Once past the unprepossessing rusty metal gate, this property which has been beautifully converted from an agricultural building, looks beautiful. There are roses and wisteria climbing around the doors and an outdoor table with comfortable seating for six, perfect for breakfast. There is a garage, which was big enough for our eight - seater car, but as the front gates were secure we rarely used it, making access to the rubbish and re-cycling bins easier.There was ample space to park it in front.
Downstairs, the living/dining area was a good size for 8 large (as in tall!) adults and our well - travelled Dalmatian, with plenty of dining chairs and easy chairs and a full range of crockery and glassware. The sleek fitted kitchen was easy to work in and although there was not a lot of worktop, the level of equipment (two sorts of coffee maker, food processor, electric mixer, Moouli-grater, electric kettle and toaster, large fridge and modern cooker) made food preparation a pleasure.
I have some walking difficulties, so the ultra-modern wet-room and bright, large downstairs bedroom opening onto the patio were much appreciated.The upstairs bedrooms featured roof beams and dormer windows, but there were few complaints of banged heads from my 6ft plus family!
One of the reasons for booking this house was the covered and heated swimming pool, a short distance away through the garden.We used this pretty much every day of our stay and it was even warm enough to sit out on the patio to dry off afterwards (in late October!)
We arrived after being stuck in a 2 hour traffic jam in Paris, with my husband having driven for much of the last hour due west into the (gloriously) setting sun. The car was full and everyone was cramped, so we were not at our best, but the welcome from our host's friend was friendly, helping us to recover.This trip was a family celebration for mine and my husband's 60th birthdays, so we were delighted to be greeted with a bottle of Loire sparkling wine and a local speciality gateau (Fondant de Pithiviers) which were delicious. Our hots were friendly and helpful.
We had a great stay, visiting local towns and chateaux, then returning for a swim and a convivial meal, conversations and a game or two of Monopoly in French.
Only drawbacks were that there is no bread shop (or indeed any shop) within walking distance and the local countryside is rather flat and featureless. Be warned if staying in winter, top-up electric charges do apply!
