Dordogne Wine & Dine, France
Horses
Type of horses:
Arab/Anglo Arab crosses, local French saddle horses
Nature of horses:
Calm, well schooled but also top forward going horses to suit experienced riders
Height of horses:
15 hh- 16.2 hh
Weight limit:
96 kg (15 stone)
Tack type:
The saddles are specialised trekking saddles ( Forestier, Gaston- Mercier etc) , snaffles
Weather
Current Conditions:
Partly Cloudy, 14 C
Forecast:
Fri - Sunny. High: 29 Low: 14
Sat - Sunny. High: 31 Low: 15
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
One Week £1100 per person
One Week £703 non riders per person
5 nights £870 non riders £523 per person
4 nights £803,non riders £410 per person
3 nights £640 non riders £347 per person
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This is an exclusive riding holiday where you will get the opportunity to ride forward going, well schooled, fit and healthy horses though the heart of Dordogne. You will be able to ride through private estates - home to fabulous chateaux.
You will be accommodated in an elegant 18th century manor house at Le Bourdil Blanc. Your English host will be attentive to your needs and has years of experience in entertaining clients from all the world. You will enjoy the best regional cuisine prepared by their chef Bernadette and, of course, you will get to try the fabulous wines from this region of Bergerac.
This is an approved ABRS riding centre so you can be assured that standards are very high. Your riding can be flexible and you can ride all day for up to six hours or you can choose to ride in the mornings or afternoons. They can arrange for other riders to ride for you if you decide you do not wish to ride.
At the end of the day you return to the beautiful manor house to be wined and dined. The house is elegant but above all lovely and comfortable. There is always a house party atmosphere and there is a lot of fun to be had. The food and wine are excellent and everyone is made to feel at home whether travelling alone, as a couple or in a group.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
The elegant manor house is at the end of a tree lined drive and has recently been restored to its former glory. It is set in its own private grounds of seven acres and overlooks woodlands and fields.
The main house has a large entrance hall/study with a double sofa bed leading onto the main living room, with open fireplace, satellite TV and two double sofa beds.There is a modern fully fitted and equipped kitchen complete with:dishwasher, washing machine, separate dryer, microwave and fridge/freezer). The dining room seats fourteen with ease.
The staircase leads from the living room to the upstairs landing where there are four large double bedrooms - one with two double beds, one with twin beds and two each with double beds numerous cots for tots and a crib. There are four ensuite bathrooms. There are three airconditioned double bedrooms with individual ensuite shower rooms on the third floor. One with three single beds, one double and a double bedded room with an additional single bed. The wing comprises a large living room with open fireplace and two double sofa beds with a double bedroom (with double bed), a second fully fitted and equipped kitchen. a bathroom and a private walled garden.
The Pigeonnier (converted dovecote) has a vaulted living room with two double sofabeds, an open fireplace and a fully fitted and equipped kitchen.
There are two double bedrooms (one double and two single beds),a bathroom and a private garden.
Alongside the spacious and comfortable accommodation are the wonderful grounds. Aside from the pool, tennis court and stable barn, the grounds also feature an ancient pigeonnier, and behind the house is a huge meadow garden, a small fishing/boating lake, a croquet lawn, some lovely mature trees, all bounded by a delightful trout stream.
The heated swimming pool (12mx6m) surrounded by ample space for sunbathing is open from dawn till dusk. For the energetic the full size all weather surface tennis court is the ideal place to loosen up those stiff muscles. You could try your hand at catching one of the fat carp in the lake or simply watch them from their rowing boat. However if you are into total relaxation the hammock is available on a strictly first come first sleep basis.
The stables are only a stone's throw from the house, allowing for maximum bonding between horse and rider. The accommodation can be booked all year around either on a self catering basis or catering if preferred.
Continental Breakfasts are served with fresh croissants, bread, butter and a selection of jams, muesli, yoghourts, fruit, juices and coffee and teaLunch is usually a picnic of meats, cheeses, salads and, of course, that delicious French bread. Dinners are cooked using fresh local ingredients and are three courses - the menu often includes a speciality dish of the region. Lunch and dinner are accompanied by wine often from local vineyards.
Thursday is the non riding day when guests can go out for lunch and dinner
All dinners are served with the finest local Bergerac wines, red, rose and white, beer and soft drinks in unlimited quantities
Activities
In the grounds there is the heated swimming pool, tennis court, croquet lawn, fishing/boating lake and a delightful trout stream.
There is much to see in the local area for non riders (the Dordogne is one of the richest areas of France for tourism) and it is wonderful for walking. Cycling is possible as there are miles of footpaths and tracks through the forest. There are two bicycles at the house and others can be hired locally.
Non riders can arrange to join the riders for lunch at prearranged times.
Further Details
Languages: English, French
Health requirements: No special health requirements
Age limit: 12 years and over for riding
Tuition: No
Included: Full board accommodation, riding and English speaking guide. Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner Use of facilities at the house including tennis, swimming, a lake for boating and fishing, a classified trout stream, mountain bikes, table tennis and croquet. Local transfers
Not included: Flights, transfers, travel and medical insurance.Telephone and fax which are charged at cost.
Travel Information
This ride is very accessible from the UK. The house is literally 20 minutes from Bergeran airport.
Ryanair fly from various airports (London Stansted, Liverpool, Bristol and East Midlands in the UK as well as Charleroi near Brussels). Flybe flies from Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Edinburgh, Manchester and London Gatwick. Jet 2 flies from Leeds Bradford and Transavia flies from Rotterdam.
