Set in idyllic surroundings, on a country lane, a stone's throw from the River Vienne. Informal "leave-it-as-you-find-it" arrangements - this is our family place.                                                                                                                          
We love the time we spend here -  for an activity filled family holiday with walks, kayaking, fishing, barbeques, wonderful river-swimming, bike rides - or a secluded and restorative break in the slow lane.

With a south facing breakfast patio off the kitchen, and a large private garden with another patio, a field to the front and woodland behind - there's plenty of space and privacy.

In amongst a cluster of houses called "Biard sous Buis" at the junction of two country lanes, across the river from the small village of Moussac sur Vienne (link to map), this ancient old cottage has thick stone walls to keep it cool in summer, and two good woodburning stoves (and a healthy log pile) to keep it cosy on spring and autumn evenings.

We think the cottage was build about one hundred and fifty years ago and it has bags of character.

It has been ours since 2001 when we bought it for a song and in a pretty appalling state too. Each year we do a little bit more to improve it. In the early days it was mostly a question of making it weather proof and drying it out. Since then we have tried to retain or restore its original style and character wherever we can. The old terracotta tiles in the living room have been there since the house was built and are untouched - having been worn and polished by c.150 years of feet. In 2004 when we demolished a wall to create french windows to the garden, and took down the living room ceiling and bedroom floor in 2004 - as the original beams were unsafe -  we replaced them with more French green oak beams, and a beautiful chestnut ceiling/floor. We exposed and restored the stone wall in the living room. A lovingly hand made oak staircase went in in 2005, thanks to the local joiner. In 2007 we tiled the two patio's with rustic terracotta tiles. When we upgraded the bathroom in 2008 (keeping it simple) we returned it to its original floor tiles. Having put it off for years, in 2010 we finally re-roofed the house, and restored the upstairs bedroom and knocked through to the attic to make another room - we took care to ensure that the exposed stone walls upstairs were cleaned and re-pointed, rather than plaster-boarded over, and the new beams upstairs are oak - and exposed. The kitchen, refurbished in 2011, has a large-tiled floor and farmhouse-style units and solid wood worktops, and a discretely built-in dishwasher, and  maintains the character and feel of the natural materials of the house.

All the major work has been done by local craftsmen living in the village. We still have more to do ... but less now than before - and it is as lovely as it has ever been. An elderly local man who lives a few houses away, and grew up in the house over the road, loves coming to visit as he used to be in and out of our house all the time as a child.

Our family has had very happy times here as we have all grown up over the last ten years, and now our boys come here occasionally on their own with friends. Of course we are very lucky to have this place, but some people say having a family holiday cottage becomes a "tie" - we just can't stop coming back.

We think you'll feel the same. 

On this website is all you need to know about the house and its setting, local activities and the surrounding area. Contact us for further information on caronick@roseveare.org.uk