House

Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village

Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village

Photo gallery for Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village

Property grounds
This is the gite.
The open-plan ground floor with antique wood-burner and Charantais fireplace.
We will show you how to work the wood-burner - the logs are included in the rent
This turning staircase was found in an old barn

Overview of Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village

10 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedroomsSleeps 470 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Benest, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  • Popular LocationSaint John the Baptist Church17 min drive
  • Popular LocationThe gardens of Argentor18 min drive
  • Popular LocationAbbey of Our Lady of Nanteuil18 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village

Near to Confolens for the August 12-18th International Dance Festival. Visit many chateaux in this area. Huge discount for over 28 days so if you are looking for a three week holiday, try booking 28 days. If you are booking 2 weeks, contact us for a discount via Homeaway 'Request to Book' (you will be under no obligation at this stage).
If you are house-hunting or looking for a longer stay, note that the monthly rates are half of the weekly rates, and dates can be flexible.
Hazelnut cottage is a 2-bed, 2-en-suite cottage, offering you a comfortable home while you are on holiday. The open-plan ground floor has two settees around a fireplace, a dining table and a new kitchen. You can sit outside the front or the back of the gîte, following (or avoiding) the sun.
A beautiful old oak staircase sweeps grandly from the open-plan ground floor to the two carpeted double & twin bedrooms upstairs. The first bedroom has a 5' double bed, the second bedroom has two 3' single beds. Each bedroom has its own en-suite shower room. Towels, cool cotton blankets, a wide selection of pillows, duvets and linen are all provided. Each bed is furnished with a layer of memory foam and a 'pillow top'. A feather topper completes this trio to provide the most comfy night's sleep. A hair dryer is provided. UK/European adaptor plugs are also provided.
For weekly guests we provide a selection of washing products, sauces, spices and many small items so that you won’t need to make unnecessary purchases. If there is anything you are missing, you can simply borrow from us - we are right next door! As you arrive, there will be a selection of groceries in the fridge e.g.Tea, coffee, butter, milk, eggs, bread, cheese and wine!
The superb wi-fi in the gîte will enable you to keep in touch with your Internet connections, and there is a good mobile phone signal here too. The TV has a UK Sky Freeview card so you can giggle at the UK weather back home, and keep up with your favourite programmes.

Property manager

Olivia & Andy Spracklen
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Fireplace

House Rules

Check in after 10:00 AM
Check out before 2:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please let us know if you have small children

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed
We love dogs!

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
You are welcome to smoke outside.
Please smoke outside.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Benest

Located in Benest, this cottage is in a rural area. Church Saint-Just and Abbey of Our Lady of Nanteuil are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include The gardens of Argentor and Valley of the Monkeys. Chêne-Vert Arboretum and Aventure Parc Lacs de Haute Charente are also worth visiting. Sailing and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby.

What's nearby

  • Saint John the Baptist Church - 17 min drive
  • Church Saint-Just - 18 min drive
  • The gardens of Argentor - 18 min drive
  • Abbey of Our Lady of Nanteuil - 18 min drive

Getting around

  • Roumazieres-Loubert Station - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • Porcheron Chantal - 13 min drive
  • Leborgne Jean-Claude - 15 min drive
  • Chez Patou - 7 min drive
  • Tinard Alain - 11 min drive
  • Bar le Chatain - 7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village?

Check-in begins at 10:00 AM.

What time is check-out at Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village?

Checkout is at 2:00 PM.

Where is Pet-friendly Cottage In Tranquil Countryside Setting Near To River and Village located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 12 miles (20 km) of Church Saint-Just, Saint John the Baptist Church and Abbey of Our Lady of Nanteuil. The gardens of Argentor is 9.8 mi (15.8 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews" "

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Keith M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
June 2019
This is the second visit to this property and once again we were very impressed. The Gite is in a beautiful rural setting but close to major supermarkets and attractions. We have two dogs and there is a huge back garden with lots of shade for them to frolic in(the owners are extremely dog friendly) There is every item of equipment you could want, provided by the owners and should you want some obscure item I'm sure they would find it for you. Andy and Olivia have made both of our stays really pleasant and as guests we love their relaxed and unobtrusive manner.
Stayed 29 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lynsey H.

Fantastic stay in this peaceful location
This holiday home had everything we could have wished for. Ideal quiet location with a 15 min walk to the village of Benest. Huge garden for our dogs to explore and a lovely pool to cool down in after sightseeing trips. The bedrooms were spacious enough for our family of 4 and the beds were extremely comfortable. The halogen oven was a big hit with us and we used it almost every day. The cottage is well equipped and Olivia had placed little cards around to explain how everything worked. Such a fab idea. Olivia and Andy are fabulous hosts and provided lots of good info about the surrounding location. The attention to detail was second to none. The kitchen was full of store cupboard items to save us having to buy these. A car is essential for this rural location and we enjoyed visiting the surrounding villages and towns. We also enjoyed our evening walks around the village where we could access and make use of the village tennis court. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and are already planning our next trip.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

John G.

A piece of paradise in lovely countryside
The two bedroom gite was extremely well equipped. Ensuite showers were top of the range. The King size bed was very comfortable with lots of extra bed linen and towels. Olivia and Andy were extremely helpful in every department. On arrival Olivia had provided groceries and wine in our cupboard. Over the month we also went out a couple times with them to a quiz night and a lovely meal in one of the best restaurants in a beautiful village. They loved our dog as well. The local village of Benest provided fresh bread and groceries , a five minute walk from the Hamlet. Also it was great just to be able to walk to the local pub which provided snacks and a good Sunday Lunch if required. Spent a number of evenings enjoying a glass of wine and occasional barbecues in the extensive gardens. 5 stars isnt enough to describe this top accommodation in a wonderful quiet location.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jill H., United Kingdom

Peaceful Location yet close to many attractions
Ideally placed gite set in tranquil countryside yet with numerous places to explore nearby. Charming picturesque villages within minutes and larger towns such as Limoges, Agouleme , Cognac all around an hours drive . The gite itself has been newly renovated to the highest standard and is extremely well equipped . The large gardens are an ideal place to relax in the abundant sunshine of the Charente and of course to enjoy al fresco dining . The hosts Olivia and Andy are warm and welcoming , full of local insights and ideas for things to do . Nothing is too much trouble and they go out of their way to ensure you have a fabulous stay ! Highly recommend and would love to visit again in the future .
Stayed 40 nights in May 2016

10/10 Excellent

Gerald F.

Cosy,tasteful and well equipped gite
Wonderful welcome from very hospitable hosts to a pretty and sympathetically renovated cottage with lots of character. Lovely, peaceful location. Everything that we were looking for.

About the host

Hosted by Olivia & Andy Spracklen

Host profile image
We moved to France in March 2014 having rented out our bungalow in Bournemouth. Andy finally quit his job with a bank after 33 years!
Andy was looking forward to his first ride on a sit-on mower, and I couldn't wait to get cooking with my new range cooker. It was GREAT to have so much space. My welsh-dresser that I bought in 1977 had never looked so small. It had always been squeezed into small rooms in previous homes. Andy soon spread out all of his tools in a lovely ‘organised-mess’ in the huge workshop with his beloved lawn-mower.
Our thought of ‘the good life’ were tempered by common-sense. I talked Andy out of having a donkey, and we shelved the idea of keeping chickens because we travel back to the UK to see the grandchildren several times a year. I did start a vegetable patch, with little previous experience. I watched the gardening programmes on the internet and TV to find out how to sow seeds, and prune the fruit trees in the orchard. We discovered the walnuts and hazelnuts when they started falling out of the trees!
I managed to pick enough blackberries to make a few gallons of wine the first year. We invited our English neighbours (there are three English couples in our small hamlet) to try the wine. I had bought a hydrometer, but I had no idea how to use it. We concluded there was very little alcohol in it because it registered the same level as pure water. However, we were wrong – it packed quite a punch!
It was glorious to be able to store away some of our own apples for the winter. The pears were too small to be useful, so we hope by pruning we will be able to grow some good-sized ones for our gîte guests to pick next autumn.
We enjoy exploring the local markets and supermarkets. The wine here can be really inexpensive, especially when it is on offer, often as little as 2 euros a litre. You can get it even cheaper, but we have not been brave enough to try it!

Why they chose this property

A newly renovated 18th century 2-bed/2 en-suite cottage, in a quiet countryside location. It is located right next door to our own house.
We are a 15-minute walk to a small village or the river Charente.
Hazelnut cottage is part of our longère (a French farmhouse). The cottage shares our huge garden with an orchard. Set apart from the rest of a small hamlet, it is ideal for those who like to sit and relax in peace and quiet, or those who like to walk through country lanes.
Completely re-built in 2016 (with wall and roof insulation) by expert craftsman, Hazelnut cottage provides a home from home all the year round. The thorough wall insulation means that you will be able to keep comfortably warm all through the months, especially important if you are house-hunting in the winter.
The cottage shares the solitude of the large garden with mature fruit and nut trees and far reaching countryside views.
The character cottage features original features, a Charentais fireplace, a Charentais window, and an original sink used by the farmhands probably dating from 1851.
The Godin wood-burner is a fully-restored antique, probably dating from the 1920’s. We provide complementary wood for you, and help you to light it if you are a novice! Electric heating (complementary too) is also provided so that you can keep warm 24/7.

What makes this property unique

The hamlet of Chez Vaslet is 500 metres from the small village of Benest, with a Post Office and a XII century church. In Alloue, the next village, 6km away, there is a cafe/bar where you can have a set lunch, and also fresh bread is available here,( and cigarettes).
There are many country lanes to explore (I will provide you with a local map). You can walk to the river Charente in about 15 minutes.
There are many good restaurants – some near and some farther away. You will be delighted with the quality of the food offered for lunch and evening meals. Many restaurants serve a freshly cooked healthy 3-course lunch starting strictly at 12pm-1pm for £12.50-£15. Most French working people rely on these restaurants and the food is really good. We can provide you with a list (and a map!)
There are many interesting places to visit. Angouleme is a historic town an hour away in the car, and Poitiers is about one and a half hours away. There are many chateaux near and far.
Champagne Mouton is our nearest small town, about 30 minutes away, with a 24-hour cash-point, petrol garages and a really nice Carrefour mini-supermarket. There is a superb car-repair garage here too.
Confolens, just 20 minutes by car, is a beautiful small town on the river Vienne. It is great to explore. This town offers a twice weekly market, a large supermarket. In August there is a week-long International Dance Festival here with many concerts and parades through the town. There is an outdoor swimming pool here.
Ruffec is another small town offering some out-of town shops as well as a number of large supermarkets. On the A10, it is the gateway to adventures further afield, like the Valley of the Monkeys, Puy Du Fou, and Futurescope.
There are many chateaux in this area. Visit Verteuil to visit the chateaux, the working mill loving restored by its owners, the lovely art and gift shop on the bridge, the river walk, and the 'Portbleu' restaurant. See many other beautiful and interesting villages.
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