Grange La Chouette

Set on a hill with panoramic views of the beautiful countryside of northern Dordogne, Grange La Chouette is around a 45-minute drive from Angoulême and an hour north of Périgueux. In a quieter part of the region, you are well located for visiting pretty villages and historic market towns away from the usual tourist crowds further south.

It’s a rural position with very few neighbours dotted around - the nearest, around 100m down the track, grows and sells seasonal organic tomatoes! Most local restaurants are within a 10 to 15-minute drive or the most active of guests can walk half an hour across the countryside to an excellent restaurant open two or three days a week (make sure you pre-book and they also ask you to order in advance).

The small Dordogne town of Piégut-Pluviers (8km) is home to supermarkets and other amenities as well as one of the region’s largest outdoor markets on a Wednesday morning. Crossing into the Charente department, Montbron (14km) is another attractive small town with restaurants, a twice-weekly market and a 12th century château which often hosts summer art exhibitions.

Look out for fishing and canoeing/kayaking along the Tardoire River on the edge of Montbron and idyllic watermills further up the river towards the town of La Rochefoucauld (28km), also home to an impressive château. The countryside around Piégut-Pluviers and Montbron offers a wealth of walks (the GR4 passes close by) as well as cycling and horse-riding opportunities whilst the lake at Grand Etang de St-Estèphe (8km) has tennis, summer kayaking, cycling and a highly regarded French restaurant.

Wine-lovers will appreciate the vineyards around Saint-Sornin (20km) or head further afield to Jarnac (77km) and Cognac (93km). Gastronomes can pre-book a table at the Michelin starred restaurant on the banks of the Tardoire just north of Montbron and visit several wonderful markets specialising in seasonal produce from across the Périgord and Charente regions of south-western France.

To the south, Nontron (13km) is a must-visit with its arts and crafts heritage (the town is famous for crafting knives over the years) and its beautiful historic centre whilst Brantôme (35km) is an especially picturesque town on the banks of the Dronne, a perfect place for lunch in gorgeous surroundings followed by a leisurely walk or canoe trip along the river.

The historic capital of Dordogne, Périgueux (65km) is another fine day out with its stunning architecture and fantastic markets. If you can find the time, Angoulême (40km) is also not to be missed, a brilliant city on the Charente River, known not only for its elegant old quarter but also the National Comic Strip and Image Centre and its annual classic car race in September, Le Circuit des Remparts.

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The pace of life in the Dordogne is languid, laid back and positively infectious. Relax in bucolic beauty as you drift along the Dordogne River, or wander among the forests and hillside of the Périgord Natural Park.

The foodie scene too, is a relaxed affair. Take your time over your lazy lunches of local duck, black truffles and goats cheese. If you’re feeling energetic, you can even hunt for them yourself. The wine here is second to none, with infamous grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chenin Blanc all having a huge presence here.

The Dordogne is also brimming with history. Castles and chateaux are scattered throughout the region, among the enchanting medieval villages. History of an altogether more ancient sort can also be explored in the incredible prehistoric cave drawings of Lascaux and Grotte de Rouffignac.

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