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Owner/Property
Manager: Kim Farrington
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Overview
Description
If you are looking for a peaceful gite, surrouded by stunning views, then the Old Bread Oven is for you. Better still, as it is an adults only, sole gite, you won't have to worry about other holiday makers!The Old Bread Oven is a delightful, detached, one-bedroom gite designed for couples. It was originally a bakehouse and hayloft. It has been painstakingly converted and offers the best of both worlds, modern convenience with the charm of an old provincial cottage.
The area is famous for its warm weather, beautiful scenery and long days filled with sunshine. At the Old Bread Oven, you could spend your days relaxing by the pool and spend your nights experiencing the best cuisine, in quaint bistros and 'Allo 'Allo style auberges that can be found in the surrounding hamlets and villages. The attractions of Angouleme, Aubeterre, Riberac, Brantome, Bordeaux, Cognac and Perigueux are all within easy reach, making it an ideal location to explore from.
Surrounded by fields and set in private grounds of the Combe De Chambut farmhouse, there are gardens on all sides which you are welcome to explore, and leafy nooks for you to sit in the shade. There is a seasonal swimming pool which is open from June to September, with a sun terrace set out with patio furniture and sunbeds. Only you and the owners (and their visitors) share the use of the pool.
During the day you can lie back and enjoy spectacular long-distance views of the beautiful countryside - the perfect place to relax and unwind. Towards evening, why not sit on the terrace and enjoy a glass of your favourite drink? Watch the amazing sunsets over the valley. Flowers waft scents late into the evening and as it gets dark, the stars burst out in a brilliant canopy before you. You may never have seen the night sky quite like this.
Fancy going out instead? There are some fantastic restaurants and places to visit in the area; a few are mentioned below and the joy of exploring is discovering these gems. Enjoy morning coffee in a picture post-card French square, wander around a medieval town or have a picnic in the shadow of a fairy tale chateau and so much more.
The gite is designed to be home from home. It is all on one floor and has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room. The fully fitted kitchen area is complete with a fridge-freezer, oven and hob (with extractor). It is equipped with pans, a Tassimo coffee machine, a toaster and all the crockery and utensils you may need. In addition, there is a dining table and four chairs. (A washing machine is located in an adjacent barn and may be used for a small fee).
The sitting room area is bright and inviting. It has a stained glass window, oak beams and a crystal chandelier. French windows (the main doors) open to the garden. This area contains a tv, DVD player, sofa, armchair, side tables and stove for winter days! Additionally, each room has an electric heater should you need them. You don’t have to miss your favourite tv shows, as there is a tv with an English ‘Freeview’ satellite and a DVD player. A collection of English books and DVDs are available to borrow. There is also complimentary Wi-Fi.
The en suite shower room is located off the living space and has a deluxe double size shower, WC and washbasin. A connecting door at the other end of the shower room gives access to the bedroom.
There is nothing as important for a good night's sleep. Here you will find a comfortable bed and very dark nights; you may find you sleep later than you thought! There is a well-appointed bedroom with a welcoming antique-style double bed, wardrobe, drawers and crisp, fresh bed linen.
Outside the French doors is a garden area complete with its own patio furniture and parasol - an ideal place for alfresco dining!
From there, it's just a 30-second walk around the main house to the pool and sun terraces. The large, crystal-clear swimming pool is very inviting. It has steps at one corner and underwater lighting. You are surrounded by fields and open views, yet this spot is private and secluded. Perfect for a day by the pool.
The Old Bread Oven is ideally suited for couples who are looking for a quiet rural retreat, but a car is a must. Local shops, bars, banks, etc are about an 8-minute drive away. Bed linens and towels are provided. Due to the age and nature of the property, sadly it could not be made suitable for wheelchair users.
All prices are per week and include bed linen, gas and electricity. Bookings are chargeable in periods of either 7, 14, or 21 nights, and run from 4 pm on Saturday (with check out by 10 am the following Saturday). However, you may choose to arrive and/or leave at any time during the period booked but the full amount remains due. A 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance to be paid 10 weeks prior to arrival along with a security deposit. We regret that we cannot accept children or pets and that no smoking is allowed inside the gite. There is a designated parking spot.
If flying, you have a choice of 3 airports within an easy drive - Bergerac (70 mins), Bordeaux (80 mins) and Limoges (90 mins). It is approximately 7 hours from the port of St. Malo.
A Few Of The Activities In The Area.
• Visit numerous Chateaux and churches.
• Tour the beautiful landscape and visit picture-postcard villages such as Aubeterre, Riberac and Brantome or towns like Perigueux, Bordeaux and Angoulême.
• Go to the stunning archaeological site at the Vesunna Gallo-Roman Museum and Villa
• Visit the town of Cognac and taste its wares!
