Les Orangeries, Lussac-les-Châteaux, France

So often when I've travelled, it's me who does all the arranging: beforehand, with all the organising, and during, with all the frontline interfacing with folks along the way. However, on this trip, I'm learning that being the plus-one is actually the best-placed person. You get all the joys with none of the stress. Note to self: do this again!

Doorway of our room

I'm the tag-along on a trip visiting and reviewing 'green' modes of Channel crossing and accommodation in France for greentraveller.co.uk.

So, first up, we took Brittany Ferries overnight service from Portsmouth, England, to Cherbourg, France. You get on at 10.45pm, find your cabin – which is neat as a pin and amazingly comfortable – sleep like a baby, then wake up in time for a cup of tea and croissant before arriving ready for the day. Perfect! No time wasted and there you are.

Bedroom

Our first destination on this jaunt is Les Orangeries, in Lussac-les-Châteaux, southwest of Poitiers. I think I'll let the pictures do the talking here, because it's so terribly pretty: all honey-coloured stone buildings that run into each other, the roadside frontage hiding the large, lush garden with al fresco dining, a pool, an orchard, lawns and paths behind.

The garden with pool

Breakfast room

Al fresco lunch

It was an easy drive from Cherbough – maybe 4.5hrs? – but as my companion and I yakked and lauhged all the way down through the glorious French countryside, it could have been one hour in terms of how long it felt. And, as ever, the French roads are practically empty, well-kept and the roadside amenities frequent and, on the whole, well kept. Though the squat one took a minute or two to get my head around.