Spring is at last breaking through

Spring is at last bursting through in the gardens of our holiday rental homes  here in the Loire Valley.

  

These are in the garden at 'Les Balcons'

Tulips at 'Le Bourg'

Kerria at the 'Old Walnut Mill'

First light...

We welcomed new guests from Toronto to 'Le Bourg' on Sunday on a day that had the weather playing some odd tricks...rain then sunshine then torrential rain then sunshine again! At one stage it was so gloomy that we decided to light the wood burner to bring a feeling of warmth into the house.

However as we awaited their arrival it picked up again with the light changing things for the better!

Awaiting new arrivals -the Old Walnut Mill

This was the Old Walnut Mill and Barrou as we awaited new guests on Saturday afternoon.

Latest comments from guests at Le Bourg in Barrou.

02/09/2017

Thank  you for a lovely stay at Le Bourg. We have had a great time eating and drinking on the terrace in glorious sunshine, visiting chateaux and just relaxing with friends. We even managed a swim in the river. Loved Azay-le-Ferron, La Guerche and Chenonceau.

Jan & Dave Orpin.

Richard & Marion Haydon,

Crawley,

West Sussex,

UK 

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Happy guests in the Loire Valley

With the sun shining and the sunflowers out the Loire Valley is again working its magic. Last week the three houses were occupied and two sets of guests left happy,the third are enjoying a second week.

The chateau at La Guerche

The guests at the 'Old Walnut Mill' found all they were looking for here in Southern Touraine,here is their guestbook comment:

5th August 2017

Thank you so much Pauline and Jim for your hospitality and friendly service. We have absolutely loved our stay here at the 'Old Walnut Mill'. The house is spotlessly clean, well equipped and with the added bonus of a beautiful enclosed courtyard/garden. We have eaten out every day and were totally relaxed here in Barrou and the surrounding villages. Thank you for the general welcome pack and the fab local advice and recommendations. Lunch at 'Auberge du Vieux Port' in Maire was amazing quality and value (great company too!). Le Grand-Pressigny, the chateau and 'Chez Grand Ma' were enjoyable, La Roche Posay, Angles-sur-l'Anglin, La Guerche - so many lovely villages, we didn't need to stray too far. We pushed the boat out one night and enjoyed a delicious meal at 'Le Promenade' in Le Petit-Pressigny - a memorable experience. The local walks are just beautiful , down by the river and further afield behind Barrou. We found the locals really friendly and welcoming including Willi and Sandra at the local bar / restaurant.

We wish you well in all your projects and hope to return sometime soon.

Gary, Gloria & Poppy,

Kent,

UK

The lake at St.Cyr

The family who stayed at 'Les Balcons' on the other crammed as much as they could into their week 

with visits south to the lake at St Cyr and north to the garden festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire.

Here is their guestbook comment:

05/08/17

The house is absolutely fab and immaculate, a credit to Jim & Pauline. The area is beautiful with plenty to do for all the family. Stayed here for one week, wish we were here for longer but now on to the Dordogne for second week. Hopefully will be back in the future and would definitely recommend. Thanks for a great stay.

Kevin, Elizabeth, Victoria & Richard Houghton

Widnes,Cheshire

UK

Three days...three houses

Pauline and I are in the middle of preparing the three houses for incoming guests. First of all was 'Le Bourg' where guests arrived yesterday, today we are at the 'Old Walnut Mill' where our American guest is leaving today and new guests arrive tomorrow. Then it's 'Les Balcons' tomorrow where new guests are also arriving. We are, I suppose, lucky to have our guests arriving and departing at different times as don't know how we could manage all three in one day...we couldn't! Next weekend we actually have a double changeover, which we can just about cope with.

Le Bourg

Les Balcons

Old Walnut Mill

A weekend of double 'changeovers' but still time for a little fun.

We had departing  and arriving guests at both 'Les Balcons' and at 'Le Bourg' on Saturday which made for a pretty exhausting day but we got them done,thanks in part to the condition they were left in by the departing guests. Thankfully we had dinner with friends and our local music festival to look forward to at the end of a long day.

Here are the departing guests comments

Le Bourg

"In all years holidaying in France we have never encountered such a well equipped house. 'Le Bourg' has so much character that is appealing. Our grateful thanks to Pauline and Jim who have been wonderful hosts. The advice we have received from them has greatly enhanced our holiday..."

Ann & Derek Jones,
Ross-on-Wye,
UK

 Les Balcons

"The first week was very hot, 97 F ! so plenty of liquid intake...purely medicinal ye ken! This is an excellent, well equipped gite from which to explore the Loire Valley...good fun
Many thanks."

Andrew & Pauline Lyle,
Bathealton Somerset
UK

Helping guests make the most of their Loire Valley holiday.

Latest comment from our guestbook at the 'Old Walnut Mill' 

22nd June 2017

Dear Pauline & Jim, thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality, your invaluable guidance/advice on where to go, what to see, where to eat etc and especially for your invitation to the 'moules frites' night in the village which was an unforgettable experience!!! We have gained a fabulous insight into the beautiful rural France and will take home lots of happy memories.

Many thanks and our very best wishes,

Jennifer & John

Forest of Bowland.

England,UK

Australians sample the delights of the Loire Valley

Latest comments from the guestbook at the 'Old Walnut Mill' in Barrou

28th May 2017

"We have had a very pleasant week in what has turned out to be the hottest week of the year so far. The house is comfortable and well equipped, thank you and after a couple of weeks in much smaller places we enjoyed the space. Thanks for the strawberries - what a crop you have! The cherries will be ready to take over in a week or two.  Trips to Chenonceau and Villandry were long days but worth it to see these two very spectacular places. More locally Loches, Chedigny (with all its roses) La Roche Posay, Angles-surl'Anglin all had their attractions. We were grateful for the recommendations to restaurants Le Gerbe d'Or (Loches) and Chez Grand Ma (Le Grand-Pressigny) and are happy to commend them to future travellers. It is pleasant to explore the local area, the small roads, the villages and hamlets that are so typically French. Thanks again Jim & Pauline."

Geoffrey & Margaret Grinton,

Melbourne, Australia

Final prep at Les Balcons...

With our first guests arriving next week doing some final tidy up of gardens at 'Les Balcons' in Le Grand Pressigny where spring has well and truly sprung!

Bringing tourists to Touraine...

We like the fact that we do our little bit as far as bringing  tourists to Touraine...currently we are delighted to have, Australians in La Belle Vue

an American in the Old Walnut Mill,

a Swiss couple and an English friend in Les Balcons 

                             

plus two English couples in Le Bourg