We’ve just returned from two fantastic weeks staying in “Gite de La Vallee” at the end of August. First off – this place gets 5 stars. Do stay here, it’s beautiful, comfortable, spacious - we had the best family holiday as a young family yet. Perfect for kids, families, couples, friends - anyone.

So about the house. It is owned and run by Murielle and Frederic who live in a separate detached house on the same plot/Gite complex. They have only owned the Gite for a year – so haven’t accrued feedback that they deserve for all their hard work. The site is beautifully rural – no sounds of cars/trains or anything – just the odd owl, pigeon or distant cow mooing – silence accentuated by the sound of whirring insects and chirping crickets – amazing.

The Gite is perched on a small hill that looks out across the fields to rolling, forested woodland – beautiful scenery. We loved it, and would definitely go back.

The house has three bedrooms – all large, and one large bathroom upstairs. There’s a good size kitchen and living area downstairs. But sitting out on the private porch looking down across the garden to the luxurious pool to the fields and forests beyond was where we ate most days and nights, when not taking excursions around the local area.

About us, we have four small kids (5 and under) who loved playing hide and seek in the garden when they weren’t playing in the (securely fenced and padlocked) pool, table tennis, boules, and tyre swing.

Straying away from the house – I’d highly recommend an evening trip (with kids) to Monpazier, the Jardins du Marquesaac, Castlenaud, Bonaguil, boat rides on the Dordogne – and we didn’t do it because of the ages of the kids - but caves and canoing along the Vezere would be great for return trip when the kids are bigger.

Definitely book this place for a wonderful holiday, the pool, house, location, and Dordogne/the Lot and the hands-off yet fantastically hospitable and generous approach from Murielle and Fredric – make for a fantastic holiday. Many thanks once again Murielle and Fredric