Swimming: In addition to the pool, there is a large lake with a beach at Thors which is 10 minutes drive away. This is a superb site with safe-swimming area for children and pedaloes too. The facilities are free for all to use and there is an nice terraced restaurant offering good food and excellent value for money.

Cycling: We have six bikes of mixed size which we gladly make available to our guests providing they are prepared to cover the cost of repairing any subsequent damage or punctures. The terrain around the mill is perfect for gentle cycling and the roads are usually virtually traffic free although you might need to overtake a tractor or two! Serious cyclists and children are advised to bring their own bikes. Cycling is a national obsession with the French and you'll find that French drivers are generally very courteous towards anyone on two wheels.

Rambling: From the mill you can explore up or downstream along the river. If you're adventurous you can boldly venture into the wild forest at the back of the property or, if not, take a leisurely stroll out of the front gate and go left or right along the lanes through the vineyards and sunflower fields. The tiny village of Mesnac is 1km away and there is an interesting church to see as well as an ancient "laverie" where the ladies formerly washed clothes in the river Chazotte. In the opposite direction, the village of Cherves Richemont is about 3km away. Cherves is a relatively busy place with a couple of bakeries and a butchers shop as well as a small Spar supermarket, a chemist, a post office and a brand new library. There are tennis courts, a tree-shaded boules arena (bouledrome) and a nice bar/restaurant. On the way towards Cherves you cross a track which used to be the railway line and you can follow this to the site of the Tile works where all that remains is the immense brick-built furnace chimney (Fred Dibner would have loved it!). Whichever way you you walk from the mill you'll probably pass some derelict but still delightful stone houses which cry out for some brave soul to restore them to their former beauty.

Canoeing: We have an excellent canadian canoe complete with coolbox for essential supples! There aren't many of our guests, especially those with children who can resist an outing. The mill sits astride the river Chazotte so the canoe is usually moored in the millpond ready for action. Canoeing downstream is not an option because of dense overgrowth but you can generally paddle upstream to Mesnac and then on to the next village of Le Seure where there is a lovely picnic spot by the river under a willow tree in the village. However much fun this sounds though, please be prepared for such obstacles as low bridges, fallen trees and overhanging branches en route - a sort of mild Indiana Jones experience, I've been told! Several groups of visitors to the mill have brought their own canoes in recent years but I suspect our little river is a bit tame for experienced canoeists. You can hire canoes at most towns along the Charente, including Cognac.