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Sleeps 2+1infant in 1 bedroom |
 | There are paddling pools available and little ones are encouraged to use the heated outdoor pool (safely fenced & alarmed)with adult supervision. Heate dto approx. 30 degrees Apr-Oct. |
 | There are plenty of books, toys and craft materials available. |
 | A new play house with mini kitchen, tables, chairs and blackboard, as well as a large sandpit area have joined the swings and slide in competing with the feeding the resident chickens as for the top outdoor highlight amongst mini guests. Also, netted trampoline. |
 | Little ones are encouraged to help feed the free-range chickens and collect their eggs. |
 | The Nicholsons are strongly committed to protecting the environment and sustaining the local community. They recycle, compost, use local suppliers, eco-friendly paints, cleaners and supply natural and local 'treats' for guests in the form of complimentary toletries and welcome gifts. They have reed-bed sewerage system and rain-water harvesting. |
 | Treatments from a visiting local therapist can be pre-booked and special pampering breaks are often available in the winter months. |
 | Delicious 4-course meals with an emphasis on fresh local produce are available nightly in the main farmhouse dining room (within baby monitor range) at a cost of 35 euros per person including an aperitif, wine and coffee. The cuisine is excellent and often a major factor for returning guests. |
 | Cots, high chairs, stair gates, sterilisers, changing mats, baby baths and baby monitors are all available. |
 | Babysitting is available on request at a cost of xx euros per hour. |
 | Meals from the farmhouse dining room can be delivered to the cottages if preferred. |
 | Private terrace equipped with garden furniture and a barbecue |
Discount Notes:
La Petite
Maison
(sleeps 2 plus baby/toddler) - free w/c 1st, 8th &
15th May 2010 at just £425 for a week stay self-catering basis and the owners will be happy
to provide a free welcome meal with wine for 2 (+little one) for weary
travellers .
TRAVEL TIMES
TRAIN:- We are just 2 hours from Paris by train (Eurostar to Paris approx 2 hrs). Eurostar can also be booked direct to Poitiers (approx 4hrs) and then car hire is available here, we are then just a 40 min drive from Poitiers.
BY FERRY into the following port options from the UK :- St Malo – 4 hours drive, Caen & Le Harve – 5 hours drive , Boulougne - 6 hours drive , Calais – 7 hours drive
The owners will be happy to help with directions for the drive and recommend stop off points for lunch etc to break the journey once booked.
Arrivals and Departures:
Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Payment:
Reservation Deposit: GBP100.00
Balance: 56 days prior to arrival
Capacity:
Sleeps: 2 + Cot-sleeping
Just one day at the lovely Bois Bourdet B&B and cottages is enough to see why its guestbook has more promises to return than an Arnold Schwarzenegger film! The former 18th century farm is a pastoral scene to inspire the most reluctant of artists, the mouth-watering meals on offer could seriously rival a Michelin starred restaurant and the thoughtful extras for both pre-schoolers and their parents are superb.
The Nicholson family moved here from England several years ago and have made renovating the farm and barns a labour of love. Beautiful original features such as 18th century oak beamed ceilings, exposed stonewalls; huge fireplaces and wooden floors are complimented with simple yet elegant furnishings. The attention to detail extends to thoughtful extras such as the hand-made organic soaps in the bathrooms, the ‘help yourself’ vegetable patch and delicious home-made jams and cookies in the welcome packs. Even little Ellie Nicholson get in on the act making herself available as a ready-made playmate for junior guests.
Weekly pizza making sessions for children of all ages are a real favourite with junior guests at Bois Bourdet. They love to get messy mixing the dough and then creating their own tasty toppings. Plus. Mum and Dad get to have a quiet couple of hours or so to relax and are then treated to a delicious pizza for lunch!
La Petite Maison is a characterful romantic retreat for two plus a baby. Formerly a barn with an old fashioned bread oven, its sympathetic conversion has kept the character with restored oak beams, exposed stone walls and the pretty oven and chimney making a feature in the bedroom. The interiors are country contemporary with shaker style furnishings and quarry tiled floors. The bedroom has a pretty ensuite shower room (baby bath can be provided for little ones). Outside a furnished terrace has ample furnishings for dining al fresco or simply enjoying the view with a glass of the local wine in hand. Inside the open-plan living area comes equipped with modern amenties such a dishwasher, microwave, TV, DVD player and CD player.
Bois Bourdet is in the Deux-Sèvres region at the heart of the Poitou-Charentes and just five miles from the historic town of St Maixent-L’Ecole. The Nicholsons are happy to book cycle hire and provide picnics for those who wish to explore. They can also advise on activities from golf (six excellent courses are nearby), horse riding, fishing and canoeing, to rock climbing, go-karting and even hot air ballooning! There are several lakes nearby including the beautiful Lac du Lambon (10mins drive), which has a sandy beach. The Atlantic coast is within an hour’s drive, as is the gorgeous pedestrianised old town of La Rochelle and the lovely Ile de Ré, a mecca for French holidaymakers. Cognac and Poiters are also within easy reach and well worth a visit.
The nearest airports are: Poitiers (45mins) , La Rochelle (1hr20mins) and Bordeaux (approx. 2hrs). Try www.skyscanner.net as a useful low-cost flight comparision.
Top 10 Best Rated by BFB Guests in 2008 & 2009 AGA France accredited cookery school (AGA cookery workshops provided in the winter months)
Past Guest Ratings* (Rated by 2 guests)
*BFB cross references all feedback scores with our own booking records to ensure the feedback comes genuinely from past guests with young children.
Superb location, friendly and informative owners who went out of their way to en...
