Arles-sur-Tech holiday house

In our opinion the house was even better than the photos and details on the website made it look as you don't appreciate how big the rooms are or what a character property it is until you get there. Tucked away on a hillside overlooking a valley that faces due East, sunshine pours in all day and until early evening up on the pool terrace but the wisteria covered terrace and the trees in the garden mean there is always a place in the shade if the sun worshiping gets too much. The pool is a great family size, well maintained and private and what a view! We loved the grand double doors and the shutters and the old feel about the place that gave it some history and felt to blend into the local village instead of feeling like the imposed 'new house' of some holiday homes.

Although the village itself is incredibly quiet (apart from the local cockerel and the owls) 5 minutes gets you to a super market with all the basics and 15 mins or so to a bigger Intermarche - the daily fresh bread delivery at the gate is very handy if you feel as lazy about moving as we did - this is a place that simply encourages you to relax and chill.

Can't comment too much on the surrounding area - there were many places we intended to go but the perfect weather, perfect views, perfect house and pool kept us at La Cougouillade apart from the obligatory trip to Carcasonne, for two whole weeks and we came back chilled and tanned. Lots of options for local tennis courts, mountain biking, walking etc right on the door step.

Didnt see too many options for eating out but then we werent looking.

Great customer service from the owners - bent over backwards to be helpful and answered all our questions very openly. Lovely chap who looks after the pool and does the handover, again very helpful and friendly though discreet.

Probably wouldnt recommend this property for a younger group looking for night life or high life but for outdoors and active families or groups of friends that like their own company and to settle back into laid back french rural life it is top notch. We will definitely be going back!

We stayed here for a week in August - three adults plus two 10 year old girls - and we all had a lovely time.

The house is very spacious and tastefully decorated, with a beautiful new pool, and the wisteria-covered terrace where we loved to eat our meals. Great views over the surrounding tree-clad hills too.

There are lots of local activities: we rode bikes and horses, climbed in a tree adventure place, and spent several happy afternoons playing in the local river. Further afield there are some pretty villages and towns to explore. Ceret is particularly nice, with an excellent market and some good restaurants. Try the pizza place in the square with the fountains.

There's also a wonderful steak restaurant just over the border to Spain - called Tapis I think - fantastic views over the hills with enormous steaks at very good value.

This was an ideal place to relax with our two girls (aged 7 & 9). The house is very well appointed and spacious - another family could easily have stayed at the same time. The girls loved the swimming pool, which is brand new and cleverly sited so that the view is only of tree clad hills. They also enjoyed playing badminton on the lawn. The house itself is old and characterful, simply and tastefully furnished and decorated. A major asset is the wisteria-clad terrace where we ate every meal.

The area seems fairly quiet and untouristy, with plenty of scope for walking, and exploring small Pyrennean villages. We went to Collioure on the coast one day, which only took about 45 mins. The house is very easy to get to, being within easy reach of both Perpignan and Girona airports.