Old farmhouse in open country with stunning views and private pool

La Calvetié nestles in the lovely hills of the Tarn, 80 kilometres east of Toulouse, surrounded by open fields and woodlands, and has its own meadow and a magnificent view towards the Pyrenees.

The property occupies about an acre of land. The house has been restored to create a beautiful, light, relaxing environment, sleeping ten people in comfort. It is available for Saturday to Saturday bookings (for one week or more), is fully equipped with all modern conveniences and has its own private pool (8 x 4 m) and two terraces for dining and for sunbathing. The pool has a child safety cover and a separate safety fence, if required. There are also bicycles for grown-ups, badminton equipment, indoor games, TV, DVD and good WiFi access, and miles of countryside to explore. Near the orchard is a boules court, with a sitting area where you can enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sun go down.

The house is arranged over three floors.

Ground floor

On the ground floor, there is a large open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, with an open fireplace (not needed in summer!) and two french windows leading to the south-facing garden. There are two large sofas and two armchairs. The dining area has an extendable table to seat up to 12. The fully equipped kitchen includes an electric cooker, dishwasher, fridge and coffee maker.

Next to this is another large room, providing an extra sitting room and also giving the opportunity for children to have their own space. Again, there are french windows to the garden. The ground floor also features a downstairs loo and a utility room, with washing machine, ironing facilities, microwave, a second fridge and separate freezer, and storage.

Bedrooms

On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms, all with south-facing views, one of them reached by its own private staircase. They have full length mirrors and good storage space. The beds are all exceptionally comfortable. Bed linen and towels (plus pool towels) are included in the rental charge. Each first floor bedroom has an en suite bathroom. In one of them, the bath and shower are separate; in the other two, the shower is within the bath.

There are two bedrooms in the attic. In each of these rooms there are two single beds, which can be arranged as one double bed if required. These two rooms share a bathroom, again with an integral shower in the bath.

Outside

On the south face of the house is a large dining terrace with table and chairs, and with fabulous views over open countryside towards the Pyrenees (which are sometimes visible in their full glory). The terrace is shaded by kiwi and jasmine plants, and adjacent to it is a barbecue.

A few yards down the hill from this top terrace is the 8 x 4 m (1.2 - 1.6 m deep) swimming pool, landscaped into the hillside. There are parasols on the grassed lower terrace just above it, providing plenty of shade for everyone. The pool has a Calypso fixed cover for child safety, easy to remove and replace as needed. It also has a complete safety fence that can be put up or not, as each tenant requests. There is lighting and power sockets for music at the poolside.

Other services

Wi-Fi connection, UK and French TV, central heating (unlikely to be required in summer), high chair and travel cot, a blow-up toddler bed, a stair gate to protect young children, a cleaning and bed-changing service each Saturday, swimming pool maintenance each Saturday, garden maintenance once a fortnight, indoor and outdoor games and two bicycles. There is parking for plenty of cars. Our letting manager is also our neighbouring farmer and can sort out any unforeseen problems.