are contacting Debbie And Richard Lawrence-Wilson Landline +44 01865 556007 Mobile +44 07816 835865 Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2009. This house has received 3 reviews from previous guests.