Le Petit Nid
Saint Alban des Hurtieres,
Savoie
Self-catering
+33 (0)4 79 36 07 54
Visit owner's website
per night
€600 - €750
per week
A finely crafted staircase, a friendly owner next door, an Alpine garden to die for - groups large and small will love this old watermill
6 beds
4 bedrooms
Sleeps 8
Your enquiry details
2 Guests 17 Nov 24 - 17 Nov 24
Direct with the owner
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What part does Sawday’s play?
€100 per night
€600 - €750 per week
The Experience
A winding side road snakes down from the sleepy Savoyard village of St-Albans-des-Hurtières to a former watermill with a magnificent panorama. At once welcoming, light and airy, the lovingly renovated interior combines impressive craftsmanship with neat design: note the handmade staircase and the dining room table. Bedrooms are clean and tidy with interesting details, from a restored, original oak bed to handcrafted side tables. The well-equipped kitchen makes cooking a pleasure and the living room is airy yet cosy with a wood-burner; no frills, no chintz, but books, games, WiFi, and traditional Alpine touches. Sarah, the warm and cheerful owner, lives next door, lets you help yourself to veg and herbs that flourish outside. As for the garden, it’s idyllic, with bright flowerbeds, bubbling trout stream and a wisteria–shaded barbecue area decorated with old millstones. The surrounding mountains promise walks, cycling, skiing; by summer the welcoming local community hold festivals, fêtes and markets well worth exploring.
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Essentials
- EV charger
- Self check-in
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Barbecue
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Electricity included
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Pricing
- Nightly price
- €100
- Weekly price
- from €600
- 1 House for 8
- €1006 beds4 bedrooms
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- From 2.30pm
- Check out
- 10.30am
- Other details
- Short breaks available.
- Closed
- Rarely.
- Dogs
Towels for drying off wet dogs.
Max. 2 dogs.
There’s a small garden with a stream for doggie paddling. Recommendations for some great mountain and forest walks. Sheep in fields.
- Meals
- Dinner, with wine, €25. Restaurant 1km.
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Reviews
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We spent a lovely week in late September with our dogs as well. It’s very cosy and a perfect base for local walking and exploring further afield. The area is perfect for cycling too, but not flat! Rooms are spacious. Sunsets are special - the mountains are in sunshine long after the sun disappears at the house. Sarah booked the necessary visit to the vet for the dogs in Aiguebelle for us, prior to heading home. We recommend this vet if you have need of one. Sarah also cooked two stunning 3 course meals for us at her house, aided by Seb who is a very attentive wine waiter. We will be back!
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We had a wonderful stay at Le Petit Nid for our family Summer Holiday. Sarah was really helpful throughout the booking process and also once we arrived. She greeted us on arrival and told us she was there (next door) if we needed anything at all. She helped me by suggesting days out to suit our family. My children enjoyed hours of fun in the little stream in the garden and also in the swimming lake which is 5 minutes drive away. The chalet is really lovely, really spacious and peaceful. The area is perfect for cycling, walking and relaxing. Thanks again Sarah!
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We stayed here for Christmas week to combine some skiing and relaxation. The cottage is very well appointed with a lovely wood burner and a well equipped kitchen to cook in, Sarah was very welcoming and cooked a delicious three course meal for us on our last night. Driving to Orelle (25 mins) to take the three valleys express lift to Val Thorens was really easy , plenty of parking and no queues! We had a great week here and would definitely come back
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We spent a lovely two weeks at Le Petit Nid. The cottage is beautifully finished inside and out, with well equipped kitchen and comfortable lounge. The cottage is very peaceful, situated on a quiet side road with only the occasional passing car. The surrounding area is amazing and the views from walks up the mountain stunning - you can park at a height of the summit of Ben Nevis and walk up from there. Sarah and Seb were very welcoming, and they cooked us a fantastic meal - our only regret is that we didn't get around to asking for them to cook us some more. Would highly recommend.
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We enjoyed a fabulous two weeks at Le Petit Nid- great accomodation and a wonderful location with lots to do within easy reach. We particularly liked the swimming lake, cycling and walking...we also enjoyed three meals cooked by Sarah which we would heartily recommend.
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We had a fantastic time at Le Petit Nid. It's tucked away half way up the mountain. The house is really comfortable and well equipped. It's really peaceful too with a lovely stream bubbling away next to it. Sarah was a great host, providing advice on walks (with maps) and where to eat and buy food. We also had a delicious meal at her house next door one evening. There is a beautiful lake just 5-10 minutes' drive away where we really enjoyed swimming. And the mountains around are great for hiking.
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We spent two weeks at Le Petit Nid and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Plenty of walks in the immediate area and places to visit further afield. Sarah was very helpful and ensured we made the best of our stay. Well equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and lounge area with wood burner. Lovely spots on the terrace and by the stream to read with a glass of wine! We had a superb meal cooked by Sarah that surpassed any other meal we had during the holiday and her partner Sebastianian received our Yorkshire franglais with grace and humour! A wonderful base for discovering the Savoie.
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Beautiful spot and a terrific house. Simple and comfortable inside, it is equipped with everything you might need (note: no TV - bliss!). Wonderful base for exploring the stunning scenery and the cycling/running/walking from the house is great. The garden is lovely with the little stream at the bottom. Great for dogs too. Fantastic value for money.
