Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.
THE WELL HOUSE
This welcoming house is full of character with a view over the surrounding countryside, nestles in the charming village of Les Essards near Saint Aulaye and Aubeterre on the Charente/Dordogne border. Incorporating exposed stone walls and wooden beams, the building, once a barn retains much of its original character and charm. The decoration and furnishings give a homely feel, in a traditional French country style.
The spacious accommodation offers upstairs, to one side of the stairs, a twin bedded room with en suite bathroom. On the other side, you pass under a beam to the snug and TV area with a vaulted ceiling and a galleried reading area. Passing under another beam, to the master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, with bath and shower mixer taps. There is an additional single bed in the master bedroom and cot. There is also a portable air-con unit for use if required.
Downstairs, there is a double bedroom with an adjacent shower and toilet. There is a large relaxing sitting room with dining area and kitchen with table and seating. In the kitchen there is a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge freezer, microwave, gas hob and electric oven.
Outside there is a large shaded eating area overlooking the private salt water swimming pool which is fenced with a lockable gate, the pool is 8m x 4m with gentle steps into the pool. The depth is from 1.20m to 1.60m. Sun loungers and parasols are provided and there are many areas to relax within the large secure garden. There is a large parking area. There is also bbq for your use.
Guests with smart phones can access free wi-fi from the house, although reception is can be erratic.
For the more energetic there are many beautiful walks and cycle paths directly from the house, and many interesting places to visit.
The little town of St Aulaye is a few minutes drive away (4km), with a supermarket, petrol station, bank, laundromat and pharmacy. There are also many bars and cafes.
There is also a river beach with a good restaurant, (try the moules), where you can swim, hire a canoe, popular climbing area at Acrobranch (like go ape) with a zipwire that goes over the river and you can also play mini golf or go kayaking.
Bicycles can be hired locally from Patrick and delivered to the house. (Details are in the house).
The house is less than 10 minutes drive from Aubeterre sur Dronne, one of the 100 prettiest villages in France; which is famous for its underground Monolithic church. Aubeterre has many shops, bars, cafes and restaurants around the attractive square, and holds a Sunday morning market as well as a river beach with restaurants and the opportunity to kayak on the Dronne river.
The nearby towns of Chalais, (7 km) and Riberac (20 kms) both have extensive weekly markets on Monday and Friday respectively and good supermarkets.
There is also a beautiful lakeside beach and restaurants at Grand Étang Jemaye, 17 Kms away.
Further afield and well worth a visit, is the picturesque riverside town of Brantome, with a chateau, often referred to as little Venice, 1 hour.
Pilât Sand D’une, the tallest natural sand dune near Bordeaux, 1.5 hours.
Bordeaux with its stunning architecture, 1 hour.
Cognac with its many Brandy houses, 1:5 hours.
Also within reach are other interesting towns of the Dordogne, including, Perigueux, Bergerac, Salat, Limeuil, Tremolat and Le Bugue.
✨✨Nearest Airports:✨✨
Bergerac 1 hour 5 min Bordeaux 1 hour 20 min Limoges 2 hours
A have very good car rental facilities
NOTE: Please be aware in August change over day is not normally on a Saturday or Sunday - however if you would like to check in on either of these days please message me so I can confirm availability.
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
There is a checkout list at the house in the Welcome pack. We clear cupboards/fridge but please ensure you put your rubbish in the bins on-site and take any bottles to the bottle bank in the village.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 93976090600015
Property # 11751276
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Les Essards
Located in Les Essards, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Château de la Mercerie and Moulin de la Veyssiere are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean and Moulin De Porchere. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and ecotours nearby.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne Tourism Office - 13 min drive - 8.8 km
Trarieux Square - 13 min drive - 8.8 km
Saint-Jacques Church - 13 min drive - 8.8 km
Chalais Tourism Office - 13 min drive - 9.7 km
Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean - 13 min drive - 9.9 km
Getting around
Chalais Station - 19 min drive
Restaurants
La Taverne - 13 min drive
Hotel de France - 12 min drive
Château le Mas de Montet - 18 min drive
Le Cafe de France - 5 min drive
Pizzeria des Grands Champs - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. on 25 Aug 2026 start from AU$299, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. located?
Situated on a river, this holiday home is 5.8 mi (9.4 km) from Aubeterre-sur-Dronne Tourism Office and within 12 miles (20 km) of Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean and Plage De Petit-Bersac. Jardins du Coq is 12.1 mi (19.5 km) away.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Stunning property, excellent location for exploring Southern Charente and the Northern Dordogne areas. Well equipped, clean with a beautiful pool. Sallyanne and Peter on hand for any assistance and for excellent tips for places to visit or for really good eateries. Definitely recommend - look no further!
Sue N.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2025
Thank you for your review, it was lovely to meet you and we are glad really enjoyed the house and area, look forward to seeing you again.
We had a great stay here at the Well House, the house itself is a great size with all that we needed, the pool was a welcomed extra in the extreme heat we had during our stay, location is perfect for anyone wanting somewhere just a stone throws away from the bussling near by towns, The property managers Sally Anne and Pete, were absolutely spot on, they went above and beyond, accommodating us at short notice and giving us exceptional information about the area, things to do and events, and very quick to respond when we had questions about places to visit, they themselves made our holiday that much more relaxing, Overall we had a great stay!
Lorraine S.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Dec 2025
Thank you for your lovely review we are glad you enjoyed your stay and we could accommodate you, it was great to meet you
A very spacious property with everything well provided for. Excellent arrival instructions and prompt responses to pre arrival queries. It was a hot week and the pool was expecially welcome. There were plenty of places to sit in the garden in sun or shade.Shutters on all the upstairs windows would help keep the space cooler by keeping the sun out during the day, and allow easier sleeping.The area has lots to offer - we only scratched the surface!A very quiet and tranquil spot set within rolling countryside.
Jane C.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review we are glad you enjoyed your stay - we have now added shutters to the rooms upstairs and thank you for your feedback
Leuk huisje met een fantastisch zwembad!Plezierige ligging - heel rustig maar toch niet afgelegen.Goud uitgeruste keuken.Leuke streek, genoeg te doen in de omgeving; ook leuke wandelingen. Je kunt ook de hele dag aan het heerlijke zwembad blijven liggen. SallyAnne en Peter zijn altijd bereikbaar, reageren snel en hebben goede tips.Huisje heeft een beetje een aparte indeling op de eerste verdieping (bukken!), maar dat is zeker geen probleem.Bedden zijn, net als de rest van de inrichting, 'Engels' en voor Nederlanders misschien wat zacht, maar dat went snel.In- en uitchecken met het sleutelkluisje gaat probleemloos. Al met al een aanrader!
MJ d.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review we are glad you enjoyed your stay
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Douglas B.
5 Oct 2025
Douglas B.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
About the host
Hosted by SallyAnne
We have been coming to this area for many years and eventually bought the Well House in 2014
Why they chose this property
On first visiting this area of France many years ago we immediately fell in love with it. It's location makes it very accessible from the UK & many parts of Europe. The area is a wonderful mix of rolling hills, winding rivers & extensive countryside views. It is a great spot to explore the many varied historic & cultural sites including a range of caves, chateaux, vineyards & pretty villages
What makes this property unique
Its simply a charming house with private gardens and pool, where you can just unwind in the peace and quiet or just on your step there are many beautiful walks, kayaking and cycling paths to choose from or places to visit. Parfait!
Languages:
English, French, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests