Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
14
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Badges (3)
Details
Description
We are a British/Kiwi couple new to living near the small provincial town of Prades, 40 kms from Perpignan. We were looking to move from the UK to the South of France and fell in love with this region on a holiday 5 years ago; captivated by its rustic charm and equidistance to skiing and the Mediterranean.
Graham’s background is in engineering, insurance and IT and Debra’s in healthcare research. We are both able to work from home so our hours of work tend to be flexible. In our spare time we enjoy outdoor activities, walking, sailing, cycling, golf, music and the arts.
Our lovely catalan style house with extensive grounds offers us a life outdoors, with a pool and alfresco dining. Below the house is a wooded hillside leading down to a stream; which we are in the process of creating an area to grow vegetables and fruit trees, adopt some chickens, as well as create spaces for leisure.
We live about 1.5 kilometre from the town of Prades, in a tranquil location with magnificent mountain views of the Canigou (snow-capped Nov-May, winter piste skiing 1hr drive) and in spring our property is alive with birdsong. The Bohére irrigation canal is a short distance from the house linking walks in the area such as a 45min - 1hour stroll to the Abbey St Michael de Cuxa, nearby villages of Taurinya and Clara, as well access to mountain walking or biking. The main bus/train station linking the area is also a short 15min walk away and the nearest airport is Perpignan.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Sustainability
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Cooking & food
Mountain
Outdoor activities
Water sports
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Winter sports
Hiking
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Geographically this region is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees and shares both French and Catalan culture. It is historically linked with Spanish Civil War refugees, in particular Pablo Casals exiled in Prades (see festival below).
The Prades tourist office ‘Tourisme Conflent de Canigou’ provides a range of local and historical information on cultural activities, sites, outdoor pursuits and a calendar of events.
Prades and the region hold local weekly markets displaying local produce and artistic wares. It is a joy to sense the local bustle and busking as one meanders through the stalls. Prades is accessible by foot and the region by local buses.
Medieval architecture is predominant in the surrounding communities and landscapes and can be explored through tourist routes and walks of religious heritage such as Saint-Martint du Canigou and Sainit-Jacques de Calahons to name a couple.
Festival activities celebrated in this region transcend art, film, music and culture. Prades has a small museum and art gallery, in the surrounding region there are a number of local ateliers. The Lido cinema holds an annual french film festival. The festival ‘La Fête des Feux’ de la St Jean in June celebrates the summer solstice. The famous ‘Pablo Casals Festival’ (since 1955) commemorates the life of this cellist extraordinaire. There is a Catalan Summer University Week in August.
Perpignan is a large city offering numerous shopping and services. Tourist spots in part include the old town, gothic Palace of the Kings of Majorca, Hyacinthe Rigaud Museum of baroque and modern art, markets, a day at the beach.
Help
Over the next couple of years we are going to be working on house and garden projects with an overall aim of reducing our carbon footprint. In 2021 we converted the gas heating to ASHP with underfloor heating downstairs, this has reduced our energy consumption. We have plans to add some solar panels to generate some of our own electricity.
We have cleared and area to create a vegetable garden, this year we are hoping to get the ground prepared for planting in Autumn 2025. Outdoors there is always some garden and woodland maintenance tasks. When it is too hot or cold outdoors we continue to work on some indoor home projects.
If you have skills to offer that would be great, otherwise we can teach you what we know as we work together.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We are an English speaking couple, also learning French, we would enjoy helping people improve their English and if you are a French speaker we would love to learn more from you.
Accommodation
We have a fully equipped apartment downstairs that can be open or separate to the upstairs. The apartment has a fully equipped open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area with TV; which leads onto a large patio and pool area. There are two double bedrooms, one with a separate bathroom next to it and the other double or twin has an ensuite.
All meals will be provided and will usually be taken together, either indoors or outdoors, breakfast is less formal. We are happy to share kitchen duties and if you have some favourite dishes you would like to share with us we invite you to use the kitchen. For those who like music we have a piano and guitar.
What else ...
Leisure activities ….
Experience this rustic region exploring a local medieval village. Hike in the Pyrenees. Take a local bus/train to Perpignan and visit the Mediterranean beaches and coastline. Cross the border to Spain for a day or more.
Prades provides all essential amenities, banques, supermarkets, cafes, transport options to explore nearby historic villages such as Mosset, Eus, Villefranche. Outdoor pursuits such as canyoning and mountaineering, biking and walking trails are all accessible.
We are a short walk 15-20 mins from the main bus and train station. Public transport is subsidised in this department, costing 1 euro per journey. In addition, 'Le Petit Train Jaune' (the little yellow train) operating since 1910, runs 63kms into the Pyrenees mountain towns and is well worth a trip.
Enjoy the outdoors and simple pleasures such as local markets, indulging in local ripe summer fruits, sunning by our pool, playing an instrument if you would like to bring one, we also have a Nord Stage piano.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Graham is a digital nomad himself so we understand the needs of those who enjoy the combination of lifestyles. The rooms available have desks, internet and are in a quiet part of the house with a tranquil outlook onto trees and the mountains beyond.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (7)
Bonnie was an absolute pleasure from the outset. A lovely young lady with a wonderfully positive spirit, Bonnie brought enthusiasm and a genuine eagerness to learn, particularly in the… read more
Albane was truly a joy to have in our home. An exceptional young lady, warm, engaging, and full of life, she brought a delightful energy to our days. Mealtimes were particularly enjoyable,… read more
They welcomed us very well, everything was perfect.The meals shared together were great and I enjoyed our conversations and thoughts.
I enjoyed gardening in the wonderful garden, with a beautiful view on the Pyrenees. They were very careful… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.7)
Bonnie was an absolute pleasure from the outset. A lovely young lady with a wonderfully positive spirit, Bonnie brought enthusiasm and a genuine eagerness to learn, particularly in the… read more
Albane was truly a joy to have in our home. An exceptional young lady, warm, engaging, and full of life, she brought a delightful energy to our days. Mealtimes were particularly enjoyable,… read more
They welcomed us very well, everything was perfect.The meals shared together were great and I enjoyed our conversations and thoughts.
I enjoyed gardening in the wonderful garden, with a beautiful view on the Pyrenees. They were very careful… read more
Graham was very kind and patient and made sure that lunch was ready after work .And lunch was very very yummy !!
Right from the beginning we felt really comfortable at his house and we spend lots of fun evenings with Graham,Leeanna and Ramon (the other workawayers).
At the end of our stay we… read more
Thank you Ramon for your… read more
Graham and Debra are great people and excellent hosts.
The twenty five days I spent at their house were very pleasant.
The work experience was really cool and I learned a lot from each one of them.
I was very well received, my room was very comfortable and I was also given privacy. I… read more
We are also most grateful to Silas for his hard work, helping us clear and terrace our hillside, in preparation for a… read more
