Creuse/Haute-Vienne - Les Abeilles Sauvages (Rempnat)

Great value cycling base in off-the-beaten track rural France

Paul and Liz at Les Abeilles Sauvages offer self-catering accommodation in the heart of the Haute-Vienne and Creuse, two hugely under-cycled areas of central/south-western France that are steeped in cycling tradition. This area was home to the French TDF icon Raymond 'Pou-Pou' Poulidor – he lived and cycled in this area his whole life, and a lake-side route now bears his name. There are clusters of cycle routes from the door of Les Abeilles Sauvages, and Nedde – a designated cyclotourisme “velo tout terrain” (MTB) area – is just 3km away. The accommodation is a two-storey stone farmhouse that's been converted into a bunkhouse-style accommodation that's perfect for cycling clubs, groups and families. On the ground floor, it has a kitchen, dining room and a lounge with DVD/TV. On the first floor, there's a double bedroom next to a shower room and WC. The corridor leads to a large dormitory-style bedroom with three single beds, a bunk bed, a double bed and a shower room. On the second floor, there is a separate double bedroom with an ensuite shower room and WC. Outside there are two terraces: the 'upper’ is ideal for outdoor meals with a table and chairs, the 'lower' one for a relaxing evening apero. There's a child-safe plunge pool on the upper terrace. The gite has its own lock-up garage plus off-road parking for cars. It has a set of bike racks, repair bench with basic tools, a small drying room, WC and water supply for the K5 Karcher power hose (grease removing detergent containers supplied free).

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