Many dream of the day they can say goodbye to Scotland and start a new life in France.
The sunny climate, the scenery, fantastic local produce, and the cheese and wine – there’s just so many good things to be enjoyed.
Yet Don and Joyce Andrew are preparing to say adieu to France, a country they’ve called home for 12 years, and say “fit like?” to Aberdeenshire.
The cheery couple, who are both 73, are well known in the north-east of Scotland, as Joyce previously ran The Meldrum Arms Hotel in Oldmeldrum with her family, and Don being mine host at The Globe Inn at Tarves.
Their current home is Le Grand Moulin, in Aujac, Charente Maritime, France.
Joyce said: “We came out on holiday in summer 2004 and simply fell in love with the area – the vineyards, the sunflowers, the climate, the markets and brocantes (car boot sales), the restaurants and the way of life.
“Charente Maritime is the second sunniest region in France so its climate was a big draw. When we came to see Le Grand Moulin it just felt right – its rural location was idyllic, and could see it had bags of development potential for conversion into holiday accommodation.”
The following year they swapped Scotland for France and bought the old mill building and its grounds, transforming it into a new home for themselves while also establishing a B&B.
Don explained: “Grand Moulin was a farmhouse built in the 1890s by an affluent wine-making family and we converted the property including the stables, byres, loft and barns into living accommodation, bedrooms and workshops.
“Where possible, we kept or restored the original features, like the wooden flooring, beams, pillars and window shutters and we still have the wine storage tanks, although we don’t produce our own.
“Outdoors, we installed the swimming pool which has been a huge hit with the many families who come to stay with us. We converted an outbuilding into a summer room with pool table, kitchen facilities and seating area for visitors’ use.
“When we look back, we could have simply bought a house that was ready to move into that would have just needed a paper, paint and maybe a new bathroom!”
The couple adapted to the French style of living, embracing it as best they could as soon as they moved over.
“We joined an Anglo-French association and started French classes and we soon got to know people. We’ve made some great friends and have good relationships with the people in the nearby village and on the local farms. It’s a wonderful way of life,” said Joyce.
With strong links to hotels and hospitality industry, it’s little surprise that the Andrews have a well-stocked bar in the property and at just two Euros a bottle, the wine often flows freely!
Vineyards and sunflowers grow nearby in this region which is popular with tourists. Charente Maritime is also a great base to explore the rest of France as it is close to the famous brandy producing area of Cognac; just an hour by car to La Rochelle and the Atlantic Coast, and Paris is two and a half hours away by train.
As a result of their hard work, Joyce and Don have created a spacious and charming family home with a wealth of original features including wood flooring, beams, coving, pillars and some exposed stone walls, whilst outside there are wine cuves and a roof tower.
At present they operate a Chambres d’hote and Gite business under the same roof, with separate entrances for family and guests.
The entrance to the property, which is on the market at offers around £352,000, contains a large block-built barn, partly enclosed, a parking area for five cars and a petanque court.
A gentle stream flows around the courtyard and house which are reached by crossing a bridge. Within the courtyard there is a two storey barn with development potential, a summer house with summer kitchen, seating area with sofas and a pool table, two changing/storage rooms with windows overlooking the river, a barbecue area and the swimming pool.
Attractive wooden fencing forms the boundary and is bordered by an area planted with shrubs and a small lawn. A wooden bridge leads to a delightful grassed seating area with wooden fencing, overlooking adjacent fields – an ideal spot for watching wildlife, including a pair of black swans, kingfishers and other frequently visiting wildlife.
French doors lead from the courtyard to the guest areas. Ground floor accommodation in the guest area includes a spacious split-level lounge with dining area and attractive free-standing wood burning stove. From this room, a stair leads up to four double guest bedrooms with superb state-of-the art en-suites.
Beyond the guest rooms, accessed via a corridor there are two further private double bedrooms and a shower room. The stunning beamed tower is also accessed from this corridor and has the potential to be developed into, perhaps, a private music room or studio.
From the courtyard another set of double French doors lead into a small characterful bar with exposed wall and beams and doors leading to the guest sitting room, the utility room and a corridor leading to the owner’s private accommodation.
Further accommodation includes a bathroom, bedroom/study, WC with wash-hand basin and a large, well-appointed French-style beamed kitchen. There’s also a charming salon which overlooks the sheltered, enclosed front garden which can also be accessed from the kitchen.
The master bedroom is reached via a private staircase and benefits from an en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and an enclosed balcony with sliding glass doors and railing overlooking the courtyard and pool. A handy loft has the potential for further development, while there’s also a workshop/garage with double doors and a charming terrace ideal for alfresco dining and relaxation.
It sounds idyllic, which begs the questions, why sell?
Joyce said: “We’ve had the time of our lives in France; it’s been a great adventure and one in which we’ve learned a new language, adapted to a different culture and made many new friends.
“We have so many memories to look back on from enjoying Tom Jones performing at the Cognac Blues Festival to welcoming 20-30 friends to our home for our annual Burns Supper.
“We’ve enjoyed operating a B&B and welcoming family and friends from the north-east, Europe and beyond, but it was always our intention to ‘retire’ back to our native Scotland.
“It will be a wrench leaving behind the life we’ve established here, but with a large property and grounds, and the demands of running a holiday business, we think it is time to slow down a little , but it has been an experience we’ll never forget.”
Contact www.french-property.com/vp/nv/ds/poitou-charentes-charente-maritime-matha-house/id/374421/