La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies Child friendly gites & Toddler holidays

☀️ Heading to France with Little Ones?

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:08:41 GMT

Here’s Your Family-Friendly Travel Guide you need to read

well before you pack your suitcase

Planning a trip to France with babies, toddlers and young children is exciting — from crêpes for breakfast to dipping your toes in a warm pool, but perhaps a little terrifying too! Before you pack the favourite teddy, here’s the crucial travel info you need (and some reminders that save stress at border control!).

�� Passport Rules: Don’t Be Caught Out!

France follows Schengen passport requirements, and getting this right is the first thing to tick off your list before a family getaway.

Key passport points:

Each traveller — including babies and toddlers — must have a passport that:

Was issued less than 10 years ago (for adults, 5 years for minors)

Is valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.

�� That means if your trip ends 10 August, make sure every child’s passport is valid beyond 10 November!

If you miss this, officers will refuse entry at the border.

�� Travel tip: little ones need their own passport, and these take time to issue. So don't forget your newborn baby ( you won't believe how many families have got to passport control without a passport for the new member of their family!)

Also double-check expiry dates on older children’s passports as they only last 5 years.

The British Government also suggests having proof of return/onward tickets, travel insurance , accommodation details and funds available — especially if border officers ask for extra documentation at the checkpoint.

��And a big recent change: if you have dual-nationality, you must return to the UK on a valid British passport (or a certificate of entitlement) or risk being stopped at the border.

EES/ ETIAS Entry rules update for UK families travelling to France

For summer 2026 : You do not need to apply for ETIAS yet. Travel will continue much as it does now, although the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has begun, meaning biometric facial data and fingerprints will be taken and for British passport holders, stamping the passport too which may add a considerable extra time - so turn up early!

For 2027 (likely): UK travellers will need to apply online for ETIAS before travelling to France or elsewhere in the Schengen area.

ETIAS will be a simple online form with a small fee; children and over-70s are expected to be fee-exempt, but everyone will still need an approved authorisation linked to their passport.

Families are advised to check official guidance before travel, but no extra applications are expected for summer 2026 holidays.

Full details here https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

�� Before You Go: Family-Specific Checks

Here’s where many holiday-makers slip up — children’s documents :

✅ Check EVERY Passport

Sounds obvious, but adults often check theirs and forget baby-or toddler passports. Ensure:

They exist for each child.
They meet the Schengen validity rules (remember the 3-month rule!).

✅ Extras You Need

Carry travel insurance that includes medical cover for your children.
Know how your insurer handles young kids — does it cover pediatric care abroad? Some don’t automatically.

�� Driving in France with Kids — What to Know

Driving in France with your little people can be magical — meandering village lanes, castle views, quiet roads and even quiet motorways with plenty of 'aires' where you can take a break, go to the loo and burn off some energy — but family bliss doesn’t happen without a bit of planning. Here are some essentials from our own driving-blog wisdom:

Legal and Safety Must-Haves

Always carry your driving licence, passport and car documents — French police do random checks, especially on routes from ferries or Eurotunnel.
A UK or country relevent sticker to display on the rear of your vehicle (if your registration plate does not carry the country identifier)
High-visibility jackets should be in the front, easily accesible BEFORE you exit the vehicle and recommended for everyone, not just the driver.
A warning triangle is required in your vehicle and must be placed behind the vehicle at a distance of at least 30m, if you break down.
Headlight beam convertors for right hand drive vehicules
Spare bulbs and fuses (recommended)
First aid kit (recommended)
Breathalyser kits aren’t enforced anymore but is recommended

�� What Not to Bring (and What to Watch Out For)

Before you load up the car and hit the ferry or Eurotunnel, it’s worth knowing that some everyday items from the UK are a definite no-no in France.

Radar detectors are illegal and carrying one could land you with a fine of up to €1,500 .

France is also strict about bringing food into the country . You’re not allowed to take:

Meat or meat products
Milk or dairy products ( exceptions for baby milk)

Other items are restricted too and may only be allowed if officially inspected beforehand:

Fresh fruit (except bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
Vegetables, plants or plant-based products

If in doubt, leave it at home — it’s far easier than explaining a bag of sausages at the border with a hungry toddler on your hip.

Good to know:

Our local supermarket stocks fresh milk (full fat and semi skimmed) dairy and gluten free produce and lots of international brands such as Kellogs cereals and Pampers nappies

�� Practical Family Tips That Keep Trips Smooth

Here are a few of the family-friendly lessons seasoned parents swear by:

�� Arrive early So You’re Not Rushing

Border queues with toddlers are no fun. Give yourself extra time to check-in and pass controls calmly.
EES checks are being introduced in a phased way across external borders, with full operation expected from 10 April 2026.
This means that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays, you may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.
Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.
EES may take each passenger a few minutes extra to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.
For full and up to date details visit the official web site

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

�� Snacks & Surprises

Pack familiar snacks and a few surprise toys. Waiting for passports to be checked? Apack of raisins keep little fingers busy and mini Lego packs for the older ones or crayons and paper are worth their weight in gold. (Not felt tips - We learnt from experience!)

�� Safety First at the Border

Hold little hands. Busy terminals are tempting for curious toddlers, and even a second’s distraction can end up in an airport emergency.

�� Driving in France: Family Rules You Need to Know

Buckle up — literally. Just like in the UK, seatbelts are compulsory for everyone , front and back.

If anyone in your vehicle isn’t wearing a seatbelt, you could be fined €135 (reduced to €90 if paid promptly). That includes the back seat.

�� Family-friendly tip: Pack child seats appropriate for French and EU safety standards and plan rest stops — little people get uncomfortable fast, and having a safe spot to stretch m akes everyone happier.

�� Children & Car Seats

French law is very clear when it comes to children:

Children under 10 are not allowed in the front seat — which can actually help settle those front-seat arguments nice and early.
Children under 10 must travel in the back seat .
If they weigh under 15kg , they must be in an appropriate child car seat.
Above this weight, they can use a seatbelt with a booster seat .
If flying, make sure you book the correct sized car seat but even better, bring your own - with permission from the airline you can use the car seat on the plane seat which can make the flight far easier. Some car hire companies arn't great at providing suitable (or clean!) car seats - often it appears to be first come first served even if you've booked. They will not help you fit it, so bringing your own may well be the safest option.

�� Low-Emission Zones in France: What You Need to Know

If you’re driving in France, especially in large towns or cities, you may need a Crit’Air sticker . This air-quality certificate shows your vehicle’s emissions level and is required in all French cities with a population of 150,000 or more .

You must apply before you travel — stickers can’t be bought in France and can take up to six weeks to arrive. However you apply online and will receive an email authorisation which shows your critair status, as a foreign vehicule you should display it in the window if stopping over in one of these cities if your sticker hasn't arrived in time.

Check your vehicle’s emissions carefully, as some older vehicles don’t qualify , meaning they’re not allowed to drive in low-emission zones. French hire cars will already have one.

A small sticker, but an important one to avoid fines and holiday stress. ��

Apply on the official website here https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

�� One Last Thing Before You Drive Off…

Once everyone is safely strapped in, remember the golden rule: in France, you drive on the right-hand side of the road .

Take your time to settle into the change, especially on the first day. Try to keep distractions to a minimum — that means fewer snack negotiations, toy-retrieval missions and back-seat debates until you feel confident on French roads.

A calm start makes for a much happier family journey — and a much better beginning to your holiday. ��

Speed limit on the autoroutes is 130 kph (80 mph) WHEN DRY ! When it's wet /raining then the limit is 110 kph (68 mph)

National speed limit is 80 kph (49 mph) unless otherwise stated

In any town / village the speed limit is 50 kph (30 mph) unless otherwise stated. This means as soon as you pass the village sign this speed limit applies

Many villages have speed limits of 30 kph (18 mph) but there will be a sign stating this, there are also speed bumpsand other speed restricting measures

Give way to the right rule

A peculiarity in France is that often on country lanes and through villages, if you see the sign (below right) even if you are on a main road you MUST GIVE WAY to those coming from the right

✈️ Final Thought: Start Early & Travel Calmly

Travel with children is one of life’s most rewarding puzzles — chaotic, joyful, and full of unexpected fun. But nothing dampens holiday spirits faster than being stopped at the border because someone’s passport expires too soon.

Before you zip up your suitcase with swimwear and favourite blankies:
double-check every passport, insurance policy, and travel document.

Do it early, so last-minute panic is a thing of the past.

Happy travels — and bon voyage!✨

🐾 La Palmyre Animal Park — A Must‑See Family Day Out

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:27:17 GMT

When you’re staying at La Grange du Moulin, one of the most memorable days out for families has to be a visit to La Palmyre Animal Park (Zoo de La Palmyre) — a truly magical place for little explorers and animal lovers alike.

Set in the heart of a beautiful pine forest on the Charente‑Maritime coast, this 18‑hectare animal park brings you up close to wildlife from around the world. More than 1,600 animals representing over 110 different species live here, from towering giraffes and curious monkeys to sea lions, flamingos, and playful meerkats.

�� What to Expect on Your Visit

It’s easy to spend a whole day here — the paths wind through shaded woodland, making it perfect for hot summer days, and there’s lots to see at each turn. Kids especially love watching the sea lion and bird shows, where the animals really steal the spotlight with energetic performances.

There’s something for every age:

Big animals like elephants, rhinos and giraffes
Little favourites such as monkeys and meerkats
Educational displays and feeding areas
Pictorial signage that makes the visit fun and educational

Many visitors say the park feels well organised and family friendly, with easy‑to‑follow routes, plenty of shaded spots to rest, and the chance to bring a picnic for a relaxed lunch under the trees.

�� Practical Info for Families

The park is open every day of the year — summer hours are generally longer.

Visitors typically spend 3–5 hours exploring, so arrive early to make the most of your day.

Tickets can be bought in advance or at the entrance, and prices vary by age.

There are refreshment points, snacks, and spots where you can picnic under shade, which is perfect for toddlers and little ones needing a break.

�� What Makes It Special

Families love La Palmyre because it blends fun with learning. It’s not just a place to see animals — you’ll find:

Opportunities to get close to some animals
Thoughtful habitats designed to feel natural
Conservation and education programmes that help protect endangered species ��

�� Tips for a Great Visit

Start early — the park gets busier later in the morning.

Bring water, hats and picnic snacks — there are benches and shaded spots for breaks.

Allow plenty of time — kids often want to linger at their favourite exhibits.

�� Final Thought

Whether you’re animal‑mad or just looking for a fun, educational adventure the whole family can enjoy, La Palmyre Animal Park is one of Charente‑Maritime’s standout attractions and perfect for a days’ outing from La Grange du Moulin. We recommend tying it up with an afternoon at the beach just 5mins away from the park in La Palmyre itself - tick two boxes with one big family day out

More about what we experienced when our boys were young can be found on an older post here

Port miniature, Saint Savinien

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:05:02 GMT

St Savinien – A Fun Family Day Out

Just a short 30-minute drive from our family-friendly gîtes in Charente-Maritime, the charming riverside town of Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente makes a perfect day trip for families.

Port Miniature, Saint-Savinien – At a Glance

Saint-Savinien is perfect for a relaxed family day out. Enjoy the weekly market , annual wine fair , and winding streets before picnicking by the River Charente . But don’t miss the Port Miniature — kids will love it.

Set around a lake with miniature canals, the Port Miniature features hand-built boats created over 20 years by L’Atelier du Martin-Pêcheur. Expect charming details, Japanese bridges, and plenty of shade.

�� Boat rides for all ages
• Ages 9+ can captain their own tug boat
• Younger children ride safely with parents on larger ferries
• Life jackets provided

A fun, gentle attraction and a must-visit with children in Charente-Maritime.

Discover Port Miniature

Port Miniature on the beautiful Île de la Grenouillette is a unique and timeless attraction loved by children and adults alike. Here, you can captain your own miniature boat — from tugboats and ferries to historic steamers — on a canal-style lake filled with 18 carefully crafted vessels designed to a child’s scale.

More than just boat rides, the park includes:

Vintage fairground rides and attractions inspired by the early 1900s
A giant inflatable play area for kids of all ages
Relaxed picnic areas and grassy spaces for kids to burn off energy

Plan your visit between April and late September, when the park is open most days with activities, snacks, ice cream and drinks available on site.

More to Explore in Saint-Savinien

After Port Miniature, wander the pretty streets of Saint-Savinien, explore the market (seasonal), and enjoy riverside picnics or meals at café-style restaurants.
This Petite Cité de Caractère offers a delightful blend of history, scenic views, and family-friendly fun.

Quick Tips for Families

Boat rides: fun for children and adults — kids can often take the wheel!
Play areas: vintage rides and inflatables keep younger kids entertained while adults relax.
Food & drinks: ice creams, snacks, and shaded picnic spots make it easy to stay all afternoon.
Combine activities: perfect with a stroll around Saint-Savinien’s historic centre or riverside.

Practical Information – Port Miniature (Saint-Savinien)

�� Location

Isle of la Grenouillette , 17 rue des Bateliers,
17350 Le Mung / Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente , France

�� Opening Dates & Hours (2026)

Season: 4 April – 27 September 2026

April – June: Sundays & public holidays, 10:30 – 18:00; every day during Easter holidays.
July – August: Daily, 10:30 – 18:30 (boat tickets sold until 18:30).
September: Sundays 14:00 – 18:00.

Note: The park may close in poor weather.

�� Ticket Prices (approx.)

(per person, pay on site)
Miniature Boat Ride (approx. 15 min):

Children under 2: free
Children 2–8: ~ €5.50
Children 9+ & adults: ~ €6.50

Games & Rides:

Inflatables: ~€7 per child (unlimited access)
Vintage rides: ~€2 per ride
Pass (rides + inflatables): ~€13 per child

�� Food & Drinks

The Bistrot des Marins d’eau douce offers snacks, ice cream, drinks, crêpes, gaufres and lunch meals during the season.

�� Contact

�� Phone: +33 6 70 95 25 14
✉️ Email: portminiature17@gmail.com

��️ Practical Tips

Parking: available nearby the site
Family friendly: safe, shaded picnic areas and toys for kids
Seasonal: best visited in spring through late summer, school holidays open every day. School times open Sundays and public holidays

St Jean d'Angely - our local town

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:33:35 GMT

Our local town

Just a 12km easy drive from our family holiday cottages, La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies lies the market town of Saint Jean d’Angely. With a population of just 7000 it has a surprising number of great facilities.

The town boasts a thrice weekly local market (Wednesday and Saturday mornings and a smaller Sunday morning one too) Here you can wander the cobbled medieval streets with the locals and pick up fresh fish, oysters and mussels, home grown vegetables, as well as local wines and cheeses. There are two large supermarkets plus several smaller ones; providing a good array of produce including fresh milk, big familiar names (Kelloggs, Nescafé and even PG tips in the foreign foods section)

History of Saint Jean d’Angely

The town of Saint Jean d’Angely has had a long and brutal history. The Abbey is the main feature of the town. It was founded in the ninth century to house a relic of Saint John the Baptist, and rebuilt in the 14th, 17th and 18th centuries because of repeated destruction. The Abbey was then abandoned and is now a listed building.

Saint Jean d’Angely is situated on the pilgrim route that led to Santiago de Compostela, the edifice still constitutes a major stopping-off point for pilgrims. Since 1989, the Royal Abbey has housed the Centre of European Culture, which has breathed new life into the Abbey by restoring it as a historical and cultural site and as a place for the exchange of ideas.

The town is also now developing it's hot springs into a thermal spa.

Restaurants, cafés and bars

After practicing your French chatting to the producers and picking up some local delights for your evening meal you can relax in a café bar and watch the local life go by. There are dozens of bars where you can sit outside and soak up the atmosphere of a small French town. ‘Ellis park’ and ‘Rum runners’ are two of the most central ones, located on the place du Pilori. The children can run in and out of the tables and peer into the ornate Pilori well (don’t worry it’s covered !) whilst you enjoy a morning coffee. When my two were young, they used to enjoy dipping their croissants a large hot chocolate – very French !

The town also boasts a good selection of restaurants from simple bistros to top class cuisine. Le Scorlion is highly recommended with excellent reviews (and we concur) definitely worthy of a babysitter. Enjoy a night out whilst I (a registered childminder) look after your children in your holiday cottage. Alternatively enjoy one of the many family restaurants the town has to offer – Le bon vivant and Le Cabanon bistros, Les Jacobins pizzeria, Le Mareyeur fish restaurant or La creperie de l’Abbeye for some simple crepes, to name just a few. All the restaurants do however not open until 7pm in the evening and many are closed on Sunday and Monday so check their web sites for opening days and times. We can happily make reservations for you.

For a small town it has a great selection of fun family things to do:

Atlantys swimming pool centre

We are privileged to have such a great indoor swimming centre. The Atlantys swimming pool center boasts a 25m sports pool, a 5m deep diving pool and most importantly a large kids pool with fountains, hot tub, baby pool and huge slide.

On Saturday mornings (10-12) outside school holidays (so June and September) the pool is exclusively open for the under 4’s, the temperature is turned up, change mats and pottys are supplied by the pool and the pool is filled with balls, floats, mats, climbing frames and all manner of fun stuff for little ones – I went every week with my two when they were toddlers, this is where they learnt to swim at such a young age.

In summer holidays it is open every day. The doors open up into a sunbathing area and play area for the little ones. There’s also a café for snacks. There’s no time limit on how long you stay. Clean changing rooms, lockers (need a 2€ coin- refunded after) toilets and showers. Be warned – men and boys (even toddlers) MUST wear tight fittening swimwear – no loose swim shorts allowed and this is enforced. Suitable swimwear can be purchased from a vending machine inside but may be cheaper to buy them beforehand.

The Atlantys swimming pool center is just next to the Saint Jean d’Angely park, so you can easily spend the day here.

Saint Jean d’Angely park

located next door to the Atlantys swimming pool center (follow the signs for the hospital and the urgences until you pick up signs for the Base de Loisirs or Plan d’eau (both mean the park) there’s plenty of parking but only one toilet next to the café so go before you walk over to the other side of the park to the play area !

Located on the lake you can hire canoes and pedaloes and it’s linked to the river Boutonne, so you can take your canoe further afield if you wish. There are some (signposted ) lovely walks, there’s a café /restaurant open in summer, a football pitch, ping pong table, mini golf, skateboard parc, childrens play park and rope climbing web. Take a picnic and feed the ducks. It’s a very easy and pleasurable afternoon out.

Saint Jean d’Angely itself

The town itself is a pleasure to walk around with its cobbled streets and medieval buildings. The tour de l’horloge is worth a look – push open the door and climb the steps. Wander around the old abbey, take a look at the ceiling in the library and the beautiful old herb market too (now the indoor market) On a rainy day maybe pop into the museum des cordeliers which among other things has a fabulous exhibition of the expeditions of Citroen in Africa in the 1920’s

There is a theatre, a cinema, a karting track, lot's of lovely walking routes and it's all just a 10 minute drive away.

All in all our local town of Saint Jean d’Angely has a wonderful history and although small is a bustling, vibrant town (just don’t go on a Monday when it’s asleep !) and has everything you will need for an enjoyable self catering stay at our family friendly holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of south west France.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Discover wine with Chris

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:18:36 GMT

with many years working in the wine industry, he's our very own wine expert

Each week throughout the season, Chris offers a discover wine event. Whilst the children play in the garden with their new friends, the adults can chill out, enjoy a glass or two of wine and chat with Chris about wine. There will be a set theme for each event; our most popular one is Discover sparkling wine where you learn everything there is to know about Champagne and sparkling wines in general. You are free to ask as many questions as you like about anything wine related so each event is different

We hold the event at 18hr. The little ones have usually been fed by that time and are happy to play in the garden with their new friends. It also means we are finished by 19hr30 to 20hr so you can get the children to bed and light up the bbq for your own dinner. It's very relaxed and informal. Parents often bring the highchair with baby along and the toddlers and older ones can come and go as they please. If you need to get up and tend to them, that's fine too.

We charge 12€50 per adult for which you get at least 2 glasses (125ml) of the theme wine per person and at least 1hr ( usually 1hr30 - 2hrs) of Chris's wine knowledge. We do not have bottles of these wines for sale, it is not a sales pitch for any particular wines.

It's a very popular event which we offer each week, sometimes twice a week depending on demand. However as with all our events and activities, there is no pressure to join in at all. For those that do not drink alcohol we offer soft drinks and a reduced price, so you still get to enjoy the social event.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Discovery event

Recommend a friend offer

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:38:14 GMT

and get 50€ / wk discount each

Throughout January we are offering a 'recommend a friend' discount off the advertised price of our family friendly holiday rentals in France. When you and your friend books a week or more with us at La Grange du Moulin or Les Vallaies, you will both receive 50€/wk discount off the advertised price.

How to claim your discount:

Complete the booking form here , once we have confirmed your dates
Pay your deposit, so your holiday rental booking is confirmed
Recommend us to a friend and tell them about the 50€/wk discount
Make sure they quote your name when reserving
Once your friend books and pays their deposit you will both receive confirmation of your new discounted balance of your holiday rental.

Conditions:

Bookings must be for 2025 season

Maximum 3 friends

Bookings must be confirmed ( deposit received) before the end ofJanuary 2025

For more information contact us here

Ten reasons to love (and visit) the Charente Maritime

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:44:08 GMT

for families and kids

We love the Charente Maritime ! After nearly 30 years here, it is most definitely home to our family and we thought you should know why we love it and why you should love it too - or at least visit ! Stay in one of our family friendly holiday rental cottages located centrally within the region - ideal for visiting all the fabulous places the Charente Maritime has to offer.

Top ten reasons to love and visit the Charente Maritime

10, WEATHER

The Charente Maritime has the most sunshine hours per year after the cote d'azur but it's a lot closer ! It is recognised as having a superb micro climate with mild winters and gorgeous summers with much less rain generally than the Loire to the north and the Dordogne to the south but just enough to keep it lush and green most of the year rather than the dry south coast.

It is usually warm and sunny from Easter until the end of October but rarely gets unbearable. June is our favourite month - all the crops are fully grown, the sunflowers are in full glory and the temperatures are just perfect; hot and sunny during the day but cool enough overnight to be able to sleep comfortably.`

9, FOOD

I can't really claim that the Charente Maritime is the only part of France that has great food; as all French people will tell you, France has the best food in the world! I shan't argue, we love our food and we love French food! We particularly love the local Charente Maritime food of course. Gillardeau oysters are a particular favourite; goats cheese from Melanie Boursin in La Villedieu, Pineau from the Cartauds in Corpeteau(all just a few km from us)and the local galette with angelica dipped in honey from our neighbour , ' Miel d'elle '

Every town, however small, has a market at least once a week where the locals buy all their fresh produce - meat, fish, fruit, veg and of course cheese. The Charente Maritime is no exception. There is a market somewhere every single day. France has literally hundreds of cheeses. President Charles de Gaulle was famously quoted as saying (in French of course) ''How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?" (others claim it's actually more like 450 !) The Charente Maritime is famous for its goats cheeses and we have a number of local producers who sell from their farms or at the local Aulnay and Saint Jean d'Angely markets.

France is renowned for its patisseries, it's pastries and of course its bread. Local bread deliveries are still made to the outlying villages that can no longer support a boulangerie. There's no experience that makes you feel more like a local than popping down to our local boulangerie in Varaize (aptly called 'La Varaizienne' just a few km away) where you can also sit and have a coffee, let the children play in the little playground and if your French is up to it - catch up on the local gossip !

France is also home to the Michelin guide which awards 'stars' to top restaurants around the world. The Charente Maritime boasts 45 Michelin selected restaurants, two of which have star ratings but we know of dozens more restaurants that are absolutely superb. One of our favourites is Andrés in La Rochelle.

Our local town of Saint Jean d'Angely has a great selection of restaurants from family friendly creperies and pizzerias to superb bistros and top class dining worth a babysitter too . Whatever your taste and budget you'll find something that suits you in the Charente Maritime.

8, LA ROCHELLE

Our county town, La Rochelle is known all over the world. It's where the rich and famous pull into port in their yachts and gather to eat in Michelin starred restaurants and shop for jewellery. It's also where you and I can watch the world go by whilst enjoying a coffee in one of the many cafés or eat moules frites in one of the hundreds of seafood restaurants.

Just an hours easy drive from our family holiday cottages, this beautiful city has something for everyone. Families will enjoy the great aquarium, a play on the beach and a walk through the park.

History buffs will enjoy the maritime museum, climbing the port towers and wandering the cobbled streets of the old town with its half-timbered medieval houses and Renaissance architecture and passageways covered by 17th-century arches.

Gourmets will enjoy the hundreds of restaurants, heavily dominated by seafood around the port but foods from around the world can be found down any street. The markets are overflowing with fresh fruit, vegetables and of course fish, oysters and mussels.

Find out more about La Rochelle here

7, WINE

This area is mainly known for it's Cognac and most of the vines you see in every direction will be used for the production of Cognac. However we are just a boat ride away from the top end of the Medoc, the vineyards for Cognac soon merge into the vineyards of Bordeaux and the top names of Pauillac, Margaux and Saint Emilion . The world famous city of Bordeaux is just a 1hr30 drive from our door and there are many winery visits

Small independent wine producers can be found all over the Charente Maritime. We have a number of local wine makers within 30 minutes of our holiday cottages that we highly recommend; Chris has worked in the wine industry all his life so he knows what he's talking about too !

Whilst driving along the quiet country lanes you will often come across a sign to a local wine and Pineau producer (Pineau is the local tipple - an off shoot of the Cognac industry) Stop and taste their produce, meet the man (and/or woman ) who makes it and buy some as a souvenir of your holiday in the Charente Maritime.

Since Chris is our resident wine expert we also offer discovery evenings and family Vineyard walks and a local winemakers visit where you can learn everything and anything you want to know about wine, Pineau and Cognac.

6, COGNAC

A family holiday to the Charente Maritime would not be complete without a visit to the world famous town of Cognac - home to the celebrated brandy - All Cognac is brandy but not all brandy is Cognac - only the spirit produced in this area is allowed to given this prominent name.

Just cheating slightly Cognac is just a 30 minute drive from our family holiday cottages and centrally located within the Poitou Charente (it's actually just on the Charente side rather than Charente Maritime but I'm claiming it as it's so close !)

Cognac is home to renowned distillers such as Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin and Otard.

All the houses offer tours to the public giving vistors an insight into the history, production and taste of their product. There may be other towns in the world called Cognac but this is the only one that can make it and it's (nearly) in the Charente Maritime !

Find out more about Cognac here

5, BEACHES

The Charente Maritime has literally hundreds of miles of coastline and sandy beaches. With the four islands, Ile de Ré, Ile d'Oleron, Ile d'Aix and Ile Madam that are also included in this department plus the famous beach resorts of Royan, Chatelaillon plage and Fouras to name just a few, you won't be short of beaches to relax on.

The mainland offers calm, shallow waters, ideal for families with younger children. For the older and more adventurous, just head over to the Atlantic side of the larger islands for body and wind surfing with big breakers.

Many beaches are protected through the Conservatoire du Littoral (the coastal protection agency) so remain unspoilt. The most popular beaches will have lifeguards on duty and the safer places to swim are marked .

Whatever your requirements for a day at the beach - be it sunbeds for hire, top restaurants, shade and toilets or natural beauty, peace and quiet you will find it on the beaches of the Charente Maritime.

Find out more about the beaches here

4, LOCATION

The Charente Maritime is located about half way down France on the left ! South of the Loire, north of the Dordogne.

We are just a 4hr30 drive from the port of St Malo; 6hrs from Caen or 8hrs from Calais - far easier to reach the sunshine and beaches than having to drive all the way to the south coast.

The region is well supplied with a number of airports - La Rochelle is our closest at just 1hrs drive, then Poitiers at 1hr20 and Bordeaux at 1hr30; but Nantes and Limoges at 2hrs drive are also possibilities. All the low cost airlines fly to these cities during the summer months.

Our local town of Saint Jean d'Angely is on junction 34 of the A10 motorway so links to all the major towns and cities easily.

Find out more about the location here

3, SIGHTSEEING

The Charente Maritime has endless places to visit and things to do. You may of already heard of La Rochelle, the Islands of Ile de Ré and Ile d'Oleron.

Maybe you've also heard of Royan and it's beaches, Rochefort and the Corderie Royal (as well as the Hermione) Poitiers too but the Charente Maritime is also home to Saintes and it's Roman ampitheatre, La Palmyre and its animal park, the citadelle de Brouage, la cite de l'huitre, grottes de regulus, and numerous chateaux, ports and museums to visit as well as parks, churches woods and forests and endless country lanes and cycle paths.

All the towns have an office of tourism where you can pick up local information on where you are staying and what there is to do close by but we also have dozens of recommendations and top tips for things to do and places to see and we provide loads of information in each of the cottages too.

Find out more about what to see and do in the Charente Maritime here and take a look at all our blog posts here too

2, FAMILIES

The Charente Maritime is the perfect location for families. The weather is just perfect - lots of sunshine but not unbearably hot. The location is perfect as it's not too far to drive and is well supported for airports too.

The French are so welcoming here in rural France. They love children and they are welcome in restaurants - even the 2 star Michelin restaurant in La Rochelle has a high chair !

There's something for all the family; beaches, animal parks and aquariums for the kids, history, culture and shopping for the adults but you can also escape to the peace and tranquility of the rural French countryside.

Relax by the pool or sit under the shade of the vine reading a book whilst the children play with new found friends here at our family holiday cottages.

Find out more about a holiday with children here

1, US !

We couldn't write a top ten list of reasons to visit the Charente Maritime without including ourselves ! Our family holiday cottages, gites and villas are ideally located within the Charente Maritime to take advantage of all the above reasons to visit.

Our properties are all owned and managed by ourselves so you know you will receive excellent, personal service - just read some of our reviews on our web sites and on trip advisor to see why families return again and again to stay with us in the Charente Maritime . We are on hand at all times so if you need a restaurant recommendation, the sink unblocking or an urgent Doctors appointment you can rest assured we are here to help.

Many families have returned again and again to stay with us; they love the Charente Maritime and we are positive that you will love it too.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Discovery hour

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 11:47:32 GMT

at the 'La Decouverte'bar

Update 2025 : Our discovery wine tasting events have proven to be extremely popular. They take place at 18hr and last about 1hr to 1hr30 . Bring baby and the highchair along and the older children will happily play with their new friends in the garden but can come and go too. It's like having a night out without actually going anywhere! 15€ per adult, our most popular themes are Discover sparkling; Discover Alsace, Discover Pineau and Discover Beaujolais. Some families do one each week or even two in the same week!! Check out our facebook and instagram pages for photos and updates.

original post:

This is my first post in a long while - Covid has thrown the whole world out of kilter and things are changing everywhere. Here at Child friendly gites, it's been a difficult 18 months and we arn't out of it yet. The quiet summers in 2020 and 2021 have given Chris and I time to think about what we offer. Over the winter I had time to take some online courses and we now have a brand new licence to run a bar !! We agreed we are both too old to be serving drinks late into the night , so we'll be doing things a little differently.

We have created a new area, making better use of some unused space . A few times each week in the early evening we shall also be offering 'discovery hour' : discover Pineau; discover sparkling wine; discover Alsace wine etc . Each one will be a set price per person and you'll receive a couple of glasses of delicious wine and at least an hour of Chris' time chatting about the wine, how to taste wine and anything else you'd like to know about wine. For 2 people or 8 (or more) it will be an hour of 'discovery' and hopefully an enjoyable experience too ! This is a new venture and we are open to ideas of new wines / themes to discover.

We held our very first discovery event just recently with a group of very enthusiastic Dutch families. They were keen to learn more about wine in general. They tasted a local red, merlot and a white, chardonnay from the same winery . They were able to chat and ask lots of questions. It was relaxed and informal and started early at their request and went on for nearly 2 hours as they were so keen ! Everyone really enjoyed it and were more than happy with the 15€ per adult price. So our first discovery event was a success and we look forward to offering regular events next year. We hope you'll join us.

We will have a takeaway drinks list too, soft drinks, beer and wine of course - including sparkling, just whatsapp us before 8pm with your order and we'll deliver to your door - no need to have cash at hand as we can now take cards.

The bar area itself will be available to use all the time. You could sit and drink your morning coffee or enjoy an apero on an evening when there is no other event. It's all work in progress and our ideas may change over time but we hope you'll join us in this new venture of discovery.

1st January 2021

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 15:20:09 GMT

The Brexit deal and what we know

Passports

You must check your families passports are valid for travel to the EU after Jan 1st 2021. Do so early so you have plenty of time to renew them. Use the Govmt online checker here It's not enough to just have 6 months left, it needs to be within 10 years too. Make sure baby has a passport too - it's often one people forget to think about ! You don't need a visa just yet ( unless you are staying over 3 months) - not until the EU visa scheme comes in in 2022.

Driving

It's been announced that you will not need an international drivers licence to drive to France (not the case for all EU countries so check if you are going elsewhere) your British licence will be recognised, for at least until the end of 2021 . You will however require what is known as a 'green card' - you can get this from your car insurance provider. You MUST have a GB sticker even if your registration plate has a GB on it.

Border checks

From 1 January 2021, the official is required by EU law to conduct deeper checks. You'll need to give yourself plenty of time - at least 2 hrs has been suggested and possibly longer in the peak season although we are sure things will get easier as time goes by once everyone gets used to it. They may ask for the purpose of the visit; where you plan to travel and stay; how long you intend to remain in the EU; how you propose to fund your stay; and whether you constitute a threat to public health. Your return ticket and address of your hotel or holiday property will likely be sufficient unless you look particularly dodgy ! No doubt with the toddlers screaming in the back of the car they'll want to wave you through as quickly as possible !

Travellers will not be able to take meat, milk or products containing them from the UK into the EU - so no ham or cheese sandwiches to keep the kids quiet. There is an exemption for powdered infant milk, infant food, and special foods required for medical reasons but conditions apply so make sure you read up on this if it applies to you.

