Clos des Aspres

Rooms

In the main house, the 5 spacious bedrooms are peaceful and private; all lead out to the garden or have mountain views. Décor is a classy blend of authenticity and modern comfort, with antique desks and feature walls in azure, mustard and carnelian. There are pops of colour in floor tiles, too, and in old-fashioned travel posters, sepia photos and thick curtains, but it's all very considered. Bathrooms are similarly restrained - we liked the twin sinks and bamboo ladders for hanging up your towels.

Double Room L'Olivière has a private patio, while Côté Cour has a sofabed for a child. We stayed in Petit Verdot, up on the first floor, and loved the cosiness - especially the 100% linen sheets.

Spacious Les Albères, the Family Room, has views of the Albères mountains and an additional single bed, while Les Camamilles is the Family Suite: two bedrooms and a private entrance. Whichever room you choose, comfort is key.

For groups, there's a separate a 4-bedroom gite (Cottage) for private self-catering rental. We especially liked the open-plan living area that flows into the private garden, which has a summer kitchen and terrace for alfresco dining. The pool is gated (wonderful with small children).

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Hairdryer
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

If you're staying in the Mas, a superb breakfast is served on the terrace by the pool, where the views of the Pic du Canigou are stunning. We enjoyed freshly squeezed juice, pastries from the local patisserie, creamy yoghurt, local Ortaffa honey and jams, and Clos des Aspres' own olive oil.

Throughout the day, you can help yourself to teas and coffees, and there's an honesty bar with wine, beer and juices - all of which are very reasonably priced. If you're staying in the gite, you've got your own kitchen (plus an outdoor kitchen) for prepping meals and snacks.

For lunch, pop to Ortaffa's shops to assemble a picnic: regional specialities include the Pélardon goat's cheese and olive tapenade. Pierre and Emmanuel will also recommend wonderful restaurants for dinner, whether you're after something simple and traditional - try Le Catalan in Laroque des Alberes - or a more gastronomic affair. Nearby favourites include La Salamandre à Sorède, Le Jardin des simples à Sorède and L'ancienne école à Palau del Vidre. For gastronomy lovers, La Trincadis in nearby Argelès village is a must.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Relax in the Mediterranean gardens, swim in the pool and enjoy the Languedoc's 300 days of sunshine
  
• Taste Clos des Aspres' wines (the rosé and the Sauvignon Blanc are popular) and visit nearby vineyards
  
• There's picturesque walking and cycling from the front door: ask Emmanuel to recommend a route
  
• Nearby Ortaffa is pretty for a wander, while Perpignan, the proud centre of French Catalonia, has a beautiful old town and traditional Catalan restaurants
  
• The Côte Vermeille is 30 mins away: a string of sandy Med beaches, plus the so-called Rocky Shore
  
• Explore the authentic seaside village of Collioure, dubbed 'St Tropez without the excesses'. Its Museum of Modern Art has works by Matisse, Picasso, Derain and Dufy
  
• Sporty types can windsurf, horse ride and kayak; adrenaline junkies can go canyoning, white-water rafting and paragliding
  
• The foothills of the Pyrenees are home to breathtaking ancient sites, including the walled village of Villefranche le Conflent, The Abbey of St Martin de Canigou, and Castelnou's castle
  
• Day trip to Spain for historic Girona and the Dali Triangle
  

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Canyoning
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Museums / galleries
• Rafting
• Walking
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

Families are welcome. There's not a lot for them here, but kids will love the pool and exploring the garden, and parents will appreciate the easy ambience and being able to use the kitchen to whip up snacks. The four-bedroom gite would work well for a bigger family and has its own pool and garden for kids to roam free in. Be aware that most day trips/restaurant visits will involve driving.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

There are 2 family rooms in the guesthouse. Les Albères has a kingsize bed and single bed; Les Camamilles has a kingsize bedroom, a twin bedroom and space for a baby cot or extra bed. The Double Rooms can fit a baby cot and Côté Cour has a sofabed. The private self-catering gite sleeps up to 10 in 4 bedrooms and a sofabed in the lounge, and has a fenced pool.

Distances:

• Airport 25km (Perpignan)
• Hospital: 15km
• Shop: 2km

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Clos des Aspres is located in Occitanie, which encompasses the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, in the heart of the Eastern Pyrenees.

By Air:
Fly into Perpignan (25km), Girona (97km, in Spain) or Barcelona (200km).

You'll want a car to get here and explore the region (see our car rental recommendations).

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.com.