17th Century Woodfired Stone Cottage in a Tranquil Ancient Woodland, Featured on Grand Designs
17th Century Woodfired Stone Cottage in a Tranquil Ancient Woodland, Featured on Grand Designs
Sleeps 5 (2 Bedrooms)
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Plumstone Cottage was rebuilt to maximise natural light, stripped wooden floors and an open plan layout. Although restored to its 17th century state, it now includes modern comforts like a roll top bath, washing machine and stainless steel cooker. The huge Breton hearth provides cosy fireside evenings. The house is south-facing and includes a fire pit, bbq and seating areas in the front and back of the house. The sandpit, rope swings and geodisic dome in the woods provide extra play spaces. Plum Cottage is located in a quiet woodland, scattered with boulders, ancient ruins, and teeming with birdlife. The woods offer a place to walk or simply just to be. The villiage of Mellionnec, with its organic bakery and local produce store, is only 15 mins walk away, while the town of Rostrenen, 10 mins drive, contains all the amenities as well as a brilliant wood-fired pizzeria. There are endless green lanes for walking and cycling. For a swim Lake Guerledan is only 20 mins/the beach an hour.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 6 March 2011 - 3 April 2011 | £400 | 7 | ||
| 3 April 2011 - 3 July 2011 | £550 | 7 | ||
| 3 July 2011 - 3 September 2011 | £595 | 7 | ||
| 3 September 2011 - 24 September 2011 | £550 | 7 | ||
| 25 September 2011 - 30 October 2011 | £450 | 7 | ||
| 30 October 2011 - 4 March 2012 | £250 | 7 |
Changeover day
Changeover day is a Saturday. Arrival time from 4pm. Departure by 10am.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1: double bed, stripped wooden floors and sky views from the Velux window. Bedroom 2: open plan with double and single bed, stripped wooden floors, and a lovely sunny south-facing lounge area with views of the ash, oak and plum trees outside. |
| Bathrooms: | Light-filled bathroom with cast-iron roll top bath, hand held shower mixer and WC. |
| Kitchen: | Rustic open plan kitchen with large stainless steel cooker + hob, fridge, washing machine, crockery, pots, baking tins, teapots and an Italian espresso pot. |
| Living Rooms: | Downstairs living room with woodburner, dvd player for films, soundsystem with CD + ipod input, board games + blankets large Breton style oak dining table and chairs. Upstairs lounge area with reclining seating, coffee table and chairs/study space. |
| Other: | Outdoor barn, containing bicycles for cycling. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Fresh bathroom towels and linen provided on arrival. You will need to bring your own beach towels. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge washing machine cot high chair barbecue |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
Plumstone Cottage is ideal for a romantic getaway, but also for a quiet family holiday. The house is situated off a quiet country lane, which only gets about 5 cars driving down it in a day! So its very safe for little ones. You need hardly drive once you arrive, as the local villiage is so close and there is enough beautiful countryside near the house to keep you occupied and to help you de-stress.
Outside
The front garden is south-facing and has a garden table + chairs with an umbrella. Just outside the kitchen door, its the perfect spot for eating lunch, or playing with the kids in the sandpit. There is also an outside BBQ set into one of the old stone walls beneath a small chamomile lawn great for sprawling or playing a bit of footie.
The rear garden, looking out into the woods is more secluded and is beautiful for tanning or watching the sunset with a glass of wine. There are rope swings for playing, and a geodisic dome with a woodburner, in the woodland, set amongst some mossy granite boulders as an extra fun space/camping spot. We have also created a fire pit in the back for open fires on warm spring and summers evening.
Coast/Beach
The stunning Brittany coastline is only about an hours drive from the Plumstone Cottage. To the North East, you have the Emerald Coast so named because of the colour of the sea. With its dramatic jutting rock cliffs, Cap Frehel is probably the highest point. To the North, you have the Rose Coast, so called because of the pink colour of the granite rocks. And to the South, the Quiberon peninsula with its long white sandy beaches and Carnac's megalithic standing stones and south facing bays.
