Set in a quiet hamlet on the border of Normandie and Brittany, this fully equipped luxury gite has been renovated to a very high standard to provide that all year round relaxing get away from it all experience. Private secluded, sunny garden with hot tub**, BBQ with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Double with superking bed, twin room and single/cot room. With stone walls and lots of insulation, the gite will remain cool in the summer and for the cooler months, there is underfloor heating powered by an air source heat pump and a large wood burning stove. Master tower room and ensuite to follow shortly.
Feeling energetic? Perfect countryside for walking, hiking, running, cycling, canoeing, horse riding, landsailing. We can guide you in the right direction according to ability.
Need a rest? No problem!... Comfy gite, hot-tub, we can even arrange for a meal to be cooked for you.
Perfectly placed on the border of Normandy and Brittany to enjoy the best of everything that these regions have to offer.
Feeling creative, the owner, an artist holds casting & pouring workshops which are bookable in advance via her website, http://www.uniquekr8ivity.com Alternatively, for a small deposit and fee, paints, canvases, brushes and easels are available to hire/buy.
With less than an hour to our closest ferry port, St Malo and airport at Rennes, your holiday starts soon after you have arrived in France.
The small village of le Ferre’ has a church, a friendly bar and simple restaurant, open for lunch time trade with a boulangerie next door, football field, tennis court, and a very nice brocante (opposite the Mairie), all within a short cycle ride from the gite or even shorter drive (3.8km).
The neighbouring town of St James - 6 minutes - Home to the famous Breton stripy jumper and the impressive WWII American cemetary, St James also has to offer, several supermarkets, bars, hairdressers, vets, tearoom, restaurants and in our opinion, by far the best bakery in the region (situated diagonally opposite the impressive Mairie building) For those of you looking for some free entertainment, St James also boasts a very good, little known play park where tennis, basketball, football, crazy golf, running, weight training, skateboarding, swings, slides and climbing frames are all available without reservation, and, with the loan of our rackets, balls and clubs, are all absolutely free!
We are also very close to several `voir verts' access points - Cycle paths that are safe and comfortable, following rivers and canal towpaths, disused railway lines, criss-crossing the whole of France, taking you through glorious, unspoilt nature and character-packed towns. Feeling less energetic?, 20 minutes away by car is the vibrant medieval city of Fougeres one of Europe's oldest fortified towns, 25 minutes west towards the coast, we have the remarkable floating monastery, Le Mont St Michel. Then following the coast both up to Normandy or down to Bretagne, all the beautiful beaches and delightful coastal villages are perfect for a day out.
Fougeres - 20 minutes - The main reason to visit Fougères is to see its magnificent castle, one of the finest fortresses in Europe, but this little town on the Brittany-Normandy border also has a lovely medieval district and a lively Saturday-morning market.
As well as the history, Fougeres boasts many lovely shops and restaurants and bars to suit all tastes, there are the usual major supermarkets - as well as banks and a main post office. There is a 10-pin bowling alley and cinema (with weekly british films).
Fougeres forest, 1500 of ancient forest, full of lovely walkways, cycle routes and bridelpaths, find the megalith alignment the Cordon des Druids thought to date back 5000 years. Also in the forest are two ruined dolmens.
Ducey - 15 minutes - A84 `village etape’ - A very pretty town on the river -- with lots of little bars and restaurants mainly open for lunch time trade.
Avranches - 20 minutes A84, Another lovely market town with all the usual shops banks restaurants etc. An interesting museum staging different themes every year. For a wonderful sunset view, head to Jardins des Plantes d’Avranches (right at the top, opposite the church), these public gardens have an incredible view of Le Mont St Michel and her estuary. For the boys, you will find General Pattons’ shermon tank on the roundabout at the top of the town and there is, for those rainy days, indoor karting and laser games at Event Park.
Le Mont St Michel - 35 minutes - The Mont-Saint-Michel is one of Europe’s most unforgettable sights. Set in the mesmerising bay where Normandy and Brittany merge, the island draws the eye from great distances.
The staggering location has long inspired awe and the imagination. The story of how the mount turned into a great place of Christian pilgrimage is colourful.