There will also be limits on taking back alcohol and cigarettes to the UK, so check these out before loading the car with loads of wine down at Eric Cartauds ! There is also a limit €430 for all other goods, from duck confit to cheese to clothes. There's also stricter limits for what you bring into the EU - we, for example will be restricted to just 5 bottles of wine from the UK to France which has put a stop to our own booze cruise to the UK for New Zealand sauvignon which is hard to get here !

Health care

It appears that although the UK Govmt announced the EHIC scheme would be replaced by a global scheme, there are no details yet of this. If you have an EHIC card that is in date then they have said it may still be used. If it is not in date, the NHS are no longer issuing EHIC cards to holidaymakers going to the EU , instead they say if you have an accident / fall ill whilst on holiday you must request a provisional replacement certificate (PRC).

The certificate is required when a customer is abroad requiring treatment but has not applied for an Ehic or does not have a valid Ehic card with them at the time of treatment. To get one, you, or a companion or family member, must call NHS Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 191 218 1999 during working hours (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm). You must have your National Insurance number and the name of the hospital or other medical facility that is currently treating you.

Further info here on the NHS pages . They say the page will be updated on the 4th Jan with more info.

We strongly recommend that you also take out travel insurance.

and finally....

There are also lots more new rules regarding pets, and certain countries in Europe, travelling for work or staying in the EU for over 3 months which may concern you too, so we recommend signing up to notifications from the Uk Government with regards to travel from 1st January.

This is the online checker for your situation whether you are a family going on holiday or a business wanting to trade with the EU - it will tell you what you need to do.

We will update this page as we know more. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.

Working from home

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:11:49 GMT

and how we make it work

For the last week in France and from next week in the UK, schools are closed and many parents will be forced to work from home. They say that holidays can be stressful as families arn't used to spending so much time together. Just imagine what it's going to be like when you are trying to juggle your work and the kids work and the kids needs and your partners work and then throw in a reduction in income for many plus restrictions on your social life - it's a disaster just waiting to happen !!

Chris and I have been self employed for 24 years and have spent little time apart as we effectively both work from home, apart from a supermarket trip or a school run we have been together 24/7 . Every family is different of course but if we can give any advice at all on how to make it work - it comes down to two words RULES and ROUTINE ! My sister would reel in horror at either of those (sister quote '' people who are organised are boring'') whereas we thrive on them !

First of all just remember that if the only things your kids learn between now and September are how to be bored, how to entertain themselves, how to load the dishwasher, do a washing load, make their beds, make themselves some lunch, clean the loo and the bath then it's not so bad - they are life skills that are far more useful than algebra ! So don't get too stressed about juggling work and 'home schooling' .

As soon as I knew the schools were closing here in France, we sat down as a family and came up with some rules and a routine of how things were going to work. Our two boys are no longer the angelic brothers you see above. They are 17 and 15 and have their own minds and are both bigger than me ! But this is something we have always done since they were little. One of the best ways we have found, of avoiding household conflict, tantrums and slammed doors is agreement on what is FAIR. If everyone thinks it is fair, then it's more likely to work. Even when they were tiny toddlers we would sit and talk about fairness and try and get agreement through 'using our words' . Obviously the smaller they are the harder it can be and I profess to not succeeding in my aim on many occasion ! But persevere, as in our experience it pays dividends when they are older.

Rules

Rules are everywhere and they are what makes life work. They stop people infringing on the rights of others and they are just as important for toddlers as they are for teens and of course for adults. When you are all living and working under one roof with potential obligatory confinement too, they are even more important.

Parents need to have some basic rules in place which suit their work and home life, there are no hard and fast ones as everyone's different but it helps to have them in place at the beginning and agreed by everyone so everyone knows where they stand. Examples such as :

GOOD MORNING/ GOODNIGHT - No coming into the parents bedroom/office before ?am ( ? being the hour you choose as long as it's reasonable for the age of the child) unless of course they are sick or the house is on fire ! Thomas had a clock when he was little that showed when it was night and day and he wasn't to get up before it was 'day' - it worked, 'most' of the time. This gives you time to get a good nights rest or perhaps get up early and get some work done. Set bedtimes - with no school and no work to go to, you'll have some flexibility, however everyone should be aware and agree to a set bedtime.

CUPPA TIME - Parents when working and living together with their children in close proximity also need time out during the day. This is our 'Cuppa' time, where the children cannot disturb us (usually for 15 mins or so a couple of times a day) where we can talk about the kids, or just about what we are up to. When the kids are little you need to prepare an activity they can do alone during this time like a puzzle or colouring - they don't need to be locked away in another room, they just need to know that this is your 'do not disturb' time . If the kids respect this then they need to be rewarded by giving them some undivided attention for say, 15 mins afterwards - don't just go straight back to 'work' - play a game, talk to them and praise them for letting you have your 'cup of tea in peace !'

ELECTRONICS - No playing on electronic devices before ?am or after ?pm - again this is something to be negotiated and agreed on by the parents and the children dependent on age etc Thomas at one point was waking purposefully at 5am and getting up to play on Fortnite before school - so we had to crack down, so now there is no electronics at all on a school day and not before 7am on a weekend or holidays and then it is time limited. Even on holidays they must be off electronics (and this includes netflix, tv - unless it's the news, social media, dvds etc) showered, dressed and fed by 9am. Limited time on electronic devices too - again age dependent but is also a good punishment ! My two always come off at the right time as they know the punishment for not doing so is a complete loss of electronic privileges for a whole week !

WORK - Agree on work hours - these are obviously not going to be 9 to 5. If both parents are working from home, you need to agree on a fair share of quality work time where one of you gets to have undisturbed time alone in a quiet space to work. The other one gets to work if they can but is the one responsible for the kids at that time and some household duties too like the shopping or making dinner. For single parents, this is obviously a lot harder, especially if the children are small so will have to work in shorter spells or get up early and work later in the evening when the children are in bed if at all possible.

HOUSEWORK - kids need to muck in more than usual. When everyone lives and works at home the house gets a lot more messed up than normal. Things like keeping their room tidy, making their bed, putting their dirty clothes in the linen basket, bringing dirty plates and cups out of their rooms daily, at the very least. They could also earn extra pocket money perhaps by cleaning the car or the windows. For little ones, they can help you to load the washing machine, put away their toys, help make a cake for dinner (including tidying up after) or clean the bath. Things that take time, like shopping or preparing dinner, can be done by one parent with the kids , it's a good opportunity for the other to get on with some work. If you've planned it that way, it's more likely to workout.

Routine

As a family, draw up a routine that everyone can agree to. Include

Parents work times - See previously, have set times for each of you, but be flexible too and don't expect to be able to do a full days work

School work times - Set some time aside to help the children do some school work.It doesn't need to be hours every day. Take advantage of being at home to put them to bed each night and read a story. Hopefully the UK schools will be as good as the French - my kids are getting work every day. If you are stuck for ideas BBC bitesize is good plus an online education company like Blackhen education who we use, you can sign up for free resources for all ages.

Alone time - I have one child that happily plays alone for hours, the other hates playing alone, constantly needs interaction and talks incessantly ! So in their routine they have times where they must play alone - whether that's in their room, in the garden etc It does not include electronic time. It must be something like reading a book or playing lego, quietly on their own.

Together time - See above. To make it fair, they also have to play together for a set period of time. It's also important that parents play with their kids too so we will have a family board game or a family walk at some point during the week (but not necessarily every day)

Excercise - Get out for a walk (if restrictions allow) together. I took my two for walks of several km when they were toddlers - certainly wore them out ! If you are confined to the house do something like yoga, together - there's loads of free you tube videos now.

Meal times - Try and have regular mealtimes when you all sit down together or if the kids are tiny, when the parents sit down together. It's also a chance to talk about the day and how it's gone. Older children can make dinner (or help) and also have a schedule for who does the washing up. My kids can choose whether to wash up by hand or use the dishwasher - if they choose the dishwasher they then have to unload it in the morning too.

Flexibility

As the days go by you'll find some things work, others don't. The most important thing is to be flexible. If your partner has an important conference call that is during 'your work time' you need to be flexible, but also try and respect the others time - try and schedule meetings to 'your work time' where possible.

If the kids have been great at doing their school work then reward them with extra time with something they want to do, but they also need to understand that in return somedays you really do not have time to play that Monopoly game or watch Frozen again.

Each week (or more often if needed), sit down and chat about what's working and what isn't. If everyone agrees what is fair, they are more likely to stick with it and follow the rules and routine.

Perfection ? No chance !

Don't expect to be super 'parent' - no doubt there will soon be millions of you tube videos on how to be the perfect home schooling parent who has time to look stunning, make healthy meals for the kids and help them with their trigonometry - real life is not like that. Your kids will be fine with a ham sandwich on white bread for lunch in fact many of them can make it themselves. My kids certainly have had to fend for themselves during the summer time when we were rushed off our feet and they were much littler than they are now.

TALK ! Let everyone express an opinion, talk about what's going on. Use video calls to have a chat with a co worker or a friend. Don't get wound up and end up having a huge argument whether that's with your partner, teen or toddler ! Compromise is key.

Remember - this is not forever - the crisis will end, hopefully sooner rather than later. By September things will start getting back to some sort of normality with the children back in school and all of us back at work. If some days your kids are sat in front of a screen all day - it's not the end of the world !

Be kind to yourself and others. Everyone's stressed, you have enough to cope with without arguing on Facebook about how much loo roll people are stockpiling. Take a deep breath and look after yourselves and your family.

La Varaizienne - our local boulangerie serving you croissants

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:07:31 GMT

Our local boulangerie

La Varaizienne is our local boulangerie, located in the village of Varaize just 3km away.
For the first few years of living here the old boulangerie offered a delivery service, which was fab. The lovely French delivery lady would stop right outside the gites at both La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies and beep. Everyone would come out and buy the fresh bread, croissants and chocalatines. She'd help the children learn to count in French whilst counting out the change, it was great. The owners then retired and no one took over, so for many years we were without a local boulangerie.

The commune in Varaize listened to the demands of the locals and built two new outlets, one specifically for a boulangerie and one for a health centre (Doctor, midwife, physio etc) In 2019 Vanessa and Mickael took on the tenancy and La Varaizienne was born. They have been running a boulangerie on the coast for many years, so have great experience but they wanted to expand and the commune of Varaize gave them that chance.

The boulangerie is also a small epicerie - selling basic chilled and dried goods too such as pasta, biscuits, crisps, soft drinks, butter and ham. They offer a café service too with tables and chairs both inside and outside on a terrace overlooking a play area; also built by the commune. They also offer a takeaway (or eat in) pizza service.

Bread and cakes

They have a delicious array of different breads, from regular baguette and pain to walnut and maize breads and our favourite the 'Kapnor' which is a delicious bread made of wheat, barley and rye flours plus rich in sunflower, sesame, flax and soy seeds .

Their cakes are also gorgeous ! They'll make them to order if you give them notice for a birthday or anniversary.

Pizzas to eat in or takeaway

From Monday to Saturday service is from 11.30 to 13.00 and 18.30 to 20.00 (21.00 on Fri/Sat) Closed on Wednesday.
If you order at around 18.30 to 19.00 you shouldn't have to wait long at all, but after that it gets busy so there could be a delay of an hour or more, so think ahead ! We can ring in an order for you which you can then collect.

Prices range from 8€50 for a basic ham and cheese pizza to 12€50 for a 4 meat pizza

Café and shop

As mentioned previously you could pop in and choose a cake and enjoy a coffee whilst watching the children play. There is a small enclosed childrens playground, ideal for little ones plus a basketball court for the older ones to run around in whilst you sit on the terrace with your delicious cakes !

Alternatively we have a good running route for those who want to earn their morning croissants. It takes you cross country and down small lanes rather than along the main road so ends up being a bit more than a 10km round trip. Download and Log into Strava to get the route.
Read more about our running/walks routes here

Read more about other local businesses you can support here

Our local community

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:24:22 GMT

and how you can support them by shopping like a local

Local markets

All our child friendly gites are located in the countryside. Compared to the UK you may feel as though you are in the middle of nowhere (which is why we love living here !) However there are numerous small enterprises offering anything from bread to wine, milk, fruit & veg, bike hire , honey and of course Cognac.

The regular local markets are an excellent way to integrate into French life, practice your French and buy local and you could visit a different market nearly every day, all within a 30 min drive.

Saint Jean d'Angely Wednesday & Saturday, 10mins drive

Aulnay de Saintonge - Sunday , 10 mins drive

Matha - Tuesday, Friday & Saturday, 15 mins drive

Saintes - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 30mins drive

Cognac - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 30 mins drive

French markets are always a lovely way to feel like a local but if you really want a chance to really chat then visit some of our local producers on their homeground.

Local honey

Estelle is our neighbour and together with her partner they produce honey to sell at the local markets and even the local supermarket sell it but to actually visit them at home is even more of a great experience. Especially since they live next door to us at La Grange du Moulin !
You can pop in on your own - they are usually around on a Wednesday afternoon, or you can participate in one of our free guided visits which you can read more about here . Either way you'll get to taste and have the opportunity to purchase a delicious array of honeys.

Local wine, Pineau and Cognac

Eric and Marie Agnes Cartaud live just 2km away . There is a lovely track along the river that you can walk along, so that you can then taste all their produce without the need to drive back ! They produce

Red, white and rosé wines

Red and white Pineau des Charentes,

VS and Napolean Cognacs

They don't have opening times as such as they sell from an office attached to their own home, to be polite just don't go between 12 - 2 or after 7pm when it's meal times.
If you end up buying lots, just let them know you are staying with us and they'll deliver it to you.
Read more about Eric and Maries cellar door here

Local bread

We are so pleased to have a local boulangerie again after many years without one. It's 3km away in Varaize and run by a lovely young French family. They offer some delicious breads (our favourite is the Kapnor) but also offer croissants and cakes too. You could run there (see our running routes) or cycle and enjoy a coffee and cake while the children play in the playground too. Read more about La Varaizienne boulangerie here

Croissant, Chocalatine, Chaussons aux pommes

Bread selection from baguette and pain to maize and malt breads

Pizzas cooked to order

Café serving hot and cold drinks inside or outside on the terrace and a playpark

Delicious cakes, individual or to serve 6

Basic food items such as butter, ham and pasta

Local bike hire

We have a local bike hire company that cater to families so provide everything from helmets and locks to child seats and tag alongs. The best thing is that they will deliver to your gite and spend the time making sure the seats are the right height etc You can rent for the whole holiday or just a few days, the choice is yours. The area is perfect for cycling, you can read more here

Local food truck

Food trucks seem to becoming more and more popular. There are a few in the area but this is our most local one, just a 5 min drive to the village of Cherbonnieres. I've heard excellent reviews of L'Escale Gourmande so intend trying it out in the spring with a view to discussing some meal deliveries to the gites. In the meantime you can enjoy

Fish & Chips or Pizza - every evening from tues to sat and sat lunch, to eat on their terrace or takeaway

Traditional meal - every lunch from tues to friday, to eat on their terrace or takeaway

Fresh bread baked every day

Roast chickens cooked every Sat and Sunday lunch to eat in with vegetables or to takeaway

Local activities

We also have a number of local small businesses that offer activities to our guests including

Massage and facials read more

Scuba diving read more

Learn French read more

These are just a handful of our most local producers and businesses that we like to support and we hope you will too when staying with us at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies Child friendly gites.

Summer 2020

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 17:05:31 GMT

current information for May and June reservations

We hope you and your family are all well. This post is regarding the current Covid 19 crisis .

Things are changing quickly and no one knows just what position countries will be in a week never mind in 2 months when we open for the summer 2020 season at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies.

We would like to hope that life will be starting to return to some sort of normality by then. However we thought it important to put in place some reassurances for those that have already booked with us to give as much flexibility to react to the changing situation.

These are exceptional circumstances so we have come up with a plan to be as flexible as we possibly can regarding changes that may need to be made regarding your reservation and for anyone thinking about booking with us, pending any new government, airline and ferry decisions in the coming weeks/months. These are as follows:

We will be opening for the season as normal, on the 20th May and will remain open throughout the full season, subject to Government restrictions. Therefore at present, you can still travel to France from May onwards and enjoy your stay with us as planned.

We will be opening exceptionally through October until the end of the October half term, so that those that need and want to change their dates to later in the year have a greater choice of dates to choose from. Families booked in for the May half term will have first refusal on the October half term dates.

For May and June reservations we are now allowing late payment of balances to up to 10 days before arrival (rather than the normal 10 weeks) so you have more flexibility to make a decision as to whether to travel, move dates or cancel, when we know more about the situation at that time.

For July and August reservations, we may make a similar decision nearer the time if required, depending on the situation at that time but at the moment invoices will be sent and balances due on the scheduled date, we will inform you by email of any changes nearer the time.

Our usual terms and conditions can be found here .

It's a beautiful place to be !

At this moment in France, although schools, leisure facilities, bars and restaurants are now closed, the supermarkets, markets, boulangeries, banks, petrol stations, pharmacies, doctors and of course hospitals are all still open and functioning well. France has one of the best health systems in the world. Hotels and other accommodation such as gites are still open and public transport is still running.

All being well you'll be enjoying your holiday in France in just a few months time and all the tourist attractions and restaurants will be open again. You may be anxious about travelling but as long as the authorities don't say you can't then a break away from it all might be just the tonic you need, especially to such a beautiful rural location. There is still lots to do in the area which doesn't require mixing in big crowds.

We are surrounded by open countryside. We regularly go walking and don't see a soul. There are woods to explore and miles of country lanes and tracks to cycle along too. We are partnered with a superb bike hire company who will deliver the bikes to your gite as well.

There are hundreds of miles of coastline within an hours drive, so the busy popular beaches can be avoided and you can certainly find a quiet spot in which to relax. There are also rivers where you can go swimming just a 10 min drive away and a swimming lake just 30 mins away where you won't see more than a couple of other families at any one time.

There are lot's of small local producers who will be keen to let you taste and sell you their wine, Pineau, Cognac and honey, just knock on their door.

We offer on site activities for children and adults.

Or just kick back and relax on site. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have at any time.
Wendy, Chris, Benjamin and Thomas

What we love about France (and Europe)

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:12:03 GMT

31st January 2020

Today is a historic day in that it is the first time any country has left the European Union. Some people will be celebrating but there are many millions who will not. There are 3 million EU citizens in the UK and over a million British living and working in the EU, not to mention the 16+million who wanted to remain. For us, today is not just a very sad day but brings with it much uncertainty too. However instead of worrying about what will happen we want to celebrate and share what we LOVE about living in France and the European Union.

So in no particular order really (as we LOVE France for all these reasons) .......

10, Freedom of movement

Chris and I moved here in 1996. We just packed our bags and jumped on the ferry. No Visa, no return ticket, no real
plan ! If it wern't for Freedom of movement we wouldn't be here. We love the four principles of the European Union - free movement of goods, services, capital and labour. It's allowed us to come and go as we please, take loads of wine back to the UK and bring lots of cheddar cheese back here ! It also allowed my parents to be resident in the UK but spend over 6 months at a time in France in their second home and watch their grandchildren grow up. We LOVE that France is in the European Union.

9, French food

We LOVE French food ! France is renowned for having the best food, the best cheese and the best wine in the world and that's not just according to the French !

It's not just the food though, it's the way it's served. We live in a rural location, far from takeaways and deliveroo . Our friends and neighbours are all amazing cooks and we love nothing more than spending a long lunch under the shade of a tree tasting simple homemade delights that they produce with (it appears) no effort at all.

There's no standing on ceremony; the plates and cutlery are mismatched; If someone turns up unexpectedly, another place is quickly laid and they sit down and join in, the host pops to the garden for a few more tomatoes; need mayonnaise ? they will just get up to make it, one pouring the oil the other whisking, all while chatting effortlessly about other things. It's all so relaxed.

The food is so varied too. Oysters, lobster and fruit de mer; tartiflette and raclettes, chasseurs and bourguignon, snails and frogs legs, We LOVE how France has it all when it comes to food.

8, L'Hexagon

If you've never noticed, France looks like a hexagon ! You understand why the French (and we) LOVE to holiday within this geometric country when you realise it has everything ! It has the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean with over 3000km of coastline ; it not only has the Pyrenees and the Alps for skiing in winter or walking in summer but also the Vosges, the Jura, the Massif central and the Cevennes mountain ranges; It has great rivers such as the Loire, the Seine, the Garonne and the Rhone, as well as canals linking some of those together (canal du Midi and canal du Rhone). It has cool weather in the north and hot in the south and just perfect in the middle weather just where we live ! There are beautiful cities like Paris and Bordeaux, stunning countryside, small towns and villages and a history going back 10,000 years.

It also borders Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland as well as Monaco and Andorra, so has influences from all those countries so no wonder they love being European too. We LOVE how diverse France is.

7, The French

The French people are so proud of their history, culture and language, Being a strong member of the European Union hasn't stopped this. They have always been a huge supporter and leader in the protection of individual European cultures yet are also at the forefront of pushing for a stronger and more integrated Europe - you can have both.

All French children are taught about the importance of Liberté, égalité, fraternité and laicité. French history is taught in detail starting in primary school with the 'pre history' (lascaux caves etc) the Romans, Clovis (unification of the kingdoms)then in secondary school about Jean d'Arc and the 100 years war, the kings and then the revolution, the colonial empires and the various republics, all through to the world wars and modern day with the treaty of Rome and the formation of the European Union - they are taught and know it all ! I certainly never had anything close to this with British history when I was a child.

Children are also taught about democracy, their rights and their responsibilities as citizens; the French language is taught right up to the age of 18, by which time they of course know how to read and write but they move on to studying french literature, Guillaume Apollinaire, Victor hugo, and Charles Baudelaire to name just a few of the ones Benjamin is studying right now.

They are also taught about Frances place in Europe and the world and about the European Union and their importance within it. We LOVE how proud the French are of their culture.

6, kissing

How many teenagers in the Uk would open the door to the dinner guests and automatically kiss them, ask how they are and take their coats ? French teenagers are (certainly the ones we've met) so polite ! They are happy to sit around the table for hours over dinner and participate in the conversation. They are always offering to help clear the table and wash the dishes.

It can be a bit complicated knowing how many kisses but you soon get used to it. As a rule, with young children it is only ever one and the adult kisses the child; in the north (especially Paris) we have been told they are cold, so it's just one ! On the south coast, where the people are 'warmer' it's often 4, and here in the middle it's between 2 and 3 ! It does depend on how well you know them too. The main thing is let the French person lead and remember they get it wrong sometimes too ! But 2 is a safe bet !

Of course kissing isn't unique to France, it's quite a European thing introduced by the Romans but however it started we LOVE it !

5, Cultural heritage

As we mentioned previously, France has so much culture but we LOVE the cultural heritage of the whole of Europe. In just a few hours we can be in the heart of Paris looking at the Mona Lisa; in Amsterdam cycling to Anne Franks house; in Spain at the Guggenheim museum or taking a selfie in front of the leaning tower of Pisa (and we've done them all) Being able to travel over the whole of Europe, driving, by train or flying, without borders is such a privilege. So many beautiful countries to visit, so many languages to practice, so much history to devour and so many stunning cathedrals, castles and museums both old and new to visit. Europe is such an amazing and diverse place. My brother lives in Australia which has it's own beauty but pales in comparison to what Europe has to offer in the same size area. We LOVE Europe and it's cultural heritage.

''Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.''

4, The French language

It's the language of love and we LOVE it ! Oddly though the French say Italian is the language of love ! Actually they both are, as is Spanish. They are Romance languages which means they are all derived from the 'popular' Latin language of Romanice ie that spoken by the general population rather than the 'upper class' pure Latin .

We love that through living here our kids are completely bi - lingual. French is spoken by 275 million people in the world, with that and English too, they'll be able to communicate all over the world. We LOVE the French language and the above expression expresses perfectly why Chris and I have been together for 34 years !

3, French Infrastructure

France is fantastic at their 'grand projets' . They have an amazing rail and motorway system which pretty much covers the whole country including the longest 'domestic flight' in the world from Paris to the French overseas department of La Reunion in the Indian ocean. The Millau bridge is simply stunning. The Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Louvre pyramid were a couple of Mitterands many grand projets which were likened to the ambitious constructions of Louis 14th . We also LOVE the French National health service, it is second to none, they cared for both my parents during their terminal cancers and have nursed us through lung operations, kidney stone treatments and child birth to name just a few !

2, The Wine

Since Chris worked all his adult life in the wine industry before we moved here then wine certainly has to feature as one of the things we LOVE about France (and Europe as we love all good wine not just French !)
Champagne of course is an absolute favourite and we've visited the region many times; but also, of course all the wines of Bordeaux since it is on our door step and some of the best and most famous wines in the world come from vines just an hour away from us.

Of course there are many others too but we also LOVE the local wine producers. Eric and Marie Cartaud were the first French people to welcome us into their home and show us what real French life was like, it's where we learnt pretty much all our French. We also were invited to join in the Vendange (grape harvest) every year with them and now we offer guided walks to our guests through their vines and for tastings of their wines at their chai, which are just a short stroll from our home.

1, We LOVE living here

We've lived here for 24 years. In not too many years, I will of lived in France longer than I ever lived in the UK. Benjamin and Thomas have lived here all their lives, all their friends and ours are French. We are already permanent residents and because of the withdrawal agreement most of our rights to continue to live and work here have thankfully been protected by EU law. Thomas is already French as he was born here, but the rest of us have applied for French nationality.

It's not just so we will retain freedom of movement throughout the European union, it's not just so we can continue to vote for our local mairie, for our MEP (which as of tonight we will no longer have a right to do as British citizens) but we also want to be able to vote for the president, to have a say in our future, to have a say in the future of France and the European union but most of all it's because France is our home and we LOVE living here.

Driving in France

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 11:49:17 GMT

and what you need to know after brexit

Travelling to the continent for the first time can be daunting. Many people worry about driving 'on the wrong side' but from experience you don't need to. As long as you arn't some crazy driver who has to overtake everything in front, you'll be fine. Most of your driving will be on the fantastic motorway (autoroute) system which have a minimum of two lanes and compared to the UK are very quiet.

When driving a right hand drive vehicle you just need to remember to keep yourself on the side of the road and your passenger in the middle . Around our family holiday cottages the country lanes are really quiet, you rediscover the joy of driving.

There are however a few things you need to remember.

What to bring....

There are some legal requirements when driving in France.

A warning triangle must be carried and then placed around 30m behind your stopped / crashed / broken down vehicle depending on visibility .

A high vis jacket that can be accessed without leaving the vehicle ie in the glove box not in the boot, ideally you should have one for each member of the family. You must put it on before leaving your stopped / crashed / broken down vehicle.

You must have your valid drivers licence, passport and the 'log book' proof of ownership. These will be asked for if stopped for any reason by the police (and they do do regular spot checks)

Breathalysers should legally be carried but they can no longer fine you if you don't have one; they are very cheap if you buy them beforehand so you may as well have one just in case.

Remember to deflect your headlights with the stickers you can pick up from places like Halfords and have a GB sticker if it's not on your registration plate.

There are hefty fines for having speed camera detectors but to be honest all the speed cameras are well signed before you get to them apart from the 'mobile' ones which are unmarked cars that can 'flash' you for speeding and travel around the country ! You have to de activate it if it's on your sat nav.

Valid insurance. Companies generally cover you third party for travel to Europe but you should check before hand to make sure what level of cover you have: is it third party or full insurance; does it include breakdown cover - does this include onward travel, repair or repatriation of the vehicle, replacement vehicle etc

Vehicle emissions in central Paris are controlled now and you must have a Crit-air sticker . Only certain cars can drive in central Paris when there are high pollution levels. Find out more on the official web site certificat-air.gouv.fr/en

Full and valid driver’s licence
• V5C (car ownership)
• Proof of Insurance
• Passport/national ID
• Two NF certified breathalysers
• Reflective jackets for all passengers
• Warning triangles
• Headlamp beam deflectors
• GB sticker (non GB-euro symbol plates only)
• No speed camera detectors or sat-navs with camera locations
Crit-air sticker if driving through central Paris

Things to know....

- speed limits

- Give way to the right rule

This is one that we know a number of holiday makers have been caught out on. Not so much in big towns or on big main roads , but it is common in the rural communities. When you see the signs on the right, above (the red triangle with black cross is particularly common around here) it means YOU DO NOT HAVE PRIORITY and YOU MUST GIVE WAY. So if you are driving along a main road and you see this sign it means you must give way to the car coming out of the tiny side road. It seems illogical but it's the law ! It applies to side roads with no give way or stop markings which are common here. The locals know they have priority so will freely pull out of a tiny side road into a main road with oncoming traffic as they know they have priority and you are in the wrong if you crash into them. If in doubt GIVE WAY !

Also be extra vigilant when pulling out onto unmarked roads as it's easy to forget which side to drive on. We've heard many a story of people driving miles on the wrong side until another car comes speeding towards them and blowing their horn !!

- Child car seats

Children under 10 cannot travel in the front seat unless there are NO backseats

Babies can travel in the front seat if the air bag is disconnected and they are in a rear facing, correctly installed baby car seat

Seatbelts must be worn at all times by all passengers

Children must use an approved size appropriate car seat . When hiring car seats from a car hire company BEWARE . Many of our guests have been told there are no seats available even when they've ordered one, or are given one that is not age appropriate; the company will not help you fit it to the car. For these reasons we recommend that you bring your own car seat with you (airlines usually allow you to put this in the hold or even use on the plane, free of charge if you get permission in advance) You can then be sure it is age appropriate and you know how to fit it safely.

and after 'Brexit' ...

For spring, summer and autumn trips to Europe throughout 2020 NOTHING WILL CHANGE .
You will be able to continue driving or flying or take the train to the continent as if nothing had happened.
As of 31st January 2020 we will be in a transition period which apart from my right to vote for my local Maire or my MEP (which are being taken away) everything else will stay the same.
This is until the end of December 2020. However this period of transition could be extended but that remains to be seen.

So for your holiday to France this summer all the above information is valid and you won't have to do anything 'unusual' . For summer 2021 things will change if the transition is not extended. Of course many things may be agreed in the trade talks which are about to take place but the likely worst case scenario will be that on top of everything mentioned above you will also need:

a green card (proof of 3rd party car insurance in Europe) which is a sticker that you get from your insurance company and put on your windscreen)

travel health insurance (as your European health card may no longer be valid)

an international drivers licence (from a designated post office, ask for the correct one for your destination as there are different ones)

ETIAS visa waiver as the UK will be a '3rd country' and although it has already been mentioned that Brits won't need a visa to enter Europe they will need an ETIAS visa waiver as this system is being brought in by the EU in 2021 which will work in a similar way to the US esta visa waiver and involves a small fee and an online declaration of your passport and personal details . More info can be found on the official web site here etiasvisa.com

Of course we will update this information when more is known. In the meantime book your holiday with us now for summer 2020 !

For more about general travel to France; whether to take the car or fly and the positives and negatives of each read our post 'Travel to France' here

Strava - cycle, run or just walk

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 11:49:55 GMT

beautiful routes all around our family holiday cottages

First of all as you can see from the 'time' of the above route - I'm not a runner ! I was introduced to Strava by one of our holidaymakers who is. She told me she'd uploaded a running route to Strava that other runners may like to follow. I didn't think much more about it until just recently when, like many others, I made yet another new years resolution to get fit !!

I love to walk and there are so many lovely tracks and quiet country lanes straight from our front door, I thought it might be a good idea to track these walks that I take so our holiday makers who love to run, or cycle or, like me, just walk would be able to enjoy these routes too. Strava was the answer.

I've only just started and still have a few longer routes planned but basically to access them you just need to download the Strava app (free) then search for my profile 'Wendy Blakeman' and the maps will be there to follow.

Of course not everyone's a runner or even a big walker and all our holidaymakers have children, so I'll be adding some much shorter routes which are ideal for taking the pram to get baby to sleep, or just for a stroll with your toddlers to explore. We have some lovely woods just 500m away - I often take the children I am child minding for a picnic up there and when my own boys were small it was one of our favourites - going on a bear hunt ! or playing poo sticks over the bridge in the village.

Just recently a good friend has shown me some super new routes as she has explored further afield on her horse. They are a little further, so from 8 to 12km walks round trip from La Grange du Moulin holiday cottages but you could easily hop in the car and just do the walk around the woodlands instead, which are really lovely.

I'd love for some of our regular keen cyclists to share their serious cycling routes too as I won't be walking 50km ! We live in a beautiful part of France and our holiday cottages are in the heart of the countryside. We are surrounded by wheat fields, vineyards and woodland too; the lanes are quiet and safe and you have the right to roam along any of the tracks - perfect for a gentle stroll with the children, or an early morning run on your own.

River swimming...

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:41:30 GMT

...jumping, paddling and swinging too !

Even after 23 years we are still discovering new places. One of our families this summer found a lovely fishing spot but also said it was great for swimming too, so several of the other families went exploring and came back raving so we just had to find out what it was all about !

This beautiful little spot is just a short 15 minute drive away on the edge of the village of Courcelles. Located on the outskirts of St Jean d'Angely it is a village I have driven through many times over the years but never stopped - there was no reason to - there's no sign, no obvious parking area and only a couple of small bridges to even suggest there is any water around.

We had rough directions and found the spot easily enough. (turn right at the first roundabout heading towards St Jean - the one with the fruit and veg shop; head along the Poitiers road until you see a wood yard called BDR on the left - turn left here (signposted Poursay garnaud) but instead of turning into the village bear left along the road which takes you to Courcelles. After the second bridge you can pull off the road onto the grass by the river. Walk along a little bit until you see the 'swing' - a metal wire with stick attached. (update : swing is not there - July '21 but it's possible it will come back when the local teens see it's gone ! It's still a lovely place to swim and paddle and catch crayfish too) This is where we stopped with our picnic blanket. We walked around the whole area but came back to this spot as it was the best place for swimming, paddling and jumping.

One of the families had been paddling a little further up, next to the wash house on the edge of the village. (third bridge) They had caught loads of crayfish and actually cooked them up and ate them in a salad !

