La Moussette
About the home
The property is located very close to the Lac de Rille a national bird reserve and adjacent to mixed forest which stretches to the Loire Valley. It is an ideal location for walking, cycling, canoeing , fishing, and birdwatching. A wooden Canadian canoe, a rowing boat and bicycles are available for hire.
The property is part of 'Les Mousseaux' , an old watermill on the River Lathan, which flows through the gardens. There is also a large wildlife pond and almost two hectares of organic gardens and woodlands. Wonderfully quiet and peaceful with plant conservatory, riverside walk and woodland.
We are ideally located for most of the best known chateaux of the Loire, close to both Saumur and Tours. An ideal location for a 'get away from it all' holiday. We guarantee tranquility and calm.
| Size: | Sleeps up to 4, 2 bedrooms |
|---|---|
| Nearest beach: | At;lantic Coast, 190km |
| Will consider: | Long lets Short breaks |
| Access: | Car advised Nearest amenities: 6km |
| Family friendly? | Suitable for children of all ages Suitable for people with restricted mobility |
| Notes: | Pets welcome No smoking at this property Self-catering |
Facilities
| Luxuries: | Internet access, Boat available for guest use |
|---|---|
| General: | CD player, Fax, Wi-fi available |
| Standard: | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
| Utilities: | Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer |
| Rooms: | 2 Bedrooms, 1 family bathroom |
| Furniture: | Sofabeds (1), Single beds (2), Double beds (2), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 2 |
| Other: | Linen and towels provided |
| Outdoors: | Shared garden, BBQ, Bicycles available, Private fishing lake / river |
| Access: | Parking space |
Further details indoors:
The modern kitchen has been created from a converted stable/byre retaining many of the original features. There are huge oak beams on the ceiling. There is a round dining table with six chairs. The old hay rack and livestock chains are retained as features.
The timbered bedrooms retain the old beams and are tiled throughout. The main bathroom has basic facilities including a shower attachment.
At the far end of the building is a third bedroom or 'annexe' with an en suite bathroom/toilet in the form of a small converted grenier with a separate entrance, with a double bed and en suite bathroom. This is available for an additional charge (please enquire). It is very quaint and comfortable and provides accommodation for two further people (double bed) at a very low additional cost.
Further details outdoors:
Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy the two hectares of gardens at 'Les Mousseaux'. The gardens are bordered on the south by a large wildlife lake and the River Lathan (you can swim here and there is private fishing with BIG carp), There is a large organic potager with 'square foot' beds. We also have a large polytunnel and fresh vegetables and fruit are available in season.
The flower garden was started in 2005 and we have planted very many trees since 2003 . There were a number of mature fruit trees in place already by the pond to which we have added over the years. Fig trees on the south wall of the barn produce two crops a year of delicious figs.
The conservatory, created from the ruins of an ancient 'cellier', has a small pool and fountain in the inside corner which sometimes has a frog or two (which surprise visitors with their sudden loud croaking!) Here you will find edible passion fruit, guavas, feijoa, pomegranates, and other sub tropical fruit. An ideal location for a cool glass of wine on summer evenings or a barbecue on evenings when the weather is not so warm.
There is a picnic table able to sit six, and a rustic bench beside the river at the end of the pond, an ideal site for a barbecue or just to sit and watch the kingfishers with a glass of wine.
We have two delightful child-friendly dogs (Billy and Bertie), a number of cats, five geese, a malicious duck, chickens and several hives of productive bees. Fresh seasonable vegetables and eggs can be bought and there is honey from our own hives on sale.
Further details
Welcome pack available, with bottle of wine, vegetables and flowers in season. Tourist brochures.
Garden is shared with owners of the house but guests are welcome to wander anywhere they wish. We respect your privacy if you prefer to be left undisturbed or are happy to chat and give advice.
Swimming available in river or at the Lac de Rillé, especially near 'Huttopia', 3km away where there is a little beach and supervised swimming. There is also a little steam train which runs around the lake and is a wonderful attraction for children, whatever their age!
Conditions
Deposit of 20% payable in advance.
Separate charge for linen and towels. (12 euros per bed)
Changeover day, Saturday. (but prepared to negotiate!)
Small hire charge for bicycles, boat and canoe
Photos
The Loire Valley / Maine-et-Loire region


The Loire Valley offers hundreds of attractions of historic interest, from its ancient chateaux, including the Chateau de Breze and its 'souterrains', troglodyte dwellings carved in the 'tuffeau' of the region, wonderful architecture in its ancient cities of Tours and Angers, and the unparalleled landscape of the Loire Valley and its tributaries. It is one of France's great wine making areas, and the sparkling wines of Saumur and Vouvray are a great attraction, with visits to its 'caves'. You can also visit the distillery in Saumur where the famous 'Triple Sec' (which predates Cointreau) is made, along with other liqueurs.
