Can we sit outside the Writer’s Retreat?

Of course.  In the morning, there is a place just outside the sitting room for the morning sun.  In the afternoon, you can sit outside the main room and look at the mountains opposite, in the sun

When is the best time to see the wild flowers?

From late May or the beginning of June depending on the temperature. They are best in June but you can still find them in July.

When do the cows come up the hill? And are they noisy?

When the wild flowers come out. We love the clank of their bells.

Are there any local restaurants?

Yes. Some are nearby in easy walking distance, while others are a longer walk away.  Restaurant La Croix is open most of the year but not on Mondays. Others, some very near by such as La Roc de Arches open in mid June or a little later in the summer. There are quite a few restaurants in Grand Bornand, open the year round. We like walking to the Col de Anes for lunch, too.

What else can I do?

Go bicycling, walking, running, mountain biking, rock climbing, via ferrata, tennis, golf, white water rafting, swimming, fishing, shopping in the market on Wednesday mornings, sun bathe, picnic, ramble, collect myrtilles, breathe fresh air, play some of the board games.

Do we have use of the swimming pool?

Yes, of course. It is heated by the sun (very eco-friendly) so please make sure that you replace the pool cover. You must set/reset the safety siren. Please take care of your young children!

Are there towels and sheets?

Yes.

Can I smoke in the house?

Sorry, no.  It is not allowed and is also against the law. There are smoke detectors in the house for fire prevention.

Are there saucepans, crockery etc?

Yes.  There should be sufficient for four people. There is an oven, four gas burners, a fridge and a table to eat at in the main room. You can carry the table outside if you choose.

Is there a telephone that we can use and WiFi?

Most of the major French mobile operators have a reasonably strong signal here. There is no fixed line telephone available but there is WiFi, so you can use Skype for a telephone service. Ask us for the WiFi code.

Is there a television?

Yes but it is not connected to an aerial!  You can watch DVDs. Or read a book. There are also some games available.

Can I buy the local Reblochon cheese?

Our next-door neighbour makes it and will sell it to you.  It is their cows that you will hear around the house. Their cheese is delicious.

What do I do if there is a problem while I am there?

Call or email us depending on the urgency! If we are in the main house, call 09 52 76 34 01. Otherwise try 00 44 1235 833643 or mobile 00 44 77 8 99 47 0 24, or email lafermedusoleil@hotmail.com.

What do I do I break something?

Please tell us so that we can replace it.

We are number 7 on the map and in the bottom left corner,

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37

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90

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102

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116

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71

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81

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84

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103

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79

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25

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37

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2010

These prices are indicative ie they assume that the £ remains at €1.10.

The price per person per week includes

Breakfasts of home-made bread, croissants, compôtes, fresh fruit, cereal, eggs, fruit juices, porridge, cereal, coffee teas and/or infusions

Afternoon tea of homemade tarts, biscuits,pancakes or cakes.

3 course evening meal (except one night per week) with aperitifs and wine with the meal.

Generally holidays start on a Sunday evening (except sometimes for Xmas and New Year) but occassionaly we can be flexible.

The price does not include travel, holiday insurance, health insurance, equipment hire or ski passes.
For summer availability, please see separate page

2010/2011

December

Sun 19th £695 Booked*

Sun 26th £720 Booked *

January

Mon 3rd £660 Booked *

Sun 9th            £540 booked

Sun 16th          £550 Available

Sun 23rd £590 booked

Sun 30th £590 booked

February

Sun 6th             £640 Available

Sun 13th           £690 Available *

Sun 20th £645 Booked *

Sun 27th           £595 Available

March

Sun 6th              £590 Available

Sun 13th £590 booked

Sun 20th            £590 Available

Sun 27th £670 Booked *

April

Sun 3rd              £620 Available *

Sun 10th            £585 Available

In peak weeks, marked by a *, the chalet will normally be rented to a single party, which will be expected to fill it.

Prices assume two people per room. A single supplement of £150 may apply.

Children aged 0 to 24 months – £250.

Family Discounts

A 20% discount for children (those over 2 but under 12).

A 50% discount for a fourth child in a family (all four children having the same parents).

This is your holiday and we can often be flexible: early suppers for children and packed lunches can usually be arranged.