We had been told there was a raft too but we couldn't find it. We did find the swing though which was fab. It was quite high - put there by an adult as our 16 and 14 yr old had to use a stick to reach it, so it's not for little ones, or the faint hearted ! After the first jump nerves were out of the way, we couldn't stop our boys. They were also jumping in from the tree stump too. The less brave of us paddled (me) or swam (my niece and sister) but it was an ideal spot for all levels of ability and braveness (or otherwise)

A lovely spot for an easy trip out when staying at our family holiday cottages at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies child friendly gites. Great for all ages. Take a picnic and a blanket to sit on. Enjoy !

Chez Cartaud

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 14:28:01 GMT

Local wine maker

Eric and Marie- Agnes Cartaud are the first French family we met when we moved here in 1996. Eric and Chris hit it off straight away despite the language barrier - wine terms remain very similar. We learnt pretty much all our French by spending many an evening drinking and eating around their dining table.

Eric is a local farmer and vigneron ( wine producer ). He makes wine for Hennessey Cognac and also makes vin de pays wine for sale as well as the local tipple - Pineau des Charentes and his own Cognac - using eau de vie from Hennessey which they produced by distilling his wine.

You can visit Eric and Marie - Agnes Cartauds cellar door where you can taste then buy, all his wines and Pineau . They live just 2km away from us, so you can even take a lovely walk along the edge of Nie stream . Eric will happily deliver all your purchases to your cottage afterwards.

Pineau des Charentes is unique to this area. It is produced by mixing eau de vie (raw spirit from the Cognac distillation process) and grape juice, both red and white . It is then matured in oak barrels for about 18 months. With a strength of 18% it's served chilled as an aperitif but can be mixed to create a long sweet drink too. Delicious at any time of day.

Eric and Marie-Agnes also make red, white and rosé wines. The reds are classic Bordeaux styles using a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend , the whites are Colombard grape variety and the rosés are generally made from the red merlot grapes but not left for long in contact with the skins so create a light pink colour to the wine.

Chris is happy to escort you to Erics for a tasting or you can practice your French and go alone. They don't have opening times as such as their cellar door is at their home. Just call at reasonable times of day - which means not between 12 and 2 when they are eating their lunch or after 7pm when it's dinner ! If they are out they will leave a mobile phone by the door which you can call Eric on (speed dial) and he'll pop back from the fields . The Cartaud family are good friends of ours and so we ask that you don't take advantage of their hospitality by tasting everything but buying nothing ! A bottle of Pineau is a delightful gift to buy someone at home and is also fabulous for dosing your Christmas cake with !

Each week we offer Vineyard visits to Erics vines. Chris worked in the wine industry before moving to France so he knows his stuff. He talks about the local countryside, why wine tastes like wine, how vines grow and anything else you want to know ! Find out more here

Eric and Marie-Agnes Cartauds web site can be found www.maison-cartaud-vigneron.fr

Miel d'elle

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:33:58 GMT

(Very) Local honey producer

Estelle Fleuret and her partner Anthony live just around the corner (50m) from our family friendly holiday cottages here at La Grange du Moulin. They moved in a couple of years ago and Miel d'elle is Estelles own business. She started out by taking over the hives and business of Philippe et Annie Milliot, and also works with Anthony who has been in the bee business since a child with his parents who also have a thriving honey business in the area. She has over one hundred bee hives in the local area and works extremely hard in their care and maintenance . This is so important now more than ever - not just in the production of honey for our pleasure, but for the survival of the bees themselves and subsequently so many plant species too.

If you are interested in buying some very local honey then we can organise a visit to Estelles home where they bottle the honey and also produce Queens. It's a small family business, not a large shop with a glossy tour which makes it even more special and interesting. Visits are by appointment only, but give us some advance notice and we can organise one for you but would rather you only ask if you intend to buy some honey at the end - they are busy people and close neighbours !

On my visit, of particular interest was when she showed me her Queen colonies. Hives specifically designed so the Queens eggs all turn into Queen bees. To buy a Queen costs about 8€ which doesn't sound a lot until you hear that they go through hundreds of Queens a year. Plus the nearest Queen producer is in Royan and transporting a Queen that distance is a risky business as temperature control is very important and your queens could die before reaching home. So Estelle has learnt how to produce her own. It's time consuming but is certainly worth it. Estelle produced 2000 Queens last year. Those she could not use, she sold to friends in the bee business at a discount. She explained that if a Queen isn't working, is a bit under the weather or just not a good egg producer, they will replace her straight away. An underperforming Queen will cause the whole hive to die very quickly.

They also have a hive that has glass walls. It's amazing to see the bees working inside the hive. You can really see where we got the expression 'busy bee' !

They produce a number of different types of honey. From Classic 'Spring' flower honey and 'Sunflower' honey; to Chestnut, Bucktooth and Blackberry honey. Sold in 250g, 500g and 1 kilo pots. Prices range from 4€ for 250g to 6€50 for 500g of the Special honey to 4€ for 500g and 7€ for 1kg of classic honey. They've won medals !

Estelle at Miel d'Elle also produces Pollen. A fact that I never knew , was that bees collect two types of pollen on their bodies when sucking up the nectar . There is the fertile pollen which collects on the sides of their bodies and which then brushes off onto other flowers, so pollinating them, but they also collect pollen on their hind legs. This is sterile pollen. Each hive has a little 'brush' around the entrance to the hive which brushes off some (but not all) of this pollen. Every 3 days Estelle collects it and dries it. It's incredibly high in protein and antioxidants but low in fat. You can add it to cakes and bread or sprinkle it on your cereal in the morning.

Taking a little tour of Miel d'elles production area is a great local experience and you'll be supporting local business by buying a jar of delicious honey, as well as having a lovely souvenir of your stay at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies child friendly gites.

Miel d'elle web site can be found at mieldelle.fr

Tutiac winery tour

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 14:17:47 GMT

In the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards

Here in the Charente Maritime we are surrounded by vines, the grapes from which are principally used for Cognac production. We are however just a short drive away from Bordeaux wine terroir. As you cross the border from the Charente Maritime into the Gironde you are surrounded by vines which produce some of the most famous wines in the world.

Tutiac is a co operative winery located near Marcillac in the Gironde department of Nouvelle Aquitaine and an easy 1 hour drive from our family holiday cottages here at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies. 450 local vignerons on both sides of the Gironde estuary have come together to help each other create some fantastic wines, some of which are bought by large UK and French supermarkets as their own label wines. The producers are located over a vast terroir from Sauternes and Graves to the Medoc to cotes de Bourg and cotes de Blaye.

We booked our tour by phone but you can email too. The tour organiser, Karin was born in the Uk and moved to France at the age of 9 in 1991, so she speaks fluent English and French and is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Tutiac offer 3 tours

Tutiac XV
Modern wine making
Vineyards 2030

Tutiac XV

Tutiac XV is a tutoured tasting of a selection of 8 wines from the 15 AOC wines produced by the winery. You will learn about their history and specifities. Lasts 1hr30 to 2 hrs. Min 4 adults. No children. 10€ pp Every thursday at 3pm but other days/times can be requested subject to availability.

Modern winemaking

Modern wine making is the tour we did. It involves a visit to all areas of the production from where the trailers filled with grapes enter the winery, to being weighed, logged, pressed, fermented, matured and finally bottling. It also includes a tasting of 5 wines, lasts 2hrs and is 10€ per adult, 5 € per child under 18. Max 15 per group. Min height for children is 1m30 (around 8 yrs) as there are lots of steps and equipment. The tour is not suitable for babies in pushchairs.

Our tour started with a short film about Tutiac co operative which started out in the 70's with a few local producers. It has since grown into a huge winery with an output of millions of bottles of wine a year. We were issued with high visibility jackets and an ear piece for the noisy areas so our guide wouldn't need to shout. We recommend you wear sensible shoes (no high heels) as there are lots of metal steps and grids everywhere. Chris has worked in the wine industry for many years so knows his stuff and he certainly put our guide through her paces with the questions he asked. Her depth of knowledge about all areas of the organisation and production was excellent and she was happy to answer all our questions in great detail.

This is a working winery. At some times of year, certain areas may be out of bounds for safety reasons and even at this quieter time of year (July) there was lots of maintenance and cleaning work going on. If you've been to a Hennessey Cognac tour - it's not like that - all flashy and glossy and perfect, there are puddles to avoid and pipes to step over, but it was without a doubt, very professional and absolutely fascinating. The highlight for me was the bottling plant which just happened to be doing a run of Sainsburys 'taste the difference' own label Rosé. This is where you needed the ear piece as it was quite noisy. A great experience .

Our tour finished with a tasting of 5 wines in the boutique. These had been selected to show the different production methods that we had learnt about during the tour. The measures were very generous so you'll need a designated driver who can use the spitoon. It was a really lovely touch that the children were able to join in the 'tasting' as Karin tested their knowledge with the 'nez de vin' - a box of tiny bottles containing all the 'smells' associated with wine. With each wine she gave us adults she gave the children a bottle to sniff and identify. They guessed vanilla when we were tasting an oaked wine, lemon when we tasted a sauvignon and blackcurrant and chocolate smells for the red wines. They really enjoyed it, as did we.

Vineyard tour 2030

If you have younger children this would be the most appropriate tour as it is located in the vineyards. These are experimental vineyards where the winery is looking into more sustainable and eco friendly ways of making wine. The tour includes information on the long term environmental aspects of wine making. Lasts 2hrs. Max 25 persons. 10€ per adult. Under 18's free. Includes a tasting of 5 wines. Held Tuesday to Friday at 14hr30 or Saturdays at 15hr, other days / times available by appointment.

and the Free Tasting...

At the cellar door, you can just turn up with no appointment and enjoy a free tasting of the wineries wines - definitely worth it. They have a lovely shop with loads of local produce and gift items from local producers like cups and glasses, vinegars and honey. Well worth a stop off even if you don't have the time for a full tour.

After our visit we enjoyed a lovely meal at the restaurant la Citadelle in Blaye, about a 20 min drive from Tutiac. It is a hotel restaurant located on the banks of the Gironde with a superb view across to the Medoc. It was perfect weather and it was a beautiful situation - perfect for celebrating my birthday.

Canicule !

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 11:41:56 GMT

Staying safe in the sun

We all love hot sunny weather, particularly when on holiday however with a heatwave (or canicule as it's known in France) about to descend on us here in the Charente Maritime it's important to know how to look after you and your family as the thermometer rises.

Temperatures this week are set to reach 40c in some parts of the region which is exceptionally high for any time of year not just in June. When temperatures reach this level - that is equal to or above body temperature you have to give your body a helping hand to keep cool. The elderly and very young are particularly vulnerable and if you arn't careful there can be very serious consequences.

Keeping the cottage cool

Do what the locals do ! When it gets this hot people sometimes ask why we don't have air conditioning - the reason is it doesn't get so hot so often that we need to ! With these old stone buildings with thick wallls and tiled floors it's actually quite easy to keep the cottage cool - you just need to do what the locals do.

Keep doors and windows and shutters shut during the day - from 9am to 9pm at least. It's very tempting, particularly if there is a breeze to open the house up, but all you are doing is heating it to the outside temperature and it will feel like an oven at night.

Open the house up at night. Keep your windows wide open to let the cool night air in and open the front and back doors up as early as possible so you get a few hours of cooler air circulating in the gite.

If you a worried about mosquitoes, all the cottages have plug in devices, you just need to pick up the tablets to put in them. There are plenty of natural citronella type repellants you can use that are safe to use in the childrens rooms. Most people however get bitten, not when in bed but sat out in the evening when they are having a few drinks, so remember to put spray on at about 6pm or have citronella candles burning .

Use the fans to circulate air in the room and have them blowing over bowls of iced water.

Keeping baby cool

Follow the tips below to help keep your children cool and safe during hot weather.

Playing in a paddling pool is a good way of keeping babies and children cool. Keep the pool in the shade during very hot weather and supervise the children carefully at all times. Use the curtains to help shade the toddler pool. The main pool has shade in parts in the late afternoon.
Run them a cool (but not cold) bath before bedtime.
Keep your child's bedroom cool during the day by closing blinds or curtains. You can also use a fan to circulate the air in the room. Do not have the fan blowing directly onto a baby but you can have it blowing over a bowl of iced water to help cool the air in the room.
Keep nightwear and bedclothes to a minimum. Just a nappy is fine.
Your baby will sleep most comfortably when their room is between 16C (61F) and 20C (68F). But this can be very difficult to maintain when outside temperatures are very hot. Hang damp sheets over the side of the cot (out of reach of baby) or around the room and as the water evaporates it will help cool the air a little.

Sun safety

Babies less than 6 months old should be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun.
Older infants should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly in the summer and between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. If you go out when it's hot, attach a parasol or sunshade to your baby's pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to your baby's skin. Make sure the product also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many brands produce sunscreen specifically for babies and young children, as these products are less likely to contain additives that might irritate the skin. Apply the suncream about 30mins before going out and again just before going out to get maximum protection and then regularly throughout the day, particularly if your child is in and out of the sea or paddling pool.
Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or a long flap at the back to protect their head and neck from the sun.

For EVERYONE

wear sunscreen, re apply regularly
wear a hat which covers your neck too
wear sunglasses
stand in the shade as much as possible
avoid physical activity
avoid the hottest part of the day - stay inside, or visit an air conditioned attraction, the aquarium perhaps

Avoid dehydration

Like adults, babies and young children need to drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated. With temperatures rising above body temp you should be drinking a sip or more every 15 mins

If you're breastfeeding your baby, you don't need to give them water as well as breast milk. But they may want to breastfeed more than usual.
If you're bottle feeding, as well as their usual milk feeds, you can give your baby a little water. If your baby wakes at night, they'll probably want milk. If they have had their usual milk feeds, try water as well.
The tap water here is not recommended to give to infants regularly as it is high in nitrates so pick up some baby safe bottled water from the supermarket that has the 'baby bottle' symbol on it

For young children (and everyone) you can

offer fruit snacks like watermelon
ice pops
diluted fruit juices (pure juice can increase dehydration)
as well as plain water
avoid icey cold drinks for young children as they can cause cramps

Remember even if you are in the shade your body will be losing water. Best place to be is in the pool !!

Have fun, enjoy the sun but STAY SAFE !!

'Learn Français'

Sat, 11 May 2019 13:42:23 GMT

For all the family with a native French speaker

Do you want to improve your French ? Would you like your children to be exposed to a new language ? What better way to learn some new words than with a native French speaker in a fun and relaxing setting whilst on holiday in France !!

Anne is a professional teacher of the French language with years of experience . She lives locally and speaks excellent English too. She is offering an hour (or even two) of playing board games with your children or with the whole family together. These games have been especially chosen for their linguistic value and will help improve your French or get your little ones learning new words quickly and in a fun environment.

Anne is offering a 1 hour session for up to 3 people at just 10€ plus 2€ per extra person (over 3 yrs)

Under 5 yrs the child must be accompanied by an adult but from 5yrs and over Anne is happy to play games and 'teach' the children new French words through play (max 6 children without parental supervision)

This activity would take place on the activity table or, if it's a family, in the privacy of your cottage or on your terrace.

A 2 hour session is available for families at 15€.

For availability and to book this fun learning activity just contact us or Anne direct (details in the cottage)

Why we keep coming back....

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 15:36:01 GMT

to La Grange du Moulin child friendly gites

As I write this, five out of 6 of the families staying at La Grange du Moulin this week have been at least once before, several are on their third visit and another it's their fourth year in a row ! Next week we have a family on their 9th visit (I think - we've both lost count !) We've just taken two repeat reservations for 2020 (as well as several for 2019) This is a familiar trend with us. Families return year after year which is wonderful for us but it got us to thinking - why !? There are so many beautiful places to holiday in Europe, around France and also lots of other holiday properties in our area too - but why do families keep coming back to us ?

We decided to ask them and here are the results...

Everything about La Grange du Moulin works for us and even after 4 years the magic formula still hasn't worn off. Chris and Wendy have thought of everything and their friendly, personal touch makes it a friendly and relaxed place to be. Some of the reasons we love it are:
- There are so many lovely places to visit within an easy drive - towns, parks, beaches, lakes, markets, vineyards. Every year we find something new.
- The gite complex is pretty, has great facilities and even if you can't see your children you know they are safe (and if they're like our kids they're probably gatecrashing tea in someone else's cottage)
- Everyone else we've met here is like minded. Nice people who like to socialise are happy to look out for each others kids but respect your space and privacy when you want it.
- Wendy and Chris organise regular events which are always fun, but it's not 'organised' fun and it is pitched at just the right level. The adults always enjoy the weekly bbq, moules night and taste du terroir and the kids love the Teddy bear picnic, pottery painting and generally hanging out with all their new friends.
- The local food and drink is just delicious and this part of France is a foodies delight. Chris and Wendy are very knowledgable in this regard and always happy to point you in the right direction of the best place to buy things or restaurants to visit.
- The pool area is fab and the small toddler pool perfect for babies or the children who arn't confdent enough yet for the big pool.

Ultimately we love this place and so do the kids. We can relax and feel safe in the knowledge we will have a wonderful time and as every parent knows, happy occupied children = happy relaxed parents and that's what good holidays are about. See you again next year !!

and Drew said....
Initially, it seemed like a way to spend a family holiday in a relaxed environment and a country which virtually guaranteed good food and wine. It was also a manageable drive with 2 small kids and a lot of ‘stuff'. As our boys have grown older, the volume of stuff has decreased. What hasn’t diminished is our love of the area, the relaxed atmosphere, the ability for the boys to socialise with other kids and adults (including Thomas and Benjamin), form friendships and experience a degree of independence (which is sometimes missing at home) in a safe environment.

We love the fact there is little to no TV, wifi or other distractions. It has allowed (and in my case sometimes forced) us to divorce from social media and focus on just being a family together. From the moment we arrive, we feel the weight lifting, aided by a bottle of Sauvignon, the murmuration of the starlings and the sunset over the fields.

Ultimately, it has now become a part of our family where we (and you) have watched our children grow up. They now think of it firmly as their holiday home.

Lastly, we also feel we have been fortunate to meet and make some like-minded friends in yourself, Chris and your two lovely boys. We truly love it and look forward to returning from the moment we leave.

I have attached some photos below from the last 4 years.

A l’annee prochaine!

We have just returned for our ninth (yes 9th !!) year this year to La Grange du Moulin. What keeps bringing us back to this lovely part of SW France ? Primarily it is the relaxed family atmosphere and the warm hospitality that Chris and Wendy provide here. The children love the onsite activities (t-shirt painting, pottery painting, scuba diving) and the company of other children staying here making for a relaxed holiday for the whole family.
The weekly bbq and communal feel to the front of the gites enable the adults to be sociable in the evenings, knowing that the children can play safely in the adjacent garden and play area. The pool are kept immaculately clean by Chris and the hot tub is a welcome addition for those cooler evenings !
La Grange du Moulin provides the perfect base for visiting a number of attractions within an hours drive - La Rochelle, the Ile de Ré, Cognac and the little electric boats at Saint Savinien have all been hits with our family over the years.
We would highly recommend this holiday to families with children under 10 years - thank you Chris and Wendy for nine memorable years !
and the children said....
...''My favorite things about this holiday are the comfortable gite and the swimming pool !'' (age 9yrs)
...'' I like the swimming pool, it is fun jumping in and I like to swim'' (age 5yrs)

We returned to stay with Chris and Wendy for a third time because it's simply a perfect family holiday. Our three boys are currently 8 & 4 yrs and 19mths old and it's a super environment for each of them to play safely with the friends they make. Even our toddler has the freedom to play independently in the garden while we watch him from our terrace with a book or cheeky glass of vin mousseaux. There are very few holidays around where you can let your toddler run wild safely.

For grown ups the social nature of the weekly barbecue that Wendy and Chris organise is wonderful too, it's a lovely informal way to get to know your neighbours and enjoy a local wine or three with them. It's not just the children that make lovely friends !

So all this when in the setting of rural France is why we return and plan on doing so for years to come. Even when we've tried another holiday we have ended up missing the gites - that says a lot !!

Like many families, we lead busy lives at home juggling work, school, sports and music activities and so on and our stays at La Grange du Moulin provide the perfect antidote - a relaxed stress free family holiday where we can unwind and reconnect.
Our children are now 10 and 7 yet were 6 and 3 when we first stayed - I just wish we'd found you sooner ! At each age, the children have been able to make friends and share the simple pleasures which La Grange du Moulin offers - swimming, 'playing out', making up games outside and building dens, counting bats and stars at night.
As parents we know they are safe which enables us to relax too. We have recommended La Grange du Moulin to many friends saying it's the only holiday we have truly relaxed ourselves - the children are happy so we're happy !
La Grange du Moulin offers the right mix of informal opportunities for socialising with the other like minded families through barbecue nights, teddy picnics etc as well as peaceful and private space for us as a family. We relish both and have made firm and long lasting friendships with other guests.
As a family, we enjoy discovering new places and there is plenty locally to explore. This is our third visit and we are planning our fourth. So why do we come back ? Whilst we enjoy other holidays in between our La Grange du Moulin visits to satisfy our thirst for travel, we have not found any of them to be anywhere near as relaxed. It's the simple pleasures, the perfect blend of social and quiet time, the warmth of Wendy and Chris and family as hosts, the slow pace of life not to forget the outstanding sunset views from the private terrace that bring us back time and time again. Thank you all so much .

This is our fourth visit to La Grange du Moulin and although we promised ourselves we'd never holiday in the same place twice - after all the world is a very big place ! However after our first visit to the gites it was obvious to us that Wendy and Chris offered something very special in a beautifully unspoilt area of France - it's been wonderful to return and explore the region from trips to the aquarium at La Rochelle to the lake and local markets. Our personal favorites have been Saint Savinien where the children can enjoy the boating lake and La Flotte on the Ile de Ré. However we know that we can find a real mix by balancing days spent out and about and those spent at the gites. The children enjoy the activities available from t-shirt painting, pottery painting and scuba diving. We have two boys aged 8 and 5 yrs and they look forward to this holiday like no other - making new friends, running around and playing in the garden, playing in the pool and swinging in the hammock under the trees. The gites offer us a completely secure gated environment so us parents can relax knowing our children are safe and happy playing and as everyone knows happy children = happy parents ! Wendy and Chris offer activities for the parents too - we've enjoyed the vineyard walk, taste du terroir, moules and bbq nights proving to be an absolute hit for the grown ups too ! After all it's our holiday too !
We've met some brilliant friends whom we've stayed in contact with and now endeavor to align our dates that we stay in the gites so we can enjoy the company of like minded individuals (of course by like minded we mean those who share our love for wine, cheese and laughter !) Wendy and Chris truly offer a delightful holiday for families and we whole heartedly recommend the gites. The gites have a certain charm which makes the experience of staying here just perfect for our little family. Thank you so much for all the memories you've given us.

Bordeaux with kids

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 18:14:21 GMT

and the Cité du vin

It's been years since Chris and I visited Bordeaux, well before the children were born. At the time it was just a big city with lots of building and roadworks causing disruption, certainly not somewhere we would recommend for a family day out to our guests staying with us at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies. It is and always has been, however a useful airport being an easy 1hr30 drive from us, so although further in miles it's not too much longer in driving time than our closest airport, La Rochelle, so definitely a viable alternative.

For decades Bordeaux was known as a 'sleeping beauty'. Abandoned warehouses blocked the view of the majestic river, black grime covered the 18th century buildings and traffic pollution discouraged the French outdoor café and restaurant culture. Massive investment, years of disruption and the vision and determination of the Bordelaise people has paid off. The warehouses are gone, replaced by wide pedestrianised promenades along the Garonne river where joggers, dog walkers and tourists can marvel at the stunning neoclassical architecture of the 'bourse' (stock exchange) reflected in the 'mirroir d'eau' where children splash and play throughout the summer.

Since our last visit Bordeaux has undergone a transformation. Voted Europes best destination, being Frances second most visited city after Paris and having half the city designated a UNESCO world heritage site, we thought it was time to see for ourselves what everyone was talking about.

We started our short break in Arcachon. It's a bit further south than Bordeaux so not really possible as a day trip from our holiday cottages however it's an ideal place as a stopover. You could extend a weeks holiday with us with a night in Arcachon followed by a few nights in Bordeaux . Alternatively just Bordeaux city is a perfectly 'doable' albeit long day trip.

Arcachon is famous for Europes largest sand dune - the dune du Pilat (sometimes spelt 'Pyla') It's Huuuuge !! We spent a very enjoyable (and exhausting) afternoon climbing up, walking the length, rolling down and struggling up and finally down again . It is 2.7km long , 500m wide and over 100m metres high - pretty impressive. Visiting in February, the wind at the top was bitter so we were glad to have hoods on our jackets, although climbing in the heat of the summer would perhaps be harder - take some water !! We had a great time, even our very nearly 15 year old couldn't resist rolling down the slopes.

After a night in Arcachon we drove to Bordeaux, just under an hours drive. We parked in one of the many city centre underground car parks. The city doesn't ban cars at all. There is on street parking as well as the underground car parks as it's a 'living' city - people actually live as well as work in the city centre which adds to it's success and vibrancy. Saying that, there has been huge investment in public transport and it is undoubtably the best way to get around the city. Travel passes can easily be purchased at the tourist information office which give you cheaper travel on the trams, boat, buses, bikes and even car hire (put in your card, unhook the electric car from the charger and go off to visit a Medoc winery !!) A typical one off ticket can be bought at the numerous tram stops. It costs 1€60 per person for unlimited travel in 1 hr so you could easily take a tram or bike tour of the city for an hour at a very reasonable price.

Since we were staying in the city center in an apartment on a pedestrianised street (like a local !) we parked up then left the car in the 24hr secure underground Tourny car park - a hop skip and a jump from St Catherine street where we were staying. It cost 27€ per 24hrs. For the rest of our time in Bordeaux we took public transport. Thomas was desperate to try the bikes - unfortunately they are too big for children and it's also illegal for an under 12 to cycle without a helmet in France and helmets arn't provided. However we did take the tram and the boat too - both of which were fun experiences for us 'country folk' !

In the afternoon we took a walk to the 'jardin public' where the famous Guignol puppet show (think 'punch and judy') is held. It's been going since 1853 and is a lovely thing to do with young children. It is held at 15.30 on Wednesday, weekend afternoons and public holidays. Our boys decided they were too old to watch a puppet show so instead we took a stroll around the park which surrounds a small lake where you can feed the ducks. There's also a large play area for under 12's, a lovely spot to while away an hour or so.

On our second day in Bordeaux we took the tram to the Cité du Vin. Rather than a 'wine museum' it's described as an 'immersive voyage to discover the culture of wine' it certainly does what it says on the tin ! It recommends 2 to 3 hours to fully appreciate everything on offer. With very young children, that's likely to be cut short but our two were more than entertained. There's more than 10 hours of information to listen to or view so you can't possibly watch it all anyway and we spent a good hour around all the interactive elements which would easily entertain younger kids for at least a short time.

First you collect your headset programmed to your language (8 to choose from) and the wifi reader which you scan on each of the displays you want to watch or listen to. This means you can walk around in any direction, there's no set order and you can listen to as much or as little as you want, go back, skip stuff, return, re watch, pause, rewind etc - great if you have kids dragging you off to see something 'amazing' in the middle of a really interesting piece of information.

It's all very modern with 'virtual' experts to test your knowledge against and ask questions of; Sit around a dinner table listening to a sommelier and wine grower chat about 'terroir' or watch 3d egyptians picking grapes and crushing them with their feet .

Kids will love the smelly bicycle horns - squeeze it it and sniff ! or guessing what the texture or colour is or testing their knowledge too - there's something for everyone.

The cost is 20€ per adult, 16€ for reduced rate (disabled, job seeker, student) and 9€ for under 18's but you can get discounts when booking online and at the tourist information center however as a family it was cheaper to purchase a family ticket onsite - these arn't available elsewhere. So for 2 adults and 2 children (under 18) it was 50€ but you could of brought up to 4 children for the same price with under 6 yrs free of charge.

After our visit we made our way to the 8th floor for our wine tasting. There's a choice of 20 wines from around the world - we tried an 'ice wine' (wine made from frozen grapes) - highly recommended and a Moldavian wine (as Chris had never tasted one) - not highly recommended ! The children get a glass of grape juice included in the price of their ticket.

There are a couple of places to eat on site too. It was lunchtime when we finished so we ate at 'Le 7' restaurant on the 7th floor with a fab view over the city and of the river. It's a lovely restaurant and we enjoyed a good meal but it's a bit pricey (location) and you need be hungry unless you just order a starter. A more relaxed informal option for families with younger children is the 'boutique' on the ground floor (which we only new existed on our way out) where they serve lighter bites, soup etc

There's the obligatory stop in the gift shop (all sorts of wine related souvenirs and gifts) plus a fabulous wine shop with wines from around the world where Chris spent nearly as long as for the whole tour !
Just outside is the boat dock where we caught one back to the city center - it cost 2€ pp but would of been cheaper if we had pre bought the ticket. Make sure you have a boat timetable though (pick one up from the tourist info) as they arn't very regular - at the time we were travelling there was only one an hour.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Cité du vin in Bordeaux and if you love wine it's well worth the trip. It's a long day out but you could tie it up with a scenic drive to Royan, where you can take the ferry across to the Medoc and drive to the city through all the famous wine villages such as Pauillac and Margaux.

Since we were staying overnight in Bordeaux we were in no rush, so enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon wandering the streets of the city past bric a brac strores, street cafés and exclusive high end shops . The city architecture is stunning, the streets are very people friendly - all in all it's 'best destination' title and UNESCO label are well deserved. Well done Bordeaux for turning this cities fortunes around and awakening the sleeping beauty.

We visited Bordeaux in February 2018

Babysitting

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:05:06 GMT

with a registered child minder

At La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies child friendly gites we have always offered a babysitting service, even before we had children of our own. Since having our own two boys we realised we could offer so much more to parents with young children and so began to develop the 'child friendly' element of our family holiday cottages. In 2007 Wendy became a registered child minder in France. This involved 120 hours of training including a first aid course, a police check on both Chris and I , a written examination and a home inspection by social services. Once certified I was able to offer a child minding service where I may look after children in my own home. However due to recent changes in the law we are unable to offer this service anymore to non French nationals.

Our babysitting service is available to all our guests. On request (and subject to availability) Wendy will come to your holiday cottage to look after your children whilst you go out to enjoy a well deserved evening out. There are several excellent restaurants in our local town of St Jean d'Angely that are 'worth a babysitter'

Full details and prices can be found on our extra services page

Professional wine tastings

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:35:04 GMT

at our family holiday cottages

When staying at our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of France we can offer exclusive wine tastings and other wine related activities. Professional wine tastings, Family vineyard tours and Taste du terroir social evenings which all add to mum and dads holiday enjoyment.

Our wine tastings and other wine related activities are organised by Chris Blakeman - our very own professional wine expert. He has made his living in the wine industry teaching 'wine' to employees, wine tasting as a judge at the international wine challenge and working within the hospitality industry for over 20 years. It is also a passionate hobby and he enjoys sharing his knowledge to all who are interested and dispelling some of the mystery which surrounds wine.

We are ideally situated in France, here in the Charente Maritime, the family holiday cottages are in fact in the heart of the Fin Bois region of Cognac and vines can be found in any direction. Bordeaux and its world famous vineyards are only a 1.5hr drive.

Professional wine tastings at La Grange du Moulin

Six fine wines will be selected to give a well rounded and enjoyable tasting. The evening is intended to be an informal and friendly chat about wine where you feel at ease and able to ask any questions you wish about wine. Chris will go through in detail how to taste a wine including appearance, nose and taste. You will have the chance to make notes and discuss what you see, smell, think about each wine. No one will be put on the spot and you can say as much or as little as you wish. In all it lasts about 2.5 hours. Held in our front garden, baby monitors should reach from your cottage.

We can tailor the tasting to your tastes too - nothing is fixed - we have offered champagne tastings, just reds, just whites - whatever you like we'll give you a prices on request.

2 to 8 per group, no children. 180 euros per group (so 30€ per adult for 6 or 22.50€ for 8).

Jean Balluet

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:35:02 GMT

the alternative Cognac tour

Each week at our barbecues I bring out my now famous 'chocolate chip cookie' dessert and Chris brings down a frosty bottle of 'Tempete de la mer' (stormy sea) This delicious liqueur drips into your glass and then glides down your throat with the ease of melted chocolate and just as gorgeous. Its sweet and chilled with a slight 'petillance' and 30% alcohol,so its pretty lethal !

The cries of 'wow' and 'that's delicious' are heard every week and inevitably at least one family will make the 30 minute drive a day or so later to stock up on this 'sparkling Cognac' as we call it, to take home with them.

Since many of our guests at our family holiday cottages visit Balluets, we rarely make the journey ourselves these days, we just ask them to buy a few bottles for us when they go, however last week we were completely out and since we were on our way back from Angouleme we popped in. This time our eldest son was with us. He hears the stories every week about Jean Balluet and his 'alternative Cognac tour' but has never been himself . It's been about 15 years since we ourselves have done his tour around the distillery - we usually just pop in buy what we need and leave; but today we had some spare time and decided it was time Benjamin had the pleasure.

You would need to know where it was to find it, blink and you'd miss it. No big sign (I don't think there's any sign) and not much to look at. A few stainless steel tanks at the back, but those can be found all over the area, as many farmers produce wine to sell to the large Cognac houses to distill since we are in the fin bois region of Cognac vineyards.

Jean wasn't there that day, it was Arlette, a neighbour and friend of Jeans who took us on the tour. (probably a good thing as Jean is quite the comedian but his jokes are a bit on the rude side - our 13 yr old would die of embarrassment !)
She starts the tour by getting you to look in the mirrors which are straight from the fairground - making you fat or thin or very short (they don't do that on the Hennessy tour !)

