La Borde Basse

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Farmhouse |6 bedrooms |Sleeps 12

Castelnau-Montratier in Midi-Pyrenees

From £800 per week

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

4.5 out of 5

4 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, balcony/terrace, car essential, private garden, no pets allowed

About the home

This old farmhouse was built in 1834 of the local Quercy white stone (which has given this area of the southern Lot its name of Le Quercy Blanc). We bought and modernised the house in 1987, and have been updating and improving it more or less ever since.

The house, with the barn and 5m x 10m walled pool, sits in 9 acres of garden, woodland, meadow and orchard on the flank of a little valley with amazing views to the South and West. The position is very peaceful, without being isolated, and there is plenty of room for children to enjoy themselves.

Other than an occasional tractor or the odd car in the distance this is pretty much a traffic-free zone, and you'll probably only hear the sound of birds and crickets, and - for a short time in the evenings – a chorus of mating frogs! La Borde Basse is the perfect antidote to a hectic life.

It is ideal for big family groups of mixed ages (lots of quiet shaded corners for those who want a break from the scrum), but it is just as nice if you're a smaller party, and you won't rattle around if there are only a few of you.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
- Large comfortable reception rooms
- Big well-equipped kitchen
- Laundry room
- Access from the sitting room to covered terrace
- Vine-shaded table on larger terrace (off kitchen) for long lazy lunches
- Main bedroom with 6' (180cm) bed, en-suite shower room with shower, basin & WC
- Second double bedroom has 5' (150cm) bed and washbasin
- Four twin-bedded rooms, one with washbasin
- Two good-sized bathrooms, each with bath, shower, bidet, washbasin and WC

Further details outdoors:
- Beautiful position with fantastic views
- 9 acres (3.75 ha) of garden, woodland, meadow and orchard
- 5m x 10m swimming pool enclosed by walls and a gate
- Access from pool to games room with ping pong and table football
- BBQ in the old pigpen by the fig tree
- Cars can be parked under cover in the shade

Further details

Changeover day is Saturday (flexiblility possible in low season)
30% deposit with booking, balance plus returnable £300 security deposit eight weeks before arrival
List of terms and conditions will be sent with booking form

Photos

 

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Morning sun on the front of the house

 

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The pool, with the barn and games room on the left

 

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Long lazy lunches on the terrace under the vines

 

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Plenty of space in the comfortable sitting room

The Midi-Pyrenees / Lot region

This region stretches from the tightly wooded valleys of the northern Lot right down to the Pyrenees, and includes not only the bustling city of Toulouse but a host of other towns like Auch, Lourdes, Foix, Rodez and Figeac.

The Lot département is almost entirely agricultural and very much the “real” France, where you won’t see many tourists except at the main visitor attractions. The capital of the Lot is Cahors (25 mins), with its amazing 13th C bridge and historic old quarter including the cathedral.

Further afield there are a mass of places to visit, like the Gouffre de Padirac (11/4 hrs), where you can take a boat along an underground river, the extraordinary pilgrimage village of Rocamadour (11/4 hrs) built on the side of a rocky gorge, the enchanting riverside village of StCirq La Popie (40 mins) which clings to a high cliff overhanging the tranquil river Lot, and many many more.

The Castelnau-Montratier area

The attractive village of Castelnau-Montratier, with its pretty arcaded market square, is only 5 kms away (8 minutes by car). It has a small supermarket and numerous other shops, providing a good selection of food and services, just about everything you might need on a daily basis. There is also a post office, an internet café, a doctor's surgery, two banks, various cafes and a tourist information office, as well as a market every Sunday morning and on Wednesday evenings in July and August. Larger weekly markets are held in Cahors and Caussade (both 25 minutes).

There is a public tennis court in the village, and a golf course and riding stables are both within a 20 minute drive. You can also visit one of several local wine producers who will welcome you to taste the local Quercy wines.

How to get there

La Borde Basse What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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Flying - much the easiest airport is Toulouse (Easyjet and others), just 105 km or 1hr 20 from the house (if you stick to the speed limits!) Bergerac is only a bit further but it's a more scenic route, so 1 hr 45. Limoges, Bordeaux and Carcassonne are all 2 - 2 1/4 hours, mostly good fast motorways but not so scenic.

Driving - the longer ferry crossings (like St Malo & Le Havre, both about 6 hrs) bring you nearest the house but can be more expensive. It's an hour further from Cherbourg and Roscoff, but Calais or Dunkirk are about 9 - 9 1/2 hours. NB - All driving times are indicative and do not include stops, long lunches on the way etc.

Rail - Let SNCF French trains take the strain! Nearest stations are Cahors (ordinary train) and Montauban (TGV), both 30 mins. If you are taking the Eurostar from London think about going via Lille instead of Paris - it's easier to change platforms in Lille than spend one hour plus traipsing across the whole of Paris from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz. on the hot crowded Metro.

