Le Domaine de la Clotière

The food was delicious, and Caroline was a lovely, friendly host. We were welcomed warmly at this lovely property, with beautiful rooms and an incredible garden. You can hear the birds singing, even a cuckoo, and there are friendly cats, too. I highly recommend staying here if you’re in the area.

Les Marchands was a very good restaurant, and the staff there were friendly, but it was 2 km away. We cycled back in the dark. We’d booked a room on La Régalante at least two months ahead, attracted by its proximity to the cycle route and the set menu advertised on the website. The day before, we were told there was no set menu, just a nearby restaurant within walking distance. We were also told that if the room wasn’t suitable, we’d be refunded and have to find somewhere else ourselves. Having read several reviews since, I can see the welcome really was deplorable. Caroline seems friendly, but it feels as if she’s no longer involved. Perhaps she’s grieving. The room itself was outdated, with old carpet everywhere, even in the bathroom.

The room was spacious and clean, the bed was good, and the location was convenient. The decor is pretty unusual, though. The big letdown was the pool. Our children were looking forward to swimming after a day of cycling, but the owner told me she hadn’t put fuel in it, so it couldn’t be used. I’d specifically asked about this when booking.

The pool and garden were lovely, especially in the hot weather. Still, we were very unpleasantly surprised to find we hadn’t been given the room we booked. The bathroom and toilet were a long way away, and the room had no decor and very basic comfort, with a badly worn mattress. The first breakfast was a long way from what we expected, too, with stale pastries. The welcome itself was quite friendly.