Among my childhood memories of summer holidays in France – seemingly endless car journeys, fighting with my older sister on the back seat, Dire Straits on the cassette player – one stands out: repeated stops at localbrocantes (junk shops).

My parents seemed to suffer from some kind of affliction – they were physically unable to drive past a brocante sign. My mother even had a knack of waking from a doze just as a sign appeared: “Look, a brocante!” And we would abruptly pull over.

We have not been idle over the winter months. Our bike garage has been renovated. We have added a fully equipped pool house as well as starting work on the renovation of our 18th century bake house.  All being well by July there will be home-baked breads, terrines and the odd pizza to enjoy poolside after a day cycling amongst the vines.

While we are based in a 17th Century watermill and The Lodge is decorated with antiques sourced from local 'brocante', we also like to think we move with the times here in Burgundy and in  2016 our self guided cycling tours will come equipped with the very latest in cycling GPS navigation technology. The Garmin Edge 1000.  

A designer’s eye for detail clearly informed that sketch, and it has taken two years to convert the near-derelict 17th-century water mill and former village campsite into something like a cycling enthusiast’s blueprint.

After the long and dark months of winter, spring in Burgundy is a well needed shot in the arm. Months of rain and cold make way for seemingly endless days of warm sunshine and a feel of summer arrives.