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A blissful place. Perched above a busy brook, this is a very comfortable house, much more spacious than expected and stylish. Well situated for walks and cycling, exploring villages, swimming in the local lake or even visiting Italy for the day. And Sarah is a fantastic chef who will provide a delicious meal for you as well as generally welcoming you and offering local knowledge. I am already plannining my return when I again need to recharge my batteries. You also don't need to bring any books as her shelves are stuffed full of good things to read.
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Had the pleasure of spending a week at 'Le Petit Nid' and I can wholeheartedly recommend the experience to anyone. The experience of sitting next to the little stream at the rear of the cottage, in the evening, with the mountain vista, is one you will remember. The rooms are well furnished and the bed was one of the most comfortable I have slept in. The kitchen is fully supplied, and the living area provides a welcome escape from the sun when needed. We will be returning to 'Le Petit Nid' next year for a longer stay, and personally, I can't wait.
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We had a lovely stay at Le Petit Nid. Sarah was very welcoming and we particularly enjoyed the two meals that she cooked for us (only a short walk back!) The gite is perfectly located for a cyclist but also seems very well positioned for skiing (something we'd consider for the winter). We found it well appointed and loved the sound of the stream outside. Very much hope to return one day!
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My husband and I stayed at Le Petit Nid for one night in mid-May on our way back from Italy. I wish we could have had more time there. The gîte was gorgeous – beautifully decorated, with a cosy living room and comfortable bedrooms. A highlight of our stay was the fantastic three-course meal Sarah prepared. She and her husband were very welcoming hosts and we hope to stay there again in future.
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Lovely Petit Nid. We absolutely loved it and we hope we can come back again soon. We found it just brilliant for venturing out to the different ski resorts nearby. For rusty beginners and shaky intermediates the smaller resorts of the Seybelles and St Francouis Longchamp are really lovely and the 3 valleys express from Orelle is a thrilling access to the huge Val Thorens challenges.
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We stayed here the last week of January for a not-standard ski holiday. We took day trips to several ski areas and combined it with a city trip to Chambery. That combination made it very special. The house is lovely as are the hosts Sarah and Sebastian. The final evening we had a stunning dinner made by the excellent chef Sarah herself. Definitely highly recommended!
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We had a wonderful week here in the late autumn. The weather and the scenery were superb. We walked every day without ever having to leave the valley. The cottage was delightful and comfortable. We enjoyed the wood-burning stove, foraging for walnuts and exploring this peaceful and beautiful region. Sarah was welcoming and gave us lots of useful information. She had even found out about Halloween activities in the area for our kids. We hope to return
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Le Petit Nid did not disappoint in the slightest! The setting is warm, peaceful, and idyllic, providing the perfect get-away-from-it-all experience. Sarah is such a gracious host, and it is a pleasure to see all the details that have gone not only into the mill, but also into her delicious cooking. Her thoughtfully planned, heart-warming meals were something that we always looked forward to. Truly best meal I’ve ever had! Having previously worked for one of the largest Tour Operators in Europe, I must say that Le Petit Nid exemplifies the traveller experience. C'est magnifique!
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What a find! A gorgeous hidden place in a stunning valley. Truly a cosy nest. Sarah and Sebastian are delightful hosts. She is a Cordon bleu cook and the food is to die for so don't miss the chance of dinner or her homemade jams at breakfast.
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This is the second year that we have stayed the night as a stopover en route to our skiing holiday in La Plagne. Both times it has struck me how I wish we could stay longer! (with two small children ski-to-door is much easier for us at the moment). Sarah is always welcoming and the food is very good and much appreciated after a day eating at motorway service stations. The accommodation is excellent too (spacious and comfortable). I very much hope that one day we will stay for more than a night as Le Petit Nid certainly deserves to be a holiday destination in its own right.
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We had a wonderful stay. Everythig here is first class. A warm welcome, a beautifully presented property in every way. Sarah cooked delicious suppers, as we relaxed with an aperatif by a cosy fire. We felt very spoiled. We will definitly return.
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Location
The neighbourhood
Local points of interest from Sarah Dougall
- Sarah trained at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in Paris & provides delicious 3-course meals using local ingredients such as wild mushrooms, venison, wild boar, Savoyard cheeses, chestnuts & wild strawberries.
- Swimming lake with sandy beach & restaurant 5 minutes away.
- The region has some of the most scenic and challenging cycle rides in France with many of the cols featured in the Tour de France easily accessible.
- The outstanding surrounding scenery offers superb walking opportunities in summer, with spectacular displays of wild flowers, crystal clear lakes, forests and beautiful clear mountain air.
- There are ski resorts within approximately 30 minutes with great slopes and even greater prices. The 3-Valleys Express from Orelle (which links to Méribel, Courchevel & Val Thorens) is only 25 minutes away.
- Although set in tranquil countryside, La Chambre, Albertville & Chambery are a short drive away for shopping. Local artisanal products include soap, hand-blown glass, honey and goat’s cheese which make special gifts.
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My family and I recently spent 5 nights in Le Petit Nid, a 'home from home' full of rustic charm and character. The chalet is beautifully styled and spotlessly clean with everything you could possibly need (hairdryer, washing machine, nespresso coffee machine,good selection of books, etc.) There are also some incredible mountain views from the house. The beds are extremely comfortable with gorgeous linen. We particularly enjoyed relaxing in front of the wood burning stove after a day on the slopes. Sarah, the owner, is very friendly, helpful and an amazing cook! Highly recommend.