Skiing Pyrenees
Benn and Amy Coley moved to South West France nearly 5 years ago to start a family run holiday business. Having just finished their 5th Summer season, the business has gone from strength to strength.
Life certainly has changed for them both. For Benn it's no more complicated cash flow forecasts and worrying about impending VAT inspections and for Amy, previously a freelance court stenographer, she no longer worries whether she got that last crucial sentence down correctly. Now it's all about gardening, driving, booking guest activities, house cleaning, cooking and, of course making sure their guests have a fantastic holiday. You may have seen them on Channel 4's No Going Back series - they were featured twice: originally in 2003, covering their move to France and setting up their Summer business and then, in 2006, a 6 part series about expanding their business into skiing and the French Pyrenees.
French Fusion provides tailor-made, exclusive adventure holidays for groups of 6 to 11 people from their base in Pouillon, situated in the Landes in South West France near the sandy beaches of Hossegor and Biarritz. Everything is arranged for you: from airport pickups, your accommodation, all your meals (except when dining out in one of the many fantastic local restaurants), all your activities, all transport and back to your airport drop off. The holiday is based around all the activities on offer in and around Pouillon, which is fantastically situated, being no more than 45 minutes to famous Atlantic sandy surfing beaches and only 1 hour 30 minutes from some of the ski stations of the Pyrenees. Activities on offer include surfing, white water rafting, canyoning, caving, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, horse riding, quad biking to the less strenuous activities of wine tasting, visiting glorious French markets, eating fantastic food, thermal spas and of course, just relaxing!
French Fusion's summer business is based out of their 6 bedroom property in Pouillon. They can sleep up to 11 people (3 doubles, 1 double/twin and 1 triple), there are 4 bathrooms, bar and games room (with pool table, table football, darts, board games). Your group will have exclusive use of the heated outdoor swimming pool with glorious views of the Landes countryside and the mountains of the Pyrenees. They also provide mountain bikes so you can head off and explore under your own steam or be escorted by Benn.
Benn and Amy live on site with their son Jacques in a house that annexes the main guest house. Being on site allows them to pamper you and make sure that everything is to your satisfaction and that all meals are served on time!
3 years ago French Fusion started its skiing business in Cauterets in the Hautes Pyrenees. Skiing-Pyrenees follows the same business ethos as French Fusion - tailor-made, exclusive ski holidays for groups of 6 to 14 people, especially families and friends. The business is run from their 3 apartments situated in the heart of Cauterets, not more than a 5 minute walk to the 8 man telecabins whisking you up to a snow sure 1850m. Cauterets is one of the gems of the French Pyrenees, a beautiful historic town, full of fantastic architecture, people, markets, bars and restaurants. It is a fantastic, affordable family alternative to the Alps. Cauterets is children friendly (labelled a ‘kid station' in France) and has fantastic facilities for children: great ski schools, crèches, amusement arcade, swimming pool, ice skating, cinema and a welcoming atmosphere.
For more information on Summer and Winter breaks with Benn and Amy at French Fusion, take a look at their website:
or just give them a call for a friendly informal chat on 0558 982596 Article written by Benn Coley for Winter 2007 issue; read an
about Benn and Amy from the Sunday Mirror (April 2006)
