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La Garrigue, near Alban• unspoiled, deeply rural corner • stay on a large country estate All cottages: • 1-3 bedrooms (sleep 2-10) • living-cum-dining room • well-equipped kitchen area • one or more bathrooms • central heating • own terrace with barbecue Activities/facilities available: • walking (notes included) • horse riding on estate, 2km away • bikes available • table tennis • golf at Albi, 30km away • bird-watching • nearest shop & restaurant in Alban, 12km away Even nowadays, there are still corners of France that feel untouched by the passage of time, and the Tarn Valley in south-west France is one such area. Its rolling landscapes and villages of mellow stonework have been captured on canvas by artists for centuries, yet this is a region that remains relatively little-known, exuding a feeling of timelessness and of being deep in rural France. There is plenty of cultural interest - fortified villages such as hill-top Cordes-sur-Ciel, crumbling châteaux and the red-brick city of Albi, ‘La Ville Rose’. However, this is also a place for simply taking in the scenery, for lazy picnics by the riverbank and scenic drives through the twists of the Tarn Gorge. Even better, explore on foot - we provide notes for two walks either side of the River Tarn, plus a walk closer by: North of the Tarn (grade 2, up to 17km, 4hrs): head to Ambialet, an interesting village located on an oxbow isthmus and boasting an
11th-century priory. Our walk (which can be shortened) takes you onto the panoramic plateau to the north
of the village, then loops westwards, leading along the riverbank for much of the return leg. Your base from which to explore all this is La Garrigue, immersed in tranquil countryside a few kilometres south of the river and just over 30 minutes’ drive from Albi. This ancient stone farmstead has been converted into comfortable cottages and is part of a large country estate of woodland and pastures belonging to your welcoming Anglo-French hosts, Nick and Marie-Christine Hudswell, who live in a 17th-century farmhouse 2 kilometres from the cottages. All five properties are rustic in style, with original features such as stone walls, wooden floors and terracotta tiles, complemented by modern furnishings. The sleeping arrangements and cooking facilities of the different cottages are as follows: In addition to the routes we provide a little further afield, walking here in the grounds is very rewarding (a long-distance path crosses the estate, and Nick has designed a nature walk which we include in your documentation). But walking is not the only way to explore - there is horse riding too. The estate’s excellent riding centre offers not only indoor and outdoor schools, but also show-jumping and cross-country courses. Take lessons or enjoy hacks (pay locally) to get a different perspective of the wonderful scenery. Prices & travel 2008
Heating costs included. Pay locally for electricity Start: Saturday > Important notes on pricing > Any queries? Let us call you back > Booking form (Lo Pichon, sleeps 2)  |
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La Garrigue 
