Classic, fully renovated Gers farmhouse (c.1790) in a secluded, peaceful valley

Le Pastoureau (the shepherd) is a traditional Gers farmhouse, circa 1760, surrounded by fields and lying in a secluded, peaceful valley with narrow lanes, steep hills and spectacular views. Enjoying more than an acre of lawn, it is blessed with a wealth of shade-giving trees that flower and fruit abundantly. There are walnuts, almonds, figs, quince, apricots and cherries, colourful dry gravel gardens and a profusion of lavender, rosemary and thyme. The property was bought in 2019 by Tim and Francie Readman as a holiday home for their family and friends and a warmer place to spend some of the colder northern months. Francie’s family had owned a holiday house in Aldeburgh since the early 1900s that was finally sold after the tribe of owners grew too numerous. We thought about re-establishing the idea but, this time in France where it is mostly warmer for old bones. Apart from annual skiing trips, our main holidays had previously been spent in the highlands of Glen Lyon in Perthshire. There was always a special magic in the remoteness, power and beauty of the hills and that of itself is a powerful recharger of the batteries. Le Pastoureau lies in an area with no pollution, stunning views, a peaceful valley and the majesty of the Pyrenees at hand. It imbues the same magic. Today, the property has been completely renovated and we have an English chief d’Equipe and her husband, a regular French gardener who knows all about trees and a lovely, smiley daily. Together, they manage every aspect of the house when we are in UK – which is be most of the time. More photos are available on the website www.pastoureau.com • Sleeps 12 in comfort in five bedrooms: Three double rooms (2 ensuite) and two 3-bed rooms • Bathrooms: One bathroom and 3 showers, 2 ensuite. • Large sitting hall with a woodburner & 48”TV, • Dining room seats 14 • Large open plan living area with a fully equipped kitchen, breakfast table and snug area with 26”TV • Utility area with a washing machine & tumble dryer. • There is Wi-Fi throughout the house and the TVs have access to a wide variety of English, French and international stations through the internet. • Table tennis, croquet, boule, toys and board games and a covered games area. The Gers has a long and colourful history that stretches up through the ages from Roman emperors, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Hundred Years War, pilgrims on the route of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, the Gascon musketeers on up to WW2 Resistance fighters & the SOE. The nearest chateau of interest is Lavardens (13 mins) which has a delicious restaurant with a shaded terrace in the summer and a night market. But the whole area is peppered with beautiful old towns, their restaurants, churches, abbeys and chateaux. The house itself sits in a green valley surrounded by a 22-hectare field (green in summer) with small, quiet country roads around it suitable, if sometimes hilly, for biking. Jegun is the nearest town 6 kms to the north-east and has the only genuine Irish pub in France run by Michael from Cork. Right opposite is an excellent restaurant - Le Halle (www.restaurantlahalle.fr). Jegun also has a small Casino food store that makes its own baguettes and croissants daily. Papote & Grignote (9mins), a family-run boulangerie is where to go for a range of excellent fresh bread, tarts, pizzas and croques monsieur. There are three golf courses nearby of which Golf d’Auch-Embats (15 mins) is the best. Elsewhere in the area: canoeing, riding, tennis, quad biking, gliding and a star-studded Jazz festival at Marciac in August. Children love the water park La Plage de Verduzan just north of Castéra-Verduzan on D42 or further on www.parcagen.fr for serious waterpark or funfair enthusiasts. Castéra-Verduzan (10mins) has a small Carrefour which offers an excellent selection of local (and other) wines. Francie has a new best friend, Didier who runs an extraordinary Brocante shop as you head out south Foodwise, the Gers is famous for its foie gras, armagnac and now increasingly for its wines too. All these are no doubt helped by the absence of heavy industry that affords extraordinarily clear star-scapes at night. There are Brits around but the Gers is still comparatively untouched and certainly does not have an English daily newspaper! It is still unspoilt, rural, old France.