A NEW VIEW EVERYDAY B&B AND GITES

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We are open all year offering bed and breakfast accommodation in the typically French village of Issor, situated in the Pyrenees Atlantiques department of Aquitaine, South West France. Our guest house in France is situated 10 minutes south of Oloron Sainte Marie, 50 minutes from Pau, and equally 1 and a half hours from Biarritz and Lourdes.
Our location in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range, is perfect to discover what is essentially a paradise for activity seekers including-walkers as there are an endless number of walking routes in the area including the GR10 route, for cyclists there's also numerous routes you can discover for road cycling, the Tour de France passes through the village most years including 2006 and this year 2007. Likewise this area is rich in mountain bike trails known as VTT in French. For skiers, nature lovers, artists, fishermen, and the roads are superb for motorcyclists and car enthusiasts. Not forgetting the weather here is beautiful for the majority of the year as we are only 30 km’s from the Spanish border. It sounds too good to be true, but it really is a fantastic place for any French holiday. There is as much or as little as you want to do on your trip here. Come and discover Issor in the Pyrenees, you won’t be disappointed.

The house itself has a date of 1760 etched into the stone doorway and that is the era of King Louis the 16th and the three musketeers who were primarily from this region. You can relax or enjoy a meal in the courtyard, where the sun beams down all day.

Just outside the house you are surrounded with stunning views of the mountains. You can walk in any direction and enjoy breathtaking scenery. There is a fabulous walking route that begins next to the house, taking you through the woods over streams past fields. There is a very nice restaurant just 200 metres away where you can enjoy a very nice evening. In the village there is also a small shop come cafe/bar where the locals will welcome you.

The open plan living/dining room is very spacious with a cosy open fire for those winter evenings.

The Rooms For Bed & Breakfast

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The Riverview Room (Sleeps 2 with capacity for 1 childs bed)

This is a doubleroom with superb views overlooking the river, the fields and the village of Issor with it's church as the centre-piece.

The Garden Room (sleeps 2 with capacity for 1 childs bed)

This lovely room also has great views of the mountains and comes equipped with one double bed and it's own ensuite shower room.

The Courtyard Room (Sleeps 2 + capacity for 2 childrens beds)
This beautiful room has stunning views of the mountains, where you can sit and read with a glass of something, my favourite spot of the whole house.
This room is equipped with two single beds and it's own ensuite with a shower.

To check the availability of any of our rooms please contact us and we will respond to your enquiry quickly.
Click here to e-mail us
Email: garryandjo@msn.com
Tel:0033(0)559 344 506

Pyrénées Tourism Guide/ What to do

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The Pyrénées is a natural wilderness accredited with National Park status. Mountains, lakes and forests combine to create a landscape which nature and wildlife enthusiasts will admire. Tourism is evolving - there are plenty of outdoor acitivties to choose from - but it is far less developed than the Alps and this is one of its greatest attractions. And if you do fancy a little culture and sophistication, Pau is a genteel, gem of a city.

Information is available for the immediate area where we are located, from our local tourist office website at www.valleedebaretous.com or www.lapierrestmartin.com

Mountains are not traditionally a place for beach lovers but the Pyrénées are unusual in that you are never too far from the sand even when you're halfway up a mountain. The Pyrénées is for those who want the fresh air, scenery and wildlife of this breathtaking land. Unsurprisingly, therefore, activites are geared towards enjoying the outdoors.Ski-ing - Cauterets, Gourette and La Mongie are the principal ski stations in the Western Pyrénées. Our local friends tell us these stations are far less busy than their Alpine counterparts and the aprés-ski is just as vibrant. Hiking - the famous GR10 trail winds its way through the mountains and there are hundreds of shorter alternatives whether it's a few hours, a day or a week of walking that you're looking for. Horse-trekking - treks through the Pyrénéan foothills including overnight camps and special 'junior' excursions.Fishing - the mountain streams are well-stocked with plump freshwater fish. International salmon and trout fishing tournaments are regularly hosted here.Birdwatching - the Pyrénées is one of Europe's last natural habitats for golden eagles and there is a Vulture Look-out Centre. Watching these birds of prey gliding in the mountain currents is quite awe-inspiring.Cycling - the Tour de France carves a particularly sadistic route through the Pyrénées. In 2005, the Étape de Tour is took place here. Road racing is a popular pastime in this area, as is mountain biking or VTT as it's known in France. Golf. Continental Europe's oldest course is located at Pau. It's a beautiful course which exudes its history. The club celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006.Mountain pursuits - why walk in the mountains when you could climb up them, absail down them or parascend over them? Come on, where's your outdoor spirit? There's a number of organisations based here who can get your adrenalin pumping. If you want to get wet as well as scared, there are numerous white-water rafting and canyoning centres. Take a look at the Pyrénées Guide website.Wine-tasting - the foothills south of Pau are home to the excellent Jurançon vineyards. Whites and rosés are the main attraction - the sweet white is an excellent alternative to the more famous Sauternes, also of south west France. Rioja country is not far over the border into Spain.

