back to top Architectural elegance

Architectural style is a very visual demonstration of the relationship between tradition and modernity. With alpine chalets this tension is almost always resolved with a deep bow to the weight of history: huge wooden beams, long sloping roofs, an open fire and a cosy rustic glow are almost prerequisite if a chalet is to be called a chalet. It has been endlessly stamped on our senses by postcards and chocolate boxes, by Heidi, by episodes of Ski Sunday.

Though inevitably Cragganmores' design gives a nod to the past, it is a nod, not a bow. Cragganmore looks to the future. It is far more Tate Modern than Natural History, you might say, built by the same brilliant young architect who has just finished the Hideaway futher down the valley. Cragganmore walks the line between modernism and postmodernism, a fusion of the latest technologies, noble materials, forward-looking vision, verve, drive and youthful inspiration, clean lines and sharp angles. It is unique. From the outside it is striking. Inside it is fascinating, surprising, different.

back to top Location

Cragganmores' style is the more striking for its juxtaposition with its surroundings. On the outskirts of Les Praz, five minutes up the valley from Chamonix town, the chalet is flanked by the river Arve, which flows languidly along the back edge of the garden and adds a soothing background sound. On its southern edge is the par 3 4th hole of the Chamonix golf course, and if you're planning to ski the Flegere and Brevent you are just a little more than a pitch and putt away - and while you'll need a driver to reach the Grands Montets, when compared to Chamonix town Chalet cragganmore is already halfway there.

back to top Living Area

Cragganmore is unusual, atypical, and nowhere is this more evident than in the main living area. The centrepiece is a square 360° fireplace, hung from the ceiling and hovering about two feet from the floor. It's not a fireplace to play monopoly around - if you're feeling the draw of Old Kent Road then the snug downstairs home-cinema is the spot. This fireplace wants to be looked at and talked about. And sat around, of course, and here you can sit everyone comfortably all the way around it.

Adjoining you have the dining area, not large by comparison but more than sufficient for meals in roomy comfort. Overlooking the main space on a very private mezzanine you have a desk equipped with printer and full WIFI, then outside there is a deck that frames two sides of the chalet and is large enough to sit your whole party for champagne or mulled wine with the early evening sunshine for company.

back to top Bedrooms

The chalet is built in a 'Y' shape, and the bedrooms on each floor mirror each other, one on either arm of the 'Y'. The rooms are luxurious, stylish, each decorated with its own striking hand-printed wallpaper. There is every modern convenience, from the more obvious satellite TV, the light-occluding shutters, down to small details like the fitted cupboards with automatic lighting, the iPod chargers so it doesn't matter that you forgot yours. The matresses are zip-locking, so each room can be either a twin or a double.

back to top Bedroom 2

back to top Bedroom 3

back to top Bedroom 4

back to top Bathrooms

The bathrooms show how much freedom there was in the creativity of the chalet's design: all the shower cubicles are in strikingly sculpted granite, and you'll want to spend as much time looking at them as showering in them. Power showers all round, and an extra shower for the sauna on the ground floor.

back to top Kitchen

The modern kitchen is equipped for whatever you might want to use it for. Unusually, the hotplates are on the central island, making cooking a very social experience: you can chat with the people on the sofas by the fire while you chop, steam or fry, while your wine cools in the dedicated wine fridge...or you can watch the kitchen's own satellite TV...or indeed leave the cooking to one of our private chefs...

back to top Cinema and games room

This stunningly equipped and hugely comfortable Bose cinema is the perfect place to curl up in the evening or on rest days and is also equiped with a Wii and an assortement of classic board games.

back to top Outside hot tub

Soak away all your aches and pains after a hard day on the slopes in this very private but external hot-tub. It is equipped with multiple settings, a stereo and underwater lights.

back to top Gym - Indoor climbing wall

The mirror walled gym has a hi-tech inclined running machine and exercise bike as well as free weights and a crash matt protected bouldering wall!

back to top Sauna

back to top Facilities

Cragganmore has everything. You are probably coming in order to ski - Saphir is very close to the Flegere lift, a quick drive or a beautiful fifteen minute walk away. It is close to Le Cabane, one of the valley's finest restaurants. And if you're staying in, on top of the central space and astonishing fireplace you have a very large garden for snowball fights, with a hot tub off in the corner, the river just behind it.

