French destination. Great roads, not too far south???

[rufusgti]

Hi.
We're thinking of a trip with some friends to France. We want to be somewhere beautiful with great driving roads, lovely villages, nice landscape. And we want to rent a farmhouse type self catering (I think they call them gite?) type place.

We will be taking our 1 yr old boy so if possible we don't want to travel right down to the south. I've driven through France on various routes and the landscapes seem to get. Ore interesting the further south you head. But are there any sweet spots further up?

Specific accomodation or just areas you know to be good would be really helpfull at this stage.

So far thinking of the ardeche region and perhaps Annecy for amazing roads.

Any gems you know of.

[Puggit]

Our house exactly fits your bill - but we're keeping it for ourself next year. It's very baby proof - having had changes made to protect our own kids! Only 2.5 hours south of Caen (5 hours plus from Calais)

It's in the Loir Valley, just north of the Loire Valley, between Tours and Le Mans. The driving roads are exceptional, lots of very straight bits.

Lots to see and do - Chateaux and wine for starters!

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Le+Lude,+France&amp...

[rufusgti]

Great, thanks. So when is the best time to pop round, for a week.

Get the kettle on!

[Puggit]

Unfortunately can't guarantee anything this year. We had a disastrous flood last winter and the house is still wet. We managed to re-decorate in time for a 6 week booking last summer, and then a month later part of the ceiling collapsed again (just plasterboard stuff).