PLACES TO VISIT
Haut-Béarn - this is the main attraction and incorporates the spectacularly scenic Parc National des Pyrénées. Mountain peaks, forests, lakes and river valleys combine to create a natural paradise. The vallées Aspe and Ossau are the two most spectacular. Lescun is a favourite location for mountain lovers - from here you can see the famous Les Aiguilles (needles) d'Ansabère rock formation. Laruns is another scenic mountain base with a good tourist office for advice on hiking routes, etc. There's also great views in summer at the cols Somport and Aubisque. Bird-lovers will enjoy the Falaise aux Vautours at Aste-Béon, a protected colony for native brids of prey incuding kites, falcons, kestrels and vultures. The scenic train Le Petit Train d'Artouste is a good way to take in the landscape if you have younger kids or you simply don't fancy the long walks! Another worthwhile visit is the Pic du Midi Observatory. A cable car takes you to the 2877m summit and the views are incredible. It hardly seems appropriate to go underground but the Grottes de Betharram near Lourdes are an option if it's wet outside.Pau - somehow Pau (pronounced "Po") is barely known to those living outside of France. This is slowly changing thanks to Ryanair's flight to the city. Pau is an compact, cultured, scenic and historical city worthy itself of a weekend break. The city hosts international golf, equestrian and motor-racing tournaments - the Pau Vintage Grand Prix each May brings thousands of people to the city.

If a day-trip is all you can manage, there are lovely boutiques to shop, tea-shops for refreshments, the castle of Gascon king, Henri IV, to visit and the spectacular Boulevard des Pyrénées to roam. Pau - like much of Aquitaine - has strong historical links with Britain. Wellington's troops used the city as a station and after the war, many British remained in Pau. Golf and horse-racing were introduced by the British and many of the leafy streets and grand villas were built by British and American families, seduced by Pau's genteel lifestyle and climate.Béarnais villages - arguably, pretty villages are in shorter supply than in the Basque Country. However, you should not miss out on Sauveterre-de-Béarn or Salies-de-Béarn. Fortified Sauveterre benefits from elevated views of the Gave d'Oloron. It's only a small village but has an air of history plus some interesting architecture. Salies is a very pretty spa town whose thermal cure station remains active today. Historic Orthez and Oloron-Ste-Marie are also worth a visit especially on market day. Across the border into the Pays Basque, Cambo-les-Bains and St-Jean-Pied-de-Port are both attractive towns to visit; at Cambo, visit the beautiful Villa Arnaga, home of Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac.Lourdes - for the Catholic faithful and the plain curious, the mecca of Lourdes makes for an interesting spectacle! Spain - Pamplona is just over the border and also Rioja country, San Sebastian and Bilbao.

The cuisine of the Pyrénées is dominated by its Gascon roots, and what could loosely be described as "country cooking". Thus, garlic, stews, game and poultry are ubiquitous, complemented by liberal doses of Jurançon and Béarnais reds. Legend has it that King Henri's grandfather smudged the lips of the newborn Henri with a little garlic and Jurançon wine just to make sure he started life as a true Gascon. If there is one dish that typifies the region it is King Henri's favourite, Poule au Pot - essentially a chicken stew.The mountains of course have their impact on the region's cuisine. Cheese, in particular. Fromages de brebis or sheep's milk cheeses are the norm.Bon appetit!

Rates & Rooms

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You would like to go ahead and book? You can check availability by contacting us, and we will reply to your enquiry quickly Click Here to Email Us
or call 0033(0)559344506
Email: garryandjo@msn.com
skype: garryandjoannacollins

We like to take a standard deposit amount per room per night. You can pay this deposit securely on-line now by clicking the "Add to basket" button below.

Currently available are two en-suite family sized bedrooms and one double bedroom. In addition to the cost of bed and breakfast, we are also able to provide hot meals, take-away lunches and transport to and from the ski resorts on request, at a small reasonable charge.

Bed and breakfast:
1 or 2 people per night per room - €50-€55 per room per night
Child in room - €15
Booking Information: We would require a deposit of 50% of the booking value.

Our Location- Map & Travel Information

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Our guest house is located in the village of Issor, postcode 64570, Pyrenees-Atlantique, France.

