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Auvergne holiday accommodation

country:France
location:Puy-de-Dome, Auvergne 
price:From €29 per person per night. 4 course dinner available. 10% discount for under 16s, 25% discount for under 12s. Babies and toddlers sharing their parents room free.
offers:Snow Shoe in the Massif Central Stay for three nights or more in January and we will pay for your snow shoe rental so you can enjoy the winter countryside in the glorious Parc des Volcans.
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
read 9 travellers reviews
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description
We are a British couple running a recently renovated small, friendly and comfortable B&B in a mountain spa town of the Auvergne, France. We have four ensuite bedrooms (sleeping up to 10) a sun terrace and small garden. We are less than 1 minute’s walk from the bus stop (free in winter) to the foot of the Puy de Sancy, the highest point in France outside the Alps and Pyrenees, and 5 minutes from the town centre where there are plenty of cafes and restaurants.

The Dordogne rises here and there are a number of lakes and waterfalls nearby so it makes an ideal place for all those who love the countryside. There are a wealth of activities available including skiing in winter and walking, cycling, horse riding and water sports the rest of the year. There are two cable cars and the first funicular railway in France so those less able can also take advantage of the mountains and the spectacular views. The thermal waters were originally discovered by the Romans and today the Spa offers “cures” for asthma and rheumatism as well as other non-medical treatments.

Breakfast includes the usual continental fare plus ham and eggs etc. Dinners are 4 courses plus coffee and include complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks.
activities at our Auvergne holiday accommodation
  • Skiing (cross country and downhill)
  • Snow shoeing
  • Walking - 650 km of marked paths
  • Biking - 650 km of marked trails plus marked mountain bike pistes – green, blue red and black)
  • Mountaineering (including rock climbing on frozen waterfalls in winter) advice and guidance available locally
  • Horse riding – there are stables close by
  • Water sports in the nearby lakes, including swimming, boating and windsurfing
  • Fishing, (including ice fishing in winter) in the lakes and rivers
  • Bird watching
  • Accrobranche (assault courses in the forest with courses to suit all those over 4 years old)
  • Golf – 9 hole golf course on the edge of town

    The thermal waters were originally discovered by the Romans and treatments at the Thermal Spa are available most of the year. We are close to the ice rink, small local cinema and bowling alley. On Fridays there is a market featuring lots of local produce and crafts.

    Guests can also take the train to visit the medieval city of Clermont Ferrand and the town of Volvic where tours of the water plant are possible. During the high seasons there is lots of live music and in February there is the annual Sancy Snow Jazz Festival.
    learn to Ski Week
    Let us take all the hassle, but none of the fun, out of learning to ski for no more than £340 per person.

    The price includes bed and breakfast accommodation (two people sharing), 6 days ski school, standard equipment hire, lift pass and ski bus. Transport to the resort is not included but it is possible to buy a return train ticket from London for around £120.
  • travellers' tales
    Matt and Caroline made arrangements for us to ride, snowshoe and ski. We had never skied before and had thought that we were too old to try. However we went and took a couple of lessons and we loved it. (more)
    rooms, food and facilities
  • Bedroom, B&B in Auvergne1 ensuite double room
  • 3 ensuite twin rooms – one can be adapted to sleep up to four people
  • All rooms have mountain views, tea/coffee making facilities & hairdryer
  • Cosy lounge
  • Dinning room – with complimentary drinks cabinet
  • Den/games room
  • Garden and sun terrace
  • Storage for skis, bikes etc.

    Dining area, B&B in AuvergneFamily friendly: We offer discounted rates for children and our rates remain the same all year so there are no high season supplements during school holidays. There is a small den where children and young people can play video and board games. There is also a small garden where children can play safely. In addition to all the outdoor activities we are close to the bowling alley, ice rink and cinema so there are plenty of things to do with the family even if the weather is inclement.

    Dog friendly: Having adopted a local, and sadly unwanted but very friendly, fox terrier cross we are happy to accept other dogs.

    Skiing accommodation: Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding - over 100km of pistes in the area, 87kms of which are linked. It is a great place for beginners and there’s also some easily accessible off piste and couloir skiing for the more expert.

    Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing - 26 kms of trails locally with a link to the Sancy West cross country skiing area offering a further 250 kms of trails and pistes in Parc des Volcans.

    Other winter activities including ice climbing on frozen waterfalls, husky rides, tobogganing and ice-skating. The free coach to the cross country and down hill areas is only a minute's walk away and we can provide help and advice with equipment rental, lessons and guiding.

    Walking accommodation: Walking in the beautiful Parc des Volcans offers 650 km of marked paths to suit all levels from a gentle stroll along the River Dordogne to high altitude treks around the Massif du Sancy, the highest point in the Massif Central. Guiding available through the local Bureau Montagne. With over 650 kms of marked trails in the Parc des Volcans, it makes exploring the area on foot and discovering the fauna and flora a real joy. What ever your level of fitness there is plenty of choice from a gentle stroll along the banks of the Dordogne to daylong hikes in the mountains. We can provide maps, advice and packed lunches as required.

    Cycling accommodation: The Parc des Volcans is a great place for road and mountain biking through some outstanding countryside with over 650 km of marked trails and 110 km of dedicated mountain bike pistes. In addition there are various circuits including the first mountain stage of the 2008 Tour De France. Bike hire and safe storage are available. With over 650 kms of trails in the Parc des Volcans, including classified runs in the same way as ski pistes (black - difficult, red - intermediate, blue - easy) you can plan your day out to make it as easy or demanding as you like. The area is also very popular with road cyclists and we can help with maps and suggested circuits. Mountain bike hire is available locally and we can offer safe storage for your bikes.
    how to find our Auvergne holiday accommodation
    We are happy to provide help and advice on all travel plans.
    By train: Le Mont Dore station is close by. In summer there is a daily direct service to and from Paris. At other times passengers can change at Clermont Ferrand.
    By road: We are 20 minutes from the A89 auto route (motorway). 
    By ferry: We are approx 6.5 hours to the main channel ports.
    By air: The nearest airport is at Clermont Ferrand (45 minutes away) but this is mainly used by a national airline. Limoges airport is approx 2 hours away with cheap flights to many airports in the UK. Lyon, Bergerac, Grenoble and Toulouse airports are all approx 3-3.5 hours away. Brive airport is approx 1.5 hours away. Airport transfers can be arranged.
  • how this holiday makes a difference
    Not only is Le Mont Dore located in an area of outstanding natural beauty but it also benefits from a railway station. Our Auvergne holiday accommodation is only a couple of minutes walk away and so it is possible to travel here from the UK entirely by public transport with minimum impact on the environment. In summer there is a daily direct service to Paris. We are also only about 6.5 hours from the channel ports so again it is not necessary to travel here by plane.

    Auvergne holiday accommodation: Mountains, B&B in AuvergneWe encourage guests to respect the flora and fauna within the Parc des Volcans and to take advantage of the tranquillity of the Nature Reserve within the Parc. For our part we do our utmost to recycle wherever possible and try always to use eco cleaning products.

    At our Auvergne holiday accommodation we source all our cheeses, meat and most of our fruit, vegetables and jams locally. We work closely with local businesses to arrange equipment, tuition and guiding and encourage guests to visit the local cafes and restaurants, all of which are independently owned.

    When renovating our Auvergne holiday accommodation we used only local artisans and have installed an ecological boiler to heat both the house and hot water. We can arrange tours of local farms to taste the local cheeses and there is a museum nearby where it is possible to see how people lived in this beautiful but harsh environment in previous centuries. We don’t charge high season supplements because we don’t want to discriminate against families and those working in the educational sector.

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