HIRONDELLE FARM

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I find out about availability?
• How do I book?
• How do I pay?
• Can we pay online?
• Do you want a deposit when we book?
• Do you rent out Saturday to Saturday?
• What time can we arrive at the property?
• What does the price include?
• Why do you charge separately for electricity?
• What's the booking procedure?
• What time do we have to leave?
• Is there a pool?
• What about a deposit in case of any damage?
• What if we break something?
• Do we have to pay for cleaning?
• Can  you offer us a discount on ferry crossings?
• What's the best ferry crossing?
• What about flights to France?
• Can we hire a car?
• Do you live nearby?
• Do you have any neighbours?
• Is the property suitable for the disabled?
• Is there garden furniture supplied?
• Is there a play area for the children?
• Do we need Travel Insurance?
• Will we need to bring adaptors for the electrical sockets?

Click on "Contact Us" at the top of this page, scroll down the page until you find a button labelled "Click here to email us", click in that box. Send us an email with the dates you require and we will respond as soon as we can.

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Having established availability just email and say "Yes please!".

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UK cheque is fine, sent to our address in France. Don't forget the European stamp!

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Yes, you can via a bank transfer, or if you have a PayPal account you can pay through PayPal. They will also accept payment by bank or credit card, but in that case 3.5% is added by PayPal to cover their costs.

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We usually ask for a deposit of 25%, the balance being due 6 weeks prior to arrival. When guests book within 6 weeks of arrival we ask for the total amount as soon as possible.

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Yes, The Stable is rented Saturday to Saturday.

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You may arrive anytime after 1.00pm. We always ask our guests to inform us of their expected arrival time so's we can make sure that we are here to welcome them.

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The rental of the property, all bed linen: crisp cotton sheets, fluffy hand and bath towels, kitchen and tea towels. Gas for cooking and domestic water. Electricity is charged at the rate of 20 cents per unit.

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We could just add on say €15 or €20 a week to the rental costs, but it's a safety thing really. What if someone left the oven on all night? We wouldn't want to pay for their mistake.

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When we receive a deposit cheque we email the sender to advise of its safe arrival and include a confirmation, along with driving directions etc. The balance is due 6 weeks prior to arrival. Again, when we receive a balance cheque, we email the sender to advise of it's safe arrival. This is all explained in an email to our potential guests once we have established availability.

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We ask that you leave by 10.00am please.

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Yes, we have a 4 metre round, above ground, timber surround pool, for your exclusive use

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We ask for a cash deposit of €200 or £150 on arrival. This will be returned to you at checkout on your departure day minus any necessary deductions we agree

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If you have an accident we would rather you told us sooner than later - trust me, we will find it! Trying to get into town on a Saturday morning to find a replacement loo seat then get it back here and fitted during a three hour changeover is somewhat of a challenge! We are very reasonable about such things, we don't mind the odd broken wine glass - almost everyone breaks one - we wouldn't charge you for that. We have put a great deal of blood, sweat and tears into these holiday homes and expect our guests to treat them with the respect they deserve. So, if the children jump on the beds so much that they break the slats, sticking it together with sellotape, hoping that we won't notice, is just not cricket! It's YOUR conscience

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No, we make sure the property is properly equipped and spotlessly clean when you arrive. We trust you to leave it in a similar condition.

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Yes! We are delighted to be able to offer 20% off Brittany Ferry prices. Ask us for details.

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We are nearer to St Malo, about 2 and three-quarter hour's drive, but it's a long crossing best done overnight. However, the cost of a cabin can bump up the price quite a bit. We find that Portsmouth to Caen is a good middle of the road crossing. Short enough to be cheaper but not too long a drive afterwards - about 3 and a half hours. There are no toll roads on this route. On the other hand, my husband is not a good sailor and prefers the tunnel. (We can do from here to our family in Bournemouth - door to door in under 10 hours using the tunnel) Don't forget that the ferries only run a few times a day, the trains go through the tunnel every 20 minutes and you can usually get on the first one available if you arrive early - saves all that hanging about. The drive from Calais is about 6 hours, but it's all on good roads. There are tolls on this route between Calais and Caen.

