Luxury villa retreat - private heated infinity pool, 50 acres, 15-20min to Céret

About Karen McClellan

Amidst raising a young family and pursuing two careers as medical doctor and climate change specialist in London, Martin and Karen, a British/American couple, have worked very hard and over many holidays to create a high quality, original, and welcoming property which celebrates local materials and Catalan style. We bought the property in 2004 as a lasting gift to our three children and to family generations to come. We enjoy teaching our children about nature in the wild Pyrenees, much as we do on our sailing vacations. We also love the deeply-rooted local customs and culture in vibrant Ceret and its surrounding landscapes of sea and vineyards. Our French house has become an oasis for us: it is a great pleasure to see that our guests also find the luxury of serenity at Mas Soubiranne.

Why Karen McClellan chose Ceret

We bought the property as a leaky hovel in early 2005. It was a rare chance to buy 50 acres of mountain property, along with its pure well water and rich earth. The mountains and sea offered huge possibility for sports, skiing and exploration, enticing for a young family with boys. The road leading past the Mas travels up over the old route to Spain, & we love taking Alpine walks above the French and Spanish coastline. The terraced farm still produces cherries, apples, apricots, plums, chestnuts, and walnuts; mushrooms abound. We believe that conservation of our land is a serious responsibility, and we will introduce solar power to make it energy self-sufficient. At the same time, we have easy access to the culture and history in the towns and cities below, as well as to London and Europe.

What makes this Villa unique

Some of our favorite activities include cultivation and landscaping of the property; hunting enormous beetles and butterflies; picking cherries from our trees - perhaps to be sold in the cherry festival; cooking extravagantly with home grown herbs, mint and lavender; dining at the pool at twilight; visiting our neighbour, a widely exhibited and popular Catalan artist who will show you his work and studio; buying fois gras from the mas below; hiking down the mountain to Ceret; watching Sardanne dancing in the streets; buying anchovies in Collioure; watching the stars come out and listening for owls and wild boar with the kids. Lots of time for reading and swimming in the infinity pool, which some call the best in Ceret!