La Girarde

Tucked away amongst acres of sunflower fields and vinyards, La Girarde is a totally charming combination of elegance, comfort and family-friendly practicality. Guests lucky enough to snap up one of the rare high summer weeks during which it is let as an exclusive 4-bedroom villa, with private pool and huge gardens, is bound to have developed a serious case of lifestyle envy for its friendly expat owners, Mark and Trish Tyler, who live in itand run it as a Chambre d'Hote (guest house/b&b) during the rest of the year.

The house enjoys an idyllic rural location with little but rolling rural landscape as far as the eye can see and few sounds but for the local birdlife, yet it is very convenient for some of the area’s most beautiful towns and cosmopolitan cities. The pretty and vineyard-stuffed town of Duras is just 10-minutes drive to the east, whilst the lively market town of Sante-Foy-La-Grande is just a few miles to the west, plus several villages between. Pretty Bergerac and sophisticated Bordeaux are within an hour's drive, or much less by fas train from Sante Foy.

The picture-perfect rustic exterior hides a sophisticated modern interior where elegant Farrow and Ball shades, oak floors, limestone -clad bathrooms and all mod cons abound. There are two sitting rooms, one with large flat screen TV, music system, Wii, Wi-Fit, games, books and a selection of toys, along with multiple comfortable sofas, ideal as a family room, and the second being a very elegant drawing room with more sophisticated furnishings, best suited as an adults retreat. The huge kitchen boasts a sociable, granite topped island unit with bar stools and door onto the pool terrace, making it a popular spot for evening drinks whilst the nominated chef has supper on the go. There's also a spacious dining room equipped with multiple highchairs, a booster seat, along with the oak chairs and tables.

Along the corridor from the drawing room is a fair-sized double with ensuite bathroom, whilst a further super king/twin (convertible) bedroom also with its own ensuite is set down the hall. Upstairs (un-gated) are a further two bedrooms comprising a double and a super king/twin convertible, both with large ensuite bathrooms accessorised by complimentary luxury toiletries. All bedrooms have room for cots with the downstairs super king and upstairs double being the most spacious.

The expansive grounds include over an acre of grassy lawns, suitable for ball games or toddler roaming, and a good-sized, walled swimming pool, tucked to the side of the house, behind a decked outdoor dining area. The deck, which boasts a lovely hardwood dining table and chairs set, along with a BBQ, is the only access to the pool, which is otherwise enclosed by ancient stone walls on three sides (one side having a door to the kitchen), so, as long as an adult was on the deck, a toddler could not access the alarmed pool without being spotted.

The fact that the owners bedrooms are set in a closed off separate wing, and not occupied when the house is rented, is a bonus to guests as it means that they pay the price of a four-bedroom villa, but enjoy the greatly increased downstairs space of a much larger house of fairly grand proportions.

The fact that clients booking through Baby-Friendly Boltholes have the reassurance of reserving baby gear and, once booked, one to one contact with English owners, parents themselves, who are happy to advise on the local area and arrange extra services such as daily or mid-stay cleaning, full or part-time cook or house-keeper, and babysitting, make La Girarde the perfect spot for a memorable and relaxing multiple or expanded family break

Share Tips & Advice Show Location Map La Girarde is located around 10-15minutes drive from Duras or Sainte-Foy-Le-Grande in the vineyard-heavy Dordogne region. A little further afield is the medieval city of Bergerac, which has recently undergone sympathetic restoration and combines a bustling urban environment with old world charm. The cosmopolitan city of Bordeaux with its great shopping, dining and museums is just 90mins drive north-west with the famous wine producing town of St.Emilion en-route.

A Dodogne river beach is just 15 minutes away, as is the charming medieval town of St. Emilion with its cobbled streets crammed with boutiques, bistros and gourmet shops. The entire area is filled with charming little market towns, with the picture perfect medival town of Issigeac about 25mins away — don‘t miss Sunday lunch at Chez Alain (allow a leisurely 2—3 hours!). Horse and pony riding and the neighbouring riding school is easily arranged, as are rounds at the fabulous Chateau Vigiers golf course nearby. Make the most of the babysitting available and head out to one of the many fabulous restaurants nearby or enjoy food French—style with long leisurely lunches en famille.

Getting There: The house is approx. 45mins from Bergerac Airport and around 90mins from Bordeaux Airport, both of which are well served by low cost airlines from many of the UK's regional airports. See www.skyscanner.net to help locate airports/flights. By car, it is approx 20mins drive from the Sainte Foy La Grande turn-off of the D936 on the D311 towards Duras and down a country lane from the village (St Sernin de Duras). The nearest train station is in Sainte Foy La Grande, which is linked to the TGV station at Libourne (50mins drive).

Nearest Medical Services: GP in Duras (10mins) and A&E in Marmande (approx. 20mins)

testimonial scores:4:5:5:0

Owners could not be more helpful and welcoming, providing precisely the shopping...

Owners could not be more helpful and welcoming, providing precisely the shopping we had requested as well as allowing us free rein in their well stocked kitchen. We arrived very late but were still greeted by a delicious home cooked meal and a friendly welcome. The house is gorgeous, very spacious and beautifully decorated. But the gardens are the real strength, for London children the ability to go alone to the end of the garden to pick blackberries was a huge treat. Not to mention making our own tomato sauce from the huge variety of tomatoes ripening on the vines.
Overall Experience Rating: 80%

It is a gorgeous villa, and the owner was very kind. It's in the middle of nowhe...

It is a gorgeous villa, and the owner was very kind. It's in the middle of nowhere, so a perfect place if you just want to stay in the villa and relax and play with your kids.
Overall Experience Rating: 100%

Our first experience of a villa holiday, and everyone in our party of 7 agreed t...

Our first experience of a villa holiday, and everyone in our party of 7 agreed that the property was fantastic. The owners have done a great job of renovating the place and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Best bits were dining on the terrace every evening, lazing under the willow tree and picking fruits for desserts from the garden. Having the kitchen right off the terrace was also very convenient. Our 7-month old boy enjoyed crawling round the cool stone floors and had his first experience of green grass..
Overall Experience Rating: 100%

Our first experience of a villa holiday, and everyone in our party of 7 agreed t...

Our first experience of a villa holiday, and everyone in our party of 7 agreed that the property was fantastic. The owners have done a great job of renovating the place and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Best bits were dining on the terrace every evening, lazing under the willow tree and picking fruits for desserts from the garden. Having the kitchen right off the terrace was also very convenient. Our 7-month old boy enjoyed crawling round the cool stone floors and had his first experience of green grass..Outstanding!!

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