Le Clos des Jardins

I just love it here. Alison and Francis are fun, warm and welcoming, like dropping in to see old friends - it is no wonder that guests come back year after year to this lovely place. You couldn't fail to be impressed by the care and attention they've have put into restoring their home and cottages and their style is a real delight for anyone who enjoys a beautiful interior and garden.

If you are thinking of staying at Le Clos des Jardins, just book it! We had a fantastic stay here. The cottage we stayed in (Le Four de Boulanger) had everything we could need. Alison and Francis were really welcoming and perfect hosts. The pool was so lovely - warm and the water felt so soft (that sounds weird but it's how I remember it!). One final mention to all the small touches they can provide if you're travelling with children - stair gates, toys, highchairs, cots - anything you could need. It made our stay really easy. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

La Laiterie is an absolute gem! Beautifully (and comfortably) furnished with a well equipped kitchen and a wonderful bathroom with a walk in shower and a lovely patio and garden. It all worked really well for my husband who has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair much of the time. We had a very enjoyable stay and Francis and Alison are delightful hosts - around when you need them but never intrusive. The very attractive swimming pool was much used during a very hot two weeks.

We had an absolutely fantastic stay at La Laiterie - we cannot rave about it enough. Alison and Francis were such thoughtful and generous hosts - the delicious meal in their glorious garden with the other guests was a real highlight. La Laiterie is beautiful inside and out - gorgeous interior design, brilliantly equipped and so comfortable. The grounds are lovely - excellent (warm!) pool and well tended vegetable gardens (and can pick some veg for yourselves). We loved feeding the sheep and chickens. We used their bikes to cycle to the nearby bakery and the peaceful lavoire around 8kms away.

This was our first holiday abroad with two young children – we couldn't have picked a more beautiful, tranquil and well-equipped place to stay. Ralf and Ivy particularly enjoyed picking strawberries for breakfast. The swimming pool was incredibly tranquil and the rental bicycles allowed us to freely explore the surrounding countryside. A very beautiful part of France and such warm, friendly hosts. Thank you!

We have just spent a wonderful and relaxing two weeks at La Laiterie which we can thoroughly recommend. La Laiterie is beautifully furnished in neutral tones with large comfortable sofas (and beds), crisp cotton sheets and fluffy white towels. The kitchen is so well appointed and has everything you could possibly wish for. The garden at the front of the gite is charming and the beautiful swimming pool is very inviting. A five star gite provided by Alison and Francis who were the most welcoming, warm and generous of hosts you could possibly wish for.

We had a lovely two weeks staying in La Laiterie. This was our second stay at Le Clos des Jardins having fond memories of our stay four years ago. Alison and Francis are so welcoming and helpful. They are always happy to provide advice or to make a dinner reservation for you. We joined them for one of their Monday night meals for which they use many home grown ingredients. This was a fun evening and delicious too. The grounds are lovely with many different edible things growing as well as hens and sheep. We loved using the beautiful pool as well as the boule pitch. We hope to return one day.

This is simply one of the beautiful and peaceful places available on Sawdays and we have ever stayed at. It's the only self catering holiday I have ever returned to. Each of the three gites are well resourced and have everything you could possibly need - and if they don't the owners will happily try and arrange. The pool area is wonderful, while the animals and PYO garden makes you feel like you are stepping back in time (well, it does if you live in South London). Alison and Francis are also the most perfect hosts and lovely people. You really could not wish for more.

What treasure! Le Clos des Jardins is utterly beautiful. There is nothing that hasn’t been considered for total comfort, relaxation and an absolute home from home. Alison and Francis are incredible hosts making us feel so at home in La Laiterie . Thank you!

L’Ecurie is, sans doute, the very best gite we’ve ever stayed in. It is absolutely perfect for two people. So much thought and care has gone into making everything inside beautiful, harmonious and comfortable. Outside, we enjoyed the lovely private courtyard garden and admired the sparkling pool. Everything needed for self-catering was readily to hand. Most important, Alison and Francis were perfect hosts; charming and friendly but never intrusive, always there with help and advice when needed. For a week’s relaxation in the rural tranquillity of the Poitou-Charente, this is the perfect base.

