Dordogne Country Cottage with Private Recreational Lake, Saint-Priest-les-Fougeres Reviews

After a hideous start to the holiday with delays and money going missing it was a relief that the cottage and the owners were so welcoming.

The cottage is homely and well equipped with everything we need to cook at home. The cottage was clean and had some special treats waiting for us, the kids and the dogs (that went down well). The garden was perfect for both dogs and kids and I spent days admiring the beautiful views which fell just beyond the garden gate. In fact, our daughter spent many hours outside finding grasshoppers and crickets.

The lake was beautiful and secluded. One dog loved to chase the abundance of frogs and other wildlife in the reeds whilst the other flew himself off the pontoon after his ball. The kids spent their time swimming, on the boat or trying to catch fish and frogs in the tyres that hung from the pontoon.

We visited many places of which we would recommend for anyone with children and/or dogs.

1) les grottes du roc du gazelle and les roc cristophe- both about an hour away so visit on the same day and take a picnic.

2.) Buziere la grand- free to enter- artificial beach that surrounds a lake. Walking and climbing available and well worth paying for.

3.) Ruffiac - as above but further away. Long walk around lake and wake boarding available with smaller section for first timers and children age 8 and up.

4.) Jumihac le grande- chateau- lovely walk near here, ask Gaynor to give directions.

5.) Brantome- truly beautiful. We took the kids and dogs canoeing (be sure to book) and spent the afternoon looking at the street fayre and the kids swimming in the river.

6.) Riding stables near Jumihac- daughter went out on a hack, absolutely loved it. She even got to brush etc and it wasn't taken out of her hours ride :-).

7.) Lake near national park- had a nice picnic and walk here (ask Gaynor ).

8.) If you like bike riding then take your own bikes we went on two which the dogs and kids loved. Chalis - vole vertex approx 14 miles and Thivers approx 24 miles (askll slept well that evening).

9.) Food can't be missed- pizza in Thivers - pizza van parked just before carrefour on way back to cottage. All freshly made and amazing!!

All in all, wonderful family holiday. Dogs were not happy to come home and live their mundane life near the beach when they had sunbathed, chased frogs, dived off pontoons and had the ball thrown from dawn until dusk. Oh and Gaynor and Victor were amazing too!! We will go back