Holiday home Maison Cogulet is a charming 19th Century, traditional Charente farmhouse gite with original beams and features set in a small, quiet hamlet just outside Exideuil in the fabulous Charente region of south west France. A comfortable, cosy holiday home with access to a shared plunge pool, pretty covered BBQ terrace, sun lounging and an extensive 2 acre garden with fabulous views of the surrounding countryside.

Our dream of living in France finally came true when my husband Stuart and I moved to France in February 2018 to take over the running of three gites in a quiet Hamlet in South West France. We love the outdoor lifestyle that rural living has to offer and for us we also now have the perfect jobs in making sure our guests have a happy holiday. We live on site and are more than happy to interact as much or as little as our guests would like and are always on hand if needed.

Situated just 9km from the property are the two lakes of the Haute Charente which offer beach swimming, picnic areas, canoeing, sailing, horse riding, hiking, fishing, a tree climbing/zip wire adventure park and equestrian centre. The lakes retain their unspoilt natural beauty while still offering facilities like boat hire, changing areas and somewhere to enjoy food and drink at the lake side restaurant and café. The region is packed full of history and beauty. From traditional, sleepy villages with wonderful countryside filled with amazing wildlife and slow moving, magical rivers to fascinating meteorite discoveries and amazing culinary delights. The region offers the visitor local music and theatre, festivals, markets and boot sales which are all regular. River fishing is available is only 3 km away on the Vienne River. Golf courses are a plenty too with 10 courses within a 48 km (30 mile) radius. The area is dotted with châteaux large and small, public and private, well maintained and crumbling. The best known is the large château at La Rochefoucauld, ancestral home of one of Frances best known aristocratic families.