£725 - £825
(€838 - €953)
Per property per week
Chalet, sleeps 6, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms
Contact the owner
Contact the owner directly
Jane Smyth
(Advertising since March 2017)
Tel: + 44 (0) 1527854019
Please mention French Connections.
Summer view from the balcony (1 / 7)
Les Hirondelles - Summer Sun and Winter Skiing (2 / 7)
Winter View from the Balcony (3 / 7)
Inside Les Hirondelles - Homely and Welcoming (4 / 7)
One of the Bedrooms - Peace and Quiet for a Good Night\'s Rest (5 / 7)
Espace Lumiere, La Foux d\'Allos. Largest Ski Area in the Southern Alpes (6 / 7)
The Balcony for Dining or Admiring the View Down the Valley (7 / 7)
Les Hirondelles takes its name from the swallows that give a nightly display of aerial gymnastics as they flit about catching airborne insects as the sun sinks below the mountain peaks. Our cosy and perfectly formed little house sits on the side of a mountain in the small commune of Clignon Bas, with panoramic views towards Colmars les Alpes from its long balcony running along the length of the property. The sun shines on the balcony all day and nothing beats sitting there on a summer's evening, relaxing with glass in hand. In summer, as the sun is very strong, there are two awnings which can be wound out to give shade. In winter, admire the view while snuggling down in front of a real log fire. It's a perfect venue for a holiday whether you like relaxing or exploring in the warmth of summer, being invigorated by the freshness of spring, entranced by the glorious autumn colour, or in winter, spending days on the slopes and playing in the snow. The choices are endless whether you're a family with children, a group of friends or a couple.
The house is dog friendly and strictly no smoking. We do cater for babies and tiny toddlers as we provide a travel cot and high chair, but it is very important to take great care negotiating the spiral staircase or getting too close to the log fire when in use. Our grandchildren have been going to our lovely property since they were tiny and have managed well under the watchful eye of all adults present. Our youngest, at 2 years old, climbed the stairs like a little monkey and learned to come down the staircase backwards on her knees becoming very adept at this. As owners, we will not be held responsible for the safety of babies or toddlers and ask that parents be vigilant at all times. Because of the layout and position of the house, it is not suitable for the elderly and frail.
The House
- 3 double bedrooms - each with a double bed, hanging space and two chests of drawers. One has a walk in wardrobe with mirrored doors. All bedrooms are found on the first floor and reached by means of an artisan built wooden spiral staircase.
- Downstairs is open plan, with a seating area containing two comfy sofas and coffee table. French windows open to the balcony. This area also has a large enclosed fire for burning logs, set in an oak beamed fireplace. There is also a dining area equipped with a dining table and six chairs. A breakfast type bar separates the kitchen from the living area. This kitchen is modern and fully equipped with everything you would need and want.
- A small shower room is off the kitchen, with a modern shower panel which gives an exhilarating and reviving shower.
- A hallway is off the kitchen and contains a storage cupboard and the separate toilet.
- An entry hallway contains two cupboards, one containing household DIY for the owners and another, the ski locker.
For your comfort and convenience
The house is very well equipped and homely and contains everything you could need, with probably more kitchen contents than we have at home in the UK!
- Living Area: Flat screen TV and Satellite, iPod Dock, DVD/CD player, Over 70 DVDs, 50 plus books (Fiction, Non fiction, French Language Dictionary, Cook books), Variety of Games
- American Style Modern Kitchen: Gas Hob, Electric Oven, Large Fridge, Dishwasher, Microwave, Washing Machine (in shower room), Coffee Maker, Electric Kettle, Toaster, Slow Cooker, Fondue Set, Yoghurt maker. Ample supplies of crockery/Cutlery/Pans/Serving plates/Casserole dishes etc, Ample supplies of glassware including crystal wine glasses and goblets, Picnicware
- Other Household Items: Upright Vacuum, Hand Vac, Iron, Ironing Board, Steam Cleaner, Electric Carpet Sweeper, Clothes Dryer and pegs, Fire Extinguisher and Fire Blanket, Brooms, Mops etc, Smoke Alarm, Travel Cot, High Chair
For Outside Use
- One 4-Person round glass Table
- One 6-Person Glass Table with 6 Reclining Chairs
- One 2-Person Wooden Table or used as a Side Table
- 4 Sunbeds
- 1 Kettle BBQ and BBQ Utensils
Other
- Log Store is found under the Balcony
- Lots more images and facts can be found on our website.
