6 person lakeside cottage Near Chalais/Aubeterre

We have had an amazing holiday in this beautifully house, situated in an idyllic location. The tranquil setting, contrasting with the many local amenities, activities and places of interest, provided a lovely holiday for our family of four.

From start to finish, we had a lovely time at Masperier. Rod and Kay, the owners of this delightful cottage, made us more than welcome. It is extremely comfortable, and we lacked for nothing. It is furnished and fitted out with great care and attention to detail, and this certainly shows! The setting by the Lake is delightful and just as the pictures show! Everything about Masperier rates 10/10. We shall definitelyreturn, and would thoroughly recommend.

We arrived after a long drive to be greeted by Rod and Kay who took the time to show us their lovely cottage, and tell us about the forthcoming events locally. Rod and Kay have spent many years creating this home from home. Every little detail has been thought of to make your stay as comfortable from the time you arrive. A welcome hamper in the kitchen, cupboard with all the essentials for cooking, sun loungers, table and chairs for outside eating, bbq and all of the necessary coals and fire lighters, buckets and spades for the near by lakes with beaches, garden games, indoor games and DVD's. All bathrooms had toiletry s and fresh towels. There really was not anything that had been overlooked for your stay. The garden was just a little piece of heaven, with large lawns fanning the lake, a small rowing boat and many fish jumping in the water. There are walnut trees, blackberry bushes and a whole host of wild life. Just outside the front door there are many walks and cycle paths,and fields full of sunflowers. The cottage is well placed for a short drive away there are swimming lakes, supermarkets, local markets, restaurants and beautiful villages. We had the most wonderful week and we will be returning.

We had a highly enjoyable family holiday at Masperier: the cottage and its extensive grounds are beautiful, and the area is full of pleasures, including lovely landscapes, lively markets, excellent restaurants, and fascinating tours of wineries and distilleries. One of the things that made it stand out was the exceptional warmth and generosity of our hosts, Rod and Kay Donaldson, who respected our privacy but were ready to help at a moment's notice. Even our dog was made to feel welcome! We would especially recommend the cottage for up to four people, as the downstairs bedroom is the main route to the garden and the lake, and was sometimes a bit musty during our stay.

Quiet, Relaxing, Private and Very Beautiful. The French Countryside, at it's very best. This is a lovely cottage with exposed beams of old oak and a renovated interior. The encompassing garden is world class and highly maintained by an expert, while at the same time offering the natural feel of the best of French Botanicals. A lake teaming with large, pet carp, with a quiet water fall sound - and surrounded by a perfect garden. The local French markets nearby with all you need and fun to wander through: Cheese, Veg, Sausage, Bread, tourist items. Lots of beauty in the near by towns and villages to visit. Cognac and Wine all over. Fantastic local restaurants. Host were Perfect: English/French Speaking. Very Friendly, Generous & Offering all the help we could ever want. A straight: 10/10.

We had a lovely time at the cottage and really enjoyed our stay. Rod and Kay were great hosts and did their best to make sure we had a delightful stay. The cottage is a lot bigger than the images portray and we made great use of the inside and outside spaces. A great space, good people and a welcoming environment.

We had a fabulous first family holiday with our 8 week old baby boy. The pictures do not lie, it is an idyllic cottage with enormous grounds which we were free to roam. We created some very special memories of long balmy summer days and nights spent by the lake. Kay and Rod were wonderful hosts giving us the right level of privacy as well as being incredibly helpful. Being vegetarians in France isn't easy, however, Kay was extremely helpful and managed to sort out some great restaurants for us. Would totally recommend this cottage.

Had a fantastic week at this beautiful cottage in the heart of the Charente countryside but just 10 mins from the little town of Chalais with its weekly market, individual shops, and supermarkets. Rod and Kay are the best hosts you could wish for with their extensive knowledge of the best places to visit and to eat and drink. The cottage is so lovely, with absolutely everything you could possibly need for a self catering holiday. Having said that, eating out is so reasonable it can be cheaper to do that rather than cook for yourself but everything is there if you wanted to. The garden is beautiful and you can relax and unwind there in the peace and quiet. We are regular visitors and can't wait to go back - wouldn't stay anywhere else.

After a gloomy Winter in the UK, it was such a treat to have a weeks holiday in France in April for Easter and we were not disappointed.....totally spoilt with the weather for the whole week and also the magical setting of Masperier. A picturesque French house with blue shutters and flowers outside, being welcomed by Rod and Kay and the most generous welcome basket with the essentials and a bottle of Wine - perfect after the drive (which actually is not bad at all from UK to France). The house is perfect, great bathrooms, crisp bedlinen and spacious but if it could not get any better it did and the children loved it - wow the garden, the lake, walks through the fields and of course Chalais food market on a Monday and Fernando's happy hour and steak or Moules Frittes nights. It is also so close to Cognac, Aubeterre - the most beautiful French village with fantastic bars and restaurants in the square (go into No.8 Shop - great scarves and accessories) and so many other places. Thank you for the best holiday, see you next year and will tick off more of your great suggestions.

What a wonderful location for a relaxing holiday. For a real taste of rural France with nothing to hear but the birds and frogs around the lake, look no further! The local villages and towns are only a stones throw away for delicious French restaurants and shops. We found there was ample space at Masperier for us with our daughter and we could have even brought friends too, there were bedrooms to spare! The attention to detail really makes visiting Masperier a real treat - from the white company bed linen and dressing gowns to the molton brown toiletries, everything has been thought of to make your stay a comfortable and enjoyable one. The welcome basket certainly pleased my husband - meaning after the drive from the ferry we didn't have to set off for supplies as we had enough food and wine for a peaceful first night enjoying our new surroundings. Of course the weather in the south of France is fabulous so that certainly made our trip extra wonderful too! We loved visiting the local markets in riberac and Chalais and Rod and Kay's hospitality was fantastic - like having your own concierge service! We will definitely be back, except next time we will take friends to this magical place!