We are lucky to have friends who own a 160 year old farmhouse up near Mont d’Arbois near Megeve in the Haute Savoire district of France. Our 1st time there we had some directions with a couple of photos to help us. Drive along till you see a church at a fork in the road, veer left then turn left and drive 300m up a dirt track till you get to a golf course then park the car and walk uphill following the power line then eventually look back and the chalet is in a valley concealed by trees. We were lucky and the power had only recently been connected. Previously it was gas lighting. But it had a lovely old wood stove and was as comfortable as you could be. It was June and the wild berries were found all over the fields and the cattle and goats that had been moved up to the mountains for the summer months were scattered all over with their bells letting us know they were nearby. We fell in love with the place and have been fortunate to go back many times in both summer and in winter for an annual boys weekend where friends fly in from around the world for a weekend of good food, skiing and card games till the wee hours. The food highlights there are the tartiflette and fondue nights. Not to mention the local cheeses with Tomme and Beaufort being the favourites and the local Genepi spirit. A close neighbour, Yves, makes Tomme cheese from hand milking his 8 cows a day which is superb. The view out the entrance is Mont Blanc which can be stunning late in the day with the sun on it. The skiing on piste or off piste is superb. The off piste more fun with some spectacular falls. Megeve itself is small but busy all year round with the Tour de France or the Dauphine cycling races frequently coming through. Surrounding towns and villages all have their specialties and worth day trips when market day is on. Cycling in the summer is very popular with mountains in all directions. Mont d'Abois above the Arpettaz is one of the sacred mountains with oratories dotted along the Le Chemin du Calvaire walk from Megeve to the top of Mont d'Arbois. Walking trails around Mont d'Abois and Mont Joux are very popular in the summer.