Le Grenier and Le Chai are two connected old stone houses forming a perfect base for a large family group or two families. They are in a quiet hamlet with views across the wooded valley to the neighbouring Manoir de Boisset. There is a beautiful pool and a large garden to relax in and it feels as if you are miles away from anywhere, whereas in fact it never takes too long to reach local amenities and attractions. Most people only seem to venture out sporadically -as one child put it; "why go out when we have everything that we need here?" Longecote is a hamlet of about ten widely spaced houses and farmhouses outside Chanterac, a small village between Riberac and Perigueux, in the Dordogne. If you enter ‘Longecote 24190 France’ on Google maps you will be able to see the location of the houses. Le Chai was a wine store possibly connected with the manor house up the hill. Le Grenier was a sharecropper’s cottage. The houses are thought to be over 150 years old. Accommodation Le Chai All on the ground floor • One double bedroom with a standard size double bed • One bedroom with three standard size single beds • Large living room/dining room with wood burning stove, sofas, large dining table and chairs, a dvd player and flat screen tv, a CD player and a double sofa bed for extra guests. • Bathroom with bath, separate shower and washing machine • Large kitchen/breakfast room with a gas/electric cooker, fridge, dishwasher and microwave. The house is heated by a large wood burning stove and an electric convector heater in each bedroom. There is a tumble dryer in the barn for the use of both houses. There are two travel cots, a vintage high chair and a stairgate available Le Grenier On the ground floor: • One double bedroom • living room/dining room with sofas, a dining table and chairs, a dvd player and flat screen tv, and a wood burning stove • kitchen with electric cooker, dishwasher, microwave and a table and chairs • bathroom with bath, separate shower and washing machine On the first floor: • one twin bedroom • one double bedroom • Small bathroom with toilet and basin. The house is centrally heated. There is a tumble dryer in the barn for the use of both houses. Barn and Garden The garden, the barn and the swimming pool are shared between the two houses. There is a table tennis table in the barn and some other games equipment which you are welcome to use. There are outdoor tables, umbrellas and chairs for both houses and two barbecues. There is a 2.5 metre diameter children’s trampoline and also a hammock and a swing slung from the oak tree. The swimming pool is 5 metres by 10 metres with a 0.8m shallow end and a 2m deep end. The pool cover is easy to use and when it is closed the pool conforms to French security requirements. The swimming pool is unheated. Local Contact We have local representatives who look after the houses, garden and pool. They will help you with any difficulties. Telephone and internet There is 3G mobile phone reception at the houses and an internet connection in the living room of Le Grenier with wireless connectivity in that house only. Shopping There is a baker in Chanterac (2km). There are the usual shops and supermarkets in Riberac (18km) and Saint Astier (8km). There are excellent weekly markets in Saint Astier (Thursday) and Riberac (Friday). Restaurants There are several good restaurants in the surrounding towns. There are some suggestions in the folder of information at the house. Walks in the local area There are several walks in the woods from the houses. Details of these walks and other way marked walks in the local area will be found at the houses. Swimming Le Grand Etang de La Jemaye (half an hour’s drive) is a large lake, which is very pleasant to swim in. There is a sandy beach with lifeguards and restaurants. There is also good river swimming between St Meard and Brantome on the river Dronne, and plages at Aubeterre and Isle. There is an open air swimming pool in Riberac and in Neuvic. Canoeing There are canoeing bases at the camping in Riberac, at the plage below Douchapt, and at le Plage de Renamon above Isle. You will be driven upstream with the canoes, before being set down for a half or whole day descent of the river. Fishing You can get a 15 day fishing permit from the gun shop (Armurier) in Saint Astier. The permit allows you to fish anywhere in the Dordogne. Tennis There is a court at Chanterac which is rarely used. You can buy a permit at the Mairie in Chanterac Sight Seeing There are guide books and maps in the houses. Brantome, Bourdeilles, Chancelade and the extraordinary eglise monolithique in Aubeterre are all well worth seeing. Further afield there are the caves at Rouffignac and