To give you a better idea of the normal weather in the Limousin area, the average summer is like the very best you could expect in the UK. For many weeks in the summer the temperature can be in the nineties and can be hotter than Spain!
We do get a slighltly higher rainfall than many places and this is apparent when you see how green this area is. In general you would expect March to see some days in the seventies with odd days of rain. The temperature can drop dramatically and then rise again within a day.
The months of April and May can see some very hard rain but this is usually over in 24 hours. Late May can see a few electrical storms, however, many people still come back with a tan as the temperatures are in the eighties!
The months of June, July & August are usually very warm and sunny with the odd thunderstorm, usually at night – some without rain! Some days can be extremely hot but the evenings are always pleasantly mild.
The months of September and October are superb months with the leaves changing colour and the weather generally still very mild.
In this part of the world spring is generally a month earlier than the UK and autumn a month later.
You will still get many days of unbroken sunshine in November with temperature up to 60 degrees, although the nights will be cold.
December, January and February can be very much like the UK. Although we have been to France many times at this time of year and on the whole we have found the weather milder than the UK.
Although the property is in an isolated setting, surrounded by trees, fields and hills you are still within easy reach of shops and the main roads.
The property is located in the region of the Limousin in France and comes under the department of Haute-Vienne. We are around 400 miles south of Calais.
The village of Colourolles is near Bessines-sur-Gartempe which is around 20 minutes drive North of Limoges and a short journey west of Bourganeuf . This is a really unspoilt part of France with some superb countryside.
The local towns are Bessines and La Souterraine. La Souterraine is the larger of the two towns and has all the amenities you require, although you do have an Intermarche 5 kilometres drive from the property.
If you decide to travel on the Motorway then the tolls are as follows:
From Calais to Paris = 19 Euro's 50 Cents.
From Paris = 17 Euro's 10 Cents.
Directions for the supermarket will be sent to you, following your final payment and there will also be directions in the Villa – there is nothing worse than trying to find the local supermarket in a foreign country after a long journey!
Driving time from Calais is around 6 hours – depending on how fast you drive! You can also go to Le Havre which is a shorter driving time but the ferry journey is longer.
The drive is very easy being on motorway roads virtually all the way. If you have not driven in France before don’t panic!
The roads are far less congested than in the UK and very easy to drive on. However, I would suggest that you keep away from Paris in the rush hour, as this can get very busy.
If you are travelling by Ferry don’t forget to book as early as possible to get the best price. If booking for the following year then it is best to book your ferry crossing just after Christmas if you are travelling by P&O, as this is when you get the best prices - normally around half price!
To visit the P&O Web site please CLICK HERE
From Calais head towards Paris (A26 – E15 – A1) – join the ring road that surrounds the city.
From the ring road join the A6, this after a short distance will lead into the A10.
Once on the A10 follow the signs to Orleans.
At Orleans join the A71 towards Vierzon and join the A20.
On the A20 follow the signs for Limoges.
Leave the A20 at junction 23.1 – a detailed map with directions will be sent after receipt of your final payment.
If you would like door to door directions from Mappy.Com then please CLICK HERE. Or go to Michelin Online Route Planner Europe website and work out your desired route.
Another good site to plan your door to door directions is the RAC route planner - Please CLICK HERE.
Ryanair fly from Stansted, East Midlands and Liverpool to Limoges. The flight time is just over an hour, and by booking early via the internet you can get some really good deals.
Other airports are Poitiers (100 minuttes away), Bergerac (120 minutes away) & Tours (150 minutes away).
To contact Ryanair Customer Services telephone: 0871 246 0000.
To check prices/availability for Ryanair please CLICK HERE.
Car rental is just 10 metres outside the terminal building and an average cost of hiring a car for the week would be around £180.00 / 270 Euros, which we would recommend you pre book. It is then only a 30-minute drive to the property.
For flights from other UK airports check out Cheapflights.co.uk please CLICK HERE or LowFairFlights.co.uk please CLICK HERE.
The French Government has released regional crime figures, which show the Limousin to be the safe haven of France. The Limousin region recorded only 11,000 crimes in the year, a figure half that of its closest rival, Auvergne.