There are also direct flights to Bordeaux with British Airways, Easy Jet, BMI Baby and Flybe from London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester and from Cork in Ireland with Ryanair and Dublin with Aer Lingus. Also flights with Air France through Paris. Bordeaux airport to the Bourdil is quite straightforward, either by cab, or by bus and train taking between one and two hours.
Train is also a great way to travel here.
From St. Pancras (London) you can either take a train to
(a) Paris Gare du Nord and then cross Paris by metro or cab and take a train from Paris Montparnasse direction Bordeaux, changing at Libourne to then catch a train to Bergerac.
(b) Lille and change to a train to Bordeaux, again getting off at Libourne and changing trains to Bergerac.
Transfers from Bergerac airport and train station are included
Airport: Bergerac
Alternative Airport: Bordeaux
Programme
Programme
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From the moment you leave the stables (in the grounds of the beautiful manor where you will be staying) you will be riding through thousands of hectares of the region's most beautiful private estates. Following trails which take you through a countryside of thick forests, hidden valleys, vineyards and meadows, you will soon be convinced that you are the 'duc' or 'duchesse' of all you survey; and to prove it, you'll come across no other horses or riders, and hardly a gate to open all day long. Here they have taken great care to plan the rides - different each day - to ensure that experienced riders have the opportunity to enjoy long energetic trots and exciting canters, as well as lazy relaxing walks, when you'll have time to share your experiences with your guide and companions. (Please note that they are trying to keep riding on tarmac to a minimum, although there is some on quiet country lanes.) Around 12.30 you will stop for an hour or so, to rest the horses and enjoy a marvellous picnic lunch, which is served in the grounds of, or inside, the private chateau whose land we are riding through. Lunch will have been freshly prepared by their own chef, Bernadette, and will typically consist of various country salads, regional delicacies (including foie gras), locally baked bread, fresh fruit, and of course the best local Bergerac wines. They encourage any non-riders in the party to join the riders for the lunchtime feast, so that they too can experience the chateau lifestyle and catch up with news of the morning's adventures! After lunch and a well-earned rest, both horses and riders are relaxed and ready to continue on the day's ride. (They obviously try to ensure that rides do not double back on themselves, however in some instances this is unavoidable.) Itinerary Day 1: You will be met at the railway station or the airport in Bergerac and transferred to the manor house for dinner and to settle in for the week or people arrive directly by car to the Bourdil around 17.00. Day 2: After a delicious breakfast, you will be introduced to the horses that have been selected to match your riding experience and ability at 9:30 a.m. in the paddock behind the house. Antoine is an expert at matching you with a suitable horse. Then you leave for the Issigeac street market which is great fun and full of local colour, returning to the Bourdil Blanc for lunch and then a short afternoon trail ride across this wild region of forests (la Forêt du Landais) followed by drinks and dinner at the manor house. Day 3: Breakfast in the house, then mount up and set off riding. Today's route takes you through the village of Lamonzie Montastrue and across la Forêt de Liorac to the private Chateau Garraube with its formal gardens, then onto the pretty village of Saint Marcel du Perigord where you stop for a picnic lunch near a stream. After lunch ride onto Pressignac-Vicq where the horses will stay overnight. Return to the house and Bernadette will cook a delicious typical local dish to be washed down with some great local wines. Dinner and overnight Le Bourdil. Day 4 : Breakfast and drive back to Pressignac-Vicq to meet the horses. Today's ride takes you down to the Dordogne river - a spectacular ride with wonderful views. You will stop on the bank of the river for a drink and a picnic lunch. In the afternoon ride back to Pressignac-Vicq by a sharply contrasting route with the opportunity for a few good canters. You will be driven back to the house for a well earned drink before dinner. Day 5: Breakfast before returning to the horses and riding them back home through the forests to the manor. Stop for a delicious picnic lunch along the way arriving at Le Bourdil in time to change and relax before enjoying another delicious dinner. Day 6: Set off on a morning ride then ride through the forests and vineyards either to Chateau Tiregand (owned by the Saint-Exupéry family, one of whom wrote the well known children’s book, 'Le Petit Prince') or to Les Terres Vielles Both produce excellent local wines and there will be time for an informal and informative wine tasting before riding back to the manor for lunch. The afternoon is free for sightseeing or to relax. Jane will discuss the options and will happily arrange group visits to local sites of interest, book restaurants and organise hire cars - or you can just relax at the house, using the heated swimming pool and tennis court or perhaps trying the boat on the lake - the choice is yours. Dinner is not included today and will be eaten out, either on the way back from the places you visit or you will be driven to a local restaurant, or even at the manor house if someone wants to cook! Day 7: After breakfast, a stroll from the dining room to the stable yard to mount up for your last day’s riding. The route takes you through the Caudeau Valley visiting the villages of Montclard, Saint Georges, St Martin des Combes and Clermont Beauregard and passing the Chateau de la Gaubertie stopping at another idyllic picnic site. After lunch return to the manor house for drinks and a farewell dinner Day 8 After breakfast transfer to the Bergerac railway station or airport, or have a visit first to Bergerac street market in the morning for some local shopping before your departure. (The Itinerary may vary due to varying circumstances) |
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| Minimum group size: | 4 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | No beginners. Confident, walk, trot and canter in open country. |
| Type of ride: | Each ride allows for approximately 3 hours riding in the morning and 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon |
| Total riding time: | 5 full days (4-6 hours a day) with two half days rest for the horses |
| Departure dates: | 4-11 September, 18-25 September, 2-9 October, 16-23 October |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |