Farmhouse with Pool and Breathtaking Views
Traditional French Farmhouse in Deep, Unspoilt, Rural France
Sleeps up to 12 (5 Bedrooms + bed-settee)
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La Garrigue is located in the delightful, spectacular Aveyron 4.5 miles and 500m up from Entraygues Sur Truyere. The house offers breathtaking views over the Lot Valley and a scattering of picturesque hamlets with architectural wonders. It is less than 1 hour's drive from some of the most beautiful towns and villages in France. Amongst these are Conques and Estaing. A little further away you find the viaduct of Millau, the tallest bridge in the world which forms the gateway to the south of France. From here you can visit the cheese caves of Roquefort or drive up the Tarn Gorge to some of the most famous caves and underground rivers in the world. If you would rather stay around the house, Campouriez with it's beautiful stone church and its tabac/restaurant/hotel is only 40 minutes walk away. A jewel not to be missed is the hamlet of Bezbeden situated on a knife-like ridge. The area around the house and the pool is perfect for relaxing/sunbathing, alfresco meals or star-gazing.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 18 December 2010 - 31 December 2010 | £800 | 7 | ||
| 11 June 2011 - 30 June 2011 | £1000 | 7 | ||
| 2 July 2011 - 30 July 2011 | £1000 | 7 | ||
| 30 July 2011 - 27 August 2011 | £1200 | 7 | ||
| 27 August 2011 - 1 October 2011 | £800 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
Discounts available for lets of more than 4 weeks. 10% discount for bookings before January.
Thinking of moving to Aveyron? Long term rates available, giving you chance to intergrate into French rural living whilst house hunting and sampling "life".
Late availability - contact owner for details.
Changeover day
The changeover days are Saturdays with arrivals after 5pm unless otherwise agreed and departures 10am. You are kindly requested to leave the house in the same state as it was found. Failing to do so could result in you losing your refundable deposit.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with king-size bed. Bedroom 2 with double bed. Bedroom 3 + 4 with twin beds. A bed-settee + pull-out beds Bedroom 5 with high bed + low bed in L shape. Landing area with 2 pull out beds for children. The bedrooms are on two floors. |
| Bathrooms: | Main bathroom with bath/shower, WC and washbasin. 2nd bathroom with washbasin and shower + separate WC. 3rd bathroom with shower/WC on the pool level |
| Kitchen: | Main kitchen/dining area on ground floor leading to the 10x3m balcony. Open-plan kitchen/dining area on 1st floor. Summer kitchen in former wine cellar on pool level. This kitchen is equipped with melamine (plastic) plates, glasses and a fridge/freezer. |
| Utility Room: | A washing machine and tumble dryer can also be found in the former "wine cellar" in a separate utility room next to the shower room. There is also ample drying space indoors and outdoors. |
| Living Rooms: | Light and airy lounge with cream 3 + 2 seater settees with loose covers, 3 seater cane/wicker settees, DVD player, books, games and DVDs. Dining area on ground floor with open fire. Dining area on first floor with double bed-settee + feature log-burner. |
| Other: | Wine cellar with 'summer kitchen' on pool level to allow for those 'alfresco' meals on the large patio area. The former wine cellar offers a chance to 'hide' from the sun or there is a shaded area in the courtyard for games of table tennis and darts. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Bed linen, towels and beach towels are optional extras at £10 per person per week. The property is thoroughly cleaned between lets. If, however, the property is left in a poor state, the guests will lose their deposit. Meals optional extra upon request. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer fridge microwave washing machine tumble dryer iron/ironing board tv internet access central heating room fans cot high chair barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
La Garrigue has central heating, an unlimited supply of hot water, fans in all the rooms for your comfort, stair gates for your children's safety, a play area with swings, a table tennis table under cover in the courtyard and a whole drive which can be used for various out door games e.g. boules, badminton. There is ample room for sun-bathing around the pool. The area is a walker's paradise being near the main pilgrim route. Other activities include canoeing, fishing, swimming in the river or nearby lakes with beaches and plenty of outdoor activities and BBQ areas. Tennis can be played nearby. Other activities: horse riding and skiing in the winter approx. 1 hour away at Le Lioran, an excellent family resort. On the Aubrac plateau there are over 100 miles of cross-country tracks. In addition, La Garrigue forms an excellent base for excursions and day trips. The property is surrounded by farmland and is very quiet and peaceful. The closest neighbours are 500 yards away.
