Härlig lantlig stuga med utsikt, damm, trädgård och terrass, i 5 tunnland.

Shamsiah and I are kind of retired. Until recently we had a small business helping Anglophones to find and purchase properties in the Allier. We also had a training consultancy business in England.
This has been our principal residence since the early part of 2019, although, when the Covid 19 crisis is finally over we will resume our former habit of back packing to different parts of the world during the winter. Once the grass starts growing and the vegetable garden gets under way it is difficult to leave because there is so much work to do.
We love the countryside and apart from working on the 'estate' we play tennis, walk, cycle, enjoy the local social activities, listen to music and read.

We were advertising Les Houllins when it was for sale in 1991, fell in love with it ourselves and decided to buy it. After 5 or 6 years of flying visits to dig up floors, chip the decaying crepi off the walls, lay new floors and replace the roof, etc. we had the house in a more or less in habitable state. Then came the second house on the end of the barn which is now the house which we let.
We also fell in love with the area which is easily reached by car or train from the UK, has lovely countryside of meadows, hedgerows, deciduous forest, lakes and rivers (Le bocage Bourbonais). The crime rate is very low, almost no traffic on the roads, a very lively local French community with lots of cultural and sporting events and activities all the year round. Above all, lots of sunshine.

The location is very quiet with no near neighbours and virtually no passing traffic save the occasional tractor. It is the only house to let on the property so visitors don't have to share facilities with others. Although we live on site the gite is very private with its own terrace out of sight of our house. It has it own pond full of fish and other wild life which is a constant source of joy to our guests.
We have a country restaurant within walking or cycling distance, a local town with all the facilities which is also cycling distance - and we provide a choice of road or cross country bikes (we have 10 altogether) and a canoe - many of our guests love to canoe down the river Allier to the lovely village of Apremont where we collect them. There are also masses of other things to do in the locality including two 18 hole golf courses, tennis courts, swimming outdoors or indoors, riding, or just relaxing and enjoying nature.