Built of granite nearly 200 years ago, and situated in a small tranquil country hamlet, our luxury 2 (soon to be 3) bedroom
farmhouse has been sympathetically renovated, retaining many of the original oak beams downstairs and with a granite
fireplace in the huge eat in kitchen. The kitchen is fully equipped, there is a luxurious bathroom, with both a large shower and a roll top bath.
There is a large courtyard garden with BBQ, Table and benches, and secure storage for your bicycles or canoes and ample parking.
The hamlet itself has no shops, but the nearest town is only 2 km away, with a boulangerie, boucherie and small supermarket.
Our second property on the site, a cosy 1 bedroom cottage, is still undergoing renovations at the moment, and will be available sometime in 2007.
Situated in the North of the Creuse department of the Limousin Region, we are conveniently located about 2km from the N145 which is a major east-west route across this part of France.
1 hr from Limoges Airport, or a seven hour drive from Calais, not the quickest place to access, but that is part of its charm, situated in a small hamlet of 15 properties, including some small working farms, Les Hirondelles (named after the abundant swallows that frequent our barns all summer) is a peaceful escape from the hurley burley of the rest of the world.
Only 15 minutes from the departmental town of Gueret, which has all major conveniences, half an hour from the medieval town of Aubusson, famous for its tapestry industry, Marsat is surrounded by beautiful countryside and wildlife, but a mere 10 minutes from the main road between Gueret and Montlucon which is just over the border in the Auvergne Region.
The Creuse Valley– the hidden heart of the Limousin in central France, where blue sky meets green hills, and beautiful unspoilt rivers and lakes lap at the feet of granite cliffs and ancient trees.
Stunning scenery, ancient ruins, medieval towns and chateaux are not all of the story however, modern life has not passed this quiet backwater of France by, most lakes have beautiful beaches, complete with café, toilet facilties, childrens play equipment and safe swimming areas. Some lakes are large enough for sailing, windsurfing and waterski.
Thousands of km of signposted cycling and hiking trails wind through the undulating hills and forests, most of the routes starting and finishing at delightful villages and towns, offering plenty of opportunities to sample French cuisine from a selection of bars, brasseries and bistros, where a plat de jour can cost as little as 8 euros.
Available all year round, many of our guests have enjoyed the crisp clear winter days, with skiing only 2 hours away in the Auvergne, and beautiful countryside walks only yards from our door.
Adventure Holidays
What would be your perfect activity holiday? Would it be mountain biking through scenic terrain? Would it be paddling an open canoe down beautiful river gorges? Or would it be cycling along quiet country lanes through picturesque villages and past lakes, woods and farmland? Why choose?................ At bonkersfrog enjoy them all.
Our experienced guides have put together an unique itinerary which enables you to sample all of these elements and more.
Based in the Limousin Region of France, the Creuse department is known as "Le Pays Bleu et Vert,"(the Land of the Blue and Green) the local terrain offers everything you need to enjoy these pursuits to the full.
Les Monts de Gueret offers over 400kms of signposted single track mountain biking, ranging from easy beginners routes through to demanding cross country tracks, with an abundance of exciting downhill runs.
Most of the rivers have been dammed at various points along their length by the electricity co to provide hydroelectric power, the side benefit of which is to create long bodies of lakes and waterways in which it is safe and comfortable to canoe whilst viewing the abundant wildlife on and above the stunning granite cliffs.
France is a country which embraces the bicycle as part of its culture, giving space to cyclists on the roadways goes without saying, and there are many routes (Grand Randonees) winding through the quiet country lanes and over the undulating countryside, which take in a wealth of historical and interesting sites both natural and man made.
Equipment Provided
We have invested in quality equipment to maximise your experience. You can of course bring your own bicycles but our prices do include the use of Specialized Hard Rock mountain bikes with front suspension and disc brakes, safety helmets and water bottles. We recommend that you wear gloves, appropriate footwear and cycling shorts.
We have a range of Old Town canadian canoes, which are safe, stable and easy to paddle, bouyancy aids are provided, in most sizes. Do bring a hat, as the weather can get extremely hot in this area, a kagoul would be advisable as well for those summer showers. Wetsuits are not considered necessary as you would have to be VERY silly to end up in the water accidentally!!
Transport - We are the proud owners of a Land Rover Defender which seats 9, an MPV seating 8 and 2 trailers one - for the canoes - and the other a purpose built box trailer which is adapted to carry bikes to and from the rides, of course this is also useful for when we collect you and your luggage from the Airport/Train Station
Accommodation
We currently have a luxury barn conversion under way which will sleep 4 couples, until completion, for small groups accommodation is at Les Hirondelles,which consists of a 3 double bedroomed farmhouse and a 1 bedroom cottage - for larger groups we use local gite and B & B accommodation.