Superb location, friendly and informative owners who went out of their way to ensure we had a good stay. I would not hesitate to recommend this bolt-hole to anyone!
Overall Experience Rating: 80%
Overall Rating: Excellent!...
Overall Rating: Excellent!
Superb location, friendly and informative owners who went out of their way to en...
Superb location, friendly and informative owners who went out of their way to ensure we had a good stay. I would not hesitate to recommend this bolt-hole to anyone! Overall Experience: Outstanding!
We enjoyed a wonderful one week stay here at the beginning of June (but we wishe...
We enjoyed a wonderful one week stay here at the beginning of June (but we wished we had stayed for longer...).Samuel particularly enjoyed chasing the chickens, the playhouse and pool, as well as being able to run around to his heart's content. We particularly enjoyed Les and Louise's wonderful cooking, which can be served to you in your room or on your terrace, so there is no need to worry about finding babysitters. We can't recommend it highly enough!
Day trips to Valley of the Monkeys, La Rochelle & Parthenay were really successf...
Day trips to Valley of the Monkeys, La Rochelle & Parthenay were really successful but the real holiday pleasure was back at base in the garden, with the chickens or enjoying the evening gastronomic delights. There was something for everyone - a perfect holiday, Thank you so much - we will return!!
We have loved it here and so have the children. Les, Louise & Ellie have been f...
We have loved it here and so have the children. Les, Louise & Ellie have been fantastic hosts and we hope to be back again another time.
A little peace of heaven! Our 16th month old has roamed free, we've relaxed and ...
A little peace of heaven! Our 16th month old has roamed free, we've relaxed and we've already booked our return trip! Thank you so much for making our 10 days so great (and totally delicious!)
Wonderful baby friendly place to stay. We've all had a fab time, especially Gab...
Wonderful baby friendly place to stay. We've all had a fab time, especially Gabe with the chickens! Thanks to Les & Louise for being such wonderful hosts!
We have had the most fabulous week here, Thank you. What a little gem we found! ...
We have had the most fabulous week here, Thank you. What a little gem we found! a fantastic place for small children & wonderful hospitality - delicious meals!
Thank you so much for our wonderful stay, everything was perfect - the setting, ...
Thank you so much for our wonderful stay, everything was perfect - the setting, Louise's fantastic cuisine, the pool which Emmy loved and the vegetable patch! We will definitely be back, thanks.
We've had the most fantasitc time - thank you for everything. La petite maison w...
We've had the most fantasitc time - thank you for everything. La petite maison was perfect. Such a great place for a holiday with a toddler. Ella loved the chickens and the pool. The weather was wonderful and the food was scrumptious. Thank you - we hope to be back!
I would like to thank the chickens for providing me with hours of fun. The trac...
I would like to thank the chickens for providing me with hours of fun. The tractor was great, a little noisy but still great. The pool is where I perfected by back stroke, the little house is where I had a meal with the Queen, the sand pit was the beach at St Ouen. I loved every minute . The walks around the fields of sunflowers, more tractors (great!), the horses and just in case I have not mentioned the chickens, the chickens. - Thanks Les & Louise - If Finn loved, we love it more & the food was superb!
This is a wonderful place. Highly recommended for Adults and Children alike. G...
This is a wonderful place. Highly recommended for Adults and Children alike. Great accomodation, food, hospitality, etc etc. All excellent standard. We had a great holiday...
We had the best holiday, relaxing even with two young children and mixed weather...
We had the best holiday, relaxing even with two young children and mixed weather. The accommodation is fantastic, pool and all the stuff for the kids, everything has been thought of! The best thing of all though is Louise's cooking, amazing! Our one year old loved the chickens and our 3 year old loved the pool and the pizza making!!
Many thanks to Louise and Les for such a wonderfully warm welcome to their beaut...
Many thanks to Louise and Les for such a wonderfully warm welcome to their beautiful home. The highlight of our stay was the evening meals - being new parents we miss going out to a restaurant, so it was fantastic to enjoy Louise's incredible 4-course dinners (plus aperitif and wine!) which Les served to us on the terrace. All the time we knew that our 1-year-old was safely fast asleep just behind us, no doubt dreaming of another happy day chasing chickens and getting messy in the sandpit!
Staying at bois bourdet was simply perfect. we had a brilliant time and cant wai...
Staying at bois bourdet was simply perfect. we had a brilliant time and cant wait to come back!
Had a fantastic holiday at Bois Bourdet - we were able to relax completely as it...
Had a fantastic holiday at Bois Bourdet - we were able to relax completely as it is so child friendly, the pool and the gardens are beautiful. We would highly recommend staying at Bois Bourdet and will definitely be back!
Absolutely idyllic! Great surroundings, wonderful food and Les and Louise were t...
Absolutely idyllic! Great surroundings, wonderful food and Les and Louise were the perfect hosts who made us feel really at home
Owner Profile
Leaving behind demanding careers in the UK, Les & Louise decided on a move to France several years ago to allow them to fulful a dream of providing high quality holiday accommodation and to set up an AGA cookery school. |
Bois Bourdet is set at the end of a pretty country lane in a dreamy rural ideal, yet within easy reach of shops, boulangeries & facilities. The tranquility of the countryside and local pretty towns are all within reach but we also love the culture & buzz of nearby Poitiers & La Rochelle. It is great to be able to also reach the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast within an hour and also enjoy the islands off the coast too. The local french people are charming and their genuine warm friendly nature makes this a wonderful & safe place to live and bring up a child. The gentle pace of life, great food & wine not forgetting the extra sunshine we often enjoy makes this an easy place to love!
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Children of all ages love Bois Bourdet and what the area can offer.
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