What a wonderful place to while away a week. Francis and Alison were the perfect hosts. They have created a delightful venue that allows you to truly unwind. Our property was beautifully decorated and gave us a taste of French country living enhanced by modern day essentials in kitchen and bathroom. The gardens are a delight and the magnificent pool area an idyllic place to soak up the sun. We particularly loved dining on our terrace, enjoying fresh produce picked from the garden, while watching the sun set and stars emerge. La Laiterie proved to be la creme de la creme.

Our second visit to Alison and Francis’ stunningly beautiful house. Ten years on and there’s now a wonderful saltwater pool (hate chlorine!).. the funny hens and ducks are still there (a new generation) as are the lovely black sheep, who come running if you bring stale bread. We spent a lot of time staying put, listening to birdsong, reading, star-gazing, swimming, playing ping-pong and picking tomatoes and basil from the lovely kitchen garden. This is an exceptional place and the owners are so warm, generous and gracious. It’s quite difficult to leave .. thanks for another wonderful holiday

Staying at Clos des Jardin was simply bliss and a true haven of tranquility. On our arrival our charming host Alison and Francis showed us to our absolutely spotless gite which was beautifully furnished. Every detail had been thought of from the amazing well stocked kitchen to our wonderful safe gated private garden with my sons very own paddling pool. Days spent at the gite were so relaxing whether we took a bike ride along fields of sunflowers or swam in the increadible salt water pool, which was thoughtfully left covered when not in use to keep our son safe. We will return!

Been here 5 times, absolutely love it, its truly beautiful as is the owners Francis and Alison, got very happy memories if this place and cant wait to go back. Magical holiday, wonderful food and accommodation.

We have just returned from a delightful holiday in a haven of peace and tranquility at Le Clos des Jardins. The owners, Francis and Alison, made our stay an exceptional experience. Thank you.

This is a unique and wonderful place. Alison and Francis made us feel like old friends from the moment we arrived. The house was spacious, incredibly comfortable and absolutely beautiful and the garden was magical to lie in, reading and absorbing the silence. The pool, petanque and ping pong were all fabulous as was the amazing vegetable garden, stocked with delicious produce. Don't miss the incredible meal offered by the hosts on a Sunday night. Our daughter said it was the best place we'd ever stayed. Enough said!

We found the most perfect haven of peace in Le Clos des Jardins. The hosts, Alison & Francis made us so welcome. A wonderfully well equipped & comfortable gîte within a superb setting surrounded by vegetable & herb gardens. The pool is beautifully designed We long to return to such tranquility, utter paradise!

A very relaxing holiday in a comfortable, well-appointed, gite. Alison & Francis were friendly and hospitable including cooking an amazing meal. We enjoyed swimming in the heated salt-water pool and seeing the sheep and chickens!

We recently stayed at Le Clos des Jardins. It is a beautifully restored property. They have small animals and a pool, which our children (aged 4 and 1) absolutely loved. Our garden was a nice size, flat, and fenced in, which as parents of young children, meant we could relax without worrying they would hurt themselves. We arrived to a bottle of wine and fresh walnuts, and were given homemade scones which were delicious. The owners are very attentive and strive to make your stay comfortable, even offering us the use of their tumble dryer on a rainy day. We’re looking to book again next year!

Wonderful, Fabulous, Amazing...words really can't describe all the precious, special moments and memories our family created over the past few weeks...all brought to life by the most perfect hosts Francis and Alison. All your properties are fitted out to a very high standard whist still retaining the charm and character to make you feel welcome. Even though it was October we used the pool everyday, played badminton, table tennis, and enjoyed eating al fresco on many occasions. Alison and Francis cooked for our party of 15 for a special celebrations and it was superb.......we will be back xxx