The garden at La Ville au Tady
Front view of La Ville au Tady from lane
Our south facing longère is located in a quiet and peaceful hamlet called La Ville au Tady, near the village of Guegon. The hamlet consists of just four houses and is accessed via a five minute drive down scenic country lanes from the Village. The road becomes a gravel track a short distance past our cottage, but you can continue on to loop back to the tarmac road. This track passes the old mill house, le Moulin de Panros, which is situated on the bank of the River Sedon.
The front garden, a great place for lunch
The property stands in over 1 acre of gardens, which are enclosed by a fence at the rear and hedged at the front, offering a good level of privacy. The front and rear borders of the cottage are planted with a variety of climbing roses, shrubs, herbs, lavender, and hydrangea. The rear boundaries are dotted with oak, chestnut, and crab apple trees.
A hardwood table and six chairs are provided for outdoor eating in the front garden where dappled shade is provided on sunny days by our neighbour's Hawthorn tree. This is a lovely spot for lunch on a sunny day, and also evening meals in summer.
A hardwood table and six chairs are provided for outdoor eating in the front garden where dappled shade is provided on sunny days by our neighbour's Hawthorn tree. This is a lovely spot for lunch on a sunny day, and also evening meals in summer.
Cherry blossom in the orchard in spring
- In the rear garden there is a small orchard of mixed fruit trees including cherry, apple and plum. There is a large old walnut tree, sweet chestnut, and hazel nut trees. These trees can provide welcome shade from the sun in the mid-summer months and is our favourite spot for our hammock. If holidaying in the autumn, you are welcome to help yourselves to any fruit or nuts - although you need to get there before the red squirrels! In October/November you can collect chestnuts from the garden and roast them on the open fire. This will help compensate for the cooler weather, although you do get some sunny days.
View to neighbouring properties
There are only three other properties in the hamlet. The nearest neighbour is situated to the left of the cottage, about 15 metres away, but does not directly overlook our cottage. Many years ago, these two cottages were part of the same building joined together by another building in the middle, which no longer exists, but you can still see the remains of the old fireplace on our gable end wall.
The next-door neighbour's house is occupied by a french family who have a smallholding of goats, rare breed sheep, chickens and geese. Next door-but-one is Marthe, a retired Breton lady who assists us in keeping an eye on the cottage (she speaks more Breton than French) together with her adult son and daughter. A little further down the lane are a French family who moved into the hamlet to renovate an old farmhouse.
The Longère is surrounded by farm fields to the front, right and rear. The fields are used to grow crops and Patrice, the local farmer, rotates between grass, wheat and sweetcorn. He also farms turkeys inside two large barns.
The next-door neighbour's house is occupied by a french family who have a smallholding of goats, rare breed sheep, chickens and geese. Next door-but-one is Marthe, a retired Breton lady who assists us in keeping an eye on the cottage (she speaks more Breton than French) together with her adult son and daughter. A little further down the lane are a French family who moved into the hamlet to renovate an old farmhouse.
The Longère is surrounded by farm fields to the front, right and rear. The fields are used to grow crops and Patrice, the local farmer, rotates between grass, wheat and sweetcorn. He also farms turkeys inside two large barns.
Rear of cottage
The rear of the longère provides pleasant views over the garden, and is a peaceful and private place to sit and relax, read a book, enjoy a barbecue or an outdoor lunch. We provide a hammock to string between the trees, and a couple of sun loungers.
A gravel terrace at the rear is ideal for barbeques and meals, and is shaded by the cottage wall during the height of hot summer days. A table and chairs are provided.
The rest of the garden is bathed in sunshine. A wrought iron dining set sits under the shade of the Hazel tree, and is a great spot for afternoon tea, or lunch on a hot day.
A gravel terrace at the rear is ideal for barbeques and meals, and is shaded by the cottage wall during the height of hot summer days. A table and chairs are provided.
The rest of the garden is bathed in sunshine. A wrought iron dining set sits under the shade of the Hazel tree, and is a great spot for afternoon tea, or lunch on a hot day.
Rear garden in spring
A mown path cut through the grass ambles around the lower garden and leads to a granite bench. This is a good place to sit and enjoy the splendid peace & quiet and watch Buzzards soaring high above the surrounding woods and fields. Children can safely be left to play & explore the limits of the rear garden which is fully fenced.
The garden extends for quite some distance, sloping gently downwards towards the River Sedon which is about 200 metres beyond our rear boundary. The river is popular with locals for fishing - look out for the otters which you can sometimes spot from the bridge next to the old mill house. A bank of ancient Sweet Chestnut trees, hundreds of years old, form the rear boundary of our garden.
The garden extends for quite some distance, sloping gently downwards towards the River Sedon which is about 200 metres beyond our rear boundary. The river is popular with locals for fishing - look out for the otters which you can sometimes spot from the bridge next to the old mill house. A bank of ancient Sweet Chestnut trees, hundreds of years old, form the rear boundary of our garden.
Oak trees in rear garden
Due to the mild climate, the grass growing season is longer than in the UK. From March to November our caretakers will visit as required to cut the front, side and rear lawns.
The grounds are large (1.2 acres), and it is not feasible to cut all the grass, so the garden is mown to the fruit trees, and then a path through the long grass. The far end of the garden is naturalised with grass, blackberries, oak trees, Silver Birch, and is left for the benefit of local wildlife.
This area has matured into a small oak woodland. It also makes for a great run-around area for children to play hide & seek and explore.
The grounds are large (1.2 acres), and it is not feasible to cut all the grass, so the garden is mown to the fruit trees, and then a path through the long grass. The far end of the garden is naturalised with grass, blackberries, oak trees, Silver Birch, and is left for the benefit of local wildlife.
This area has matured into a small oak woodland. It also makes for a great run-around area for children to play hide & seek and explore.
There are so many areas to sit and relax in the garden, you'll be sure to find something to suit.