We lived like locals in our three-week summer stay in this rural retreat. We made good use of the kitchen and ate all our meals outside in the shade, with views of the countryside and spacious garden. At night we spotted shooting stars and bats, while sipping wine in our deck chairs. The house was cool and comfortable enough, mostly well equipped for our needs. Some basics were lacking. There were no bin liners, washing tablets, spices, oil, salt, etc., but everything we asked for, such as towels and a stick blender, was provided straightaway by our kind host, and I feel that she would have provided anything we needed at any time. Carly truly made our visit exceptional. She is a friendly and knowledgeable professional guide who provided us with suggestions and itineraries perfectly suited to our interests. We had many unforgettable days out thanks to her. The site is not as private as described in the listing. Other guests stayed in a caravan and dome tucked away in the woods and occasionally passed through our space or knocked on our door looking for their host. This wasn’t a problem, and the two donkeys that arrived with hikers created mid-week amusement. Carly entertained each of her guests in turn, offering canapes and aperitifs in the garden. As we stayed longer than most – her first guests from England – we got to know her and her delightful dog, Kiwi, through our daily conversations. Any slight issues were more than compensated by Carly’s warm kindness.