Booking Form

Please download and complete the  Winter booking Form (also available as a PDF -Winter Booking Form)

Return it to us by email at  lafermedusoleil@hotmail.com

or Fax 01235 861 643 (ring 01235 833643 first so that we can switch on)

It costs €34 one way or €56 return with under 12s having a 50% discount. Tickets can be bought in advance.

Don’t use the lifts, but set off with Jean Francois, our guide, from La Ferme in the dark with skins on your skis, a lamp on your head and breakfast on your back. As you climb to the top of virgin peaks, you can watch the dawn breaking and the bouquetin breakfasting on moss as the sun rises. Breakfast on the top of the Aiguille Vert (you deserve every crumb of your pain au chocolate), admire the wonderful birds of prey riding on the thermals and then ski back on virgin snow.

This is the most health giving  sport I have ever tried…far better exercise than downhill skiing. You can feel the the oxygen go right to the depth of your lungs! Feels like every muscle has been used and although you are exhausted on your return at 10 am and need a little siesta, you feel on top of the world later!!

Since we started la Ferme du Soleil in 1998, much has been done to make it more comfortable without losing its traditional charm and simplicity.

All but one room now have their own bathrooms and there is WiFi and satellite as well as log fires.

Many of our guests have used their time at La Ferme du Soleil for special occasions such as their 21st, 50th or 60th birthdays and special wedding anniversaries.

They have also held relaxed conferences with sporting activities allowing relaxed and sometimes competitive discussions.

We offer something unique where people can come together in a relaxed, homely atmosphere and be looked after with great attention to detail according to your individual needs, in a fairy-tale environment. We can tailor-make your holiday to make it more fitting for the particular occasion, either by adjusting the menu or by helping you with some special events:-

DOORSTEP ECO SKIING

Don’t use the lifts, but set off with Jean Francois, our guide, from La Ferme in the dark with skins on your skis, a lamp on your head and breakfast on your back. As you climb to the top of virgin peaks, you can watch the dawn breaking and the bouquetin [picture] breakfasting on moss as the sun rises. Breakfast on the top of the Aiguille Vert (you deserve every crumb of your pain-au-chocolate), admire the wonderful birds of prey riding on the thermals and then ski back on virgin snow. .

[picture]

This is the most health giving  sport I have ever tried…far better exercise than downhill skiing. You can feel the the oxygen go right to the depth of your lungs! Feels like every muscle has been used and although you are exhausted on your return at 10 am and need a little siesta, you feel on top of the world later!! [Link to the page on Mountain Guides]

DOORSTEP PARAPENTING (Paragliding to the English).

3 minutes away from the the Ferme is the Lachat chair lift, which whisks you up to the top and a sensational view. Renee (the guy with the mustache) from the Passagers du Vent paragliding centre will pilot you on a tandem flight, riding on some of the best thermals in France.

On landing, we can organise a snow picnic appropriate for the occasion for you…simple or sophisticated alpine fayre.

Originally I believed that this must be a sport for the young and not for the faint hearted, but I thought I must try it so I could recommend it to my guests or steer them away. I found it to be the most beautiful, exhilarating way to see the Alps!! You don’t just plop down, you ride on the thermals. It’s the nearest thing to being a bird… there are birds riding on the thermals beside you…In fact I’ve met a man who rescues depressed birds of prey from zoos and they ride on the thermals while he is parapenting!

People of every age have loved parapenting.  Mel did it for her 21st. Edward Reily Collins brought all his Antique Roadshow friends to have a relaxing 60th birthday celebration.  They planned skiing, raqueting and bird-watching.  But once they had tried parapenting, he couldn’t keep them on the ground.

Jannie Bernays, a glamourous granny is celebrating her 60th birthday there. A perfect gift for Granny: flight and Champagne picnic for all the family to share as she glides down.  Perfect for honeymooners, too. Take off on two different tandems. It is far more than an adrenaline sport – it is a truly magnificent way to see the Alps. Of course, if you get hooked you can do a 5 days course and learn to fly solo The parapenting school in Grand Bornand is one of the places that give courses. [Link to the Passagers du Vente site].

