Entire home

Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.

Photo gallery for Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.

Outdoor dining
Property grounds
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Outdoor pool
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Fireplace
  • Pool
  • Kitchen

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.

THE WELL HOUSE

This welcoming house is full of character with a view over the surrounding countryside, nestles in the charming village of Les Essards near Saint Aulaye and Aubeterre on the Charente/Dordogne border. Incorporating exposed stone walls and wooden beams, the building, once a barn retains much of its original character and charm. The decoration and furnishings give a homely feel, in a traditional French country style.

The spacious accommodation offers upstairs, to one side of the stairs, a twin bedded room with en suite bathroom. On the other side, you pass under a beam to the snug and TV area with a vaulted ceiling and a galleried reading area.
Passing under another beam, to the master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, with bath and shower mixer taps.
There is an additional single bed in the master bedroom and cot. There is also a portable air-con unit for use if required.

Downstairs, there is a double bedroom with an adjacent shower and toilet. There is a large relaxing sitting room with dining area and kitchen with table and seating. In the kitchen there is a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge freezer, microwave, gas hob and electric oven.

Outside there is a large shaded eating area overlooking the private salt water swimming pool which is fenced with a lockable gate, loungers and parasols are provided and there are many areas to relax within the large secure garden. There is a large parking area. There is also bbq for your use.

Guests with smart phones can access free wi-fi from the house, although reception is can be erratic.

For the more energetic there are many beautiful walks and cycle paths directly from the house, and many interesting places to visit.

The little town of St Aulaye is a few minutes drive away (4km), with a supermarket, petrol station, bank, laundromat and pharmacy. There are also many bars and cafes.

There is also a river beach with a good restaurant, (try the moules), where you can swim, hire a canoe, popular climbing area at Acrobranch (like go ape) with a zipwire that goes over the river and you can also play mini golf or go kayaking.

Bicycles can be hired locally from Patrick and delivered to the house. (Details are in the house).

The house is less than 10 minutes drive from Aubeterre sur Dronne,
one of the 100 prettiest villages in France; which is famous for its underground Monolithic church. Aubeterre has many shops, bars, cafes and restaurants around the attractive square, and holds a Sunday morning market as well as a river beach with restaurants and the opportunity to kayak on the Dronne river.

The nearby towns of Chalais, (7 km) and Riberac (20 kms) both have extensive weekly markets on Monday and Friday respectively and good supermarkets.

There is also a beautiful lakeside beach and restaurants at Grand Étang Jemaye, 17 Kms away.

Further afield and well worth a visit, is the picturesque riverside town of Brantome, with a chateau, often referred to as little Venice, 1 hour.

Pilât Sand D’une, the tallest natural sand dune near Bordeaux, 1.5 hours.

Bordeaux with its stunning architecture, 1 hour.

Cognac with its many Brandy houses, 1:5 hours.

Also within reach are other interesting towns of the Dordogne, including, Perigueux, Bergerac, Salat, Limeuil, Tremolat and Le Bugue.

✨✨Nearest Airports:✨✨

Bergerac 1 hour 5 min
Bordeaux 1 hour 20 min
Limoges 2 hours

A have very good car rental facilities

NOTE: Please be aware in August change over day is not normally on a Saturday or Sunday - however if you would like to check in on either of these days please message me so I can confirm availability.

Property manager

SallyAnne

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Composting
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Garden
  • Living plant wall

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
There is a checkout list at the house in the Welcome pack. We clear cupboards/fridge but please ensure you put your rubbish in the bins on-site and take any bottles to the bottle bank in the village.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 93976090600015

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation

About the area

Located in Les Essards, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Château de la Mercerie and Moulin de la Veyssiere are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at René Carré and Château La Faviere. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Les Essards, Charente

What's nearby

  • Aubeterre-sur-Dronne Tourism Office - 11 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Trarieux Square - 11 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Saint-Jacques Church - 11 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean - 12 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Circuit de Haute Saintonge - 29 min drive - 24.4 km

Getting around

  • Chalais Station - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪La Taverne - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Le Flore - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Restaurant Crêperie Sel et Sucre - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Château le Mas de Montet - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪La Maison où on boit beaucoup - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of Trarieux Square, Aubeterre-sur-Dronne Tourism Office and Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean. Saint-Jacques Church and Plage De Petit-Bersac are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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Character house, with private salt water pool & views over the countryside. Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sue N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning property, excellent location for exploring Southern Charente and the Northern Dordogne areas. Well equipped, clean with a beautiful pool. Sallyanne and Peter on hand for any assistance and for excellent tips for places to visit or for really good eateries. Definitely recommend - look no further!
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A thoroughly enjoyable stay

We had a great stay here at the Well House, the house itself is a great size with all that we needed, the pool was a welcomed extra in the extreme heat we had during our stay, location is perfect for anyone wanting somewhere just a stone throws away from the bussling near by towns, The property managers Sally Anne and Pete, were absolutely spot on, they went above and beyond, accommodating us at short notice and giving us exceptional information about the area, things to do and events, and very quick to respond when we had questions about places to visit, they themselves made our holiday that much more relaxing, Overall we had a great stay!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jane C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A very spacious property with everything well provided for. Excellent arrival instructions and prompt responses to pre arrival queries. It was a hot week and the pool was expecially welcome. There were plenty of places to sit in the garden in sun or shade.Shutters on all the upstairs windows would help keep the space cooler by keeping the sun out during the day, and allow easier sleeping.The area has lots to offer - we only scratched the surface!A very quiet and tranquil spot set within rolling countryside.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

MJ d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Leuk huisje met een fantastisch zwembad!Plezierige ligging - heel rustig maar toch niet afgelegen.Goud uitgeruste keuken.Leuke streek, genoeg te doen in de omgeving; ook leuke wandelingen. Je kunt ook de hele dag aan het heerlijke zwembad blijven liggen. SallyAnne en Peter zijn altijd bereikbaar, reageren snel en hebben goede tips.Huisje heeft een beetje een aparte indeling op de eerste verdieping (bukken!), maar dat is zeker geen probleem.Bedden zijn, net als de rest van de inrichting, 'Engels' en voor Nederlanders misschien wat zacht, maar dat went snel.In- en uitchecken met het sleutelkluisje gaat probleemloos. Al met al een aanrader!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2025