Dordogne self catering accommodation
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Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Dordogne self catering accommodation
The woodsman's cabin has a low carbon impact on the environment, it has no electricity supply which really makes you think about what you need to use and when. It has solar lighting as well as candles. We have a system for recycling waste which is collected by our local commune. Organic waste is composted and used on our garden.
Water is provided by the source which is ultimately supplied by rain water so its in our own interests to use it efficiently. The water is pumped up and stored in a large tank behind the cabin. We provide drinking water. Visitors to the cabin are given written info on using water efficiently.
By providing bike hire, we are encouraging visitors to make the most of the local shops, restaurants and businesses. We provide written info on local business and events. Any money spent here helps to strengthen the local community.
We shop locally ourselves when we can and all materials and stocks for the cabin are purchased through our local network of suppliers. Much of the cabin has been built and furnished with second hand materials, ie the roof tiles were salvaged from a tumbledown barn, and the timber was coppiced locally. The woodland surrounding the cabin is a haven for wildlife as it's quiet and remains generally undisturbed. Guide books are provided on what visitors might expect to see. Our ethos is to provide visitors with a unique vacation experience which provides good value for money with minimal environmental impact.
12 Reviews of Dordogne self catering accommodation
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 21 Oct 2011 by Rupert Green
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Spending lazy days floating on the lake, feeding the tame carp.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make good use of the bikes, there is a lot of fantastic countryside all around.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The cabin is as about as eco-firendly as you can get whilst retaining a few creature conforts (i.e. gas fridge and cooker).
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent, a unique place to spend a week or so, totally relaxing, lovely people.
Reviewed on 20 Jul 2011 by Maria Masselis
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Peace and tranquility,staying somewhere off grid. also for my husband catching an eight pound carp in the lake.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Just enjoy.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, very much so.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Different, enjoyable, relaxing, peaceful and fun.
Reviewed on 15 Nov 2010 by Birgitte Bruun
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole vacation was a relaxed and stress free experience beginning with traveling from the UK by train to the lovely surroundings and cosy cabin. Cycling and walking around the well marked paths through the beautiful countryside was a joy! Watching the birds from the cabin kept us entertained for hours...
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The cabin cuisine Di prepared for our first night was delicious - definitely recommended! Hiring the bicycles is well worthwhile to visit surrounding villages and the roads are very quiet.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The cabin is totally off grid, wood burning stove, solar lights, composting loo - so very little impact on the environment. We bought food in local shops and market and ate in local restaurants, so yes it is beneficial to local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a wonderful relaxed vacation, lovely setting, very friendly and helpful owners. The cabin has everything you need so you can travel light - we couldn't get the hang of the gramophone tho!
Reviewed on 06 Sep 2010 by Rachael Kirkham
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Having the time and space to relax do very little, lazing in hammocks, watching the fish, being laughed at by the ducks and geese!!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take up the cycle hire and go for a spin in the country its fab!! There is the most fantastic cafe in St Estephe half way through the town on the right hand side attached to a second hand store.. Food is great, service fantastic and the second hand shop is to die for!!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The location alone will feed the local economy... where else will you get food?? With regards to minimizing impact the covert cabin is fantastic. Compost toilets, solar lights, filtered water from the lake... pretty much self sustaining.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We really did have a wonderful time. The best way to relax and explore the land. We will definitely return to our little piece of heaven and hopefully bring our children to the bigger fishermans cabin.
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2010 by Jenna Wills
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
All of it! We loved cooking by candlelight, feeding the fish, drifting on the lake and discovering beautiful French villages. The cabin is beautiful - you can be as active or as lazy as you like!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I'd recommend visiting in the summer months, when there's more of a chance of sunshine and if you do visit out of season, bring some warm clothes! If you don't speak French, bring a phrase
book or try and learn the basics beforehand. Saying that, my husband and I knew no French and managed to get by! I'd also invest in a good camera, as there's all sorts of wildlife to photograph.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, definitely. The cabin is very eco friendly - right down to the composting loo! We shopped at the local food market and bought food from local producers.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We loved our time at Woodsmans cabin - it was a real adventure! At times, living so simply without electricity or central heating was hard work, but very rewarding. The cabin has absolutely everything you can think of - ranging from a well equipped kitchen with cookery books and recipes to board games and fantastic art materials!
Reviewed on 02 Jun 2009 by Sarah Smith
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
We loved the whole package basically the remote setting the wild woods and the lake.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Although we loved the wildlife the frogs were pretty vocal so you may wish to take some earplugs if you are a light sleeper like me! Hire the bikes and go and explore the little surrounding villages. Go to the market in Piguet but make sure you go early as it closes at 1pm ish.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Definitely from buying local and eating local. The cabin was very eco friendly so we had a very environmentally friendly vacation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a wonderful experience we loved the setting and the lodge the owners were very helpful on arrival and we felt comfortable knowing if we needed anything we could just call them.
Reviewed on 04 Jan 2009 by Nina Allen
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing the stars over the cabin late at night ... the quiet ... really getting away from everything!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If it's winter, bring lots of layers! Everything else is there...
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Due to the time of year, we missed most of the markets and had to resort to the supermarket so perhaps we didn't benefit local people so much... In terms of minimizing impacts on the environment, apart from the car rental (too cold for bikes!) the cabin was wonderfully eco-friendly - recycling, no mains electricity (lights worked off a water mill), wood burning etc.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Really great and original!
Reviewed on 01 Sep 2008 by Isabel Villena
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Everything! The fairy-tale cabin, forest and very own lake, the walks and bike rides on a crystal clear, lake (and cow) dotted hilly landscape and charming little villages, feeding our lake tame carps (cuter than Nemo!)... but, very specially, Di and Bob's astounding warmth and attentions (we still can't believe they handmade us a wooden set of Spanish scrabble keys so we could play without being acutely short on vowels... in a day!)
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book it! And book it really early (we booked in November for next August and they only had one available week)!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We certainly did: Environmentally, it's a veritable showcase of sustainable living; and it's on a mainly farming area where the limited amount of tourism gives a financial hand with very little negative impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic!!!
Reviewed on 31 Aug 2008 by Brenda McClure
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Arriving and seeing the cabin for the first time. It is an amazing little house in the most beautiful surroundings. It really wasn't a quiet place but the noises were nature at her best and a delight to listen to. We made a point of returning from a day out to listen to the frogs chorus and watch the kingfisher eyeing up his evening meal in the lake.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
For novice cyclists remember to make use of the gel seats! and the area is not completely flat. Shop at the Ecomarche in Piegut and watch out for the cheese man at the Wednesday market... lovely cheese... lovely price!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes indeed.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Never quite had a vacation like this before. Within a few days we realised living without 'mod cons' was a very satisfying feeling and oh so easy.
Reviewed on 05 Oct 2007 by Nita Myers
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Floating about on the raft in the lake, reading and sunbathing. Eating, drinking and reading by the light of the oil lamp in the evenings. Enjoying Diane's fabulous meals. Cycling to the nearby villages for freshly baked bread.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
This is a real get-away-from-it-all vacation. If you're hesitating, don't - this for me was like camping in luxury and despite having stayed in some of the best hotels and most exotic locations in the world this is up there with one of my very favourite vacations!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, it's very eco-friendly.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent! We loved waking up in the cabin and having breakfast by the lake, pottering around all day doing nothing much and eating like kings in the evenings.
Reviewed on 25 Jun 2007 by Sally Foxell
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
This perfect little cabin is set in a woodland overlooking its very own lake, with a boat and raft. Its teeming with wildlife and you really feel part of it, but with the bonus of comfortable accommodation. My best moment was huddling in the candle lit cabin during an amazing thunderstorm.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We embarked on this vacation without a car. We took Eurostar to Paris and then TGV to Angouleme. We recommend this, as its so fast and hassle free. We hired the cabin's bikes for the week. The only words of warning would be that the cabin is in quite a hilly area, so be prepared for some hard work. Definitely go to the Wednesday market in Piegut.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
As well as the cabin being eco friendly, it left us with an awareness of our impact on the environment in our daily lives. The cabin was off grid. Di and Bob made it easy for us to come without our car. There is compost and recycling facilities. All the products in the cabin were biodegradable and eco friendly. When staying in the cabin, you feel connected with the environment and the weather. We enjoyed shopping at the famous local market, and had a couple of meals at a restaurant. We spoke French with the locals, very limited but we tried our best and it was fun.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This vacation was fantastic. I heartily recommend it, especially to anyone that loves camping and the outdoors, but fancies a bit more comfort.
Reviewed on 03 Dec 2006 by Jamie Shailes
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The local wildlife in the local area particularly the bird life was superb, with sightings of Red Kites, Buzzards (everywhere), Hen Harriers, Black Woodpeckers, Firecrest and much much more. There was also time for a relaxing day sat fishing by the lake outside the cabin, with the local Buzzards circling overhead. I am left with only one question... when can I return to this place of peace and beauty? I hope others who read this will get the chance to enjoy the accommodation as much as I did.
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
All of it! Cycling around the local area is amazing, it is so very beautiful and the birdlife is fantastic. Just waking up every morning in the cabin by the lake was fab.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you get around to visit all the villages in the local area, it is so very beautiful.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, tourism helps the local economy and the cabin leaves a very low ecological footprint.
4. Any other comments?
Finally I would just say if anyone is wishing to get away from it all and enjoy a fantastic countryside break, choose this accommodation in the Dordogne, you won't be disappointed.
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