Cuckoo Lake

Best way to ensure you approve of your neighbours while on hols? Why, bring them along with you, of course… There’s only ever one group on site at Cuckoo Lake, deep in the Dordogne’s 23,000-hectare Double Forest, so you’ll have complete control over the guest list for this particular party.

Who’s going to make the cut? Well, there’s a limit – the site’s cabin sleeps two or three, and you might choose simply to keep all that splendid seclusion to yourselves. If you’re feeling a tad more sociable, extra guests can pitch their own tent or hire one on site – up to a maximum of two tents. Dogs are welcome to join the party if you like, and there’s plenty of space for them to scratch and sniff around the 15-hectare site.

If you elect to keep the splendid seclusion all for yourselves you’ll not get lonely, as the woods are home to lots of wild creatures to make pals with. Also well populated is the spacious fishing lake, so it’s worth bringing along the necessary kit to hook out something to grill over the barbecue or campfire. Canoes, rafts and other floating bits and bobs are a fine idea too if the kids fancy a bit of splashing time on the water.

Such a proper rural retreat is a very fine thing of course, but occasionally you’ll want to stock up on supplies… so it’s handy to note that it’s an easy five-minute drive to the nearest village, Saint-Vincent-Jalmoutiers, or 10 minutes to larger Saint-Aulaye for a bakery, butcher and fishing supply shop.