Lagland - Unique holidays in the Dordogne

Spring 2010- Orchid special offer

lagland — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:33:40 +0000

If you are considering a Spring holiday next year Lagland is the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst discovering the delights of the Perigord Vert.
Wild orchids flower close to the cottage in the springtime at Lagland.

If you book a weeks holiday here anytime between mid April and mid May there is free entry to Jardin Limadore, (a wild orchid garden, including guided tour by botanist Mme Von-Ramin).
1km from the cottage there is the Plateau Argentine, a special protected site in the Perigord Limousin Natural Park which has 25 recorded species of orchid. Most are in flower between mid April and Mid June.

Please see home page for accommodation details.

5th May orchids in flower at Lagland

lagland — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:06:11 +0000

Sword leaved helleborine and Lady orchid next to the barn at Lagland

We are into orchid season here at Lagland. On the plateau Argentine, 1km from the cottage, thousands of orchis morio are in flower.If you follow the road from there to Lagland you can see lots of lady orchids now in full bloom. The pyramidals and fly orchids are just beginning too. In the meadow, on the woodland edge the burnt orchids are looking their best at the moment – more this year than I’ve ever seen before. Must go take some photos of them in the sunshine.
Found an Early Spider orchid too! see photos

Forgot to mention the sword-leaved helleborine which is in the woods intermingled with a lovely flower, like a small foxglove, maybe a type of melissa.
Photos taken 5th May

17th May 2009
The Greater Butterfly orchids are beginning to flower and the pyramidals with their shocking pink coloured petals are everywhere, including the field at Lagland.

Springtime at Lagland 18th March

lagland — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:04:14 +0000

Its mid March already and the lawn has had it’s first cut.
We have planted 2 truffle oaks which will provide truffles in about 8 years time. I am putting in some peach trees this afternoon. Its gloriously hot, the birds are full of song and starting to nest.

The flowers out in the garden and meadow include :-

Cowslips, lungwort, wood anemones, daffodils, violets white and purple and plum blossom.

In the vege patch the broadbeans are up and the garlic, shallots and onions are shooting. I’ve just planted some early potatoes and sown some radish, parsley and coriander.

José has prepared the ground ready for the tomatoes, courgettes, carrots and aubergines etc. I only hope we can keep on top of the weeds this year.
We’ve been eating some wonderful dandelion salad everyday for 3 weeks. I marinade it for a few hours in a vinegar dressing made with a little walnut oil and mustard. With the warmer weather we are hoping to find some morilles and mousseron mushrooms on the woodland edges.

In the local village of La Rochebeaucourt the floats are being prepared for the Easter fete (125th year). Thousands of paper flowers made and then glued on to wire structures which turn into wonderful cartoon characters or animals

Cycling – 5 go to Aubeterre – May 2008

lagland — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:03:50 +0000

My 4 friends from Bristol (Kerrie, Jamie, Yvonne, Dieter) and myself explored the Dordogne/Charente area today by bicycle! We picked up our bikes, 3 mountain and 2 hybrids, from Cycles Oxygen in Riberac at 11.30am. We did reserve the day before and had agreed to pick them up at 9am, however a lazy morning resulted in a late pick up and a reduced hire charge 8 Euros instead of 10 – bargain!

Armed with a cycle/walking route map, we picked up from the local tourist office in Riberac, we chose a scenic route to Aubeterre. Our off-roading ambitions only slightly dampened by the rain the night before, the route took in a number of local villages, linked via small roads or designated pathways. Shortly after the village of Faye, with its romanesque church we decided to zig zag over the river Dronne into Epeluche, stopping off for refreshment at a local cafe right by the river (picnic areas a plenty). Had we stayed in the cafe another 10 minutes we would have missed the only rain shower of the day – however this quickly passed and we soon dried out in the Charente sunshine.

We cycled back over the river to Comberanche, on to Bourg du Bost, and up to Petit Bersac, the scenic route…..sauntering into Aubeterre at 1.30pm we made a quick stop at the Monolith soutterrain (an underground church well worth seeing) before heading for the Plat de Jour at the Hostellerie du Perigord – recommended by Shannon for lunch. Thankfully our cyclewear didn`t put them off and we sat down for a gastrononic delight – amuse bouche, chevre chaud avec champignone et salade, roti canard avec mousse de pomme de terre, et dessert de la maison – the presentation of the meal alone left my friends pretty speachless and we thoroughly enjoyed the local wine after our ride.

It was a struggle to get back on the bike after such a delicous lunch, but we soldiered on over the bridge to St Antoine Cumond and enjoyed the ride back taking a slightly more direct route home in time for a pressing engagement at 4.30pm. We still had time to take in the village churches, halls and general rustic scenery though and took great delight in free wheeling back into Riberac!

Photo Aubeterre sur dronne par VENDEE sur Vacanceo.com

Bats gone or gone bats 11th August 2008

lagland — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:16:47 +0000

(The redstarts have made their nest in a niche high up in the porch entrance at Lagland again. They come every year and usually successfully raise 4 fledglings. I think they still think its an old barn as I have left the barn doors in place as a reminder of what it once was.)
Update June 5th
They have hatched and flown the nest. Infact I found the nest on the ground in front of the porch so I’m assuming they are all doing alright.

Update

Now a family of bats have moved in. I don’t know what sort. They roost nearly all day in the barn entrance and go off at night to feed. The guests at Lagland had a bat flying around in the bedroom one night but they eventually persuaded it to leave them in peace.

11th August 2008

The bats have gone for this year!

A trip to the peatbogs in May

lagland — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:16:57 +0000

We went to the peatbogs, Tourbieres, at Vendoire today to check out the restaurant down by the river. It was a fantastically sunny day. We cycled along the country roads listening to the sound of birds and frogs singing and looking out for the orchids which are in flower along the verges. Lots of Pyramidals and a few Fragrant orchids too with their vanilla perfume like night-scented stocks.

The restaurant proved to be a very enjoyable experience. They even offered a vegetarian option. The fresh asparagus starter was divine. As we ate we watched the wildlife around the pool and then after lunch we walked the nature trail around the peat bogs.

Then back to Lagland to relax by the pool and enjoy the scenery!

Orchid Update June 4th 2008

lagland — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:36:30 +0000

The orchids at Lagland are amazing this year due to the high rainfall and low average temperatures. In the field opposite the barn there are hundreds of Bee, and Woodcock, Pyramidals and Lizard orchids.

I’ve tried to capture how wonderful they look but the photos don’t do the scene justice. I took these pictures 2 days ago at Lagland. I hope you like them.

(Pictures show the Limadore, Bee and Pyramidals, Lizard, lots of Pyramidals, the Fragrant orchid and Pyramidal and Fly on the road to holiday cottage at Lagland), see home page for details.

Making your holiday at Lagland

lagland — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:41:58 +0000

A short break at Lagland could commence with a quick hop over the channel by RyanAir from Stansted to Angouleme and then a short 40 minute drive to the rural hamlet of Lagland where I will be ready to greet you.

A quick tour of this lovely converted barn and then I’ll leave you to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Perigord Vert.
There’s plenty to see and do if you wish in this region on the Dordogne/Charente border or you can just spend your time relaxing by the pool or taking a leisurely stroll around the seven acres of grounds, taking in the wonderful flora and fauna that is all around.

Go to main pages for details.