Au Marcassin was once a granny annexe, very dark, with small rooms. Extra windows and the tearing down of partition walls has made it light, bright and cheerful. The house is built on the side of a hill and access is by steps, so wheelchairs, unfortunately are out. It is like a mini house with proper kitchen, decent shower room, seating and dining areas. The mattresses are good quality and everyone says the beds are comfy. There is half a hectare of land which meant there was plenty of room to build all the outside facilities and still leave enough grass for the neighbour's horses to come and have a munch and meet my guests! My neighbours are farmers ( beef cattle, rabbits and arable) and for guests who are interested I can organise a tour of the farm with Didier.

I used to only spend about 3 months a year in France but since I retired I am here most of the time. I speak French so can help with phonecalls to book at restaurants, make enquiries for you, if needed. I love this area and am part of an association trying to promote it to people who have never heard of it. I have visited most of the local restaurants and attractions so can give personal opinions about what you might enjoy best. If there are any local offers going you can be sure I will have grabbed the vouchers to give to my guests!! I have a 2 year old dog called Jeffery who love other dogs but is wary of people to start with ( he's a rescue and had a tough start) but he'll soon calm down and be your friend. I have a comfy kennel and run if you want to bring your own dog(s) and need to leave them for the day. At the moment I don't charge for this (must be mad!) I like to get to know my guests but equally, if people prefer to stay private, I limit my interaction to the basics.

The gîte is right in the countryside so absolutely no public transport. If you don't have a car you will be reduced to exploring on foot or borrowing my bikes! If you have never heard of Puy du Fou then you have a treat in store. This is a huge park with villages built with reclaimed materials to match different eras and artisans using the old tools to make clogs, barrels, bread, stained glass... from AD1000 to a town street of around 1900. The historical enactments which go with each one are absolutely stunning. It has grown and grown until now you really need a 2day pass to see it all. This is 40 minutes away from the gîtes. Then there is Futuroscope, the other big draw of the area. This is about 80 minutes away. Castles and Donjons, ostrich farms, boat trips on the Marais Poitevin, hikes and cycle routes, go-karts, treetop adventures, zoos. There is lots to choose from. If you have had enough of my pool and are hankering for the beach it is reachable in about 90 minutes and so perfectly possible as a day out.