Rural gîte in the Lot near Montcabrier & Puy l'Evêque

We loved Fraysse Haut so much we stayed for three months! If you’re looking for a get-away-from-it-all retreat in rural France, you really can’t do better than Dan and Sheila’s delightful renovated barn. The accommodation is extremely comfortable and well equipped, from kitchen pots and pans to wi-fi, washing machine and English and French television channels. For chilly nights, there is a terrific log burner with a plentiful supply of wood.

Fraysse Haut is located in idyllic surroundings at the end of a track and in the middle of a beautiful wooded area, so country walks are literally right there on the doorstep. You can take a stroll through the trees, nearby vineyards and farms or, for more adventurous walkers, there is a network of footpaths you can follow for miles.

By car, there are a variety of places to visit – our favourites include the ancient chateau at Bonaguil and the picturesque villages of Monflanquin, Pujols, Albas and Villefranche-du-Perigord. Parts of the local town of Puy L’Eveque are medieval with old buildings that rise up above a pretty stretch of the River Lot. There’s an excellent boulangerie, a good butcher and several restaurants.

A little further down the road, you’ll find Prayssac, which has a Carrefour supermarket and a not to be missed Friday market selling the best of the region’s fruit, vegetables, cheeses and jams.

Without doubt, Fraysse Haut has everything needed for a relaxing break, which is made perfect by Dan and Sheila. Always friendly and helpful, they are the ideal hosts.

Thank you so much Dan and Sheila for an unforgettable stay!

We had a great holiday in the area staying at Sheila and Dan's place.The accomodation in the barn was excellent with all the facilities we needed and it was a great base for our cycling which we did most days.The network of very quiet roads around was ideal for us and although there were some good climbs there is also flat cycling in the Lot valley itself always bearing in mind that a descent to the valley inevitably meant a gradual climb back up to Fraysee Haute each day! Given the very hot weather we had for most of the fortnight the shade of the trees was most welcome at times.Although we were on road bikes the short track to the gite was no problem for our skinny-tyred bikes.The location is very tranquil, a real away from it all situation.It is also a great centre for walking as way-marked routes radiate out from the gite.

Shopping was no problem with basics available in Puy L'Eveque or supermarket in Prayssac.Sheila and Dan were there if we needed them for general advice (and providing lovely freshly picked tomatoes)and were most welcoming.

All in all a perfect place to enjoy an outdoors sort of holiday and very relaxing.

Our group of four were immediately made welcome by Sheila and Dan who have painstakingly restored their farmhouse and outbuildings with the addition of Dan's Pigeonaire to provide extra accommodation. Set in sweet chestnut woods with walking tracks from the door, it is peaceful and yet within easy reach of local amenities. The accommodation is flexible, comfortable and well equipped with everything in immaculate order. A file of tourist information was suppplied but helpful advice on walking and local attractions was always readily available from Sheila. The October weather was warm and sunny and we had a perfect five days walking and exploring many of the towns and villages mentioned in 'The Three Rivers of France'

In October 2007 my daughter and I were looking for the opportunity to just catch up with one another from our busy schedules. Sheila and Dan the owners of Fraysse Haut, we met some 20 years ago skiing had told us about there dream of building a special home in the Lot area. We decided we wanted to visit their home and see the beautiful scenery and forests and enjoy local French quisine.

Lots of us look for the "Wow factor", and we were not disapointed, Frasse Haut was a bit of a dream for us, accomodation was second to none, and the hospitality is just one thing to be enjoyed from both Sheila and Dan and the local community.

The forest walks, the river Lot and all the towns nestled along it banks are just very French, a great escape.

There are many activities on the river to enjoy if you want more than just walking and site seeing.

We are looking forward to another visit.

Lots of happy memories, from Paul & Kay

We stayed in the "barn" at Fraysse Haut for six weeks in the Spring of 2007 (late March - early May), and for a week in January, 2008.

We are over 55, and we were looking for accommodations which would provide a comfortable base, in a quiet rural setting for (1) walking the immediate area, and (2) for auto day trips, or over-nights, through southern France and northern Spain.

The "barn" facility, the landlords, and the surrounding area all met or exceeded our needs and expectations in every way. The facility is newly renovated, appealing visually ("charming" is an overused term, but it truly applies to this unit), clean and property maintained, equipped with modern kitchen and bathroom appliances, and otherwise comfortable furnishings. The landlords reside in an attached unit. They are cordial, and available at need, but they have actual lives and they are not intrusive. The surrounding area is decidedly rural, but only a 6km drive to Puy L'Eveque.

In six weeks of walking, we never ran out of tracks to pursue, we did two over-nights in Spain, and several day trips in every direction. Each time in returning, from walks or driving, we knew we were coming home again. For us, as strangers in a foreign land, that feeling of returning to a place where no language phrasing is misunderstood, where no rules of social conduct are being broken inadvertently, where retained breath finally can be released, was valuable beyond measure. And when we returned in January, '08, it was as though we had never left.

Marie

I would like to add that I found Fraysse Haut on the internet. It looked and sounded like a very special place. I did not anticipate that the reality would match my fantasy. As it turned out, it far exceeded it. From the moment we were greeted by our hosts on arrival and were "introduced" to the barn, where we stayed for the next six weeks, I felt completely at home. I can't emphasize enough the graciousness with which we were treated. I look forward to our next stay. Bruno