La Châtaigneraie

La Châtaigneraie

, 521 Av Jean Labastie, Ondres.

La Châtaigneraie lies in the Landes, a part of the French Basque Country or Pays Basque. It’s barely a five minute drive from the B&B to the beaches that make Biarritz famous. And what a drive it is, with small lakes and pine woods at every turn.

Set on the very outskirts of Ondres, between two lakes, La Châtaigneraie has a large garden with well-kept lawns and a profusion of mature trees and shrub. Amongst all this is the swimming pool. There’s a sun-trap terrace which is the ideal spot for breakfast, with a shade-sail in case the sun gets too much.

Four rooms and a suite provide the accommodation, all comfortable and elegant and packed with character. Our favourite is Chasse à Courre with it’s French windows opening directly onto the garden and its private terrace.

This part of France is dominated by its Atlantic seaboard with beaches stretching towards infinity and good surfing waves rolling in from the sea. Occasionally these are interspersed with rocky cliffs that make for equally interesting walking, cycling or touring by car. Inland the countryside is verdant, dominated by pine woods and guiding you towards the foothills of the Pyrenees. For city trips, Biarritz and Bayonne are nearby.