Outside
The 10 x 5m pool is heated by the sun to 30C. There is a large decked area for sunbathing and ample choice of wooden, outdoor furniture. Should you need to escape from the sun, you can 'hide' in the former wine cellar. The area behind the pool has more than 300 lavender bushes to help soothe you. The former wine cellar with the 'summer kitchen' opens on to a patio area with picnic table and barbecue. The private road can be used for various ball games and there is a table tennis table and dart board under cover in the courtyard. There is also a play area for children with swings, a football goal and pole with tennis ball to keep the younger generation amused. La Garrigue also forms an excellent base for various shorter or longer excursions or walks. If you are a painter, photographer, writer, reader, walker, star gazer or a chiller outer, you have come to the right place. The property is not suitable as a 'party' place for the younger generation.
Coast/Beach
The beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean are an easy 2/3 hour's drive away. Guests have made the drive on several occasions and can recommend it as the drive itself takes you through some beautiful areas and over the tallest bridge in the world at Millau forming the gateway to the south of France.
Skiing
A good family ski-resort Le Lioran is approximately 1 hour away. This can be found on the net. People come from as far away as Montpellier to ski here rather than travelling to the Pyrenees. Some of my guests this summer drove to the resort, took a chair-lift to the top and walked along the ridge. They told me it was an unforgettable experience and would recommend it to anyone. Otherwise, there is a ski-resort just above Laguiole a little bit closer but not quite so high which means less snow. The famous Laguiole knives come from here, and the town is well worth a visit. It is approx. 40 minutes away. For those interested in cross-country skiing, this can be done on the Aubrac plateau where over 100 km or tracks can be found. Here, you can also experience walking with snowshoes.
Special interest holidays
La Garrigue is ideal for painters, photographers, writers, star-gazers, walkers or for those who just want to 'chill out' and to do nothing but take in the spectacular scenery. For those who want to learn French, tailor made crash-courses can be arranged for adults and children alike. Details on application. La Garrigue is also available for long-term lets for those interested in relocating to this wonderful area and need a base to house hunt from or just get a feel for the area during the colder season. Remember, each season has its charm. Although it can get quite chilly during the winter, it is not your damp, penetrating cold like the one you have in England. I have my own living quarters in the barn and can be available for French language tuition to make your integration easier. The area is totally unspoilt and the properties are still extremely cheap here. Long-term lets would be between September and April, and the rent is negotiable.
Travel
The nearest airport to La Garrigue is Marcillac just outside Rodez approx 1 hour's easy and pleasant drive away. Use of car is essential. There is a good choice of hire cars at the airport and these can be booked through Ryanair in addition to your flights.
There is a substantial supermarket - SUPERU - halv way between the airport and the house. This is a good place to stock up as the smaller shops closer to La Garrigue might not have everything you require in stock.
Distances
The nearest hamlet, Campouri, is 40 minutes walk away and the nearest town Entraygues Sur Truyeres ('entraygues' meaning 'between two waters' in Patois) is 4.5 miles down the road where the rivers Lot and Truyere meet. Places of interest include the tiny hamlet of Bezbedene, 10 minutes drive away, Conques (on UNESCO'S heritage list), 40 minutes drive away and Laguiole, famous for its knives, on the Aubrac plateau 30 minutes in addition to one of France's most beautiful villages Estaing.
