Le Dattier

Location, location, location, the estate agents are always right and location is absolutely critical!

The 'Côte d'Azur', that supposedly perfect sun-drenched coastline, is not what it was 50 years ago: it's overbuilt with concrete and empty beaches are almost impossible to find.

You have to be very selective to find natural coastline and pretty beaches

The Var coastline is a better bet but, even then, you have to be very selective to find natural coastline and pretty beaches, so when a friend said, 32 years ago, "that his mother was thinking of selling Le Dattier to go back to live in Capetown it was a no brainer!"

And the views out to the Iles du Levant are stunning

Le Dattier is located 'pied dans la mer' on one of the few remaining natural coastal sections between Nice and Toulon. It's all conservation land and 300 metres above us is an unspoilt village of 15 houses - Le Dattier - and, below, steps from the garden lead you down to a flat section of rock where you can sunbathe or swim. It's very difficult for others to reach this bay on foot so it's effectively your own private area. And the views out to the Iles du Levant are stunning. The joy is that you've got a lovely house in an isolated coastal position but the bright lights of Saint-Tropez and other delights are within easy reach.

We like to think it feels like home!

Over 30 years we've changed almost everything in the house with the result that it's now a very comfortable home. A new front door and portico greet visitors and the entrance hall offers a lovely view out to sea across the garden. The sitting room is large and spacious with comfortable sofas and large TV and each of the 3 bedrooms on the ground floor has an en-suite shower room or, in the case of the master bed, a bathroom. The kitchen is new and vast – 7 metres x 6 metres – with all mod cons including an American fridge / freezer and a desk in one corner offers a computer / study area. The sous-sol floor below is independent and has been converted from a workroom and garage into two more bedrooms, each with a shower room en-suite. So we've now got 5 bedrooms, four with lovely sea views and all with en-suites. We like to think it feels like home!

The lower level has sun loungers and access to the steps leading to the rocks and the sea

The garden has been completely rebuilt so that there are now three levels of terrace. The main one offers dining on the patio outside the kitchen and another table outside the sitting room. The middle level has a table and chairs for drinks and the lower level has sun loungers and access to the steps leading to the rocks and the sea. Views everywhere and lots of space for both sun and shade whichever you want.

There are several marvellous walks you can take from Le Dattier

And, last but not least, because the setting is in a conservation area, there are several marvellous walks you can take from Le Dattier. Le Dattier used to be a station on the old coastal railway line which forms part of the 'sentier littoral', the coastal path, which runs for miles in both directions: 3kms to the west is Le Rayol, a charming unspoilt village with a classic brasserie favoured over the years by the presidents of France when they come down to their summer retreat, and 4 kms to the East is Cavalaire.

It really is a very special location!

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