Reviews of Property: Luxury mountain retreat in its own valley with private pool, 55 min beaches

Description Farmhouse, 120 m²,
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, 3 Bathrooms
Facilities mountain, rural, pool, garden, terrace, balcony
Rates per property
Set rates in Euros
€500 - €1,250/week 
GBP Conversion - Estimated
£450 - £1,126/week 
Simon Williams
+33 (0)468-891664
Speaks: English, French, German, Spanish

19 Reviews of Property 416864 in Montferrer, France

Rating
5 out of 5

mountain hideaway offering great walks/excursions

kiwis and poms lymington,hants, UK
Review Submitted: February 27, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2008
Can Louquette lived up to our best expectations. The description was correct in every detail, but the reality was even better! We shared our holiday with old friends from New Zealand, and even if we had never ventured further than the front gate, the property and and the swimming pool in themselves made a perfect place in which to eat, drink and talk, whilst enjoying the surrounding mountains, the wildlife, and the great welcome and hospitality offered by Simon and Ashley.The accommodation was spotless and beautifully furnished and equipped, down to the last detail. The swimming pool was just perfect. A large supply of maps and brochures gave us endless ideas for excursions, both local and further afield. Walks, as all over France, are always clearly marked and well main tained.

We particularly appreciated the genuinely friendly welcome in the nearby village bar and restaurant at Montferrer. Further afield we explored several local towns and villages, and sampled a large number of good restaurants and bars. For amazingly good value and a genuinely local eating experience, the restaurant on the main road at le Tech was hard to beat. A day across the mountains in Spain, wandering round the Sunday market in Camprodon, offered further new perspectives and change of scene. Nearby Gorges de la Fou provides a testing but rewarding climb through a spectacular rocky gorge. Especially recommended is the town of Ceret with very good art galleries, and the nearby Prats de Mollo for its history and a pedestrianised town centre.

Can Llouquette suited us - four reasonably fit adults -perfectly, and we would very happily recommend it to similar people. We felt it might not be so easy for less able-bodied people, or those with very small children. For teenage children, we were not aware of much that would appeal to that age-group. A car is essential for all but the totally sedentary.

The owners gave us impeccable service, they made suggestions for activities, and made us very welcome into their own home and family. We were free to wander through their estate, usually followed by the inquisitive resident donkey! We were particularly impressed by their ecological commitment, care for the environment, and their passion to share their enthusiasm for this beautiful part of France.
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Rating
5 out of 5

A glorious wooded mountain rereat

ahandmh York
Review Submitted: September 2, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
My family stayed here at the beginning of August for a week and enjoyed it tremendously. I could wax lyrical for this entire review but all you should really do is read the previous reviews. The location is stunning and well worth the trip halfway up the mountain.

We were warmly welcomed on arrival and after a city break the previous week we were ready for a relaxing peaceful holiday and this is exactly what we got. We had a great experience at the village snail barbeque (Rick Stein style) and the coast was very accessible and beautiful.

The apartment is good and we would highly recommend the ' meal on arrival' which was delicious and set the tone for the rest of the holiday. We have already told several friends about this place and look forwards to returning soon.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Peace and Tranquility at Can Llouquette

ZoeMatt Bristol, UK
Review Submitted: August 30, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2009
We stayed in the ground floor studio apartment at Can Llouquette from the 8th to the 15th August 2009. The apartment had everything that you needed, tastefully decorated and furnished and was a cool retreat from the blazing summer sunshine. The location is superb, you realise that you are in the back of beyond as you drive the winding mountain roads to the house. You'll need your car to get to local towns to pick up groceries and bread, it's certainly not a case of walking a few hundred yards for your morning croissant! To be honest it is because of its rural location that makes this place so special. The peace and quiet is wonderful as you sit on the terrace drinking a glass of wine, watching the hundreds of butterflies and the sound of crickets.

Simon & Ashley are superb hosts, from the welcoming emails before our visit, their willingness to share their knowledge of the area, to the much needed hot chocolate after getting caught in a thunderstorm on our bikes! They couldn't welcome you more into their home.

There is lots to do in the area. We drove to the coast on a couple of days (about 1.5hr drive each way) and found lovely beaches with swimming in the crystal clear Med. Prats de Mollo is a beautiful local medieval town where you can climb up to the Fort Lagarde for great views over the countryside. We'd also recommend a visit to the Gorges De La Fou and a trip into Spain to visit the Can Po restaurant. We went there on Simons recommendation for our wedding anniversary. The drive there was stunning, the catalan cuisine amazing and we finished of the evening watching shooting stars. A perfect evening.

We strongly recommend this place if you are looking for some peaceful tranquility, beautiful scenery, a bit of rural living all encapsulated in a beautifully restored Catalan farmhouse.

We'll definitely be going back again sometime in the near future.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Heaven in France with touch of Scottish humor

Laliv Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Review Submitted: August 25, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
We stayed from the 11th to the 18th July at Can Llouquette and had a wonderful time. The accommodation was great, it was clean, with a nice and comfy bed, cool inside while outside it was quite hot, with a well-equipped kitchen. We had our own terrace with garden furniture. The swimming pool was nice, maybe a bit cold even for us Dutch.

