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

This is one of the best Gite type properties we have stayed in during 20 years coming to France. We were initially looking for a property in Dordogne with a pool but these are all very expensive and we chanced on la Maison Jaune in holiday-rentals. Although the convenience of a chlorinated pool within a few yards of a holiday property may be what you have been used to in the past, having access to what in essentally your own private lake takes a lot of beating. We went with two young teenage boys and they spent loads of time swimming and messing around in the water. Victor our host taught them the rudiments of fishing and they were able to escape from the adults and would take themselves away fishing in the evening.

The lake is part of a series of manmade lakes in a line down a small valley on the side of the hill on which St Priest les Fougers sits. It is about 200 meters from the back of the property down a hill and is free flowing and reasonably clear and fresh. Victor has stocked it with some perch and carp and will give you rods with which to try your luck. There is also a small boat and a Mirror dinghy which is just great for learning the basics of sailing.

La Maison Jaune is on the edge of the village and is two minutes walking distance of the small baker and general store. The village itself is on the northern border of Dordogne but within easy striking distance of the major sites of interest. We flew from Limoges and were at the gite within 45 minutes. Our hosts Victor and Gaynor had prepared us lovely evening meal. Their own house is a short distance from the gite and they go for a swim /walk most evenings and are a great source of local knowledge and advice. The gite itself is are well equiped from both French and British standards. We were given a welcome pack but on the drive from the airport there a several good supermarkets for the first stock up.

We were taken enough with the setup to have booked it for next year.