I had the pleasure of staying at Le Tilleuil with my wife and daughter for 2 weeks in July/August 2015. As an avid birdwatcher and amateur naturalist, I had picked this property because it looked clean, modern, and well equipped, and for its rural location with its 10 acres of adjacent meadows with access to adjoining woodland. I was not disappointed on either count, and as a regular visitor to France, Le Tilleuil ranks among the best gites I have stayed in.

The facilities were good and were more than adequate for our needs--- even including English Freeview for those wanting to keep in touch with their favourite programmes. The bathroom and wet-room were excellent; the kitchen was well equipped; the open-plan living room was comfortable; and the decking area was excellent for basking in the sun, wildlife watching, or enjoying drinks on the dark, silent nights.

For my wife and daughter, the large pool was the highlight and they enjoyed its use at least two or three times daily irrespective of the weather. It was just the job for cooling down on the hot August days we enjoyed here. For me , the highlight was the wildlife , but particularly the profusion of butterflies in the meadows, many absent from or rare in the UK.

The hosts Anna and Mike were unobtrusively friendly,attentive and helpful, a definite plus for visitors who prefer to have assistance on hand if required. Their charming daughters, being explorers, were interested in all the moths, butterflies and creepy-crawlies that I could show them. A rare plus for me.

Although rural in nature, the gite is literally only 5 mins. from a large supermarket on the outskirts of Excideuil. Excideuil we found to be a quiet, charming little town with a good variety of shops and cafes, a weekly market, and a fine restaurant. It has a 12c castle, and good walks alongside the River Loue. If not wishing to travel around, there is enough locally to keep one interested. Further afield there are plenty of lovely villages, towns and chateaux to explore, and Le Tilleuil is an excellent base for exploring this northern part of the Dordogne.

I have no hesitation in recommending this property to prospective visitors.