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A Traditional Gite in a Beautiful Hilltop Village

Sleeps 4 plus 2 children

A traditional cottage in a beautiful area.

A real French experience in this beautiful village of Estal, in Lot region but only 5 miles from the River Dordogne. Originally a bastide house where you lived upstairs with your animals beneath you, it has been extended to include 2 double bedrooms, a large sitting room with inglenook fireplace, wood burning stove and sofa bed and roomy dining kitchen with access onto the terrace patio outside. There are stunning views and friendly people here. If you like, you can picnic in our 1 acre field beneath the house or in our large walnut orchard at the top of the village.

Canoeing, bicycling, swimming, walking, tennis, golf and gastronomy are all available nearby.

Meander up from Bretenoux through peach and walnut orchards and the vineyards of Glanes (the wine is thoroughly recommended!) to arrive at Estal, a small village perched on the edge of the hill, with the most beautiful views back down towards the Dordogne gorge.

This is real France and our house is the only one owned by English in the immediate area. Farming is the main activity and cows pass daily on the small track in front of us on their way to be milked. Chickens wander around and most of the houses have their own well tended vegetable patch.

The swallows swoop up and down the valley during the day to be followed by bats in the evening. The buzzard's call can be regularly heard plus the 'laughter' of the woodpeckers.

The house is comfortable with beams and wooden floors with an oak staircase built by the local carpenter. Downstairs it is tiled to keep the temperature cool in summer. In spring or autumn the wood burning stove in the large fireplace keeps you comfortable. There is a small library of books to read.

There is one double bed in the main bedroom and twin beds in the other bedroom. There is a sofa bed in the large sitting room and two camp style beds for young children.

Our neighbours look after this property for us, but we do not provide linen or towels.

The area around is stunning and there is much to do!

Go canoeing on the river Dordogne, swim in the river or the local pool; hire bicycles from Bretenoux; walk on the local footpaths or the grand rondonee which goes through the village; go sightseeing to Castlenau (5 miles), Chateau de Montal (8 miles - there is an attractive golf course here), Les Eyzies for prehistoric caves (40 miles), Rocamadour - on the pilgrimage route (30 miles), the Plus Beaux Villages of Carennac, Loubressac and Autoire, Collonges les Rouges all all within 10 miles; enjoy the delicious food and wine; shop in the local markets at Bretenoux or Saint Cere; go horse riding; or just enjoy being in the house.

Sample prices - Saturday to Saturday bookings

April and May £250 per week
June £280 per week
July £310 per week
August £360 per week
September £310 per week
October £280 per week
November to March £250 per week except over Christmas and New Year - £360 per week

Please contact me on 01747 830720 if you would like further information about our house.

Travel information

Our house is about 25 miles east of the N20 which goes south from Loire region, past Limoges and Brive.

The nearest port is CAEN which is 400 miles away.

The nearest airport is RODEZ (Ryanair), other airports nearby are LIMOGES, BERGERAC, TOULOUSE

Go to viamichelin dot com for distances and directions. Put 46130 Bretenoux in the destination postcode. Our house is 5 miles from Bretenoux.