Property

Description

Fabulous gîtes in sunny South West France offering the tranquility of the countryside yet being central for all beaches. With two young children of their own, the owners of these superb gîtes have strived to create a haven for busy parents and their little ones. Look no further if you're hoping for a holiday in a relaxing environment with other children around for the serious business of play.

The large, child friendly 10mx5m swimming pool is completely enclosed and alarmed for safety. There's a separate toddler's splash pool, above ground and heated to a balmy 30c. The garden (with shady areas) has sandpit, swings, oodles of toys and is directly in front of the cottages so you can sit back on your terrace and relax with a glass of locally produced chilled pineau, whilst your children play safely within view.

With a rural location in the countryside on the edge of a tiny hamlet yet within easy reach of superb beaches, each gite overlooks endless fields of sunflowers and wheat when in season. The quiet country lanes are ideal for cycling and walking and the night sky is amazing. Locally there is tennis, golf, horseriding, fishing, weekly markets, superb restaurants and a 10 min drive brings you to St Jean d'Angely, a historic town with cobbled streets, twice weekly food market, restaurants (ranging from family friendly pizzerias and bistros to top class gourmet cuisine) bars, supermarkets and banks.

Book an afternoon or evening's baby sitting (Wendy is a registered child minder) and enjoy some grown up time with peace of mind and don't miss the wine tasting and family vine walk (take the pushchair-even if a little bumpy through the vines!)

Nothing here is too much trouble. If you need anything at all to complete your perfect stay, just ask!



Guest comments:

''We have stayed in many gites over the past 9 yrs (some English-owned, some French) and in our opinion this is by far the best - from cleanliness to the quality of information provided and including attention to detail and your helpfulness. You have obviously found a niche in the market with regard to the child friendly approach and you fulfill it very well with the available facilities (highchair, change mat, toys etc) all exceeding our expectations. Thank you.'' Rickwood family. June 2007.

"Fantastic, definitely the best holiday we've had since having Christopher, we've all enjoyed every minute - thank you so much".
Churcher family, June 2006 (with Christopher aged 3)

"The cottages are great for a family holiday. The kids have made lots of friends. The garden layout meant the children can play and we can watch from the cottage without worrying - a really safe environment. With children of 5 & 2yrs old it must be a first to feel rested after a 2 wk holiday!"
Carey family, August 2007.

Property Information

• Country:  France
• Region:  
• Bedrooms:  2
• Sleeps:  4

• Price Range:
• Low season:  £400.00 per wk
• High season:  £840.00 per wk
• Click for owners other properties

Facilities Available

• Towel hire
• Tots Go Lightly service
• Television
• Table tennis
• Stunning views
• Shared swimming pool
• Rural location
• Microwave
• Laundry room
• Games room

• Fridge freezer
• DVD or video player
• Changeover day: Thursday
• Access to washing machine
• BBQ
• Babysitting
• Bathroom(s) with bath and
  shower
• Bicycle Hire (nearby)
• Bed linen (extra charge)

What Makes it Child Friendly?

• Enclosed garden
• Wendy house
• Toys
• Toddler pool
• Sun umbrellas
• Steriliser
• Stairgates
• Sandpit
• Safety locks
• Ride-on toys
• Potty
• Plastic feeding utensils
• Paddling pool
• Outdoor play equipment
• Microwave
• Mattress protectors

• Highchair
• Hand blender
• DVD or video player
• Cot
• Childrens books
• Childrens DVDs or videos
• Child toilet seat and step
• Changing mat
• Bouncy chair
• Bottle warmer
• Booster seats
• Bedguard
• Bath mat
• Baby monitors
• Baby bath

Additional Information

Make the most of those endless, empty country lanes and book your bike hire through BikeHireDirect.com with free delivery and collection from your gite. Includes free cycle helmets and cycle lock with each rental. Baby and child bicycle seats and chariots available.

Holiday Tots Top Ten

• Saint Sauvinien. Little ones will adore being captain of these beautifully crafted miniature boats. Mum and Dad can accompany the youngsters. 17 miles, 30 minutes.
•  Aquarium de la Rochelle. With tanks of vividly coloured fish, touch pools, panoramic tunnels and wandering water turtles (the aquarium rescues turtles washed up on the beaches). At La Rochelle. 48 miles, 1hr.
• La Vallée des Singes. Monkey world. Watch your sandwiches as the monkeys swing in the trees just above your head! At Romagne. 55 miles, 1hr 20.
• Zoodyssée de Chizé. Animals in their natural environment. With otters, vultures, wolves, cicadas, tree frogs and more. With mini farm and play area. At Villiers-en-bois. 25 miles, 35 minutes.
• Beaches at Meschers with pirate caves to explore and St Georges de Didonne with clean sand and backed by pines. Approx 55 miles, just over 1hr.
• Poitou Donkey Sanctuary. An endangered species sporting long, shaggy dreadlocks! Afterwards visit the nearby chateau and park with river running through the grounds. At Dampierre-sur-Boutonne. 13 miles, 20 minutes.
•  Atlantys. Lots of pools at this indoor swimming complex including a baby pool. Right next to the boating lake and childrens playground at the riverside. At St Jean d’Angély. 8 miles, 13 minutes.
•  Saintes. Young Roman soldiers will enjoy make-believe in the amphitheatre at Saintes. For lunch take a river trip to the beautifully situated Le Moulin de la Baine. At Saintes 28 miles, 30 minutes.
•  Paleosite. Have you always suspected that dad is a neanderthal? Watch him morph...Visit this prehistoric centre where the bones of a 35,000 year old female were found in 1979. At Saint Cèsaire. 16 miles, 27 minutes.
• Zoo de La Palmyre. Generally held to be the best zoo in France and home to 1600 animals including gorillas, rhinoceros and super view of polar bears swimming underwater. Sea lion and parrot shows. At Les Mathes. 57 miles, 1hr 15.

How To Get There

Fly- Airports

La Rochelle 1 hrs drive
Poitiers 1hr20 drive
Bordeaux 1hr30 drive
Limoges 2hr15 drive
Nantes 2hrs drive
Bergerac 3hrs drive

London Stanstead - Ryanair to La Rochelle, Poitiers, Limoges
London Gatwick - Easyjet to La Rochelle
London Luton - Easyjet to Bordeaux
Manchester - Flybe to La Rochelle, Limoges
Liverpool - Ryanair to Limoges
East Midlands - Ryanair to Bordeaux
Birmingham - Flybe to La Rochelle , BMI Baby to Bordeaux
Bristol - Easyjet to La Rochelle, Bordeaux
Southampton - Flybe to La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Limoges
Newcastle - Flybe to limoges
Dublin - Ryanair to La Rochelle

Ferry - Drive

St Malo 4hr30 drive - 395km- 14.20 euros tolls
Cherbourg - 6hrs drive - 560km - 14.20 euros tolls
Caen - 5hrs drive - 467km - 30.70 euros tolls
Le Havre - 5hr30 drive - 548km - 47.90 euros tolls
Roscoff 6hrs drive 531km 14.20 euros tolls
Calais - 7hr30 drive - 730km - 50.00 euros tolls

Train

Eurostar will take you from London to Paris direct or indirectly to Bordeaux and Angoulême where you can hire a car or take the Eurostar channel tunnel train to Calais.
SNCF is the excellent French train system. The nearest TGV stations are Angouleme, Poitiers or Surgères. You can then get connections to St Jean d'Angély, however please remember a car is essential as the cottages are located in the countryside where there are no taxis or public transport. You will need to arrange car hire before arriving.
Car Train - Take your own car on the train with you.