Dufreche B&B
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Dufreche B&B is a large farmhouse 40 minutes south-east of Bordeaux, in Gironde on the French atlantic coast. The accommodation is all in one building, in grounds of 20 acres which include a vineyard and private fishing lake. Four letting bedrooms, of which one has a double bed and two single beds, one has a double bed, one has a double bed and one single bed and one has one single bed. Evening meals (including vegetarian) are provided on request. Pets, children and Bikers are welcome! Nearest airports: Bordeaux (Air France/BA from Gatwick, Flybe from Bristol, BMI Baby from Manchester, Nottingham) or Bergerac (Ryanair from Stansted or Flybe from Southampton, Bristol).

Jules and John, her husband, both British, live in a self-contained annex of the farmhouse, and guests can enjoy the use of a large lounge with satellite TV, DVD/videos (and a large karaoke collection), a music rom (with piano and drum kit) and a dining area. All bedrooms have been recently re-furnished (all have ceiling fans), and there are unrestricted views across the countryside from the upstairs doubles. The patio facing a quiet country lane is where guests can eat, sit with a glass of wine or enjoy a game of boules.

Across the lane is a track leading down to the vineyard and fishing lake. The vines are tended by a local specialist and the grapes converted to red Bordeaux wine at a nearby village. Far from the traditional grape-treading image, production of the wine by our local co-operative is completely automated. The lake is somewhat of a mystery, neither of us knowing the first thing about fish, but guests have caught bream and carp of about six pounds (see photo gallery!). Jules owns three medium-sized horses which she rides around the local fields and tracks.

Bicycles (in various states of repair) are available to explore the neighbourhood, which includes an Ostrich Farm, Angora goats, a canal with lock gates and a match museum, complete with a scale model of Versailles palace. The local village has a grocery store, good restaurant and a lovely church. If you feel energetic there are also tennis courts and a football pitch.

Ten minutes drive will bring you to La Reole, near the A62 Bordeaux-Toulouse motorway. Typically small French town with fountains, bars and restaurants. Plus an abbey and a museum with a large collection of vintage cars, a section dedicated to World War II and a ghost train! A river trip up the Garonne and a Saturday market are also features of La Reole.

In the opposite direction, twenty minutes drive will find you in Bazas or Langon, two very different towns. Bazas is a very old town, with a market square and lovely cathedral. Langon, in the direction of Bordeaux itself, is a modern town with boutiques, supermarkets and the closest golf course. There is another golf course at Casteljaloux, which also boasts a large lake with a beach, swimming, pedalos and mini-golf.

Driving north past La Reole will take you through miles and miles of vineyards, many with free wine-tasting advertised at the roadside. In less than an hour you reach the historic hilltop town of St. Emilion, famous for (of course) its wine, cobbled streets and open air restaurants. Heading east the same distance will bring you through the Dordogne to the lovely town of Bergerac. Go west instead and in an hour you will hit the beaches of the Atlantic Coast and the highest sand dune in Europe!