
Things to do at 'Nichoir'
Whether you are staying for just a few days or for a longer break, you'll find there is plenty to do - and you can do as much or as little as you wish!
We aim to offer a comfortable, interesting 'home from home' for all ages. 'Nichoir' is somewhere you can feel relaxed and peaceful.
The garden and outside
We have around 2.5 hectares of west and south facing gardens. There is plenty of space to wander around, to sit and to stop 'being busy' - and our hedgerows, flower-beds, wild-flower meadow and the small lake (that is well-stocked with fish) bring plenty of wildlife to the garden.
We have a night camera and bat detector so that guests can see some of the wildlife that inhabit the garden after dark ; and we have set up a nesting-box with camera technology inside it.
The Garden Studio has its own, private garden area, with a dining table, loungers, a children's tent, and a BBQ. Adjoining this area there are raised vegetable beds, with herbs and salad produce that guests are welcome to use for their catering!
Guests also have full access to:
Whether you are staying for just a few days or for a longer break, you'll find there is plenty to do - and you can do as much or as little as you wish!
We aim to offer a comfortable, interesting 'home from home' for all ages. 'Nichoir' is somewhere you can feel relaxed and peaceful.
The garden and outside
We have around 2.5 hectares of west and south facing gardens. There is plenty of space to wander around, to sit and to stop 'being busy' - and our hedgerows, flower-beds, wild-flower meadow and the small lake (that is well-stocked with fish) bring plenty of wildlife to the garden.
We have a night camera and bat detector so that guests can see some of the wildlife that inhabit the garden after dark ; and we have set up a nesting-box with camera technology inside it.
The Garden Studio has its own, private garden area, with a dining table, loungers, a children's tent, and a BBQ. Adjoining this area there are raised vegetable beds, with herbs and salad produce that guests are welcome to use for their catering!
Guests also have full access to:
- The swimming pool - this is 11m x 6m, with roman steps at the shallow end. It is a saltwater pool, so much more pleasant to swim in than chlorinated pools. Depending on the weather, we usually open the pool from mid-May and close it down in mid-October. We have a heat-exchanger system, that warms the pool in the summer months up to around 25-28 degrees Centigrade. The pool has an immersion safety system that is compliant to the requirement NF P90307-1. At one end of the pool there is a large pergola providing shade and UV-protection, with plenty of room for tables and chairs, loungers, babies/children's play-mats etc.
- Seating and 'picnic areas' around the garden to just relax and 'take in' the space.
- The boules/petanque court - a full-size area for the games and enough boules equipment for up to six people. The court has seating and shade.
- Children's swings and a trampoline.
- An area for badmington, swingball etc.

At the far end of the garden you can stroll out in a number of directions, along the lanes that undulate around Le Bruel and the other hamlets of the neighbouring communes. There are some beautiful views - you are quite high up here, at around 500 metres, and the Aubrac hills and mountains can usually be seen about 50 kilometres distant; and on a very clear day you can see the Black Mountains and the Pyrenees.
Inside 'Nichoir'
Please see Guest Dining Room on the Menu.
Inside 'Nichoir'
Please see Guest Dining Room on the Menu.