Arlette then locks the front door and takes you passed rows of barrels in a dark passage to where you have the tasting session. We passed by the next part as Benjamin was with us and it was only 11am ! This tasting of the Balluet Cognac and Pineau is legendary. You get to taste everything and you get huge glasses of the amber liquids - make sure you have a dedicated driver !!!

The Cognac barrel is next - you get to take a big sniff and as you do Arlette blows through another hole so you get blown away by the Cognac fumes up your nostrils - certainly clears the airways (I always remember Jean asking for the lady with the largest chest and lowest cut top to bend down to the barrel for this trick !)

You get to see where the grapes come into the distillery and the grapes are separated from the stalks in the grappoir. You are shown the maceration and storage tanks, the swan neck copper still and finally row upon row of barrels filled with eau de vie, maturing and waiting to be blended into Cognac. You are shown the whole process from beginning to end . This isn't the glossy, slick tour of the famous Cognac houses - it's the 'real' tour of a real working distillery. The floors are sticky, cobwebs hang in every nook and cranny, you bend to walk under pipes and past stainless steel tanks.

La 'piece de resistance' is the tower ! Four flights up a dark, wooden staircase to a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside. 15 years ago it was just the view, now there is a big orientation map and two telescopes.

Our son felt very privileged to of done the Jean Balluet tour that he had heard so much about; we are privileged to have such an excellent local Cognac producer who thinks outside the box and has developed new products to attract new business. Unfortunately they had run out of sparkling Cognac until the 10th July, so we shall be going back very soon. We did however buy some of his sparkling Pineau which is just as delicious (and slightly less deadly) the problem is it was so delicious we went through two bottles before the barbecue even got going !

To make a day of it, you should also visit the Siecq winery just a few minutes away. No tour but you can have a tasting of all they produce. We have a chilled bottle of their Sauvignon for our guests when they first arrive and use their Pinot noir on our Taste du Terroir evenings. They also do a superb sparkling wine (champagne method) for just 6€ so well worth a visit.

If you have travelled to us in the car rather than flying you can also fill up plastic bottles of your own with their vrac wine sold by weight . In fact trying and buying local wines, Pineau and Cognac and being able to take some home with you is one of the main reasons we recommend driving to us here in the Charente Maritime !

If you have the kids with you you can make it more of a family day out by continuing along the road to Rouillac where there is a stunning Roman theatre set into the side of the hill. It's a lovely stroll through the oak woodland, where the kids can run around freely, with a beautiful view at the top.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Ernest le glacier

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:35:00 GMT

hundreds of different flavoured ice creams and sorbets

Whenever visiting La Rochelle we recommend popping into Ernests ice cream shop; we always make time, usually after a meal at Andrés seafood restaurant

It's always busy and there's often a queue but it's worth it. There is an array of ice creams to choose from,(100 apparently) too many really - it's often really hard to choose which one or ones to have !

The flavours range from strawberry, vanilla and chocolate to lime with basil, bubblegum, fig and melon in Pineau - yumm.

They now have two shops in La Rochelle and one in Niort too. They do ice lollies, cornets and 'pot Italien' which you can fill with up to 10 different flavours and share with friends !

The scoops are always really generous - the double scoops in the top picture cost 4€

content by Wendy Blakeman

Pigeons blanc restaurant

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:34:58 GMT

Cognac

We were celebrating a friends birthday and decided to try a new restaurant - well new to us any way, the restaurant and hotel have been in existence since 1973 but we have only just got around to going and we are so glad we did.

Les Pigeons Blancs is set on the edge of the town of Cognac (of the drink fame) which is an easy 20-30 min drive from our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of France. The hotel has been home to the Tachet family since the 17th century and has been a 'relais de poste' since Francois 1st. Family member, Jaques Tachet is the chef.

It is set in beautiful gardens filled with oak and walnut trees, rose bushes and well manicured lawns. We visited on a perfect day, the sun was shining, the temperature a very pleasant 28c with a gentle breeze - perfect for a long lazy birthday lunch.

We chose the 5 course degustation menu at 59€ a head with one of us choosing a supplement of 16€ for the lobster - the menu was excellent value but the lobster supplement was not, it was a very small lobster dish and not worth the extra 16€ on top when the perfectly cooked sea bass alternative was included in the menu. We had a foie gras starter, the fish course, then duck, cheese and dessert.

It was a refreshing change to find the cheese course included as so menu restaurants these days seem to be offering it as a supplement.

We also had a childrens menu (19€) which was a delicately cooked piece of salmon served with risotto followed by a choice of desserts from the dessert trolley - we always think its a sign of a very good restaurant when they offer a grown up childrens menu which any adult would be happy to eat.

The dessert trolley was fab - we were told by Jean-Michel that we had to choose a MINIMUM of 3 desserts so here is our youngest with his strawberry creme brulee, raspberry charlotte and coffee meringue

One of our party also chose the 38€ 'le nez du marché' menu which is described as 1/3 of fresh produce, - 1/3 of Skill, - 1/3 of Friendship ... Jean- Michel describes the options in detail and it is all the more charming and feels more 'spontaneous' than being written on a board. Catherine and Jean - Michel are so relaxed and friendly, you feel very welcome; despite it being a 'gastronomic restaurant' there is no stuffiness; we had a very relaxing and enjoyable meal.

Since we welcome families with children, toddlers and babies to our holiday cottages here in France it would not make sense to simply go for a gastronomic meal and then go straight 'home' again so we recommend working off some of those desserts with a walk around the André Mermet park, just a couple of km away from the Pigeons Blancs restaurant. Its a bit far to walk with young children although you could take the river bank walk with a buggy which would be beautiful on a sunny day (we were lazy and took the car !)

Being a very sunny Sunday the park was very busy, filled with families barbecuing, picknicking and eating in the onsite café/bar . There are bouncy castles (optional extra fee)

a play park, petanque court, huge sandpit, football ground, zip wire, lots of trees, park benches and tables and lots of space to run around and work off that lunch

all set on the edge of the Charente river where you can hire pedaloes and canoes, go swimming or go for a walk

All in all a lovely family day out, you could really make a full day out by visiting one of the many Cognac houses in the morning before lunch !

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Brulot Charentaise

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 16:08:42 GMT

a real after dinner spectacle

We were introduced to this wonderful Charentaise delight many years ago and used to offer it in the early hours after each of our weekly barbecues in our family holiday accommodation here in the Charente Maritime in France. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone as a great spectacle and a superb way to round off the evening. Somewhere over the years we have replaced the spectacle of the brulot Charentaise at the weekly barbecue with the 'sparkling Cognac' and only rediscovered this coffee delight last night when we had dinner with some family from Australia on their last evening with us and needed something special that they would never forget and is truly Charentaise.

Here at La Grange du Moulin we are in the heart of the Fin Bois area of Cognac, a zone 'appellation controlée' of eaux de vie of Cognac and fixed by law in 1909 . The zone was defined by the geologist Henri Coquand in 1860 and produces 42% of the wines that go to be distilled into eaux de vie and subsequently aged and blended to make cognac. Not surprisingly a number of other 'cognac' based gastronomic delights are produced such as the wonderful 'Pineau des Charente' and of course the brulot Charentaise or Charentaise coffee.

There are special cups with saucers and heat proof pottery discs to protect the table and a particular type of Cognac that must be used to produce this spectacular effect. The Cognac is called 'La Flamme des Anges' and is 58% vol rather than the regular 40% vol. This means the flame burns hotter and longer than a regular Cognac would allowing the cold coffee in the cups to boil and then ignite the cognac inside too.

So how is it done ? It has to be really dark to get the effect, no good on a summers day lunch ! First of all mix cold water and instant coffee into the cup . Place the cup and saucer onto the heat proof disc and place three sugar lumps into the saucer. Fill the saucer with the Brulot Charentaise Cognac and also gently pour some into the coffee too. Ignite the saucer. This in itself creates a brilliant blue flame which surrounds the cups and heats the coffee inside. Once the coffee boils it then ignites the Cognac in the coffee creating a spectacular new blast of blue flame. Once the flames have gone out, very carefully (as the cups and saucers are extremely hot !) pour the syrup (which has been made in the saucer from the melted sugar/cognac mix) into the coffee - Enjoy, its delicious !

content by Wendy Blakeman

K-Bane restaurant , Ile d'Oleron

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 16:08:38 GMT

for seafood lovers

Leave early !!

We rarely have the time to visit the coast in summer but the weekend of our wedding anniversary , Chris fancied some Gillardeau oysters so we cleared our schedules for the Sunday and headed out for the Ile d'Oleron where Gillardeau has its oyster beds, shop and 24hr oyster vending machine !

We had planned to spend an hour or so on the beach before some lunch and before it got too busy but unfortunately we didn't get going until 11am and should of known better We ended up in a 40 minute traffic jam - at this time of year the coast is a nightmare and we vowed never to attempt the journey again so 'late' in the day ! Top tip for summer excursions to the coast LEAVE EARLY !!

K-Bane restaurant

By the time we escaped the jam it was lunchtime. We had heard of a seafood place just after the bridge that is famous for it's mussels 'eglade' (or eclade as it's known on the mainland) Jean - Patrick, the owner and 'ostréiculteur' (oyster harvester) has been selling his oysters to the Paris restaurants for 20 years but wanted to get back to his roots and conserve his links to his original customers on the Island so opened a restaurant in a cabin just across the Ile d'Oleron bridge and next to his oyster beds; the 'K-bane' seafood restaurant was born.

Eglade or Eclade ?

The Ile d'Oleron is also famous for it's mussels as well as it's oysters and a well known Oleron recipe is the 'Eglade' . This consists of a tray of mussels standing upright and covered with pine needles from the many pine forests on the island. These are then set alight and the mussels are cooked in the heat and take on a smokey flavour. It's quite a spectacle to watch and the preparation for each plate takes around half an hour so must be ordered in advance. We were a little confused at first as to the correct name as we had seen signs for both Eclade and Eglade - was it two different recipes ? Apparently not - Eglade is the 'correct' name originating on the Ile d'Oleron; Eclade is what the 'mainlanders' call it !

The restaurant is a seafood lovers heaven - it's for purists - nothing other than oysters, mussels, crab, lobster, bulot, langoustine and prawns on the menu. All dishes are served with sauteed potatoes and the desserts are simple (ice cream, galette charentaise and iles flottantes) We had hoped to try the famous Eglade but the dish has to be ordered in advance, so we had to content ourselves with oysters, fish soup, moules marinier and lobster !

We had a delicious meal and thought the quality, freshness and value were all excellent, we'd highly recommend the K-bane and will definitely be returning.

That day was quite an oyster fest as on the return we picked up the Gillardeau oysters we had come for and enjoyed those with a few bottles of delicious white wine back at home.

The service at K-bane was excellent, very friendly and efficient too. The restaurant is open from Easter to the end of September. Full details and opening times can be on their web site here . When staying at any of our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime we can organise the Eglade experience for you. We shall definitely be going again, but this time we shall leave much earlier to avoid the traffic and also we shall reserve our 'Eglade'.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Marais Poitevin , Niort

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 14:43:02 GMT

or green venice as it's otherwise known

The Marais Poitevin is an area of inland waterways (both natural and man made), marsh land and dry low land lying to the west of Niort covering over 970km2 and three departments in the Poitou Charente region of western France (from where it takes it's name - the marsh land of the Poitou.)

The area is rich in flora and fauna and in 2010 was awarded the label Grand site de France. This label is managed by the ministry of ecology. The 'grand site' label guarantees that the area is conserved and managed using sustainable principles, combing conservation with the 'spirit' of the area and a quality visitor experience by working with the inhabitants and partners of the area.

We last visited the region of the 'venise Vert' (green venice as its nickname has become) some 15 years ago and the change is noticeable. It is a beautiful area and has undoubtedly become extremely popular. Where there was once one small restaurant and one café is now a bustling centre for tourism where you can hire bikes, choose your restaurant, shop for souvenirs, take a tourist road train and of course hire a boat to explore the waterways. Where we once haggled over the price of our boat with a young French man and his dog, there is now an office de tourism, glossy leaflets showing the prices of boat hire and a helpful, well trained group of men, highlighting the best route to take, the picnic area and fitting the children out with life jackets as well as helping you into your boat.

We arrived at midday and hired our boat for the 8 of us (grandparents, uncle and aunt, ourselves and the two boys for 'unlimited time' (!) for just 32€ so great value. We had brought our own picnic so spent a very pleasant hour or so in the picnic area eating our olives, cold meats and delicious cheeses on fresh crusty bread under the dappled shade of the poplar and ash trees lining the waterways, rustling in the breeze. The Charolais and Limousin cows watched us from the opposite bank as they lazily munched on their own picnic lunch of lush grass.

The wildlife is stunning. Our boys spotted heron, kingfisher, swans and ducks as well as a coypou and thousands of brilliant blue dragonflies. We spent several hours gliding along the water. It wasn't the hottest of days, with some large clouds and even a few spots of rain, but the sun won the day and we kept dry and were thankful of the large overhanging trees and their shade when the sun shone. It would be an excellent day trip on a very hot day as the water and trees would keep you cool.

The route the boat owner had given us was superb, a good mixture of the larger 'canals' and lots of smaller ones where we passed by some beautiful houses (with their own boats moored) under lots of walkways, some stunning flower displays, several cafés and restaurants (where you can pull your boat in and stop) and we even managed to take a wrong turn and narrowly missed going down a 30 foot drop (or was it 30cm !) still it was clearly the wrong way, but we survived thanks to our two superb rowers.

You don't need to be as physical as we were. Most people hire a guide who will effortlessly row them through the history, flora and fauna of the area as well as lighting the marsh gas the bring up with their oars from the silty canal bottom; from 7€ pp from 4 people or 5€50 for 6/8 people for 45 minutes. We however have always loved the excitement of crashing into overhanging bushes, taking wrong turns along dead ends, dicing with death near 30cm drops and generally rowing around in circles as we argue over who should be rowing harder ! All part of the fun.

We started in Coulon, an easy 45 minute drive from our family holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime France, but there are a number of other villages around the area which also offer boat hire to explore the waterways. This day trip is a highly recommended day out when staying in our self catering gites. I would particularly recommend it to families with children over the age of 6 as it may be a bit too stressful with very young children trying to jump out and catch the fish ! Boats can be hired for just 1hr or over 4hrs which also includes access to the picnic area. The boat owners will give you a route to suit the length of time you have paid for.

The Embarcadere Prada boat hire that we used in Coulon is open 7 days a week from Easter to October half term from 10h to 18h (9.30h to 19h in July and August and 10h to 17h in October) Further information can be found at their web site

www.bateau-maraispoitevin.fr

content by Wendy Blakeman

Money Saving ideas

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 14:43:00 GMT

to make your holiday budget stretch further

The last thing you want to be is worried about money whilst on holiday so how can you have a great family holiday and keep to a budget ?

1, Travel – take advantage of the offers. Holiday and travel companies often have early booking deals – Brittany ferries always increase their standard 20% discount to 25% during the month of October (we can give you a code when you either like our facebook page or make a booking with us) Lots of companies start to advertise deals straight after Christmas, so sign up to follow their twitter and facebook accounts so you see the offers as soon as they appear. Check out your supermarket loyalty cards as points can sometimes be exchanged for tickets for the tunnel or ferry crossings. Check out the price comparison sites like http://www.skyscanner.net/ and Martins money tips for deals on cheap car hire and flights.

2, Shopping – on a self catering holiday it is one of my favourite parts wandering around the ‘foreign’ supermarkets and markets, but just as in the Uk there are cheap ones such as Lidl, Ed, Leader Price but they often do not have the same range or quality products that the larger hypermarkets do and although you may be happy to shop around and buy certain things from certain shops at home, who wants to spend time doing it on holiday ! In a study last summer of the larger hypermarkets in France E.leclerc was found to be 20% cheaper than the highest priced supermarket which is great news for us since our nearest supermarket happens to be E.Leclerc ! They now have a good range of ‘premier prix’ own brand products many of which are good value, but unlike UK supermarkets these are not placed at eye level but down on the bottom shelf, so rather than automatically picking up the obvious ‘BN’ brand kids biscuits at 0.94€, look down to the bottom shelf and pick up a packet of own brand for 0.46€.

Another thing about shopping is that some things are cheaper than the uk but others are a lot more expensive. For example a pack of 68 Pampers 4+ active fit in Tescos is £10 or 11.15€ – in E.leclerc it is 21.19€ !! A huge difference, so worth bringing all you need from the uk if you are driving (but a bit harder to do if flying !) However wine is another matter – as long as you are happy to drink French (and why wouldn’t you be when coming to France on holiday !) You’ll find incredible value not only in the local supermarkets but also in small local producers too.

3, Petrol/diesel – is a huge expense both in the UK and in France but it is still cheaper here and if you are driving down this can be a considerable cost on your holiday. Today a litre of diesel in France is approx. 1.00€, in the UK 1.50€ ; for unleaded it is 1.30€ in France and 1.45€ in the UK. So don’t top up in the Uk, top up when you get to France. Another point about fuel is, just as in the UK it is more expensive on the motorways and at branded stations such as Esso, so if possible fill up in the supermarkets before your journey. Tolls are another consideration when travelling through France. This site http://www.autoroutes.fr will plan your journey and give you an estimate on not only the tolls but the fuel cost too, giving you a good idea before you leave. For example, you may decide the tunnel is much cheaper than a ferry crossing but make sure you factor in 130€ of tolls (65€ each way) and a similar amount in fuel, plus it is a long drive to the west and south coasts so you may need to stop en route, especially if you have young children.

See our top ten list of free things to do

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Le Scorlion restaurant

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 14:42:56 GMT

Saint Jean d'Angely

We have been frequenting the Le Scorlion restaurant in Saint Jean d'Angely for 20 years and have enjoyed the food there from all the three restauranteurs that have owned it during that time. We are incredibly lucky to have such a top class restaurant in our little town of St Jean with it's population of just 8000 people.

Thomas and Claire Routhieau

Le Scorlion and it's present owners Thomas and Claire Routhieau are really pulling out all the stops to really put the restaurant on the map. Having travelled all over the world and working at the Georges V in Paris no less, Thomas is putting all his experience into his menu and dishes and it really shows. The food is becoming more and more refined and has this year been awarded the new ' l'assiette Michelin' for recognition of a really good quality meal. The restaurant also has two knives and forks which recognises 'good quality' in terms of the restaurant itself - table setting, greeting, service etc

Worth a babysitter

We always recommend this restaurant to our families staying with us in our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime. It provides a lovely grown up ambiance all year and in summer has a delightful wooden deck terrace at the front, inside the old Abbey cloisters - perfect for a warm summer evening. If our families ask for a recommendation we generally send them here as the quality of the meal is worth paying the babysitter (me !) Alternatively you could go for lunch and take the children, they have a high chair but no childrens menu.

Recent visit

We ate here quite recently with the boys and had a lovely Sunday lunch. It was very busy with both the terrace and inside full so it's important to make a reservation (we will do this for you when staying with us) We all chose the Menu Gourmand at 39€ (there's no childrens menu and our two wouldn't choose it if there were !) which includes 'La Surprise' if you are adventurous - which we are and it was a delicious piece of ............. (shan't spoil the surprise) They will suggest a wine to accompany the surprise if you ask.

Amuse Bouches

We love restaurants where they bring you the bite sized hors d'oeuvres and we always get at least two at Le Scorlion. It makes you feel like you are getting really good value for money ! They change regularly so it's always a treat as you never know what they'll be.

The Menu

Thomas has three menus: menu de l'abbaye at 26€; menu Gourmand at 39€ and their mid week lunch menu is just 16€50 plus their occasional brunch menu individually priced dishes such as eggs benedict, pancakes, grilled fish with potatoes, ceasar salad with confit of duck and a variety of desserts

The future

We'd love to see some home made rolls of different flavours - walnut and fig for example and butters to go with them as we have experienced at some Michelin starred restaurants and a dedicated wine waiter too.

We love their themed nights with Jazz and their regular brunches where they offer a completely different menu and hope those continue.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Vineyard walk and Pineau tasting

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:47:44 GMT

for all the family

Chris worked for many years in the wine industry, buying, selling and tasting wine. Since coming to live in France it has continued to be a passionate hobby and we have incorporated a number of wine related activities into the activities we offer here at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies to take advantage of his expert knowledge ! One of these is the vineyard walk and Pineau tasting.

The walk takes place in the morning around 10am so we are back in time for lunch. We start with a glass of the locally produced Pineau des Charentes. Chris explains what it is and where it came from, with a small glass of 18% alcohol in our system, we then start on our (merry) way along the country lanes and tracks surrounding the La Grange du Moulin child and toddler friendly holiday cottages. It's not far (less than 2km all the way) and we walk slowly and stop regularly so even the smallest legs can keep up. You can take a buggy just in case they give up half way.

Along the route, Chris talks about the local countryside, it's history and uses. Once at the vines he goes into much more detail about vines and wine. You can ask as many questions as you like . Kids may get a little bored at this point so there's a 'treasure hunt' list of things to find (a flower, a pebble, a grape, a vine leaf etc) They can run around freely, chase crickets or each other.

It's all very relaxed and informal but very informative too and a very pleasant way to spend a morning when staying with us. It lasts about 2 hours.

Booking your summer holiday independently

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:47:42 GMT

at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies

January is our busiest month for taking bookings for the coming season. Christmas is over, you get back to work, it is grey, damp and cold and need something to look forward to. With the economic climate still biting as well as the frosty January wind you need a good value family holiday that won't break the bank but will give everyone a well earned rest. You won't be the only one thinking that and with thousands of views on our site in January alone you need to make a decision quickly to get the dates and holiday cottage, villa or gite that you are after. Read on and find out how you can save money with our 20% discount off Brittany ferry crossings from the UK.

At La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies we offer competitively priced family friendly self catering holiday accommodation, we arn't offering luxury but in the words of one of our guests ''it makes the cottages much more suitable for little ones''. All our gites, cottages and villas are comfortably furnished with the needs of young families in mind and fully equipped too, we also have some more exclusive properties and stand alone villas with pools for those of you with older children or groups of adults.

As we say on our site, this sort of holiday won't suit everyone and it is extremely important to Chris and I that every family that books enjoys their time with us, so ask as many questions as you need to. The right property for your family is out there, so take some time to research and you'll find it.

Most of our bookings come through families finding us on a google search but we do advertise with all the big names too, some take commission, so if you find us on one of those its worth doing a bit more searching to find us independently as we will be cheaper that way.

You may well be looking at several different properties in which case we recommend reading their web sites fully and if you have a question or there is something you are not sure about, email the owners. We are always happier if families contact us either by phone or email before they decide to book, that way we are sure they have all the information they need and that our property is right for them.

Make sure the property has lots of photos available and reviews from previous guests and see if they have a 'presence ' on the web like a facebook , google + , twitter , instagram and pinterest pages, you'll get to know the owners better and see interaction with them and 'real people' which will give you more confidence. You will find us on all of these, just click on the links. As a thank you for following us on facebook or twitter, google+ or pinterest we'll give you our discount code and link to get your 20% discount off Brittany ferry crossings. You don't even have to book your holiday accommodation with us ! You will find La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies reviewed on a number of independent review sites such as trip advisor , Mumsnet , Netmums , and Recommended family holidays , as well as our own extensive review pages .

Once you have all the information you need, email us to reserve your cottage and complete the online booking form. We will send you a copy of the completed form on receipt and an email to confirm the reservation with details of payment of the deposit. You should receive an email within a few hours or if you send it in the evening, the following morning at the latest. If you do not receive an email from us check your junk/spam folder and try contacting us again - we are usually very prompt in our response so it must mean your form/email or phone message has gone astray.

In order to confirm your reservation we will need a £250 (€300) deposit which can be paid by bank transfer into our UK account or if you prefer, by paypal (payments by paypal will be taken in euros) We can give you a price in euros too, if you are travelling from Ireland, this is paid by transfer to our French account and shouldn't cost anything to transfer.

You will know exactly how much the property will cost you with no worries about fluctuations in exchange rates (unless paying by paypal). The balance is payable 10 weeks prior to the start of your holiday and we remind you about this a few weeks before so you have time to organise the transfer. We are also happy to take payments in installments prior to the 10 week deadline, making it easier to budget.

When booking independently take some time and care and you'll save money and have exactly the great value holiday you and your family deserve.

Do not hesitate to ask us any questions you may have at all.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Top tips holiday with toddlers

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:55:19 GMT

to make it relaxing and a reality !

As every parent knows, holidaying with toddlers and babies may not be the most relaxing break you've ever had. Those days of lying by the pool for hours on end soaking up the hot sun may not seem to be attainable anymore, but all may not be lost. Holidaying abroad with your newly extended family is not an impossibility and could actually be more relaxing than you thought possible. We have some top tips for travelling with toddlers and things to think about when looking for your next summer holiday.

Martyn family review - child aged 1yr '' We have had one of the most relaxing holidays I can remember having. Within hours of arriving we felt very at home. Our son has absolutely loved the garden and all the toys and we feel we've seen him developing before our eyes during our visit. The teddy bears picnic was a real highlight for him. Wendy and Chris put a lot of effort into making sure everyone has a good time and their boys played tirelessly with our son and even baked us delicious cakes ! Never thought a holiday with a toddler could be so relaxing ''

When to travel - when most people think 'summer' holiday they are talking about travelling in July and August. This may be possible when there's just the two of you but now you have a toddler and a baby it may be worth thinking about other times of the year. You have just 4 years before you'll be forced into travelling in the 'peak' season, so while you can (assuming you arn't a teacher) it makes more sense to travel in June or September when prices are lower for not only accommodation but for your travel too. Competition at this time of year is fierce so you can get bargains but its worth signing up for updates from your preferred travel companies and holiday accommodation as often they have offers well before the January rush.

Anywhere in Europe south of the Loire gets fantastic weather from at least May onwards and often well into October. Our own area of the Charente Maritime enjoys the second most sunshine hours after the Mediterranean coast in France - after all we are just an hour away from the world famous vineyards of the Medoc and Bordeaux and we are surrounded by the vineyards for Cognac - so it must be great weather !! It is also a consideration not to go anywhere too hot - Greece and Portugal can be sweltering, even in June. When you are constantly trying to keep a hat on your two year old and slathering suncream over your baby, that 'hot' weather you were craving doesn't seem like such a great idea . June in France is beautiful, mid 20's with still mild evenings and nights, so it's not too hot to sleep and the days don't get so hot you have to stay inside during the day to prevent baby and toddler from overheating.

Sharpe family review ''We have 4 young children and this was our first overseas holiday with them. By providing a safe, fun environment with plenty of other children to befriend, La Grange du Moulin gave us all a wonderful holiday. The kids loved the pools and with so many playmates for them my wife and I had a surprisingly large amount of time to relax and unwind. Wendy and Chris are great hosts and really looked after us. Chris gave exert and generous guidance to the local wines and spirits. We all had a very special 2 weeks. We very much look forward to returning next year !!''

How to travel - plane, train or automobile ? Well in my opinion the car is the way to go when you have young children. We travelled back and forth often to the UK when our two boys were very young and we always found that the car was the best all round. When they are small, children tend to sleep in the car, so you can really get some miles under the belt while they are dozing and use your petrol / loo breaks to let them have a run / crawl around to stretch their legs (a great advantage of having toddlers still in nappies is that you don't have to stop for the wee breaks so often !) Another advantage of taking your own car is that you can take 'everything' and more importantly bring back lots of wine ! As the children get a bit older the stops may become more frequent and the thought of travelling hundreds of miles may seem daunting but gone are the days when I was young, of staring at the clouds or spotting number plates - in car dvd players are brilliant - beg or borrow one if you don't have one, mp3 players with kids headphones and packed full of stories is another great invention ! We also always made sure we had a ready supply of 'non sticky' snacks like packets of raisins that my two would spend ages eating as they picked them one by one out of the tiny box and rice crackers were a firm favourite and sticker books and colouring books with a small selection of crayons (not felt tips if you value your car seats)

I will admit though that the car isn't for everyone, every family and child is different, we were lucky and no one suffers from car sickness, ferry phobias or drive for a living so just want to leave the car at home. Also France is really the only sunshine destination that it is feasible to drive to. Flying is a great alternative option, particularly in this day and age of cheaper airlines and if you just have a baby or young toddler who travels for free it can be a very economical way of getting to your destination. Again, sign up for notifications to the airline operators so you don't miss out on their sales. When staying at our own family holiday accommodation, you will need a hire car, we really are in the countryside, but I would recommend hiring a car wherever you are, even if only for a few day trips out; it seems a shame to me that families travel all this way and then don't take advantage of visiting the local area and experiencing the local culture. Try a comparison site when you are ready to book, whether it be for flights or car hire as all the big companies have deals going on at some time or another, in our experience none are any better or worse than another, its more a question of who you can get the best deal from at the time.

Wall family review ''We have just spent a fabulous week in the Papillon gite, our first holiday with children. It is a wonderful setting in the rolling countryside with nothing but open fields as far as you can see. Wendy and Chris have tried to think of everything and anything they can do to make your holiday with young children as stress free as possible- and they have certainly achieved this. There are some lovely touches
which make this place 'stand out from the norm', from boxes of toys in each gite, to a dvd library and the evening taste du terroir and seafood bbqs were fantastic and a must do. It is in a great location with plenty to see and do, the zoo, aquarium and great beaches all found within an hour or so. I cannot rate this holiday highly enough, but as a family we only have one regret - that we didn't book two weeks !''

How to book - meaning, whether to go it alone and book direct so avoiding the middle man costs or use an agent whether that be a travel agent or by booking through a company like booking.com, holiday lettings or airbnb. I personally always book direct as I know I can save a lot of money and am not paying the third party fee but you do need to be careful. Make sure you verify a place whether it be by actually calling the owner, finding independent reviews on trip advisor, mumsnet, netmums and booking.com and by asking lots of questions to make sure the place is right for you and your family. We often find where we want to go by searching on the above mentioned sites and then search for the place direct and then book direct, its worked for us all over the world. Using a travel agent/third party does of course take all the organisation away - a bonus for some (but I actually love all the research bit !) but they don't 'know' a place like the owner would and can't answer all those detailed questions like is there a change mat or potty available, how are the bedrooms laid out, are there plastic bowls and cups ?

What sort of accommodation - well there's a host of choices from camping, to stand alone villas, to clusters of holiday cottages like ourselves, to hotels. Wherever you decide to stay you need to think about a number of things when you are taking your baby and toddler:

- Equipment - does it have a washing machine ? You may be on holiday but with toddlers and babies there's always a need to do some washing. Is it free of charge or will you have to pay for every load - certainly an issue if you are flying and your baggage is restricted. Will you have to get up at 3am to use it because there's only one machine between thousands of campers ? Of course here at our holiday cottages all the cottages have a washing machine or there is a free to use laundry room, plenty of drying racks, rotary dryers and even a drying machine should it rain.

- baby equipment ? whether flying or driving a car it would be handy if all the bulky equipment you need is on hand and free of charge at your accommodation. Many campsites, mobile home sites charge for the hire of things like cots and high chairs which can add considerably to the cost of your holiday and what about other things like a baby bath, steriliser, changemat, baby chair, plastic crockery/cutlery, handblender ? We can all 'make do' and 'manage' but wouldn't it make your holiday that much more relaxing if those items were all there waiting for you on arrival. Make sure you ask wherever you go if they provide these things. Many properties have jumped on the 'child friendly' bandwagon but only have a cot and maybe a high chair - in our opinion there's a whole lot more to being child friendly than that. For everything we can provide (all free of charge) find out more here

- Facilities - a heated pool ? even in Greece and Portugal an unheated pool is likely to be far too cold for baby or your 2 year old, they need 28c to be comfortable so even if a heated pool is advertised, find out tow what temperature as often 24c is considered 'heated' . Our toddler pool is of course set to 30c and our main pool to 28c; perfect for an enjoyable dip with your children.

- babysitting, childcare ? Lots of places have 'kids clubs' which is great for older children and some even offer babysitting but from personal experience, leaving your baby or toddler in the care of complete strangers with lots of other children is not the best way to enjoy an evening alone with your partner - the one time we did I just could not relax and we left the meal early to get back to out little ones ! I am a registered childminder here in France and would always now insist that whoever cares for my children has some sort of qualification or experience, it's different when you know someone who babysits for you at home but abroad in a big hotel or complex ? Here at our child friendly properties I offer babysitting to parents who may not of had a night out alone since before the children were born. Since we personally welcome every family, mix and chat daily with all our families, you and your children will quickly get to know us. Don't forget too, that in a hotel, once baby is asleep in bed you are tied to your room, quietly watching the tv - here at La Grange du Moulin and our other family holiday rental properties, you can put your little ones to bed then sit right outside with a monitor, enjoying a glass of wine, the evening sky and the company of other parents - a night out without having to go out !

- Safety - a priority with children and more so with toddlers and babies. Does your villa or cottage have stairbarriers on the staircases? Are the swimming pools enclosed completely ? I've seen numerous 'luxury villas' advertising on prominant 'toddler friendly' sites where the pool is completely open - this is often an issue in places like Spain. In France there is a law making sure there is some sort of 'safety' in place but this does not always mean an enclosed pool, so check before you book. With just a handful of cottages on each of our family friendly complexes, you quickly get to know the other parents - all our family properties are let exclusively to families with children - there won't be any groups of adults staying up till all hours next door. You'll be able to relax and let your children wander freely, certainly something you could not do on a campsite or around a hotel grounds.

- Entertainment - when the children are entertained then you'll be able to relax that much more. A family holiday to us is not sending our two boys off to kids club all day and hiring a babysitter for the evening, we love spending quality time with them but it's also great if there are activities we can do together too. Although we offer lots of activities such as pottery and fabric painting, picnics and scuba diving; most children coming to stay with us just love to play. They quickly make new friends and will happily spend all day playing around the garden and in and out of their new friends houses. When your children are just toddlers or babies, obviously you can't really leave them to their own devices entirely but because our play gardens are right in front of most of our cottages, you can certainly allow them space to discover their new environment.

Allen and Bissett families ''La Grange du Moulin is a wonderful safe and fun place for young families. There is nowhere that they can escape with gates gate each end of the property. The gites are rustic but fully equipped and lovely and cool in the hot sunny days we experienced at the beginning of June . We were in the pool every day. Beautifully kept by Chris and Wendy and there is a baby and toddler pool too. Combine all that with a laundry and well equipped garden to play in and you have the perfect setting for a relaxing family holiday. As grandparents we thoroughly enjoyed some real quality time with our grandchildren. Will definitely come again.''

content by Wendy Blakeman

Rainy day things to do

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:55:15 GMT

when staying at our family holiday accommodation

1, Aquarium

The aquarium in La Rochelle is the number one destination for all our families on a rainy day. Unfortunately everyone else has the same idea so either go early and get there at opening time or leave late in the afternoon and take advantage of the late night opening when it's always much quieter.

Find out more about the aquarium....

2, Paleosite

A mostly indoor interactive museum about the 'Pierette' neanderthal skeleton found on the site. Activities such as making fire, spear throwing and morphing your face into a neanderthal keep the younger kids interested and lots of interesting facts for the older ones too. A perfect rainy day activity as much of it is indoors and only a 30 min drive away from our family holiday cottages.

Find out more about Paleosite.....

3, Chateaux

There are quite a few chateux in the area. Our favourite on a not so rainy day would be Chateau des Enigmas a lovely chateau but also a fabulous adventure of puzzles to solve both inside and outside the chateau. For a more traditional chateau visit we recommend Chateau de la Roche Courbon about a 40 min drive near Saint Porchaire. The château is privately owned, and classified as a historic monument. The 'French style' garden is listed as one of the 'Notable Gardens of France', and also a historic monument. If the rain isn't too heavy you should definitely take the walk to the pre historic caves too. Chateau de Dampierre sur Boutonne is just 20mins drive. There's a good tour and also a lot of information about the fire that destroyed the roof in 2002 and it's renovation.

4, La Palmyre Zoo or Zoodysee

obviously these are much more enjoyable on a hot sunny day but both animal parks are located in woodland with very tall trees so unless it's actually lashing down you are quite protected for the most part by the canopy.

Zoodysee is relatively local, about a 30 min drive so although not as good as La Palmyre (it's European animals so lots of brown and often nocturnal animals ! So more of a pleasant woodland walk) it's a better option if you just have to get the kids outside for a couple of hours to burn off some steam

Find out more about La Palmyre Zoo......

5, Corderie Royal

in Royan, an easy hours drive from our family holiday cottages. The royal rope making factory has some really interesting and family friendly activities. Learn how pulleys work by pulling on the ropes, be amazed at the length of the building, visit their regular special displays (we saw one on Shackletons Antartica voyage) It's also next to the Hermione which although now finished and has travelled to Boston already, is regularly docked at Rochefort and may be visited if the rain stops although many of the working displays are under cover, it's only the ship that's in the open air.

Find out more about the Hermione here.....

6, Cognac distillery tour

Just a 30 min drive from our family holiday cottages, Cognac is a great rainy day activity as many of the tours are mostly indoors. The Hennessy tour is fast moving and you are only ever in one place for 5 minutes, it even includes a short trip in a boat. The lighting and smells will keep even toddlers interested (take some snacks to keep their mouths occupied just in case !) This area is all about Cognac so it's a must when staying with us come rain or shine.

Find out more about Cognac tours....

7, McDonalds in Saintes

There are Mcdonalds all over the place of course but the one in Saintes is where I used to take my boys when they were little on a rainy day. It has a great play room - like a soft play tower with tubes and many levels.

They'd spend literally hours chasing each other and making friends and just come out to me when they needed a drink. For the price of a few soft drinks and a coffee the kids burn off steam and you can sit back and facebook or instagram all afternoon !

8, Restaurants

A long lunch in a restaurant in La Rochelle - although not most parents idea of relaxing with young children !

Andrés in La Rochelle is a great choice. There are fish tanks to sit next to which have kept our two (when toddlers) happy while we tucked into our oysters. They also have crayons and puzzle/coloring sheets and a good kids menu too.

After lunch you can take a walk through the streets which are for the most part covered walkways (designed to keep the sun off but works for rain too ! ) and if the rain should stop for a while there is the town beach which will keep them happy

Find out more about Andrés..... and La Rochelle......

9, Laser Lander

Laser Lander in Saintes is a great way to while away a few hours blasting each other with lasers. Get together with a couple of other families and all go together.

To extend the afternoon or if you have younger children (under 6) then a simple trip to McDonalds opposite Laser Lander is a good option as it has a great indoor play area.

Find out more about Laser Lander

10, Stay home

Stay in your cottage with some local cheeses and local wines and have a tasting while the kids have popcorn and a movie on the sofa. We have a whole dvd library to choose from all free of charge. Kids can get their wellies and rain coats on and hunt for snails in the garden or invite a new friend over from one of the other cottages.

As you can see there are lots of ideas for rainy day things to do when staying at our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of France but since we have the second most sunshine hours in France after the south coast then rainy days are the exception rather than the rule. Fingers crossed you'll be able to enjoy all these ideas - but in the sunshine !

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Laser lander

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:55:10 GMT

rainy day activity for kids

There's nothing worse than going on holiday, particularly abroad and the weather being rubbish. Unfortunately when travelling anywhere in Europe it's a risk that goes hand in hand with the closeness of the continent to the British Isles.

Our own families philosophy is forget the weather and enjoy being away from life's routine chores and being together and do what you can to make the holiday enjoyable as it's a while until the next !

Here in the sunny Charente Maritime region of France we get the second most sunshine hours after the south coast so a rainy week in summer is an exception rather than the rule. We let our families know before their arrival what the weather has been like and what it is forecast to be, so they can be prepared for the worst if necessary.

All our family holiday cottages are supplied with tourist information and also a handy list of rainy day activities. One such fun thing to do is Laser Lander in Saintes, just a 30 minute drive away.

Laser Lander is an ideal indoor activity, perfect for a rainy day or even an incredibly hot day when the kids need to burn off steam but it's too hot outside.

On a cold wet day in winter, we had friends over and had planned a fun walk through the local woods but had to change our plans due to the weather as it really was just too wet even for wellies and raincoats so we called up and booked a couple of sessions at Laser Lander.

It's a great activity for both boys and girls and for ages 6 years and up (younger children may like to play too but the jackets are too big.) It costs 10€ per player for one session of 20 mins (whether adult or child) but is slightly cheaper when there are more than 6 players and for further sessions. We have always found 1 session is not enough for our boys, but it's an active game so it may be for young children. It's essential to book to make sure you arn't hanging around waiting for a free session. You need to have about 4 - 6 players as a minimum to make it fun.

Two sessions would take up about an hour with a 5 minute 'training' video explaining the safety and game rules, a 20 minute session followed by a 15 minute break where you'll be able to buy a drink and get your breath back followed by a second 20min session.

We usually extend our afternoon outing by having lunch in the McDonalds opposite beforehand and a play on arcade games located in the waiting area afterwards. (The hurricane tube being a particular favourite) The McDonalds actually has a great play area and when our two were much younger this is all that was required to entertain them on a rainy day - I'd sit down with my laptop (didn't have a smart phone then) and a drink and the boys would come back to me every so often for a quick drink before running off again. Unfortunately that no longer cuts it with my too so I have to go to a bit more expense and be a bit more active.

If you have never experienced a laser game, it's great fun. You wear a jacket with a laser gun attached. You have lights or targets on both shoulders, the front and the back. When someone hits one of these targets with their laser you lose 50 points and they gain 100. It is all recorded who hit you and who you hit. You can all play against each other or have teams with different coloured targets (red, blue, yellow etc) Once your session is over each player is given a printout of their position and scores of their hits.

There are two 'salles' or rooms at the Saintes Laser Lander and with two sessions you'll play in each one. It is dark, with music and dry ice. You have two floors and on each one is a maze of passages with gaps in the walls so you have to be careful not to be 'shot through the walls'

Our kids always come out hot and sweaty and it's been first choice for their birthday parties for a couple of years now. It's perfect for wearing them out on a rainy day and highly recommended.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Teddy Bear Picnics

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:03:28 GMT

every week throughout the season

Our family friendly holiday gites welcome families with babies, toddlers and young children. We offer a safe and peaceful environment in which to enjoy your self catering family holiday in rural France. With other toddlers and young children for yours to play with and enclosed gardens and safely enclosed and alarmed swimming pools you will be able to relax with a chilled glass of wine chatting to like minded parents whilst your
children make new friends (and you do too !)

As every parent knows, when the children are entertained, you can relax. At La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies family holiday cottages we offer a number of fun child friendly activities to keep your children and toddlers entertained.

TEDDY BEARS PICNICS

The Teddy bear picnics are held every week on site at La Grange du Moulin. Guests from all our family holiday accommodation can come over and join in the fun. Its completely free, just join in if you want to. As our guests are often out and about throughout the week, particularly at quieter times such as May and September, Its a good time to spend a pleasant afternoon 'at home' lazing in the garden chatting to other parents whilst the little ones interact and play with each other.

We have bubbles, music and balloons then a homemade teddy bear cake, homemade popcorn (no sugar or salt) some fresh fruit and juice. Chill out under the shade of the apple tree, chat to other parents, Chris often pops out and offers you a chilled glass of Pineau - the local tipple, while your children enjoy their picnic.

Moulin de la bain family restaurant

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:03:22 GMT

a lovely lunch out for all the family

The Moulin de la baine restaurant is located just outside Chaniers, 10km east of Saintes and just a 40 min drive from our family holiday cottages, La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies

Situation of Moulin de la Baine restaurant

The restaurant is situated in a 17th century Colbert appointed water mill over the river Charente . It is a large restaurant with three indoor rooms altogether seating 240 plus the terrace ! However we only recommend this restaurant if you can get a seat on the terrace on a sunny day as this is the reason for going. Stunning views over a 'Monet painting' with the ducks swimming around the lilly pads and the trees hanging over the gently flowing river - it's a beautiful setting.

Although I am usually wary of large restaurants with large menus (which this one has) we've never had a bad meal or bad service. The food isn't Michelin starred but it's a great family restaurant. We have always chosen the Moulin de la Baine restaurant for family birthdays and anniversary s. They are very welcoming of young and old alike and are used to serving large groups. In fact their speciality is a huge baked alaska flamed in Cognac at the table.

Cruise down the Charente

The restaurant also run tours with a boat company - the 'Bernard Pallissy' which cruises down the river from Saintes (starts just next to the Arch pictured above) to Chaniers where you disembark and enjoy a set menu at the restaurant Moulin de la Bain before returning by boat to Saintes . They do day time and evening cruises and is a lovely way to spend a sunny day. Further details can be found here

It's quite a long day if you have young children. We went when the kids were quite small and although it was fine going (it takes about 1hr30 to get to the restaurant) after 2hr30 at the restaurant they were hard work to entertain coming back (another 1hr30 along the same route) It's a lovely leisurely cruise but the countryside is quite flat and uneventful in terms of things for the children to look at along the way (especially when they've already seen them on the way there) You get back at 4pm on the basic cruise. There is also a 'discovery' cruise which takes a diversion to Port d'envaux and returns to Saintes at 6.30pm.

Highly recommend the cruise for a celebration but if you have young kids then take into consideration it's an all day event. Having done the cruise, we now just drive to the restaurant which takes about 40 mins.

Kids at Moulin de la Baine

The restaurant is very welcoming of families. They offer a childrens menu at a very reasonable price for three courses, (10€) the starter alone is enough to satisfy most children - a platter of paté, salad and duck slices followed by an (unfortunately unimaginative) ham, burger or fish (not battered) with chips (it says vegetables on the menu but we've only ever received chips - which of course the kids arn't complaining about !) There was a change of management a few years ago as the kids menu used to be mini versions of the adults which we much preferred but our kids are too big now to go near a kids menu anyway.

They can provide a high chair (but request this when booking to be sure, we are happy to make the booking for you) . There's plenty of space around the tables to have a pushchair with a sleeping baby in too.

Our kids loved (and still do) having an explore down below where the water wheels used to be (unfortunately now mostly rotten away) but it's like a cave with dirt floors and secret hiding places and bridges over the rushing water of the river a foot or two below you.

They also enjoy the habitual walk around 'the island' after lunch

'The Island'

The Mill is located at a point where the Charente river splits into several 'rivers' and an island has been created between the confluence of the river and a waterway with a lock for narrow boats to enable them to navigate the river more easily. After a long leisurely meal, we always take a wander around and will stop to watch a boat navigate the lock. The kids climb trees and generally have a lovely time running around. There used to be some shallow water where we used to swim but this has been barred off possibly because of the danger of the fast water passing under the bridge. Older children still jump off the bridge further down into the deeper water on hot sunny days.

Opening times of Moulin de la Baine

The Moulin de la Baine restaurant is open every day from St Valentines day through to mid November. We recommend reserving a table during the summer, particularly on Sundays as it is very popular. We can do this for you.

Further information on the restaurant can be found on their web site here

content by Wendy Blakeman

Pottery painting for kids (and adults)

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:16:24 GMT

at La Grange du Moulin toddler & childrens holiday cottages

Each week we have pottery painting.
Prices start from 10€ depending on the item you choose. Even tiny babies can join in with parents choosing a plate to put imprints of their tiny hands or feet; toddlers can create real masterpieces, multicoloured dinosaurs look fab and the older children will happily sit for ages delicately painting their pirate or fairy princess. My two boys have been participating in this activity since they are tiny. They still enjoy joining in but actually they are the ones who now run the activity, so I can sit back, chat and enjoy a glass of wine with the other parents !
It's not just for kids either - it's a very relaxing activity for grown ups too.
After painting, we varnish it for you and once it's dry it's back with you by the next morning at the latest. A lovely souvenir of your stay at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies family holiday cottages.

Gillardeau oysters 24 hrs a day

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:35:46 GMT

oyster vending machine - only in France !

We first discovered the Gillardeau oyster dining at Andrés seafood restaurant in La Rochelle. Chris adores oysters and has been known to eat literally a bucket full (picked off the beach by a good French friend of ours) but when he discovered the Gillardeau there was no going back ! We are obviously not the only ones as the Gillardeau company has a 24/7 boutique where you can pop in at 2am when the oyster urge hits and use their oyster vending machine which not only supplies boxes of 18 oysters but the lemons and oyster knives to go with them and with the credit card machine next to it you don't even need cash !

The Gillardeau oyster beds and boutique are about an hours drive from our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime department of France, so we don't often jump in the car in the middle of the night to pick up a box even though they are incredibly delicious! It's really more of a treat for a birthday or, as happened yesterday, we were passing on our way back from the kite festival in Chatelaillon and picked up a couple of boxes for our Easter lunch with friends tomorrow.

The Gillardeau family has been in the business of farming oysters for well over a 100 years. Originally it was Henri Gillardeau who had a passion for oysters and was so proud of the quality of his produce that he was one of the first to put his name to his oysters. In the 70's Gerard Gillardeau took oyster farming to a new level and created in 1978 'The Gillardeau' a method of farming oysters that creates a superb and consistent product leading it to be one of the most highly sort after oysters in the world.

The method of course has its secrets but the basis for excellence is, after an initial 9 months in oyster parks the oysters are then transferred to bags in deep sea water for a further 3 years. The key is low density, so the oysters have space to grow plus a highly intensive program of care where the Gillardeau team watch over the oysters, moving them, cleaning and turning them to produce this world renowned quality oyster.

During our holiday season we often have 'seafood evenings' where guests enjoy a stroll around our local Saint Jean d'Angely market and pick up oysters and mussels (and occasionally lobster too) to enjoy at the social evening.

Many of our families love oysters, others arn't so sure, perhaps having had a 'bad' experience in the past or never having tried them or being unsure of how to open and eat them. Chris is passionate about teaching those who want to learn the art of this gastronomic delight ! He will show you how to open them (we provide the oyster knives you provide the oysters !) and then most importantly how to tell if they are fresh. A good rule is if they are hard to open then they are still alive as the muscle that keeps the shell closed is still active, but a further assurance is the scent - they should smell sweetly of the sea - if you arn't sure then the best rule is throw it away. Of all the hundreds of oysters we have eaten we have never once been ill.

Oysters are very high in mineral content and this is one cause of some peoples possible intolerance to oysters, we know one guest who simply adores them but everytime he tries one he comes out in an awful rash.

Another one of Chris' tips is to refresh the oysters in fresh water. My first taste of oysters was not pleasant as they had been left sitting in sea water and it was so salty it nearly made me gag, it was inedible. By refreshing them - a quick dip once opened in fresh water, you remove the sea water and retain the sweet salty creaminess of the oyster itself.

Families are often surprised that we eat oysters in summer, having heard the old wives tale of only eating oysters when there is an 'r' in the month ie not summer; this comes from the days before refrigeration and high speed transport, when oysters were taken inland on horse and cart which in the hot summer months wouldn't of been a good idea ! However when water temperatures warm, wild oysters are induced to spawn creating a 'milky' appearance, they are perfectly safe to eat, its just the taste is not as good, however in these days of controlled production techniques if you are buying your oysters from a reputable supplier and not picking them off the beach, this does not happen - Gillardeau in fact state their oysters 'never become milky'.

After shucking and eating our oysters we then whip up a pan of mussels but you can read more about this in our 'seafood evening' post.

Our Gillardeau oysters will be in the fridge together with a delicious Pouilly Fumé ( de Ladoucette 2011 to be exact) that we also picked up from the Gillardeau boutique - they have an excellent choice of wines, chilled champagne and other local delights such as Ile de Ré salt, Pineau de Charentes, Cognac as well as gifts and essentials like lemons, butter and onions in red wine vinegar.

For more information on the nutritional content of oysters and how to open, keep and eat oysters visit the Gillardeau web site here www.speciales-gillardeau.fr .

My mouth is watering just thinking of the delicious creaminess of the Gillardeau oysters, the warm spring sunshine, chilled wine and the good company of our friends.

Content By Wendy Blakeman

Fabric painting with kids

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:25:38 GMT

one of the many activities at La Grange du Moulin child & toddler friendly gites

Our idea of a great family friendly holiday means spending quality time with our boys and each other, enjoying walks, trips out and meals together. At our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime we can offer all this and some little extras too which can make your holiday even more fun.

Each week on site at La Grange du Moulin we offer fabric painting for all the family. Its a lovely way to spend some quality time with your little ones creating a unique and personal souvenir of your holiday together and maybe create a few gifts for your loved ones at home too - perhaps a sunhat for your new nephew or a tea towel for Grandma all decorated to your own design and personalised with hand prints and colourful stencils.

You can choose from a selection of smaller items or go all out and choose a t-shirt, we have sizes from 1yr to 13yrs plus a few adult sizes too. The younger ones love getting messy and having their hands painted to create a unique signature to their design.

The older children enjoy planning and often use free hand work with brushes and have come up with some superb designs. We recommend the younger ones stick to the stencils so you end up with a great t-shirt they can wear regularly. We have all sorts of designs, tractors, cars, dinosaurs, fairies, insects, animals, there's something for everyone. We provide all the paint, brushes, sponges, stencils and also the painting shirts.

All our guests can participate in this fun family activity. Guests at Les Vallaies can also all come over and take part. If there enough children wanting to participate at Les Vallaies we will take the activity over there too. But whether there is one child or 20 wanting to join in, the activity is held every week at La Grange du Moulin.

Once your artwork is finished, we take it to dry overnight and then we press it to set the colours and deliver it back to you the next morning ready to wear ! On the back of the t-shirt or bag or tea towel we will write our logo and the year. We have children who design a new one each year and often turn up on the first day of their holiday with last years t-shirt still looking fab. A great showcase for the activity.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Rochefort for families

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:30:08 GMT

Visit the Hermione and the Corderie Royal

The original Hermione frigate was built in eleven months in 1778 at Rochefort in the Charente Maritime, France by the shipwright Henri Chevillard and belonged to the French Navy. The ship became famous when she ferried General Lafayette to the United States in 1780 during the American war of Independence, to allow him to rejoin the American side and bring the secret news that reinforcements had been secured for the war. The Hermione then spent the next few years fighting battles against the British and was finally grounded and wrecked in 1793.

Twenty years ago a small group led by Erik Orsenna and by Benedict Donnelly discussed the idea of reconstructing an exact replica of the Hermione and to bring to life the voyage made by LaFayette in 1780 to re-affirm the historic relationship between the United States and France. Using line drawings stored in the British Admiralty of the Hermione's sister ship, La Concorde, after its capture, the plans were drawn and construction began in 1997. In the 18th century the ship yard in Rochefort would turn out ships like these in 6 months to a year. The Hermione project today has so far taken 20 years with the Hermione's first voyage taking her across the Atlantic in 2015.

We have been visiting the Hermione project in Rochefort for the last 10 of those 20 years and have watched the progress from inside and out. For many years the frigate was in dry dock. The tour consisted of viewing the work as it happened from the wood carvers, rope makers, ironmongers and ship building craftsmen recreating every last nail, cannon and sail using original techniques and original equipment. As far as possible no modern machinery has been used. You then walked around the outside of the ship as it was constructed. Now the ship is on water, you still get the tour of the works but you now also get to walk on the deck. If you plan ahead you can book the 'hard hat' tour which takes small groups into the ship itself and right down the steep steps to the very 'bowels' , a fascinating tour and we are so pleased we made the effort to participate on several occasions.

In 2013 the Hermione was launched out of dry dock, rigged and some of the sails fitted. All the sails have been hand sewn mainly by Anne Renault chief sail maker an incredible achievement considering the facts, for example the mizzen topsail, a square sail of the mizzen mast with a surface of 132m2 has 150 eyelets and 44 meters of bolt rope 3cm thick are all to be sewn by hand; the main topsail, a sail of 219 m2 on the main mast of the frigate has 260 eyelets and 60 meters of bolt rope to be sewn by hand - about three months of work just for 1 sail; there will be 17 sails in all ! There will also be 25km of rigging; some of the ropes are 108mm thick.

The work to launch her on the maiden voyage is in full flow. We visited most recently this week, for the first time since the ship was put into wet dock and the first time we had seen it since it was rigged. It is a wonderful sight.

For families there is a family ticket. There are factual boards along the route, giving you all the facts but the fun design and fun facts make it interesting for kids too. You can't take a buggy onto the deck but they are happy to let you leave it at the bottom of the ramp. There is a café, souvenir shop and toilets.

We also took my father who is now in a wheelchair. He was given the reduced rate for the disabled (as was my mum as his companion) despite not having the French disability card being a British holidaymaker. The wheelchair is not (like buggies) allowed on the deck but you get a good view all around the ship from the walkway around.

The visit costs 16€ for adults and 8€ for children. There are discounts for the elderly and disabled and for 'members' which involves a donation to the project. For a nautical fan like myself, it is well worth the money and all the proceeds go to the making of this fantastic piece of history.

This is a wonderful day trip out when staying at our family holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime region of France .

The site is open every day mid April to the beginning of September from 10 am to 7pm and throughout the winter months too, see the www.hermione.com site for full details and to book tickets online. The tour inside the ship needs booking well in advance.

content by Wendy Blakeman

Aulnay de Saintonge on a Sunday morning

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 13:26:57 GMT

Hot chocolate, history, flowers and fruit de mer

The Sunday morning market in Aulnay de Saintonge in the Charente Maritime department of SW France has been a regular haunt of ours over our 20 years of living here and it's still as popular as ever.

This bar/restaurant 'Le Colombier' on the market square is where we sit and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by both on a hot summers day and a cold crisp sunny day in mid winter. The first time we went we asked for a croissant (or three) to dip in out hot chocolate, as all good French people do. To our surprise they did not (and still don't) serve croissant and suggested we pop over to the boulangerie on the other side of the square to purchase some - which of course we did and still do.

The market itself is quite small - I often tell guests they could hold their breath walking around it ! Its not quite accurate but it isn't a huge market - but it's quality not quantity that matters and in this delightful small market town you can purchase anything from a mattress to mussels, or fennel to flowers.

Over the years a number of British ex pats have started up businesses here, you can buy English books from Bens book store to beautiful hand painted cards from Angela Berry designs; even the famous 'Popsy' started out here selling takeaway Indian.

The Brits have not in anyway taken away from the French nature of the market at all, there is still a majority of very French owned stalls selling oysters and octopus; garlic and grillon, saucisse and snails.

The flower stall is one of our favourites and you'll always be faced with a long queue to purchase a beautiful bouquet for an amazingly low price, the owner does the Saturday morning market in Saint Jean d'Angely too. Just ask him to make up a bouquet for 20€ and you'll be amazed at what you get.

This is also the place to purchase your Sunday 'fruit de mer' platter, choose from an array of delicious seafood, fresh fish, oysters and mussels.

Aulnay de Saintonge was founded in the 1st century AD as a Roman Camp known as Aunedonnacum as it lies at the crossroads of some important Roman roads. Centuries later it became an important stop for pilgrims on the route to Saintiago de Compostela. The beautiful church was built in the mid 12th century but the graveyard surrounding it is much older and the discovery of over 1500 sepultres (tombs) under ground led to the inspiration for the garden.

The garden itself is actually two gardens in one - superimposed over each other. The most obvious is the medieval style garden with geometric shapes and built from materials of the era. It is planted with medicinal and herbal plants as well as fruiting trees and vegetables as it would of been in that period of history. The 'second' garden was inspired by the archeological finds of ultrasound of the area surrounding the church which revealed an unknown chapter in the history of ancient Aulnay.

The metal sculptures symbolise the sarcophagi in stone beneath your feet and the clusters of small bushes, the tombs made from materials such as wood which have of course since perished but their trace can still be picked up on the ultrasound.

After your hot chocolate at the market you could take a stroll along to the church and these gardens (to walk off the croissants !) then maybe head over to the little playground . An ideal Sunday morning outing when staying at our family friendly holiday cottages La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies here in the Charente Maritime, France. Then why not have a leisurely lunch at your holiday cottage with all the delicious charcuterie, fresh salads and seafood you have purchased before heading over to St Savinien 'port miniature' - an absolute must for families with young children.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Coolongalook adventure park

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 12:20:20 GMT

tree climbing fun for kids and adults

For his 11th birthday Thomas requested a day at a climbing adventure park. We have previously been to one at Aytré near La Rochelle but had heard about Coolongalook parc and thought we'd give it a go .

Coolongalook adventure park, Royan

It's just under an hours drive to Coolongalook parc from our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime and well worth the trip. We booked in advance as it was recommended but the day we went was very quiet and for the first hour or so we were the only family there which was great !

The main attraction of the park is the climbing. You get fitted into a climbing harness and then given instruction on how the system works.The adult and some of the teen courses are not for the faint hearted, if you don't like heights it may not be the day out for you.

Koala continuous belay system

At the previous parcs we had been to there was an element of risk with the climbing as you had to hook and un hook the carabinas at various points along each climb and unless you carefully followed the instruction of always being hooked on with at least one at any time there was always the possibililty of being 3m (or more for older kids and adults) above ground and not being hooked onto anything. At Coolongalook parc they have the 'Koala continuous belay system' where you hook on at the beginning and cannot remove the hook until you are safely on the ground again - far safer when you have adventurous kids to supervise.

There are 4 childrens courses suitable for those of 4 years and a meter tall (there are also some non harness courses for even littler ones; then another two courses for tweens of 1m30 or above and a further 2 courses for the adults. We had 6 courses of increasing difficulty to choose from having purchased the Junior ticket and Chris and I have to admit the last two were far too challenging for us !! Thomas and Benjamin managed them but at 12m above the ground and freely swinging blocks to cross it was tough going and both physically and mentally challenging - Thomas loved it !!

Skyfall

There are loads of zip wires included in courses - the final one is 250m long and starts at 13m above the ground. For adults there is also a 15m free fall jump called skyfall (we didn't do that one !!) included in the adult ticket

We spent around 2hrs30 completing the 6 courses and although you have unlimited time to do them all again we were shattered and ready for an ice cream at the café. The café does only sell ice creams, soft drinks, chocolate bars and crisps though, so take a picnic with you as there's no where to buy lunch. There are picnic tables located all around the park and it's a lovely woodland setting.

TOP TIPS

take a picnic, water and snacks
mossie repellant is essential
go early to avoid the crowds

Laser Battle

The park also has a small area set aside for a laser battle in the woods. We purchased an adventure pass which includes the unlimited climbing, one game of laser battle (20mins) and the 'man vs wild' orienteering course which takes about an hour. Individually we personally did not think the laser battle (10€ pp) and man vs wild course (6€ pp) were worth their individual prices but we were happy with the value for money of the adventure pass which included them.

For the laser battle you are given a laser gun each and put into teams, you then have 20 mins to shoot each other. It's a bit hit and miss as the only target that registers is on the gun (unlike indoor laser games where you get a jacket with various targets over the body) Benjamin loved it, Thomas got fed up as it was hard to target people - even still, I came last !

Man vs Wild

At 6€ pp this would be a bit disappointing on it's own and really should be included when purchasing a climbing pass in our opinion. However we did enjoy it. We were given a list of 12 questions and a compass. We had to pretend we were on a camping trip and various situations arise at each marker which you have to choose the correct response (eg you have very little water left, what do you do a, drink it all at once because you are thirst; b, ration it throughout the day; c, drink only at night ) You mark down your answer then have to use the compass to find the next marker and question.

We were quite tired and didn't think we'd actually follow through the whole course but actually it kept our interest as the woodland was quite thick, the trails quite small and climbing over fallen down trees etc made us feel as though we really were in the wild far from anywhere. We finished the whole course and checked our answers at the end (we got over half wrong so probably would of died !!)

We had a great day out, we survived with a few aching muscles, the kids loved it and we'd highly recommend giving Coolongalook parc , Royan a go. When staying at our family holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime, France we can reserve your place for you. Visit their web site here for full details of opening times and prices.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

cycling holidays in the Charente Maritime

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 11:10:49 GMT

Family cycling and cycling with kids

This region is ideal for cycling holidays, the Charente Maritime makes for the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful region of France. With gently rolling countryside, quiet country lanes and tracks and with the respect that the French have for cyclists, this region is ideal for a cycling holiday or just a relaxing holiday with a few afternoons cycling for fun.

The Charente Maritime region of France has literally thousands of km of bike paths exclusively dedicated to cycling and walking. The routes are designed with great care to ensure high quality rides along the coastline, waterways and on both the mainland and islands of Ile d'Oleron, Ile d'Aix and Ile de Ré. The network is subject to a regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure a trouble free ride. The 'green routes' are dedicated to horseriding, walking and cycling - guaranteed no motorised vehicles so great for children and families.

If you just want an afternoon out on your own, we have a couple of adult bikes you can borrow for free (although you'll have to pump up the tyres !); or bring your own, we have safe areas to store your bikes at all our properties or to take all the stress and hassle out of a cycling holiday in the Charente Maritime in France why not check out our local bike hire company - Bike hire direct who will deliver and pick up your bikes to our gites and cottages .

Bike hire direct are based in the Charente Maritime region of France and
offer free delivery of your bikes to your cottage, gite or villa. They can provide child seats and tag alongs, locks and helmets and even the car bike rack all at great prices. Go to Bikehiredirect.com to find out more.

There are a series of guidebooks and bike maps are available in tourist offices Some of these documents also detail the hiking trails accessible by bike (VTC) and also VTC circuits and mountain biking. The Departmental Committee of Cycling contributes to the implementation of these circuits in the form of organized hikes and tourism .

Whether enjoying a cycling holiday alone, with friends or with your family we have accommodation to suit your needs and budget. We often have discounted rates in May, June and September and will always discount for singles and couples, We offer full weeks or short and long breaks at some of our cottages. All summer from May to the end of September you can bring your family along to one of our family friendly villas, cottages or gites and they can play and make new friends whilst you enjoy your cycling in the surrounding countryside. For all our accommodation, please ask for 'activity' prices as we are able to offer discounts in June and September at certain properties.

HAPPY CYCLING

content by Wendy Blakeman

Fishing with kids at Migré

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 13:48:34 GMT

when staying at our family holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime

Fishing with the kids

We just discovered another great place ! One of our families recently asked where he could take his son fishing. They had no rods or tackle and wern't really into fishing, but fancied having a go. A friend had mentioned a place about 30 mins from our family holiday cottages where you could just go for a full or half day and the river was stocked with trout several times a day - it was pretty much guaranteed you'd catch something ! They hire out the rods and bait so you don't need expensive equipment so it's perfect for families with kids who just want to try it out. I got the details and sent them on their way. They came back with 3 trout !

This Sunday I took the boys there to check it out and wasn't disappointed , we also came back with 3 trout !

My father loved fishing but rarely had the time but when he fell ill he made time with the boys and they loved helping him tie the flies and land the carp. One of their last memories of him was catching a huge carp together at a local pond a few weeks before he died. They were keen to go fishing again.

Les Sources du Moulin

Les Sources du Moulin is in Migré a 30 minute drive from La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies. There is a restaurant which offers a lunch menu at 12€50 and is reported to be excellent . We took a picnic as did many of the fishermen. In the typical French way, they had sunbeds, chairs, tables, wine and even a fondue in the spot next to us whilst their 5 rods sat waiting for the fish to bite. We had a plastic bag to sit on and a bottle of water.

We had no equipment and had no idea what we were doing but the rods (long bamboo sticks) with line, hook and float were provided for a 10€ deposit; we paid extra for maggots and didn't pay the fishing fee of 5€ per child until later in the afternoon when the river was re stocked, so we could of fished for free - if we had we wouldn't of caught anything though ! (not through lack of fish, just lack of expertise - our neighbours despite sleeping off the lunch time wine on their sunbeds seemed to catch plenty !)

We want fish !!

We arrived at 1pm and were told the trout were released at 3pm so we had a 2 hour wait although we remained hopeful of catching something before then - everyone around us seemed to be landing fish (and an eel) every few minutes ! 3 o' clock came and went and despite our neighbours shouting 'we want the fish' (in French) he didn't turn up until 3.20pm (apparently it's all dependent on how busy the restaurant is that day)

We had to wait until then as everyone was saying how we need to be quick landing the fish and putting new maggots back on the hook - we were getting very excited ! At long last the owner started up his tractor and came along the track, scooping net fulls of trout into the river for each group. We had at least 5 placed right in front of our hooks but they all swam down to the 3m50 depths below and ignored our wriggling maggots.

Nibbles and success at last

However after about 5 minutes Benjamin got a nibble or two, his float went down but he pulled up too quickly (apparently) and the hook was empty of maggots and trout when it surfaced. This happened at least 3 times - we blame the hook, it must of been blunt !! Thomas on the other hand had a sharp hook and he landed a whopper within 10 minutes of the trout being released (this was after 2hrs 30 of sitting on the bank holding a bamboo stick) He was thrilled (of course) and wants to go again (of course !) Benjamins not so keen.

Team 'fishing' spirit

It's very much a team spirit and all the neighbours helped us - we would of been lost without the kind lady next to us removing the hook from the poor fishes mouth or the man on the other side getting the line untangled from the tree branch. It was very much an 'experience' for me and fun in an odd kind of way. I doubt any of us will become members of the Prince Albert fishing club (or its French equivalent) - although I was, as a child thanks to my Dad. We enjoyed the ice creams and will definitely try the restaurant at some point. If we fish again we will go more prepared (something other than a bag to sit on will be a minimum) but we came home with 3 trout on barbecue night and they were delicious (thank you 'you tube' for the gutting video )

Three trout - how ?

Well the family next to us caught 19 and felt sorry for the boys, so gave us 2 of theirs so we could come back home and proclaim huge success, they were all delicious. It was fun and a great experience for anyone who's not fished before. The owner recommended coming in the morning when it's cooler (it was 34c in the shade that afternoon) and just before the fish are released at 9am....

www.moulindemigre.com , 20 route du moulin 17330 Migré , +33 546240392

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Beaches in the Charente Maritime

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:08:46 GMT

from La Rochelle, Chatelaillon, Fouras, La Palmyre to Royan and beyond

The Charente Maritime department on the west coast of France boasts the second most sunshine hours after the south coast and has literally hundreds of miles of coast and safe, sandy beaches and they are all just an easy hours drive away from our family holiday accommodation (and please note that this is a driving time within the speed limits !) There are safe sandy beaches all along the coast from La Rochelle down to Royan and beyond but we shall just be mentioning the ones you can easily get to for a day out when staying with us.

The islands of Oleron and Ré are very popular for their beaches. They take slightly longer to get to particularly in summer as traffic over the bridge - particularly to Ile de Oleron, can be quite heavy. Top tip - go early ! The Ile d'Oleron is linked to the mainland by a road bridge, so you can easily visit the island and enjoy the beaches, the fishing or the forest. The three main towns of Saint –Pierre, Saint – Denis and to the south Le Chateau are definitely worth exploring. There are also two forests the Forest of Saint- Trojan and the Saumonard Forest which are both attractive to visit and being on the east side have more sheltered beaches suitable for the younger families staying at our child friendly holiday cottages, La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies . The Oyster farms provide the main source of income to the island and are a tourist attraction in themselves (Read about Gillardeau oysters in our blog) There are numerous footpaths in the forest where you can explore or a favourite with children - Le Petit Train Touristique Forestier which will take you along the dunes and the beaches and through the forest.

To visit the Ile de Ré requires you to pay a toll over the bridge. This makes it a much more peaceful and slightly less touristy island to visit. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna and boasts more than one wildlife park. St Martin de Ré is a beautiful small town - a mini La Rochelle with its port, restaurants and pretty shops. At the end of the island is the Phare Des Baleines is one of the tallest lighthouses in France (55 meters) and has 250 steps to the top, where you have a great view of the mainland and the islands salt marshes. The island's still produces around 2,000 tons of salt every year. The islands also boasts some fine churches and well preserved fortifications from the Middle Ages.

The Ile de Ré is a wonderful place to hire a bike (and tag along or child seats too) and take a leisurely cycle along the quiet cycle tracks and lanes. The whole island is set up for cycling with lots of places to hire bikes and lots of cycle routes. To visit the Ile de Ré requires you to pay a toll over the bridge. This makes it a much more peaceful and slightly less touristy island to visit. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna and boasts more than one wildlife park.

The Il de Ré has no shortage of beaches; the inland side tends to be more sheltered whilst the Atlantic side enjoys some great body boarding waves. Le-Bois-Plage-en-Ré , Plage des Gollandières and La Plage de la Conche are just a few choice and popular beaches.

Chatelaillon de la plage just south of La Rochelle is a popular place for its beaches and probably one of the closest. In summer it has a fun fair starting every afternoon, plenty of restaurants, bouncy castles on the beach, sunbeds to hire and always lots of activities going on for the children. You could spend a morning and lunch in La Rochelle then head down to Chatelaillon de la plage for a couple of hours on the beach.

The peninsula of Fouras stretches from Yves Bay to the Charente River. It is also historically interesting and has long been a heavily, fortified area. Originally the fortifcations were needed to fight off the Normans and then the British. Nowadays, the only invaders at Fouras are tourists ! There is a great view from the fort, along the coast to La Rochelle and across to the islands of Ile de Ré and Ile d'Oleron.

Just south of Royan on the coast road to Meschers are some lovely beaches. At Meschers you'll find the famous 'Grottes' well worth a visit but be warned there are lots and lots of steps ! The beaches south of Royan are far less touristy with fewer facilities but quieter and also because of the cliffs along that area of coast, there is some shade, large caves to explore and rock pools, ideal for when the tide goes out.

La Palmyre coast line north of Royan and of course Royan itself also have some excellent beaches lined with pine forests. At la Palmyre (just past the La Palmyre animal park) Dunes have been man made to provide salt water lakes, so when the tide is out
(it goes out along way) there is still water for the children to swim in and the adults to cool down in.

We have the local high and low tides listed on our noticeboard so you can plan the best time to visit the beach but be warned it really is very very busy in summer in the afternoon so unless you want to be stuck in a traffic jam looking for a parking space you really are better going first thing in the morning. After a fun filled, hot sandy day at the beach you'll be glad to get back to the peace and tranquility of our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime department of France.

By Wendy Blakeman

Cognac with kids

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:48:01 GMT

and it's distillery tours

All Cognac is brandy but not all brandy is Cognac - Cognac can only be made in a specific area surrounding this French town of the same name in the Charente department of the Poitou-Charente region of western France just an easy 30min drive from our family holiday accommodation.

The town itself is a prosperous one with medieval cobbled streets that fan out from a delightful riverside quarter. On the river is where you'll find the largest concentration of chais or cellars where the Cognac is matured. It's not hard to spot these world famous chais as their walls are covered with ''torula coniacensis'' a microscopic fungus which feeds on the vapours of alcohol, known as the ''Angels’s Share''. There are many Cognac houses to visit including Otard, Martell and Hennessy Cognac, which keeps 180,000 barrels in stock. Here (and in all the distilleries) you'll discover the fine art of Cognac making and the secret of blending, as all run regular tours throughout the year and all end with a tasting.

We highly recommend participating in one of these organised tours as even young children are kept interested. Cognac is what our area is all about and you should not miss learning more about it. The vineyards growing grapes for the Cognac industry are grown in 6 zones which all have differing 'terroirs' (soil/rock compositions) There are lots of tours to choose from but the main ones are below plus a couple of 'alternative' Cognac tours !

Hennessey Cognac tour
Otard Cognac tour
Remy Martin Cognac tour
Martell Cognac tour
Balluet Cognac tour
Cartaud tastings

These differing terroirs give the wines and subsequently the eau de vies, they produce differing properties - some giving body and depth, others giving longevity - essentially Cognac is a blended product and it is down to the expertise of each 'houses' master taster to ensure the specific character of their individual product year in year out . Our own family holiday accommodation is in the Fin Bois zone and we have our very own local Cognac producer 2 mins away from our cottages ! Eric et Marie-Agnes Cartaud are a small family producer. You can visit them and taste their wines, Pineau and Cognac too. Producers of Cognac must obtain an Appellation d'origine contrôlée meaning its production methods must meet certain quality requirements. In particular, it must be made from specified grapes such as Ugni blanc, which makes for rather an acidic wine - but is perfect for distillation, it is distilled twice in copper stills and aged for at least two years in French oak barrels from the Limousin or Tronçais forests but you will learn all about the ins and outs on your tour.

The Hennessey tour is quick moving and although lasting 1hr15 it never stops for more than 5 or 10mins in one place, with lots of exciting sounds and smells inside the chai to keep even the littlest holidaymaker entertained - there's even a boat trip across the river. We particularly enjoy the short film with the sounds and sites of the Vendange or grape harvest, as having participated in this experience every year since we moved here, we can vouch for the fact it is a very realistic view of how it is - children laughing and playing, the chatter of the pickers and yes even singing ! Recently Hennessey have revamped their tour making it very modern, they have unfortunately upped the price considerably too - probably to put off families with younger children, but we say if you want to go then go, as long as your kids are reasonably well behaved it's a good informative tour. The layout of the tour means you can always sneak out if toddler has a 'terrible twos' moment and rejoin when he's ready to carry on . You can also bribe them with a trip to the park afterwards - we always did when ours were tiny. However for a cheaper alternative do the Balluet 'alternative Cognac tour' - it's completely free and gives you a true insight into how Cognac is really made (sticky floors, cobwebs and not a laser or ipad insight !)

The Andre Mermet park in Cognac has loads of fun things for children and toddlers including bouncy castles and a splash pool in peak season. All the play equipment is free to use but for access to the bouncy castles and splash pool you will need to purchase a wristband but gives access all day long. You could spend the whole day there or pop to and fro perhaps spending lunch at the nearby La Courtine restaurant, set close to the river Charente. It has a 'pub' like interior, so it's informal dining but has a superb terrace , so a beautiful spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch on a warm summers day. We have eaten there several times and always had a delicious meal.

You can park for free along the river and walk up into the town itself where you'll find lots more restaurants of all flavours and budgets; there's lots of cafés, brasseries and fine dining, so something for everyone - you may prefer just to take a picnic and sit in the jardin public a lovely green space in the center of town, watching the world go by. There are lots of shopping opportunities and a morning market which is on Tuesday to Sunday and also lots of cultural sites to see too; museums, the church Saint Léger, the chateau des Valois and lots of beautiful French medieval architecture such as the Maison de la Lieutenance.

If you'd like to visit Cognac then why not take a look at our family holiday accommodation we have on offer close by. La Grange du Moulin toddler holidays and Les Vallaies holidays

Content By Wendy Blakeman

Paleosite

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 11:04:43 GMT

a neanderthal adventure

We had a lovely day out a number of years ago. Benjamin had won 2 free childrens tickets at a Christmas market for entry to Paleosite which is just 30 mins drive from our family friendly holiday cottages here at la Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies , so we decided to go along during the Christmas holidays. Previously we had been when Thomas was just a baby and Benjamin just 3 years old, so they didn't really get much out of it first time but this time was great.

In 1979 the partial skeleton of a neanderthal female was discovered in St Cesaire, Charente Maritime. It was found to be approximately 36,000 years old. The young woman had suffered a large wound across her skull but bone growth proves she did not die immediately from the wound and must therefore of been cared for by the group. Tools were also found which had previously been thought to of only been used by the homo sapiens and this discovery is thought to prove co existence of the two species. The discovery was also incredibly important in proving that the neanderthals survived far later than was previously thought.

The site has been developed into a large visitors centre. You are 'closed in' to various rooms starting with the description of the 'big bang' and the development of our solar system and planet, next there is the ampitheatre of evolution (with headphones and an English translation). The 'science lab' is a detailed explanation of the discovery at St Cesaire, again with an English translation - certainly a little in depth for most children, but all the 'lock ins' are only for 10 to 15 mins maximum. There is also a good film with an interpretation of how Pierette may of lived which brings it all 'to life'.

We then went outside where we were able to try our hand at spear throwing which was great fun (although we would of starved in pre historic times !) luckily there is a good restaurant with such things as antelope and wild boar on the menu - large portions, good value and a childrens menu too.

The most fun part is the interactive hall where you can try your hand at arm wrestling a neanderthal man and morph your face and body into a neanderthal child or adult. Afterwards we watched the fire making display - really amazing.

All in all a great day out, really educational and really good fun.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Saintes with kids

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 10:22:16 GMT

and it's Roman history

Saintes is just a 30 minute drive from our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of south west France. Because of its noteworthy Gallo-Roman, medieval and classical heritage, Saintes is a popular tourist destination and a member of the French Towns and Lands of Art and History since 1990. It has several museums, a theater, cinemas, and organizes numerous festivals. A European center of musical research and practice is in its Abbaye aux Dames and in the summer holidays holds spectacular events in the fantastic ampitheatre.

Saintes ampitheatre

The ampitheatre is set in a residential area so although you can drive to it and there are some parking spots, it is not encouraged and subsequently there are no road signs. It's a bit of a walk from the Arch and park which is where most people park but is perfectly do able as long as you have a pram for the children. It costs about 4€ entry (free for children u18) . Our kids used to love running around being gladiators (especially after they had been to Puy du Fou and experienced how it would of been in Roman times)

Arch of Germanicus

The arch is likely the first thing you notice on driving into Saintes and is often where most people park. This is where you'll find a play park with a small animal enclosure and some swings, the Roman museum and the Batia restaurant . The Arch of Germanicus was commisioned by a wealthy Saintes citizen in honour of Germanicus, adopted son of Tiberius. It was originally the entrance to the city over the river but was moved a few metres from its original position to allow for a wider road. From this point you can take a river boat cruise to the Moulin de la bain restaurant in Chaniers .

Saintes Museums

There are numerous reminders of this towns past life as Roman Mediolanum situated on the Roman route between Lyon and Aquitaine. There is a small museum, free to enter and every roundabout seems to have a roman artifact displayed on it.

During the 11th to 13th Centuries many religious monuments were constructed in this area and the crowing glory is the Abbaye-aux-Dames.

This ancient town has today become a major economic centre as well as a desirable place for tourists to visit. Great restaurants, great shopping but still retains small town charm.

Saintes for children

the Roman theme is fun and educational, our boys when younger, adored running around the ampitheatre pretending to fight lions. There's also a lovely park with an animal enclosure, great for little ones. There's also an indoor play centre if you are unfortunate with the weather (Amusetvous play center) as well as two McDonalds (!) one of which has an indoor play area (I've sat here when my kids were little for hours as they played, all for the price of a drink - plus it's free wifi !

Saintes Market

There is a market every day of the week except Mondays and a massive monthly market on the first Monday of each month. Lots of restaurants and shops, cobbled streets and lovely cafés.

If you want to make a Roman themed day of it then stop off at the village of Venerand which is on the way. Here you will find one of the sources of the aqueduct that feeds Saintes. Saintes had a similar population in Roman times as it does now (27,000) so needed a good water supply for it's public baths and fountains.

All in all a great town to visit with thousands of years of history and just 30min drive away from La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies family holiday cottages.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Valley des Singes (monkey valley)

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:34:54 GMT

monkeys monkeys everywhere !!

Created in 1998, Valley des singes (singes is a monkey in French), is a zoological park dedicated to primates. It aims to be both a place of entertainment and education of the world of primates and of environmental consciousness. The park's main objective has been to contribute to raising awareness in the protection of nature and of the environment.

Valley des singes philosophy

Valley des singes is home to 450 primates in 16 hectares. You will enter the world of primates with no fences, the vast majority of monkeys are free to roam and interact with the humans, only the more dangerous primates have water barriers - for your safety, not theirs !

The main aim of the valley des singes is awareness of issues affecting and endangering primates throughout the world. The park works throughout the globe, through its Conservatory for the Protection of Primates, for the protection of monkeys and their natural environment. Over the years, Monkey valley has become a leader at European level in the proliferation of primates and even worldwide with more than 700 births to date.

Our visits to valley des singes

We have visited valley des singes twice since the children were born. The first time was before Thomas, when Benjamin was a tiny tot of 2. It was a freezing February day, it took longer than we expected to get there (about 1hr30 as we lost our way - there's no major roads/motorways to get to it) ; most of the monkeys were hiding away in the warmth somewhere and the café was closed - so it wasn't a great success. Still, Benjamin enjoyed running freely around the walkways and we did see the odd monkey that we got really close to.

The second time was for Thomas' 10th birthday. He had heard one of the guests in our family holiday cottages talking about how much fun it was and decided that is what he wanted to do for his birthday treat. This time it was a hot August day and we knew the best way to get there so we were off to a better start !

Valley des singes prices and opening times

It's 19€ per adult and 13€ per child age 5 - 12yrs (free under 5). It takes a good 1hr15 to get there, (80km drive in the middle of nowhere) so you really need to love monkeys ! Personally I think the animal park in La Palmyre (about the same drive time) is far better value and far more interesting plus you can tie it up with a few hours on the beach afterwards too. However for our families who have 'done' all the usual sights, it's definitely a good alternative day out.

It's well laid out, there are plenty of toilets and nappy change facilities and you are given a map so you can pick and choose which direction to take. It's set in a woodland location so there is lots of shade around although some areas are very exposed, like the Bonobo feeding time seats - so take sunscreen, hats and water. I would highly recommend watching the feeding times. Its more like an informative show. The handler gives you lots of information about the primates and they are very entertaining without being forced into any silly tricks - just their natural behaviour is fascinating.

It's open 7 days a week from April to the end of October and from 10am to 7pm in July and August. Full details can be found on their web site

Restaurants at Valley des singes

The eating options at least have improved slightly over the years. Being high season both the 'restaurants' were at least open and they were offering more than a sandwich and crisps, however as with most tourist attractions the food is pricey and basic but the kids enjoyed the peacocks wandering around ! It may be a better option to take a picnic. There are plenty of picnic areas to choose from. You can also leave the park to eat - just make sure you get your hand stamped so you can come back in.

We had great fun on our second visit to Valley des Singes. It's a great place for families. Young children can run freely around (it's unlikely they'll actually catch a monkey - they arn't tame despite being surrounded by humans most of the time) and it's lovely to be in such close contact with them. There's also a petting zoo and play park. The feeding shows are very informative (in French but with audio translations available).

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Chateau des Enigmas

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:58:29 GMT

a day of puzzles around a beautiful chateau

We spent a lovely day at the Chateau des énigmas (Chateau of puzzles ) with my two boys, 14 and 12 and my niece (11) and nephew (9) . It was a fun day that kept us all interested and would of been suitable for much younger children and toddlers too with mum and dads help.

The web site describes the Le Château des Énigmes as ” a new kind of theme park , which is both fun and educational: come and discover this splendid Italian Renaissance Chateau with your family or friends. You will take part in a journey adventure in the castle, the wooded park and its little farm.” This year, the chateau d’Usson , registered as historical monument invites you to join Willy the pirate in his treasure hunt to seek for the enigma of the castle and have fun learning how to be a pirate whilst following the trail.

The trail at the Chateau des énigmas

There are 27 puzzles or tasks to complete. The tasks are usually quite simple and allow younger children to feel as though they are participating fully in the puzzle without it being too complicated. With the pirate them these tasks involve pirate skills like knot tying, walking the plank, climbing etc You are free to do the skills or not as they do not constitute part of the puzzle.

The real puzzles vary in difficulty but not so hard that the children get bored. Each puzzle has an answer. At the end of the trail you enter these answers into an interactive screen. It’s not the end of the world if you have a few wrong as you can correct your answer. Each correct answer will give you a clue. When you have all these written down you have to work out the ‘énigma’ – there are three levels of difficulty. You could do all three to help but there were queues for the screens so we didn’t want to hold up others from entering their answers.

At the end you give your answer and receive a certificate (even if it’s wrong !) plus a 2€ voucher off your next entry. It was a really fun day which we all enjoyed. We would definitely recommend it as a good family day with the whole family.

Location of Chateau des énigmas

There are two Chateau des énigmas in France. Our closest is situated in Pons in the Charente-Maritime (Poitou-Charentes or Nouvelle Aquitaine as the region is now known),

The Château des Énigmes is less than 30 minutes from Saintes / Cognac / Royan , and within an hour of several of our larger towns – Bordeaux, Angoulême, Niort and La Rochelle . So from our family friendly holiday cottages here at Les Vallaies and La Grange du Moulin it’s about a 50 minute drive.

The second is in Fréteval in the Loir-et-Cher, at the heart of the Val de Loire and registered as a site of UNESCO the Château de Rocheux is host to this chateau des énigmas park.

History of Chateau des énigmas

In 1536 Jean de Rabaine commissioned one of the greatest architects of his time, Nicolas Bachelier, a pupil of Michelangelo, to build a château. The Château d’Usson, with all the characteristics of a classic Renaissance château was built in the village of Echebrune in Charente-Maritime, 8km from it’s present site. It has had a troubled but interesting history best described on the web site here but needless to say it eventually ended up in it’s present position . During the 1980s the Château was stripped of some of its ornaments by its then owner. The State intervened and put the Château up for sale.

1998 that Philippe Lapouyade bought the Château d’Usson with the idea of creating a giant treasure hunt which would allow visitors to discover this lovely Renaissance château and its grounds : The Château des Enigmes Activity Park opened its gates the following year. The chateau now welcomes more than 50,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited château in Charente-Maritime!

Practical info for Chateau des énigmas

We would recommend taking a picnic with you. The course lasts around 3 hours but longer if you stop for a break or enjoy wandering the grounds. There is a small snack bar which is open in July and August; offering chips, crisps, sandwiches, ice creams and drinks but we had to wait a while even eating at 3pm so I expect at lunch time the queues and wait would be a bit on the long side. There are plenty of shady picnic areas and if we go again that is what we shall do. There is also this little play park at the café

The chateau des énigmas is open daily non-stop from 1st April to 5 November 2017, from 10am to 7pm (8pm in July and August). We paid 14€ per adult and 11€ for the 4 to 12 yrs (under 4 yrs free)

There is a small wooden toilet block (3 loos) so go when you are passing as it’s a long hike with a child that needs a wee from the other end of the park (although there are plenty of trees and bushes for a quick toddler wee !) No baby changing facilities or disabled facilities as far as we could see.

There is plenty of parking immediately outside the park. Take a pen unless you want to pay 50c for the souvenir one. You will need one to fill in your answers.

All in all a good day out for all the family when staying at our family friendly holiday cottages

content by Wendy Blakeman

Aquarium in La Rochelle

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 14:09:37 GMT

Kid friendly day out when staying at La Grange du Moulin

During the Spring bank holidays my sister and family came to stay with us. The weather here in France has been absolutely beautiful for months, clear blue skies and mild temperatures so we had a day trip to the coast and the aquarium at La Rochelle our county town here in the Charente Maritime.

The aquarium in La Rochelle has been a regular place for us to visit over the years with the children, ever since they were really little, it has been a firm favourite ever since and often the choice for a birthday treat. It is also one of our top ten recommended places to visit for our families who stay in our holiday accommodation during the summer months, tying it in with a stroll around this famous French city and a delicious seafood meal.

We booked our tickets online as there is a slight reduction in the price and on very busy days (and it can get really busy during the summer) this avoids the need to queue, so definitely worth doing. Here at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies We are happy to print your tickets for you but you can access the confirmation bar code on your phone too.

Our visit was in the morning, at this time of year it opens at 10am and is not too busy; in summer you really need to get there before it opens as the queues can extend out of the building and down the street if you arrive later - to be honest, if this happens it really isn't worth queuing as it will be so busy inside you'll have difficulty viewing everything and its no fun for anyone - far better to go for lunch, visit the town then go back in the afternoon or evening when it will be much quieter. In July and August it's open until 11pm !

The visit starts with a descent to the depths of the ocean (in the lift); when our two were very young (1 and 3yrs) this bit scared them as the 'submarine' lift shakes a bit and the 'windows' show the water level rising. So hold onto the little ones. The doors open into an underwater tunnel filled with jelly fish - water surrounds you, below your feet and above your head it's a lovely start to the 'tour' .

The direction of the visit is well signposted and the different areas well laid out, so although you can wander freely and view as much or as little as you want, following the route means you'll see everything on offer. The visit around La Rochelle aquarium is split into five main areas: The Atlantic coast; Mediterranean; Caribbean; Indo Pacific and Tropical rain forest.

Many of the tanks reach down to the ground, so ideal for younger children . There is lots of information about all the fish and sea creatures and their habitats if you have time to read everything but we found the most popular thing with the children is just being able to run around freely.

There is a lovely childrens tunnel that takes them behind a huge tank so you can take a photo of them from the other side pretending to be a fish; or the interactive projection on the carpet is another firm favourite where they can try and chase the 'fish'. We also enjoy sitting on the benches in front of the shark tank just watching these magnificent fish gliding by.

The final tropical area is also popular with our kids as although there arn't many fish (a piranha tank with a big warning sign not to put your hands in !!) the wobbling rope bridge to access it is fun, as are the bamboo tubes with different tropical smells to guess. There is an audio guide designed for children aged 4 to 10 years and an app you can download before your visit to get them excited about it and prepare them for the experience.

Practically wise there is good disabled access and lots of toilets along the route (always a necessity with young children) Lighting is quite low so at busy times you'll need to keep a good hold of little children so you don't lose them - we'd always recommend visiting the aquarium at quiet times if at all possible with young children and toddlers as it is far more fun if they can run around discovering things for themselves.

At the end of the tour there is the ubiquitous gift shop - we always know when our families have been when they return with cuddly Nemos and sharks ! On previous visits we have eaten lunch in La Rochelle at one of the many seafood restaurants on the port (usually Andrés) but this time because it was already quite late for lunch we decided upon the aquarium restaurant /café .

This was a really pleasant surprise. It has stunning views across the port, is light with windows all around and the service was excellent. The choice of food was very good, several fish dishes and steak too. All simply but well presented, even the childrens steak haché frites (burger and chips) was served with wrapped green beans and the chips were homemade. Very reasonably priced, particularly considering the location - take the boat taxi across the port and you'll be paying twice as much. Highly recommended.

After your aquarium visit take the electric boat over to Andrés restaurant and the rest of the town, read more about it here . A superb day out when staying at our family friendly holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime in France.

content by Wendy Blakeman

Andrés seafood restaurant

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 13:46:28 GMT

in La Rochelle

t is set on a pedestrianised cobbled square centred on a large anchor (which the children love to play on inbetween courses) We love
to sit on the terrace in summer and watch the world go by as we tuck into our Gillardeau oysters (grown just down the road and considered the best in the world )

There is a very relaxed atmosphere, high noise levels and informal table settings. High chairs can be provided and we have always
found the staff to be extremely friendly and welcoming towards our children (and we have been taking them since they were born) Our
boys particularly enjoy the 'space dust' sprinkled on the ice cream which pops in their mouths.

Considering the location we have always found it excellent value. You are of course sitting in a central position in the third most visited cities in France with over 3 million visitors each year - so yes - you will pay a bit more for the location than sitting in a back street café. However they do a superb three course 18€ lunch menu which is delicious and excellent value. What we love most, apart from the food and location is they do a delicious 'grown up' childrens menu which incorporates a beautifully cooked piece of fish in a divine butter sauce and they will bring crayons and colouring pages for the little ones and also (if you sit inside) sit you next to the live lobster tank which will help keep the little ones amused whilst you dig into your own cooked lobster or crab !

Apart from the superb 'fruits de mer' platters and world renowned Gillardeau oysters they also do an amazing fish soup which is a complete meal in itself being served with the traditional croutons, grated cheese and rouille (named for it's 'rust' colour) a spicy (chilli)
garlic sauce that gives a great kick to the already hot and tasty soup - perfect for a winters day or a meal in itself if you don't have time for more courses and at just 9€50 for a massive tureen full - can't be beat for value. Long tables, great for family meals, bustling and good noise levels (so no one hears when the toddlers shout a bit too loudly !

We always recommend a full day out to take in the sights of La Rochelle. With an early start, visit the aquarium first to miss the queues in summer then take the electric boat taxi over the harbour (fun for the kids and costs about 70cents for adults) which drops you off right at the tour de la chaine next to Andrés. Enjoy a delicious seafood meal - taking it in turns between courses to let the children play on the anchor then stroll along the promenade under the trees and browse the market stalls and watch the street entertainers making your way through the town. In the heat of the sun you can walk protected by the ancient overhanging buildings (good if it rains too !) window shopping (or buying !) in the hundreds of independent stores.

After your stroll around the shops, having walked off your lunch then you must stop at Ernests le glacier - homemade ice creams and sorbets in
every imaginable flavour - choose just a cone or a bucket full, the kids won't forgive you if you don't !
To make it a full day out (and perhaps to kill two birds...) you can then take a walk along the city walls to the town beach. Always bustling and with several cafés from which to enjoy an afternoon coffee, the children will get a few hours playing in the sand and jumping the wave if the tide is in (if not they can hunt for crabs and tiddlers in the rock pools) whilst you sit and sun yourself gazing at the boats sailing in and out of the harbour.

A perfect day

content by Wendy Blakeman

La Rochelle with kids

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 12:30:55 GMT

Our regions capital and a beautiful city to visit

When staying with us at our family holiday cottages in the Charente Maritime region of western France, La Rochelle is a 'must see' and very probably number one on our list of family days out.

The area has been inhabited since before Roman times. The Romans used the area for the production of salt (still produced today on the salt flats of the nearby Ile de Re and Il d'Oleron )and of wine. It became an important port in the 12th century; became
English for 12 years in the 14th century and then became an independent protestant republic in the 16th century. More recently it was an important German stronghold during the war with a submarine base and was the last French city to be liberated. Today La Rochelle has a population of around 80,000 and is an important tourist centre being the third most visited city in France.

Being just an easy one hour drive from our holiday cottages, La Rochelle has so much to offer for a full day out. Before you start, pop a bottle of wine in the fridge for later.

We recommend starting the day early (particularly in peak season) and arriving at the La Rochelle aquarium at around opening time (9am in summer) You could quite easily spend several hours visiting this popular attraction, so to get in early before the crowds is highly recommended particularly if you have young children.

The tour starts with a descent to the depths of the ocean in a submarine disguised as a lift and when the doors open you are immediately surrounded by fish, rays and even sharks. The aquarium is divided into the oceans and waters of the world, so you'll travel from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, to the Pacific, the Caribbean, the Indian ocean, lagoons and finally to the tropics giving a great insight into the flora and fish found in these very differing waters.

Why we love the La Rochelle aquarium so much is that it is so child friendly and we mean toddler and baby friendly too. We have been taking our children here since they were tiny and they loved crawling up to the huge tanks that rise from floor level, so even on hands and knees your baby will get a great view. The star attraction is the three story shark tank where you can sit and watch these majestic creatures to the sounds of classical music; however my two adore their own star attraction which can be found in a hallway ! Its an interactive projection of fish swimming on the carpet - when you walk or jump and 'splash' in the projected water the fish scatter to your movements - we love it and the boys will happily spend 20mins trying to catch the fish !

The tour ends in the obligatory gift shop where you can purchase large fluffy turtles and sharks if you wish. There is a restaurant there too which is very good but we prefer to move onto our next La Rochelle highlight - Andrés seafood restaurant.

From the aquarium you could walk around the port or take the electric boat across (which happens to drop you just in front of Andrés)

Andrés in La Rochelle is by far and away our most favourite restaurant in the Charente Maritime. Found at the entrance to the old port, it is
easy to find and is the centre of all the best restaurants in La Rochelle - our theory is the further away from this point you get along the harbour, the further you get away from top class seafood ! If you want moules frites then feel free to choose anyone of the hundreds of seasonal restaurants that pop up as soon as the sun starts to shine, but if like us you love seafood and want top quality and freshness served with professional and friendly staff then Andrés is a great choice for all the family.

There are long tables and it's always busy so noise levels are high, great if you've got a chatty toddler or hungry baby. They have high chairs, there are baby changing facilities and a child toilet in the bathroom. The staff have always been very friendly towards our children and they have a great kids menu too.

After an enjoyable lunch at Andrés or one of the many other great restaurants La Rochelle has to offer, take a stroll through the old town. Old buildings, steep slate roofs, covered pedestrian walkways and many plazas where you can sit, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the world go by. It's definitely a people watching town. Even in mid winter the locals wrap up and sit in the sun sipping a Ricard or a hot chocolate watching the yachts pull out of their moorings and into the deep blue sea beyond.

Shopping is a popular French pastime too and the streets are lined with small boutiques, jewellery shops and some gorgeous baby clothes shops.

Parking is usually not a problem. The large St Jean d'Acre car park is centrally located between the beach and Andrés restaurant and is our recommended car park if you arn't going to the aquarium (which has it's own large car park) In June though St Jean d'Acre is closed due to the Francofolie music festival so you can go to Place Verdun parking (underground) or use the park and ride system.

Content by Wendy Blakeman

La Palmyre animal park

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:56:04 GMT

a must see when staying at kid friendly la Grange du Moulin

The word 'Zoo' has some very negative associations and so I try to avoid using the description to our guests before I have described what a fantastic place this is to visit when staying at
our family holiday cottages and stick with the 'animal park' which doesn't sound so controversial.

Every year, millions of people visit zoos around the world, some are amazing others should be closed immediately; La Palmyre is one of the former. They have assumed an active role in the protection of rare species threatened with extinction and are a 'centre of education and environmental consciousness-raising'

La Palmyre are a member of the European Endangered Species Program, where global coordinators are given responsibility for different endangered species. Their goal is to optimize a species’ 'reproductive conditions by setting up groups and avoiding any
inbreeding. This may involve sending a particular animal to another zoo, so a primate born at La Palmyre might end up starting a family in Tokyo.'

