Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
11 Oct 2022
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Details
Description
We live in the beautiful Dordogne countryside just out of Vertiallac, which is a thriving village within walking and biking distance of our home. In the summer this is a very busy village with lots of social events on. Naturally a bit quieter over the winter but still has restaurants, a boulangerie, and a very well stocked shop.
Brian and I are New Zealanders, but have lived in the UK for many years before arriving in France 3 years ago.
We are happy, easy going people who love renovating and bringing old properties back to life and showing their beauty. We are renovating a barn for ourselves to live in, having completed renovating the cottage, which is now guest accommodation and which is where you will stay. Please see the cottage photos.
We have two cats who you will come across.
Where we live is very peaceful and quiet but there there are lots of interesting places to visit nearby. Aubeterre and Brantome are just two well known examples.
There are lots of very quiet country lanes to make for glorious biking so you you can get out and explore the area with lovely villages, market towns and nearby Chateaux. Riberac which is a 15 minute drive away has a great Friday market.
We have bikes which you are very welcome to use. If you don't have a vehicle we would be happy to drive you to nearby places.
What we are looking for is some help with the building projects,...a great great chance to help with a lovely old French barn and to see the progress that you would be a part of. There is also the vegetable garden that can be planted out and general tidying up around the garden.
The cottage has its own kitchen and there is also the outside kitchen with gas BBQ and pizza oven. We love to eat out side and spend evenings on the terraces watching the bird life or star gazing... perfect with the dark skies.
We would happily supply you with meals or you could cook your own, which ever you are happier with.
As the guest accommodation is fully completed, the only tasks you will be involved in is on the barn we are converting for our own personal use.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
France is a beautiful country and there is plenty of interesting places nearby, for example the well known Brantome and Aubeterre. These are both very lovely old historic places where you can immerse yourself in French medieval history.
We are also located very close-within walking distance of Vertiallac, which has lots of local events going on, especially over the summer months. The producers markets are very popular and are very lively events and great fun as you have no idea who you are to sit beside so lots of chance for interacting with the locals.
The opposite end of the scale could be a Baroque music concert.
While you are staying with us ,we hope that you will feel part of the family ,we have two cats and they like to go out of their way to make people feel welcome !
We love to meet new people and enjoy hearing their stories and hope that this will become on of your memories to keep.
The chance to help restore a stone barn helping with old timbers and stone could be something different for you.
These buildings have been standing a long time and it is so wonderful to find the craftsmen's marks on the timbers and stone and maybe there could be room for some more !
We are always learning new ways of doing things and our aim is to recycle as much of the original materials as possible or to source used materials. Therefore this comes with its own challenges of the how to do things and we hope that by hosting visitors that some new ideas or different ways of doing things might evolve.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The sort of jobs we need help with are gardening and a general tidy up around the property.
For example the vege garden needs digging/rotavatoring some shutters to paint general weeding ... nothing too taxing.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We would love to learn more French as ours is not good , although we do try !
Accommodation
The cottage is a two bedroom 2 bathroom fully restored old French farm cottage with timber beams and stone walls.
Modern kitchen and a comfy lounge with Wifi.
The cottage is private and cozy.
There is also an outdoor kitchen with BBQ .
Breakfast will be cooked for you ,lunch could be a baguette or soup and evening meal could be a BBQ,pizza from the outdoor oven or a roast.
What else ...
A vehicle would be needed as this is the countryside, however if you dont have a vehicle we do have a spare car for potential use.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Free Wifi throughout the property.
Space for parking camper vans
There is plenty of parking available for camper vans.We have a separate toilet in the laundry area that is separate to the cottage which could be used. There is also a outside courtyard kitchen.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
