Staycations

STAYCATIONShere to stayWe are so lucky in that we don’t need to stray too far from home to enjoy a different landscape, exceptional regional food and great hospitality. As and when we can get-away, here are some good reasons to be a tourist in our “own backyard”.

What’s your priority when planning a holiday or get-away? Historical monuments? Water sports on lakes, rivers and canals? Sandy beaches? What about retreats offering courses on wine, food, music, art or yoga? Will you be looking for tours of stunning châteaux, abbeys, cathedrals and bastide towns? How about Roman remains, pre-historic relics, medieval villages and, of course, fabulous markets? Perhaps you might want to go fishing, horse-riding, visit exquisite gardens, incredible caves or stay up late and watch the stars in a clear, unpolluted sky? Or simply go for a walk, hire a bike or boat and enjoy the scenery? Then there’s the choice of where to stay whether it be a gîte, hotel, château, campsite or even your own secret haven high up in a tree! The really good news is that you can find all of that right here, in and around our beautiful region of France.

GIRONDE Bordered on one side by the Silver coast (Côte d’Argent) and covered in the vineyards of some of the world’s most famous wines, GIRONDE is a department of many treasures. Bordeaux, with its stunning architecture, famous landmarks, world-class shops and devotion to the arts is high on the list of places to see, as is Saint Emilion, a UNESCO world heritage village. To the west you will find a bird-watchers paradise, oyster beds and Europe’s largest sand dune. Inland, take a trip up the river and explore magnificent chateaux whilst enjoying oysters, canelé, macarons and, of course, the many different wines.

DORDOGNE

The land of 1000 châteaux, beckoning rivers and prehistoric art, DORDOGNE is also home to some of France’s finest landscapes! The four areas of White, Black, Green and Purple Périgord all have something special to offer. Learn about the infamous Cyrano de Bergerac, canoe or hire a boat on its rivers, pair foie gras with glorious Monbazillac wine, and cycle through the lush countryside and vineyards. Think Abbeys, gardens, troglodyte and archeological sites, beautiful fortified medieval towns and extraordinary caves and caverns, as well as historical monuments and picture-postcard views.

Bastides galore, rivers, lakes, the Canal de Garonne and, yes, wine, prunes, hazelnuts and duck in all its forms, make up a large part of LOT ET GARONNE. Discover fine art, visit an historical water-lily nursery, marvel at the canal crossing the Garonne, take a stroll around Roman remains and enjoy wine and chocolate tastings. Once the royal seat of Henri of Navarre (later Henri IV of France), its eventful history has more than left its mark with pretty half-timbered houses, arched squares and fortified hilltop towns.

LOT ET GARONNE

LOT With its three rivers and picturesque villages, the LOT combines sprawling farmland and limestone causses with winding river valleys, rugged gorges and fascinating caves. Evidence of the Gauls, Romans and medieval times can be seen everywhere with its ancient churches, timber and brick-faced buildings, bridges and clifftop towns. Fruit orchards, geese, sheep and goats dot this varied landscape with walnuts and goat’s cheese featuring on many a menu alongside Quercy melon, truffles, chestnuts, jams of all varieties and the region’s dark red wines.

Rolling hills and valleys, wooded slopes, arable farms and sun-soaked vineyards typify GERS, a region whose population, according to statistics, lives longer than any other in France! Perhaps it’s the infamous Armagnac, the foie gras, the garlic, Gascon black pork, the generous use of duck fat or could it simply be the clean, fresh air? The musketeer, D’Artagnan was born here and is said to be the epitome of Gascon passion and chivalry. The region itself shows its own passion for elaborate belfries, striking cathedrals and bastides.

GERS

The rivers, chalky plateaux and fertile valleys mark out TARN ET GARONNE with its Gallo-Roman history and medieval features. Fine art, ancient castles, dramatic scenery, intriguing footpaths and hills covered in Chasselas grapes ensure a long list of activities from searching out historical monuments through to water sports. Randonée’s, including stepping onto the route to the Camino de Santiago, are as popular as cycling and e-bikes as you make your way through the gorges and breathtaking countryside into towns where clock towers, cloisters and architectural character awaits.

TARN ET GARONNE

Famous for French aviation, the Canal du Midi and, of course, the “pink city” of Toulouse itself, a stay in N. HAUTE GARONNE wouldn’t be complete without a trip to space, a food and wine tour, a walk or bike ride by the canal or banks of the Garonne, or Cassoulet for lunch! This is the place to find traditional woad (pastel) blue gifts together with the ubiquitous candied violets. Churches, cathedrals, mansions and historical buildings house fine art, whilst music venues and museums join gardens, markets and old narrow streets to form a paradise for tourists of all ages.

N.HAUTE GARONNE

Two nights’ staycation for groups of 6 to 10 people. Relax and recharge at our beautiful manoir. Heated pool, stunning views, dinner and breakfast, unlimited soft drinks/coffees/teas, comfortable suites. Exclusive use of all facilities.

Subject to French COVID regs. EUR 250pp (midweek), EUR 275pp (weekend) inclusive, sharing double rooms.