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There are regular British Airways flights from Gatwick to Nantes, prices vary and are cheaper the earlier booked. You can fly from Eastleigh (Southampton) to Rennes with www.flybe.com for about €100 Euros return. In both cases it's about an hour's flight.

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Yes, I hired a Ford Fiesta for a week, (from the local supermarket) drove about 500 kilometers and it cost a total of €199, about £170.

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Yes, we live in Swallow Barn, part of the farm. We are always available to recommend a restaurant or to direct you to the best shops, but we respect your privacy at all times.

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Yes, we have 11 neighbours in the hamlet. They are all friendly!

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No, I'm sorry, the Stable is not specially designed for the disabled.

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Yes, there is a private patio with a table and chairs, parasol and barbeque. There are some sun loungers too.

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Yes, the Stable has room for badminton or volleyball. And a large area of grass for the children to run around.

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Travel Insurance is not compulsory, but we would advise you to take out a policy.

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No. The Stable has a mixture of French and UK sockets

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Yes, we have recently installed satelite TV. There is also radio/CD players. Plus a selection of music CDs.

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No, I'm sorry we don't.

Yes, one. Some one complained that all the electrical sockets in the Stable were British and he had brought "all my appliances with French plugs". So we made him up a multipoint which plugged into a UK socket and had several French sockets for him to use.

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• Is there a TV?
• Do you accept animals?
• Have you had any complaints?
• Do you allow smoking in the gite?
• Is there a telephone in the gite?
• Is the property heated?
• Do you supply logs for the fire?
• Could we invite friends to join us at the gite for a day or two?
• Where's the nearest beach?
• You mention a lake nearby?
• Is there a market ?
• Where's the best place to shop?
• Are there any shops in the village?
• What about supermarkets?
• Are there good restaurants in Chateaubriant?
• Is there lots to do nearby?
• Is it very rural?
• What's the weather like in that area?
• Is there horse riding nearby?
• What about fishing?
• Do we need a fishing permit?
• Is there any local wildlife?
• Are there good walking routes nearby?
• Do you offer a babysitting service?
• What's your nearest airport?
• Is there a local doctor?

No, sorry. In accordance with French law as from January 2008 smoking is prohibited in places of business.

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No, sorry. You can bring a mobile of course, but if you use it too often on business calls we may confiscate it - you are supposed to be on holiday! There's a payphone in St Aubin des Chateaux next to the church, but if it was important we would let you use ours.

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There is a woodburner in the lounge and electric convector heaters in the bedrooms and bathrooms.

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We leave a standard supply in the gite, if you need more there is a charge of €5 per load.

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Yes, if there are available spare beds in the gite. But please tell us so that we can ensure you have enough bedding and towels etc.

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The coast is about 45 minutes away by car. La Baule is where the Parisians go we're told. There's a wide, sandy beach at St Brevin, south of St Nazaire. If you go north towards La Turballe, the beaches are more rugged.

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Yes, the Lake of Voireau has a man made beach and is only 20 minutes drive from the farm. It is very popular with our families who have small children. There is an enclosed area for swimming, (complete with lifeguard), a boule court, childrens' play area and a kiosk selling ice cream and lovely mini do-nuts, drinks etc. There is also a lake at Pouancé, this is a bit smaller but there’s no food available there.

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Yes, there's a good market on Wednesday mornings in Chateaubriant.

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We like Angers, it's about 45 minutes away. Lovely shops, nice town centre. Nantes has a good shopping mall called Atlantic, we have sent many of our guests there just to look at the most amazing merry-go-round! In the town centre of Chateaubriant there are some lovely clothes and gift shops. Under the archway from La Place de la Motte is a particularly nice glassware shop. The smaller shops close on Mondays, everything is closed on Sundays and most places close for lunch from 12 noon to about 2.00pm.