La Palmyre Zoo is also a founder member of CEPA (Conservation of Animal Species and Populations), which was founded in 1997 to focus on species that are both seriously endangered and generally neglected because little known, such as the Amur leopard or Tahiti monarch. There is particular emphasis on the wild animals of France’s overseas departments. Further information on their missions can be found on their site here
https://www.zoo-palmyre.fr/en

Everyone who visits the La Palmyre zoo always returns with glowing reports, most saying it is the best zoo they have ever visited and we agree.We ourselves go every year, our boys never tire of running around the shady paths getting really close to so many animals, having the huge wet tongue of a giraffe lick over your hand to eat popcorn (provided by the zoo) and goats run around you feet and nudge your bottom to get the last crumbs from your pockets left by the giraffes. Its a full day out and in peak season we recommend leaving early to get there as the gates open, to avoid the crowds. It does get unbearably busy later on, so its best to keep ahead of the crowds by starting early (I'm talking about an 8am start from your gite) In May, June and September this isn't such an issue as the French children are still at school - just avoid weekends and Wednesdays when the school children are off at any time of year. Its a great place to be with toddlers when its quieter as they can run around freely, chasing peacocks and shouting out all the animals names as they see them.

There are a few 'snack bars' but we recommend taking a few sandwiches and sitting on one of the many benches under the shade of the huge pine trees for a leisurely picnic or if you have really little ones who arn't worried about reading every bit of info about each
animal, then you could be out by lunchtime and have a meal in nearby La Palmyre town.

Toilets are dotted regularly along the trail but be warned, many of the smaller blocks are still the old fashioned hole in the ground - doesn't bother my boys but my nieces arn't so keen to use them ! There are baby changing facilities too.

All in all a fantastic day out for all the family and in our top ten sites to visit when staying at La Grange du Moulin or Les Vallaies family holiday cottages.

content by Wendy Blakeman

Top ten free things to do

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:41:35 GMT

when staying at our family friendly holiday accommodation in France

1, Saint Jean d’Angely – our local town has a great history and some lovely buildings and cobbled pedestrianised streets. It’s not huge with a population of 8000 so is lovely and quiet on most days but bustling with life on market days. Wander around the Abbey cloisters (now housing the centre of European culture), the IX century Abbey and the church and visit the library with it’s beautiful ’sistine’ like ceiling.

2, Play Parks – our local one is just 10 minutes drive away, the ‘loisier’ is located on the river Boutonne and has a lovely lake with ducks to feed your old bread to, there is a large playing field and a super childrens play park with spider web rope climbing frame, climbing blocks, slides, tyre swings, sand pit and much more. A great place to sit in the sun and watch your children making friends with the local French children. In fact every town has a great park and they are all different and all within a reasonable driving distance.

3, Cognac – a beautiful town with cobbled streets and dozens of ’Cognac’ houses, take a stroll along the river and see Otard, Hennessey and Martell all within a few hundred metres. See if you can spy their storage houses or ‘chai’ where the evaporation of the eau de vie (or angels share) creates a black mould on the buildings. You don’t need to do a tour (although we have buy one get one free entrance cards for Hennessey) but you can freely enter the shops and look at the bottles of ‘Paradise’ at thousands of pounds a bottle (keep hold of the kids hands !) afterwards you could walk/drive down to the huge play park located on the river.

4, Beaches – the Charente Maritime has literally hundreds of miles of beaches and the ones from La Rochelle down to Royan are all within 1 hrs drive of our family friendly gites at La Grange du Moulin. They are all safe, shallow and sandy and vary from small and quiet to large and touristy – there is a beach for everyone. In La Rochelle the town beach is plenty large enough to please the little ones and is close to the town, so you can tie up the beach with a day sightseeing this beautiful town and save on petrol. The beaches close to La Palmyre have been designed so that when the tide goes out (and it goes out a long way !) there are sea water pools left for the children to play in. Along the coast south of Royan are cliffs and rock pools – another great activity that will keep the kids happy for hours at no cost.

5, La Rochelle – our departments capital and a world renowned city, a definite must see when visiting our region. There are thousands of restaurants (including Michelin starred ones) but when on a budget there are plenty of small family restaurants you can eat at and enjoy the ‘moules frites’ at very little cost , better still, take a picnic, sit in the park or on the beach and watch the world go by. The city is filled with beautiful buildings and we recommend a stroll around it’s busy streets, the tourist info office will give you a walking tour with information on the various historical buildings; go on a Sunday and one of the towers is free to climb (but the shops will be shut – probably a good day to go if you want to avoid temptation)

6, Local markets – All the towns will have a market at least once a week. In our area these are still very much how the locals do much of their weekly shopping, so you will find a huge array of fresh fish, meat, cheese and fruit and vegetables and much fewer ‘handbag’ stalls. You could just browse and soak up the atmosphere but we highly recommend buying your fresh fish from the twice weekly market in St Jean, there is good competition between the stall holders, prices are keen, the produce is very fresh and there’s a much better choice than the supermarkets – pick up some oysters to enjoy at our seafood evening. A great way to practice your own French and encourage the children to say a few words too.

7, Ile de Oleron - there are several islands off our coastline but this one is free to get to (the Ile de Ré has a toll) it’s larger and a bit busier than the others of course, but you can still find unoccupied beaches, woodland trails, cycle routes (if you’ve brought your bikes) and visit the lighthouse (under 6yrs go free)

8, Walks – There are lots of lovely walks around our La Grange du Moulin family holiday gites. Wander up past the sunflowers and maize to the woods where you will find lots of tracks to discover, spot wild flowers and you may even see a deer if you are up early. You have the freedom to roam along all the tracks which criss cross the fields, the lanes are very quiet and you would be unlucky to see a car. One of our favourite routes is up to the woods and along the edge of the vineyards then back along the river Nie where we can stop at the ‘old stone bridge’ where the trolls live. You can cycle these routes too.

9, Saintes Roman ruins – Park close to the Triumphal arch of Germanicus located on the river Charente, wander around the free museum close by which has a collection of stone carvings, parts of Roman buildings and statues too. A stroll through the town and past the two abbeys (also free) will take you to the ampitheatre – it is in a quiet residential area and although there is a small charge to enter, you can easily walk around the outside and see just as much. In summer they often have free concerts in the ampitheatre itself but you have to be quick to get tickets, so join the tourist office web site to keep informed. On your way home if you are still in the ‘Roman’ mood stop at Venerand, a small village en route where there is the start of the aqueduct that fed Saintes with spring water.

10, and finally – have a day at the holiday cottages here at La Grange du Moulin. You can sit back in the sunshine, reading a good book and sipping a chilled glass of wine whilst your children play in the safely enclosed play garden making new friends. Our weekly Teddy Bears picnic is completely free and all the children really look forward to the bubbles, Teddy cake and balloon animals.

Remember these are just the free things to do, proving you can have a lovely holiday without breaking the bank.

content by Wendy Blakeman

Money saving ideas

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:32:38 GMT

to make your family holiday to France better value

The last thing you want to be is worried about money whilst on holiday so how can you have a great family holiday and keep to a budget ?

See our top ten list of free things to do

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Les Gours plan d'eau

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:45:43 GMT

swimming lake and beach just 30 mins away from our family holiday cottages

After 20 years here we are still discovering new places.

Just 30 minutes drive away from our La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies family holiday cottages, Les Gours plan d'eau is in the middle of no where and you can't even see the lake from the road so you'd never come across it by accident; there is a small sign but if you blinked you'd miss it, so you definitely need directions to get there. Consequently it's not busy - just those 'in the know' have reserved tables in the restaurant.

We arrived at lunchtime so were pleased to find the restaurant serving steak frites for just 9€50 including an ice cream for dessert. They also offer a full menu of tomatoe salad, paté or melon followed by steak frite (a very nice piece of faut filet and a huge platter of homemade chips), cheese, ice cream cone, caraf of wine, water and bread - all for 13€50; no wonder most tables were reserved. Apparently this menu is only offered on a Sunday but the bar is open throughout the week in peak season offering drinks and snacks such as waffles. It's very simply done so keeps the costs low - very French actually - paper table cloth, thin plastic plates and cups and the food served on platters for you to help yourselves.

After lunch we headed across the lane to the lake. It's a beautiful situation - surrounded by mature trees giving lots of shade. Lots of benches and lots of space. There's a good sized man made beach with lovely soft sand which leads down to the paddling and swimming areas. The paddling area is a maximum 80cm depth and has a rope to define the area, as does the swimming area which goes from 80cm to 3m50. The swimming area is surveyed by a life guard from 2pm until 6pm most days during the summer holidays. The rest of the lake is reserved for fishing.

A nice play area is provided too with swings, slide and a see saw.

We had a lovely few hours, the children didn't come out of the lake until it was time to leave, they had so much fun. We highly recommend it as an alternative to going to the beach for the day - it's much closer and there's no low tide !

content by Wendy Blakeman

Scuba diving at La Grange du Moulin child friendly holiday cottages

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:33:53 GMT

for kids aged 5 to 99 yrs

PADI have developed special training courses to introduce youngsters to just how much fun and exciting breathing underwater can be. Scubaschool.fr and their British instructors have joined up with us to offer a range of diving options for all the family at our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime, France. So make your holiday a bit special and try scuba diving with us !

Geoff and Wendy taught Chris to dive and pass his PADI open water course which enabled us to spend a week on a live aboard boat off the Barrier Reef and Chris then passed his advanced open water. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to dive but had a great time snorkelling !

A few years ago Geoff and Wendy started teaching Benjamin to dive and enjoyed it so much came to us with a proposition to offer 'try dives' to our guests, both children and adults - we jumped at the chance ! Scubaschool.fr was born !

Scubaschool.fr now visit both La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies each week . Children from 5 years old to adults up to 99 years + are offered try a dives or PADI approved courses. The basic course lasts one hour and costs 30€. This is a great way to see whether you like the idea before perhaps moving on to more advanced courses here or at home.

All sessions are held in the heated swimming pools onsite at our properties. All equipment is provided and once the basic safety lessons are learnt you'll be off around the pool collecting 'treasure' and they may literally have you diving through hoops !

It is quite amazing how quickly children get to grips with 'breathing' underwater and we have had several children opt to then take the full 'junior open water course' available which even involves an exam ( they must have really loved it to study on their hols !) For those interested in going further Geoff can offer referral courses . This means that you can take all the 'closed' (meaning swimming pool) work and tests for a course and any coursework required whilst on holiday and Geoff will then give you a contact for a dive centre close to you at home in the UK to complete the necessary 'open' (non pool) tests. The benefits of doing this are that firstly it is a lot cheaper, from only 300€ which is way cheaper than doing the pool work in the UK plus you get to do most of the work in a lovely warm pool in lovely sunny weather !

However most people just want to 'give it a go' and experience this amazing sport in a safe and familiar environment and as a bit of fun on their holidays. The kids absolutely love it and are far more daring and adventurous than their parents !!

But what do you do if you have an eight year old who's having a fab time diving for treasure and a six year old who is desperate to try it because it looks so much fun? Well - they can. Geoff and Wendy offer a try dive for younger children too - they don't even need to be able to swim ! They'll be restricted to the shallow end where they can stand up and the tanks will be held for them.

The scuba diving activity has proved so popular that often the children have to be staggered into different time groups depending on their abilities.

Some children and adults like the look of doing it but arn't really sure - no problem, you can have a 15 minute session for 15€ to see whether you like it or not then carry on to do the full hour if you want to.

Everyone is given a certificate of achievement at the end, a fantastic souvenir of your holiday at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies.

For full details of the courses and try dives avalable, prices and contact details of scubaschool.fr

Available to guests at La Grange du Moulin, Les Vallaies and our other family friendly holiday accommodation in the Charente Maritime, France.

We also offer Dive holidays where you and a group of friends or you and your family can stay a whole week and learn all the scuba diving techniques and take your closed water section of your open water or advanced open water course in a group with other divers. Specific weeks are set aside in our availability to host scuba diving holidays here at la Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies in the Charente Maritime, France. Alternatively contact us at wendyblakeman@gmail.com to make a booking.

A medical questionnaire must be completed beforehand by the parent, some medical conditions may mean that you are unable to dive so contact us beforehand if you are unsure as you may simply need another certificate authorised by your GP. (things like asthma, diabetes, epilepsy plus others)

Content by Wendy Blakeman

St Savinien

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:03:58 GMT

Idyllic family afternoon out

Saint Savinien in the Charente Maritime department of the Poitou Charente region of France, just an easy 30 drive from our affordable family friendly holiday cottages

It has a weekly market and an annual wine fair. Wander the small winding streets up to the church, buy some fresh oysters and fruit for lunch and then picnic by the Charente on a hot summers afternoon. However, you must not miss the 'port miniature' and the children would never forgive you if you did !

In the park is a large lake with two mini canals. Here you will find the'Port Minaiture' where over the last 20yrs the vision of l'ATELIER DU MARTIN PÊCHEUR has been achieved through his own hard work. All the boats have been carefully constructed from scratch, beautifully designed and painted and put to work (on sunny days) on the lake which he alone has modified with hand dredged canals and handmade Japanese bridges.

There are a flotilla of different boats from cross channel ferries, to tugs and the rainbow warrior. Each boat is chosen for its captain and crew depending on their age and number. From 9yrs and over you can captain your own low sided tug boat, for the toddlers with mum and dad in tow, you'll get the high sided Britanny ferries cross channel ferry (with a life jacket too).

When staying at our family friendly holiday cottages in Charente Maritime, France, St Savinien is a lovely afternoon trip out where you can play in the park, relax with an ice cream and cold drink in the shade, have a meal in a restaurant or picnic by the side of the river and the whole family can enjoy a ride out on one of these beautifully crafted electric boats.

There is also a merry go round and a bouncy castle park - perfect for the kids to let off some steam. There's loads of grassy areas where they can run around too. There are toilets and café for ice creams and a cool drink too. You can book a table at the restaurant in the park, le bec fin if you want a full meal (steak /frites style) (0546902844)open every day except tuesday in summer. Casual dining and outdoor tables - and very handy for the boats !

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Travelling to France

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:18:11 GMT

Plane, train or automobile

A bit of history...

When we first arrived in France some 24 years ago, 100% of our guests drove their car - there wasn't really a choice. Our family holiday cottages are located in a peaceful, rural environment and a car is essential, not only to get to the shops but to make the most of your holiday it would be a shame not to discover all this beautiful region of the Charente Maritime has to offer. You could take the train but with young children in tow and a suitcase of swimwear and t-shirts it really wasn't and still isn't practical.

In the early 90's this all changed with the European Unions deregulation of the air industry giving carriers the right to operate services between other European states. This gave the likes of Ryan air and Easyjet a huge opportunity to expand their markets and the cheap airline to France was born. Since this time the percentage of our families who choose to take to the air rather than to the road has increased dramatically - I'd take a guess that it's now about 50:50 It seems that smaller families with perhaps one child or a young baby tend to fly rather than risk a long car journey with toddlers in tow; families with slightly more children or older children are more willing to drive, especially in this day of seat back dvd players, tablets and electronic games to keep them happy (no more eye spy or spotting the registration year on cars) These families also often choose to take the longest route possible from Calais and take advantage of the tunnel.

The tunnel was another reason for the boom in travel and holidays to the continent of families. Opening in 1994 it provides a quicker route to France even than the airlines making you feel like you are already on holiday even with an 8 hr drive south to go ! Together the cheap flights and tunnel route lead to a increase in overseas property ownership as well as holidays to France in general.

So should we drive or take the plane ?

So which, with all this choice we have now, is the best way to travel to our own family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime. This is the most commonly asked question after 'can I babysit ?' (yes I can by the way !) For our family the best way to travel in our opinion is using our own car and driving. When we return to the UK it is our holiday so we make the travel part of the holiday plus I'm not brilliant on a plane and we need a car when in the UK . We also love to stock up on a few things

1, wine (yes wine !! You should realise how lucky you are living in the UK - the choice is amazing; no New Zealand Cloudy Bay here !)

2, foods (cheddar cheese - you can get it but it's expensive) and

3, clothes for the kids (cheap kids jeans in Asda £3, cheap jeans here €35 !!)

Obviously these are not the same reasons you would choose to bring the car here - or not quite...

1, wine - you can't take much back on Ryan air, but you can fill your boot of the car with French wines and the prices are fantastic, just don't expect Cloudy Bay ! (note that there are likely to be restrictions put in place after the Brexit transition period but we will let you know when that happens, for now you can take as much as you like for 'personal' use)

2, food - again, difficult on the plane, but guests of ours stock up on confit de canard , local honey and other such delicacies

3, convenience - having your own car means you can bring as many suitcases as you need. There is something very appealing to me about being able to load everything into the car next to my front door and not touch it again until I arrive at our destination, no loading in and out of a taxi, checking in, waiting at the carousel, loading into the hire car, then unloading all again an hour later !

As you may of guessed, I enjoy taking the car !

To be balanced though, if you get a good deal on the flight and the car hire, flying can be a much cheaper option and if you live further north than Oxford, may well be much quicker.

Things to remember if you are driving

1, what ferry port to choose - If you are close to Dover then the obvious choice is P&O ferries or the tunnel, but if you are closer to Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth then there are good ferry routes with Brittany ferries to northern France. P&O also do Portsmouth to Dieppe. We can offer a 20% discount off Brittany ferry crossings when booking with us . Being on a decent ferry can be like a mini cruise - the Portsmouth to St Malo route on the Bretagne ship (Brittany ferries) is our favourite and has a superb restaurant and the lovely Commodore cabins - it costs more but gets us 4 hrs drive closer to home than the Dover Calais route and the 70€ + of tolls and a potential stopover.

2, Whichever route you take to our family holiday cottages you'll end up on a toll road. Many of the motorways are free - around large cities usually, but you have to be pretty determined to avoid the ones that arn't free. A good web site to use to give you an idea of current charges along your route is autoroute.fr just enter your route and it will give you an estimate of petrol costs and toll charges. They do take uk credit/debit cards, but have some euros handy just in case.

3, Another consideration would be the time of year you are travelling. In peak season (July and August) there are several weekends that are terrible for traffic. To avoid spending hours sitting in a traffic jam visit bison-fute.gouv.fr which will tell you what the traffic is likely to be like on your date of travel. They have black days (standing traffic) red days (bad) and orange days (heavy) - avoid the black and red days on certain routes if possible.

4, Fuel is still cheaper in France than the UK but the difference these days is not as much as it used to be. As with the UK avoid filling up on the motorways if possible as fuel will be a lot more expensive there than in the supermarkets.

5, There is no excuse to have a regular break on French motorways, there are rest stops pretty much every 20km or so; they may not be full services, just parking, a loo and a picnic area usually, but a definite plus when you have an active toddler who needs to stretch their legs.

6, To drive legally in France you need to know a few things and make sure yo are prepared.

Read more on our 'Driving in France' post here

and things to remember when flying...

1, shop around and keep an eye out for the deals. Most airlines (and ferry companies for that matter) use twitter, facebook and google+ to let everyone know about the deals they are offering, yet its surprising how few people follow them to be first in the queue, by the time you hear about the deals they've gone - so start following your favourite airline to get the deals or even better, follow us ! We regularly post offers from the airlines and ferry companies.

2, baggage charges are the biggest bug bear of cheap airline clients, so check the small print, how much can you carry, check the bag sizes and hand luggage allowances and remember to check in and print off your boarding card before you get to the airport.

3, car hire is very competitive and all the big companies offer deals just like the airlines, at different times during the year (usually early on before Christmas to get early bookers and then later in the season to rid themselves of empty seats/cars) Its probably wisest to check for the best deal through a price comparison site. Make sure you check the small print too - things like having to return the car full (or empty ) of fuel, cleaning it thoroughly (we've had guests think they've cleaned it yet still been charged) and charges for car seats (and whether there is anyone qualified to fit it for you)

4, time of year - some of the cheap airlines only operate a service to certain smaller airports in peak season, so check first .

but what about Brexit ?

The UK has now officially left the European Union. So what does this mean for travel to Europe in 2020 ? Well very little for the time being ! On 1st February we entered into a 'transition' period where pretty much everything remains the same (regarding travel to Europe that is) all through 2020. The transition may well be extended into 2021 too but that remains to be seen. So for travel to Europe throughout 2020 - everything stays the same. You can happily and confidently travel to France the same as you've been able to since 1973.

All you need is your passport, a suitcase and suncream (but would be sensible to bring your drivers licence, credit card and your European health card too !)

You will NOT need a green card (European car insurance) or an international drivers licence (available from the post office for travel in 2021) or emergency health insurance (as long as you have your EHIC card for emergencys) Trains, ferrys and planes will operate as usual and you can still take lots of wine back with you ! (This is until the transition period ends which at the moment is Dec 2020)

If you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to ask us.

Whichever way you decide to travel, make it part of the holiday.

As always if you have any questions about any of our family friendly gites, travel, the Charente Maritime or anything else, do not hesitate to contact us.

By Wendy Blakeman

Travelling with kids

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 10:06:57 GMT

top ten things to pack

Travelling and young children don't always mix. Long journeys with young children can be fraught with problems. Travelling long distance is tiring for anyone but particularly so for younger children who don't have a grasp on time and how long an hour is never mind 5 or 6+ . We've all experienced the 'are we there yet' 10 minutes into your trip to Grandmas so although it's unlikely to be stress free there are a few things you can do to make it easier for everyone.

Preparation is key - as with any task with toddlers, even the day to day routine tasks such as a trip to the supermarket is far easier when you've prepared. It depends on the age of course, older children will no doubt have their tablets, phones, Nintendos and of course books to keep themselves occupied :-) but you may need a bit more preparation for younger children and toddlers.

So with a few years experience of long car and plane journeys with two boys behind me, this is what I'd recommend ....

My top ten handy things to pack are

1, portable/in car DVD player - However much you hate it, a car dvd player on a long drive is a life saver. We have rules for ours, the main one being not for journeys less than 1 hour and no watching it earlier than 1 hour into the journey. Don't forget headphones so you don't have to suffer Frozen again.

2, non sticky snacks - no chocolate as you will end up finding it melted down the seat cracks. Things like raisins in a small box kept our toddlers happy for a surprising amount of time. Fruit bars too.

3, Sticker books - the ones which re stick are good so your two year old doesn't suffer a tantrum because he stuck the sticker in the wrong place. Or activity books for older children.

4, Crayons/pencils and plain paper for drawing (not felt tips as they end up in the same place as the chocolate having first leaked all over the seat)

5, Baby wipes - forever useful even if your child is out of nappies. (cleaning grubby hands, chocolate faces, emergency bottom wiping in the motorway loo with no loo paper, cleaning sick off the clothes, car seat, car etc) My kids are 13 and 10 now and I still take wipes with me wherever we go.

6, Antibacterial hand washing gel - ideal for those wee stops in the middle of nowhere

7, Plastic bags for being sick , sick covered clothes and for rubbish

8, Tissues - for snotty noses, as an emergency loo roll, for wrapping the half eaten service station sandwich in to save for later

9, Easily accessible kids spare clothes (a top at least, so they can turn up reasonably smart looking at your destination - a full set for kids prone to sickness)

10, A head full of 'old fashioned' games when everything else has been tried, (adapt for the childrens age) some favourites of ours are
- how long can you be quiet for (we did 1hr30 once and its always our first suggestion ! )
- points for car colours eg 50 points for a purple car, 20 points for a gold car, 10 points for a yellow car; or points for animals in the fields
- I spy with my little eye (a classic)
- Registration plate Letters eg Registrations starting with a C

My kids are 14 and 12 now and I still make sure these things are in my bag on a long journey.

A few other tips are to

ration the treats and entertainment, try to have breaks in between of quiet time - length depends on the age of the child, any age child should be able to spend 10 minutes quietly.
take regular breaks. No need to spend an hour running around at a motorway service station, it's far better to have lots of short breaks as it breaks the time up for the child. A couple of petrol stops, a couple of wee stops. 5- 10 minutes is plenty to let them stretch their legs, unless of course you yourself need the break from driving.
Talk about time in periods they understand ie short - in 10 minutes we are going to stop; have 10 minutes quiet time, you can watch the dvd in 10 minutes and relate the time/distance to other events such as the time it takes us to get to the supermarket (if that is 10 mins)
If they fall asleep (which toddlers and babies often will) let them and get as many miles under your belt as you can whilst they sleep
if flying long haul request to take the childs car seat onto the plane and let them sit in that (they will but you do need permission first) The car seat is secured using the plane seat belt. The baby/child will often feel far more comfortable in their own seat that they are used to and are far more likely to sleep)

HAPPY TRAVELLING

content by Wendy Blakeman

Ten essential things to pack

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 13:45:04 GMT

when travelling on you family holiday abroad

Essential things to pack - well many of these things will seem obvious but in the last 20 years we have experienced families who have forgotten at least one of these things - new baby passport is the most common ! But as well as remembering to take them away - don't forget to bring them back home too !

1, Current passport

- check all passports are in date at least 3 months before travelling to give time to renew if necessary. Don't forget new baby needs a passport too.
To renew or apply for a uk passport go to www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

2, Tickets

- whether this be a printed email ticket, a barcode on your phone or just a reservation number its easy to forget these days as few people receive 'old fashioned tickets' but you'll definitely need something ! Many of the cheap airlines require you to check in online and print boarding passes before arriving at the airport, so make sure you check your airlines requirements before getting to the airport to avoid extra costs

3, EHIC card

- European Health Insurance card . This will cover 100% of emergency treatment and 70% of other treatment when in France (at the time of writing - this may change after Brexit) . Apply free from the www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/ there is no fee so stay away from web sites that charge

4, Driving papers

- if hiring a car you'll need your passport, details of your car hire reservation and your current drivers licence including the paper part for those who still have one, if taking your own car to France you must have a current drivers licence, current car insurance document, GB sticker, warning triangle and headlamps must be adjusted, a breathalyser is 'compulsory' but you cannot be fined (at present) for not having one . For full information on other European countries, motorcycle requirements and more in depth information about driving in France visit drive-france.com web site

5, Travel insurance

- if you have taken out travel insurance (highly recommended) remember to bring your contract number and contact information for emergencies

6, Accommodation details

- an address, a contact number and name and directions, you'd be surprised how many people have no idea where they are meant to be staying and end up in all sorts of places ! Don't completely rely on the sat nav. There are many villages with the same name, roads that have changed, new one way systems - have a back up.

7, Essential prescribed Medication

- such as inhalers, birth control, or any pre existing medical conditions. Bring prescriptions with you, so if you lose what you need, it can easily be replaced. Pharmacies will often honour a European prescription but if not we can get you a Drs appointment to re prescribe the correct medecine

8, Mobile phone

with charger and travel adapter and roaming set up with your service provider

9, Clothes !

check out the forecast before you leave to help you pack. Remember it will always be easier and cheaper to pick up extra t-shirts and shorts on holiday if needed than jeans and fleeces

10, Credit card

- if you forget everything else or disaster strikes at least you can buy what you need with your card. Maybe have a few euros available too, not essential but may come in handy for an emergency coffee or pay loo !

MAKE A LIST, TICK IT OFF, ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY !!

content by Wendy Blakeman

Top tips for booking your family holiday

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 12:26:16 GMT

How to go about booking your holiday to France

Planning a trip abroad or more specifically to France ? Then here are a few tips we’ve picked up over the years that may help you plan your trip saving you time and money and hopefully make the experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

1, Budget range

This must include travel to your destination, accommodation and any extras eg if its a self catering property are linen and towels extra or included, if its a hotel is there any food included, if not what are the prices of the hotel or local restaurants. Luxury 5* or camping or something in between ? If you are taking your kids out of school make sure you include the fines in your budget. Also consider what entertainment there will be and whether this is free (walks, beach, on site activities) or not (aquariums, zoo, water park)

2, Travel options

plane, train or automobile ? Don’t forget the cheap flight may be turn out not so cheap when you look at the car hire , insurance and getting to/from the airport, airport parking plus tolls and petrol if the airport is a long way from the accommodation; the tunnel may be handy for those living nearby but the cheap crossing to France may be outweighed by the tolls and petrol and maybe even an overnight stop in a motel if you are traveling to the south or south west of France.

What ferry port to choose ? If you are close to Dover then the obvious choice is P&O ferries or the tunnel, but if you are closer to Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth then there are good ferry routes with Brittany ferries to northern France. P&O also do Portsmouth to Dieppe. We can offer a 20% discount off Brittany ferry crossings when booking with us. Being on a decent ferry can be like a mini cruise – the Portsmouth to St Malo route on the Bretagne ship (Brittany ferries) is our favourite and has a superb restaurant and the lovely Commodore cabins – it costs more but gets us 4 hrs drive closer to home than the Dover Calais route and the 60€ + of tolls and a potential stopover.

3, Region of France

There are 13 mainland regions of France. The Charente Maritime is part of the south western Nouvelle Aquitaine region of France and much closer to the UK than the south coast region of Provence-Alpes-Cotes d'Azur.

When travelling abroad most families are interested in 3 main points :

a/ What's the weather like ? Do you have to have ‘guaranteed’ sunshine or are you happy in your wellies and raincoats as long as you are with your loved ones

The Charente Maritime has the second most sunshine hours after the south coast so it's a good sunny option when holidaying in France.

b/ How easy is it to get there ? How far is the nearest airport and is there a link to your nearest airport in the uk; how far is it to drive and which is the best ferry port to travel from.

Our nearest airport is La Rochelle at a one hour drive but Bordeaux and Poitiers at 1hr30 drive and even Nantes and Limoges at a 2hr drive are options. We are just a 4hr30 drive from St Malo our nearest Uk/French port.

c/ Is there anything to do ? What do you enjoy doing ? Are you after non stop activities or just want to chill out on the beach; do you just need to entertain the kids or do you need grown up activities too ?

Here at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies we offer onsite activities for both children and adults, some are free, others have a fee, full details can be found here . In the local area there are literally hundreds of free options for beaches, walks, play parks, river, lake and sea swimming as well as payable activities like the aquarium, animal parks, water parks to name just a few.

4, Time of year

Everyone hates it but the price of holidays in the summer school hols can double (or more) and with schools fining parents for taking children out of school its a difficult decision . Unfortunately it’s a supply and demand thing – we can let our cottages in peak season 20 times over yet in June we have to fight to compete to get bookings; since the season is so short in Europe nothings going to change – even if school holiday dates are made more flexible, most people want sunshine and a tan so will still choose to go in July and August so it’s always going to be more expensive. My advice is if you are able travel out of season – do, May half term perhaps if you have school aged children, with pre school kids travel in June or September when prices for accommodation and travel are much cheaper – the weather at those times is just as good and just as reliable as the peak months.

Some of the cheap airlines only operate a service to certain smaller airports in peak season, so check first.

Sign up to follow places you are interested in plus the social media of car hire, airline and ferry companies so that you hear about the offers as soon as they are out. We have a newsletter which we send out four times a year and often include offers - we have a 'Recommend a friend' offer at the moment which could save you up to 60€ off your stay with us. Sign up for our newsletter here

Another consideration on the time of year you are travelling is In peak season (July and August) there are several weekends that are terrible for traffic. To avoid spending hours sitting in a traffic jam visit the Bison futé site (in French) which will have a calendar which will tell you what the traffic is likely to be like on your date of travel. They have black days (standing traffic) red days (bad) and orange days (heavy) – avoid the black and red days on certain routes if possible or at least allow for extra travelling time. Some holiday accommodations have different changeover days so search out ones which will give you options for cheaper travelling days (like ours !!)

5, Motorway driving

Wherever you go or whichever route you take to our family holiday cottages you’ll likely end up on a toll road. Many of the motorways are free – around large cities usually, but you have to be pretty determined to avoid the ones that arn’t free.

A good web site to use to give you an idea of current charges along your route is www.autoroutes.fr just enter your route and it will give you an estimate of petrol costs and toll charges. Also drive-france.com and headlampconvertors.co.uk provide useful info on driving in France. Motorway tolls do take uk credit/debit cards, but have some euros handy just in case.

Fuel is still cheaper in France than the UK but the difference these days is not as much as it used to be. As with the UK avoid filling up on the motorways if possible as fuel will be a lot more expensive there than in the supermarkets.

There is no excuse to have a regular break on French motorways, there are rest stops pretty much every 20km or so; they may not be full services, just parking, a loo and a picnic area usually, but a definite plus when you have an active toddler who needs to stretch their legs.

6, When Flying

shop around and keep an eye out for the deals. Most airlines (and ferry companies for that matter) use twitter and facebook to let everyone know about the deals they are offering, yet its surprising how few people follow them to be first in the queue, by the time you hear about the deals they’ve gone – so start following your favourite airline to get the deals. Follow us on our social media too.

Baggage charges are the biggest bug bear of cheap airline clients, so check the small print, how much can you carry, check the bag sizes and hand luggage allowances and remember to check in and print off your boarding card before you get to the airport. This is another consideration when booking your accommodation - do they provide all the paraphernalia you need when travelling with toddlers.

At La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies we can loan you a buggy and a travel cot and have everything you need for toddlers and young children (plastic crockery, hand blenders, sterilisers, change mats, stair barriers, toys, books etc - just ask, if we have it you can borrow it - and for free !!)

7, Car hire

is very competitive and all the big companies offer deals just like the airlines, at different times during the year (usually early on before Christmas to get early bookers and then later in the season to rid themselves of empty seats/cars) Its probably wisest to check for the best deal through a price comparison site. Make sure you check the small print too – things like having to return the car full (or empty ) of fuel, cleaning it thoroughly (we’ve had guests think they’ve cleaned it yet still been charged) and charges for car seats (and whether there is anyone qualified to fit it for you) Consider taking your own car seats, If your child has their own airline seat with permission you should be able to take your car seat on board and your child can sit in it which makes them more comfortable and secure – you then have your own seat for the car which you know how to fit safely.

8, Accommodation

Do you want 5* all the way in which case the large online companies are good ways of finding a place and the best deals – we find booking.com very handy when searching for hotels as they only show you hotels with family rooms that can accommodate your sized family which saves time – we then often book direct with the hotel as it's said that a hotel will treat you better if you book direct as they havn’t had to fork out the commission !! (Whether that’s true or not I don’t know) we treat all our families the same but are happier when families book direct as we can communicate easier and it's always cheaper for them ! If considering camping or a mobile home then think about the alternatives too, we have had numerous families come to us after camping and cannot believe they have a whole house slightly inland for less than a tent near the beach !