Activities near Castelnau-Montratier

Reviews

Review: 1 to 3 of 4

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12 Sep 2011

“La Borde Basse is a combination of peace and tranquillity in a beautiful setting.” This was our third visit to La Borde Basse and we hope to return again. The view fom the terraces is stunning and changes as the light changes throughout the day. Everything is provided for your comfort in the house, garden and pool area. Without feeling remote, the drive through the woods opens out over a beautiful valley. The roads around are quiet, with lovely drives through crop-rich valleys to interesting medieval villages. Perhaps an extravagance for two people, but well-worth it!

09 Sep 2011

“A fabulous place for a large family” La Borde Basse was everything we wanted and more.The house was of exceptional quality and passed our test of "would we change anything ? " answer -No. It really was some-one's home and felt very welcoming. The accommodation was 1st class. There is a covered veranda area- ideal for breakfast and another veranda area with a roof of eatable grapes-ideal for supper. The swimming pool was delightful and child proof with a games room for table tennis/table top football . A sign of the quality was the bbq was the weber type and really got used. The grounds were well kept and ideal for children. For our party-8 adults and 6 grandchildren eldest 4 ! it was ideal. Response: Thank you very much for your very positive review, and for already booking again for 2012 - we look forward to welcoming you back then!

23 Aug 2011

“Perfect for getting away from it all.” We stayed at La Borde Basse for a month in May/June 2001 to my celebrate my retirement, it's a lovely property. We invited family and friends to stay for a week or so at a time. We had a wonderful time and were very sad to leave. The property suited our purposes perfectly: there's lots of space, including large bedrooms and ample bathrooms, and the house is well equipped for cooking and catering for a large group. The pool and games room were excellent and were well used by our guests. It's also a great location and we regularly visited Castelnau Montratier, a pretty village with a lovely little weekly market, which is only a short bike ride away as well as other lovely towns and villages in the area. We would have no reservations whatsoever in recommending La Borde Basse for a large group. Response: Thank you for taking the trouble to write a review and we are glad you enjoyed your holiday, but you did in fact stay at the house in 2011 not 2001!

Review: 1 to 3 of 4

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Review: 4 to 4 of 4

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22 Aug 2011

“Perfect family holiday” Our family of 6 grown-ups and 4 children has recently returned from our second perfect holiday at La Borde Basse. The house and its surroundings are a mixture of enchanting French country charm, English cosy and elegant comfort, practical living, superb swimming and games facilities, all set in the most beautiful and tranquil countryside. The result is a wonderful recipe for a truly happy and fulfilling family holiday.

Review: 4 to 4 of 4

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Guestbook for La Borde Basse

"We stayed at this lovely property for one week. We were a group of 5 children and 7 adults. We found the property a lovely size for this group, very well equipped, very private - lots of room for children to run around. The pool was lovely with an adjacent table tennis table and 'fuz' ball which were much enjoyed by our children. We really enjoyed the nearby town and took advantage of the local markets which were a great source of local produce. The house is lovely –it really does live up to the description and photographs! I would highly recommend it." Mrs S Crichton, July 2007

"We have returned to La Borde Basse after an interval of 6 years and have found it as delightful as before, with the bonus of a refitted kitchen. The combination of a lovely house, great open-air eating spaces, pool/games facilities and a gloriously peaceful and rural aspect with stunning sunsets beats all but very few of the summer properties we have rented in France and Italy over many years." Mrs M Smith, August 2008

Rental prices

Prices for group size 12
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
	3 Sep 11	1 Oct 11	825£ 825	0-	0-	1 Week
	1 Oct 11	12 May 12	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
	12 May 12	9 Jun 12	850£ 850	0-	0-	1 Week
	9 Jun 12	23 Jun 12	950£ 950	0-	0-	1 Week
	23 Jun 12	7 Jul 12	1350£ 1350	0-	0-	1 Week
	7 Jul 12	21 Jul 12	1800£ 1800	0-	0-	1 Week
	21 Jul 12	1 Sep 12	2100£ 2100	0-	0-	1 Week
	1 Sep 12	15 Sep 12	950£ 950	0-	0-	1 Week
	15 Sep 12	29 Sep 12	850£ 850	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Rental prices are in £ Sterling per week. Euros are also accepted at the exchange rate applying at the time of booking. Rates include bed linen and towels (including pool towels) and local telephone calls. Rates also include tourist tax.

Please ask about discounts for second weeks and low occupancy (except in High Season), and about out of season lets, although the house is not really suitable for winter lets. Flexible changeover days may be possible outside Mid- and High Season, subject to length of rental.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

2 years listed You are contacting Fiona Morgan Landline +44 01460 52658 Mobile n/a Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2009. This farmhouse has received 4 reviews from previous guests.