Rou Estate - Laurus

BFB's Overview.

The BFB sisters are BIG fans of Corfu and we’ve been on the look-out for baby-friendly holiday gems there ever since our first visit.

We recently stayed in the exclusive north east and have rarely been so taken with a location. Pine-clad hillsides trickle down into pretty, harbourside villages and beaches all fringed by the brightest of blue seas. Restaurants are plentiful and although we’ve always loved Greek food, the tavernas in this region seem a cut above too. We enjoyed many long and lazy lunches by the water devouring plates of delicious mezze while sipping from carafes of delicious and wonderfully reasonable, local Rose. It was our little slice of holiday heaven and we’ve now found the perfect place for BFB families hoping to experience it for themselves.

‘Rou Estate’ a dreamy and luxurious village cluster with a host of awards and accolades, including a feature in The Times top 100 places to stay list. Sound special? We like to think so!

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Pantokrator, Rou is the vision of British architect and Norman Foster protégée, Dominic Skinner and his Dutch wife Claire. Together, they have transformed it from a ruined hamlet into an elegant estate of 14 luxurious villas that combine local charm with contemporary style and family-friendly touches. There’s also a central swimming pool, onsite restaurant, spa, nanny service, gym and Mediterranean gardens, so pretty that they’ve garnered their own awards.

The estate’s restaurant has a reputation almost as impressive as its sea views with its chef, Mikalis, known to serve amongst the best, local cuisine on the island – the perfect ‘date night’ location should parents wish to take advantage of the Estate’s nanny service.

For other meals, the staff are always on hand to help by arranging a delivery from a local taverna, supermarket, bakery or butcher, or even a private chef to cook ‘in house’ at the villas for a special occasion. On the subject of food, fitness fans will find the estate gym a welcome aid in burning off some of that delicious food. A cool and contemporary space, it has a range of equipment and the staff can help arrange personal trainers, yoga instructors and more on request.

In need of a little extra relaxation? There’s a wonderful spa onsite which offers a choice of treatments rooms, sauna, steam shower and hot tub. Treatments can be booked in advanced and enjoyed in the spa or in the comfort of your own holiday home (perfect for fitting in a massage while little one’s nap).

Don’t let the properties rural location fool you, although it’s wonderfully tranquil, the property is just a short drive from a choice of pretty villages and tasteful, taverna-backed coves (often pebbly so bring beach shoes). Agni (6km) is unmissable as it is home to one of the area’s best beachfront restaurants and has a brilliant little boat hire office allowing for memory making days out exploring coves and villages along the coast. No trip to the area would be complete without a visit to The White House in Kalami. Once home to the Durrell brothers, the house is now a small hotel with terraced restaurant, where the food and view are hard to beat.

From lazy lunches by the water, fuelled by little carafes of local rose and freshly caught seafood to hiring your own little boat for a day exploring and picnicking on the water, a holiday to Rou Estate is bound to memorable. You could simply hole up by the pool for the majority, littles one contentedly playing while you sit back and soak up the views. Whatever you choose to do, it will be impossible not to fall in love with Corfu.

Accommodation Overview

The estate has 14 houses varying in size from 2-5 bedrooms. Each house is expertly equipped and come with their own pools, air conditioning (bedrooms), private terraces, a BBQ and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Laurus in the central house of three adjoining properties along the estates wisteria covered, central walkway. The house sleeps four plus an infant in two bedrooms. It is beautifully furnished, bright and restful. On the ground floor there is a welcoming kitchen diner. It is well equipped, with a hob, oven, fridge, mircowave, dishwasher and washing machine. Up two internal steps, is the attractive living room. It has comfy sofas, a TV and DVD player. Downstairs there is a lovely double room with en-suite bathroom and a further twin bedroom. Both bedrooms open onto the wisteria covered arches of the central walkway.

Outside the house has a small courtyard area with private plunge pool, dining area and barbecue.

An iron, ironing board, hairdryer, pool and bath toys are provided.

Please note: The village gardens and the properties themselves may have small sets of stairs, inclines or steps throughout the interior and the grounds. The property is unsuitable for those with mobility issues and parents with rambunctious children may want to consider that.

Location Information

Famous for its verdant scenery and idyllic beaches, Corfu is often considered the most beautiful of the Greek islands and the setting of the Rou Estate is particularly idyllic in the quieter North East of the Island, where the water is exceptionally clear and the countryside verdant.

There’s a good choice of restaurants, shops and bars just a short drive away along with a choice of beaches. We recommend the pretty seaside village of Agios Stephanos which has a good choice of restaurants, a little beach, boat hire, bars and more.

Keen walkers may wish to tackle Mount Pantokrator which is set above Rou Estate and surrounded by rugged terrace but filled with rare flowers and has a couple of ancient churches/monasteries to take in along the way. The owners are working on a range of walking routes to provided guests on arrival.

Corfu town (35km away) is well worth a visit and often surprises guests with its beautiful Venetian architecture. The harbour is a lovely place to while away a few hours, whilst the great choice of galleries and museums are perfect for those in search of a little more culture. We also recommend visiting the beautiful, French built café-lined promenade known at the Liston.

Getting there: A range of airlines fly to Corfu and the airport is approx. 1 hour drive away. We recommend hiring a car and guests should note the final stretch of road to the Rou Estate is an unpaved track so drivers should take care.