Recently, the visitor car parks have been relocated away from the shoreline, to preserve the Mont-Saint-Michel’s exceptional surroundings. The new car parks stand approximately 1.5 miles away from the island. Once you have parked, head for the Place des Navettes, where specially devised, ultra-modern shuttle buses called Passeurs will take you to the mount itself. These Passeurs operate daily, at very regular intervals, from 7.30am to midnight.
St Malo
Walking through the stunning cobbled streets of St Malo’s old town feels like you’ve stepped back in time. This popular destination and busy ferry port offers visitors an authentic glimpse into Brittany’s important seafaring past. Several lovely beaches and a sea swimming pool surround the fortified city, and inside the protective walls you will find a wealth of restaurants to suit all tastes and lots of lovely shops and art galleries. A little out of town there is the Aquarium… As well as our closest port serviced by Brittany ferries, This port is an ideal place to take a day trip to Jersey and visit the Durrels' zoo
Dinard
Walking around Dinard, with its Belle Époque villas and stripy beach tents, is like taking a trip back to the 19th century. Made popular by British and American visitors in the 19th century, Dinard was France’s top summer resort until the French Riviera took over in the 1930s. The former fishing village attracted wealthy celebrities and businessmen as well as European royalty, some of whom built fabulous villas; there are now more than 400 listed buildings in the town. The tourist office runs guided tours on several themes including ‘the English touch’ and there’s a British film festival in October. Popular with families who are attracted by its sandy beaches and coastal walks. The food is also fantastic! Nearby Saint-Briac and Saint-Lunaire are also worth a visit.
Dinan 58mins is without doubt one of the most attractive and best preserved small towns in Brittany. With its 1.8 mile (3km)-long ramparts, half-timbered houses, attractive port and cobbled streets filled with art galleries and craft shops, it’s worth a day of anyone’s time.
Cancall 58 minutes - Pretty Fishing port and oyster farming centre, Cancale is renowned for its flat oysters that are enjoyed by all lovers of seafood. Situated in the Mont-Saint-Michel bay, Cancale is a seaside resort where it is good to:
• Walk on the quays and piers of the little harbour of La Houle;
• Stroll on the Douaniers footpath;
• Relax on its beaches;
• Taste its famous oysters.
From the top of the tower of the church, the view of Cancale, its port, its beaches and the Mont-Saint-Michel bay is superb.
Villedieu-les-Poêles - 37 minutes - is a pretty French town known for its craft trades, especially copper. After a stroll through the narrow streets and hidden courtyards, lunch in one of its traditional restaurants, you can visit the town's many workshops and museums, including a copper workshop, bell foundry, tin museum, Normandy furniture museum, copper pots and pans museum and lace-making museum.
Granville - 1 hour
Granville commands stunning views of the Bay of Le Mont St Michel from its fortified headland. Enjoy this bustling resorts wonderful array of ports, quarters and beaches, plus its museums and galleries, one, the former childhood residence of and now devoted to the local genius, Christian Dior.
Granville also boasts a mainline station with direct links to Paris, just think, you could actually park your car up for free and tag on a city break to your holiday and be there in less than 4 hours!
Swimming Beaches - Up North - Granville 1 hour, sandy beaches and emerald sea - several to choose from most of which have life guards
Saint-pair-sur-mer, 44 minutes, a lovely little sea-side resort with a sea swimming pool
Julllouville - 44 minutes - sandy beach pretty seaside town
Carrolles - 42 minutes - long sandy beach stretching for miles, life guards
St Jean le Thomas - lovely village - rocky beach, great rock formations, perfect for exploring, especially when the tide is out. rock pooling. Life guards
Genets - is the meeting place for the famous, and highly recommended Traversée de la Baie. Follow bare footed, or on horse-back in the footsteps of the pilgrims, with the aide of an experienced guide, across the bay for totally unique and unforgettable experience. Reservation essential. Whilst the bay of Le Mont St Michel is beautiful, much of it surrounding the Mont is not suitable for swimming because of the sinking sand -
Please do not be tempted to walk across the bay un-accompanied, it is extremely dangerous!
The other way - South
Hirel - land sailing beach
Cancale - 50 minutes, there are many less busy smaller beaches and coves in between the following beach resorts
St Malo - 50 minutes Many beaches, lovely bustling port and town
Dinard - 1 hour - like another little world
St Lunaire - 1 Hour - lovely
** Hot tub available April until Oct and for stays in excess of 5 days
