D u m m y Hotel

Rooms

Raynaudes... cannot sleep up to 16 guests in its 4 guest rooms and 4 self-catering apartments (3 for 2 people, 1 for 4). Peter and Orlando enlisted the help of both an architect and interior designer when it came to their conception and thought big when it came to division of space. This is most apparent in the bedrooms of the main house.....


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Of these, first choice would be one of the cavernous first-floor Deluxe doubles, with Ginette narrowly winning my top-room-at-the-manor award. Its predominantly cream colour scheme is set off with a solid pine floor and enlivened with a chalky blue bed wall, colour-matched rugs, throws and artwork, and attractive marble-topped bedside tables. The feeling of light and space flows over into the dressing room where there’s a massive wardrobe, a desk-cum-dressing table and a freestanding bathtub: your long sweep of surface top and sink, separate shower and toilet are behind a second partition.

Mauricette, the second Deluxe on the first floor, has the same spacious, light and uplifting feel as its sister bedroom. Windows open out to both the courtyard and southwards across the rolling fields towards the Pyrenees. The floor is solid oak, substituted by white painted floorboards in the bathroom. It is also huge with floor-to-ceiling cotton drapes, a freestanding claw-foot tub and a separate shower.

The 2 Standard rooms on the second floor are rather smaller, but at Raynaudes this still translates as big. Exposed rafters coupled with more solid pine flooring imparts a cosy, romantic look, enhanced by sensitive lighting. This offsets the reduced light factor: both rooms have small, gabled window openings. Georgette is the larger room, with a separate dressing area as well as a sofa that can become an extra single bed. Angèle is similar in layout with the same sitting area with sofa, and like Georgette has a bathroom with an attractive surface top sink and a rain shower rather than a bathtub.

All rooms come with heaps of goodies: kingsize beds, top bed linen from London, piles of fluffy white towels, heated towel rails, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryers... even an iron, ironing board and hot water bottle. Toiletries are courtesy of L’Occitane and you’re treated to a bottle of vervaine perfume to douse yourself in before dinner.

The 4 apartments, which Orlando and Peter refer to as maisons and we would describe as cosy mini-cottages, are in a converted barn across the courtyard from the main house. They're aimed at couples who want a bit more space and privacy - 3 have one double bedroom, Caillol has two double bedrooms (and two bathrooms) for two couples travelling together, or two friends who want a bedroom each.

Interiors have been conceived in a quest for light, and have double-heighted sitting / dining / kitchen areas, with bedrooms and bathrooms tucked up beneath the rafters. All are furnished with a light-hearted mix of antique and contemporary, angular furnishings: you may recognise bits and bobs from Ikea. Kitchen areas have been nicely crafted to maximise on space. As well as fridges, washing machines, hobs and ovens you’re treated to every conceivable kitchen must-have. TVs, and CD and DVD players are also in place. Eye-catching splashy modern art peps up the mostly-white walls and floors, and everything is squeaky clean.

Caillol and Alegre open onto the main courtyard, which makes them less intimate than Montfort and Bonne, both of which have private patios - the latter has an east-facing patio-garden that catches the morning sunlight.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

You couldn’t hope to be in more expert culinary hands than those of Orlando Murrin. He was chief editor of BBC’s Good Food and the creative force behind the launching of their Olive magazine. He has written several cookbooks, and these include one inspired by his and Peter’s new life in southwestern France, A Table in the Tarn. Orlando describes his food as 'modern French rustic' and as ‘handmade’ but happily ducks out of too much categorisation: much of his art involves ‘freshening up’ classic French dishes in his own way. He is helped in his alchemy by the organic herb, fruit and vegetable gardens which he has created since acquiring the Manor: they are always a first source of inspiration.......

