Feather Down Rochefort-Ardenne

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We had a wonderful week at the farm! We were here with our family, including two young children (ages 2 and 4), and would definitely recommend it. We had a fantastic view from our tent!

We were given a very warm welcome by Françoise, who showed us around the grounds. It was especially nice that some friends of ours arrived the same weekend … and that we were able to get two tents right next to each other. That way, the kids could easily play together, and we could have drinks in the evening. The tents are generally quite far apart from each other.

The tent is equipped with all kinds of conveniences, but at the same time gives you that “back to basics” feeling. Cooking over the wood fire was a lot of fun and created a great atmosphere. You just have to time it right so you can have a nice cup of coffee quickly after dinner, but that’s part of the charm. The kitchen is practically laid out with enough utensils for simple cooking. That’s great, because you don’t want too many dishes to wash. The cooler works surprisingly well, provided you can get your hands on new ice packs in time (read: there are plenty of other people wanting them). The bathroom attached to the tent is a real bonus, especially with young kids who get themselves nice and dirty playing every day. And of course, it’s wonderful to shower in the fresh air. The kids loved feeding the leftover food to the chickens and sheep and were crazy about the free-roaming bunnies (which were actually supposed to be in a hutch).

Our children slept wonderfully. The box bed was a big adventure, and the bottom bunk of the bunk bed was perfect for our youngest, who’s 2: low to the ground and with a little nook, so he couldn’t just fall out. Despite the hot days in July, it cooled off nicely at night, so we slept comfortably.

The baker comes by twice a week, and we gratefully took advantage of that. The campground store is cozy, though the selection isn’t very large. It does have cold drinks, though, in case your cooler runs out.

The surroundings are peaceful and expansive, but there’s plenty to do. We visited a fun flea market, built little dams in the Ourthe River near Plage de Maboge, stumbled upon the quaint village festival “Lesterny Fair” (soapbox races, BBQ, and beers), we walked among the deer at Parc à Gibier St Hubert, enjoyed an ice cream and a drink on a terrace in the charming town of Roche-en-Ardenne, and of course tried the local beers (also available at the little shop).

The lounge chairs weren’t exactly our favorite, and the picnic bench and high chair were a bit rickety and in need of reinforcement. Also, because of the gaps in the picnic table, forks and other items kept falling to the ground (next time, bring a tablecloth!). A small cushion or blanket on the picnic bench also makes sitting a lot more comfortable. The door to the bathroom opens awkwardly into the kitchen, but it’s not a big deal. From the front porch, there’s a difference in elevation—a sandy slope—leading down to the play area in front of the tent, which isn’t ideal. Also, when you’re out in the countryside, you shouldn’t mind if a little mouse comes to visit now and then in the evening.

What we found particularly charming were the rainy moments and evenings when we lit the candles and oil lamps. That added a lot of atmosphere to the tent and really made it feel complete.

We look back on our week with great pleasure! Read more Show less

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Magnificent concept