Le Souquet Haut is an elegant 18th century stone farmhouse in the Quercy Blanc region, set on three floors with five double or twin bedrooms, and one single bedroom, to sleep up to ten or eleven guests comfortably.

Turning off a country lane, a 400 metre long private drivway approaches the house. Le Souquet Haut is set in over five hectares (12 acres) of gardens and woodland, including a 12 metre long heated swimming pool, a large stone pigeonnier, a walled garden inside a ruined barn, and a covered floodlit boule pitch in another barn. The property enjoys extensive views across the valley. At the other end of the driveway is a golf course which guests can enjoy.

The house is on the side of a hill, so the main entrance is on the middle floor, and stairs descend to the kitchen and living room on the lower ground floor and go up to the bedrooms on the top level. Massive old wooden beams, mostly antique furniture, thick stone walls, and the traditional pantiled roof are among the features of the house which give it great atmosphere.

Opposite the entrance, a converted old stone barn now houses one of the bedrooms, which enjoys extra privacy. All the bedrooms have panoramic views across the valley or gardens.

On the middle floor, the main entrance opens into a hallway which connects to a large formal living room with a fireplace, sofas, and chairs, and tables for bridge and chess.

The master bedroom has a large ensuite bathroom, and the single bedroom, also on this level, is equally suitable as a study.

Downstairs on the lower ground floor is another living room with large comfortable sofas, a fireplace, and a television.

A doorway leads to the spacious and well equipped kitchen and dining area, from which French doors open onto the garden and the outdoor dining area.

On the top floor, there are three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with a bath, the other with a shower. The beds have comfortable mattresses (two metres, or six foot six in length), zip-linked so they can be arranged as double or twin beds.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Pets welcomed • Bilingual assistance available on site • Maid, Cook and Driver can be arranged on request
Swimming pool:	12x6 metre outdoor heated pool

At the end of the driveway is a challenging 9-hole golf course, where the little clubhouse provides meals during the day. The nearest market town is Castelnau-Montratier (about four kilometres) which has a couple of bars, a butcher, patisserie, grocer, and small supermarket. Market day is Wednesday, when regional merchants set up their stalls, selling fresh local produce.

Also within easy reach are the attractive hill towns of Lauzerte and Montcuq, which hosts a popular market on Sunday morning. The region is criss-crossed with walking and hiking trails, including some that form part of the traditional medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

Cahors, capital of the Lot, is about 30 kilometres away. Its historic centre is built on a peninsula surrounded by the river Lot.

The prime sights are the Cathedral and the Pont Valentre, which guarded the approach to the city in medieval times. Cahors has an excellent market on Saturdays and many good restaurants.

The River Lot east of Cahors is set in a spectacular gorge. There are small towns and villages to visit, the best known being Saint Cirq-Lapopie. There are many hiking and walking trails alongside the river and in the hills, and boats and canoes can be rented for river trips.

To the west are the vineyards of the Cahors appellation. To the south is the historic regional centre of Montauban with its shops, restaurants and historic monuments. The area tends to have hot, dry summers with plenty of sun and cold, crisp winters. As everywhere, there can be wet days, but the house is equipped with books, games and television.

The house and its surroundings	Le Souquet Haut at night
The floodlit covered boules pitch	The salon on the entrance floor
The kitchen	The living room on the lower ground floor
The master bedroom	The bedroom in the converted barn
The first of the three bedrooms on the top floor	The second of the three bedrooms on the top floor
The third of the three bedrooms on the top floor	The single bedroom can be used as a study