This stunningly beautiful area which sits within the Mercantour National Park, has views everywhere you look. It benefits from, on average, 300 days sunshine a year with long, warm and sunny days in summer and picture perfect snowy winters. Springtime sees the mountainsides awash with flowers and in autumn the colours are spectacular.
Colmars les Alpes is 5 minutes away by car, or can be accessed by following a footpath which runs alongside the river Verdon. This small walled town, built by Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV, is a maze of narrow streets and contains a small museum. All the essential shops can be found just outside the old walls. It holds a twice weekly Provencal market during the summer and has a very good Tourist Information office. Conveniently there is also a cashpoint. It is also no more than 30 minutes from several other villages and towns that line the upper Verdon valley. There are restaurants in the town and several others in Villars Colmars, Beauvezer, Thorame Haute, Allos and La Foux.
Les Hirondelles is in an area that is typical of rural mountain communities and the house interior is in keeping with this. An area where sheep are grazed on the higher slopes during summer and brought down in Autumn. If you are looking locally for designer shops, Michelin starred restaurants and luxury at every turn, then Nice is only two hours away, so you can dip in and out of this if you want. However, if you need to escape the rat race, explore on foot or in a car, enjoy the peace and tranquility without feeling isolated, relax or seek out adventure, eat good food in local restaurants or buy it yourself in excellent shops, then you will delight in this wonderful part of France. The skiing is awesome too. For more information contact us on our website.
www.hauteprovencerental.co.uk
SIGHTSEEING - (Driving times) - Just to wet your appetite, below are just a couple of the things to see and explore.
- The Gorges de Verdon, the deepest canyon in western Europe, starts just outside the popular town of Castellane (40 mins) and is not to be missed. A whole day out.
- A Lavender Distillery is signposted on the road down to St Andre. In July and early to mid August, you will find the lavender in bloom in the surrounding fields. Demonstrations of how the lavender oil is retrieved and processed can be seen during the main summer holidays. There is a shop on site which sells the pure oil and items made from it.
- The Train de Pigne (Pine Cone Train) has a station at Thorame Haute (15 mins). This narrow gauge railway runs from Nice to Digne les Bains and back again. If tired of driving, a trip down to Nice will take approximately 2 hours on the train, passing through amazing scenery and stopping at some of the Provencal villages along the way. In the other direction, the journey time to Digne is around 40 mins. Timetables and ticket prices are available online or at the station.
- Lac d'Allos is the highest natural glacial lake in Europe. You can drive to the car park in 30 mins, but then need to walk a further 20 mins to reach this beautiful spot. In August, a small restaurant is open on its banks. Swimming in the lake is forbidden due to its depth and temperature of the water. There is a lovely level walk around its perimeter.
- Read the book written by the owner (5 star reviews) available on Amazon. "French Dreams, Dogs and a Dodgy Motor!
TO DO - A SMALL SAMPLE
- Skiing: La Foux d'Allos lies at the head of the valley, just below the Col d'Allos, and linked with Pra Loup is the biggest ski area in the southern Alpes, know as Espace Lumiere. Plenty to do for non-skiers too. Opens December-April, depending on snow conditions.
- Cycling: The Tour de France passed along the valley and over the Col d'Allos in 2015. The Col is closed to cars for 2 hours on Friday mornings to allow cyclists to attempt the climb.
- Mountain Biking: At Seignus (10 mins) the lifts stay open during July and August to transport bikes and bikers to the top of some hair-raising trails.
- Paragliding: The centre near St Andre on the edge of Lac Castillon (35 mins) has held the World Championships and will arrange tandem flights.
- Hiking/Rambling/Walking: The area is awash with marked trails for every level of walker. Tourist Information can provide information.