Les Eyzies. For shopping we recommend a visit to the beautiful old centre of Perigueux. An early visit to the Syndicat D’Initiative in Saint Astier (Main Square) and Riberac (market square) will inform you about what is going on, including concerts and fetes and fireworks. Ten things to do within 3 miles of the houses There is so much to see and do in this beautiful area of the Perigord, that families don’t really need to spend a great deal of time in the car,. Here are our top ten activities near to the houses (though of course there are wonderful places to visit a little further away): Discover the Longecote fountain and old washing pool A bridle path from the lane that runs past the houses leads through farm buildings past the fountain and traditional washing place. You can walk down the hill from there and come back via the road to make a pleasant 1 mile walk. (Or you could mountain bike it) Go horse riding in the woods Centre Equestre de Neuvic Les Coutis Nord. 24190 Neuvic Tél.: +33 5 53 81 76 45 Mobile.: +33 6 15 36 85 77 Sail an electric boat on the river You can rent small electric boats to sail up and down the river Isle. The base de loisirs is just outside Neuvic. Take a look at the chateaux around Segonzac Segonzac is a small village 3km North of the houses though the woods. (take the road up the hill, take a right at the crossroads, cross the main road and you will reach it. The chateau you can see from the road on the left as you approach Segonzac (Chateau de la Martinie) is dated 1660 but the building was based on a 15c fortified farm. You can walk past it but not visit it. If you take the fork left just after the basketball court and before the school, you reach the older chateau de Segonzac (14c to 17c). Le Baron de Segonzac, who owns both chateaux, lives here. You cannot visit this chateau either, but it makes a good short walk from Visit a walnut mill The family run Moulin de la Veyssiere is still using original old milling stones powered by the stream. This is a beautiful old mill. A small shop sells walnut oil (wonderful in salads) and other foodie items. There is also the Moulin de Landry a short walk down the road from the houses. Catch a trout for supper You can net a trout at this small fish farm by a stream near to Neuvic sur Lisle at the Moulin-de-Boissonnie Visit Neuvic Chateau and gardens You can visit this 16c chateau and also eat lunch in one of the renaissance reception rooms surrounded by original murals and looking out over the grounds. The gardens are full of interesting and unusual bushes and trees. Open July and August between 10 and 12 and 2 and 7pm Climb the bell tower of Saint Astier church There is a guided visit in July and August which includes a climb up the bell tower and fantastic views. For times call in at the tourist office in the main square. Visit the Saint Astier Chalk Mines There is a guided tour every Wednesday at 9:30am. You will need to book. The chalk mines are just outside Saint Astier on the other side of the river from the church. Visit the Chateau de Puyferrat This 16c chateau overlooks Saint Astier and is on one of the pilgrim routes to Compostela. After visiting the chateau (July to September guided tours 10,11,2,3,4, and 5), you could take a shady walk along the pilgrim route. You can reach the chateau by the back roads to Saint Astier or from the town itself. Use of the Houses The houses are our home for part of the year. You are welcome to use what is there (store cupboard basics in the kitchen, bathroom necessities), but please replace anything you use up. Pets Pets are allowed at Le Chai or Le Grenier Smoking No smoking inside the houses. Arrival and Departure The letting period is normally from 3.00pm on the Saturday of your arrival to 10.00am on the Saturday of your departure. Please contact us to discuss and agree any possible alternative arrangement. A cleaner will normally arrive shortly before 10 on the morning of your departure to make everything ready for the next renters, and to check that everything is all right. We expect you to leave the houses clean and with the beds stripped. We expect you let our cleaner know before you leave about anything that needs replacing or fixing. What is included and excluded in the rental rate Included Use of gas, electricity, logs for the fire A bedspread/duvet for each bed Pillowcases, sheets and towels are provided unless you want to bring your own. Basic cleaning products. Clean oven gloves, dish cloths, tea towels and bathmats. Taxe de sejour. Some swimming towels are available Liability During your stay you are held responsible for any damage to the property and its contents whether caused by you or your guests or visit