Les Ecuries Brioux

This is what a gite holiday to France is all about. A gorgeous stone farmhouse, in a beautiful big garden with a heated swimming pool and plenty of toys, plus bakeries just a toddle away for those deliciously French breakfasts of fresh baguettes, croissants and pain au chocolat.

With children of their own, the owners have created Les Ecuries with families in mind and because the 4-bedroom house sleeps 8, (plus two babies in cots or 2 children under 12 in put up beds) grandparents or family friends can come too. The secret, of course, is that happy kids means happy grown-ups, so the garden and games barn are a great start. The lovely lawn is plenty big enough for ball games, badminton and croquet, with all the kit provided, or how about table tennis, swing ball, darts or boules? Toddlers have their own box of outdoor toys to delve into and can race around on ride-ons, hang around on the monkey swing or curl up for a nap in the funky hanging cacoon. The 10x5metre heated pool has been newly relined, including non-slip Roman steps, plus it has an alarm and is fenced off from the rest of the garden. For playing indoors there are more toys to pull out, including Duplo, Stickle Bricks, Playmobil, a pirate ship and train set, or children can settle down to watch one of the DVD’s or log into the Wi Fi.

The house itself is a masterclass in simple, boutique luxury, with high end furnishings and finishing touches to complement the rustic character of exposed timbers, stone walls and flagstone floors. The kitchen and bathrooms are bristling with contemporary, designer style and the open plan living/dining room is spacious yet cosy for snuggling down by the wood burner. The bedrooms have cool, calming colour schemes and thick wooden shutters, for a good night’s sleep and two are on the ground floor, with French doors to the garden, so little ones can be tucked up close by while parents while away the evenings under the stars.

Accommodation overview

Les Ecuries Brioux is a spacious stone house with 4 bedrooms which comfortably sleeps 8 people, plus 2 babies, with one wooden cot and one travel cot provided or2 children under 12 in put up beds. The living room, dining area and kitchen is open plan, with a flagstone floor, beamed ceiling and wood burning stove, but it’s also distinctly contemporary in style with funky furniture and the latest, high spec mod cons. The kitchen includes a huge American style fridge freezer, range oven, microwave and Nespresso machine and there is a separate utility room with a washing machine and tumble dryer. The dining table seats 8, plus 2 high chairs are available, and there are two sofas for watching the TV and DVD’s. Two of the bedrooms are on the ground floor with French doors to the garden – one with a king size bed and one with two singles. A super sleek family bathroom is also on the ground floor, with twin washbasins, a bath, shower and WC. The two other bedrooms are on the first floor – one with a king size bed and the other with a king size that can be split into two single beds, and both have luxury ensuites, with walk-in showers, twin washbasins and WC. All the bedrooms have thick wooden shutters for the best night’s sleep.