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Raynaudes has a well-established dining routine, which makes it easy for guests to decide whether to eat in or out. And if you’re staying in one of the apartments, you’re welcome to join house guests for supper. With the help of Laura in the kitchen, this is now on offer every night and in summer is usually an alfresco event on the south-facing terrace. On weekdays (Mon-Wed and Fri) dinner takes the form of a 6-course set menu, then on Saturday it grows to an 8-course extravaganza. On Sunday, perhaps with the excesses of Saturday in mind, a vegetarian meal is prepared. All dinners begin with amuses-bouches and aperitifs, served from 7pm. At this stage Orlando talks to you about what you’ll be eating, delving deep into the gastronomic folklore of the Tarn. Once you’re settled in at your table – singles are normally placed with other guests, although there are no set rules – Peter takes over and enlightens you on Raynaudes’ small and enticing wine list. His oenological slant is resolutely in favour of local Gaillac wines: after all, he insists, these are amongst the oldest established vineyards in France. I couldn’t find fault with the deeply flavoursome and exquisite meal that Orlando magicked up the night that I stayed. A delicate tarte à l’oseille made with sorrel fresh from his veggie garden was followed by medallions of corn-fed chicken stuffed with leeks and mushrooms, accompanied by mash and leek straws: the combination of flavours, as well as the look of the plate, was sensational in the true sense of the word. Next came a cheese course, during which Peter again stepped in to educate us about what we would be tasting. Then finally came a tonka bean brûlée: yes, a tonka bean brûlée! Coffee and chocolates, served in the drawing room, crossed the final ‘t’ of one of my most memorable meals ever in France. After so much night-time indulgence you might expect breakfast to be an afterthought. Not so. Served on the terrace, you'll find cut flowers on your table and a blissful absence of music (apart from birdsong). Expect homemade muesli and granola, Orlando’s freshly baked bread and croissants, his own fruit jams, yoghurts and fruit, and the finest teas and coffee.

The hotel doesn't serve lunches, so you'll have to pop to Monesties for a midday snack; the local restaurant is warm and welcoming or there's a fab local store known as Aladdin's Cave, where you can get all manner of food for a picnic.

The apartments are perfectly equipped for self-catering: oven, electric hob, dishwasher and washer drier – who better than Orlando to know what’s required in a functional kitchen? Guests can help themselves to fruit, veg and fresh flowers from the gardens.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Barbecue
• Breakfast
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Communal dining
• Dinner by arrangement
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Lunch by arrangement
• Meal delivery service
• Microwave
• Organic produce
• Oven
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Shopping service
• Toaster
• Vegetarian options
• Welcome hamper
• other catering tick

Activities

• If all this talk of food has served to titillate your culinary fancies, learn a few of Orlando’s secrets by booking onto one of his week-long cooking courses!!!


• Lie by the pool or stroll around the Manoir's 13 acres of natural meadow, a rich habitat for wild orchids and frequented by hoopoes, hawks and nightingales


• When in France... play a game of pétanque on the Manoir’s boulodrome


• Do something else.......


• Or don't!

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Art classes
• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Gym
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Hot tub
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Language courses
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Pool table
• Private guided tours
• Rafting
• Safaris
• Sailing
• Sauna
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Snowsports
• Spa treatments
• Steam room
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Tennis coaching
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Well being
• Whale watching
• Wildlife
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

With its unprotected lake, long mealtimes' and tranquil atmosphere, The Manoir is not suitable for children under the age of 14 or so. Apostrophe's

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Recommended Rooms Apostrophe's

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• d1
• d2
• d3

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Le Manoir de Raynaudes is situated 15 minutes from the village of Monestiès, in the Midi Pyrenees region of south west France. It's 2 hours from Toulouse and 2.5 hours from Carcassonne.



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By Air:
Rodez Airport (80km) is the closest, but Toulouse Airport (110km) is a lot busier. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The hotel offers transfers from Rodez and Toulouse airports - see Rates - but we'd recommend hiring a car to get here, partly for ease and partly for exploring the region whilst you're here.

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, take the Eurostar from London to Paris, then a TGV (high-speed train) to Toulouse - the hotel can collect you from here.

By Car:
We find Holiday Autos are usually the cheapest and you can book online or on the phone and collect your car at the airport.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to France and getting around