Le Pastoureau (the shepherd) is a traditional Gers farmhouse, circa 1760, surrounded by fields and lying in a secluded, peaceful valley with narrow lanes, steep hills and spectacular views.

Enjoying more than an acre of lawn, it is blessed with a wealth of shade-giving trees that flower and fruit abundantly. There are walnuts, almonds, figs, quince, apricots and cherries, colourful dry gravel gardens and a profusion of lavender, rosemary and thyme.

Le Pastoureau lies in an area with no pollution, stunning views, a peaceful valley and the majesty of the Pyrenees at hand. It imbues the same magic.

Today, the property has been completely renovated and we have an English team who run the place in our absence together with a French Arborist d’Equipe and a lovely, smiley daily. Together, they manage every aspect of the house when we are in UK – which is be most of the time. More photos are available on the website www.pastoureau.com

• Sleeps 12 in comfort in five bedrooms: Three double rooms (2 ensuite) and two 3-bed rooms
• Bathrooms: One bathroom and 3 showers, 2 ensuite.
• Large sitting hall with a woodburner & 48”TV,
• Dining room seats 14
• Large open plan living area with a fully equipped kitchen, breakfast table and snug area.
• Utility area with a washing machine & tumble dryer.
• There is Wi-Fi throughout the house.
*Large TV has French and international stations with Freesat .
• Table tennis, croquet, boule, toys and board games and a covered games area.

The Gers has a long and colourful history that stretches up through the ages from Roman emperors, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Hundred Years War, pilgrims on the route of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, the Gascon musketeers on up to WW2 Resistance fighters & the SOE.

The nearest chateau of interest is Lavardens (13 mins) which has a delicious restaurant with a shaded terrace in the summer and a night market. But the whole area is peppered with beautiful old towns, their restaurants, churches, abbeys and chateaux.

The house itself sits in a quiet, tree lined valley and is surrounded by a 22-hectare field with small, quiet country roads suitable for biking.

Jegun is the nearest town 6 kms to the north-east and has the only genuine Irish pub in France run by Michael from Cork. Right opposite is an excellent restaurant - Le Halle (www.restaurantlahalle.fr). Jegun (9mins) also has an excellent Vival food store that makes its own baguettes and croissants daily. Papote & Grignote a family-run boulangerie is where to go for a range of excellent fresh bread, tarts, pizzas and croques monsieur.

There are three golf courses nearby of which Golf d’Auch-Embats is the nearest, hilly and best. www.golf-auch-embats.com Children love the water park La Plage de Verduzan just north of Castéra-Verduzan.
Elsewhere in the area: canoeing, a water park, riding, tennis, quad biking, gliding and a star-studded Jazz festival at Marciac in August.

Castéra-Verduzan (10mins) has a small Carrefour which offers an excellent selection of local (and other) wines. Francie has a new best friend, Didier who runs an extraordinary Brocante shop on your way out south

The Gers is famous for its foie gras, armagnac and now for its wines too. All these are no doubt helped by the absence of heavy industry that affords extraordinarily clear star-scapes at night.