£725 - £3000
(€840 - €3474)
Per property per week
Farmhouse, sleeps 8, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Contact the owner
Contact the owner directly
Alison Bumpstead
(Advertising since March 2016)
Tel: + 44 (0) 07966525918
Website: visit owners website.
Please mention French Connections.
Al fresco dining (1 / 22)
Fun for all the family (2 / 22)
Veranda and outdoor (3 / 22)
Well equipped farmhouse kitchen (4 / 22)
Light and airy bedrooms (5 / 22)
Farmhouse and Tower from pool (6 / 22)
Master sitting room (7 / 22)
Welcome to Blancou (8 / 22)
Outdoor living with panoramic views (9 / 22)
Balmy evenings and amazing sunsets (10 / 22)
Tower bedroom (11 / 22)
Walled courtyard with leafy wisteria covered pergola (12 / 22)
Second sitting room with views of the Aveyron gorge (13 / 22)
Refreshing pool for hot summer days (14 / 22)
Plenty of space for lounging in the garden or playing ball games (15 / 22)
Views from garden (16 / 22)
Children of all ages love herding the geese (17 / 22)
The nearby Chateau at Penne (18 / 22)
Many water based activities on and in the river (19 / 22)
Visit Najac with its fantastic Chateau (20 / 22)
Old villages with cobbled streets to explore (21 / 22)
St Antonin Noble Val (22 / 22)
Blancou is an excellent base for those seeking an activity based holiday or a place to chill-out. The well appointed farmhouse is full of charm and character with lovely gardens and private pool. Ideal for families, groups and children this tranquil location offers the perfect retreat to relax and soak up the ambiance of rural France. A fantastic base for touring and yet only 10 minutes to shopping, restaurants, cafes and all the sporting and river activities such as canoeing and kayaking offered in St Antonin Noble Val.
The layout of the rooms, pan tiled veranda, walled courtyard, private pool and 5 acres of gardens and field provide plenty of space and privacy for all who visit. Surrounded by fields and woodland, this self catering holiday farmhouse/villa rental is the perfect setting for a spring, summer or early autumn getaway.
This 18th century restored farmhouse offers tranquility and comfort and many onsite activities including table tennis, badminton and the all important private swimming pool. The property sleeps up to 8 + baby and offers well equipped comfortable accommodation for families or groups sharing a holiday. The accommodation suits couples as well as small or large groups. Children are welcome. There are are cats, geese (fenced in), chickens and depending on season ducks and turkeys all on site and everyone is welcome to help feed them and collect the eggs.
The accommodation consists of the farmhouse and an attached “Tower” and provides facilities for eight guests plus a baby.
The Farmhouse
The farmhouse comprises:
- Master Bedroom - king size four poster bed
- Master Bathroom - whirlpool bath, shower and hairdryer.
- Second Bedroom - twin beds (which can be made into a double as required) French windows into private courtyard
- Third Bedroom - double bed situated on a mezzanine floor (accessed via steep spiral staircase) above its own shower en suite and sitting room which overlooks the cliffs of the gorge. Sitting room also has a sofa bed
- Sitting Room - English satellite TV, DVD player - please bring your own DVD's/CD's etc, Board games & cards and Log fire with wood available for early and late season lets at a small charge.
- Fully equipped kitchen with plenty of crockery, cutlery, pans, baking trays etc, range style cooker, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, liquidiser, mixer and many useful kitchen utensils. There is a large kitchen table and seating for eight.
- Utility room with washing machine, iron & ironing board, washing baskets & pegs.
- Linens include: Bed linen and towels, drying up cloths, kitchen apron & oven mitts
- For Baby: Cot & bedding, Changing mat, Highchair and Steriliser
- Also: Wireless internet access and well stocked bookcases featuring plenty of crime fiction and adventure novels
The Tower
The tower (sleeps 2) provides self contained, two storey accommodation.
Upstairs is:
- A double bedroom with en suite shower room.
Downstairs there is:
- A kitchenette and sitting room area with fireplace. In addition to those facilities available in the farmhouse the tower has a fridge/freezer - great for use as a "beer" chiller! Sitting room area also has a sofa bed.