We liked the environment and were quite surprised how green the Pyrenees are. Small villages closeby for the markets were you can buy local products which the hosts encourage to do so and have delicious lunches.

Simon and Ashley are the kind of hosts you would like to have as friends cheerful, helpful, kind and people that have been around and not narrow minded. On our last evening we had a bbq with them and the other guests, fantastic.

We are actually thinking of catching the sleeper train from Den Bosch to Avignon and drive up to the Pyrenees again next year. See if their daugther Sofia can teach our daugther Laliv some new moves.

If you are planning a holiday in the Pyrenees, this is the place to go.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Can Llouquette do it? Yes it can!

Richard Broadway Richmond, west London, England
Review Submitted: August 23, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
This was our first time in this part of the Pyrenees and we wanted somewhere remote and peaceful but comfortable and convenient. We enjoyed all of this and more at Can Llouquette with fantastic hospitality from Simon and Ashley and, of course, the adorable ever-smiling Sophia. We were in the cosy ground floor apartment and as we stayed in high Summer, the 1st week of August, we could shelter from the hot sun in cool shade or retreat to the lovely pool. The mountains do get passing Summer storms and we had to beat an undignified and hasy retreat from a mountain-top walk to Can Llouquette's comforting warmth and shelter. The accommodation itself was excellent; well thought out with comprehensive provision for self-catering, good shower, comfortable bed and bedroom all set in an eye-pleasing balance of rustic and modern. Of course, as it was early August we spent most of our waking time outside; at breakfast we saw the sun rise over beautiful butterfly-mobbed budlea and late dusk dinners saw the moon rise in the clearest star-studded skies. Star-gazing with a bottle of goof local red wine is a wonderful expereience and seeing vivid shooting stars was truly magical. The area is beautiful and as you rise up the valley towards Prats de Molo and La Preste, it becomes ever more mountainous and romantic. There's much to do both up and down the valley in the historic medieval towns with their forts, squares and markets (Ceret has one of the most beautifully set markets we've ever seen in France; it's a must-see and do). Above the valley, of course, are those mountains. If you like your walking, this is a stunning area and the walks above La Preste and La Forge are a gorgeous mix of verdent valleys rising to dappled deciduous woods, through a line of mature pines and then breaking into glorious pasture thick with wild flowers even in late Summer. The walking is fairly tough but certainly we saw groups of both elderly walkers and young families up around the 2,000m level. We had a fabulous week at Can Llouquette and in the shadow of Canigou. The blend of great hospitality, rustic comfort, a beautiful environment and a range of great things to do and see....and eat....made this a wonderful and memorable holiday. We would unreservedly recommend Can Llouquette and we have already told many of our friends - with and without children - what a great great holiday destination this is.
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Rating
5 out of 5

A Wonderful Fortnight in Paradise

rafikiyaku Bath, UK
Review Submitted: August 20, 2009 Date of Stay: June 2009
This place is sheer heaven ... peaceful, stunning and everything the website says it is.

There is so much to see in the surrounding area that we'd have to come back to even scratch the surface. And we certainly intend to do so. Being so close to the border means you've two cultures at your doorstep. Mountains and sea galore.

The accommodation is just perfect. Light, airy and a real welcome after a day out. The grounds are lovely, the pool a delight and the donkey a hoot! Ashley and Simon (the owners) are very friendly and helpful (Simon even drove us up the mountain in his 4x4 for a walk - saving us hours of toil!). They gave us top tips and booked restaurants for us (our French/Spanish are appalling!) ... btw thanks for the wonderful wine!

I didn't expect this part of France to be so green and utterly stunning - wild flowers everywhere. We even saw wild boar one morning. And griffon vultures one afternoon - about six of them!

Big thanks to our perfect, charming and ever-helpful hosts and their gorgeous small daughter Sophia - does she really smile like that all the time ;)

Thanks for all the little extras that made the holiday so special.

We will highly recommend you to our friends, and will be coming back.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Pyrenäen / Montferrer, Can Llouquette

pepsimo Deutschland
Review Submitted: August 18, 2009 Date of Stay: May 2009
Far from commercial tourism, you can find a little oasis called Can Llouquette. There may indeed be many such 'islands', of that I'm sure, but the difference here is underscored by the warmth and cordiality of Ashley, Simon, Sophia and Zouky. The welcome is warm, the atmosphere is familiar and friendly, but your privacy is always respected.

Your first morning is hard to believe, as you open the window and hear only birds and the rush of the river. On hot summer days, amidst this green canopy, this oasis, a dip in the wonderfully refreshing pool is sheer bliss. Lying on your back, eyes shut, inhaling deeply, you feel utter relief. This is a small taste of what a delightful holiday awaits you.

