Le Roc Nord turned out to be one of those special places that stays with you long after you have left. In our minds we are still swimming in the pool, lounging in the garden with a book, playing badminton on the lawn, savouring long, leisurely meals outdoors or maybe walking through the vines to sample the delights of the wine co-operative at St Vivien.
This beautiful home had everything we could have wanted, and more! We loved baking in the kitchen (which is far better stocked than the one we have at home!) and passing the goodies out through the shutters to one of the outdoor tables. Every window in the farmhouse has views of the grapevines stretching away in all directions or of the vibrant gardens. Indoors, everything was spotlessly clean and tastefully done, with a real feeling of attention to detail. The space has been so well thought out, with lovely ensuites in both downstairs bedrooms, so since it was just the two of us, we took one each! (Two couples could easily share the ground floor and still have a feeling of privacy and plenty of room to themselves, both indoors and out).
Sue and Tom - perfect hosts who provide that rare mixture of warmth and professionalism - have a wealth of local information and we found the folders and reading material they have created for guests extremely helpful.
When we could tear ourselves away from the farmhouse, we loved our visits to St Emilion, which was only a short drive away, Bergerac, Bordeaux and the seaside resort of Arcachon (nearby, we climbed the highest sand dune in Europe). For shopping, the mixture of local markets and superstores provided an enormous range of French delicacies (and were a destination in themselves).
There is so much to see and do in this wonderful part of the world and Le Roc Nord is perfectly situated at the heart of it all, while still providing a peaceful, idllyic retreat in glorious surroundings. We are already planning our next visit to the farmhouse - for a fortnight this time. Meanwhile, when we count our blessings we'll count this holiday twice!