Further details
The nearest restaurant is 'Le Coustoubi' in Campouriez. Here you can sample some of the local dishes cooked to perfection and wine from the local vineyards. The whole area used to one of the most important wine districts in France until 1860 when a disease killed off most of the vines. There are numerous wine-tasting 'degustations' opportunities in the vicinity. Entraygues offers a variety of shops including a knife shop selling the world famous 'Laguiole' knives, restaurants, bars, cafés and a wonderful salon de thé. Your nearest bank and post office can be found here and the tourist office gives you all the information you need for a perfect holiday. There is a market in the town every Friday morning. The nearest big supermarket is 30 minutes away in Espalion a town well worth a visit with its Gothic bridge, diving museum and stunning sandstone church. If you fancy a change from the private pool, there is a larger one at a camp site just down the road where you will also find a tennis court or you can drive to one of the 3 dams which has been made into a leisure area with beach and pedalos. There is a canoe/kayak center in Entraygues offering well-organised trips on the river. For those interested in horse-riding, there is an excellent riding center just up from the town. The pony-treks last from 2 hours to a whole day and take beginners and advanced riders alike. There is also an opportunity to hire mountain bikes or use the two that belong to the property. Should you feel to 'lazy' to cook or go out for a meal, you can order meals 'sur place' at an extra cost. Pizza evenings with pizzas cooked in the bread oven and live music played by friends, can be arranged. These evenings have proven extremely popular. Otherwise, there will be a welcome hamper consisting of bread, ham, cheese, wine, jam, croissants, coffee, tea, milk, sugar, butter and orange juice to tide you over until you do your shopping. There is a Spar shop 15 min drive away.
Booking notes
If you would like to book a holiday at La Garrigue, I will send you my booking conditions and booking form in addition to a magazine and map so you can plan your holiday in more detail in advance. To secure your reservation, please transfer the non-refundable 25% of the total rent to my French bank account with the balance to be paid 8 weeks prior to the holiday in addition to a refundable deposit of £100 per week against accidental damage. The deposit will be refunded after 3 months.
Guest comments
"Our third time here - It just gets better and better and there are no mosquitos!. Thanks for everything. See you next year" - Mr & Mrs Winsnes with friends, Norway
"A wonderful, well-kept secret in a beautiful part of France" - The Lloyds and the Simpsons, Darlington
"We all had a fabulous time here and won't forget this summer" - Mr & Mrs Fell and family, Kidderminster
Owner profile
About the owner
Hi there, My name is Randi Winsnes Dawson. I was born in Michigan, USA in 1953 and moved to Norway with my family in 1958. I have just returned to Norway after 24 years in the UK and am currently working as a permanent supply teacher at a technical college. I'm a qualified language teacher and technical translator. After having spent a total of 4 years in Paris as an au-pair and later a student, I dream't of making France my home. I'm not quite there yet although I spend as much time at La Garrigue as I possibly can. During the holiday season, I have my own living quarters in the former cow-shed where I stay with my dog Odin. However, I'm always available for information, support and advice and try and do my utmost for my guests. The pool is my responsibility.
Year purchased: 2004
Why the owner chose a home in this location
The reason for buying La Garrigue was because I wanted something typically French in deep France away from the hustle and bustle and too many tourists. I also chose the property because of the surrounding area and the view which is spectacular. I wanted something with character and potential and La Garrigue had plenty of both. The area is completely unspoilt, and for those who want a bit of peace and quiet, it's ideal. The nearest town is only 15 min away and there are numerous interesting places to visit and a good variety of activities such as walking, swimming in the lakes, cycling, canoeing, riding and skiing in the winter. Other activities include star-gazing, painting, photographing or simply chilling by the pool or playing table tennis or darts. I have loads of books, games, DVD's
Unique benefits of the property
La Garrigue is approx. 1 h. from Rodez the nearest airport and 15 min from the nearest town Entragues sur Truyeres. There is a fantastic restaurant in the hamlet of Campouriez at walking distance. La Garrigue is a great base for visits to some of the most beautiful towns and villages in France and also the tallest bridge in the world Millau just over an hour away. There are several lakes with beaches near by. In the winter you can enjoy cross country skiing on the Aubrac plateau or slalom at Le Lioran just over an hour's drive away.
All my guests have told me that La Garrigue is the best equipped gite they have ever been to. The fact that it actually has 3 kitchens including a summer kitchen/shower/WC on the pool level is a great bonus. What more can I say? Come and see for yourselves.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR1708
Randi Dawson
Mob: (Norway) + 47 47 259 868
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Property Ref FR1708
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