Porcherat
Sleeps 6
The most idyllic of the cottages
This cottage is set back from a small country lane by a small grassy area and gravel drive. Pasture land surrounds the house on three sides, with the lake making up the fourth side. With vines framing the front door and its location just next to the lake, Porcherat a picturesque paradise. Guests have found being next to the lake very convenient, with their belongings, fridge and kettle so close at hand. Being next to the lake also means that you are in the heart of the action if your family wants to interact with other guests, whilst the hedged garden ensures your privacy.
Porcherat is a ten-minute walk through the woods (or a 2-minute ride in the car) to the main farmhouse if you need us for advice, information or help with anything, and you will probably see us at the lake on hot days.
As with all the holiday cottages, we have renovated Porcherat ourselves. At the front of the house is a big open-plan kitchen living-room area with a large dinner table, butcher's block, Rayburn Range cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave, pots and pans, dishwasher, and common kitchen utensils. The open-plan kitchen living-room gives a sociable and communal feel to the space. There are also two bathrooms (one en-suite) and three bedrooms: one double and two good sized twins. A corridor leads straight through the house, with the garden and sheltered outdoor eating area out the back.
The name ‘Porcherat’ is derived from the French word ‘Porcherie’ which means pigsty, but don’t worry the cottage is far from a pigsty! This is the name of the ‘lieu-dit’ (place name), and unfortunately, the place name’s origin has been lost to posterity.
Wider Space
Guests from both gites have access to the 5-acre lake with sandy beach and small island. To make the most out of the lake, we offer the use of a rowing boat for fishing or just pottering, a couple of 2-man canoes, a kayak, and a pedalo. Apart from the main lake, two other peaceful lakes can be found on the premises and are stocked with fish, including carp, tench, roach and perch. The surrounding woodlands can be explored thanks to maintained footpaths, and we also lend basic bikes. Apart from the other guests on the farm, the nearest neighbours are across fields and woodland making this a very rural and peaceful environment for a holiday or retreat.
Facilities and Amenities:
La Lavande
Sleeps 8
The largest gite, located at the heart of the farm
When the farm belonged to Monsieur Livran, La Lavande was one of the farmworker’s cottages. The house is conveniently nestled in the heart of the farm at the centre of day-to-day farm tasks. This is the largest of the three cottages and is a 10-minute walk through the forest away from the main lake. The private garden, which extends around three sides of the house, leads onto a field and provides spectacular sunset skies in the summer. The hen pen where we keep our chickens is out the back, so if you want fresh eggs, just come have a word with us and we’ll sort you out—so long as the chickens are not on strike.
This house itself has two double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious lounge/dining room with wood-burning stove, and a kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with a Rayburn Range cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave, pots and pans, and common kitchen utensils. We have renovated all the cottages ourselves attempting to maintain as many of the original features as possible. In this holiday cottage, for example, we have restored the colombage and wood-framed walls using the same traditional method of mixing mud, clay and straw.
We live just on the other side of the yard, in the farmhouse, if you need us for advice, information or help with anything. You will probably see us at the lake on hot days or carrying out daily chores about the farm, but the cottage is self-contained with a private garden, so you'll only interact with us as much as you wish to. p.s. we might ask you to catch the odd escaped chicken...
The house is named after the lavender hedges that used to circumvent the garden. Of these, a couple of iconic plants remain at the back of house.
Wider Space
Guests from both holiday houses have access to the 5-acre lake with sandy beach and small island. To make the most out of the lake, we offer the use of a rowing boat for fishing or just pottering, a couple of 2-man canoes, a kayak, and a pedalo. Apart from the main lake, two other peaceful lakes can be found on the premises and are stocked with fish, including carp, tench, roach and perch. The surrounding woodlands can be explored thanks to maintained footpaths and we also lend basic bikes.
