Comfortable and cosy cottage, près de Bergerac

This is an attractive cottage style gîte in one wing of Le Clos du Verger, in a rural spot 5 mins from Bergerac. Outside the cottage has a large private terrace, and an enclosed garden with a lovely dining pergola. Inside you can relax with comfortable beds, wood fire and central heating, cottage charm, and a well equipped kitchen. You will also find good WiFi, a satellite TV and a welcome basket of local produce. We provide bedlinen and towels, but we don't provide meals. Before we describe the place in more detail, please note that in 2021 , as part of our Covid precautions, we are limiting how many people stay at Le Clos du Verger at any one time. So the prices are for 2 people, with an extra charge for a third person. We also are not accepting any extra visitors so please do not to bring anyone else to Le Clos du Verger. If you have friends or family in the area, please meet them elsewhere. Le Clos du Verger is former farm in a rural site in Les Sarrazies, Maurens, a few kilometres from Bergerac. The beautifully restored buildings welcome visitors into their comfortable, practical and stylish country interiors, and lovely gardens. Beyond the buildings a grassy path meanders past the meadows with our small herd of goats, to a play and relaxation area by the stream. The owners live on site, so are on hand to welcome you on your arrival and to answer any questions. Chez le Charpentier, as we call this cottage, is part of the side wing of the main house. It has its own enclosed garden with garden terrace, dining pergola and in the summer the cool fig tree"cave". Enter through French windows into the main room of this pretty property with its original fireplace used by the carpenter and his family. At one end there is good seating round the hearth and TV, with dining area to one side. At the far end is the well equipped kitchen. Heating is by woodburning stove (wood provided) and underfloor heating, according to season. Upstairs there are two bedrooms (each 11 - 12 sq m), one with a wide double bed, the other with a single. There are comfortable mattresses, and good clothes storage, . The bathroom is also upstairs. It has a shower, washbasin unit, and WC. Plenty of hot water! Notes: 1. The stairs are a french standard but may be considered steep by some people. 2. The TV is set to a UK Sky service (bring your Sky card if you want the full range), or to the French TNT satellite service - you can toggle between the two. 3. Kitchen includes microwave, dishwasher, electric oven/grill and hob, fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster, food processor. 4. Please don't smoke inside the cottage. 5. We regret that we cannot accept your pet here. The Clos du Verger does its best to be eco friendly. So photovoltaic panels produce enough electricity to cover our usage, and heating and hot water is generated using the heat of earth underneath our fields. Parking just beyond the garden. Wider access on foot to the "wild walk", past the goat paddocks, the "bamboo forest" and the stream. Our little herd of 5 curious goats love to see our guests! In the summer when the ground is drier we offer an outdoor games area for our guests near the stream. We stipulate no ball games by the main buildings. We live on the site, so are here to welcome guests on arrival and to help at any point during their stay. Guest often arrive as strangers but leave as friends! Le Clos du Verger is very easily accessible by car in Les Sarrazies, midway between the village centre of Maurens and the town of Bergerac. It is a varied and beautiful area of France. We can take a country walk through local vineyards, fields and woods, or drive the 5 minutes up to the "Pub" or baker or the Friday afternoon market in the village centre to join in village life. Or explore the quirky Eden et Sens gardens a few minutes walk away with their animals, their discovery trails and their midweek summer evening "marchés gourmands". Or head for the attractive and lively old town of Bergerac. As well as the restaurants and little shops of the medieval town centre, Bergerac hosts a varied programme of summer activities and regular street festivals, as well as its excellent Saturday market, and boat trips and canoeing on the Dordogne. Whether you have come for the local wines and food, for the sporting activities, or to explore the extraordinary historical heritage of this area, to enjoy country walks, or just to relax doing nothing very much, you will find you have a varied and enjoyable holiday. Bergerac airport is 20 minutes away. We can collect you from the airport or from the train station. There is a good choice of car rentals at the airport, including a good local firm, Buggs Car Hire, run by English speakers. You will probably appreciate having a car or bikes for your stay (although a few people do without either). For confident cyclists we can recommend good bike hire packages that are delivered to our site. Please let us know if you are bringing bikes so that we can reserve you space in our dedicated customer bike store. Please let us know before booking if you have any special requests or requirements. We only accept on arrival the number in your party stated on your booking details, which must not exceed the maximum number for the property, so please be sure to make clear at the time of booking if the number booked includes children. The cottage is not suitable for babies and very young children. Bicycles: . Please no bikes in the cottage or cottage grounds but we do provide dedicated storage for your bikes, so ask in advance of your arrival to ensure we have the space. Bike hire, including delivery, can be arranged via a local company - ask for details.