OUTDOORS
Blancou is set in 5 acres of garden and open grassland. There is plenty of space for children and the energetic to run round and play football or other ball games and the open grassland is accessible after the hay has been cut in early July. The private swimming pool (10x6 and 1.9 at deep end) has a hilltop location with fabulous views and is exclusively for the use of guests. Access is via a pool ladder. Pool is fenced. Pool can be lit up at night by the flood light situated in the nearby walnut tree. Paddling pool available for toddlers. Large shady hangar for parking. Large gravelled entrance drive ideal for boules! At the rear of the property is a lovely walled courtyard which can be accessed from the kitchen or french windows leading out of one of the bedrooms. There are also cats, geese (fenced in) and chickens all on site and the younger members of the family are welcome to help feed them and collect the eggs. Entertainment outdoors includes Table Tennis. Table Football, Badminton and Boules.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Smokers are welcome but are asked not to smoke indoors. Fruit and vegetables are available from the garden for a small charge. Both are subject to season and availability. There are also a range of herbs around the property for your use. Bed linen and towels (hand, bath and tea towels) are provided and these are changed weekly. Guests are asked to provide their own pool towels. Pool open May to September. Wood available by the basket at a small charge for early and late season lets. We are based in one of the barns on site and are available to help in any way to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible.
We are located on a hilltop not far from St Antonin and the Aveyron gorge. It is only five minutes drive to the historic town of St Antonin Noble Val with further activities and a range of bars and restaurants. This is the oldest town in the region with old stone houses, narrow winding streets and boasting France's oldest city hall. It offers a variety of traditional shops and a renowned Sunday market selling fruit, vegetables, cheeses, wines and local crafts - a must for all market loving guests. Round off the day in one of the several bars and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by from the shade of majestic trees as you sip your wine or cool beer.
Activities in and around St Antonin include:
Canoing/kayaking, Rock climbing, Horse riding, Fishing, Tennis, Mountain biking and Walking. Also, new in 2016 a Parcours with various tree courses catering for age 3 upwards - a great half day out for all. For your convenience we provide books detailing local walks. Nearby there are many wonderful villages to visit such as Penne, Bruniquel, Najac and Cordes. All are places of outstanding beauty, marvellous architecture and historical interest and many with connections to the knights Templar.
Slightly Further Afield
The tallest bridge in the world at Millau makes a good day trip as does the space centre in Toulouse. For those who like driving, the Mediterranean or Pyrenees are both within easy reach. A trip to Carcassonne is well worth a visit. Finally, don’t forget the wine. Blancou is next situated between the wine producing regions of Gaillac and Quercy and a visit to the vineyards is recommended.
We are situated in the Midi Pyrenees, which is the largest region in the country and because of its size and location it offers a huge diversity of scenery, cuisine and activities to suit all tastes. It boasts mountains and chalk plateaus, which are cut through by the deep gorges of rivers and in between are rolling hills with wooded valleys, garrigue landscapes and rolling farmland where crops such as sunflowers and maize abound. This is a very rural region and there are birds and wildlife in abundance, which makes this area a paradise for nature lovers especially in May and early June before the long hot summers set in.
This region is renowned for its great variety of locally grown and produced foods. These include garlic, truffles, wild mushrooms, chestnuts, walnut oil and an abundance of vegetables and fruits such as melons, plums and greengages. Poultry such as goose, duck and chicken along with beef and lamb form the basis of many local dishes such as foie gras and cassoulet. A variety of cheeses are also produced in the region from cows, sheep and goats. The region includes the wine growing areas of Quercy and Gaillac.
Local amenities
Nearest bakery: St Antonin Noble Val
Nearest supermarket: St Antonin Noble Val
Nearest market: St Antonin Noble Val
Nearest pharmacy: St Antonin Noble Val
Nearest bar: St Antonin Noble Val
Tourist information: St Antonin Noble Val
St Antonin Noble Val on the map
Property 165779 –
Nearby place of interest
How to get to Blancou
By Car
From the cross channel Ferry Ports it is auto route most of the way and journeys take 8 hrs or more depending on where you cross. The Ferry ports are between 700 and 800 km
By Air
The two nearest Airports are Toulouse and Rodez although we have had guests who have travelled via Bordeaux, Bergerac and Carcassonne.
Some of the operators flying into Toulouse are:
flybe from Birmingham and Manchester
jet2 from Manchester
easyjet from Gatwick, Luton and Bristol
British Airways from Heathrow
Aerlingus from Dublin
Ryanair from Edinburgh and Stansted
Car Hire is available at the airports - Toulouse has the following operators - Ada, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Citer (National in the UK) and Sixt.
The nearest train stations are:
- Lexos - 10 minutes from Blancou
- Caussade, 25 minutes
- Montauban 50 minutes
Access options
Car Essential
Nearest airport
The nearest serviceable airport is Toulouse [TLS]
Stayed here? Add your review >
I will not be able to do justice to the joy my wife and I experienced at Blancou. From the beauty and utter stillness of its setting to its location near the charming town of St. Antonin (with its bounteous Sunday Farmers’ Market), this is a magical place that also made for a great home base from which to explore the many picturesque medieval villages in the area. The house, a great size for just my wife and me, was also large enough to accommodate our children and their spouses when they came to visit. Peter and Allison were perfect hosts, taking care of any occasional need we had, and also providing us with valuable advice about what the area had to offer, all while giving us the privacy that we were after. What they have painstakingly done to create this beautifully restored property from what was a highly distressed 18th-century farmhouse and grounds is nothing short of amazing. In addition to the aforementioned peacefulness, the fruit trees, the garden, the fresh eggs (from the chickens on the property), the pool, the cozy comfort of the spacious house, the beautiful sunsets and of course the somewhat comical and entertaining geese all made Blancou a supremely relaxing and special haven in which to spend our holiday.
