Converted Sawmill Located In One Of France's Most Unspoilt Regions

4 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 10210 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Washer

Dryer

Check out the area

Églisolles, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Parc Naturel Regional Livradois-Forez1 min walk
Ecomusee des monts du Forez10 min drive
Richard de Bas19 min drive
Clermont-Ferrand (CFE-Clermont-Ferrand - Auvergne Intl.)108 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 3

+1

4 Single Beds and 1 Crib

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Blue Rose (Bedroom 2)

1 Double Bed

River Room (Bedroom 1)

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

The house is in the Parc Livradois Forez, a nature reserve in Puy De Dome, in the heart of the Auvergne, France's most unspoilt region. It is 900 metres above sea level and surrounded by forest and pastures, with many tracks and trails accessible from the house. Straw Angel Mill is ideal for those who love to be outdoors; whether hiking through the natural environment, relaxing by the stream in the privacy of the secluded wild garden or exploring an authentic region that hasn't been overwhelmed by tourists. Despite the house's secluded setting, both basic needs and special treats are within easy reach - a 5 minute drive or 20 minute walk to Viverols, a small medieval town with a traditional French bakery open daily for fresh baguettes and pastries, and 5 minutes from a mountain pass with a restaurant serving delicious local food. There is a mountain lake for a cool dip in summer & a ski station in winter, 20 minutes away, and several marked mountain-bike circuits nearby.

Property manager

Sarah McQueen

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Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Washer

Outdoor space

Water view

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Steep open stairs - not ideal for toddlers

Events

No events allowed

|Just respect the house and furnishings :)

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Not in the building- outside with care

Dogs are more than welcome but not on furnishings or in bedrooms. There is a dog bed, bowls, towel and a poop scoop & bin available to clean up after

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Églisolles

Located in Églisolles, this vacation home is in a rural area and on a river. Moulin de Vignal and La tour de Chambles are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Musee international Petanque et Boules and Volerie du Forez. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Églisolles, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

What's nearby

Parc Naturel Regional Livradois-Forez - 1 min walk
Ecomusee des monts du Forez - 10 min drive
1900 School Museum - 16 min drive
Richard de Bas - 19 min drive
Abbey Church of La Chaise-Dieu - 31 min drive

Getting around

Andrezieux-Boutheon Marsac-en-Livradois Station - 14 min drive
Saint-Etienne (EBU-Saint-Etienne - Loire Intl.) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

Hôtel Restaurant Colomb les Voyageurs - 13 min drive
Le Continental - 13 min drive
Le Relais du Vermont - 2 min drive
Auberge le Droubliei - 10 min drive
Auberge de Medeyrolles - 13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Converted Sawmill Located In One Of France's Most Unspoilt Regions pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kate P.

16 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family gathering

We had a group of 6 adults, 2 dogs and a baby stay here for 2 weeks and it was a truly wonderful experience. The property is very special and full of character, the surroundings are stunning and invite true relaxation (the sound of the stream burbling will lull anyone into a relaxed stupor) and Sarah and the property manager were delightful to deal with.

Stayed 17 nights in Sep 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Ullrich M.

25 Sept 2016

We had a great time in the house.

We liked the nice house located in the nature. Everyone who is looking for a nice and calm holiday in nature will be delighted. We will come back again.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Hilary C., Ashurst Wood

1 Sept 2016

Great place to stay

We had an excellent week here, the house is beautiful and very comfortable. The sound of the stream sends you to sleep every night and having breakfast on the deck was a lovely start to the day. We cycled in to Viverols most days to get croissants and the walks around are amazing. The property is particularly well stocked with maps, walking guides and information. The mountain activities place above St Anthelme was fantastic: the 800m zip wire is quite an experience. We also walked to the local Auberge (Relais du Vermont) for an excellent lunch - really good food. Would definitely go back.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

david c.

20 Oct 2015

A great get away from it all place!

We had the most fantastic 2 weeks here - Clean air, lovely walks in the woods and characterful villages. We received a warm welcome and the house was is good shape. Hope to return next year.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Wendy T.

9 Jun 2015

Fabulous house & setting.

We had a lovely time at Straw Angel - loved the house and the area. The house was beautifully presented and the welcome provisions were extremely welcome at midnight when we eventually arrived. Charlie was very helpful and pointed us in the right direction for a Vide Grenier and a high wire activity place near Le Puy - we picked up a handful of leaflets and left them in your activity folder - Canopy en Foret I think they were called. We went there on the Monday and the guys who now run it were excellent and the afternoon good value. We hired extra bikes one afternoon and suffered for it riding from Usson to St. Bonnet Le Chateau visiting the Resistance Museum on the way. Towards the end of the week the weather was fabulous and we went rafting near La Privat (?) - again left leaflets at the house. That was fantastic and I would strongly recommend it to everyone - you travel down a particularly beautiful gorge and there is just enough leisurely paddling and white knuckle riding to suit everyone in the family and again the guys who run it were excellent at their rather enviable job. I think your house is lovely and well equipped, comfortable and warm and your guests, like us, very lucky to stay there. I'm sure we'll be in touch again soon to book another week.

About the host

Hosted by Sarah McQueen

As a family we lived and worked abroad in various countries for many years; when we moved back to England in 2006 we missed having space to roam. Buying an old mill and converting it gradually has been a real adventure and has provided us with enough space to invite both friends and family, whilst getting away and relaxing ourselves. The sheer delight every year when we arrive and the kids and dog run around checking out the rooms and garden seems incremental - each time we leave we miss it more and each time we return we value it more. One day we may live here full-time but until then it seems a shame to leave it empty and not to share!

Why they chose this property

We really loved the Auvergne and had been holidaying nearby for a few years. We planned to get something small and sensible, but fell in love with the house at first sight, despite its original condition, and especially the wildness of its secluded garden bordered by a stream and tall trees.

This spot feels special both geographically (part of the volcanic mountain range of Puy de Dome)and historically. The house was built into the rock of the hillside early last century but there has been a mill on the site since the Cassini map in at least the 17th century.

Coming here is always a great escape; a chance to reconnect with nature, whether foraging for wild blueberries or mushrooms in the woods or sitting around a bonfire under the stars.

What makes this property unique

Every year we holiday at Straw Angel Mill with friends and family, and each year we find something new to explore. It is great to have plenty of outdoor space for the kids and the dog to run wild; barbecuing, dining al fresco, walking, foraging, cycling, swimming, watching regenerates us for another year back at work in England.

David Arnold, a furniture designer-maker living in a converted 1920's hydroelectric station in nearby Usson -En-Forez, has been gradually transforming the house with his beautiful arched bespoke oak windows, doors and shutters.

In 2012 we had our first guests who booked a three week block. Encouragingly, they booked a 2 month slot for 2013 which is quite an endorsement!

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