Food
Included in the price are - 7 breakfasts, picnic lunches on the canoeing days, a welcome BBQ on the first night, and a farewell BBQ on the final night.
On the guided cycling days lunch will be at cafes or auberges on the route, to allow you to experience French cuisine. Most take credit/debit cards but always advisable to carry Euros as the technology is often temprimental.
A Sample Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday - Collect from Limoges Airport/La Souterraine Train Station
1 Hour drive from Limoges Airport, (approx. 30 mins from La Souterraine Train Station) to Les Hirondelles, where you will be allocated your room and have time to unpack.
3pm - Afternoon Tea/Welcome Meeting.
4pm - Equipment set up, where we adjust your bikes, helmets and bouyancy aids.
Free time until
7 pm - Bienvenue BBQ
Day 2 - Thursday - On the trail of the Impressionists - Bike Ride - all on road
8-10am - Breakfast
10.30 - All Aboard Transport for a short drive to Dun le Palestel a beautiful market town, journey on quiet backroads through ancient villages, in parts alongside the river Creuse which so inspired impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Armand Guillaumin. Lunch in Crozant at a choice of cafes, followed by a tour around the vast 13th Century ruined castle.
Monet stayed in this area for many a summer with his lover, romantic novelist George Sand (here, she was inspired to write "Le Peche de M. Antoine".)
After lunch, you can choose whether to cycle back to Dun Le Palestel (11km uphill most of the way) or explore the town until transport returns to collect you.
7 pm - Dinner
Day 3 - Friday - Les Trois Lacs - Canoe Trip
8 am - Breakfast
Familiarisation session, just off the beach, where our guides will teach you the basic paddle strokes to ensure you go in a straight(ish) line! Once everyone is comfortable, we will head off up-river for a leisurely paddle past the "Moulin Noyer" (sunken mill), to Glenic (water levels permitting) and back for a picnic lunch on the beach at Anzeme. There are safe swimming areas here, top up your tan, or muck about in the boats.
Return to Les Hirondelles, for wash and brush up, transport to local restaurant or hotel for dinner.
Day 4 - Saturday - am - Gueret Market.
pm - Les Monts de Gueret - off road bike ride.
8am - Breakfast
9.30 - Leave for Gueret, 15 minute drive, drop you all off at Gueret
market - local produce, smelly cheese etc.
Ample shopping lots of cafes and bistros, but dont have too heavy
a lunch because we will pick you up at
2pm to take you to Les Monts de Gueret for an off road bike ride,
through the forests and over the hills,
finishing at the beach on the Courtilles Lake. (Very refreshing on
a hot day)
Return to Les Hirondelles
7.30 - transport to local restaurant or hotel for dinner.
Day 5 - Sunday - Canoe Trip - Lac d'Egouzon - Our favourite river trip
8.30am - Breakfast
10am - Leave for Egouzon, about an hours drive through lovely countryside, look out for deer, buzzards and other wildlife on route.
Head off upriver towards Crozant, keep your camera at the ready to capture the abundant wildlife along the cliffs and banks of the river. Look out for the amazing sight of schools of catfish swimming close to the surface. If you are really lucky you may catch a glimpse of a kingfisher looking for an easy meal. Along the way we will stop for a picnic lunch, and then turn back and return to Egouzon where there is an auberge for the evening meal.
Late evening - return to Les Hirondelles for a well earned nights sleep!
Day 6 - Monday - Les Pierres Jaumatres 100% on road
8 am - Breakfast
10am - Cycle from base for a beautifully scenic ride, starts off with a gentle downhill for about 4 km to Parsac on quiet roads, through pretty villages. A gradually undulating climb for the first 2/3rds of the ride, the scenery becomes more stunning, the higher you get. After the town of Domeyrot, the steep climb starts, all the way to the top at Toulx St Croix, this village perched around the top of the hill, gives outstanding 360 degree views up to 20km on a clear day. A short downhill follows before the final cheeky climb to the site of Les Pierres Jaumatres, leave the bikes for the final 800m walk through the trees, where you will discover amazing neolithic rock formations balancing atop one another, mere photographs do not do this site justice, but bring your camera anyway.
For this ride we do provide a chase vehicle, so give it a go, there is no shame in getting off halfway up the hills!
Picnic lunch provided. There is a cafe/bar at the end of this ride. Transport back to base. Although it IS downhill most of the way back for those masochists amongst you.
7 pm - transport to local restaurant or hotel for dinner.
Day 7 - Tuesday
8 am - Breakfast
10 am - Its up to you, its all yours. We very much doubt that you will have any energy left but if you do why not take a map and compass and go and explore, hike or bike.
6 pm - Au Revoir BBQ
Day 8 - Wednesday
8 am - Breakfast
9.30 - Depart for Airport/Train Station.
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