Jardin du Segala - Bed and Breakfast and Walking Holidays in the beautiful countryside of the Lot region of France

The limestone cliffs at Autoire

Whichever direction you go the scenery is stunning and the wildlife is all around you. Take a look at some of our panoramic photos for an idea of the countryside around the house.

Our home is located in the "Jardin du Segala" which as the name suggests is lush and green for much of the year. On the edge of the Masiff Central the hills rise to over 600m and are covered in great expanses of oak, chestnut, beech and hazel trees. Between the hills the countryside descends steeply to delightful river valleys with micro-climates supporting a wide diversity of wildlife. Walk along the top of the limestone cliffs for spectacular far reaching views before winding your way down to pretty villages nestling below.

Because agriculture is only on a small scale and is mainly pasture, the wildflowers are a particular feature of the area. A stroll along the road offers wonderful displays of harebells, cowslips, milkmaids and bright blue chicory. In the spring the fields are dotted with orchids and later in the summer a perfume of wild mint and thyme lingers in the air. In the mountains of the Cantal carpets of wildlflowers stretch into the distance with the remarkable great yellow gentian standing tall before its roots are harvested for the local liqueur.

As autumn approaches the walnut and fig trees drop their fruit for the passer-by and the farmers are busy collecting the grape harvest. Eventually the tree covered hills turn to a patchwork of gold, red and bronze before winter brings its bright frosty days.

Just 30 minutes away on the other side of the valley from St Cere begins the drier but equally interesting "Parc Naturel Regional des Causses de Quercy". Spring arrives on the Causses a little earlier and the whole area is a haven for wildlife, particularly the multitude of butterflies and insects. This vast area is a protected landscape supporting large populations of breeding birds. We have christened one particular path as "nightingale alley" with dozens singing loudly amongst the scrub. Here you may also find the short-toed eagle, a beautiful sight flying high on the thermals.

Alternatively a 2 hour drive east will take you to the spectacular "Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne" with it's stunning extinct volcanoes.

The orchids are beautiful

But you don't have to go far to meet the wildlife.

The fields around the house are a wonderful place to view a wide variety of birds and animals. The common and honey buzzards sit on the fence posts outside the house and red and black kites circle overhead. The wonderful "comical" hoopoe has been spotted many times in the field in front of the house and while you are sitting in the garden you may well be joined by redstarts (nesting in our well), the melodious warbler and families of marsh and crested tits. Deer visit our field, red squirrels live in the pine forest behind our house and hares are often seen leaping around in the fields nearby. If you are very lucky you may even spot a pine marten or badgers or if you are returning along the river valley in the early evening the otter can occasionally be seen playing in the field.

From February to November we have a succession of butterflies. We are gradually developing a wildflower meadow in our field and at certain times of the year you can sit out there and be surrounded by butterflies. Even the insects are interesting and a recent survey revealed over 80 species although it is estimated there could be three times as many. Throughout the summer, hundreds of field crickets sing all day and night.

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS OF THE WILDLIFE SPOTTED AROUND THE AREA

Our local buzzard

Why not explore the countryside on foot with one of our Tailored Walking Holiday Packages?

BIRDS An informal list of birds we have seen or have been reported to us by guests and friends: Osprey Short-Toed Eagle Red Kite Black Kite Hen Harrier Common Buzzard Honey Buzzard Sparrowhawk Goshawk Kestrel Hobby Peregrine Falcon Merlin Cuckoo Cormorant Night Heron Grey Heron Tawny Owl Long-Eared Owl Barn Owl Little Owl Scops Owl Nightjar Swift Swallow House Martin Crag Martin Golden Oriole (nesting by the lake) Hoopoe (several pairs in the surrounding fields) Kingfisher	Black Woodpecker Green Woodpecker Greater Spotted Woodpecker Middle Spotted Woodpecker Wryneck Skylark Crested Lark Woodlark Tawny Pipit Meadow Pipit Tree Pipit Pied Wagtail Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Wren Dunnock Alpine Accentor Nightingale (dozens on the Causse) Robin Redstart Black Redstart Wheatear Stonechat Song Thrush Redwing Fieldfare Mistle Thrush Blackbird Ring Ouzel Various Warblers (Help with identification gratefully received!) including: Willow warbler Garden Warbler	Cettis Warbler Meadow Warbler Blackcap Whitethroat Chiff Chaff Pied Flycatcher Great Tit Blue Tit Coal TIt Crested Tit Marsh Tit Long-tailed Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Red Backed Shrike Jay Magpie House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch Brambling Linnet Goldfinch Greenfinch Siskin Serin Bullfinch Cirl Bunting Corn Bunting
BUTTERFLIES Just some of the many butterflies seen out on our walks or in our field: Swallowtail Scarce Swallowtail Silver Studded Blue Adonis Blue Common Blue White Admiral Southern White Admiral Red Admiral	Small Tortoiseshell Peacock Comma Silver Washed Fritillary Meadow Fritillary Apollo Large White Black Veined White Orange Tip Clouded Yellow Brimstone	Cleopatra Purple Hairstreak Small Copper Sooty Copper Marbled White Grayling Meadow Brown Ringlet Gatekeeper Speckled Wood
INSECTS/MOTHS Click here for a list of insects identified in the area around the house. This list has very kindly been prepared by Peter Hodge.
ANYTHING ELSE NOT IN THE ABOVE Hares Pine Marten (spotted on the patio and surrounding countryside) Fox Hedghog Badger Stoat (in the garden)	Otter Coypu Deer Boar Red Squirrel Loir (cute squirrel-like creature plays havoc with roof insulation)	Grass Snake Adder Lizard Green Lizard (very colourful)

For reservations and enquiries please email richard@jardin-segala.com

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