Charming converted bakery near Sarlat, heated pool

Le Fournil at Le Clos du Comte was originally built as the bakehouse for the hamlet of Mas de Cause, about 2 km above the village of Daglan. It has now been tastefully renovated to create a characterful 2 bedroom cottage. It is within 20 km of the medieval town of Sarlat and all the major sights of the Dordogne, including the Vallée des Cinq Chateaux. At the end of a busy day, you can return to relax on the estate, which comprises 45 acres of unspoiled, utterly tranquil forest and pasture. The space Downstairs, the accommodation comprises a large open-plan living/dining room with a brand-new fully-fitted kitchen. Next to the living room, what was once a pigsty has been extended to create a double bedroom with a king-size (150 cm) bed, plus an en-suite bathroom (shower, basin and toilet). Upstairs, there is a very pretty, spacious bedroom with pine-panelled ceiling, two single beds and another large en-suite bathroom. The cottage is ideally suited to 2 couples or a couple with children. The original bread oven has been retained, but the cottage also provides all the modern conveniences you expect. Guest comfort is one of our most important priorities: most of the furniture is new - but solid oak in keeping with the character and age of the home - mattresses are high-quality, towels are fluffy Egyptian cotton. Heating in the cooler months is provided by electric radiators, and there are heated towel rails in both bathrooms. On one side, the cottage looks out over a peaceful grove of walnut trees. On the other side, there is a delightful little orchard of plum trees, with an original stone-built chicken house. At the back there is a gravelled terrace with table and chairs, which then gives on to a forested area. The gorgeous pool (shared with our two other gites) is 12m x 5m and has a built-in seat at one end where you can laze in the water on those hot summer days. It's surrounded by plenty of chairs and loungers and beautiful landscaping, heated to 26C in summer and cleaned daily for your enjoyment. The estate of Le Clos du Comte is truly idyllic. Almost the only sounds you’ll hear are birdsong, or the chirping of the crickets on a summer’s day. Almost the only light you’ll see at night will come from the moon or the stars. It’s a nature lover and stargazer’s paradise. The estate teems with wildlife year-round. In September and October, during and after rutting season, the red deer stags converge in the walnut groves to battle it out and, when the fighting is over, to graze. Roe deer can be seen any time – and frequently make a nuisance of themselves in the garden! The wild boar are most visible on winter evenings, when they’ll emerge from the forest to eat any walnuts missed by the harvest. Spring and summer are the time for birds. Our resident kestrels have returned to nest in our bedroom wall for the fourth year running. The smaller birds such as black redstarts and blue tits make their nests in every nook and cranny. In summer, the hawks soar on the thermals, and we see or hear blackbirds, robins, cuckoos, hoopoes, owls, woodpeckers, finches, nuthatches, wrens …… I could go on. In spring and autumn, we’re right under the migration route of the cranes. And there are butterflies everywhere.