The nearest airport is Pau, just 50 minutes by car, which is served by Ryanair from Stansted. Ryanair

Another option is to fly to Biarritz airport, which is about a 1 hour 45 minute drive, also served by Ryanair from Stansted, Dublin and Shannon. Finally, Toulouse airport is about a 2.5 hour drive but is served by all the major airlines including British airways.

Click Here to see Map Map:64570 - ISSOR

We are just 10 minutes drive from the lovely town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie with it's cobbled streets, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Why not drive to Spain, we are just a 30 minute drive from the border.

We are also only 40 minutes from the picturesque ski resort of La Pierre Sainte Martin. Other ski resorts are a short distance to drive.

Lourdes 43km southwest of Pau and is about 1.5 hours drive from our location.

Biarritz on the coast is a beautiful place by anyone's standards. At only 1.5 hours drive from our location in Issor it makes Biarritz a really great place for a visit. Whether you are looking for water sports, where the mountains seemingly slide into the Atlantic ocean or if you want to browse the classy shops on the sun drenched boulevards, Biarritz really is a must see place. The airport at Biarritz is also served by Ryanair flights from Stansted.

Click Here To See the 5 Day Weather Forecast For Our Region

Skiing in the Pyrenees

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Surrounded by stunning scenery, pure blue skies and warm sunshine?
We are just a 40mins drive, from the beautiful ski resort of La Pierre Saint Martin.

Settled on the west of the Pyrenees, at a height of 1650 meters. La Pierre Saint Martin is a ski resort with a magnificent landscape. It has a lovely village nestled in a beautiful pine forest. At the bottom of the slopes, face the famous Pic d'Anie, with a panoramic ski field benefitting from the warm sunshine. It's a perfect place for everyone, families and children, especially for a relaxing ski in amongst nature.

Ski Runs: Blue – 9, Green – 3, Red – 5, Black - 1
For more sking information follow the link below
http://www.lapierrestmartin.com/pyrenees/-winter-

The French resorts Pyrenees Atlantiques - pyrenees atlantiques ski resorts guide

Issarbe- Enjoy new sensations in the untouched landscapes of Issarbe. Straddling the Bearn and Basque country, Issarbe offers an ideal starting point opposite the Pic d'Anie for cross-country skiing through unique landscapes.
La Pierre Saint Martin- In the western Pyrenees will charm you with its unforgettable panoramic views, its chalets scattered among a forest of hooked pine trees and its flats facing the slopes. La Pierre Saint Martin has an exceptional stting, a vast skiable area adapted to young and experienced ...
Gourette- In this resort where the skier is king and the snow his queen.Skiing area: 27 pistes, which are 30.5 kms with markers on a 290 hectares site. 16 ski lifts. 3 beginners. 6 spaces chairlifts. 1000 metres of slope, ...
Artouste- Is a small resort with panoramic fields of snow at an altitude of 2.100m, facing the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. 150 hectares open to winter sports and horizons that breathe. A well kept freestyle space equpped with a sound system, entertaiment, half pipe, cross-country, snow run and snow-board ...
Iraty- In the heart of the largest deciduous forest in western Europe, the Iraty resort combines beauty and serenity. In this majestic setting, cross-country skiers can admire the breath-taking scenery of Iraty.

The Spanish resorts just over the border Aragon Pyrenees - aragon ski resorts guide

Candanchu-The ski resort of Candanchu is located in the Aragon Pyrenees, in its province of Huesca. You won't find it in many of the big tour operators' brochures but this little known resort offers some excellent ski-ing amid the stunning scenery of the Pyrenees. Together with the neighbouring resort of ...
Panticosa- The Pyrenees ski resort of Panticosa is located in the centre of the Spanish Pyrenees Mountains in the region of Aragon. A band of local inhabitants of this lovely, centuries-old village came up with the idea of installing a chair lift to access the local mountain peaks as far back as 1970. Recent ...
Formigal- The ski resort of Formigal is located in the Aragon Pyrenees. It's a lively purpose-built resort suitable for beginners, intermediate skiers and families. You don't come here to rub shoulders with the rich and famous but it's a friendly and relaxed resort with good facilities provided at ...
Cerler- The ski resort of Cerler is located in the Spanish province of Huesca in the Aragon Pyrenees. This is the highest ski resort in the Aragon Pyrenees, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Benasque Valley where majestic pine and snow clad mountains rise to more than3,000 metres. The resort ...
Astun- is of the two major Aragon Pyrenees ski resorts. Set in the beautiful valley of Aragon, 80km from the French town of Pau, Astún is one of Spain's biggest snowsport zones and the venue for many national competitions including the European Cup. With a capacity for more than 15,000 skiers ...