• Shop in historic markets - buying wine by the case and testing is almost obligatory!
• Visit the river beach and get wet in the water park at St. Aulaye.
• Snap up a bargain - head for the numerous Brocantes (antique shops) where you can buy anything from old junk to crystal chandeliers and Limoges china!
• Visit the nature reserve of Le Tourbières Site de Vendoire with its nature museum and restaurant.
• Go further afield to the theme park 'Futuroscope' or to the outstanding historic cave paintings at Lascaux.
Or you can (subject to local charges)
Go cycling, fish in the river, play golf. ride horses, go walking, do archery, shoot air rifles, canoe, paraglide or ride go-carts at Javerlhac, CIRCUIT DU PERIGORD
Places to visit:
The Venice of Dordogne - The town of Brantome sits in a beautiful location inside a deep loop in the River Dronne. On the other side of the river underneath steep wooded cliffs, the imposing structure of the Brantome Abbey dominates views of the town.
Saint-Jean-de-Cole - One of France's most beautiful villages.
Aubeterre-Sur-Dronne - Beautiful Village and Amazing Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean.
Chateau de Bourdeilles. Another stunningly beautiful village and chateau.
Cognac - wander the town and take a tour and tasting.
7 Reviews
Leave ReviewPerfect place to relax away from the rat race!
By Mr & Mrs Skarrow on 24-Apr-2025Perfect place to relax away from the rat race! Had a wonderful easter break. Thanks for a lovely stay.
Wonderful holiday - thanks!
By Mr & Mrs Bowden on 21-Sep-2024Wonderful holiday - thanks! Really appreciated you keeping the pool open for us, and all your kindness with 'my' house hunt. A perfect spot and so much more than the photos! A little jem. Amy x
Nice location, accommodation not luxurious
By Simon & Helen Hancock on 07-Sep-2024We enjoyed our stay but there were a number of things that were not of the standard we expected from the description. The cleanliness of the kitchen on arrival was definitely sub-standard. There was an old scourer sponge left on the sink with hairs entwined in it, and a used brillo pad. There was more hair on the floor, and an infestation of insects with resulting dust and insect bodies in the pan cupboard. The cutlery drawer was dirty too. We have photographs of these to confirm. A deduction of £50 has been made by the owner from the £150 security deposit for ‘cleaning fees’. This seems particularly unreasonable since the property was not properly clean when we arrived. Despite the owner starting to strip the bed before the time for our departure (a fact which she now disputes) all the washing up was done and put away, bins emptied and recycling disposed of. The accommodation was left in an appropriately clean and tidy condition. Presumably we were expected to spend a good deal of time cleaning the shower, toilets and sink and hoovering the floor, but we feel that this is unreasonable given the cost of the stay. The bedroom is small and only accessible through the bathroom. It was not easy to walk around the bed unless the chair in front of the dressing table was removed. The bed had a serious squeak on getting into and out of it. The shower was very good and there was always a plentiful supply of hot water and a generous number of towels. The swimming pool was lovely and we were grateful that the owners kept it open for us into September. It was disappointing however that on the last morning they switched the power off without letting us know, which meant that we could not have a final swim. Overall the accommodation was cramped and whilst quite adequate we didn't feel it merited the label ‘luxury’. The ‘personal’ garden is not at all private when the owners are walking out of their front door just a few yards away and the ‘French windows open to the garden’ are actually the double entrance doors. The tourist information in the gite included pre-Covid leaflets from 2018, and the most useful and up to date magazine had all the relevant information torn out. However, the owners did give us a couple of helpful suggestions about a visit and a restaurant.
There are good hosts and then there's Mick and Chris
By Jimmy & Phyllida Johnston on 31-Aug-2024There are good hosts and then there's Mick and Chris. You made us feel so welcome right from the start. What a relaxing week we were able to have. You were always on hand when we needed you but never instrusive. Thank you both so much for your company & we shall see you next year. Lots of love (not lol) Jimmy and Phy
We have spent two glorious weeks here in Chris and Mike's lovely home.
By Jenny & Colin Denman on 02-Aug-2024After a long journey we were welcomed very warmly by Chris & Mike, with a very welcome cup of tea. We have spent two glorious weeks here in Chris and Mike's lovely home. Such a beautiful area to discover. Arriving home each day to the pool was such a bonus. Thank you both for your kindness and it feels sad that we are leaving but we take with us such wonderful memories.
Best holiday we ever had
By Goddard on 20-Jul-2024We came 11 years ago and always said it was the best holiday we had ever had... We have really been able to switch off during the last 2 weeks which has been a godsend. Thank-you Mike and Chris. I hope we will be abck soon. x