The Farmhouse – La Bigorre Holiday Cottages

At this fab farm conversion, in one of the sunniest parts of France, frazzled parents can enjoy a well earned rest while tots to teens happily play the days away. Swathes of sunflowers, corn on the cob and vines surround the cottages in a peaceful rural setting and the beaches and islands of West Coast France are half an hour away.

Owners, Paula and Rob have invested all their experience as parents in the transformation of this rambling Charantais farmhouse into three well equipped cottages for families, complete with a lovely big garden, heated pool and games room that are really geared up for children to play. The couple are also working on a fourth cottage which is due to open in Spring 2015. La Bigorre is surrounded by fields of sunflowers, corn and vines

In the enclosed garden, toddlers won’t know what to do first, from discovering the dedicated under 5’s swingset and slide playhouse, to the ride ons, trikes, rockers, play tables and toys. Older children have their own adventure swingset and there’s a treehouse, trampoline and huge grass games field with football nets and the necessaries for croquet, cricket, badminton and boules. In an open games barn, let the tournaments commence of table football, table tennis, air hockey and pool, while a small craft shed is kitted out with paints and materials to get creative.

While all this is going on, grown-ups can lounge by the 10x5m heated swimming pool (safely fenced and gated) although the kids will soon shatter the peace by splashing around with the inflatables and diving down for sinkers. Apaddling pool is also provided so babies and toddlers can have a paddle and a play too.

To calm things down indoors, the owners have built up a huge selection of DVDs, from Bob the Builder to Harry Potter, plus there’s a good choice for grown-ups to watch when the kiddiwinks are in bed. Playmobil, Little People and Barbie are also among the toys provided as well as family board games and books for bedtime stories.

All four holiday homes are spacious and very ‘French country cottage’ in style, combining rustic features and traditional furnishings with all mod cons, including fully fitted kitchens, iPod docks and free Wi Fi is available in the open games barn. A long list of baby equipment is also provided to make everything that bit easier, including Bumbo seats, bouncy seats, high chairs, cots, bed guards, baby monitors and sterilizers. All the cottages have their own terrace with outdoor seating, parasol and BBQ so families can spill outside for breakfasts al fresco and sunset sizzles. The owners usually host a barbecue for families during their stay and they will also supply breakfast, dinner and drinks packs by prior arrangement.

Accommodation overview

La Bigorre consists of The Farmhouse and Well Cottage, which each have three bedrooms, and The Stables which has 2 bedrooms. An internal door between The Farmhouse and Well Cottage can be left unlocked to make a 6-bedroom home for extended families and friends. A fourth cottage, The Grange, which has 3 bedrooms (1 with a king size bed, 1 with a double bed and 1 children’s room with 2 singles and a bunk bed).

The Farmhouse sleeps up to 8 people, plus babies in cots and there is space for a cot in all the bedrooms. With an interconnecting door into Well Cottage and a door directly into the games barn, The Farmhouse is ideal for extended family and friends. A kitchen/dining room is fitted with traditional wood cupboards and features a big range cooker, dishwasher, washing machine and large farmhouse table in front of a stone fireplace with a woodburning stove. A cosy lounge overlooks the garden and is furnished with a comfy sofa and armchairs in front of another wood burning stove and there is Freeview TV and a DVD player. The master bedroom has a lovely beamed ceiling, king size bed and views over the garden and countryside beyond. The second bedroom, with a double bed, also has a beamed ceiling and views of the garden, plus there is space for a single bed if required. The third bedroom is the children’s room, with two single beds and a bunk bed. A huge family bathroom has a corner bath, separate shower, washbasin and WC, plus there is a separate WC.