Profile information
Host rating
40
Feedback
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Email verified
Details
Description
We are Gerry and Sue, semi retired, we bought and moved to Betracq, in France, about 15 years ago to start and run a small kennels and cattery. (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a department in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in southwestern France. It takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. It covers the French Basque Country and the Béarn). We live in a very rural part of the world, and you do need your own transport to be able to get around the area. We are between Pau and Tarbes, each about an hours drive away, with many smaller villages in between. Maubourguet is the nearest town, with supermarket/chemist etc, and that is about 15 minutes drive. Madiran is 5 minutes drive away, that has a bakers and bar/hotel, with plenty of red wine for sale or sampling. We are looking for some help around the house and garden, not working with or running the kennels. We do have our own dogs, cats, sheep, horses and chickens, so you do need to get on with animals.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live in a beautiful part of France, you are a couple of hours away from the Atlantic coast, Spain, and the mountains (Pyrenees). Locally there is plenty of walking/cycling routes around the Madiran vineyards. The area is not flat, so you will need to be fit. The mountains are an hours drive away, as well as the tourist attractions (Pic du Midi, Lourdes, Gavarnie) there is plenty of walks/cycling in the summer months and skiing in the winter months. There are also plenty of water sports available locally on the river Adour, The Atlantic coast in a 2 hour drive away,(Biarritz for example). Spain is also a 2 hour drive away, either the Spanish coast or into the mainland. Pampolona in Spain is a 3 hour drive from us. Locally there are many weekend festivals and concerts throughout the year. Toulouse and Bordeaux are also within a 2 hour drive from us. So we are ideally located for you to explore and experience many things in both France and Spain.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are not looking for help with the animals in the kennels or cattery, but with the land and the house. We have a couple of acres, so are looking at getting fields tidied up, maybe digging out brambles, putting up fencing, helping lay some cement blocks, splitting winter wood (by machine, not hand!) etc. We want to put decking around the pool, construct a couple of field shelters for the horses. Or we are looking for help re maintenance in the house, putting up plaster board (dry walls?) and painting for example.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
We have a four bedroom house, the guest room, for a couple, has an on-suite bathroom.
What else ...
Madiran wine is probably what the region is best known for, so there are plenty of vineyards to be explored if wine is your thing. But living close to the Spanish border, we have a vast range of food to be experienced in the numerous cafes/bars/restaurants in the area. The Tour De France passes us by every year, so if cycling one of its famous Pyreneean climbs is on your to-do list, then you have the chance to do it. Countryside and mountain walking are one of the many options. Water-sports in the fast flowing rivers are available a short drive from us.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
