Charming rustic 5-bedroom farmhouse with pool

Relax with the whole family at this peaceful place to stay in the French countryside. With a 10 meter swimming pool you can enjoy a swim and fun in the water. With two acres of outside space, woodland, and areas to relax, much of it covered in case of showers, this is a perfect holiday home for families, or groups of friends. The space The house has five bedrooms, two of which have en-suite bathrooms, a family bathroom, an additional shower room and separate toilet, a large kitchen and dining area, and a spacious living room. The kitchen and living room both have enclosed logburners for cosy evenings. On the ground floor, you enter the house into the spacious kitchen, which is fully stocked with all the crockery, cutlery, pots, pans and utensils you might need. We also leave oils, salt and petter, herbs etc in the kitchen cupboard. There is a microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine, even a draft beer machine. Out in the untility room behind the kitchen you will find the second (drinks) fridge, plus washing machine / tumble dryer. We think it is pretty well stocked but if there is anything missing when you stay please let us know. The kitchen has a logburner and wood is available from the local supermarkets. Leading off from the utility room is a shower room, and separate toilet. Also on the ground floor is the large living room, with comfortable sofas and a logburner. This leads through to bedroom 1, which is a large double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Stairs lead up from the kitchen to the first floor where you will find the other bedrooms. Bedroom 2 is at the top of the stairs, and has a double bed. Bedroom 3 is a twin room, which two single beds. Bedroom 4 is the largest of the rooms, and has an antique french style double bed, and a daybed, which can be configured as another double, or two single beds. Bedroom 5 is the last of the bedrooms, and has a double bed, en-suite shower room, and a balcony which leads down into the garden. In the garden there are many spaces to sit and socialise and relax. We have sunloungers for the pool area, and a charcoal BBQ in the large open sided hangar with a dining area. Please note that this is not an official tourist structure or hotel. Rather, it is our private second home being let solely for a self-catering holiday. Sadly the lay of the land does not make it suitable for wheelchair access. Please also note that as the farmhouse is located in the countryside, occasional insects and cobwebs may appear despite thorough cleaning between guests – it’s all part of the rural charm! Guest access Guests have sole access to the whole property. Other things to note Outside in the garden there are various outbuildings including the Piggery, the Goat Shed, the Bread Oven, the Hangar, the Barn, and the Wood Shed. In time we hope to renovate these buildings, but they still look beautiful in their current unused state, as they are made from local stone. In the middle of the courtyard is a 10 metre heated-swimming pool. The open-sided Hangar is a nice space to socialise, with plenty of seating and a BBQ. There is also a smaller area to the front of the main house. There is ample parking space. During the summer, the fields surrounding the house look beautiful as they are full of sunflowers. The retreat is a perfect place to relax in the glorious sunshine, enjoy nature, and recharge your batteries. The house is a five-minute drive from the popular market town of Lezay. On Tuesdays the town holds a lively farmers market which is one of the largest in the area. Here you can purchase everything you might need, including artisan breads, confitures, cakes, as well as local cheese, meat, fish and wine. There is a smaller market with fewer stalls every Saturday morning. The town has a supermarket, two restaurants, a bar, bakery, pharmacy and newsagents. Melle is the next closest town just 10 minutes away which has more restaurants and bars, and a wonderful covered market on a Friday. Melle has a buzzing cultural scene, with musical performances, an annual festival, and various activities happening throughout the year. It is also a picturesque place steeped in history, with three beautiful 11th century churches and it boasts a silver mine that used to make coins for the French mint, which is now an interesting museum. Melle is also surrounded by its own arboretum which has a collection of over 1,200 trees from all over the world providing lovely walks and cycle rounds around the town. Further afield you can visit La Rochelle which is a historic port on the Atlantic ocean, which is well worth a visit and is only an hour away. The city has a rich architectural heritage, and is a beautiful place to spend a day, with many excellent restaurants and bars, as well as an aquarium, attractive gardens, and museums. Niort, 40 kilometers away, is a welcoming city on the Sevre river, with an old fortress, the second largest donjon in France, a beautiful church and market hall. Just outside of Niort are the marshes of Marais Poitevin, a network of waterways that is full of pretty villages, and rich in flora and fauna. This nature park can be explored as the villagers have travelled for centuries - by flat-bottom boat - or why not go hiking, cycling or horseriding through this charming area? There are over 100 miles of cycle routes and trails winding their way through the hills and valleys and uncovering châteaux and landscapes that you will never forget.