The Four Winds:
Stay with us in SW France

Because I have followed all four
— and this is where I settled

If you too are a thoughtful traveller who enjoys finding the less touristy places to explore, come and spend some time in Lot-et-Garonne: glorious weather, beautiful ancient stone hilltop villages set in rolling landscape — and views of the Pyrénées when they choose to emerge, sometimes in their white winter mantles and sometimes in their summer magnificence.

I am what the French call a "Flaneuse" or wanderer when I travel. In doing so I discover so many magical cameos of local life and enjoyment and can help you do the same in the beautiful villages that surround us.

Important to note

We have a minimum stay of 1 week in the independent Gite or holiday home, 3 days in the main house B&B.

Regretfully, due to the structure of the old house it is not suitable for those with mobility issues, and is adults only and without pets as guests.

We do have our own friendly but independent dog who is not a furniture sitter or one who jumps up on people. He will rest behind the terrace gate to welcome you from a distance. We call him our solar-powered gate alarm as he will announce your arrival.

We do not have a "lock box" but instead are always here to welcome guests personally, as we live on site.

The Gite "Four Winds West"

A very comfortable holiday home for two people, available for rentals of up to three months. Totally independent, with parking safely behind the gate and in the assigned garden spot, lovely views, a terrace and sitting area, and a large, quiet garden.

Fully air conditioned with reverse cycle system - cool in summer and warm in winter.

"Four Winds West" is equipped with good quality bedding ( not sheets you can shoot peas through as in some places we have stayed) - fluffy towels in a separate shower room, a proper oven with ceramic hob, well equipped kitchen.  Hair drier, shampoo and conditioner (cuts down on weight in your luggage).

Fast fibre WiFi - secured - suitable for streaming and video calls.

No TV. We read and talk - if you would like to do the same...visit out library in the main house and choose your books and stop for a chat if you like. You can also arrange for dinner at our dinner table in the main house by advance request.

Chambre d’Hôtes

The Maison de Maître is also available as a Chambre d’Hôtes (B&B) with two well-appointed bedrooms, each with a large en suite shower room and private toilet.

Guests are welcome to share the relaxing salon and the garden.

Breakfast is included, prepared from delicious local produce in our large kitchen.

On request and with pre-booking, we serve dinner in our gracious dining room at our shared Queen Anne dining table — two or three courses, depending on the day, all cooked on site from local ingredients.

We cater for vegetarian diets; as our kitchen is multi-use, we are not able to accommodate vegan requirements.

 Guest room "La Lavande"

View from your window with lavender garden below

Guest room "Le Jasmin"

View from guest room "Le Jasmine"

The Village

The local village has everything you need: pharmacy, general store, fuel station, Post Office, car service station — an amazing boulangerie et pâtisserie, an excellent hairdresser, a small gift shop, and a terrific lunchtime restaurant offering three courses and a carafe of wine currently in May 2026 for €17.50 per person. A pizza van visits every Thursday evening. Fish van on Tuesdays.

For Writers and Book Hounds

This is the perfect writer’s retreat. Views to soothe the soul, starry nights with no light pollution, and a feeling of being cosily at home. An extensive library of books on diverse subjects — mostly in English but also in French and German — awaits the curious reader.

We can arrange that you write with a view…

Nearby

—  20 minutes: Nérac — picturesque river below the palace of Henri of Navarre, the much-loved king who united France and ended the Wars of Religion

—  20 minutes across the departmental border: Condom in the Gers — a stop on the famous pilgrimage route the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St James

—  25 minutes: the historic city of Agen, with its TGV station

There are wonderful walking pathways to explore — each offers vignettes worth photographing. Depending on the crop rotation (yes, they look after the fields), there are sunflowers in summer and vines turning in autumn.

The experience of the Lot-et-Garonne and Gers countryside at quiet times of year is one of the best-kept secrets of France.

To enquire about staying with us — please email
admin@archerbg.com

If you'd like to stay at The Four Winds — for a week of slow walks and sunflower fields, for a Chambres d'Hôtes long weekend, or for a quiet but very festive English-style Christmas refuge — please send a short email with:

• When you'd like to come and how many of you
• Which kind of stay suits you best (gîte, chambres d'hôtes with breakfast, or plus with dinner with us, or the Christmas refuge).
• Anything else worth knowing —a dietary requirement or preference, an anniversary or other special occasion, a special reason to come.

We answer quickly. Usually within a day, often within a few hours.

Once we've secured your dates and confirmed with price by email, a 30% deposit confirms your booking, paid by secure card link (we use SumUp, the same system used by many small French establishments — your card details never reach us directly). The balance is payable by a second link the week before arrival.

RATES

Gîte (sleeps 2) €78 per night

• Minimum 1 week in July and August. Minimum 3 nights at other times

Chambres d'Hôtes: (B&B)

• Minimum 3 nights €80 per night,per room, with breakfast

Table d'hôtes (per person) €25 per person

• Dinner with us: two courses (or three if that is what is happening that evening)cooked on site from local ingredients.

Christmas/ New Year    (23 Dec – 2 Jan) €1,500 per person -   Réveillon — the French Christmas Eve celebration  on the 24th, an English Christmas on the 25th, and Silvester to see in the new year.

We make memories of a different Christmas without pressure. 

• For a few guests each year, we open our home over the holiday. Max 6 guests.
•  A quiet, hosted, very festive season for a few guests each year. For those who would rather be welcomed into a home in France than spend the season alone, and would rather be by themselves than part of someone else's family.
• From 23 December to 2 January, all inclusive and meals with us.