1051 - Les Chaumieres Campagnardes, St Julien de Vouvantes £250/week

French Self Catering and B&B holiday Gites situated in the Loire Valley with swimming pool, walking, cycling, bird watching. For some of the best scenery in France in a traditional cottage you could not find a better place than Les Chaumiers Campagnardes.

We are situated in a very quiet hamlet called La Riolais in the commune of St Julien de Vouvantes, near Chateaubriant, in the heart of Western Loire. Less than 45mins from the wine producing region, the Jade Coastline and the chic resort of La Baule.

Les Chaumieres Campagnardes consists of 3 cottages (gites) that have been sympathetically restored and renovated to afford guests a high standard of accommodation whilst maintaining their traditional character.  Set in 2 acres of private garden and orchard with a 7.5m x 3.5m solar heated pool that is totally child secure and with a dedicated sun terrace and shower. In the garden you will find sun loungers, reclining chairs, hammock, chillin' chair (under the shade of a 200 year old oak tree !),  children's play area, a real wooden play house and small garden with table & chairs, table tennis, boules court, badminton, quiet area and summer house.

We also have a small fishing lake (Mare ) that has carp, tench, roach and rudd waiting for someone to daggle a tasty morsel with-in biting distance ! The mare has some very fine fish just waiting to have their photo's taken ! In 2009 we added some Goldfish to make it easier for the little ones to see the fish. There is fishing equipment & bait on site and there is no charge for their use. Also, new for 2010 is the 'Billy Goat Gruff' bridge that now allows guests to fish on both sides of the mare. More importantly just by sitting by the mare, looking out over the fields,  you will feel your worries and stress' being sucked out of you.

There is much to enjoy in the local area or, if you want an adventure, you can go into the massive forest at the rear of Les Chaumieres Campagnardes on one of our bikes. There is no charge for the use of the bikes although we do not provide any safety equipment. We do provide local maps that highlight all local roads, paths, tracks (farm & forest) and points of local interest and again, free of charge.

When you arrive you will find a small Welcome pack (for a cuppa or something a little stronger !) and a few odds 'n' sods to get you going. If you want us to do some shopping prior to arrival then please give us at least 7 days notice.

We have an associate company that can find cheap or good deals on most ferry crossing with most carriers. Contact details will be provided during the booking process.

On the first Sunday of your holiday there will be a Free Reception Drinks evening where you can meet your holiday neighbours. The drinks take place in the garden where we sup a cocktail, have some munchies, tell a few jokes, listen to Ray's endless collection of 70's music and watch the sun set. On the rare occasions that it is raining then we sit in the bar area that has an open front looking out over the garden down to the field where the Shetland ponies will parade for the small a piece of bread.

The Seasons

Low : 04 October 2009 - 24 April 2010 (excluding Christmas, New Year and Easter).

and 02 October 2010 - 01 April 2011

Mid : 25 April - 26 June and 04 September - 02 October 2010.

High: 26 June - 03 September 2010.

Please contact us for Christmas, New Year and Easter - super special price

Note :- during the High Season a Saturday change over applies.

There is no charge for bed linen or cots/high chairs. We do not provide towels or tea towels. Towels can be hired for 10Euro per person, per week.

Push bikes and fishing tackle are available upon request and are free of charge.

Transport to/ from airports is available (in a top of the range Skoda !) on request for a nominal fee. Prior booking is required.

The Small Print

1. Prices shown are per unit, per week, inclusive of all utilities unless specifically stated otherwise.

2. All deposits are non-refundable.

3. We do not provide towels or pool towels (except B&B)

4. All prices are in GBP's and are subject to change without notice (except evening meals)

5. Arrival time at the start of booking is 16:00. Guests must vacate the gite by 10:00 on the final day to enable a clean to be done prior to the next guests arriving.

6. You are required to leave the gite in a clean and tidy condition. If you wish us to do the final clean then please let us know at time of booking to enable us to instruct the cleaner. The cost of the final clean is Lodge & Croft 50Euro and Cottage 40Euro. You are also required to inform us of any breakages or repairs at time of occurrence to allow for it's repair or replacement.

There are three ways to get to us :

EuroStar to Lille, walk across the platform and catch the TGV to Angers.

Ferry to any port in France from Dunkerque to Roscoff. If traveling with children from Dunkerque/Calais or Boulogne you may wish to consider stopping half way (Honfleur !)) for lunch and a run around. Please ask about our associate company who may be able to obtain a lower price on ferries.

And finally by air with either RyanAir or FlyB to Rennes, Dinard, Tour or Nantes. All you need to do is wait for the best possible price on either RyanAir or FlyBe then book.

The Western Loire stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, just below Brittany. It is a particularly scenic region, with some 30 miles of the Jade Coast and the Savage Coast, plenty of green countryside, and 250 miles of rivers, canals and lakes.

Ocean, rivers, canals - water is the soul of the region. The Loire, classified here as a World Heritage Site and lined by many Renaissance chateaux, vineyards, and passes close to Angers, the capital of Anjou. You can be tasting the many wines, ciders and gastronomic delights of the Loire within a few minutes drive of us.

Saint Nazaire is a major commercial port and a centre of local WW2 history  (HMS Campbeltown), Nantes, the regional capital, and Angers, Saumur, Ancenis & Tours offer visitors a cultural heritage dominated by Gothic art and the Renaissance. Also, the local area was a hot-bed of the Marque (French Resistance) during WW2 and as such have many monuments and museums commemorating these brave men and women.

History comes alive in the Vieux Mans or during the extravaganza of the Puy du Fou in the Vendée. The Guérande marshes, Ile de Noirmoutier and La Brière are all protected nature areas, ideal for walking and are exceptional for bird watching. The lake at Vay boasts that 95% of all birds visiting the region drop in for a dip, and in many cases to rear their young (pleasant neighbourhood you see !) The local sea food platters are ideal and tasting the wines of Saumur or the famous Muscadet are not to be missed.

Also, we have some of the best scenery in France! From lakes to rivers, forests to fields and historic/cultural to modern. No matter what you are looking for, we have it.

So, whether you are looking for a chilled, relaxing break sitting on your own sun terrace, dipping in the swimming pool, catching fish in our pond or going out and about tracking down all the hidden treasures our region has to offer there is much for you to do. There is nothing quite like turning down a dirt track and finding a lake, deserted house, stunning view or just a clearing in the forest knowing that you are probably the first person to go there in a very, very long time !

Guests - regardless of age - will find plenty to fill their day even if you opt to stay in the 2 acres child friendly garden with loungers, reclining chairs, summer house, boules court, child play area and play house, pool, pond, outdoor table tennis plus much more !

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