Información de perfil
Host is looking for help immediately
Evaluación del anfitrión
100 %
Last replied
22 jun 2026
Porcentaje de respuesta
100.0 %
Normalmente responde ≤ 8 dias
Comentarios
69
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Country info
Medallas (5)
Detalles
Descripción
Hi, I'm Simon, and I have accidentally created a community in the mountains.
9 years ago I moved from the UK to France to escape Brexit, and now I own an aparthotel in a quiet Pyrenean village. It has been converted into separate apartments that we are currently selling.
This is NOT a commercial enterprise; it is my home, and that's where I need help.
Previously, my brother used Workaway, and it has been nothing but a positive experience, a trend which I have continued.
However, without trying or indeed realising it had happened, I have accidentally built a community. Something I am now extremely proud of.
Many volunteers have made this their second home and return on a regular basis. There is always a mix of long-standing workaways and first-timers. We are a diverse community of like-minded people from all walks of life, trying to live in tune with nature and the mountains.
I like having between 4-6 volunteers at any time. New volunteers get to work alongside existing ones and learn skills that will be invaluable in your future. Every member of the community is responsible for looking after the 3 dogs, 4 cats and 6 chickens. So if you don’t like cats or dogs, this won’t be the place for you.
I provide accommodation (depending on availability, it will be a private room or a dormitory) and 3 meals a day. We are vegetarian/vegan, so there won’t be any meat.
On work days, we all eat lunch and dinner together. While I enjoy cooking, I always appreciate it when volunteers prepare something, as I love trying new dishes.
Mauléon-Barousse is set in the countryside, so it is a great place to relax by the lake or river, go on hikes in the mountains, visit some local thrift shops, or simply hang out in the common living room. We are a social group, so we like to play games, make music or watch films together in the evening.
You will arrive a volunteer, and if you leave, you will leave a friend.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, classic cars, and animals (if you come and stay with me, you'll see just how much I love animals).
Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje
Práctica de idiomas
Jardinería básica
Proyectos creativos DIY «hazlo tú mismo»
Cuidado de animales
Cocinar para toda la familia
Ayuda doméstica
Mantenimiento básico
Ayuda informática
Cuidado de casas y mascotas
Intereses
Acampada
Películas y televisión
Cuidado de plantas
Carpintería
Yoga / bienestar
Deportes acuáticos
Deportes de invierno
Ciclismo
Agricultura
LGBT+
Senderismo
Actividades al aire libre
Política / justicia social
Vegetariano o vegano
Sostenibilidad
Mascotas
Bricolaje y manualidades
Jardinería
Cocina y alimentación
Animales
Naturaleza
Montaña
Playa
Objetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión
Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje
You will find yourself in the idyllic village of Mauléon-Barousse, amidst the rolling hills of the Pyrenees. Here you can explore historic churches and towns, get lost in the lush green nature of the French countryside, improve your French, or pick up practical skills around the property.
I love cooking and am always happy to show you a thing or two. Hopefully, we’ll both learn a few things from each other during your stay :)
Ayuda
The main project right now is to bring my late mother’s house back to life. Therefore, I’m looking for volunteers who can help with decorating and general repairs. The goal is to move from the current building into the house. The property has 17,000m² of land, so I’ll need help with gardening as well. Experience in these areas is a plus, but any help is appreciated, and we could teach you a thing or two. General tasks include cleaning, cooking, and animal care.
I am looking for volunteers who want to stay an initial 2 weeks with a view to a longer stay if we all get along (this is important for you to both learn skills but also feel the community vibe).
I expect 5 hours of help a day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation and 3 meals a day. We normally start work at 8.30 in the morning and then work until we eat lunch together. You’ll then have the afternoon free.
If this doesn’t suit you, we can talk about an individual schedule for you. However, occasionally when there are big tasks that require many people, or time-sensitive tasks, I might ask you to work outside your own schedule. On the other hand, if there are times that are very inconvenient for you, please tell me. Communication is the key to good teamwork.
Idiomas
Idiomas hablados
Inglés: Fluido
Francés: PrincipianteEste anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
I am happy to teach English and would be interested in improving my very poor French
Alojamiento
Every volunteer gets a comfy bed in a private room or dormitory depending on availability.
