Gîte de la Borde: Families and Children
We have 5 and 7 year old boys, Ben and Luca. From our own experience as parents, we understand the difficulties of going on holiday with babies and children. We aim to make your stay as stress-free as possible.
To this end, the Gîte has all the nursery equipment, toys and safety features you would expect in your own home. We have enclosed rear gardens, and there are shady areas for the hot summer months.
Every window has window locks. Important doors have locks out of child reach.
We can provide a pre-arrival shopping service with milk, nappies, wipes etc so that you do not have to worry about bringing these items.
We are happy to provide a baby-sitting service and a crèche/child-minding service during the day.(Prices on request)
We have:
- Travel cots
- Baby & toddler books
- High chairs
- DVD's and videos
- Booster seats
- Ride-on toys
- Sandpit
- Hand blender
- Swings, slide & climbing frame
- Trampoline with safety net
- Changing mat
- Playhouse
- Baby entertainer
- Arts & craft supplies
- Swinging baby chair
- Bed guards
- Cupboard locks
- Plug socket covers
- Sippy cups
- Heated hot tub
- Plastic crockery
- Single buggy
- Phil & Ted double buggy
- Paddling pool
- Baby back packs
- Baby front carrier
- Baby monitors
- Bicycles
We have well maintained adult and children's road and mountain bikes in a good range of sizes.
If we do not have exactly what you want we should be able to source it for you.
- 2-child bike trailer
- Tag along bike
- Helmets
- Locks
Some ideas for great days out.....
Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche
This is Europe 's longest publicly accessible navigable underground river. The boat trip 60m underground takes 45 minutes to 1hr 45. The caves are open April to October. Fine if it is raining, but you'll need waterproofs for the walk in and out. The entrance to the caves is 1hr walk, 30mins by bike (either off or on road) or 10 mins by car from the Gîte.
Other caves with world renowned cave paintings include the grottes at Niaux, Mas d'Azil, Ussat-les-Bains and Bédeilhac. These are more suited to older children and adults as involve guided tours on foot.
Parc de la Prehistoire, Tarascon
Set in fantastic grounds, with stunning views down to valley towards Tarascon, there are waterfalls, caves (man-made) to walk through and a great restaurant.
Children can do their own cave paintings, be taught how to throw spears, play in tepees and a maze, and make animal tracks from clay. There is a brilliant playground.
There is an indoor exhibition centre.
Open Easter to mid-October
20 minute drive from the Gîte.
Musee-Parc la forêt aux dinosaures
A lovely walk though woods to find dinosaur models and fossils. There is a covered sandpit area where children can do their own excavations
Open all year around. (Winter – only Sunday afternoons after 1400)
Cité de l'Espace Space Centre, Toulouse
This is fantastic for all ages. There is a playground with rockets and space stations and moon buggies. Outside there are real rockets, satellites and a Mir space Station. The indoor exhibition complex has areas suited to all ages and there is a separate “Base de petits astronautes” It is all highly interactive.
There is an Imax cinema with viewings included in the ticket price. Good restaurants and cafes.
Open all the year around. 50minute drive and easy to find, as just off the motorway from Toulouse to Foix.
Castles
Château de Foix.
This impressive 3 towered castle dominates the town of Foix . It is open all the year around. There are fine views over the mediaeval rooftops.
10 minutes drive away
Château de Montsegur
Perhaps the most famous of the Cathar fortresses, the castle perches on the top of a rocky pinnacle. It is a steady 30 minute walk on a good path, but it is uphill all the way! Some 3 year olds will manage it.
30 minutes drive away.
Swimming pools and lakes
Indoor pools can be found at Pamiers and Tarascon
There are several swimming lakes, such as the one at Puivert within 30 minutes drive where the water is tested as safe. They have sandy beaches and some have cafes.
High ropes courses
There are several high-ropes courses within 30 minutes drive. They have courses in the trees to suit different ages and abilities. They are extremely well designed, with excellent equipment and supervision. Children are secured in harnesses as they swing and balance between the trees.
Winter Activities
It is possible to take ski lessons from the age of 3 at any of the local ski resorts.
