La Valade
24470 St Saud Lacoussière, Dordogne
Sleeps 10
Please click here to view the 2010 rental rates, or see below for further information
"La Valade" as seen from the Garden.
The Location and Setting
Situated 10 kms inside the border of the Dordogne and the Haute-Vienne, equidistant from Périgueux and Limoges, and standing in 23.5 hectares (nearly 60 acres).
The earliest parts of this beautifully restored and renovated Farmhouse date from the 16th century.
"La Valade" is surrounded by 4 villages, none more than 5 to 12 minutes' drive, and boasting, between them, several simple-to-very-good restaurants, some cafés, and a variety of food and other small shops.
The nearest towns are Thiviers (15 minutes' drive) which has an excellent Saturday market, and Nontron (20 minutes) with its 3 supermarkets. Stunning Brantôme (known as the Venice of the Dordogne) is 35 minutes, whilst the beautiful, pedestrianised, medieval city of Périguex is 45 minutes away. Limoges - one of the china-making capitals of the world - is roughly the same distance.
The nearest access to the autoroute system (the north-south A20) is 30 kms. Bergerac airport (also called Roumanière) is approximately 80 kms (1½ hours), Limoges airport is about 45 kms (45 minutes), both having some international flights. The major international airport of Bordeaux (Mérignac) is 120 kms.
There are express trains from Limoges to Paris and elsewhere and, in addition, the super-fast train, the TGV, stops at Angoulème and Brive-la-Gaillarde (both about 60 kms).
The Hall. Showing the dining table on the
Ground Floor, and the Gallery on the First Floor.
The House
"La Valade" is set in tranquil, rolling countryside known as the "Périgord Vert". To the north east are matchless views of woods and fields, much of this land belonging to "La Valade".
The crescent-shaped drive sweeps up to the south front of the Farmhouse where there is ample parking space.
The front door opens into a spacious HALL from which a most attractive double staircase ascends to the First Floor. One is immediately struck by the lightness and airiness of the entire house, and one's spirits soar accordingly.
To the left of the Hall is:
- The open-plan DINING ROOM. With, at one end, a table seating 10, and at the other, a drinks fridge and a dishwasher.
The Dining Room. With the Hall and the Sitting Room in the background.
Up a short flight of steps to:
- The very well-equipped KITCHEN. With a breakfast table seating 10, a stainless-steel gas cooker with 6 hobs and 2 electric ovens, a second dishwasher, a large fridge/freezer/ice-maker, a microwave, blenders, a toaster etc. Also a CD Player/Radio - plus masses of CDs.
The Kitchen.
Off the Kitchen is the:
- UTILITY ROOM/BOOT ROOM. With a clothes washer, a dryer, an ironing board, an iron etc.
- LARDER.
- BOILER ROOM/DRYING ROOM.
The Breakfast Area at one end of the Kitchen.
To the right of the Hall is:
- A CLOAKROOM. With a W.C.
- The SITTING ROOM. With an imposing, wood-burning fireplace, and large comfortable sofas.
- A small "OFFICE"/LIBRARY. With Wi-Fi internet access, a fax/printer, and a range of English language books. (There are numerous other books in various rooms throughout the house).
- A spacious GAMES ROOM. With 2 pianos, a CD Player/Radio, and French windows at both ends. A second staircase ascends to the First Floor.
The Sitting Room.
Off the Games Room is:
- BEDROOM 1. With a 6 ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles.
- Ensuite BATHROOM 1. With a bath, a walk-in shower, and a W.C.
NB. This Bedroom and Bathroom are particularly suited to wheelchair users as they are accessible to the entire Ground Floor via ramps, as well as to the garden, and to the pool and its surroundings.
Bedroom 3.
FIRST FLOOR
To the left at the top of the double staircase are:
- BEDROOM 2. With a 6ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles.
- Ensuite BATHROOM 2. With a bath with an overhead shower, and a W.C.
- BEDROOM 3. With a 6ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles.
- Ensuite BATHROOM 3. With a bath with an overhead shower, and a W.C.
- BEDROOM 4. With a 5'6" (1.65 metre) bed.
- BEDROOM 5. With a 5'6" (1.65 metre) bed.
- BATHROOM 4. With a bath, a walk-in shower, and a W.C.
The Gallery on the First Floor.
To the right at the top of the stairs are:
- The GALLERY (overlooking the Hall). With a wood-burning fireplace, comfortable sofas and armchairs, and a large-screen satellite TV (receiving both English and French language programmes), and a DVD player.
Up steps to (normally not available):
- The MASTER BEDROOM (Bedroom 6). With a 6ft (1.8 metre) bed which can be split into 2 singles.
- Ensuite BATHROOM 5. With a bath, a walk-in shower, twin washbasins, and a W.C.
Bathroom 3.
THE GARDEN
The owners are keen horticulturalists, and have created their colourful garden virtually from scratch. Trees of many kinds dot the expansive lawns, whilst all around are shrubs, flower beds and rose bushes. On the south side is an orchard with, amongst other trees, quinces, pears, plums, apples and crab apples.