You will get 3 vegetarian/vegan meals per day that we will share in the common space.
I like to drive over to Spain to do the shopping, so I can give you a ride, and you can have a look around there :) Feel free to request particular foods or snacks, and I’ll be happy to pick them up, provided the requests are reasonable (except meat). There is also a small grocery store just around the corner, where you can find some essentials.
There is a washing machine and wifi available. You will also (weather permitting of course) have access to a pool, patio spaces and all the animals you could wish for.
Algo más...
If you enjoy outdoor activities, breathtaking scenery and clean air, then this is the place for you. We often do weekend trips together to go hiking, thrift shopping, or exploring local towns.
We are very close to the Port de Balès, a 19km climb uphill the mountain, used several times as a Tour de France etappe, which ends with stunning views and the starting point to several hiking trails.
There are several walks starting from this town, for example a 20-minute walk to a waterfall, or a 40-minute walk to Château Bramevaque. If you don’t feel like walking, you can swim in the pool on site. There is also a lake with a park in the village, where you can relax in the sun, play tennis or go fishing.
If you have a valid driver's license, we can talk about you using my car (but it might also depend on other factors; just ask). I'm always more than happy to give you a lift to anywhere you want to go. There is also BlaBlaCar, a ride-sharing network, which is very well-known here in France.
If you arrive by train, you should get off at Montréjeau train station. From there, I will pick you up (almost) any time of day.
Un poco más de información
Acceso a Internet
Acceso a Internet limitado
Tenemos animales
Somos fumadores
Puede alojar familias
Puede acoger a nómadas digitales
There is wifi acess
Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas
We have a big parking space on the property and there is also a campervan-parking areo in the village right next to the river, a 5 minute walk away from the building.
Podría aceptar mascotas
We have dogs and cats so as long as your furry friend is friendly we can talk.
¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?
Más de dos
Mis animales / mascotas
Chickens
Mindy
Molly
Katara
Dotty
Stoker
Toby
Foxy
Habla con usuarios que han visitado a este anfitrión
Comentarios (33)
Enno and William were a pleasure to host. They are an absolute breath of fresh air!!
They make a great team.
Enno is amazingly skilled and can turn his hand to anything.
William is coconscious and fun to have around.
If you get the chance to host either one of them do it don't miss out.
I would have them both back tomorrow!!
If you are lucky enough to get the chance to host Riya do it!
Riya is delightful, interesting, kind, hard working, a great cook and just a pleasure to have around.
Age is only a number and Riya is definitely more savvy than most.
Im really looking forward to Riya coming back
I have just been writing and a sentence that arose with me was:
"a combination of beautiful authenticity, a tad of weirdness and love in many forms :)."
I am thinking in my mind to see if I can come back oneday soon :).
I reccommend this… read more
Jori was a great volunteer and always happy to help
Secretly he is a good cook too!!
He is welcome back any time and we hope we will see him again!!
Fotos
Habla con usuarios que han visitado a este anfitrión
Comentarios
Son opciones de calificación adicionales para cuando los miembros dejan sus comentarios. Se muestra la calificación media dejada en cada opción.
Precisión del perfil:
(5.0)
Intercambio cultural:
(4.8)
Comunicación:
(5.0)
Enno and William were a pleasure to host. They are an absolute breath of fresh air!!
They make a great team.
Enno is amazingly skilled and can turn his hand to anything.
William is coconscious and fun to have around.
If you get the chance to host either one of them do it don't miss out.
I would have them both back tomorrow!!
If you are lucky enough to get the chance to host Riya do it!
Riya is delightful, interesting, kind, hard working, a great cook and just a pleasure to have around.
Age is only a number and Riya is definitely more savvy than most.
Im really looking forward to Riya coming back
I have just been writing and a sentence that arose with me was:
"a combination of beautiful authenticity, a tad of weirdness and love in many forms :)."
I am thinking in my mind to see if I can come back oneday soon :).
I reccommend this… read more
Jori was a great volunteer and always happy to help
Secretly he is a good cook too!!