Absolutely worthy of support for its dedication to ecotourism in this fast paced world. This is the first time that we have ever chosen to take holiday in the same place twice! So whoever loves the idyllic as well as culture, tranquillity, wonderful nature, good food and excellent wine could do worse than head to this part of the Pyrenees.

Thank you Ashley and Simon, for an excellent holiday.

---------------

Abseits des kommerziellen Tourismus, zum Greifen nah liegt eine Oase namens Can Llouquette. Es mag viele dieser "Eilande" geben, dessen bin ich mir sicher, jedoch besticht es durch die Wärme und Herzlichkeit, die Ashley, Simon, Sophia und Zouky, die Gastgeber verbreiten. Die Atmossphäre ist sehr familiär, jedoch wird die nötige Distanz gewahrt.

Es ist kaum zu glauben, du öffnest das Fenster und hörst nur Vögelgezwitscher und das Rauschen des Flusses. Inmitten der grünen Oase und während heißer Tage ist eine Abkühlung im Pool herrlich. Wenn du auf dem Rücken im Wasser liegst, die Augen schließt, einmal tief durchatmest, fühlst du die einzigartige Erholung. Dies ist nur ein kleiner Abriss von einem Urlaub der begeistern wird.

Absolut unterstützenswert im Sinne von Ökotourismus und der schnelllebigen Zeit. Das ist das erste Mal dass wir ein zweites Mal ein identisches Urlaubsziel ansteuern! Also wer Idyllle, Kultur, Nature, Ruhe, gutes Essen und guten Wein liebt, der möge in die Pyrenäen fahren.

Vielen Dank für den hervorragenden Urlaub an Ashley und Simon.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Beautiful stay.... merci merci merci!

Victoria Q Washington DC/USA
Review Submitted: August 17, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
My family and I spent a wonderful week at Can Lloquette (4-7 July) staying in the sweet studio apartment, which had loads of charm and was just perfect. Beautiful mountains, lovely garden, exquisite room and linens, ultra clean... all the comforts of home but in picturesque France! It is exactly what we hoped for and beyond... plus a lovely cafe in cute Montferrer just minutes up the road... Ashley and Simon were simply delightful and lovely hosts... a million thanks again for making this getaway visit worth a million wonderful memories....
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Rating
5 out of 5

Beautiful stay.... merci merci merci!

Victoria Q Washington DC/USA
Review Submitted: August 17, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
My family and I spent a wonderful week at Can Lloquette (4-7 July) staying in the sweet studio apartment, which had loads of charm and was just perfect. Beautiful mountains, lovely garden, exquisite room and linens, ultra clean... all the comforts of home but in picturesque France! It is exactly what we hoped for and beyond... plus a lovely cafe in cute Montferrer just minutes up the road... Ashley and Simon were simply delightful and lovely hosts... a million thanks again for making this getaway visit worth a million wonderful memories....
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Rating
1 out of 5

Disappointing

Bhunabhoy Renfrewshire, Scotland
Review Submitted: August 6, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
Can Llouquette is a tastefully-developed farmhouse situated in an isolated corner of the French Pyrenees, where a dense canopy of trees surrounds you. We would have enjoyed its charms more had a plumbing fault not deprived us of adequate washing and showering facilities for the first five days of our stay. We felt that the owners might have considered compensating us in some small way for our inconvenience, but they did not share this view. As a result we did not feel that our custom was particularly valued, and we would not choose to stay there again.
Owner's Response: We were saddened to read this particular guest’s feelings, and disheartened to have our only negative response after four years of providing holidays. We were especially surprised at such a response after he and his partner had said that it was paradise, so beautiful that they rarely wanted to leave the grounds.

We did indeed have a solar plumbing problem and all guests were informed on arrival. There was no problem with the cold water, but hot water pressure was poor. Hence the water was an adequate temperature but lacking in usual force. The problem was identified on the Monday and fixed by midday on Wednesday: three and a half days into a 14 day let, not five as stated.

Unfortunately the low hot water pressure upset this one guest to such an extent that he felt it necessary to air his displeasure in a forceful manner, despite our assuring him we were doing everything possible to ensure a speedy resolution. At this point we offered him and his partner a full refund saying we would find alternative accommodation for them if they were that unhappy. We were not taken up on this offer.

Other guests here at the same time took the few days of low hot water pressure very differently. They reacted with good grace and humour saying that although it was undoubtedly an inconvenience, it was minor and it was not marring their holiday at all as the surroundings, accommodation, pool, garden and the weather were all so beautiful.

As it turned out the problem was resolved quickly and we made gifts of bottles of good local wine to recompense.

Shortly before departure the guest asked my wife for compensation for the first week, saying if we were not willing to do this he would ‘make his displeasure known by whatever means available to him’. Confronted with this tone we were not inclined to oblige him.

As owners who take pride in providing the perfect holiday in a friendly environment, the reaction of this one guest has been dispiriting.

We value our guests and do try very hard to provide the perfect holiday ... as years of exclusively good testimonies and many repeat visits from highly satisfied guests show.
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