Travel
Both Dinard and Brest airport, and the closest ferry port St Malo, are 1.5 hours drive away. Caen would take approximately 5 hours.
Car hire/use of car is essential.
Distances
2km to local village.
10km to the market town of Rostrenen.
3km to the Brest Canal, for cycling & walking .
20km to Lake Guerledan, swimming, water sports & walking in the forest.
60km to coasts.
Celtic hillforts, megalithic standing stones, ancient yew tree & oak forests all within 20km.
60km to the beautiful and historic medieval town of Josselin with its 12th century chateaux.
Further details
The cottage was featured in Grand Designs as part of the Groundhouse episode in 2009. The Groundhouse is a rammed earth home with many eco features. It is situated in the field adjacent to the cottage, and by special arrangement to cottage rentals visits may be arranged. We are lucky to have a wonderful organic bakery in the local village selling organic bread and pastries, and locally grown and produced organic fruit and vegetables, wines and ciders. The villiage also has a little bar with great espresso! The nearest town, Rostrenen has a great woodfired pizzeria and creperie, well worth a visit. The farmers market is held each Tuesday in the town centre and sells everything from fruit and veg, material and tools to live baby ducklings. As well as the conventional banks, chemists and supermarkets, there are also two health stores selling natural remedies. The traditional Breton barn dance is called a Fest Noz, and they are held regularly throughout the year. Keep your eye peeled for posters in the town. A great way to meet the locals and have a rollicking good laugh. The inter-celtic folk festival is held in Summer in Lorient, an hours drive, and brings together an amazing array of Celtic and Breton traditions. Great for a day trip.
Booking notes
Contact us by email to make a booking. Booking requires a non-refundable 20% deposit, which can be transferred online or sent by cheque. Booking will only be confirmed once payment is cleared. Balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to arrival. A cleaning/damage deposit of £150 is required in advance and returned once the property is checked.
Guest comments
"I just wanted to email you to say how magical we all felt our stay to be. Your cottage is in an extraordinary ancient site and every one of us was affected by it."
Owner profile
Adi and Daren with some home grown chillis
About the owner
Daren and I love spending time in the Groundhouse, next door to Plum Cottage. We spent a year building the Groundhouse while we lived in Plum Cottage. We were filmed as part of the Grand Designs series 2009. It was a hectic year and if it hadn't been for the forest, the birds and all the animals and flowers we would have certainly gone mad!
We love the peace of Brittany country living. My favourite way to start the day when I am there is in the garden. I also love washing my hair with rainwater we have harvested, turning our vegetable waste into compost, picking plums and berries in summer and mushrooms and chestnuts in autumn from just around the house. The land is so abundant and it’s amazing what you can reap with just a little work.
Year purchased: 1999
Why the owner chose a home in this location
When Daren arrived in Brittany he was struck by the beauty of the countryside. He was drawn by the deep green forests and the abundant birdlife and inspired by the many crumbling cottages and manor houses. When he found Plum Cottage it was nothing more than a pile of stones with a huge plum tree growing out of it ! But he knew that he wanted to rebuild it.
Although the area is very quiet and seems remote, our nearest village, with its organic bakery and produce store, is only 10 minutes by foot. The people here are the salt of the earth and are very welcoming and hospitable. We love the lively farmers market every Tuesday where we can buy lots of local produce including live chickens and fresh mussels, and enjoy visiting the creperie, the woodfired pizzeria or some live Breton music .
Unique benefits of the property
When Daren renovated the property he created an open plan layout with velux and glass in the roof. This has created a beautiful spacious second story in the cottage, which is a lovely area to relax in the day. We have decorated the house in a modern minimalist style which our giters feel very comfortable in.
There is something to harvest all year round, with plum and chestnut trees, blackberry bushes and fresh mint, sage, rosemary and lemon balm all growing outside the front door. The cottage is set in 4 acres of ancient woodland and boulders.
As its only 10 mins away from all amenities, and some excellent restaurants it's in a convenient but peaceful location. The beach, the lake and other swimming places are all within an hour of the cottage which makes it ideal for children.
For booking and further information
Property Ref FR4779
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref FR4779
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