|
Property Overview: Located at 1107m high in the stunning Livradois Forest National Park in the Puy-de-Dome department, you will find our farmhouse gîte in the tiny hamlet of Ardennes, which is just an hour drive from the city shopping of Clermont Ferrand, skiing at Super Besse, the Vineyards of Boudes and the spectacular peaks of le Puy en Velay. Ideal for walking, exploring, cycling, sampling local produce, or simply relaxing in the peace and quiet and fresh air. The local area is safe for children to enjoy the freedom to explore the natural world and is a haven for dog walkers with many trails right on the doorstep. Our pets are part of our family and we wouldn't dream of going away without them, so your family pets are as welcome as you are and we can highly recommend a local vet for passport purposes. There's an abundance of bird life for the twitchers among you, free WiFi internet is available from the Tourist Information centre in St Germain l'Herm, and for those who like a bit of the mystical, there is even a stone circle just up the road! Being our second home there are all the comforts you'd expect, including laundry facilities so no need to be weighed down with lots of luggage. The garden is south facing so gets the sun all day long and the original cobbled farmyard makes a lovely patio. The large stone BBQ makes outdoor eating a pleasure and the fire pit means even once the sun goes down you can extend the fun late into the evening.
Full Description: ***Please go to our website www.farmhousegite.com for more details and pictures*** An open plan lounge/diner allows plenty of space to enjoy yourself. The dining table extends to seat 6 for formal dining but there are also comfortable leather sofas for a more relaxing time. As well as the TV there is a DVD player that not only plays DVDs and CDs but also plays mp3s and movies and music from USB sticks. There is a selection of DVDs and CDs provided but please feel free to take your own. The wood burner is an extremely effective source of heat, and this together with period furniture, wooden beams and tiled or wooden floors help the building to retain its authentic farmhouse feel. Despite being small the kitchen is packed with everything you need to whip up culinary delights, be they from scratch using the tasty locally sourced produce or a little something thrown into the combination microwave. As well as this there's a cooker, a fridge with ice box, a kettle, toaster and coffee maker, and all the utensils you'll need. The bathroom and toilet are also on the ground floor and are separate from each other. There is a bath with shower over so you have a choice of both. The 2 double bedrooms are on the first floor. One overlooks the hamlet and floods with sunlight in the morning whilst the other overlooks the garden and gets the sun in the afternoon. In addition to the house there is also a barn, a stable and a garage which whilst currently undeveloped add to the grandeur of the site as a whole.
Nearby Attractions: Our farmhouse is uniquely situated to not only be surrounded by a multitude of local attractions, but also to be a base to travel slightly further afield to take in even more of the wonders than southern France. As if it's not enough that we're on the northern edge of the Massif Central, itself stunning thanks to being the largest concentration of extinct volcanoes in the world, within easy travelling distance we have 6 of the famous Plus Beaux Villages, most beautiful villages in France - Usson, Lavaudieu, Blesle, Montpeyroux, Saint Floret and Saint Saturnin. Although not widely recognised, the local wine, Côtes d'Auvergne, is delicious and can be sampled at local vineyards. Our particular favourite place to visit is the village of Boudes where virtually everyone produces wine, so if you're having a day trip there, make sure you have a designated driver! The local area abounds with chateaus and fascinating architecture, and the local tourist information centre is stocked with ideas of places to visit catering for all ages and tastes. There are places to swim, canoe, climb, trek, nature watch, go down caves and mines, ride a horse, go fishing, eat cheese, have a spa, see the fabulous countryside from a train, visit the zoo, see the local crafts people at work or learn about volcanoes at the Vulcania Theme Park. The local markets are a treat if you're an early riser and for the best bread you've ever tasted you simply cannot beat the local boulangerie. If you fancy going a little further afield, the Millau Viaduct, a masterpiece of modern engineering, is just a couple of hours down the motorway to the south. Or Salers, famous for its cheese and cattle, is in the nearby department of Cantal. Vichy, famous for its water, is to the north, and if you fancied water of a different kind, ie the Mediterranean, you could get there in just 3 hours.
Contact owner: Please use the contact form below to email us, or if you'd like to speak to us in person, please feel free to call one of the following numbers: +44 (0)1379 854316 (Home) +44 (0)7832 109003 (Tim's mobile) +44 (0)7877 901168 (Tina's mobile) Alternatively you will find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/farmhousegite
Pricing Structure: Unlike most others gîtes we don't charge higher rates for peak seasons or school holidays. We want to give our guests the same great value the whole year round so we charge the same rate regardless of which week it is. Whether you're staying to ski or sunbathe, whether it's the Easter Bank Holiday or a week in September, your holiday is just as important to you so we see no reason why you should have to pay more just because of the date!
|