Guest rating:
This is our 3rd visit to Blancou, each and every visit has been absolutely fantastic.
The property and location are stunning, could not be better. The pool is just perfect for family fun, and a welcome cool off.
Alison and Peter are perfect hosts, there if you need them, but otherwise unobtrusive.
Our youngest still enjoys helping Alison herd the geese and collect the chicken eggs each evening.
The village of St Antonin Noble Val is a marvel, lots to do and see, quiet, yet buzzing. (Except for Sunday market - fun but exceptionally busy)
Many lovely bars and restaurants.
Water sports on the Aveyron are great fun for all.
Another amazing holiday,
Thank You, no doubt we will be back again.Guest rating:
Just back from a week staying here with friends. I can see why they keep going back. The view is beautiful, the house is gorgeous, the pool is a must. It is so quite and peaceful. The local village has everything you may need and the Sunday market is well worth a visit. Would happily visit again.
Guest rating:
I stayed with some friends here for a few days and thoroughly enjoyed the house and amenities. Super relaxing and tranquil environment and the pool was just great.
Guest rating:
A fantastic property, beautifully renovated by the owners Alison & Pete. The location is great , overlooking the Aveyron Gorge & within easy reach of St Antonin Noble Val with its wonderful Sunday market & numerous restaurants & shops selling locally crafted products. It is well placed for visiting the bastides in the Aveyron - Penne, Bruniquel & Puycelci but also the historic towns on the Lot & the city of Albi. It’s not too far to Toulouse & easy to make a day trip by train from nearby Lexos.
The house is spacious & well equipped with a lovely pool & a variety of outside dining areas. It is ideal for a group of friends or extended family.
Alison & Pete are really great hosts - on hand to offer help & advice about the area but not intrusive. They supplied us with eggs & produce from their fantastic kitchen garden & we made good use of their herb garden.
All 8 of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience of holidaying at Blancou & would love to return.Guest rating:
This is not a vacation rental... it's Shangri-La! Picture a hilltop with rolling pastures and wheat fields all around. You are high up in the hills so you get both a magnificent sunrise AND sunset every day. There is a pool at the top of the land and you can refresh yourself feeling like the master of all you survey. The house itself is a true wonder: a 17th century farmhouse that Pete and Alison have resurrected lovingly (w/a modern interior) using the original stones. A huge eat-in kitchen w/every convenience for the gourmet cook, beautiful bedrooms, and a large tub w/jacuzzi jets to relax after the sightseeing. Our favorite feature though was the ivy covered patio where we had breakfast and dinner every night watching the sunset turn into the Milky Way. Alison is very generous w/pickings from her picture-perfect vegetable garden. Many gorgeous medieval French villages within a short and beautiful drive. It was our favorite vacation ever (and - yes - I'm counting Tuscany)!Guest rating:
We had the pleasure of staying at Blancou recently and I would fully recommend it as a great base to explore an absolutely magnificent area, or a place to chill and totally relax. Alison and Pete have created an idyllic place which has been designed to a high standard. The accommodation is spacious and the farm house combines the mod-cons you need with rustic French charm. The Tower is also very comfortable and you really do feel like you own you’re own corner of France during your stay. The grounds are well cared for and the vegetable and herb gardens are impressive. The swimming pool provides the perfect spot to relax and has amazing views of the stunning countryside. Alison and Pete will be able to advise on visiting the nearby village and there is plenty going on to ensure a varied break. Blancou has to be seen to be believed and in a sunny day you can’t fail to be taken in by the tranquility on offer. We will be back!Guest rating:
Pete and Alison were very welcoming on our arrival and when we were shown round you could see how wonderfully authentic everything looked with the mod cons that are necessary. They were there if we needed them but otherwise we were left to enjoy our time in their home as they were in a converted barn close by.
We bought their fresh eggs and home made jam which were delicious and my only regret was forgetting to pick the rhubarb offered free.
The pool was perfect for us and the peace and quiet was essential to us as we lead busy lives and needed to recharge our batteries.