French doors at the west end of the Hall lead to a DINING TERRACE with a table seating 10, shaded by a large sun umbrella.
The view from the Dining Terrace.
Up a wide flight of steps to:
The filtered, heated SWIMMING POOL (12 × 6 metres). With Roman steps leading to the shallow end (1 metre), descending to 2 metres at the deep end.
The pool has an electric, retractable cover which can hold the weight of an adult, and which should be closed at night for safety's sake and to retain the water temperature.
Looking towards the House.
At the far end is the POOL HOUSE, open on 2 sides. With a table seating 10, a charcoal-fired barbecue, a fridge, a sink, and a CD Player/Radio. Lots of sun beds, 2 swing-chairs, and a hammock.
Off the Pool House is a CHANGING ROOM with a walk-in shower, a wash basin, and a W.C.
NB.1. The pool has a saline content equivalent in strength to human tears. This is effective in keeping the water crystal-clear, as well as in preventing possible eye and ear problems.
NB.2. The pool can be heated at a cost of £150 per week, any such sum being deducted from the Booking and Security Deposit prior to its re-imbursement.
Around the corner is another TERRACE with a table seating 6. (This is easily accessed from the Kitchen, and is an alternative Breakfast Area).
The Pool House.
Other Facilities And Information
- Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 10 people including children and babies staying at "La Valade" at any time.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- The Cleaner is Patricia Archer who, despite her name, is French, although speaking some English. She lives locally, and is paid by the owners for 2 hours' work per day on 4 days per week, her jobs to include making beds, and cleaning the Bathrooms and Kitchen. She is prepared to work extra days and/or hours should tenants so wish, her wage being Euros 12 per hour for any such additional work.
- Tenants should advise Patricia and the Agent of any breakages, losses and/or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- The house is cared for by neighbours, Rob and Sophie Cole, who live 5 minutes away. Rob and/or Sophie will meet tenants on arrival and will show them around the house and grounds, whilst Rob should be contacted if the pool heating is required, and is also responsible for pool maintenance. They are paid by the owners accordingly.
- "La Valade" is an "all-year-round" house, and apart from the fireplace in the Sitting Room as well as that in the Gallery on the First Floor, there is under-floor central heating throughout the Ground Floor, and radiators in all the rooms on the First Floor.
- There is a telephone system, coupled with Wi-Fi internet access in the "Office"/Library (as above). Mobile/Cell reception isn't as good as it might be from either the house or the grounds.
- There are 2 cots with bedding, and a high chair.
- There are hair-dryers in every Bedroom.
- There is a large variety of board games, as well as packs of playing cards.
- There is a huge selection of English-language books, CDs and DVDs.
- The owners' insurance policy requires that all outside doors are locked, and all windows are closed whenever tenants are away from the property for whatever reason.
- Provided sufficient notice is given, a part-time cook and/or a babysitter can probably be found. His/her/their wages will be the tenants' responsibility, and can be ascertained in advance should tenants so wish.
- Please do not smoke in the house.
- Fires are a constant risk in the hotter months. Please therefore be careful when extinguishing cigarettes outside, and also when using the barbecue in the Pool House.
- "La Valade" has a most useful Folder containing masses of information about the property itself, plus important telephone numbers (doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician etc), details of local supermarkets and shops, open-air markets in the surrounding villages and towns (and on which day of the week each takes place), and restaurants in various price brackets etc. It also lists many interesting churches and other ecclesiastical buildings, a number of chateaux and gardens that are open to the public, plus many fascinating towns and villages in the immediate area.
- There is an outdoor tennis court in Miallet (10 minutes' drive), and 2 in St Saud Lacoussière (12 minutes). Booking details are in the Information Folder.
- There is an 18-hole golf course near Périgueux (Golf de Périgueux), and another near Ecuras (Golf International de la Prèze), both about 40 kms.
- There are livery stables near Beynac (10 minutes). This is fabulous riding country.
- The house has a tandem bicycle. Others bicycles can be hired at St Saud Lacoussière.
- There are masses of marvellous walks in all directions - see the Information Folder. Close to "La Valade", for instance, are signposts marking one of the ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.
- The nearby river Dronne offers canoeing through the magical town of Brantôme to Bourdeilles with its Chateau and its beautiful 14th century abbeys.
Bedroom 4.
Bathroom 4.
"La Valade". Facing south.
The Rents In 2010
| May & October | £2,500 per week |
| June & September | £3,000 per week |
| July & August | £3,500 per week |
Unless otherwise agreed, all rentals will begin and end on a Saturday and will be for a minimum of one week. Tenants are required to arrive between 4pm and 5pm on the commencement day, and to leave no later than 10am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival by Rob and/or Sophie Cole.
If so, please click the flags to go to our Enquiry/Booking Form
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the 75% balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking And Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £500 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing this Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking, and will cover the cost of (a) telephone and fax calls made during the tenancy, (b) replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, (c) pool heating if required (see above), and (d) any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. It will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 8 weeks of the tenancy's conclusion.