At the cross-country resort of Plateau de Beille there is also sledging (luge), dog sledging (chiens à traineau) and snowshoeing (raquettes)
At the downhill resort of Ax-les-Thermes children enjoy the cable-car ride, and at the ski-station they can play in the park and go sledging
Activity Holidays for Families, Groups and Individuals.
The Ariege offers a wide range of Adventures activities. Most things are available for children from the age of 7 but some from as young as 3! There are activities available in all the school holidays, and what you can do varies depending on the season. Some of the activities we provide ourselves, others we can book for you through a local company . You can do as many or as few activities as you like, to leave time for sightseeing, playing or just relaxing!
Aqua Rando/Canyoning.
Aqua Rando is a junior version of Canyoning. Luca aged 7 and I tried it this summer with two of our guests Lucy ,aged 10 and Ben, aged 12. We dressed in really thick wetsuits and splashed into the gorge. It was really exhilarating sliding down waterfalls and Jumping off 5 meter high ledges! It was much more adventurous than I had imagined and I am now psyching up to try the adult version!
In the winter canyoning is available in a gorge with thermal water!
Cost 30 euros + per person
Tree climbing (Go Ape) ("Acrobranche" in France)
A giant obstacle course in the trees , you move from one tree to the next using wobbly log walkways, tyroleans, ladders and zip wires. After being kitted out with harnesses and safety equipment you are given a safety briefing and are ready to go off on your own adventure into the forest. This activity is suitable for all ages and there are even miniature versions of the adult courses so children as young as 3 can be a monkey for a day.
Available all year
Cost 6 to 20 euros per person
White water rafting and canoeing
There are several centres that offer white water rafting and canoeing. Children from age 5 can enjoy small rapids and there are bigger rapids and longer courses for adults.
Spring to autumn
Cost 15 to 30 euros per person
Caving
The Ariege is famous for its cave painting it has some of the best examples of cave art in Europe! . Venture even deeper underground and you will see amazing stalactite formations as well as learning the necessary rope work techniques , you can even bivouac out in a cave for a night. Starting from age 6.
Spring to autumn
Cost 15+ euros per person
Climbing and bouldering
We can cater for all levels of climbers, from complete beginners , learning to lead or improving your technique. There are climbs for all standards, on both limestone and granite.
All year round
Cost from 40 euros for half a day (per group)
Mountain bike
There are many mountain bike trails on the door step. We can introduce beginners to the activity or give you advice on how to improve.
All year round
Cost from 40 euros for half a day (per group)
Via Ferrata
A via ferrata is a mountain route that has been equipped with fixed cables, ladders and bridges. It allows people with little or no climbing ability to enjoy mountain routes that would otherwise be inaccessible. You wear a harness and clip into wires for safety.
All year round
Cost from 13 to 25 euros for a day
Mountain Walking
We can cater for all levels of walk from high mountain peaks to historic castle walks or nature walks to see marmots. (see walking section)
All year round
Cost from 40 euros per group for half a day
Winter Activities
Snow shoeing
A snow shoe is footwear for walking over the snow. They work by distributing the weight of a person over a larger area so your feet don’t sink completely into the snow. They are made from plastic with metal crampons to help you grip. Children as young as 4 can have a go. Its great for all the family as you can access places you wouldn’t normally be able to get to in winter. Children love to Identify animal prints in the snow.
December to April
Cost from 40 per group for half a day
Cross country skiing
Special pistes are prepared over undulating terrain and cross-country skis are designed to be used uphill as well as downhill and on the flat. There are 2 types of skis - classic where you ski parallel and skating. We can offer you an introduction to the sport at the resort of Plateau du Beille which is set at 1800m.
December to April
Cost from 40 euros for half a day
Dog sledging
You can learn how to drive and control the dogs or go for a ride with them.
December to April
Cost from 25 euros to 90 euros
Ski mountaineering /touring
If you can ski red runs competently you might like to try ski mountaineering. Skis with bindings allow the heel to lift and skins are attached to the bottom of the ski so you can go u hill. The mountains in the foothills are ideal for this as the slopes are gentle and avalanche free and you can ski off piste in a relatively risk free environment.
December to April
Cost from 100 euros (with an alpine guide)