[picture]

BUILD AN ICE TABLE for you and create a celebratory environment with fur rugs, candles and celebratory food

[picture]

CREATE AN ALPINE PICNIC and transport it to a secluded or specially scenic spot for you

[picture]

Some ideas for special gifts at la Ferme

A breakfast outing with our guide on skis with skins. I gave this to my nephew for his 21st present and this is what he said! and this is him at the top of Aigulle verte

A flight on a parapente with or without a picnic as you land.

They are not the cheapest and they do not have the broadest range but the people are nice and they speak some English. They have not only a normal range of skis but boards, ski de randonnée equipment, snow shoes etc.

Their address is:-

Magasin de sports, Ski Service Deloche

L’Envers du Chinaillon

Le Grand-Bornand Chinaillon

74450 Le Grand-Bornand

Tel : 04 50 27 00 73 (+33 4 50 27 00 33)

www.skiservice-grandbornand.com

contact@skiservice-grandbornand.com

Opening hours are officially from 08:45 to 18:00 (18:30 at Christmas through New Year and in February) although they seem to open a little earlier and are often there a little later, clearing up.

When hiring, mention that you are staying at La Ferme du Soleil.  You will still need a passport to show them.  Generally, you pay when you return your hired stuff. They take all the normal credit cards.

You can ask them to reserve you skis etc.  There is a form, which you can send them.  Emails work much better than telephone with them as they are not there until the season starts.

When driving through Chinaillon, take the left turn, marked to the slopes, and you will se it on the left after about a kilometre.  The shop is after the start of the car parking, just afte the Gettier lift  and the sign, “Ski Service”  faces you.

You can get your ski tickets 150 yards from the ski shop, just down the road.

You can, of course, go anywhere else that you choose.  However if you hire from Le Grand Bornand, remember that is more of a trek than shops in Chinaillon.

Chi Qung is the ancient art of cultivating your energy system to keep you in the optimum state of health. We have found that the Ferme du Soleil is a most ideal place to do this and we are very lucky to have a master to host a course here three times a year in October, January and June:

Sunday 11th October – Sunday 18th October 2009

Sunday 17th January -Sunday 25th January 2010

June 20th – June 27 2010

June 27th – July 4th 2010

Cost is £400 for accommodation and food and £300 each for 5 days of Chi Qung.

Participants’ wives, husbands and partners are welcome too.

FLOWER PAINTING and gold leafing and distressing on wood by Sarah Allan

A week in the mountains surrounded by the amazing Alpine alpage full of rare flowers as inspiration. Sarah who is well known for her beautiful flower painting in Crabtree and Evelyn’s shops worldwide will guide you through using the surrounding flowers to create masterpieces on wood onto anything from small objects to large armoires

Courses dates:

6th June 2010 -13th June 2010

13th June 2010 – 20th June 2010

PAINTING September 2010

I will have different artists in residence and will invite you to come and enjoy the beautiful back cloth of the Alps and enjoy painting them with the encouragement of the resident artist. I will confirm the name of the artists in the New Year. Current ideas are

Kathleen Caddick,

Isis potter to paint snowscaped on blue delft,

Jolomo,

CREATIVE WRITING Courses OCTOBER 2010.

I invite you to come and unlock your hidden talents with the help of the uninterrupted views, tinkling of cow bells, and the assistance of the artist in residence. Names to be released in the New Year. At the end of the course, we will enjoy Transhumance..the day when the farmers descend from the mountain with all their hundred of cows to winter in the valley

CHALET COOKING COURSE.

We will show you how to make the most of Regional alpine ingredients to feed people in the mountains in winter…every chalet cook should go on this! Ferme du Soleil Recipes……The best and easiest book to accompany.

Interested? Email us here

Following a decade as a decorative special effects painter, which included painting murals, marbling, stenciling, etc, she became a still life artist, after the Dutch and Spanish tradition, using dark backgrounds to highlight and dramatise the subjects. These began as copies of old master painters such as Cotan and Zurburan, and later developed into her own compositions in the style of these earlier masters. She has also painted landscapes and, more recently, abstract paintings.”
“My training as a decorative painter has given me a fearlessness, an ability to tackle many genres on any scale, and a wide experience in all sorts of painting media. I have found great pleasure in sharing this knowledge with others, giving them the feeling that they can do it, with encouragement and few tips, which I have gathered over the years, and away they go. The aim is to start people off on their own paths of discovery.