He is welcome back any time and we hope we will see him again!!
He has the cheekiest smile!
Happy to help with most tasks and also a great chef.
Sadly he had to leave early due to personal circumstances but he was a great addition to our team who is welcome back whenever the opportunity arises.
He is interesting, fun, hard working and adventurous.
Nothing is too much trouble.
My biggest disappointment was he was only able to stay 2 weeks .
He is welcome back anytime and if he offers to volunteer for you say yes!! You wont regret it!!!
If you have the privilege to host this guy then do it!!!
He is a great addition to a team. He is hard working talented conscientious and hilarious.
Just be prepared to buy new tyres for your car if he uses it ;-))
I would have him back tomorrow!!
My lovely host went above and beyond. I got varied opportunities to get busy and a very cozy space to spend my time indoors with all the wonderful others.
I urge any of you considering to take the host on their offer to not be worried about not being able to contribute. There is a part… read more
She was a great addition to the house .
Amazing at every task great conversation and a pleasure to have around.
Really hope we see you again very soon!!!
The work is varied, sometimes simple, sometimes more interesting and… read more
This guy has a heart of gold and deserves the best in life.
He was an AWESOME team member and so funny.
Cant wait to host him again!!!
Through staying with Simon, I also met incredible friends that I really care about and love. They supported me, helped me, and made this experience… read more
Fun to have around noting was too much trouble and she turned her hand to any task with a smile.
Would love to see you back again sometime soon.
Simon is very… read more
Karen has just left yesterday having returned for a second visit with a third planned before the summer.
Karen is a little shy to start but with a little care and time fully comes out of her shell.
She is fun to have around, great with animals and can turn her hand to most tasks when asked.
If you get the opportunity to host… read more
Besides being fun, generous and a clear communicator, Simon truly cares.
He genuinely truly cares about every single Workawayer which is so moving and rare. That is… read more
I was pleased to be his first host and I am sure he will be a great volunteer for you.
He is particularly good at caring for Chickens!!!
If you are musical then make sure you invite him your in for a treat.
I hope you continue to have an amazing adventure and look forward to seeing you here… read more
He will try anything you throw at him.
He likes to please and is very eager to learn new skills.
He has aspirations in life and drive a rare quality in someone these days!
While with me he turned his hand to many different tasks from Gardening to… read more
From the moment they got in the car I knew I had met two amazing people who would add a new energy to our community.
Luna has a very dry sharp sense of humour. Jake is a great chef and has an equally great but somewhat reserved sense of… read more
He can turn his hand to almost anything
He is friendly helpful entertaining and fun to have around
If you get the chance to host him do so!!
I am delighted to say I managed to persuade George to come and join us all be it for a very brief visit. What I didn't expect was a return visit so quickly, he officially holds the title now for quickest returning house mate!!
I just had the feeling George would be a great addition to our community and I was right!! He actually… read more
Simon was first to message me. He is a lovely generous guy and a great judge of character, and has curated a brilliant, welcoming, friendly community… read more
He is a great person to have around, he's hard working, meticulous, great attention to detail, quick learner but above all a really great human.
If you get the chance to host him don't hesitate!!
And I’m so happy I did! That holiday period was unlike… read more
I quickly learnt that life at Simon's is not your average work-away, it's a family of travellers conjugating in the… read more
He is kind considerate and hard working.
He brings a delightful calm to a group.
We had a lot of laughs as well as getting lots done.
I'm delighted he is coming back for New Year.
Kris arrived a volunteer and left us a friend.
He was a great addition to our team I just wish he had stayed longer!!
He was happy to embrace any task and tackle it with competence and a desire to learn.
Hope to see you back here in the summer!!
Simon is a very welcoming host and allowed for flexible working days according to the weather condition and wishes for planned trips.
The working hours were 5 hours 5 days a week and the work it self ranged from construction work, gardening and cleaning.
There were a clear communication about do's and don'ts and a working… read more
I was right. The moment we met at the train station I knew he was going to be great.
Boris has an aura which lights up the room.