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Not in the hamlet of Le Perray, we do have some travelling shops who call: The bread lady comes twice a week, Tuesday and Friday mornings, about 11.00am. There is also a pork butcher who calls on a Monday morning. Other visiting shops such as a freezer man who sells everything from frozen chickens to ice-cream arrive on a more occasional basis. In the village of St Aubin there is a general store which sells just about everything, a chemist, a baker shop, a bread shop and a local bar where you can buy newspapers and tobacco.

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There are several supermarkets in Chateaubriant, HyperU is the nearest. Further into the industrial part of town you will find; E. Lelerc and Intermarché. Lidl, if you have the patience to stand in their queue, has the best in wine bargains. The local wines are Muscadet (white) and Rose d’Anjou.

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Yes, there is the usual array of bars which do very good lunches. One is on an opposite corner to a baker and they don't mind their customers buying lunch in the baker and eating it in the bar. As for restaurants, again there are several. L'Amazone does a terrific wild boar steak! The Castel does a lovely turkey thingy in mushrooms. The Victor Hugo is our favourite, opposite the post office, they have an excellent menu, and a great chef!. There's a couple of pizza places, a Moule (mussels) place, plus a few more we haven't yet ventured into. So we’re sure you'll find enough variety to keep you well fed. Of course if the weather is good, there's always the BBQ in the garden.

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Yes, the local tourist office in Chateaubriant has a brochure “50 ideas for a summer” packed full of info on fetes, markets, sports, music, concerts, arts etc. A new Ten-Pin Bowling Alley has just opened near the Town Hall in Chateaubriant. There are only six lanes, but you can book in advance. Prices vary but start at about 2.50€ an hour. Built in 1980 l’Hippodrome de Chateaubriant is famous for Horse Trotting as well as flat racing. Participants come from all across France to enter. This is a great day out, entry is about £4.00. There is food available and the usual bar. There is a Go-Karting arena nearby. It costs about £8.00 for 5 minutes, but in our experience their clock moves very slowly. The many surrounding lakes are perfect for swimming, sailing, wind-surfing, canoeing and boating. There is a Music Festival during the month of June. Several bands of varying style set up outside the local bars. Just chose the one which suits your taste and take a seat. There are also mobile bands which wind their way through the streets, so eventually you will get to see and hear most of the musicians. There is no charge. Some of the shops stay open late too. Throughout the year there is varied entertainment, including cultural and sporting events. La Foire de Bere is a mixture of a funfair, market and exhibitions, not unlike the New Forest Show in the UK. It has taken place every year since 1050. It is held during September, parking is free.

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Well yes, we are in the country surrounded by fields, cows, sheep and chickens. But St Aubin des Chateaux is minutes away, and Chateaubriant is only a drive of 8 kilometres. So civilisation is not far!

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Generally better than the South coast of the UK. The Spring comes earlier, summer is warmer and the Autumn is later.

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Yes, the equestrian centre of Rougé is just a few minutes from the farm. They do treks from €17 an hour, sometimes they come past the farm en route.

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Yes, lots. There are several good lakes nearby.

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Yes, but we can get that from the local bar in St Aubin des Chateaux. It does mean that you may have to stop for a drink whilst the paperwork is completed!

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Oh yes, we have a colony of bats on the farm, lots of birds of prey such as buzzards, sparrow hawks and kestrels. There are two barn owls nesting in an unused chimney at our neighbour's house. We seem to be raising whole communities of swallows, blue tits, great tits, robins, chaffinches and sparrows. 2 collared doves often visit our bird tables. We have deer and wild boar at the end of the lane and some one spotted a badger once. Plus we have two cats!

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Yes, there's lots of good walking here. We are actually on the "blue route" which goes down to the hamlet of Chére and the picnic area at St Aubin des Chateaux.

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Not a "service" as such, we don't like to list extras that send the cost of your holiday spiralling ever upward, but we have been known to spend a few hours with the little ones whilst Mum and Dad enjoy an evening at a local restaurant.

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Nantes, about 40 minutes drive South from here, or Rennes, about 45 minutes North.

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Yes, our local doctor, Dr Godde (pronounced "God") is very good,

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