Please email liznmartyn@gmail.com for further details & availability

Cotswold Eco Tubs: stylish, sophisticated, straightforward to use and easy to clean. E icient wood-fired boiler, LED lights and air bubble system. Comfortable fibreglass seating for up to 6 people in 2m dia tub. Selection of exterior wood colours and delivery/set up throughout France.

Contact Nicola or Tim on

Email: hottubsinfrance@gmail.com

Beetroot bread, potted salmon and prawns and a delicious goat’s cheese and potato salad with a cool cucumber relish. What’s not to like!

Eating outside is one of the great joys of living here in our part of France and these three recipes from Emma Gilchrist are ideal as a starter, lunch or appetiser. If sharing outside the immediate family (with socially distanced friends) you can always serve them ready to eat on this glorious bread.

Easy Beetroot Bread

400g Raw beetroot 500g White bread flour 1 tsp Salt 7g Packet dried yeast or fresh yeast 25ml Tepid water 1 tsp Sugar A little oil for kneading Roast the beetroot until tender, peel and mash well, set to one side. Dissolve the sugar in the water. Sprinkle over the yeast and leave in a warm place until covered with a froth. In a large bowl, mix together the activated yeast, beetroot, sieved flour and salt into a sticky dough. Cover with a wet tea towel and leave for 10 mins. Uncover, oil hands and knead dough briskly for 30 secs. Cover again for 10 mins, then knead for 30 secs. For the final time, cover for 10 mins, then knead for 30 secs. Now shape the loaf in a tin dusted with flour. Leave in a warm spot for an hour to rise, covered with a damp tea towel. Heat the oven to 180°C (fan) and bake the bread for 30-40 mins.

Tasty Potted Salmon and King Prawns with a Cool Cucumber Relish

160g Unsalted butter 2 tsp Olive oil 200g Skinless salmon fillet 200g Cooked prawns 1 tsp Capers, drained 1 tsp Lemon juice ½ tsp Paprika 30ml White wine 1 tbs Dill Salt and pepper 1 Small cucumber 1 Small shallot, thinly sliced ½ tbs Rice wine vinegar ½ tsp Caster sugar 4 Lemon wedges Pin bone the salmon fillet. Make the clarified butter by melting the butter in a small saucepan on a low heat. The butter will start to foam (this is the buttermilk solids separating from the butter), skim this off. Once melted, remove from the heat and leave to cool for a couple of mins. Pour off the golden liquid, leaving the buttermilk in the saucepan. (The liquid can be kept and

Both of these salmon and goat’s cheese dishes need wines with great freshness and zesty acidity. Much of the white wines around Bergerac provide the fruity, fresh flavour that we want. North of the Dordogne in the commune of Prigonrieux there are three beautiful examples.

used for other recipes and can also be frozen). Heat a frying pan, add the olive oil, add the seasoned salmon and pan fry until cooked. Remove the salmon from the pan and leave to cool. Add the white wine to the pan, scraping the base of the pan to release the remaining flavour. Pour into a bowl, flake the cooled salmon into the white wine, add the prawns, capers, lemon juice, paprika and chopped dill. Place the salmon and prawn mixture into a large ramekin or divide into four small ones. Pour over the clarified butter and place in the fridge to set.

With a vegetable peeler, peel long strips of cucumber until you reach the seeds (which are not needed). In a bowl mix the cucumber strips and thinly sliced shallots, add the caster sugar and rice wine vinegar and some extra dill if you wish. Serve with slices of toasted Beetroot Bread and lemon wedges.

Whipped Goat’s Cheese and Potato Salad

1kg Ratte potatoes (or any other waxy variety) 2 Spring onions, finely sliced 200g Goat’s cheese log (the rindless variety) 3 tbs Mayonnaise (homemade or shop bought) 1 tsp Lemon zest Small handful of parsley, chopped 25g Walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped Salt and pepper to taste Cover the potatoes with water in a saucepan, salt the water. Bring to the boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Use a knife to check if the potatoes are cooked. Strain through a colander and leave to one side. In a bowl mix the mayonnaise, spring onions, parsley and lemon zest. Crumble in the goat’s cheese and combine. When the potatoes are cooled cut into halves or quarters and stir in the mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle in the walnuts, taste and check the seasoning.

Château Combrillac produces a superb range of wines. A great partner for goat’s cheese is the 2019 Bergerac Blanc Sec, 70% Sauvignon, 30% Sémillon. Lime and grapefruit aromas succumb to an explosion of zesty fruit and crunchy apple flavours that persist on the palate. 8€. www.combrillac.fr

At Château Montplaisir the sublime 2019 Cuvée Monochrome 100% Chenin Blanc is bursting with mineral tones. The palate is nutty with nutmeg spice and a touch of honey and gives way to spritely greengage and honeysuckle flavours. 9€. www.chateau-montplaisir.com

Head a bit further north to Château de Peyrel where the 2016 Bergerac Sec, 80% Sémillon, 15% Muscadelle and 5% Sauvignon, offers an alternative style of dry white. Golden in colour with a diamond brightness, yellow peach and green plum scents punctured by peppery, pear drop flavours, it finishes with a balanced fruity freshness. 12€. www.chateaudepeyrel.com