When English farmers Hugh and Michael moved to La Tuilerie, a 240-acre farm in rural Limousin, they knew they were on to a winner. This, after all, is France’s farming heartland and, with their passion for quality, homegrown food, the pair were ideally positioned for their agricultural adventure. Yet, if the idea to start farming here seemed good, than the idea to open the place up for rural glamping holidays is simply inspired. Where else can you kip outdoors in such comfort whilst also helping bottle feed newly-born lambs, search for wild boar in the neighbouring woodland or ride a bike from petit ville to petit ville before swimming in the pool?
Set in one of La Tuilerie’s grassy south-facing meadows, Limousin Farm Holidays hosts two fully-furnished safari tents, each sleeping a family of up to six people, and a pair of Mongolian yurts, similarly decked out with birch wood bedsteads and light, cool interiors. Outside, each unit has its own private firepit, where evenings are whiled away around the campfire enjoying the sort of starry skies that only a truly rural spot like this can offer, while ample open space has been left for littl’uns to run wild by day. The real joy of ‘LFH’, however, is the tasteful way the old stone barns and buildings have been converted for holiday use. Each safari tent and yurt has its own private toilet and shower room, complete with cute old windows and French-made toiletries, while a communal dining space and excellent cooking area are available for all guests to use.
Along with managing the cows, sheep and free-range hens (campers are welcome to lend a hand around the farm), Hugh and Michael are also admirably green-fingered in La Tuilerie’s kitchen garden, where fruit and vegetables grow in abundance. The result is a plethora of homemade produce available on site – from lamb chops to jam pots – as well as the opportunity to join in communal barbecues on Mondays and superbly cooked ‘table d’hôte’ dinners on Friday nights.
When it comes to exploring, many guests don’t get much further than the farm. Between the nature-friendly woodland next door and the nine-metre outdoor swimming pool, there’s plenty to keep you busy and plenty of spaces to lounge with a good book. All the same, Michael and Hugh are happy to lend you bikes if you fancy heading further afield and have plenty of recommendations on where to go with the car – south to Lac d'Eguzon for watersports; on to Limoges for some local culture; or west to the labyrinthine maze in Guéret where you might just be lost for days.
For outdoor activities, the two largest local lakes offer plenty of watersports – Lac de Saint-Pardoux (25km) and Lac d'Eguzon (50km) – with canoeing, kayaking, sailing and more. Or stick with dry-land and get high in the canopy at Tarz en Arbre (40km; 06 3317 8738) on the northern edge of Limoges, where you can clamber up trees and fly around on zip-wires to your hearts content. Limoges itself is a wonderful old city, famed for porcelain and enamelware and well worth a visit too. You should also head east to Guéret (45km), home to an excellent market (La Souterraine, 11km, and Dun Le Palestel, 40km, are also good for markets) as well as a giant maze and activity park at Labyrinthe Géant des monts de Guéret (05 5541 0197). The area is also famous for its native wolves, which are being re-introduced within the boundaries of a new park, open to visitors – Les loups de Chabrières at Guéret (05 5581 2323).
The kitchens have everything you need for a self-catered holiday. The site hosts BBQ nights on Mondays, a table d’hote menu on Fridays and you can buy the farm's own produced – eggs, lamb, pork, fruit and vegetables, jams and home-baking – at the campsite. Off-site, it's a 10-minute drive into La Souterraine, where the best spots are Le Passe Muraille (0033 5 5563 2934), the Inter-Hotel Alexia (0033 5 5563 0101) and Restaurant Le Saint Jean (0033 5 5563 9000). Alternatively, La Perle d'Asie (0033 5 5563 2826) does great Chinese food and Pizza Régal (0033 5 5563 9687) is good for Italian grub. There is also a suitably named crêperie there, too – La Crêperie (0033 5 5563 3347).