This beautiful ancient stone farmhouse is peacefully set in an acre of mature gardens with lawns running down to a magnificent 10 x 5m private heated swimming pool. The surrounding countryside is Normandy at its best, rolling fields, apple orchards, spotty brown and white cows, and yet all less than ½ hour away from superb sandy beaches that never seem to get crowded. Sailing, fishing, golf available locally.

We fell in love with this house as soon as we saw it. Previously belonging to the village doctor, it oozes character with tiled floors, exposed beams, and mellow stonework. It is furnished and equipped to a very high standard. Six bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (2 en suite). Huge beamed lounge with enormous stone fireplace. Lovely dining room. Tiled breakfast room. Kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer. Laundry. Full central heating. Table tennis room. Gas bbq, garden furniture.

Easy reach Mont St Michel, Bayeux and Landing Beaches.

Non smokers preferred.

Discounts for parties of 4 or less. Please ask for details.

Facilities

Property Type:	Manors Farmhouses
Nearest ferry port:	Cherbourg and Caen both take about 1.25-1.5 hours to drive
Nearest restaurant:	Restaurant L'Abbee, Hambye is only 2 miles and is excellent
Location and activities:	Peacefully set in lovely countryside. Beautiful walking, cycling, riding, golf, sailing and close amazing sandy beaches
Bedrooms:	Six bedrooms (1 king size en suite, 1 double, 3 twins (1 en suite) and 1 triple which is enormous and can easily take an extra bed
Bathrooms:	Main bathroom with bath and separate shower and wc. Two further en suite bathrooms and a shower room on the ground floor
Kitchen:	Spacious well equipped kitchen with attractive breakfast room
Dining:	Large dining room with antique sideboard and magnificent old oak table seating 14
Living area:	Large lounge with old beams and enormous Normandy fireplace
Entertainment on-site:	Table tennis, boules, badminton, tv and dvd
Outside:	Beautiful one acre gardens with apple orchards and magnolia trees leading to lower lawn and pool
General:	A very special house for a relaxing holiday in unspoilt rural Normandy but close to beautiful sandy beaches
Suitability:	Family holidays, special celebrations, reunions and holidays for disabled people

Owners Recommendations

Eating Out

''Bar/Restaurant de L'Etang at Grimesnil''
"A very welcoming bar/restaurant where the friendly owners serve an interesting menu with delicious steaks cooked over the big Normandy fire.""

''Hotel L'Abbee at Hambye''
""Excellent restaurant with lovely ambience and interesting menus. Near beautiful ruined Benedictine Abbey and River Sienne.""

''Jules Gommes at Reigneville Sur Mer''
""This is a good restaurant with views of the estuary. Excellent seafood, gallettes etc. Outside terrace in the summer.""

''La Barrate in St Denis-le-Vetu''
"Lovely little restaurant serving delicious local specialities. Free aperitif for guests." "

''La Passerelle at Les Salines''
""Probably our favourite seafood restaurant. (serves meat too). Overlooking the salt marshes on coast near Brehal.""

''Le Krill Bar/Restaurant at La Baleine ''
""A bistro style restaurant in lovely village with meat and fish cooked over an open fire in front of you.""

Local Area and Activities

''Beaches''
" "We would happily recommend a day at Les Salines - miles of unspoilt sand and never very crowded. ""

''Coutances''
""Lovely little town with amazing cathedral, shops and restaurant and beautiful floodlit gardens in summer. Good market on Thursday.""

''Gavray''
""Busy little market town with various restaurants, excellent butchers, boulangerie and other shops. Each Wednesday morning lively calf market with piglets, chickens, ducklings and the smell of delicious sausages cooking over the grill. Pannier market on Saturday." "

''Granville''
""Interesting old town on the coast. Excellent shops and seafood restaurant near the harbour.""

''La Baleine''
""Beautiful local village with speciallity shops selling delicious local produce including the chitterling sausage which they make. There is also a mini crazy golf course in the botanic gardens which has a good Creperie/Bar - fun for all ages.""

''Mont St Michel''
""Famous Abbey surrounded by water at high tide. Lots of little restaurants.""

''Mussel Harvest - Les Salines near Brehal''
""This area is famous for its seafood centre for the growing of mussels and oysters. At low tide it is fascinating to watch dozens of tractors tending their harvest miles away from the beach.""

''Sailing''
""There is a sailing school just by the golf course at St Martin-de-Brehal. Do sailing courses in summer months.""

''Tennis''
""The courts are situated in Hambye""

''The Normandy Landing Beaches''
""Are within easy reach with interesting museums at Arromanches and Caen.""

''Villedieu Les Poeles ''
""Famous for its copper and its world renowned bell factory. Lively street market on Tuesday mornings.""

'Golf'
""There is a small 9-hole course at St Martin-de- Brehal (by Les Salines).""

Markets and Shopping

''Depot Vent at Coutances''
"Le Cle des Temps is a fascinating warehouse on the edge of Coutances selling second hand furniture and bric-a-brac. Prices are reduced every 4 weeks so look out for some bargains." VIDE GRENIERS - Literally 'Clear the Attics' - equivalent to our car boot sales. Hundreds of stalls lining the village streets and there is one nearly every Sunday. Lots of bargains."

''Markets''
"GAVRAY - Wednesday, calf market and a few stalls. Saturday - ‘Pannier’ Market VILLEDIEU - Tuesday, quite a big street market CERENCES - Thursday, small village market COUTANCES - Thursday, street market in roads below Cathedral HAMBYE - Tuesday and Friday, small village market "

Rental Rates

Farmhouse - Sleeps: 14, Bedrooms: 6

Prices from £675 - £2450 per week
Discounts available for smaller groups and short breaks
All heating, hot water, electricity and logs for the enormous Normandy fireplace are included in the price as is the use of the tumbledryer and washing machine.

Contact Details

To book this property use the contact details below quoting Holiday France Direct ref: NM001697.

Contact:	Mrs Sue Smart
Postal Address:	Hartgrove Farm Shaftesbury Dorset SP70JY
Telephone:	01747 812019
Mobile:	07970 000680
Fax:	01747 811066
Email:	Email the Owner »
Owner's website:	www.normandyfarmhouses.co.uk
Shortlist:	Click here to add this property to your shortlist
Listing last updated:	06 Jun 2008