Secluded Country Cottage With Meadow Garden Plus Sun Terrace And Playroom/table Tennis/wifi
Isolated Tranquillity, Yet Only 15 mins Drive to Beach
Sleeps 10/11 4 bedrooms, plus playroom/bedroom
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L’Auvergne looks across a gently-sloping valley, dotted with oak coppices and meadows of beautiful cream and brown Normandy cows - les vaches Normandes. L’Auvergne is home to Toulouse geese, Muscovy ducks and often ducklings and nests of eggs - hatching in spring and early summer. Two dairy and beef suckler herd farms lie on either side of the meadow with outdoor calving. The self-contained holiday accommodation, with private garden area and terrace, adjoins the owners' 18th century stone farm cottage. Spectacular night skies (no light pollution) and deserted lanes, beginning with a bridle path only accessible on foot or by bicycle – in spring and summer carpeted with foxgloves, primroses, wild orchids and honeysuckle. The valley boasts barn owls, tawny owls, buzzards and sparrow hawks, not to mention pine martens, weasels, stoats, hares and wild boar - snuffling along the chemins at night, digging up acorns. Excellent local markets Mon-Sat. We are on hand if needed.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 1 April 2012 - 2 June 2012 | €780 | 3 | ||
| 2 June 2012 - 2 July 2012 | €830 | 3 | ||
| 1 July 2012 - 31 August 2012 | €980 | 7 | ||
| 31 August 2012 - 2 October 2012 | €830 | 7 | ||
| 2 October 2012 - 31 October 2012 | €780 | 3 |
Changeover day
Changeover day for 2012 is Sunday (Many guests prefer travelling on a Sunday and the roads tend to be less busy.) Arrival time 4pm. Departure 10am.
Changeover day may be flexible at other times of the year. Please enquire.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1: double bed (two cots available). Bedroom 2: double bed/single Bedroom 3/2nd sitting room (ensuite bathroom): single bed, sofa (leads to bedroom 4 - ensuite WC ) Bedroom 4: small 4 ft double Bedroom 5/playroom: double sofabed & single bed |
| Bathrooms: | Two bathrooms / 3 WCs are on ground floor. The shower rooms have large rolltop washbasins and electric towel rails. We have a baby-bath available. The separate WCs have washbasins. Child seat/step/potty if needed. |
| Kitchen: | Spacious kitchen area on first floor, with generous work surfaces and cupboard space, gas hob, electric fan oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, coffeemaker. |
| Living Rooms: | Large loft-style living room (7m x 5m) / kitchen on first floor . Stable-door to garden via short staircase. TV (English and French terrestrial), DVD and radio/CD player. Wi-Fi. Sofas with dining for 10/11. Bedroom 3: huge feather sofa, doors to terrace. |
| Other: | The fifth bedroom/playroom leads from kitchen/living area - ideal for keeping an eye on younger children, with table tennis, children's toys/games plus double sofabed and single bed (extra folding bed if needed); lovely views over duck garden and meadows. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Linen and towels are not supplied; linen be hired (we ask guests if at all possible to bring towels). The property is cleaned before each booking and is expected to be left please as found. Optional €50 cleaning tariff on departure. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer microwave dishwasher washing machine iron/ironing board tv internet access central heating cot high chair barbecue |
| Location Type: | rural |
Notes on accommodation
L'Auvergne is virtually traffic free. We are situated at the end of a long lane serving one farm and our property at the far end. No through traffic except the occasional tractor. Children are able to explore the bridle path that continues from l'Auvergne and enjoy space to run without having to watch out for vehicles. Electric heating in all rooms. Stair gates available on request. Stable door in living room doubles as stair gate to steps to private garden area. Parking for 3 cars.
L'Auvergne is intended to be as eco-friendly as possible. All cleaning products are bio-degradable and certified as such. The cottage is well-insulated and designed with an upstairs living area to give maximum naturally convected warmth and natural light. We offer a bicycle collection/hire service so that guests can choose to give their cars a holiday too. We are able to reserve local donkey rides/half day/day treks. free-range poultry and eggs available. Organic meat available from local farm shop.
Accessibility
The kitchen/dining-room/living room is on the first floor, reached via one flight of standard sized stairs, a stable door leads to small flight of wooden steps leading down from the living area to a private garden area.
The sunny evening terrace - lovely for apéritifs - leads from bedroom 3 with large comfortable feather sofa/afternoon sitting room through south-facing double doors.
One bathroom and the WC ensuite to bedroom 4 have hand rails fitted.
Outside
Private garden area (guests' use only) with garden chairs/table, loungers and a barbecue. Flanked by sheep meadow and hedges of blackthorn, hazel and oak - wonderful views over valley. Excellent walks along old chemins (bridlepaths).
