Le Moulin Joly

The Moulin was bought by the present owners in 1989, and has been completely restored. The house is surrounded by 1.5 acres of its own land. In front is a terrace looking up through the trees to the track by which one descends, and at the side there is a bricked terrace with table and chairs overlooking the mill race and the river. At the back, between the mill race and the river, is an island which is partially wooded with a large rough grass area, and which offers shaded places to sit out in during the day and a lovely spot to have an evening meal beside the river. The property sleeps 8 or 10 maximum if 4 people sleep in the large upper bedroom.

The ground floor comprises:

• A large sitting room with open fireplace
• A large dining area (the old mill room) with a wood-burning stove and windows overlooking the mill race,
• A fully equipped kitchen (washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, cooker and double oven).

A wooden open-tread staircase from the sitting room leads to

• Bedroom 1, a large light double bedroom with a double bed. This room has its own en-suite shower and toilet room.

A wooden staircase from the dining room leads to the main body of the first floor. Here you will find

• Bedroom 2, which is a small double bedroom (twin beds),
• The bathroom/toilet (there is a proper bath)
• Another separate toilet
• Bedroom 3, another double bedroom with double bed overlooking the river.

An open-tread staircase leads up to the 2nd floor area

• A large attic space with beautifully exposed beams which contains the 4th bedroom which can accommodate up to 4 beds ideal for children

The bedrooms have electric and/or gas heaters.

The Mill is situated on the river La Petite Creuse (the smaller of the two rivers which give the region its name). Since there is little or no industry to speak of in the region and the agriculture is small scale, the rivers are clean and unpolluted, particularly La Petite Creuse. This makes it ideal for swimming. There is a weir across the river which was built to divert the water towards the mill-race and the water above the weir affords a lovely uninterrupted stretch of swimming. And although the river reaches depths of 2 meters or more it is shallow beside the weir so one can easily get in or out of the water. For children there is a little pebble beach just on the island where the river is shallower. However, please note that the water can flow fairly fast through the mill stream and as this is unguarded it could be a potential hazard for unattended small children. The river is an endless source of pleasure for young and old€“ it is ideal for dinghies and canoes. In high summer a few people from the neighbouring hamlet sometimes come down to the river to swim and fishermen sometimes come to fish.
The river is well stocked with fish and fishing is permitted so long as one purchases a licence (available at the Marie). When the mill race was drained a couple of years ago we picked out dozens of fish (including trout and freshwater crayfish).
For lovers of wildlife, the river and indeed the whole area is a haven – kingfishers and dippers are a daily occurrence, coypus and even occasionally otters swim the river, and buzzards hover overhead. In Spring, oxslips, cowslips, and foxgloves abound, and in the wood which adjoins the mill there are bluebells. In autumn the colours are truly spectacular