Idyllic family retreat in the heart of rural France.

5/5
Stayed May 2017
Jeremy B.
There are not enough stars to rate this wonderful holiday home - it's that good!
From the moment we booked La Cotte we knew we were going to be looked after as the owner
phoned us immediately to make sure we were happy with what we were getting. There were ten of
us altogether (outnumbered with four adults to six children ranging from 8 to 14). Frequent detailed
emails then followed leading up to our stay where our questions were answered and suggestions
made about places to visit etc.
The house itself is a delightful converted barn fitted out with all you could need. The pool kept the
children amused for hours, while the pingpong barn was just perfect for late-night games over a
cold beer.
We were lucky with the weather in that it generally stayed around the mid to late 20s, with the odd
day hitting 30, and many hours were spent sipping cold drinks (and the odd filter coffee) underneath
the walnut and apple trees by the pool with a good book.
Dining was generally al fresco, when we were often entertained by the odd scurrying lizard and
darting redstart. The redstart, in particular, serenaded us with wonderful songs, while hummingbird
hawkmoths hovered over the many brightly flowered plant pots. In fact, if you like your wildlife,
you won't get much better than La Cotte. Butterflies flutter around all over the place - especially on
the white-flowering mallow bush - and we even saw black kites drift overhead from time to time -
and a hoopoe foraging for ants in the garden!
The charm of neighbouring villages, seemingly not changed for years, makes this part of the world
even more enticing. Brantome (where the whole gang went kayaking on the river Dronne) needs a
special mention and is only 35 minutes or so away, while Chateau de Hautefort is just incredible if
you like your real-life fairy princess castles.
Overall, La Cotte is amazing, the area is outstanding, and the owner is first class.
Highly recommended!
Published 6 Jun 2017

The perfect holiday home for a large family

5/5
Stayed Aug 2016
senemut1Patrick P.
This is a five star property with a beautiful large garden,isolated amidst the fields. Totally safe, ideal
for small children. We were there for a large family reunion (4 couples, 6 small children) and the
facilities were perfect. You can't beat the view and especially the peaceful surroundings. We had
planned several excursions but were so happy in the house that we mostly stayed there.Great
contact with the owner.I warmly recommend the house for all wishing to spend a quiet holiday with
family or friends away from it all!
Published 21 Sep 2016

Idyllic holiday experience

5/5
Stayed Aug 2015
Brian S.
Our love affair with France was reignited by our wonderful two week stay at La Cotte in August.
The serene setting, the comfort of the house, the luscious countryside and the timeless villages all
contributed to our sense of well being. On top of that the sun shone brilliantly.
Lazy days by the pool, evening BBQs in the secluded courtyard or sorties for an al fresco dinner in
a nearby village all made the time fly by.
The house was of the highest standard, both in equipment and comfort, and felt like a home from
home. The pretty garden offered shade from the sun and beautiful views.
All in all it was a fantastic holiday and La Cotte is a special property to be recommended to
everyone.
Brian and Ros Snow
Published 11 Oct 2015

France at its best

5/5
Stayed Jun 2015
Ann L.
I have to say this is a very beautiful property at La Cotte. The property was very well maintained
inside and out, cleanliness was perfection. As we are a large family of 10 we loved the spaciousness
of the property. Patio area was large and pretty with beautiful surroundings. An added extra to this
property was the swimming pool, this too is well maintained and supports a fenced off area all
around. I would highly recommend this property to all my family and friends.
Published 13 Aug 2015

Beautiful house and grounds for multi-family hols

5/5
Stayed Aug 2014
David L.
We stayed end August / early September, for the third year in a row, with children and
grandchildren, and other friends. The house is roomy and layout well-suited to multi-family use,
and the grounds and pool are just fabulous - safe for youngsters, too, and there's always a shady or
sunny spot to hide away with a book when you want to be lazy. As mentioned in another review, the
mulberry tree and its produce are a bonus (be prepared to strip off to pick though!), not to mention
the plums, apples, grapes, brambles (blackberries to some of you) and herbs.
Published 22 Jan 2015

