Located in the hills above Ales, the accommodation nonetheless provides pretty much all the modern conveniences (no highspeed internet, of course), complete with swimming pool and a river swimming hole 10 mins down a track. Quite remarkable really given the isolated location.
Pros and Cons:
Cons:
The final private road leading to the address is unsealed and might be a challenge to low suspension cars - our Touran was fine. Just take your time.
Aircon is great in the downstairs living area, but it is warmer upstairs and the other separate rooms are non-airconditioned. Opening the windows in the morning and closing these when the air gets hot, combined with the stone building keeps the rooms reasonable - it will just depend on how hot it is. I slept on the top of the bed, my wife under the sheets - so its all about personal tolerance ultimately.
Pros:
This list would be longer if I had more time to type!
Gaelle was easy to deal with, and always responsive during the week. It was a pleasure to meet them and their daughter - a prospective gourmand in fact with a top restaurant tip for dinner in Ales! Seriously good food.
The house is visually stunning, both externally with its charming country style, but also inside with the numerous artistic iron work features. It was also spotlessly clean on arrival, which frankly has not been our experience in any other summer home we have visited; reflecting the pride they take in the house I am sure.
The pool is amazing to look at and with the heat lovely to have available. Actually, we probably did not use this as much as some families would, as we enjoyed the daily trek to the swimming hole at the river.
Last but not least, isolation â This is after all why you would choose such a house right, and it does not disappoint. You might very occasionally hear some people in the valley below at the river during the weekends, but otherwise itâs just you and the cicadas. All this, but with air con, internet, netflixs and a pool!
Overall: We were sad to leave, and would certainly recommend to others
