The great outdoors…
In August 2018, Ans and Reas Loohuizon celebrate the 20th anniversary of living and working at their wonderful property in the Northern Dordogne. Over the intervening period they’ve established a fantastic campsite here, with wide variety of amenities, in the most beautiful and peaceful of settings.
But their story with camping sites had started three years earlier than this, Ans explains, in northern Holland. “However it is not so warm in that part of the world so my brother suggested we should have a campsite in a warmer place – we moved south to this beautiful part of France to long summers and the sunshine and found this beautiful place!”
They found their dream site on the edge of the Perigord Limousin regional park: “it was just a meadow with grazing sheep when we arrived but a place of such beauty and peace we first called it ‘Wakan Tanka’ – the name North American Indians gave to the Great Spirit – and even when it is full of holidaymakers it still remains tranquil!”
Now known as Camping La Bucherie it is just over 3 kms from the village of St Saud Lacoussiere where there’s a boulangerie, supermarket, bar and several restaurants. “Where we live is a great location as there are many things to see and do – from the fantastic blue-rated swimming lake with its own beach just 1 km from our campsite to adventure sports. Then there’s the beautiful Dordogne and Limousin to discover and enjoy, but most of our visitors just love being here!”
Over the years they’ve created a small paradise – each of their 48 pitches are well shaded and spread thoughtfully among the trees over 3.5 hectares of their land – all have electrical hookup points.
Their own home is both attractive and comfortable with semi open plan living downstairs and a spacious bedroom with en suite on the first floor, a charming terrace at the front and private garden.
Then, in a cluster of buildings on site, they have a gîte and bistro seating 30 people which they created out of a former three bedroom house. There’s the reception building, washroom, kitchen area, two sanitary blocks with showers and large workshop – literally they’ve thought of everything.
“It was important to us to give space to our visitors and respect nature – sometimes you see deer and other wildlife. Our latest addition is a large 6 x 10 m² swimming pool – even though the lake is nearby our visitors appreciate this facility – it certainly made an immediate positive impact to our income!”
And there’s more opportunity to extend into the additional 2.7 hectares of unused land on their property which has also been zoned for camping and there’s planning permission for a 40 cover restaurant on site too!
But now it’s time for the Loohuizons to move on. “We have had a lovely life here with a good income, but with grandchildren we want to live closer to them – we know the next people to live here will enjoy a wonderful lifestyle and the opportunity to make their own dreams come true!
This is the loveliest and most peaceful place to live!”
Find out more about this property here.
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