Check out the reviews - look at tripadvisor and other independent sites to check out whether the place you are interested in has some good reviews and make sure they have a good online presence - there really is no excuse in this day and age. Be wary if you can't find out anything about the place and make sure you have good communication with the owners - are they helpful, quick to respond.

At La Grange du Moulin we don't profess to be 5* but with heated pools, hot tub, social evenings, activities for the kids and a registered childminder as a babysitter (me) and spacious fully equipped accommodation you'd be hard pushed to find better for the price. You can find us on Tripadvisor and just search Wendy Blakeman on google and I'll be there !

9, Safety and comfort

When traveling with young children then you need to be organised. Babies and toddlers need lots of equipment to make their lives comfortable and your life easier but it’s a lot to carry so look for places that offer family rooms, cots, high chairs, booster seats at the very least.

Our own properties offer so much more as we specialise in accommodating families with young children. All our properties are equipped with stair barriers, full sized baths, high chairs, cots and booster seats, plastic crockery, cutlery and even hand blenders we can also offer steam sterilisers, play mats, change mats, pottys and toilet seats – just ask, if we have it, it’s yours !

Safety is also a consideration with young children, a campsite or holiday camp may be fun but you can’t allow your little ones to run to the swings alone, you’ll need to be with them all the time. A stand alone property may be more your style but then the kids will need entertaining and so that means you’ll have less time to relax . A small complex (like ours !! ) at here at childfriendlygites.com and our sister site frenchfamilyholiday.com may be just what you need.

10, A little planning

A little planning and discussion of all these issues before searching for this years holiday will save a lot of time and will make sure the holiday you pick is right for you and your family.

Wherever and Whichever way you decide to travel, make the choosing, planning, booking and traveling part of the excitement and enhance your holiday enjoyment.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

content by Wendy Blakeman

Originally Posted on January 2, 2017

Water parks and swimming in Charente Maritime

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:13:52 GMT

We are well served here in the Charente Maritime for fun filled water parks. From babies and toddlers to teens, every child loves the water. Our own two have always been more than happy to jump into a freezing puddle in winter or an unheated pool in autumn never mind a heated pool with water slides in mid summer !

Our two closest water parks/swimming centres are Atlantys in Saint Jean d’Angely (10 mins drive) and Nautilus in Angouleme (40 mins drive) and les Iles de Jonzac, (60mins) and a little further afield we have Ileo on the Ile d’Oleron (1hr15)

We are regular visitors to Atlantys as it is so close and being all indoors it’s good all through the year. Nautilus is more of a summer day out as much of the really fun stuff is outdoors so you need a nice hot day. We havn’t tried Les Iles de Jonzac or Ileo but they’ve got good trip advisor reviews.

Atlantys swimming centre

We’ve been swimming at Atlantys since the children were babies; On Saturday mornings (10-12) outside school holidays (so September to end June) the pool is exclusively open for the under 4’s, the temperature is turned up, change mats and pottys are supplied by the pool and the pool is filled with balls, floats, mats, climbing frames and all manner of fun stuff for little ones – I went every week with my two when they were toddlers, this is where they learnt to swim at such a young age. Volunteers give advice on how to get your toddlers confident in the water.

In summer holidays it is open every day. The doors open up into a sunbathing area and play area for the little ones. There’s also a café for snacks. There’s no time limit on how long you stay. Clean changing rooms, lockers (need a 2€ coin- refunded after) toilets and showers. Be warned – men and boys (even toddlers) MUST wear tight fitting swimwear – no loose swim shorts allowed and this is enforced. Suitable swimwear can be purchased from a vending machine inside but may be cheaper to buy them beforehand.

The Atlantys swimming pool center is just next to the Saint Jean d’Angely park, so you can easily spend the day here.

Nautilus water park

We first visited Nautilus water park when the children were little. It wasn’t a great day out, in fact we only stayed about an hour. There was a shallow toddler area but most of the ‘fun’ was outside with rapids, and huge water slides with big teenagers running around. If you’ve got little kids we’d recommend Atlantys instead or we have heard that the Iles de Jonzac is great for younger children and has more facilities than Atlantys with a wave pool too.

We next went when the children were much older and good swimmers and we were able to let them run around freely whilst we relaxed on a sunbed – It was our kids that were the big kids now ! They loved it. The slide is huge, theres an outdoor water slide with about 5 lanes and you wizz down really fast then the wave pool is always fun for everyone and the rapids are fun too but if your kids are a bit younger / smaller then go on with them as the teens can be a bit excitable in pushing past.

There’s loads of parking, clean secure changing rooms with lockers and of course toilets. There’s a restaurant and a snack bar and an ice skating rink too open every afternoon from 3pm in summer (July/August) The pools are open every day from 10am in July and August. Again tight fitting swimmers must be worn.

Other swimming options

Of course you don’t really need to leave ‘home’ to enjoy the water experience. Both our family friendly holiday sites have heated pools. At La Grange du Moulin our main pool (10mx5m) is heated to 28c and the toddler pool (4m diameter and 60 cm deep) is heated to 30c. The toddler pool is filled with floats and watering cans and is shaded from the heat of the day too.

We also have a hot tub at La Grange du Moulin, in it’s own secure area Mum and Dad can relax at the end of the day after the children are in bed and watch the stars with a ‘glass’ (plastic champagne flutes are provided !) in 38c and massage jets.

At Les Vallaies holiday cottages the heated pool has a sloping beach entrance which starts at 15cm so ideal for toddlers and young children to paddle in. There’s also a bubble pool.

Just a 30 min drive from our holiday cottages is Les Gours plan d’eau. A swimming lake with a sandy beach, café bar, life guard and playground. An ideal swimming place if you don’t fancy driving to the ‘real’ beach

The Charente Maritime also has hundreds of miles of sandy beaches. for sea swimming and fun. Even in peak season you’ll be able to find a beach that’s not crowded. The mainland beaches have shallow gently sloping beaches, so great for families; the islands on the Atlantic side have rougher waters, great for older children who love waves.

Whatever your swimming preferences there’s something for everyone when staying with us at our family holiday cottages La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies

Content by Wendy Blakeman originally Posted on March 15, 2017

Restaurants near our family holiday cottages

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 12:47:04 GMT

Great restaurants near our family holiday cottages

We love our food and wine and love to eat out. We are very lucky to have some excellent restaurants in the area, some we regularly visit, some are for really special occasions and others have been recommended by families who have stayed with us at our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of France.

Restaurants for a special occasion

Le Scorlion restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Le Scorlion is a superb restaurant located in the centre of Saint Jean d’Angely and overlooking the Abbey cloisters. Perfect for an intimate dinner for two. Excellent service, delicious food and superb price. Listed in the Michelin guide. Well worth asking me to babysit so you can have a grown up meal out one evening whilst staying with us.

menus from 27€ to 40€

Read more about Le Scorlion restaurant here…..

La Goule Beneze restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Located just on the edge of Saint Jean d’Angely, La Goule Beneze is a small family run hotel and restaurant. Subsequently it offers a superb childrens menu and there may be families present who are staying in the hotel; however it still offers a grown up atmosphere with linen tablecloths and lovely table settings, so worth a special occasion.

The couple have travelled extensively and speak excellent English if you are struggling with the menu. The menu itself is well thought out, changes regularly with the season and has unusual flavours mixed with classic dishes.

menus from 26€ to 40€

childrens menu

Read more about La Goule Beneze restaurant here….

Les Pigeons Blancs restaurant, Cognac

Located on the edge of Cognac in beautiful grounds, Les Pigeons Blancs restaurant offers a lovely setting for a sunny outdoor meal or an intimate evening meal inside. The cheese platter is fantastic and you have to choose a minimum of 3 desserts – so make sure you are hungry !

menus from 27€ to 60€

childrens menu

Christopher Coutanceau, La Rochelle

With 2 michelin stars, this is one for a very special occasion. I’d say it would be difficult to find a restaurant in the UK of such a high standard at such a reasonable price and pretty much impossible to find one with a high chair !

Located overlooking the beach in La Rochelle and at the entrance to the port area, you can watch the yachts sale in and out of the harbour whilst enjoying a superb meal.

Businessmen and woman frequent this establishment to impress their clients but we have eaten here with the children (because they love their food as much as we do !) and they are treated with the same respect as everyone (but they are very well behaved of course !)

menus from 68€ to 230€

Read more about Coutanceau restaurant here ….

Restaurants for all the family

The closest restaurants to our family holiday cottages can all be found just a short drive away (10mins) in Saint Jean d’Angely. All our local restaurants welcome families with well behaved children. All the following restaurants have a childrens menu.

Le Petit Bouchon restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Le Petit Bouchon restauarant is located in the centre of our local town, Saint Jean d’Angely, just next to the indoor market ; so the perfect spot to eat after an hour or so browsing the market stalls on Wednesday and Saturday market days.

We have so far never eaten there but many of our guests have. One said he always eats there as it’s the best steak he’s ever eaten – quite an accolade. It has good reviews on Trip advisor

Le Cabanon restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

We have eaten here at lunch and dinner and also for a coffee in the morning. The great thing about this restaurant is it’s open on Monday evenings when everything else is closed ! Plus it’s open all day for coffee. We experienced great service (as do most of their clients according to the excellent reviews on Trip advisor )

Le Moulin de la Baine restaurant, Chaniers

This has been a favourite of ours for many years. Set in a Colbert appointed water mill over the river Charente it provides a stunning setting for a long lunch on sunny Sunday afternoons. We often go for birthday celebrations with the whole family as the service is always excellent as the staff are used to waiting on large groups.

The restaurant is teemed with the Bernard Palissy boat which offers a mini cruise down the Charente river from Saintes ending at Le Moulin de la baine for a set menu and return trip from Tuesday to Sundays. Their speciality is a huge baked alaska, sometimes requiring several staff to carry it in for large groups.

They welcome families and children too and have a pleasant childrens menu. When they were very young we used to take it in turns between courses to take them exploring beneath the bridge through the tunnels where the river water rushes through – they loved it and it kept them happy during a long grown up lunch on sunny afternoons.

It is also lovely to walk over the bridge to the island where the canal meets the river and you can watch barges negotiating the lock.

Visit their web site here

Batia restaurant, Saintes

Located on a boat moored on the river in Saintes the Batia restaurant has a superb location. The menu is upmarket burgers and steak frites plus a few other more refined dishes. Nice ambience, especially on deck on a sunny day and it’s nicely decorated.

When we ate here the service was very slow but trip advisor reviews vary from excellent to awful so it obviously varies

Menus from 15€ to 27€

childrens menu

Visit their web site here

Saint Jean d’Angely restaurants

Saint Jean d’Angely only has a population of around 7000, the size of some villages in the UK; yet it boasts 3 large supermarkets and numerous smaller ones, an A&E unit/hospital a thrice weekly market and numerous bars and restaurants. Here’s a selection of the main ones.

Hotel Restaurant de la Place restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Located on the central place near the Maire. Good for an evening out ‘sans enfants’ . it is a hotel restaurant so will have families staying in the holidays but the restaurant is stylish and has large picture windows looking out onto the central square (although this is a car park) With crisp linen tablecloths and a quiet atmosphere it is ideal for an intimate meal out. We ate here years ago before we had the children and really must go back as it has great trip advisor reviews

menus 25€ – 35€

childrens menu

Les Jacobins restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

This is a pizzeria restaurant serving wood fired pizzas for takeaway as well as to eat in but it also offers some great down to earth Italien and French basics like steak frites, spaghetti bolognaise, confit de canard and carbonara. Perfect for a relaxed meal out with the children. It has a good sized inside restaurant plus a smaller outdoor terrace.

A la carte menu, pizzas around 8-10€; pastas around 8€

childrens menu

Le Mareyeur restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Le Mareyeur restaurant is principally a fish / seafood restaurant but with a couple of meat dishes thrown in . Not eaten here yet but has good trip advisor reviews and several of our families have had very enjoyable meals here so looks like it’s on our list to try out. Located on the furthest square from the centre but still only a few minutes walk from wherever you park in town. Has a nice terrace to the front for summer evenings.

menus 15€ to 30€

La Creperie de l’Abbeye and L’ancre Marine restaurants, Saint Jean d’Angely

La creperie de l’Abbeye and L’ancre marine are both creperies. Not my idea of a ‘meal’ but obviously very popular in this town. Great for a simple lunch maybe after the market.

Carottes et Gingembre vegetarian restaurant, Saint Jean d’Angely

Carottes et Gingembre (Carotts and ginger) is a vegetarian restaurant which is quite a novel thing in rural France so is subsequently quite popular. It also has vegan and gluten free options. It’s number two on trip advisor after Le Scorlion. Find out more on their web site here

menus 15 – 20€

These are just a selection of the main restaurants found around our family friendly holiday accommodation here in the Charente Maritime region of South West France.

Most families who stay with us tend to have lunches out when they are sightseeing then come back to the cottages and light up the barbecue or have a simple alfresco meal of fresh crusty bread, patés, cold meats and salads together with a crisp chilled glass of wine whilst sat watching the sun go down on their terrace. Occasionally they’ll have an intimate meal out one evening whilst I look after their children in their cottage or pop out with the kids to one of the bistros in Saint Jean d’Angely I’ve mentioned above. I’d love to receive comments from families who’ve stayed with us on how they enjoyed any of these restaurants . Thank you.

content by Wendy Blakeman originally Posted on April 2, 2017

What to see and do in the Charente Maritime

Sat, 09 Dec 2017 16:55:55 GMT

The Charente Maritime region is famous for its Cognac and Pineau production. There are many tiny villages and hamlets to explore. Quaint chateaux are common. Local delicacies include mussels in cream, goats cheese, honey and cake with angelica. Swimming, fishing, horse riding, golf, tennis and rowing are all available during the summer months in the local area. There are also many lovely country walks all year round. The landscape is gently rolling and ideal for cycling. Below we have listed some of the things there are to see and do for families, for children and for adults. the blue links are to blogs we have written on the subjects to give you more insight.

There’s little need to venture further afield than our local town of St Jean d’Angely, just 10mins away, but if you do there’s a huge range of places to visit and things to do to suit all ages. Details of days out can be found in each of our gites, cottages and villas and you can always ask us too if you run out of ideas.

At La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies we are just an easy 1 hour drive from the coast, beaches and the famous coastal resorts of La Rochelle, Royan and Rochefort. Its also about an hour to the inland towns of Angouleme, Niort and the area around Poitiers, so we are vey centrally located for the whole Charente Maritime Region. Closer to our gites, cottages and villas you will find Cognac, Saintes, St Savinien all within just 30mins drive.

If you would like further details on any of the places listed just ask. We also have many activities going on at some of our holiday cottages. We hold professional wine tastings on a regular basis throughout the summer, every week we have a walk through the vines that the whole family can enjoy. We hold large barbecues, where everyone joins in and for our younger guests we hold teddy bear picnics and pottery painting and even scuba diving at our child friendly properties.

What to do with Children in the Charente Maritime:

Atlantys Swimming Centre in Saint Jean d’Angely – play pool, dive pool, swimming pool, big slide and hot tubs, great fun when its a rainy day or even when it’s too hot.
St Savinien – a must for the young ones, ride on the hand made electric boats around the lake
Aquarium – in La Rochelle, a great rainy day thing to do but top tip, go early or very late (it’s open until 11pm in summer)

La Palmyre Zoo – the best in Europe, well known for it’s breeding and rescue programme and its interactivity with the animals
Futuroscope – perfect for older children, not so worth while for little ones though, a theme park with rides and a vision of the future
Fort Boyard – have you seen the programme ? Take a boat trip to view it (can’t go in but a lovely trip all the same)
Nautilys Water Park – a great day out for the whole family . Near Angouleme and with indoor and outdoor pools and slides, perfect for all weathers.
Donkey Sanctuary – See the famous shaggy haired Poitou Donkey
Valley des Singes – Surround yourselves with Monkeys and learn all about them.

Paleosite – watch Dad turn into a Neanderthal, learn to make fire and throw a spear
Playgrounds – are numerous in the area, St Jean d’Angely has a good one next to the lake so you can feed the ducks too
Karting – in St Jean d’Angely for the teenagers
Canoeing and Pedaloes – at the local loisier near the play park in Saint Jean d’Angely

Chateau Branch or Acrobranch – tree top adventures for all levels of ability
Chateau des Enigmas – maze and quiz
Noahs ark – run by the world parrot trust
Puy du Fou – amazing – what can I say ! A couple of hours drive from us but perhaps worth stopping over on the way down or back home. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere else.
European zoo – at Chize for a quieter and closer zoo visit than the one at La Palmyre. European animals. Well laid out.
Iles aux serpents – discover reptiles
Comic Museum and Chocolate factory in Angouleme

For all the Family in the Charente Maritime

Markets – Thrice weekly in St Jean d’Angely
Beaches – From La Rochelle down to Royan
La Rochelle – for its shopping and amazing aquarium
Cognac – with its world famous distillery tours

Saintes – a beautiful Roman town with a fantastic ampitheatre
Poitiers – with the superb ‘Futuroscope’ park
Bordeaux – and its world famous vineyards, beautiful city
Angouleme – has a great water park, museums and shopping
Niort – for its history and shopping
Rochefort – with the Hermione reconstruction and corderie royal

Royan – with its European awarded animal park.
St Jean D’Angely – our local town, shops, markets, park and tourist office
Venis Verte – hire a boat and explore the waterways on a canoe or hire a guide
Glassworks – in Cognac
Cafes, bars and restaurants – in St Jean d’Angely and all the local towns

What to do in the Charente Maritime for Adults:

All the above of course plus
Golfing – there a number of golf courses within an easy drive
Fishing – from river and lake to fishing in the sea. Passes/permits readily available

Concerts – are regularly held throughout the summer season, Cognac Blues and Francofolies in La Rochelle are two of the bigger ones but our local town of St Jean d’Angely regularly holds open air concerts and shows.
Scuba Diving – we regularly have discover scuba sessions for children but adults are welcome to join in or if you prefer we can organise private sessions and courses.

So as you can see the Charente Maritime has a host of fabulous things to do and see and to keep you entertained on your family holiday to France

Content by Wendy Blakeman

Chris, Wendy, Benjamin and Thomas

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A bit about the Blakemans

The Blakeman family

Chris and I met as teenagers in 1983 and have been together ever since, in 1993 we married and in 1996 we moved to France. The move wasn't hard. Although originally from Cheshire, we moved south in '91 (Tunbridge Wells) and Chris was commuting often to London, we both worked weekends and evenings and long hours; so when the opportunity to move to France came along we jumped at it. Two children and 20 years later we are still loving it here .

20 years in France

After many years of holidaying in this area, staying in my parents holiday home, we finally moved here . We havn't looked back since. After a number of years renovating stone barns into family gites, learning how to look after our guests and drinking many glasses of wine with them, we now feel very confident in our ability to offer just what young families like our own really need from a holiday here in France.

We have not, however, become complacent. We are constantly thinking of new ideas to add to the enjoyment, every year we update, replace, renew and re- paint as well as add. Our cottages today are very different from what they were when we first started out. In 1996, the most common question was 'is there an iron and a tea pot'. Times are different and expectations are higher. (wifi, hot tub)

For more about how we came to be here and our last 20 years.....

Benjamin and Thomas

Benjamin (born March 2003) and Thomas (born August 2005) are our two boys and they love the summer when they have new playmates every week and although they are now getting a bit older than the average child staying with us, they are still great with the little ones - having grown up is such a social environment.

We love parenthood especially in such a beautiful rural environment where the boys are free to run around in great open spaces. They are now both at the local secondary school in Saint Jean d'Angely , which they enjoy and they are both of course as fluent in French as all their French school friends but are learning German too. They both play badminton and volleyball, swim like fish, love scuba diving and Thomas enjoys Aikido and cooking too.

Learn about wine and...

Over the years we have developed the wine theme to our guests stay. This sets us apart from everyone else. Chris worked all his adult life in the wine industry, selling, buying and teaching wine, its also a passionate hobby. Our wine tastings, taste du terroir evenings and family vine walks add to the enjoyment of the parents holiday and are extremely popular, but its not compulsory of course ! Chris will happily chat all you like about wine in general, as long as you offer him a glass whilst hes doing it ! In fact he'll chat about anything with a glass in his hand ! (religion, politics and Brexit are particular favourites - anything contentious, he always has an opinion !!)

Wendy and Chris

In the winter time I concentrate on being a Mum, taking the children to all their activities, participating in local events (member of the parents association and also ran an English workshop at the primary school) plus running the office side of the business - updating the web site, taking bookings, social media and dealing with all the French bureaucracy ! and then in my spare time, help Chris with building projects (I learnt how to do plumbing and electrics when we first moved here)

Chris concentrates on improving and expanding our business structurally, by renewing and repairing. Just in the last couple of months he has constructed 100m2 of deck around the pool, built a new barbecue area and upgraded the electrics in the holiday cottages. We are also in the middle of building a whole new house to let out on a long term basis, it will be our third oh yes and he just built an extension to our own house too !

Family friendly

Wendy has become a registered child minder here in France, so now Wendy can look after you children during the day to give you a break and some time to relax even more . You can rest assured in the knowledge that you also have a capable babysitter
on hand so you can enjoy a night out too.

Since having our own children, the needs of young families on holiday were made even more evident to us. We have always been a family location but we now specifically cater to young families where we not only provide pleasant self catering accommodation but we can provide all the things required by a family with young children, from cots to steam sterilisers; baby bath to hand blenders; saving you room in the car and making your holiday run more smoothly.

Entertaining children is a constant job; by providing toys, slides, swings and of course our pirate ship, trampoline, teddy bear picnics, pottery and T-shirt painting, scuba diving and other family activities such as the weekly barbecue and family vine walks an all in a safe environment where there are other English speaking children to play with too - your children are happy all day and I pretty much guarantee you'll have the time to finish at least one book whilst staying with us !

Read about what our families think on Trip advisor......

We do go on holiday...

Just not in summer ! We have to take advantage of the winter period to take our own holiday and try to take a weeks skiing break plus a trip maybe to the Uk or somewhere else in France in the October half term or Easter. Occasionally we manage a much longer trip as we adore travelling. We did a lot before the children (Mexico, Guatemala, Egypt, Thailand, Australia ) and even when they were little but now we are restricted to school holidays it's less often. We have managed to take the children to Australia (where Wendys brother lives), New Zealand, Florida, Italy and last year to Cambodia .

Eating Out

Chris and I love our food and wine and love to cook but also to eat out when we can. When the children came along we wern't going to let that stop us. It takes hard work and commitment to take a 2 year old to a great restaurant but we persevered (taking it in turns to eat while the other entertained them, taking them out when they had a tantrum etc) For many years now the boys have LOVED eating out. When the pennies allow and the occasion demands, we will happily take them to a Michelin starred restaurant - they love to try new foods, enjoy dressing up in their shirts, ties and aftershave and are a joy to converse with over a delicious meal.

Your family holiday with us

It really is important to us that our guests enjoy their stay with us. Ask us as many questions as you can, we will be honest. We really do want everyone to have an amazing holiday and will go above and beyond to make sure that happens. If you are after crystal glasses and Louis 14th furniture you are on the wrong web site ! Our cottages are comfortably furnished, clean and well equipped but with the needs and comfort of young families in mind so you can relax. We treat everyone as friends, we are relaxed and informal and very approachable but not intrusive. We hope this has given you a little more insight into the Blakeman family and look forward to welcoming you to us in France soon.

content by Wendy Blakeman

20 years in France

Sun, 15 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

We moved here in 1996, here's how it came about

This weekend (15th May) marks a very special anniversary for Chris and I. Twenty years ago we filled a 7ton truck with all our posessions and hopped on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry to live in France .

We'd been planning for about a year. The previous June we were staying here on holiday in my parents holiday home, we'd been coming for a few years. Chris first came down in 1988 with my brother to help my Dad finish renovating his first French cottage (and have a boys holiday drinking wine and soaking up the sun) - a curies cottage opposite the 12th century church in the village of Fontaine Chalendray about 20 mins drive from here. (Chris and I have been together quite a while, we met in 1983 when I was just 16)

My parents had bought the property here in France, in 1985. My father was a workaholic and loved to build . He had taken early retirement and needed something to fill his time (he wasn't a builder he had been chief accountant for the post office but built houses in his spare time; at that point he'd already self built at least 8 houses in the Uk - on weekends and evenings !)

A friend had told him that property in France was cheap and there wern't the same restrictions on self building as in Spain where they had a villa and you had to use Spanish builders rather than doing it yourself . This area seemed a logical place - it was cheap as few people in those days had heard of the Charente Maritime. Most Brits bought in Brittany or wizzed through on the motorway down to the Dordogne. It was also where he often stopped on his long drive from Cheshire to the Costa Blanca.

My parents bought the cottage and attached stone barn for £4000 ! The cottage was basically habitable with a fosse, toilet and cold water tap, my father just made it really habitable with hot and cold running water, a fitted kitchen and a modern bathroom. He was looking forward to spending time here, slowly renovating the barn next door and enjoying the way of life, however that didn't happen....

One sunny day there was a knock at the door. A french man from Remy Martin Cognac house. The company had run a competition in the UK to promote Rémy Martin. First prize was a house in Cognac country. The competition had run and the winner was waiting for her keys. The problem was they didn't have a house to give her. They had underestimated the lack of truly habitable houses for sale in the area. There was no 'housing market' in the Charente Maritime. There was in Cognac itself but the prices were too high for the company - they'd banked on a cheap country side cottage. After asking around they had been pointed in the direction of my fathers house who everyone in the village knew had all the 'mod cons' including a satellite dish which the locals had never seen the like of before .

They offered my father £25,000 for just the cottage (they didn't want the barn) - it didn't take many of his accountancy skills to work out he should sell, and his desire to be busy meant he should buy another property to do up.

To cut quite a long story a little shorter he bought, renovated and sold another 3 stone barns over the next few years until he eventually bought the barns here in Courgeon - La Grange du Moulin was born !

We started coming on holiday here around 1990 - a cheap holiday for us staying in my parents holiday home. We loved the peace and quiet, in those days, what we now call the main road was a quiet lane where perhaps a tractor or two would pass during the day.
We helped my Dad with building the pool, building some stone walls and painting spiral staircases - a real change from our busy lives both working in the UK. The stone barns, he had converted into 6 individual cottages. When we asked what he intended, he really had no idea - he just loved building, repairing roofs, knocking holes in walls for windows, he was addicted ! It was our suggestion that perhaps they might make good holiday rental properties - he bit our hands off and wanted us to stay and get busy letting them out ! We were slightly more cautious, had a think (for about 5 minutes) and agreed we would move down the following year.

And that was that - we handed in our notice, saved a bit of money, got a tenant for our house in Tunbridge wells and hopped on the ferry with all our worldly posessions with no research, no long term, no help from ' house in the sun ' just lots of excitement and a few bookings for the summer. We appreciate how lucky we were to be able to do this without risking anything. We thought maybe a few years in France then if it doesn't work out we'd just return to the uk.... 20 years later we are still here, 2 kids and a thriving business.

It's not all been plain sailing of course we've got dozens of stories that we say will go in 'our book' of interesting guests (changing the names of course !) and the early days were hard going, having a much reduced income, being self employed and no certainty that we'd have any income the next year, as well as having no monthly salary but just a lump sum from payments generally in May and June that you have to make last for the whole year. Plus our tenant in the UK had to leave, we had trouble finding someone else so we had to sell as we couldn't afford to pay the mortgage on our income here. We loved living in rural France, being masters of our own destiny and not having to get up at the same time everyday and commute to work - the benefits far outweighed the difficulties.

Our first summer went reasonably well and once September came we were looking forward to a winter of relaxing - my father had different ideas. He couldn't see us lazing around and he'd just recently purchased yet another stone barn in the next village. We spent that winter learning how to wire two way switches, solder copper pipes and fit a bathroom, lay wooden floors and repair rotten roofs. He even put the pressure on by insisting we advertise the cottages as holiday lets for the summer - so we had 8 months to convert a barn with dirt floors and no electric or water into a comfortable holiday home - never having put up so much as a shelf before ! We did it of course, with my Dads help and instruction and it was a very self satisfied feeling we had when we showed in our first guests that following summer.

The following winter my brother got into the family business by purchasing a run down farm in the village of Gibourne. At the time he lived in Hong Kong, so paid us to renovate it for him (now we were so experienced !) Over the next couple of years we renovated another three barns into holiday homes - oh yes, and built a pool too. La Vendange was born ! This was all done in the winter time, with our summers spent running (and cleaning) all these holiday homes. It was pretty hectic. For the first 10 years we just offered holiday accommodation to anyone and everyone. We might have a family with a baby and toddler in one cottage, a group of adults in another and a family with teenagers in the third. We had barbecues but you paid and we would provide and cook everything, also providing free flowing wine - we'd be on the go all day until often 3am serving wine. We offered a breakfast service on your first morning and a supper service on the first evening too. Our vine walks lasted 4 or 5 hrs and took in not only Eric Cartauds winery with a tasting but a local potter too.

When Benjamin came along in 2003 and Thomas in 2005 we just couldn't do the things we had before so things evolved. We told one of our regular families we were stopping the barbecues as we could no longer put in the same hours as before - they were horrified, it was one of the highlights of their holidays. They suggested that families supply their own food and wine and we just tell them when and where - it was a great success and a lot less work for us.

We stopped the breakfasts and suppers but started doing Teddy bear picnics when we had lots of little children staying. This was a huge success too and we started thinking what else we could provide for young families like our own.

We soon realised that catering to young families was a great market. Pre schoolers come in June and September - a time when we were often very quiet if not empty. With the arrival of the cheap airline routes being opened up, more young families were travelling further afield as it was easier than a long car journey which was the only real option before. We started offering more equipment - not just a cot and a high chair but a steriliser, potty, booster seats, plastic crockery etc. It was all very much appreciated and families started coming year after year because they said there was no where else like it and it was so easy for them, it made their holiday so much more relaxing.

We started focussing our publicity in areas where young families would be looking. In the early days we only advertised in Chez Nous, a glossy brochure and it worked for us, but then the company was taken over and it became less and less effective in advertising to our core market. We started looking at other companies but no one at the time really offered what we were after so we started our own web site

Initially all reservations were done by phone, few people had email. We had a paper brochure we would send out to interested families. They would post back a booking form and a cheque and we would post back confirmation of their booking. These days everythings online from completing the booking form to making the payment and we rarely actually 'speak' to any of our families before they arrive, saying that with the ease of email we tend to have much more communication.

I had great fun developing the web site learning how to add photos and change the colours. Now I need to know about html, seo and google analytics to stay even close to the top of our game. Most of our reservations now come not through advertising but through google searches for our key search terms like 'child friendly' . It's constantly developing and changing with the focus now being on independent reviews like on trip advisor and Mumsnet being a top priority to internet savvy families. I'm certainly no expert and no doubt could pay someone to do these things far better for me , but I enjoy doing it (and havn't been self employed for 20 years to start paying other people to do my job for me) I try to stay reasonably up to date and have a strong Google presence (just search Wendy Blakeman) and try to stay active on facebook and twitter.

We love living in France, it is home and hopefully will be for the next 20 years too

Content by Wendy Blakeman

La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies Child friendly gites & Toddler holidays

☀️ Heading to France with Little Ones?

Here’s Your Family-Friendly Travel Guide you need to read

well before you pack your suitcase

�� Passport Rules: Don’t Be Caught Out!

Key passport points:

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EES/ ETIAS Entry rules update for UK families travelling to France

�� Before You Go: Family-Specific Checks

✅ Check EVERY Passport

✅ Extras You Need

�� Driving in France with Kids — What to Know

Legal and Safety Must-Haves

�� What Not to Bring (and What to Watch Out For)

Good to know:

�� Practical Family Tips That Keep Trips Smooth

�� Arrive early So You’re Not Rushing

�� Snacks & Surprises

�� Safety First at the Border

�� Driving in France: Family Rules You Need to Know

�� Children & Car Seats

�� Low-Emission Zones in France: What You Need to Know

�� One Last Thing Before You Drive Off…

Give way to the right rule

✈️ Final Thought: Start Early & Travel Calmly

Happy travels — and bon voyage!✨

🐾 La Palmyre Animal Park — A Must‑See Family Day Out

When you’re staying at La Grange du Moulin, one of the most memorable days out for families has to be a visit to La Palmyre Animal Park (Zoo de La Palmyre) — a truly magical place for little explorers and animal lovers alike.

�� What to Expect on Your Visit

�� Practical Info for Families

�� What Makes It Special

�� Tips for a Great Visit

�� Final Thought

Port miniature, Saint Savinien

St Savinien – A Fun Family Day Out

Port Miniature, Saint-Savinien – At a Glance

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Discover Port Miniature

More to Explore in Saint-Savinien

Quick Tips for Families

Practical Information – Port Miniature (Saint-Savinien)

�� Location

�� Opening Dates & Hours (2026)

�� Ticket Prices (approx.)

�� Food & Drinks

�� Contact

��️ Practical Tips

St Jean d'Angely - our local town

Our local town

History of Saint Jean d’Angely

Restaurants, cafés and bars

Atlantys swimming pool centre

Saint Jean d’Angely park

Saint Jean d’Angely itself

Discover wine with Chris

with many years working in the wine industry, he's our very own wine expert

Recommend a friend offer

and get 50€ / wk discount each

Ten reasons to love (and visit) the Charente Maritime

for families and kids

Discovery hour

at the 'La Decouverte'bar

1st January 2021

The Brexit deal and what we know

Passports

Driving

Border checks

Health care

and finally....

Working from home

and how we make it work

Rules

Routine

Flexibility

Perfection ? No chance !

La Varaizienne - our local boulangerie serving you croissants

Our local boulangerie

Bread and cakes

Pizzas to eat in or takeaway

Café and shop