The area is beautiful and another visit will I am sure be on the cards.Guest rating:
Swimming, table tennis, boules, badminton - and a TV that had the Olympics - our grandchildren could ask for nothing more. The grown-ups could and were delighted with the location - high above the Aveyron Gorge and the town of St Antonin Noble Val, whose fireworks at the end of its fete we watched from beside the pool- with the wonderfully quirky layout of the lovingly restored property, with its tower where the grandparents enjoyed peace, and other characterful bedrooms and living rooms. The owners live on site, there to help when necessary but never intrusive and providing walks with geese and lots of vegetables from the garden. A ten-minute drive by a lovely lane into St Antonin, justly famous for its Sunday market but much better savoured in he easy evening and with everything one could ask for. Canoeing on the Aveyron and much else, all within easy reach. Lovely gite.
Guest rating:
Blancou was everything I had hoped for - a beautifully restored and well equipped farmhouse in a gorgeous location, (some might call it remote, but it was our ideal spot) with a lovely garden and a pool with a view of the Aveyron gorge. The house is spacious and the family could be together or have as much privacy as we liked. The 'Tower;' was an additional delight! We enjoyed eating in the lovely farmhouse kitchen - and outside. Playing games (equipment provided) in the huge garden was lots of fun for us all - but we also enjoyed many quiet moments listening to the birds or watching the sun go down.
Alison and Peter are warm, welcoming and helpful - readily on hand but not at all intrusive.
The area is a delight - St Antonin is a gem but our top highlight was canoeing down from Feneyrols to Cazals.
Our only wish was to stay longer - we will definitely be back!Guest rating:
We spent 2 weeks at this lovely place. The house was lovely, the garden was a joy and the views were fantastic, not to mention the pool. Alison & Pete were the perfect hosts and we hope to return.
Guest rating:
A wonderful location on top of a hill overlooking open countryside and opposite a gorge. What a fantastic spot. A warm welcome on arrival from Alison and Peter who were always on hand when needed. St Antonin is a gorgeous place with lots of lovely places to eat. Lots to do and great places to visit. The Tour de France came through while we were there which was super exciting. Everybody friendly. Would definitely return if we were in the area.
Guest rating:
| Property type | Farmhouse (Self-catering) |
| Bathrooms | 3 |
| Bedrooms |
3 double bedroom(s) 1 twin bedroom(s) 1 cot(s) |
| Occupancy | 8 |
| Suitability | Suitable for children, Unsuitable for wheelchair access |
| Linen | NO extra charge for bed linens, bathroom towels, hand towels and tea towels. |
| Kitchen facilities | Dishwasher, Ironing facilities, Microwave, Washing machine, Fridge-Freezer, Range cooker |
| Internal facilities | CD player, DVD player, English satellite TV, Owner on site, TV, Wood burning fire or stove, Radio, Hairdryer, Board Games, Wi-Fi Broadband Internet, Tea/Coffee making facilities |
| External facilities | Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (exclusive use), Barbecue |
| Activities nearby | Badminton, Bird Watching, Boules, Canoeing, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Gourmet dining, Hiking, Horse riding, Kayaking, Mountain biking, Museums, Paragliding, Photography, Rambling, Riverside activities, Rock climbing, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Tree adventure park, Via Ferrata, Walking, Water sports, Wine tasting |
Changeover day: Saturday
Last updated on: 22nd June 2022
| Available | Booked/Unavailable |
|---|
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| Accommodation rental period | Price |
|---|---|
| 28 May 2022 – 01 July 2022 |
£800 Per property per week
(€926 / $978) |
| 02 July 2022 – 08 July 2022 |
£1250 Per property per week
(€1448 / $1529) |
| 09 July 2022 – 29 July 2022 |
£1500 Per property per week
(€1737 / $1835) |
| 30 July 2022 – 12 August 2022 |
£3000 Per property per week
(€3474 / $3669) |
| 13 August 2022 – 26 August 2022 |
£1500 Per property per week
(€1737 / $1835) |
| 27 August 2022 – 02 September 2022 |
£1250 Per property per week
(€1448 / $1529) |
| 03 September 2022 – 09 September 2022 |
£800 Per property per week
(€926 / $978) |
| 10 September 2022 – 23 September 2022 |
£725 Per property per week
(€840 / $887) |
| 17 June 2023 – 30 June 2023 |
£800 Per property per week
(€926 / $978) |
| 08 July 2023 – 21 July 2023 |
£1500 Per property per week
(€1737 / $1835) |
| 29 July 2023 – 11 August 2023 |
£1500 Per property per week
(€1737 / $1835) |
Additional price notes
Price INCLUDES local Holiday Tax, gas, electricity, linens and end of stay cleaning.
May/June & September - cheaper rates for groups of 4 or less - 10% off advertised prices.
July and August changeover day is Saturday and whole weeks must be booked. At other times we can be flexible on changeover day and can accept bookings for any duration which exceeds four nights.