He is a delight to have around, extremely hard working highly competent and a very quick… read more
We worked 5 hours a day, 5 days a week and were mainly busy building metal frames and covering them with plasterboards, which I really enjoyed. There was also a bit of gardening and painting to do.
We were able… read more
If you get the opportunity to host Manuel DO NOT HESITATE!!!!
Manuel is very competent, works hard and has a wicked sense of humour and cooks a mean brownie!
You will however need a lot of orange Juice, I believe he runs on it.
It was a pleasure to host him and we look forward to seeing you again in the New… read more
Amazing work ethic, brilliant DJ and a tonne of fun.
Extremely easy to get on with and a very cheeky sense of humour.
Looking forward to hosting you again soon.
The atmosphere was super warm and welcoming. We had great meals together, spent countless evenings playing games that… read more
He arrived in February for 3 weeks, he left in October and I'm delighted to say he's coming back for New Year.
If you get the opportunity to host Fynn please don't, I need him ;-)
But seriously, Fynn is a hard working, committed, quick to learn and a lot of fun! When he arrived… read more
Simon is one of the most inspiring and caring people I ever met and I'm endlessly grateful to now call him my friend. His home is an absolute safe… read more
The time in Mauléon was filled with lots of good cooking, dog and cat cuddles, music, watching movies, exploring and sharing lots of stories and laughs. There are beautiful hikes nearby, a waterfall, a ruin and a… read more
She is hard working keen happy to try new things and great company.
She is a very quick learner and has some skill in the kitchen!!
Hope to host her again in 2025
The atmosphere was great and there was a really good sense of community at dinner and when playing games and watching films in the evening.
There is lots to see in the… read more
She took to any task immediately
She was a fun hard working addition to our team
I hope other people will help her enjoy her workaway journey
George was so a great addition to our team
He makes the best cakes
He joined in and was happy to try his hand at any task
I hope he will return in 2025
Super helpful confident and charming nothing was too much trouble
I hope he will return soon
So much fun!!! Always an entertaining story.
Bountiful energy and drive.
This was his first ever workaway having given up a hard paced career in the corporate world prior to coming here.
He struggled for the first 3 days not having to follow pointless rules but as soon as he realised his own initiative was key..... he flew.
Diego was a… read more
Alex is quick to learn and eager to help....the perfect workaway.
He is a great team player and very happy learning new skills.
I am looking forward to hosting him again in 2025
I enjoyed the little trips to… read more
Always the entertainer signing or playing the guitar.
He learns quickly and is always happy to jump onto any task.
He worked hard we had a lot of laughs too.
Cant wait to see you back here at Christmas.
Milla was a delight to have around. A natural team player who brought fun and energy to every task.
Quick to learn super helpful and always ready to jump onto any task.
I strongly recommend you don't host her so she comes back here!!!
She also sings like an angel.
Though it was only a few days your contribution was really appreciated.
I hope we see you again one day.
You became part of the family and you are always welcome back here any time.
Not only were you great at the work you were a great chef and amazing company.
I hope you have a brilliant summer on your adventures.
i was so glad to help out on different projects, some simpler, some more long term.
it has been such a rewarding experience, and it would be enough said already...
but then the wonderful natural sorroundings manage to add… read more
He is a little shy but he comes out of his shell quickly once he feels comfortable.
Whilst here with me he has taken amazing care of my 5 dogs and 1 cat (they adore him now) he has also been a great help keeping the place clean and tidy. He surprised me at how good his decorating skills are.… read more
He reached out to me one week into his first workaway adventure an adventure that sounded like a hideous experience with another host not far away.
How lucky was I on reflection.
I took a chance on him, he had no feedback as he was on his first workaway placement and is young. Glad I did rescue him.
He… read more
He has the most amazing attitude to life, he is kind, caring,compassionate, fun and has an old head on his shoulders.
He will probably end up being the first Australian president in the future!
His work ethic is great always positive and happy to take on any challenge.
His time with us made my… read more
We had a challenging summer here to say the least and I can honestly say without her I we would not have coped.
She was energetic enthusiastic always smiling and increddibly supportive.
If you are looking for an amazing workaway experience look no… read more
