Short walk (50m) to village shop in pretty St-Simon-de-Pellouaille. Cravans, 3 km, has an excellent boulangerie. Gémozac, 5 km, has choice of shops, restaurants, weekly market, supermarket, bike hire, public pool and tennis. Sandy beaches at Meschers and St Georges-de-Didonne 35 min drive. Visit the dungeon in Pons 20 min drive, and enjoy the 'enigma château' games. Sophisticated town of Saintes on the river Charente, 22 km, has an excellent choice of restaurants, boutiques, discos and golf. From Royan, 30 km, take a ferry across the Gironde to the Médoc region and enjoy wine tasting in well-known châteaux. A further 15 km beyond Royan, La Palmyre has one of France's largest zoos. Cognac, 38 km, for interesting visits to distilleries. International airport La Rochelle 100 km/Bordeaux 105 km.

Nestling under the C12th village church, this modern property has enclosed front grass garden with flowering shrubs and well-maintained secluded rear garden. Terrace, with electric awning, runs alongside the house. Fields around the garden have cows grazing peacefully. Excellent for birdwatching due to open outlook and abundance of waterways. Two wide steps down to heated pool 10 x 5 x 1-2.5m depth, with security fence and cover for night-time to retain heat. Drop of approx 1m from pool terrace to field below, protected by one horizontal bar. WC by pool. BBQ.

Decorated in typically French style, La Vieille Étable is designed for easy family living.

• Living room with sofa and armchairs, open fire, dining table seats 6, satellite TV (CNN channels and SKY), french windows to terrace overlooking the pool.
• Games room with table tennis.
• Glazed doors to kitchen with breakfast table, washing machine, dishwasher and microwave.
• Bed 1 and 2: double. 
• Bed 3: 2 singles.
• All bedrooms have polished parquet floors with rugs.
• Shower room. Sep WC.

Cot and highchair on request. Limited telephone line. Dogs on request.