Snowgums

Snowgums is close enough to the best of the villages of Serre Chevalier-Chantemerle-yet far enough away to be still at night. The Chantlemerle bus is close by, free, quick and cheerful. Pippa's place is a wonderfully old French mountain house with everything modern needed. You are more proof that Sawday's does not disappoint only excels. Your attention to your guests' needs and answering our endless questions helpfully and with great deference - we thank you.

Pippa was a wonderful host, we really appreciated her local knowledge and all her recommendations. We went on some outstandingly beautiful hikes, swam in mountain lakes and enjoyed the lovely spa in Monêtier. The apartment was cosy and had everything we needed.

We had a wonderful stay at Snowgums. Pippa was full of great recommendations for a family staying without a car. We had a brilliant five days exploring the valleys near to Briancon. The children loved the Wendy house, the toys, and dog Chine. Thank you for a brilliant stay! Ellie, John, Alma and Romy

We couldn't have loved our stay at Snowgums any more than we did! The studio was well-equipped, cosy and comfortable. There was the huge bonus of the free shuttle into town, only a few minutes walk away. We went to the spa, ate in and ate out, explored the beautiful local towns, went walking, skied constantly (even when the rest of France seemed to have no snow) we even had a go at snow-boarding. Pippa was an excellent host with masses of local knowledge.

We had a lovely stay at Snowgums, the river walk was perfect for the dogs which is a big thing for us. Eating dinner at the top of the Col du Granon was total treat. Chantermerle was great for cake shops and spuddling and I loved the bike park which was as good as anywhere I've ridden in france. We also had the loveliest meal in Nevache, which is beatiful, but it was just as nice in the Garden at Snowgums relaxing in the sun. Pippa made us feel really welcome and helped out with info whenever we needed a guide. Thanks for a lovely holiday, Matt & Jo (plus many dogs!)

We had a great stay with Pippa. The apartment was very comfortable and well equipped. Pippa was terrific with helping us find just the right hikes for the weather and our capabilities. We had two dinners provided by a local chef and they were both outstanding. I would highly recommend this inn.

We loved staying in such an old building - brought alive by reading Emilie Carle;s Wild Herb Soup. We enjoyed super skiing, mostly in sunshine. Snowfall on the last day made for added adventure and excitement. Lovely twilight walks by the river, sunbathing on the terrace accompanied by Chine, the dog, and many delicious treats from the Chantmerle patisserie. We have been really charmed by this very special corner of the Alps.

Thank you so much - we had a great stay at Snowgums in August 2020. Pippa is an amazing host, sharing all her tips for great hikes and attractions in the area. Thanks to her suggestions, we had a fabulous time exploring the area and relaxing with some great homecooked food (from one of the local chefs). The apartment is very comfortable and with easy access to the garden- ideal for kids. Great for a family holiday. Highly recommend and can't wait to stay at Snowgums again.

Thank you so much for a wonderful holiday. We have had a magical time and you have been the most wonderful hosts. The apartment is lovely, you were both so great with the children and the village and skiing was amazing! We can't wait to come back next year!

We wanted to visit France but are not fans of the bustle of areas with big populations visiting but were travelling in the peak season and after contact with Pippa decided that this accommodation would fit the bill of our requirements Looking back, we now know what a fluke this choice was. We loved every moment of our visit and experienced so much that we had not anticipated. As a childhood fan of the books about Heidi, I felt I stepped into that world again when I was able to see the first glacier that I had witnessed. The whole experience of our visit was exceptional.

We loved staying at Snowgums! The apartment is very homely and Pippa made us feel relaxed from the get go. Our children (ages 6 and 3) had many hours of fun running their restaurant in the Wendy house and having races each evening down to the bottom of the field out front. The ice cave at La Grave was very impressive and the kids also loved the Monty express (luge), and of course Le Tour was a highlight! It was a fantastic place for walking our dog and Pippa gave us many valuable tips and suggestions for where to go - she is a terrific host.

We had an absolutely lovely time staying at Snowgums. Pippa, the owner, is very dedicated to helping you have the best stay and experiencing the copious amounts of things to do and places to explore. I felt like Heidi on the fabulous walks she recommended. There are lakes, a spa, a river, a lovely medieval town to have a crepe. Super refuge restaurants to visit in the mountains. Our apartment was really pleasant and tastefully put together, full of beautiful objet d'art bought from local flea markets, which means a lot to me. A soothing place to return to after a busy day out. I have come home

Thanks so much for your hospitality and for sharing your cosy apartment. It was a perfect retreat. We absolutely loved your suggestions for walks, and really fell in love with the smaller valleys and their picturesque villages and mountain refuges. We truly hope to return, and to continue the conversations too! You are most welcoming, which we greatly appreciated.

We a wonderful Christmas break staying at Snowgums and skiing at Serre Chevalier as a family of five. Pippa and Becky made us so welcome and added lots of special festive touches that added even more to the very special ambiance of this apartment, which has been sensitively restored and tastefully decorated. We enjoyed the visits from Chine the dog and Luc the cat. The skiing was the best we've ever had, helped by sunshine and blue skies. Christmas meals from chef Carol were awesome and kept us going for multiple days, and on Pippa's advice we visited Briancon old town, which we enjoyed too.

A fantastic, lucky choice for our first Alpine adventure: a cool, restful home to return to after a hot day out exploring. We had a lovely week, arriving and getting around by public transport (although next time we'll hire a car too). It's been the perfect compliment to our preceding four nights in Turin and we now have so many ideas for what to do on our next visit.

Pippa is an exceedingly welcoming and likeable host. She listens well and takes a great deal of time and effort helping you get the most out of your stay at Snowgums which is such a helpful addition. Snowgums is a quirky older building which is a treat to experience; and the surrounding nature trails are an outdoor lover’s paradise. Snowgums is a tidy and clean self-catered apartment with all the necessities. Local chef Carol can provide super meals for a reasonable cost to enjoy at the apartment which makes life simple; and our dog, Jasper, was welcomed as well as us with no fuss at all.

While part of a group organised by 'France Walks' to visit the Hautes Aples, I and my two singing and walking companions stayed in the Snowgums apartment, hosted by Pippa. The accommodation was very comfortable, very French and made us feel very much 'at home' with lots of little touches like wild flowers in vases, suppress in the orchard garden, getting to know Pippa's family: daughter, dog and pussy cat! A beautiful area to visit, Pippa is the perfect guide as well as the perfect host. Pop over from Italy or come down from Paris.

A wonderful week walking up high in the mountains and staying at Snowgums - great advice from Pippa allowed us to manage without a car and do everything we might have wished. A fantastic week to clear out all the cobwebs, I hope we can do it again, maybe in the skiing season next time.

We spent a wonderful two weeks at Snowgums. It's in a fantastic location with easy access to stunning mountain walks and to the thermal baths in Monetier. The apartment was bright, cosy and comfortable, and Pippa was exceptionally welcoming and full of helpful advice and tips about the area. We would definitely recommend it!

We loved our stay here so much we are already planning a return trip. Pippa and her daughter Becky were welcoming and made us feel at home the minute we arrived. The accommodation is charming, clean, well equipped and warm despite the minus temperatures outside. Don't miss out on a visit to the thermal baths at Montier les Bains swimming in the dark with the snow falling was amazing and try out the Ski Nordique in the nearby Vallée de Clarée. Great walks down by the river from Snowgums and ideal for dog owners. Merci Beaucoup Pippa et Becky !