Very difficult outside access for anyone with reduced mobility due to irregular stairs, a steep slope (no hand rail either), while inside, the actual steep stone stairs were a risk as well. Adequately furnished but too much was actually housing the owner's belongings. Overall effect was rather cramped. Negotiating the stairs at night to use the toilet meant my wife had to sleep in the single bed outside the bathroom! No ventilation in the bathroom/ toilet led to condensation which was made worse whenever it rained as the wall next to the window became very damp; instructions during and after rain, were left for us to remove soft furnishings, (cushions etc.,) away from that window. There was no timer or thermostat for the hot water which was absolutely scalding; particularly with metal taps that turned the opposite way around! Immersion heater and washing machine shared the same plug and we queried the loose wire from the plug of the heater but were told that this was 'normal'. We did not notice the absence of television set or micro wave oven on the site details, but both items were sorely missed. The hand written book of 'do's and dont's' was detailed but failed to give information about doctors, chemists, nearest hospital etc... Tourist information that was left out was stale, going back two or three years. On the plus side the lady who met us was very helpful, made up the spare bed willingly and returned to fix the temperamental WiFi. The owner with whom we raised our initial problems offered to give us our money back and help find somewhere else, but having put in so much effort, we decided to stay especially as the first three days were taken up with a wedding nearby, (our main reason for renting the gite). In the absence of a visitor's book it would be difficult to verify that we were the proverbial 'exception' in raising the problems listed above. The beds were comfortable but difficult to make due to poor access. The two floors were clean but cluttered and we had to keep our empty bags and boxes, in the car. Great views from both windows over the river and its wildlife - especially in the morning - but we missed not having curtains at night due to the well lit car park below. The site may give marks of 5 out of 5 which seems incredible. We certainly cannot recommend this place which we do not believe meets with minimum standards and is anything but... 'romantic'... Have HomeAway/Abritel actually vetted it???
