Stay: Bardigues, France

We needed a last minute easter holiday and decided to get in the car and go over the ferry again. We ventured further south this time to the pretty village of Bardigues, around halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

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Stopping in Nantes on the way. After hours of driving round we found a travel hotel (note to self to look up route and possible stops next time), and caught a tram into the town for dinner.

Satch in No Added Sugar coat.

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Iz in  jeans from Elias and Grace, Stella McCarntey Kids trainers, No Added Sugar t-shirt and John Lewis jumper.

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Satch in No Added Sugar coat, Tractor jeans and Pom D’Api trainers.

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The kids loved Nantes which had an amazing collection of urban street art. The kids loved looking out for the mosaic space invaders by Invader and Where’s Wally graffiti.

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We stayed here in Lavayssière, a boutique luxury 16th century upgraded Gascon manor, set in 30 acres of grounds, with two gites, indoor and outdoor swimming pool plus tennis courts.

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Iz in Original Sister dress, No Added Sugar cardigan, Hunter wellies.

Kitty in Stella McCartney Kids dress.

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The kids were so impressed with all the space complete with caravan and running deer.

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There was one swing by the house.

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And another down the path in the woods.

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We attempted a spot of tennis.

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And went pond fishing…

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Iz in Original Sister dress.

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Satch in Stella McCartney Kids jeans and Hunter wellies.

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Had an extensive Easter hunt in the woods on Easter Sunday

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Iz in Louie Louis dress and No Added Sugar cardigan.

Kitty in vintage dress.

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Kitty in No Added Sugar dress and cardigan.

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Satch in Stella McCartney Kids shirt.

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Kitty in No Added Sugar dress.

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Definitely the best bit was the indoor swimming pool and hot tub!

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Kitty and Iz in Mini Rodini swimsuits.

We booked our stay at Lavayssière, through Owners Direct.

We stopped in Disneyland Paris on the way home. See post… here

Stay: La Brocanterie, Gouville sur Mer, France

Desperate for a holiday but not wanting to travel too far with a 4 month old Kitty, we decided to hop on the ferry to France with the idea that we could take all our baby essentials in the boot of the car. The port is 10 minutes from our house so the start was nice and easy. Never having done the ferry crossing before we all had the onboard egg and bacon butty for breakfast which we hastily regretted as the boat started moving and everyone started throwing up! The sickness eased towards the middle of the two hour ferry though and we got off and had about a 45 minute drive down to our house La Brocanterie, on the outskirts of the pretty coastal village of Gouville sur Mer.

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The old house was beautifully restored and modified by owners Debbie and James Mayhew, with a pool we were keeping our fingers crossed for the weather to enjoy…and our luck was in!

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Satch in Cath Kidston swim shorts, Iz in Mini Rodini swimsuit

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We especially loved the slide open window in the kitchen, perfect for keeping your eye on the pool.

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We BBQ’ed almost every day.

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Or ate bread and cheese of course!

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Satch in one of Granny’s knitted tops.

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We ventured out to all the local beaches famed for their sand dunes and oyster farming…

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And had lunch at an amazing beach shack, where the surfer owner fried up the fish he had caught that morning.

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Satch in No Added Sugar shirt and shorts.

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Iz in Oilily dress.

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Another Oilily dress.

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Satch in Mini Rodini swim shorts, No added Sugar t shirt and shirt.

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Kitty in a Granny knitted sunsuit.

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The dining room at La Brocanterie.

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