Delightful Tranquility
5/5
Stayed Jul 2014
Jim C.
This is an amazing house in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. For us we have found it to be ideal
for both younger children - great pool, table tennis room, boules etc - and also older children -
kayaking, mountain biking nearby. We have stayed at La Cotte 7 or 8 times since we first were
lucky enough to find it about 15 years ago and would thoroughly recommend it. We have four
children and have stayed with other relatives and friends each time and we have never had any
problems whatsoever. The facilities are great and the property is well managed by a local English
couple who are available if there are any problems. There are plenty of delightful towns and
villages to visit nearby and markets to attend. I completely recommend this property and look
forward to returning there soon.
Published 27 Jan 2015

Wonderful house, a real gem”

5/5
Stayed May 2014
Robin R.LONDON
Our 3 generations fitted perfectly into this charming house on the borders of Dordogne and
Charente. It is extremely well equipped with everything from golf clubs to matching bikes for our
grandchildren, and enough pots to cook 6 artichokes simultaneously! The beautifully restored barns
on either side of the sheltered patio add to the character and provide a secluded suntrap in a week
which was unusually cool for the season. The wood burning stoves kept the chill off in the evening.
The owner was extremely helpful and his instructions allowed for every eventuality. Definitely
worth the detour!
Published 17 Sep 2014

Home from home- but better!

5/5
Stayed Aug 2013
Sian M.
This was a wonderful place to stay. We were a group of two families, including 5 children aged 2 to
9. La Cotte is so spacious and well equipped that we never felt on top of each other. It is secluded
and private. The children loved the beautiful pool (and with a safety fence so did the parents!) and
there was so much space for them to run around in. My 9 year old son set up his portable football
goal in the garden behind the house and got lost there for hours each day! The house itself has every
single thing you could ever need, even a pot big enough for me to cook Beef Bourguignon for 9 on
the last evening! The village of Verteillac is close enough for a croissant breakfast run each morning
(and worth it!) and is beautiful as are the nearby towns of Brantome, Bourdeilles and Aubeterre.
However, it is was difficult prising the children (and husbands!) away from the pool and the garden
and the table tennis to get them to go anywhere. The owners are lovely and the wealth of
information that they provided was very much appreciated. We didn't want to leave. We will be
back!
Published 30 Aug 2013

Lovely, relaxing stay with amazing pool.

5/5
Stayed Aug 2013
James M.
We have now visited for two years running and are going back for a third. The property is spacious
with beautiful grounds. The pool is amazing, secure and safe for families with young children(we
have 3) Lots of space to run around, build dens, play football. Jeremy always helpful and his guide
to the area is excellent. A home from home.
Published 26 Apr 2014

Perfect house for a family holiday

5/5
Stayed Jul 2013
Ruth D.
This is a beautiful property set in lovely countryside. It ticked all the boxes for a perfect family
holiday; we stayed with friends (there were four adults and six children aged from 12 months to 9
years) and the accomodation worked really well for us. The gardens and pool are stunning, with
lovely views. The owner, Jeremy, was very helpful, likewise his local caretaker/gardener Terry. We
wouldn't change anything (except the hornet that stung me!) and hope to return soon. A special
mention for the huge mulberry bush in the garden - we've never met such an amazing tree, there
were more mulberries than we could eat (and we ate a lot!).
Published 11 Sep 2013

Lovely family holiday

5/5
Stayed Aug 2012
James B.Bristol, United Kingdom
We had a fantastic holiday at La Cotte. The property was clean, spacious, very well-equipped and
comfortable - it really did feel like a 'home from home'. I'd definitely recommend it to families with
young children. We were 2 families with 6 children between us under the age of 7. Needless to say,
we spent a lot of time in the fantastic pool (which was fenced with a safety gate) and playing table
tennis, and the courtyard garden was a perfect play space. The owner provided an extra cot and
highchair, and there were plenty of games and toys to keep the kids happy. Wifi was also a big plus
for the adults! Definitely the best place we've stayed in in France.
Published 5 Oct 2012

A beautiful property
5/5
Stayed Aug 2012
Emma L.
We spent a fantastic week at this wonderful rural retreat. The pre-arrival information was extremely
detailed and useful. The property and garden were tidy, clean and welcoming. The children were
very impressed by the well stocked playroom/barn and table tennis. The pool was beautiful. As a
property it had just about any creature comfort we could think of. We were two familes totalling 10
and La Cotte had the perfect space to accomodate us all. We were comfortably able to sit and eat
either inside or outdoors. It was a small drive each day to collect the bread and croissants but well
worth the drive. The local villages and towns were beautiful for a small excursion and there were
multiple activities for all ages. We will definitely go back.
Published 18 Sep 2012

Best holiday in France in 10 years

5/5
Stayed Jul 2011
S B.
We were a party of 9 ranging in age from 15 to 80+. We have sttayed in a number of properties in
France and this was the first holiday that no one in the party had the desire to leave the house except
for essential trips to the supermarket and occasional walks in the French countryside.
The pool was kept beautifully clean by the automatic pool cleaner and the chlorine level was
checked weekly, a fence with a self closing gate surrounds the pool and this with the ample outside
space makes it ideal for younger children.
The table tennis in the barn was the scene of many a close game, often followed by a cooling beer
on the sun drenched patio.The variety of sun parasols were often required on sunnier days.
All the bedrooms were a good size with the 2 doubles and the twin room on the first flow being
especially generous. The kitchen was well equipped with plenty of cooking pots and utensils, the
extra fridge / freezer in the barn was well used for beer and ice creams. Unlike many holiday
houses, the house has not been stripped bare of all but essentials and there are games and toys in the
cupboard.
The wireless Internet was a hit with the teenagers in the party, when there was a problem with this
after a thunderstorm, Jeremy (the owner) was extremely helpful in establishing that there was
actually an infrastructure problem and provided us with a local contact if this was not rectified
quickly.
We would not hesitate to recommend this property for anyone wanting a relaxing break in the
French countryside.
Published 21 Sep 2011

Rural France at its best.

5/5
Stayed Sep 2010
C & R LondonLondon
La Cotte is just what we hoped to find - a peacefully located, beautifully restored farmhouse , with
comfortable, spacious bedrooms and bathrooms and a lovely kitchen. We loved our leisurely
lunches in the sunny courtyard, which were usually followed by a dip in the pool, then a post-
prandial snooze in the garden.
The setting is rural France at its best, with huge vistas of rolling farmland and acres of sunflowers
and maize waiting to be harvested. The local villages range from the tiny, with just a few houses, to
those with shops to cater for the delights of food and wine shopping and much more. A trip to the
market is not to be missed, to see an astonishing array of fresh vegetables, breads, cheeses, fish and
meats.
A lovely, peaceful place to relax and to enjoy.
Published 6 Jan 2011

Dreamy rural retreat!

5/5
Stayed May 2010
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La Cotte is a fantastic place to spend a holiday with a family of any age.The house is superbly
equipped to ensure an extremely comfortable stay. It would be almost impossible not to relax in the
dreamy calm of the rural setting of La Cotte. The view from the pool is stunning and there are
lovely walks to be had nearby. Beautiful villages to explore and outdoor activities, such as
canoeing, are all within easy reach by car. This residence is outstanding for anyone who loves the
French countryside.
Published 15 Sep 2010

La Cotte, August 2009

5/5
Stayed Aug 2009
PeteandgeorgeLondon
La Cotte is a family holiday gem. We have now been for the last 2 years and fully expect to return
again next year. The house is cosy, extremely well equipped, particularly in the kitchen with
everything that you can imagine needing for a family holiday with young children. The surrounding
countryside is heaven on earth and the only noise you are likely to hear is the occasional tractor
tootling from field to field. There is absolutely nothing better than sitting in the very pretty
courtyard garden(pictured), eating lunch and soaking up the sunshine.
The pool is also brilliantly set just far enough away from the house and with a sufficiently sturdy
fence to ensure that one does not have to think about it as a child hazard.
The local village has all the basics covered with a really good baker and butcher and other slightly
less essential things like a riding school.
Published 18 Sep 2009

The perfect family holiday

5/5
Stayed Jul 2009
We stayed at La Cotte in the summer of 2009, with our three grown-up children and their families,
including a toddler and a baby. The house was just beautiful - very welcoming and well-kept: it has
a lovely courtyard effect where we had all our lunches and dinners, with several barbeque options
available. The house felt very much like a home from home, with lots of the owners' games and
handy things that they seemed quite happy for us to use, and after two weeks we could almost
believe we lived there ourselves! The owners couldn't have been more helpful, buying a new
paddling pool specailly as we had our grandchildern with us, and posting back to us something we
left behind. The pool is a good size and beautiful temperature, and well protected with a fence
aorund it and self-closing gate, so we didn't have to worry about that. There were bikes, pool toys
and table tennis in the barn to keep us amused, so we spent a lot of time at the house. It is very
pretty, has a huge kitchen, very comfortable living room and plenty of good bedrooms. And the
mulberries were wonderful! We would recommend it to anyone, but especially to familes with
children.
Published 23 Oct 2009

Idyllic farmhouse
5/5
Stayed Apr 2008
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The description of this property does not do justice to the house. It sits on a gentle secluded hill
surrounded by fruit trees with the sunniest of flowery courtyards. The pool is circled by walnut trees
and decked with geraniums. The house is cool and shady in hot weather but with wood burners if it
turns chilly. The layout means that our two families had privacy by sleeping in bedrooms at each
end of the property and meeting up in the huge kitchen area. It is really well equipped - with
thoughtful extras such as board games and kids' crockery that you don't often find. It is tastefully
furnished, super-clean with new machines and other equipment...We visited Bordeaux and St
Emilion which are within an hour's drive, Montbazillac and Brantome which is 45 mins in the
opposite direction where we had a fantastic lunch outside and a boat trip on the river that runs
through the centre of picturesque 18th century buildings. We and our friends had a wonderful time
and we will certainly be back to visit again.
Published 14 May 2008
Luxurious bolt hole for a relaxing break.
5/5
Stayed Jul 2007
WillersColeshill Bucks UK
Set in its own grounds overlooked by nobody with 5 bedrooms surrounding the courtyard we had a
great holiday in La Cotte as it had everything we needed for one week on our own and one with
friends.
As far as equipment goes the property has a very secluded but large pool area.
With beautiful uninterrupted views across the farm land sitting here having stocked up at the local
markets with good food and wine is as tough as it gets!
With the nearest village being approximately 10 minutes away by car the ony draw back is that you
can get lost before your bearings settle down!
Good catering facilities, fridges and freezers make the trips to the supermarket less numerous that
other places that we have stayed.
As far as things to do the owner is a member of a nearby golf club and there are some adequate golf
clubs provided should you wish to play or just visit the tennis courts and bar for a change.
All in all with the addition last year of sattellite TV and Broadband we will be going back again!!
Published 29 May 2008

La Cotte
5/5
Stayed Jun 2007
BobandjenUK
We would highly recommend this property for couples, families or groups of friends.
La Cotte is just as described in the full details, the amenities are excellent and it is furnished to a
very high standard. The large swimming pool is perfect. A very well-maintained, welcoming and
clean home with excellent customer service. In our view, this property could not be bettered.
Perfect for a quiet holiday lazing round the pool, or for those with more energy a good base for
cycling or touring the area.
We would not hesitate to recommend to our friends - indeed have done so on many occasions.
Published 11 May 2008

Idyllic haven of peace and tranquility

5/5
Stayed Jun 2007
chrisanbrianLincolnshire, UK
chrisanbrian.
We have been going to La Cotte every year since the year 2000, so I think that says it all! This year
is no different and we can't wait to return for our annual two weeks of total relaxation, barbeques
and totalling chilling out in the most beautiful of settings. La Cotte is a beautifully restored and
immaculate farmhouse, complete with traditional beams, tastefully furnished and with every
possible piece of equipment and facilitiy you could want. The large and beautiful fenced pool with
its trees and flowers overlooks a valley and is the perfect place to relax. There are even bikes for the
more energetic!
La Cotte is an absolute gem in the most beautiful countryside and we feel privileged to have
discovered it.
Published 3 Jun 2008