Relais des Vigiers ★★★★

The Dordogne is a wonderful part of France. It's a rural idyll personified, with the sinuous river of the region's namesake lazy winding its way through rolling hills, past fairytale châteaux, watched over by medieval ochre villages and leaving a trail of verdant valleys and broad leaf woodland in its wake.  Relais des Vigiers **** is a pleasing sight, a modern building that blends harmoniously into its green environs, with the golf course as its front lawn. It stands in the same grounds as the Château Vigiers, a noble and pretty castle, which shares the same lake with its younger sister building.

We were greeted warmly on arrival, and enfolded into a tranquil world, where style, simplicity and nature formed a harmonious alliance. The buildings have a fresh and modern feel to them, with beautiful vaulted ceilings and a spacious, airy design. Though featuring cutting edge technology, with a vision to treat lightly on the earth without sacrificing luxury, the architectural style of Relais des Vigiers takes its inspiration from the traditional tobacco drying barns of the region. We found our room to also have this nod to the traditional aesthetics of the region, with a terracotta tiled floor, half-height wainscoted walls, and wallpaper with delicate, pretty motifs. I loved the soft colours of the room, and with the honey of the abundant wood and the natural light streaming in a deeply relaxing ambience was created. We had a terrace with a lovely view of the golf course and all the amenities we needed.

My husband wondered what I could do all day without the filling an enormous chunk of it with the joys of golf. I'd smile and assure them I was fine doing nothing. This was a great place to while away time. I'd often linger over breakfast, taking another cup of coffee after they'd rushed off. There was a pool to play around in, a gym and sauna, as well of hours of beautiful walks around. We'd reconvene for lunch and dinner, over beautiful brasserie meals crafted from the pristine produce of the region. We'd sit under the shade of the large walnut tree or in the elegant ambience of the dining hall, with its high vaulted ceilings and convivial feel. Do I worry about the prospect of becoming a golf widow? If all our golfing holiday hotels were like Relais des Vigiers, I'd welcome it.