Les Chataigniers is a very special place
Together with friends, we came here as guests some 15 years ago. It was our first time in the Aveyron, and we immediately fell in love with the area, its history, its natural beauty and its particular character. For the six children in our group it was paradise. We returned the following year, and the year after that, and the next – not only to the Aveyron, but here to Les Chataigniers where we knew we had found something extraordinary.
Eventually we bought a home not far from Campels, but never forgot the magical weeks we had spent here with our family and friends. That is why, when we heard that the previous owners were retiring, we jumped at the chance to take over from them and share our pleasure in it with others.
We try our hardest to ensure that every group gets out of Les Chataigniers exactly what they want from it – whether that’s an energetic holiday filled with outdoor activities, or a week of total relaxation with all meals catered and the children entertained; whether you are a multi-generational family party or a group of adult friends travelling together; whether you would like us around to answer any questions you might have about the area or would prefer to be left completely to your own devices – just let us know and we will oblige!
WHAT MAKES CAMPELS SO SPECIAL?
Campels is situated in an unspoilt and still relatively unknown area of rural south-west France. The hamlet is at the end of a no-through road, so there is very little traffic into the village. If you want to walk, run or cycle on the local roads, you will be able to do so in safety and without exhaust fumes. The air is fresh, clear and healthy, even in the hottest summers, as we sit some 1700 feet above sea level.
We try as far as possible to live a low-impact lifestyle, and almost all waste here is recycled. We garden organically, and grow all our own vegetables in the large potager. Guests are welcome to help themselves to fruit, vegetables and salads in season. Children especially love feeding kitchen scraps to our chickens and then lifting the lid of the nesting box to find a freshly-laid egg for breakfast. Our huge and diverse grounds are yours to discover – guests have total freedom to make use of the gardens, the wild flower meadow and the woodland, and children can be allowed to explore in safety, experiencing a sense of adventure that is so often lacking in modern urban life.
We recognise that for parents to enjoy a stress-free holiday, the needs of their children have to be carefully attended to. We are proud of our huge games room and the play garden with its swings, sandpit and play house. A range of baby equipment is available at no extra charge, and of course, safety is a priority across the whole site. Most importantly, the heated swimming pool is not only fully fenced and locked in accordance with French law, but also has an immersion alarm for extra peace of mind while at the pool side.
Nor have we overlooked the requirements of the parents themselves when equipping the house! An en suite bathroom for almost every double bedroom affords a high level of privacy for all-adult groups, while a catering-standard kitchen and a large gas barbecue on the terrace outside make for leisurely mealtimes in the shade of the wisteria.
Finally, we hope you will see from our testimonials page that we enjoy providing a personalised service for all our guests. Les Chataigniers is a source of great pleasure to us and it gives us enormous satisfaction when that pleasure is shared with our guests. The knowledge we have acquired about the area over the last 15 years is something we love to share.
