Villa Rochell St Malo

Villa Rochell St Malo sits in the heart of a typical Vendée village, just 300 metres from the boulangerie, the Friday market and the café tables where summer life slows to a very pleasant pace. Four kilometres down the road, the Atlantic opens up in both directions: wild surf beaches backed by pine woodland to one side, the blue-flag family sands of Plage des Conches and La Tranche-sur-Mer to the other. For a house sleeping fifteen, it is a genuinely rare find.

The six bedrooms divide sensibly between adults and children. Four generous doubles occupy the ground and first floors, while two children’s rooms with bunk beds handle up to seven younger guests with room to spare. The ground-floor lounge has a 75-inch Smart TV, a DVD library and doors opening south onto the terrace, which seats twelve and looks out over an enclosed, mature garden. The kitchen is properly equipped for a crowd: large fridge-freezer with wine cooling section, electric halogen hob, dishwasher, Nespresso machine. The playroom is a serious piece of kit, with farm animals, building blocks, dressing-up clothes, a château-themed ball pit and a chalkboard, all opening to the same south-facing terrace so parents can keep one eye on things from a comfortable chair.

Outside, the heated pool (7x4m, 1.2m depth) is fully fenced and gated. The hot tub is strictly for adults and earns its keep on cool Atlantic evenings. Right next door, a public park offers a swing, slide, climbing frames, pétanque, ping-pong and a green for impromptu football. Giant Connect 4 completes the picture.

The Vendée coast has a particular talent for pleasing everyone at once. Surfers head to the local beach at 4km; families with small children gravitate to La Tranche-sur-Mer, 13km, where the promenade, pedalo hire and supervised watersports keep things cheerful for a full day. The Marais Poitevin, the so-called Green Venice, is within easy reach for canoeing, kayaking and cycling its canal-side paths. France’s largest tree-top activity centre is half an hour away, and Puy du Fou, widely regarded as the finest theme park on the continent, is around 90 minutes by car. La Rochelle, one of the most handsome cities on the Atlantic coast, is 74km. From La Tranche-sur-Mer in summer, boats depart for the Île de Ré, best explored slowly by bicycle.

Property Layout

Ground floor: lounge with 75-inch Smart TV and terrace doors; open-plan dining area; fully equipped kitchen; playroom with terrace doors; double bedroom (160cm); triple bedroom with twin beds and high-rise single sleeper; bathroom with bath, shower and WC; separate WC.

First floor: three double bedrooms (160cm); quad bedroom with two sets of bunk beds (90cm each); two shower rooms with WC; separate WC. Upper bunks are best suited to children aged six and over.

Outside: heated swimming pool (7x4m, depth 1.2m) with thermal cover, 1.15m fencing and lockable safety gate, open approximately end-May to end-September; hot tub for adults, open approximately Easter to end-October; south-facing terrace for twelve; chimney barbecue; enclosed garden and lawn; Giant Connect 4.

Facilities include Wi-Fi, Smart TV with Sky and Netflix, DVD player and library, hot tub, full complement of baby and toddler equipment including cots, high chairs, stairgates, mattress protectors, night lights, baby monitor, bottle steriliser, potty and baby bath; washing machine.

Location

Longeville-sur-Mer, Vendée, France.

Nearest beach: 4km. Nearest village amenities: within 300m. La Rochelle Airport: 75km. Nantes Atlantique Airport: 104km.