Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Jul 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
34
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Find your perfect host
Details
Description
Hi all, a little introduction; We are a family of five, there’s us and our 3 kids, boys of 17 & 14 & girl of 12 (and our little dogs, cat and rabbits) who moved to France from England for a simpler, less hectic lifestyle.
We are renovating a C14 strong house in traditional methods and materials in the beautiful Charente countryside, within striking distance of some fantastic places. Bordeaux, Cognac, La Rochelle beach within 2 hours and ski slopes are within 3 hours. Poitiers, Angouleme, a subterranean cathedral, countless Chateau and attractions within 1 hour, two of the most picturesque villages in France less than 10 minutes away. Locally there are shops, restaurants, riverside bars, chateau, a C12 abbey and a river beach.
Come and join us, helping around the house, organic garden project, or with the renovation project, enjoy French culture, learn some new skills and have some fun along the way.
We have places for one or several people with good DIY or building experience from now onwards with a few bookings for spring and summer so far! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re planning a trip for this year! 😁Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are all fluent in French and English, so learning at least the basics of a language if not more (from speaking it on a daily basis) would be possible. This would be a great opportunity to explore the French language, culture and history, from a great launch point in the heart of south west France. Along with this, learning traditional methods for the repair of historic buildings would benefit anyone wishing to understand the theory and practice of dying arts. There are markets, village meals, festivals and events every day of every weekend from spring until late Autumn, brocantes too, lot and lots to see and do.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking people to come and help us with our renovation project and sustainable garden project.
The requirement is quite flexible, anyone who would like to join us could help with the renovation project or general maintenance and gardening say 4 days a week, leaving long weekends to explore the region. This would probably look like 9am to 4pm and would certainly be flexible, but it is manual labour and some heavy lifting would be involved.
Experience in renovations or construction would be a bonus, manual work and good diy skills at a minimum. Being a heritage buildings consultant who runs training courses in varying subjects relating to historic building repair (from dry stone walling to pointing and building in traditional methods and materials), means everything regarding renovation of old buildings could be learned if you wish.
A desire to learn traditional methods of construction from a heritage master craftsman and some high quality DIY expérience would be well received :0)Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerAccommodation
We are offering for solo travelers and or couples/small families to share a cottage in the beautiful Charente countryside directly in between two of the top 100 prettiest villages in France. It is well renovated and quirky, cool in summer and cozy in winter, for the duration of the stay (with no bills to pay). It is furnished with a double room and a double with two large single beds and the usual furniture. The use of bikes is available for the local villages 3km, lifts to town with train station 8km not a problem.
Self catering with all food and soft drinks supplied while here, cereals, bread, toast and jams, tea, coffee pastas, rice and sauces, fruit, eggs and and veg from the garden and whatever other shopping you choose in particular.What else ...
Locally there are numerous historic and cultural attractions, most weekends from spring to fall there are events locally ranging from open air art exhibitions, communal meals (hog roasts, steak/moules frites), fetes with fireworks, local markets, music events and evenings, numerous Brocantes and antiques markets. There are recreation facilities nearby, a river beach for swimming, canoeing, kyacking, treetop adventures and of course the perfect area for walking and cycling.
Further afield there are countless historic and beautiful places, medieval towns and villages to visit, not to mention the multitude of tourist parks and attractions.
As a small family we live quietly, politely and gently in our community, as such we are well thought of and integrated. Our ideal guests would have similar philosophies, not disturb neighbours and become friends.
We visit and join in with local events and activities regularly, you would be welcome to join us. :0) vaccinated or not, all are welcome.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There’s power hookup, water and even access to a bathroom that has an outside door, it’s all on a slight slope so levelling blocks are on hand if you need them. Will fit large or small vans.
Can possibly accept pets
Well behaved dogs who socialise well
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 25 hours with 2 days off
Feedback (17)
They were amazing! Elliot claimed to be a carpenter but if I’ve ever seen a master craftsman it’s him, Harry who was supposed to be his apprentice is far from that, much more a skilled tradesperson than understudy. Both organised, thorough, highly skilled, problem solving, helpful to the extreme, able to… read more
The area is beautiful and Duncan has a great deal of knowledge available to pass on to anyone that stays here.
I would thoroughly recommend, especially to people looking to build skills in construction.
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
They were amazing! Elliot claimed to be a carpenter but if I’ve ever seen a master craftsman it’s him, Harry who was supposed to be his apprentice is far from that, much more a skilled tradesperson than understudy. Both organised, thorough, highly skilled, problem solving, helpful to the extreme, able to… read more
The area is beautiful and Duncan has a great deal of knowledge available to pass on to anyone that stays here.
I would thoroughly recommend, especially to people looking to build skills in construction.
Really looking forward to his return visit, we will achieve a great deal together with his enthusiasm and love of all things traditional, architecture… read more
We were really sorry to see him go and would welcome him back at any time.
Thanks Linus, Good luck on the barge!
Apart from that a great person with vast experience of… read more
The work was hard enough to be challenging but never left us too exhausted, we would always… read more
Don’t hesitate to host them, great people and a lovely couple. 😊
I highly recommend them, thank you guys, come back anytime!
Welcome back any time!
Don’t hesitate to host him if you have the chance (he can cook too!)
Come back any time!
See you again sometime guys, happy trails!
The kids… read more