Jill and Mark Steward's selection of French property for sale

About our area

The picture-perfect villages of Samoëns, Morillon, Verchaix, Taninges, Châtillon and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval sit in the stunning Vallée du Giffre, between the Morzine and Chamonix valleys. The Grand Massif ski area – and its 265 km of pistes – also includes Flaine and Les Carroz and is the fourth largest ski domain in France. The valley is just a 50 minute drive from Geneva, making it one of the most accessible snow-sure resorts in the French Alps. In summer, the Grand Massif is just as popular with families and adventure seekers alike. They are drawn to the fabulous hiking opportunities and mountain biking – using the chairlifts for access. There’s an outdoor pool in Samoëns, a swimming lake in Morillon, whitewater rafting on the Giffre, a summer luge in Les Carroz, plus tennis, pony trekking, adventure parks, weekly markets and numerous festivals. At the top of the Giffre valley is the quintessential mountain village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Surrounded by towering peaks, thundering waterfalls, and, crucially, no through road, it offers a peace and tranquility unrivalled in the Haute-Savoie. The valley is also ideally placed to provide easy access to Les Gets and the charming ski station of Praz de Lys-Sommand. In the last few years, several ski-lifts have either been upgraded or added in the Grand Massif. This is a resort on the up with year-round appeal and endless charm

About us

JILL & MARK STEWARD: In 2018, we moved to Samoëns from our home in Scotland in the UK with our son, who was 11 at the time. Although it has been a challenge at times, we both love living and working in this beautiful part of France. Before moving to France, I worked for 20 years in financial services in Scotland with Scottish Amicable and Prudential UK, most recently as an Operations Manager at a senior level. I have a degree in French from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and I am also fluent in Spanish and have basic German. Mark is a professional photographer with a background in publishing and cartography – which is rather handy for this line of work – also studied at St Andrews and has a degree in Geography. In 2021, we were the 3rd most successful agents out of 650 Leggett agents across France, selling, in total, over 12 million € worth of property in the Giffre Valley. We pride ourselves in our open and honest approach with our clients. HEATHER SEALY: My husband and I discovered this area over 15 years ago whilst living in Geneva and have, since 2014, been very happily settled in Morillon. Being born and raised in Canada instilled in me a love of the outdoors and outdoor sports in all seasons. My professional journey took me from a law degree through investment banking in London and Switzerland prior to finally settling in the French Alps. The opportunity came to permanently settle in the Grand-Massif when we bought an old village house in need of thorough renovation. We embarked on a project that allowed us to build strong relationships with local artisans, architects, contractors and neighbours who shared our passion to restore an important house in the community. Today I remain active in local associations and coordinate activities and events that allow new comers to get involved and share all this community has to offer.