- Horseriding: Stables are located in Allos (20 mins) and along the valley near Beauvezer (10 mins)
- Swimming: There are quiet public pools in Colmars and Beauvezer, a purpose built swimming lake with waterslide and diving platform in the Parc de Loisir in Allos and two beaches with safe swimming in Lac Castillon
Local amenities
Nearest bakery: Colmars Les Alpes
Nearest supermarket: Colmars Les Alpes
Nearest market: Colmars Les Alpes
Nearest pharmacy: Colmars Les Alpes
Nearest bar: Colmars Les Alpes
Tourist information: Colmars Les Alpes
Colmars on the map
Property 168042 –
Nearby place of interest
How to get to Les Hirondelles
Driving
- Les Hirondelles is approximately 800 miles from Calais by the most direct route. The journey is easier if taken in two days with an overnight stay on route. Friends have done this in one go, but it was a long 12 hours.
Flying
- Nice - the main airport for our region is approximately 2 hours away.
- Marseille - this airport can be used as an suitable alternative.
- Grenoble - friends have used this when flights to Nice were too expensive or unavailable. Les Hirondelles is 4 hours drive from here, but through some glorious scenery.
- Lyon - add another 45 minutes onto the Grenoble journey.
Access options
Car Essential
Nearest airport
The nearest serviceable airport is Nice [NCE]
Stayed here? Add your review >
We enjoyed a fabulous fortnight in Les Hirondelles at the end of September 2023. It was a peaceful and very relaxing stay. We enjoyed so many amazing walks in the stunning landscape of this area....from mountain cols to waterfalls in the valleys. The view down the valley with mountain peaks in the background was a daily joy! Les Hirondelles offered comfortable and convenient accommodation and enabled us to become immersed in the locality and all that was available to experience and explore. We were easily able to explore other settlements in this area of France...so much history and stunning landscapes ready to be discovered. We have many experiences and memories to reflect upon. Jane was most helpful and offered us many hints and tips and was a wonderful host. Thank you Jane and Rob for allowing us use of your special other home!
Guest rating:
My husband and I stayed at Les Hirondelles for a week in September. It is a beautiful little house with stunning views and all the home comforts you could need. The house is nestled in beautiful mountains with easy access onto great hiking trails from the door and nearby villages. Jane and Rob are exceptionally helpful hosts. We'd highly recommend Les Hirondelles to anyone seeking a cosy retreat in a beautiful, peaceful area!Guest rating:
We have stayed here many years ago, but this time returned with our boys (10 & 6). We all had a wonderful holiday! You definitely need a car for this holiday, but the views are amazing as you are in the mountains. Just a short drive from the house is Allos, where they have a lovely swimming lake with a slide and many other activities for the children to do, we went there a few times as the boys loved it. In the other direction from the house there is Castellane which has a lovely lake, again with activities for the children to do, it also is a lovely place to have a spot of lunch and there a some lovely little shops. There are the Gouges de Verdon, which is a bit of a drive, but definitely worth it, the scenery is amazing, a very beautiful part of the world to see. The house itself is a home from home, very well equipped and comfortable. A massive selection of DVDs for the evenings and some games too! We enjoyed full-on days out and then relaxing with wine and food cooked on the BBQ on the evenings, sitting outside to get the last bit of sunshine. Fantastic exploring holiday, which our boys loved.Guest rating:
We have just returned from a week at Les Hirondelles with our sons aged 6 and 7. We had spent our first week in Nice so this was a great contrast. The chalet was very well equipped and cosy and we were able to enjoy breakfasts and dinners on the terrace due to the lovely weather, whilst experiencing the fantastic view! We took advantage of the facilities in Allos and visited the lake every day so the boys could swim and paddle board etc... We also managed quite a few lovely walks from Allos and Colmars which kept everybody happy. A great week and we would be keen to return at some point. Helen and Allen , NorthumberlandGuest rating:
We stayed here for two weeks & there’s plenty to see and do. A lovely well equipped place to stay in the mountains. Beautiful, far-reaching views down the valley from the house. Great for nature lovers/walking in the Alps & cycling. Travelled to Nice easily by car, Verdon Gorge & Castellane. Children enjoyed swimming in the lakes (Castillon & Allos leisure park). Also recommend Forest Adventure tree top climbing down the valley from the house. Verdon Express toboggan was also a big hit! Journey to Barcelonnette over the Col d’Allos was exhilarating! (Fantastic views of mountains & deer and marmots!) We even saw a wolf.Guest rating:
We stayed at Les Hirondelles with our two sons (aged 12 and 10) for a week at the beginning of July. We had never visited this part of France before and Jane and Rob could not have been more helpful in providing us with information about things to see and do in the area. The house itself is very homely and well equipped with 3 very good sized bedrooms. There was everything there that you might need for a week or longer, including a very well stocked DVD collection! Colmars is a beautiful small town and we really enjoyed exploring the area . We had hoped to go mountain / trail biking but the lifts only opened at Seignus at the end of our stay (end of the first week in July) so that's something to be aware of if you're hoping to do similar. Otherwise this was an extremely comfortable and relaxing base for us to spend the first week of our holiday after a very busy time at home and we would thoroughly recommend it. The view from the house is breathtaking and just looking out of the windows or standing on the balcony is therapy in itself! We will definitely consider a return trip in winter for skiing and snowboarding.Guest rating:
We just loved everything about staying at this pretty little house overlooking Colmars - it is very well appointed; with the most magnificent views overlooking the medieval castles and the valley! Wonderful walks, beautiful scenery everywhere you look, this is our "Home from home in France".
