The property, L’Esturgat, is in South West France in a totally magical setting, an hour from Toulouse, 40 minutes from Carcassonne and about an hour from Perpignan. Limoux and the lovely citadel town of Mirepoix, with it’s marvellous market, are both about 20 minutes away, north east and north west respectively and there is a wonderful Chateau Abbaye hotel in the nearby village of Camon, owned by a delightful English man with a South African wife, where the food is extremely good.There is also a rather unusual music festival at Queille, another chateau nearby, every other year in May.

The old farm is set in 35 acres (just over 14 hectares) of fields and woodland on a 500 meter trig point, with 180 degree views to the south over the foothills of the Pyrenees and the Pyrenees and wooded hills and forests to the north. L’Esturgat is situated a few kilometers from the pretty little town of Chalabres, one of the nicest villages in the Languedoc, Roussillon region, with its shops, restaurants, cafebars, doctors, and a little Saturday market.

Chalabre was known in the past for it’s hat making and was therefore a relatively prosperous town,

with 2 chateaux and attractive town houses. It is on a river. L’Esturgat is above a village called Villefort, which itself is about 3kms from the village of Puivert with it’s aerodrome and grass strip in a big open valley, next to the foothills of the Pyranees. There are some impressive Cathar castle ruins outside Puivert. The picturesque Lac de Montbel, with it’s backdrop of the Prranees, is just outside Chalabre.

To give an idea of the accommodation that could easily be achieved, the farm would provide 7 or 8 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, farmhouse kitchen, utility room and storage, study/cosy sitting room, large "salon" and a central dining hall plus some staff accommodation. It could be arranged a one or 2 independant dwellings. It has not been lived in permanently since just after the war so there is everything to do.

This property really does tick the "location, location, location" box!!

Please contact ardres@boursot.co.uk for further details

18th century former coaching inn.

A large comfortable 18th Century Coaching Inn situated in a typical French market town nestled in the heart of the beautiful French countryside.

The Coaching Inn is laid out over 3 floors. On the ground floor, a spacious entrance hall leads to two large reception rooms. The first reception room, with internet can be used as a games room or a second sitting room. The main reception room has a wood burning stove, comfortable sofa and armchairs, a dining area, medieval style candelabra, double French windows opening onto a very private, walled courtyard garden ideal for outside eating. The large kitchen is modern and fully equipped. It has two large double windows that look out onto the courtyard. From the kitchen there is access to a laundry with washing machine, cold store room and toilet.

On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms and the main bathroom with a claw foot bath, two basins and separate shower cabin. There is a separate lavatory. On the second floor there are a further three double bedrooms and large family bathroom with lavatory.

The walled garden is not overlooked, mostly laid with shrubs and flowing plants. And with two well defined areas children can play whilst parents can chill out.

Bedroom 1 with double bed
Bedroom 2 with double mezzanine bed
Bedroom 3 with twin beds
Bedroom 4 with double bed
Bedroom 5 with double bed
Bedroom 6 with double bed

Licques is a quiet, friendly rural town nestled in rolling hills, copses and babbling brooks. It has all the essential facilities within a stone’s throw of the front door of the house: a choice of three bakers that offer freshly baked and delicious cakes baked every day, a supermarket, two "real" butchers, cafés, restaurants, a pharmacy, bank, post office, hairdressers and a newly opened cheese shop selling a wide range of cheeses produced locally. In addition one of the bakers offers a freshly made to order pizza service.

The village is centrally located from large towns including Boulogne sur Mer with its fortress walled old town, quaint cobbled streets and restaurants, Saint Omer known for its beer and its central square, cathedral, town hall, bars and restaurants and Calais for its shopping centre and factory outlet, just 30 minutes away. There are several sandy beaches offering their own water sports facilities (water skiing, sand yachting and surfing) along the coast from Boulogne to Calais: the closest is only 25 minutes drive. The area is well known for a variety of theme parks; the water park in Le Touquet (big swimming pool with wave machine and slides giving onto the beach) and the Sealife park in Boulogne with a plethora of large and small sea creatures, are just a few of the many worth visiting. Golfers are spoilt for choice as there at least a dozen highly acclaimed courses in the area.

For more details e-mail ; thecoachinginn@gmail.com