South-facing terrace leading from bedroom 3 / second sitting-room has seating and drinks table.
Coast/Beach
Approximately 6kms (15 mins drive) to nearest beach. The western coast of Les Cotes des Iles nearest to Besneville are unspoilt clean sandy beaches with Blue Flag accreditation. Barneville-Carteret beach (10kms - 20 mins drive) has a sheltered cove with lifeguard surveillance in summer months. The beaches are never crowded and often, in mid-season, will only have a handful of other beach goers, if any at all.
Golf
Golf: There is a nine-hole golf course at the seaside resort of St Jean de la Riviere, near Barneville-Carteret (10 kms from Besneville).
We are able to arrange bicycle hire and are able to take guests to hire shop and bring back bicycles if required.
There are two equestrian stables nearby for horse-riding.
Special interest holidays
L'Auvergne is a quiet and isolated 'fermette' - ideal as a writers' retreat with a good Wifi Internet connection. Longer term lets available out of season at reduced rental price. If guests are interested in ducks and geese, we have a small flock of Muscovy ducks and their yearly offspring and a pair of 'retired' geese. We are happy to share our experience of rearing, feeding, breeding, water courses/ponds and how to give domestic waterfowl a free-range life while maintaining a vegetable plot. We shall also 3 cats and two sheep in the meadow behind the gite. Eileen is an elderly, pré salé Roussin sheep who is now in (hopefully) happy retirement; Ella is her (now teenage) daughter and Esmeralda is a little Ouessant rare breed sheep, rather like a Sheltie dog on hooves. They are wonderful company, calming and brilliantly efficient, environmentally friendly lawnmowers.
Travel
Nearest ferry port is Cherbourg, served by Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries. We are able to help obtain a discount if you choose a crossing with Brittany Ferries. Another good ferry choice with sensible prices, is ldlines.com, with boats travelling between Portsmouth and Le Havre/Newhaven and Le Havre. The company has introduced 180 degree reclining seats for night crossings. Driving distance from port of Cherbourg is 45 mins; from Caen 1hr 45 mins; from Le Havre 2 hrs 30 mins.
Distances
Besneville village is around 2km from l'Auvergne with a butcher, a baker and small general store/bar. On Sundays in summer months the butcher has a wood-fired rotisserie. St Sauveur le Vicomte and Portbail are equidistant from Besneville, both having much character and a range of small epiceries or larger supermarkets. There is a market to be found locally every day of the week except Sunday. Besneville is only approximately 3kms from the forest at St Sauveur le Vicomte with an arboretum.
Further details
There is an excellent organic farm shop within a 10 min drive (open Friday evenings and Sat mornings) selling dairy produce, meat, charcuterie, vegetables, cereals, general grocery, wines. Local free range poultry and eggs available plus excellent local oysters and fruits de mer (seafood) - platters can be ordered ready for the table at the local poissonerie. There is a good choice of local restaurants to suit all tastes. The nearest post offices and banks are in Portbail or St Sauveur le Vicomte as well as excellent tourist offices.
Birdwatching: Le marais is a natural park and protected as such. Boat trips offer spectacular views of the marshland and a variety of waterfowl and the habitat of bankside mammals. It is also possible to plan a day's cycling in and around Le Marais. Canoeing: Canoes can be hired in nearby St Sauveur le Vicomte. Adventure Trail: Tree-top rope trails and forest adventure paths at St Sauveur le Vicomte.
Booking notes
If preferred, payment may be made in pounds sterling. To confirm a reservation by mail or phone, we ask guests to complete a booking form (sent by email) and send a deposit of 25% to confirm booking. Balance on arrival if in euros or 2 wks in advance of stay, if in pounds sterling. Bedlinen may be hired. Bath mats/kitchen linen provided. Heating costs included in tariff. No other charges. Guest discount if using Brittany Ferries.
Guest comments
'This Normandy cottage is perfect, set in a quiet rural hamlet but only 10 minutes drive from the ocean, shopping and great restaurants. The cottage is comfortable and so well appointed that we felt we would be happy to live there. We highly recommend a stay at L'auvergne!'
Lynda Bergsma and Richard Rohrdanz.
'We had such a lovely time in your gorgeous gite - it is so comfortable and well equipped and in such a wonderful location (we really enjoyed the tranquility and absence of traffic noise!)' Liz F, Bromley, Kent.
'We heard a French resident nearby refer to the valley of l'Auvergne as a 'coin du paradis'. We agree.' Mr and Mrs J, Marlborough, UK.
'Wonderful walks and extremely comfortable accommodation. A truly restful holiday.' Miss S and Mr N.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR1723
Penny & Hugh Lewis
Tel: (France) + 33 (0)2 33 41 49 27
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in October 2004,
and has advertised this property with us since December 2006.
Property Ref FR1723
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