Guest rating:
We feel we must say how much we enjoyed our stay in Les Hirondelles last August. The location of the house is superb with wonderful views down the valley. We found the property very homely and well equipped with everything we needed to make our holiday perfect.
Colmars was very lively in August with lots going on. We particularly enjoyed the walk from the house into the village along the river. The weather was beautiful. It allowed us to sight-see during the day and in the evening we often had dinner on the balcony soaking up the wonderful view.
Excellent value for money, this is definitely a 5 star property and we would have no hesitation in recommending it. The property is very close to the ski resort of Allos and we would imagine the area is a wonderful place to visit in winter as well as summer.
Thank you again for all your help with advising us of places to visit etc which enabled us to make the very best of our holiday. We shall certainly be recommending Les Hirondelles to friends and family.Guest rating:
Two idyllic weeks. So enjoyed it, we're really not wanting to return home. Stunning views from the balcony with the best of blue sky, Les Horondelles welcomes you. A real home from home with all that you need.
Guest rating:
| Property type | Chalet (Self-catering) |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Bedrooms |
3 double bedroom(s) |
| Occupancy | 6 |
| Suitability | Suitable for children, Unsuitable for the elderly, Unsuitable for wheelchair access, Non-smoking, Pets welcomed |
| Linen | Included |
| Kitchen facilities | Dishwasher, Cooker, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Washing machine, Gas hob, Electric oven, Fridge-Freezer |
| Internal facilities | CD player, Central heating (electric), DVD player, English satellite TV, Exclusive rental, Hi-fi system, Owner not on site, TV, Wood burning fire or stove, Radio, Electric heaters, Hairdryer, Board Games, Tea/Coffee making facilities |
| External facilities | Scenic views, Barbecue |
| Activities nearby | Adventure park, Archery, Canoeing, Cycling, Drawing and painting, Fishing, Hiking, Horse riding, Ice skating, Kayaking, Mountain biking, Museums, Paragliding, Rambling, Riverside activities, Sightseeing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Spa, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Tree adventure park, Walking, White water rafting |
Changeover day: Saturday
Last updated on: 27th April 2023
| Available | Booked/Unavailable |
|---|
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| Accommodation rental period | Price |
|---|---|
| 16 December 2023 – 15 March 2024 |
£825 Per property per week
(€953 / $1047) |
| 16 March 2024 – 14 June 2024 |
£725 Per property per week
(€838 / $920) |
| 15 June 2024 – 20 September 2024 |
£775 Per property per week
(€896 / $984) |
| 21 September 2024 – 13 December 2024 |
£725 Per property per week
(€838 / $920) |
| 14 December 2024 – 15 March 2025 |
£825 Per property per week
(€953 / $1047) |
Additional price notes
- Returning guests - 5% reduction for one or two week stays. Does not apply to return bookings after a gap of 2 years.
- Minimum rental - One week - Usually Sat-Sat
- For shorter or longer rental periods prices agreed through separate negotiation with owners.
- A 25% deposit payable to secure booking.
- Balance payable 6 weeks before travel.
- A £200 fully refundable payment held as insurance against damage. This will be refunded after the end of your holiday once checks have been carried out.
- Charges inclusive of all bed linen, two bath towels per room, t-towels, basic cleaning products and materials food cupboard basics, gas, electricity and logs used.