Modernised Stone Cottage in Beautiful Suisse Normande
Hilltop Location in Rural Surroundings
Sleeps 6/8 (3 Bedrooms)
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This is a rural location in a small hamlet, ideal for those who want peace and beauty yet with easy access to activities and sightseeing. Just below the house there are walking and cycle trails. The whole property also contains the owner's house, several outbuildings, a garden and two fields where Shetland ponies are grazed. It is all securely enclosed so safe for dogs or children. The cottage itself is traditional, but has all modernised features including central heating. Access to the first floor is by a spiral stair so may not be suitable for very elderly or infirm guests.
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| Rental periods | |
| 1 May - 3 July 2010 | 475 euros |
| 3 July - 4 September 2010 | 575 euros |
| 4 September - 6 November 2010 | 475 euros |
| 6 November - 18 December 2010 | 450 euros |
| 18 December 2010 - 8 January 2011 | 475 euros |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in euros.
For two week bookings a discount of 10% is offered for the second week. Out of main season the cottage is available on a nightly basis, on a pro rata system based on the weekly rate. Long term lets are negotiable.
Changeover day
Saturday is preferable change-over. Departure should by 11 AM and arrival after 3PM, though this is all negotiable.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 has a double bed and large wardrobe, with views out across the valley. Bedroom 2 has bunk beds and a large wardrobe. Bedroom 3 is a large attic room with twin beds and a studio couch with pull-out bed beneath. It has a TV and video. |
| Bathrooms: | The bathroom is on the first floor and has a full-sized bath, toilet and shower cubicle. There is also a washing machine and slatted drying shelves, as well as a heated radiator/towel rail. |
| Kitchen: | The kitchen, open plan with the living/dining area, is equipped with gas hob, electric oven, microwave and dishwasher. Toaster, kettle, coffee-maker and iron are supplied, as is crockery and linen. There is a large fridge with big freezing compartment. |
| Living Rooms: | The living/dining area has table and chairs for 8, two large sofas and an armchair. Satellite TV receives UK and French TV and radio. In bedroom 3 there is another TV with video and two armchairs. There is a good selection of books, videos and games. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels, bed and table linen are included and there are spares available. The property is cleaned weekly, more often on request. |
Notes on accommodation
The cottage is centrally heated, but in Summer there are portable heaters and fans available if needed. There is constant hot water. Children and pets are welcome and the staircase and windows are railed in. A stair gate is available for extra safety. There is a pond in the garden, so toddlers should be supervised outside. There is a fence and gates, so it is safe for well-behaved dogs to be let out on the property.
As the owner has cats and horses it may not be suitable for those with allergies to animal hair.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- microwave,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- iron/ironing board,
- satellite tv,
- internet access,
- central heating,
- room fans,
- cot,
- high chair,
- barbecue,
- pets accepted
Accessibility
The spiral staircase is quite steep, though there is a handrail. A 93 year old couple used it without problem last year, but it is to be considered.
Outside
There is a lawned area of the garden which is for the private use of guests, with table, recliner chairs and benches. There is also a gravelled area with private BBQ and dining facilities. Children have a swing set and a toddler paddling pool. Guests are welcome to help with the ponies! I have two adult mountain bikes available for guests' use. For children there is a swing set and a toddlers' paddling pool with slide.
Coast/Beach
The Normandy beaches, for historical and leisure interest, are about 45 minutes drive. It is also possible to do a day trip to Mont St Michel which is about 2 hours drive.
Golf
There are several courses in reasonable distance, at Clecy (5 minutes), Falaise (20 minutes) and Bagnoles de l'Orne (40 minutes).
Travel
The nearest airport in Caen Carpiquet, 45 minutes drive. It is not recommended to come without your own transport, whether car or bike as it is a 25 minute walk to the nearest shop or bus. The nearest channel port is Caen. Ouistreham, 50 minutes drive. From Cherbourg or Le Havre it is around 90 minutes and Calais is 3 hours away. Paris is about 2-3 hours depending on conditions and route.
Distances
The nearest village with shops is Clecy, 5 minutes by car and 20 minutes walk along a beautiful clifftop path above the river Orne. For bigger and better shops and a supermarket Thury-Harcourt is 12 minutes by car. The city of Caen is 30 minutes away.
Further details
It is an ideal area for activity holidays, including mountain biking, horse riding, walking, rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing. All these are available within a few minutes' drive or even in walking distance. There is also a marvellous health spa only 3 minutes way, with saunas, Turkish bath, massage and aromatherapy facilities, all set in an historical building. There are colourful local markets as well as shops and banks in Conde sur Noireau, Caen and Falaise. For eating out, there are many restaurants and bars along the local river, or on the coast near Caen. Sightseeing can include the Normandy landing beaches and associated museums and cemeteries, the chateaux of William the Conqueror at Falaise and Caen, a Roman villa at Vieux, and the cities of Caen, Bayeux and Rouen.
Booking notes
Booking can be done by email or telephone. A deposit of 10% is required at the time of booking and the balance is payable on arrival.
Guest comments
'Comfort, and a beautiful and peaceful setting. The superbly equipped gite has everything we look for in holiday accommodation. In two weeks, we have experienced only a fraction of what Normandy has to offer. We'll be back!' ((Helen and Chris, N Yorks)
Owner profile
About the owner
I retired 3 years ago after thirty years in media as a TV journalist, video producer and university lecturer. I was privileged to work in Bosnia for almost ten years, helping reconstruct their TV system after the war. I spent three of those years as Chief Executive of the first postwar national TV network in the country.
Now I love the peace and quiet of the Normandy countryside, occupying myself looking after my animals (ponies and cats) and spending time with the good friends I have made here. I also volunteer at the local cat shelter. The gite gives me a steady stream of new friends, some of whom have made return visits.
I enjoy my flower and vegetable gardens and guests last year benefited from good crops of beans, courgettes and strawberries! And there is lots of fruit to share
Year purchased: 2006
Why the owner chose a home in this location
It was always my dream to live in France - I fell in love with the country and culture when I was fifteen. And I also loved the Bosnian mountains and rivers when I was working there. This part of Normandy is as close as I could get to finding that here. I have space and safety for my cats and ponies, far from any main road but only five minutes from the shops and bars of Clecy. The house is surrounded by fields and forest, with a small lane giving access to the hamlet, which only has eight houses. At the same time, I am only thirty five minutes from Caen, which has all the delights and amenities of a big city, and fifty minutes from the ferry port of Ouistreham, so there is no long drive this side of the Channel when visiting the UK. Paris is only two hours away by train.
Unique benefits of the property
My property consists of two main buildings - an old farm cottage and an adjacent barn, both of which are now converted into modern, comfortable places to live and stay. When I first came here, I lived in the cottage for a year while I did up the barn, and then switched so that the cottage is now for rent and I live next door. The cottage still has all the conveniences and equipment that anyone could need - I lived in it and I know.
The house is at the top of the hamlet, so has the best views over the valley. It is south facing and enjoys sun all day long, though there is shade in the garden.
Children love the ponies, swing set and paddling pool. There is plenty of room to play football or boules, and many wonderful walks that start from the house, over hills and through the forest.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR3290
Jenny Ranson
Tel: (France) + 33 231 671482
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Property Ref FR3290
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