Nature Lover's Paradise: Perigourdine Cottage on idyllic 60 acre Perigord estate

Grand Pessel is the larger of our two holiday cottages, (the smaller being Petit Pessel, with 1 bedroom sleeping 3 people) at Domaine de Pessel, built in traditional ‘Perigourdine’ style, nestling in the Bessede Forest, a little paradise and haven of calm amongst beautiful nature, trees and plants, framed by wisteria, lavender and rosemary, sitting alongside a walnut grove, on our 60 acre estate in the Perigord Noir.

A Nature lover's paradise, the setting is peaceful and private, traffic free, with stunning views, offering woodland walks and lawned gardens where you can relax or play games, walk, and enjoy the soothing tranquillity.

Grand Pessel has been tastefully and carefully restored, preserving original features and offering all modern amenities for a wonderful holiday. There is heating for cooler late season evenings, and the thick walls provide good insulation.

The fitted kitchen has a range of wooden floor and wall units, wooden worktops, tiled floor, and is equipped with a large fridge freezer, dishwasher, electric hob and worktop oven/microwave, coffee maker, toaster, kettle and plenty of cooking equipment, utensils, cutlery, china and glassware. We provide sufficient place settings to try to make sure you're not having to constantly wash up after each meal, which we know is not ideal.

We also supply a basic larder of ingredients and staples, such as olive oil, sea salt, pepper, herbs, flour, together with cool-bags, shopping bags and ice packs, table linen and kitchen towels. Plus we include a welcome pack with wine, water, butter, eggs, bread, jam, coffee, fruit in season and other local treats. The dining area has a large wooden table and seating for 5 people.

The modern bathroom has a glass-screened walk-in shower, WC and basin, with a slate floor and tiled walls; we provide toilet paper, towels and a selection of toiletries for your use.

The large, comfortable sitting room with leather sofa and armchairs is bright and well-furnished, has a fireplace with a 'Jotul' wood-burning stove (logs provided only in cooler months). This room has a wooden floor and exposed stone walls, and retains the original 'evier' or stone sink. All the walls in the cottage are thick and keep the cottage cooler in the hot summer months, and warm in cooler periods, and the downstairs windows are double glazed.

Wooden stairs from the living room lead to the 2 bedrooms. The spacious main bedroom has a king size bed, dresser, wardrobe and armchairs. The second bedroom has a double and single bed, wardrobe and dresser. We provide all bedlinen and towels, except for baby cot bedding. (Cot is available on request, as is a high-chair.)

Grand Pessel has its own outdoor furnished dining terrace with shade and parasol, and its own lawned gardens with sun loungers, offering lovely views of the surrounding forest and hills. It's the perfect place to drink an aperitif, eat a delicious meal, watch the sunset and spot the wildlife - we share our grounds with red squirrels, deer, bats, butterflies, and birds such as hoopoes, golden orioles and the resident owls!

At the rear of Grand Pessel is a utility room with a washing machine, tumble dryer, drying racks and washing powder/liquid and fabric conditioner, iron and ironing board, all free for guest use.

Pessel is a place for restoring your inner calm and relishing the seclusion and safety of a quiet and peaceful environment in the midst of the forest.

Our closest village is picturesque Urval, a 20 minute walk, with its lively bar/restaurant, rare communal bread oven and Romanesque church.

Siorac en Perigord, a village situated on the Dordogne river, is a 10 minute drive away, and has all necessary amenities - Carrefour supermarket, ATM, pharmacy, bakery, hairdresser, Tabac, Post Office, doctor, Tourist office, several restaurants including pizza takeaway/delivery, and a weekly market.

Here you can also rent canoes and kayaks and swim in the Dordogne, or visit the local château with its exhibition of culinary history.

The area offers easy access to many outdoor activities and pursuits, including golf, horse-riding, cycling, walking, and flying lessons or gliding - plus the wealth of cultural events, festivals and markets which take place locally during the summer months. There are excellent restaurants and bars, which have recently been able to re-open with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Additionally, this region is known as the cradle of prehistory, with a rich heritage of both prehistoric and historical sites to visit. Combined with the beauty of the architecture, the proximity of vineyards, the delicious local produce and frequent markets , the fertile valleys filled with tobacco, maize and sunflowers, and the delightful ambiance of this prized area, this makes for a superb place to spend some refreshing, revitalizing time in a perfect setting with exceptional scenery and quality facilities for your holiday.

You can find out more about our Domaine de Pessel holiday cottages at pessel dot uk.