Renovated Farmhouse with Pool in Idyllic Setting

Two Bedroom Gîte details

Home description

Le Cloup is a beautifully renovated six bedroom Quercynoise farmhouse in the heart of the unspoilt and idyllic countryside of South-West France, surrounded by rolling hills and the gorges of the Aveyron.

This 200 year-old home has all of the comforts to make your stay a happy and relaxing one, with huge living spaces to give you the chance to recharge your batteries.

There is a private swimming pool for you to enjoy, with a child-safety fence and gate. There are also several sun terraces and six acres of oak woodland, meadow and gardens - fabulous for children. The house and garden has beautiful views of the Aveyron Gorges and the surrounding hills.

Whether you are looking for a destination for a family or group holiday for anything up to 4 people, or would simply like a charming getaway as a couple, we can offer you a beautiful and luxurious environment in which to relax.

External features on site

• Garden
• Scenic views
• Swimming pool (exclusive use)

Accommodation detail

• Two bedrooms (one double, one twin) open out through large French doors with shutters onto the south-east facing sunny courtyard, which overlooks the private pool area. Each bedroom has beamed ceilings and tiled floors, and one has original exposed stone walls and original features. There is plenty of wardrobe and storage space in each room, and both have adjustable radiators for your comfort.
• Modern spacious bathroom adjacent to the bedrooms is fully tiled, has a large shower, washbasin and WC.
• There is also a second WC.

First floor

• Huge open-plan living room has exposed original stone walls and a tiled floor, there are also adjustable radiators and a wood-burning stove. It offers a DVD and UK satellite television (including all BBC channels) with 2 large, comfortable sofas and a coffee table. There are also adjustable radiators. The room opens out onto a large elevated sun-terrace overlooking the pool, ideal for summer evening meals and breakfasts. Through another set of French doors there is also a barbecue area and sun-terrace with a table and chairs, and a peaceful outlook over the meadow and woodland, where red squirrels and deer can often be spotted.
• Dining  room leading off the living room, with attractive views over the garden and pool.
• Modern spacious kitchen and adjacent pantry have plenty of storage and offer a dishwasher, washing machine, cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave and all of the crockery, cutlery and utensils you should need.

Outside

Outside the bedrooms the courtyard is surrounded by mature trees and flowering shrubs. You will have free access to the pool and terrace, which has a safety fence giving you peace of mind when the children are enjoying the open spaces. Behind the house there is a large oak woodland, and acres of meadow and grass in front, ideal for keeping children happy!

About the location

Le Cloup is within 10 minutes drive of Saint Antonin Noble Val, a beautiful medieval town which, as well as being visually stunning, is also a fascinating place to explore. On a practical level, it has a bustling Sunday food market as well as bars and restaurants, two small supermarkets, a bank, post office, pharmacies, art galleries, and even a cinema with regular English films. As you would expect, it also has excellent boulangeries and patisseries.

Most other nearby villages and towns also boast open air markets with an abundance of just about every kind of fresh local produce - including wine. Within just a short drive, you can find many vineyards and caves to sample the superb regional wines, perhaps most notably Gaillac. Some of the regular seasonal village fêtes and fairs are a treat too.

The Tarn-et-Garonne is a beautiful and unspoilt region, where the relaxed style and pace of life can almost take you back in time. It is blessed with natural oak forests, rivers, gorges, valleys, rolling hills, architectural masterpieces (such as the many medieval bastide towns and chateaux) and an abundance of flora and fauna. There are also many awe-inspiring walks and panoramas. Even the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees are within reach for day trips. It is a holiday destination which can please all tastes, both cultural and gastronomic!

Le Cloup is actually situated on the border of three departements (Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn and Aveyron) and so is an ideal place from which to explore the different beauty of all three.

Bastide Towns

Cordes-sur-Ciel (25 mins drive) is a breathtaking 13th Century bastide. For those with a pioneering spirit, a walk to the very top is well worth the effort for the views alone. Najac (25 mins drive) is another bastide in a stunning setting high above the river Aveyron. There is a beautiful walk towards the 13th Century chateau through streets unchanged for centuries. The area is particularly popular for watersports on the fast flowing Aveyron in the gorge below.

Bruniquel and Penne (both 25 mins drive) are two nearby villages dominated by their extraordinary chateaux. Indeed, by taking the scenic road instead of the faster road along the valley floor, visitors are afforded some of the most spectacular views of the Aveyron gorges.

Just a matter of minutes away are the caves at the Grotte du Bosc, with amazing displays of stalactites, stalagmites and other geological phenomena.

Gaillac (60 mins drive) is one of the oldest and most famous wine growing regions in France. The huge variety of wines from the area should please all tastes, and it is a fascinating area to explore.

Albi (45 mins drive) is the birthplace of the famous artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and with a superb museum holding hundreds of his works. Sainte Cecile Cathedral is a dominating architectural highlight. The town centre is a lovely place to spend a day in the cafes and restaurants.

Toulouse (70 mins drive) or "La Ville Rose" is the 4th largest city in France with many historically important buildings, art galleries, two splendid cathedrals, and the museum of contemporary art, Les Abatoirs. There is also the Space Museum at the huge Cite de l'Espace, with planetariums and an actual-size Ariane 5 rocket.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Swimming, Sightseeing, Wine tasting, Canoeing, Water sports, Cycling, Rock climbing, Fishing, Horse riding, Tennis, Pottery, Walking

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

By Car
We are about 45 minutes drive from the A20 Autoroute junction at Caussade, 20km north of Montauban. The drive from the ferry ports is mostly Autoroute.

By Air
Local airports include Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Rodez. Each airport is around a 90 minute flight from Stansted, Gatwick and Southampton, and is serviced by many of the budget airlines. Car hire is readily available at each airport.

By Train
The station at Lexos is about 2 km from Le Cloup and may be accessed by main line trains from Brive or Toulouse (just 70 mins) or the sleeper direct from Paris.
Personal Service
If you would like to be collected from the train station or airport this can be done for a small charge, but please tell the owners well in advance of your arrival.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.