Le Pressoir

A Holy Trinity of ancient stones, contemporary design and sylvan tranquillity at the heart of the Perigord (villa, sleeps 6-10)

Hidden away in a wooded valley above the Dordogne, in a far corner of Chateau de la Bourlie's vast estate, there can be few such dreamily bucolic settings as this. Le Pressoir first saw the light of day in the 14th century, and arriving here by way of the narrowest of lanes to see the low gabled roof and ancient mill race of this ancient walnut press feels like a Proustian rediscovery of Temps Perdu.

Stepping inside, the tempo ups a beat. Drawing on the combined sensibilities of the Commarque family, who have welcomed guests to their hilltop chateau for many years, Le Pressoir has been reinvented to create an inspirational 5-bedroom hideaway. A clean-cut decorative mix of antiques with chunky rough-hewn wooden furniture, chalky-grey screed floors, bright kilims, masses of cut flowers and views out to the valley create a mood that it is at the same time understated and uplifting. If you're in search of calme et comfort and prefer self-catering to catered-for, this is about as good as it gets.

Highs

• The setting is as peacefully pastoral as you could hope to find
• A fabulous high-ceilinged sitting room provides a diaphanous focus for life at the mill house
• This is no ordinary gite, it's a home created with oodles of warmth and character
• All you need for self-catering in style; a fab kitchen, attractive dining area and the produce of the Perigord
• You're at the heart of one the most beautiful regions of France

Lows

• You may only get to meet Le Pressoir's delightful owners, Vera and Godefroy, on the day that you arrive
• A car is a necessity given the relative isolation of Le Pressoir
• There's a minimum stay of a week during May-September