Charente holiday cottage: Brettes

Firstly I have to say, this was the best family holiday I've had. We stayed in Lavender cottage during August and my parents stayed in La Forge, the properties were very spacious, clean, fully equipped and had everything you could wish for. They were certainly the largest gites we've stayed in and my parents even went as far to say they were the best gites they had stayed in during their 30 years of holidaying in France. Outside we had a nice patio area with table, chairs, sun umbrella and gas bbq which was private due to being screened by fir trees.
Lynne and David were the perfect hosts, really approachable, friendly and obliging and eventhough we only knew them for two weeks it felt as though we had known them for longer and it was a real shame to leave them as well as the gite.
Our two children aged 4 and 7 absolutely loved it here as it was safe and enclosed so they could have some independence without causing any concern. They made friends with David's sons who were lovely boys and kept them occupied alot of the time. They also made friends with the children staying in the other two properties so they were either running around, in the other gites or in the games room, which took the pressure off us parents so we could relax.
We soon got into a routine of playing rounders or cricket every evening with all the parents and children from the other gites which was really nice and fun whilst running off some wine and food, even Lynne and David played at times (hence the obliging comment!)
The pool was really nice and tenderly looked after daily by David who did a grand job.
At the end of the large garden were 3 horses that would walk over to the fence to be petted or fed which my daughter loved. We felt really at home here and my children never wanted to go out for the day so we didn't do many trips although there was plenty to do and my parents went out daily. We enjoyed going to the local plan d'eau 5 mins away which is a lake with a swimming area, man made beach and fishing. It also had catering there with tables and chairs and during the summer a lifeguard in the afternoon. We also went to numerous markets there is one everyday in various local villages as well as visiting Futuroscope in Poitiers which was very good.
We loved this property so much we have recommended it to everyone. We are staying in Lynne & David's Florida villa next year but will definitely return to gite de brettes the following year.