Just to the north is the valley of the little Loir, with its picturesque steep wooded valleys and deep flowing currents.
This is 'green tourism' at its best.
The Breil area
Breil is particularly famous for the August 15th Fete de la Chasse, which attracts 20,000 + visitors from all over France. (Visiteurs pour la Fete de la Chasse sont bienvenus. Le camping est aussi possible.) It is held at the Chateau du Lathan and culminates in a magnificient firework display. Great for all hunting dog, and wildlife enthusiasts.
The gardens of the chateau can be visited most days of the year.
Nearby is a working watermill, the Moulin de Jau, a long walk or short cycle ride away.
The Lac de Rille has a cycleway and forest track around its 10km diameter.
It also has a little steam railway in season, 'Le Petit Train'. See our website for more details.
How to get there
Click map icons for more information
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| Nearest Travel Links | |
| Airport: | Tours: 25 km |
| Railway: | Saumur: 25 km |
| Ferry: | Caen: 230 km |
By Brittany Ferries or LD Lines ferry to Caen or Le Havre, then by car south, via Alencon, Le Mans, Noyant. Or via Calais or Boulogne via Rouen and Le Mans.
By flights to Tours. (various UK airports) or Nantes
(We will pick you up from Tours)
Activities near Breil
Waterpark
Horse Riding
Golf within 30 mins drive
Fishing
Walking holidays
Rural / countryside retreats
Beach or lakeside relaxation
A winter sun break
Cycling holidays
Reviews
![]() 30 Sep 2011 |
Les Mousseaux was just what we were looking for in our French holiday, and more. Adrian and Sally were wonderfully sweet and helpful, eager to share and help to make our stay comfortable. We especially loved the bicycles they provided, as the gite is perfectly located for cycling: flat, quiet, well-paved roads, and near to a very impressive number of well-marked cycle-routes. Other highlights of our stay there were the animals, the dramatic geese, sweet dogs and bizarrely loveable south american duck... as well as an impromptu (and fascinating!) lesson in Bee keeping from our hosts. The nearby lake (and canoe, also from the gite) was beautiful and lovely for swimming. All in all we found our stay here friendly, warm, homey, and brimming with potential for relaxation or adventure or some combination of both... |
![]() 17 Jul 2011 |
Adrian & Sally are excellent hosts with a weath of information at hand about the local area. The accomodation is good and well situated only 20 minutes from the Loire valley... more |
![]() 18 Jun 2011 |
A great choice for those who truly want to relax and enjoy a slice or rural France with minimal environmental impact. It has its own spring fed water supply and solar heated water. We got to Tour by... more |
Guestbook for La Moussette
Every day has been an adventure.... we only had time to discover a few of the delights the area has to offer. The Loire Valley is so beautiful with legendary chateaux famous the world over and troglodyte farms.'La Moussette' is the a wonderful place to spend time. It has been lovingly renovated to provide comfortable and attractive accommodation in keeping with the area.
a true taste of rural France."
Alan and Elaine Bainbridge Auckland New Zealand
Rental prices
| Rental prices originally quoted in: British £ | Convert to: |
| Prices for group size 4 | ||||||
| Period | From![]() | To![]() | Weekly![]() | Nightly rate | Minimum stay | |
| Weekday | Weekend | |||||
| Spring 2011 | 1 Apr 11 | 5 Jun 11 | £ 300 | 50 | 50 | Flexible |
| Early Summer 2011 | 5 Jun 11 | 17 Jul 11 | £ 350 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Summer 2011 | 17 Jul 11 | 4 Sep 11 | £ 400 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Autumn 2011 | 4 Sep 11 | 30 Nov 11 | £ 300 | 40 | 40 | Flexible |
| Spring 2012 | 3 Mar 12 | 3 Jun 12 | £ 300 | 50 | 50 | Flexible |
| Summer 2012 | 3 Jun 12 | 2 Sep 12 | £ 400 | - | - | 1 Week |
| Autumn 2012 | 2 Sep 12 | 25 Nov 12 | £ 300 | 50 | 50 | Flexible |
The property's weekend rates apply to: Saturday and Sunday nights
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
15% discount for any guests making a second booking.
Deposit of 20% needed and payment in full two weeks before arrival.
There is a £99 supplement for the rental of the annexe (double bed, bathroom, sleeps two). Contact the owners.
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
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Availability notes:
Lettings are not normally available prior to mid April, but please enquire if you have a special request.
Contact the owner
* Required fields Please check the following errors: | 4 years listed You are contacting Adrian Fox
Languages spoken ![]() The owner is based in France and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2008. This gite has received 3 reviews from previous guests. ![]() |

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