Then inside you have an upstairs desk if you need to turn on the laptop (though be warned, the internet connection is not fast enough for anything much beyond checking your email); downstairs there are heated racks for boots and ski jackets, a dedicated massage room, the gym has space for your morning yoga, running machines and weights to sweat out the end of your day, and a climbing/bouldering wall for a bit of cross-training while the kids are next door in the large home cinema/games room. Or maybe the kids are on the climbing wall (it has a safety mat!) while you're in the home cinema. Whichever way you want to organise it, there's as much as you could want.

back to top Services provided

Self Catered Option includes:

• Concierge service before and during your stay to help organise any services you might require such as ski pass purchase, transport etc

• A welcome at the chalet to explain how everything works as well as the chalet rules; a summary of what is going on in Chamonix and the best places to visit, rent skis, go out etc; a run through and confirmation of any services you may have pre booked with us such as guides, monitors, baby sitters etc

• 12 hours of housekeeping organised at a time most convenient to you.

Comfort Pack Includes:

• Concierge service before and during your stay to help organise the services included at the most convenient times for you as well as anyadditional services you might require such as ski pass purchase, transport, guides etc

• A welcome drink at the chalet to explain how everything works as well as the chalet rules; a summary of what is going on in Chamonix and the best places to visit, rent skis, go out etc; a run through and confirmation of any services you may have pre booked with us such as guides, monitors, baby sitters etc

• Daily housekeeping including a full change of linen and towens in the middle of your stay.

• Fresh fruit and flowers: an elegant bouquet, as well as a large bowl of fresh seasonal fruits will be present on your arrival.

• Bathroom Products: at the beginning of your stay a range of high quality bathroom products will be provided for each bathroom.

• Fridge filling and champagne: the fridge will be stocked with a variety of the finest local fare, so you can prepare a light meal on your arrival and enjoy your first breakfast without having to worry about shopping or bringing your own food. Do let us know if any of your group have special dietary requirements.

• Chocolates: A box of delicious local chocolates will be waiting for you upon arrival.

• Newspapers: every morning a daily newspaper of your choice will be delivered by the housekeeper.

• Daily spa Servicing: The hot tub will be checked and rebalanced for you each morning.

Fully Catered Includes

• A full time host: Dedicated to making your stay as enjoyable as possible by organising the services included at the most convenient times for you as well as anyadditional services you might require.Your host starts working for you before your arrival and remains available throughout your stay.

• A welcome drink at the chalet to introduce all the staff who will be striving to make your stay in Chamonix better than you expect.....

• Daily housekeeping including a full change of linen and towens in the middle of your stay.

• Fresh fruit and flowers: an elegant bouquet, as well as a large bowl of fresh seasonal fruits will be present on your arriva and changed mid-stay.

• Bathroom Products: at the beginning of your stay a range of high quality bathroom products will be provided for each bathroom.

• Fridge filling and champagne: the fridge will be stocked with a variety of the finest local fare, so you can prepare a light meal on your arrival and enjoy your first breakfast without having to worry about shopping or bringing your own food. Do let us know if any of your group have special dietary requirements.

• Chocolates: upon arrival a box of delicious local chocolates will be presented.

• Newspapers: every morning a daily newspaper of your choice will be delivered by the housekeeper.

• Daily spa Servicing: The hot tub will be checked and rebalanced for you each morning.

• Chef:Our chefs are all fully trained with years of experience but more importantly completely at your service. They come every day to prepare a cooked or continental breakfast, freshly baked cakes for tea and then a lavish evening meal with all drinks included. They will liase with you prior to arrival for any special dietry requirements as well as to fine tune the menu to your preferences.

• Wine and soft drinks - A good quantity of wines and all soft drinks are included at your discretion. A further wine list is available for connoisseurs.

• Transport: 2 drivers and vans will pick you up at the airport and will then be available at your convenience throughout your stay. This means that you can easily split your ski days between different areas of the valley, catering for different skiing abilities or simply tracking the sunshine throughout the day; you can pop into town for supplies without any hassle; you can make the most of the valley's restaurants, bars and nightclubs without needing a designated driver, and without risking finding out at 4am that Chamonix has no all-night taxis.

• Masseueuse: A limited number of massages is available for your group

• Guide/Monitor: we include one guide or monitor for the week either to help you explore all the different areas in the valley or to take care of and help any children improve from a personal teacher.