We are very passionate about this very unspoilt corner of France and its traditions and culture. We discovered it about twenty years ago and now visit several times each year to soak up its different pace of life.

Somehow, time seems to pass it by and the locals manage to keep their slow way of life in the beautiful countryside and unspoilt towns of the area.

The coast too plays its part, the tide dictating the tempo, with the huge mussel and oyster beds creating their own form of agriculture. The beaches are just amazing – so beautiful and unspoilt and rarely busy even in August. The locals will come out at low tide to pêche à pied – the traditional way of finding shellfish to cook for supper.

The country people often have amazing vegetable gardens, keep chickens, ducks, pigeons, rabbits and sheep all reared for the table. Everyone still buys fresh bread each day and still take their two hours lunch breaks when all the shops are closed.

Their traditional food and drink are an essential part of their culture too. Camembert de Normandie, Pont-l’Eveque, Neufchatel and Livarot cheeses, cider, Pommeau and Calvados, local Parma ham and foie gras, chitterling sausage and salt marsh ham are all part of their heritage.

The local markets play a huge part in people’s lives too: from the weekly calf market in Gavray to the pannier markets held each week in the local towns. Despite EU regulations, chickens, ducks, Guinea fowl and rabbits are still sold each week.

The traditional annual village fetes or Vide Greniers are part of the culture and food, sausage and cider stalls abound. The end of the day is celebrated with dancing and fireworks.

If you want a mounted head of a wild boar (who doesn’t?), an antique wooden settle, an old oil lamp, a Victorian necklace, a bike or just six chairs, then here is the place to come. We love the truly French ambience of these amazing warehouses/ emporiums, crammed full of antiques, bric a brac and junk. There is something for everyone.

We frequently visit “La Cle des Temps” the depot vent just outside Coutances on the Cherbourg road. It is open daily (closed 12-2) and we have virtually furnished our farmhouses from it!

The price on each larger item is set according to the date it was first available and is automatically reduced every 2-3 weeks if it has not sold.

There are also interesting sections on old clothing and textiles, clocks, lighting and garden items. Many antique dealers visit the Depot Vents in Normandy from the UK, searching out bargains that they can then sell at vast profits on the London antique market.

There are other Depot Vents in Normandy including “Depot Vente Girard” in Granville” and “La Bonne Occase” in Avranches.

So bag a bargain – a definite must for a rainy day!

Our Normandy farmhouses are ideally situated within easy reach of several extremely good golf courses.

There are three links courses situated on the amazing coastline:

Golf de Granville, Breville sur Mer – an 18 hole links course and a second course of 9 holes. See www.golfdegranville.com

Golf de Coutainville, Blainville sur Mer – a classical 18 hole links course. See www.golfdecoutainville.com

For a relaxing 9 hole links course there is the Golf de Brehal, at St Martin de Brehal. If the family are with you they can spend the afternoon on the glorious sandy beach of Les Salines which stretches for miles. In the summer they provide training courses for anyone aged from 7 to 77. See www.golf-de-brehal.com

If you would prefer to play golf more inland, then the Golf de Vire la Dathee near Villedieu les Poeles is an 18 hole course with spectacular views over Lake Dathee. See www.golfvire.online.fr

Alternatively, the Golf Centre de Manche, at Saint Martin d’Aubigny, is 9 hole course set in a Regional National Park. See www.golfcentrmanche.com

All of these courses  hire out golf clubs, trollies and buggies, so there is no excuse if you have forgotton to pack your clubs!

Our Normandy farmhouses also provide an ideal base for Golf Society tours, as each house has between 10 and 12 beds – so no need to share a double! And if you don’t want to cook during your break, enjoy the superb selection of  local restaurants.

Le Mesnil Gonfroy and La Germainiere are stunning farmhouses, beautifully equipped with everything you need for a special out of season break. Each house has great character, full central heating and magnificent Normandy fireplace ideal for a cosy evening with a book and a glass of local wine or cider.

Explore the breathtaking coast, interesting villages and towns nearby. If you feel energetic walk some of the many old droves which criss-cross the pretty countryside known as bocage with its amazing wild flowers, wildlife and spotty Normandy cows. You may instead prefer to go horse riding from a choice of local stables.

Soak up the local atmosphere at one of the many markets or Vide Greniers (a big car boot sale) in perhaps Villedieu les Poeles, Gavray or Coutances with its stunning medieval cathedral.

If you enjoy fish and seafood you are in for a treat. There are many very good, reasonable restaurants serving delicious local specialities from salt marsh lamb, or local pork and beef to mussels, oysters, crab and freshly caught fish. The coast is one of the biggest mussel and oyster producers in the world.

Easy to reach- if travelling from the UK , Brittany Ferries have excellent services from Portsmouth or Poole to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo all under 90 minutes easy drive to either house. The crossing can be part of the holiday with a delicious meal in the restaurant. Take advantage of the discounts we offer on crossings of at least 20% for any number of cars and passengers.

Short breaks are available to book any time between the end of October and the end of April (except Christmas and New Year) and at other times within four weeks of the holiday.

The price for an out of season break at Le Mesnil Gonfroy is £190 per night (minimum of 3 nights stay).

The price for an out of season break at La Germainiere is £175 per night (minimum of 3 nights stay).

Getting to Normandy is so easy as there are several ferries a day from Portsmouth and Poole to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo. From any of the ports it takes less than 90 minutes to either house on lovely uncrowded French roads, taking all the stress out of the start of your holiday.

Excellent restaurants or brasseries serve delicious meals on the big ferries where you can also reserve an inexpensive cabin. There are films to watch and in the Summer conjurers entertain the children. It is magical to be on deck and see all the famous landmarks as you leave Portsmouth or Poole. 

We are happy to accept dogs at our farmhouses by arrangement, and, as long as they have passports, they can be taken on the ferries. They stay in the car for the journey. Before returning, they have to be injected against ticks and fleas by a local vet who we can recommend (details supplied on request) and have their passports stamped 24-48 hours before the return crossing.

Anyone with mobility problems is well catered for too. The ferries are fully wheelchair accessible with the large ones having cabins suitable for wheelchair users. 

Enjoy your crossing with Brittany Ferries. It is a lovely relaxing start to your holiday.

Details of many Normandy walks are available in our farmhouses.

 

Vide Greniers (translated as “empty your attic”) are much more than an English car boot sale. The whole village closes its streets and there are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of stalls selling bric a brac, clothes and food. It is a whole day affair with many stalls selling huge Normandy sausages and plenty of tents selling beer and cider. The day frequently ends with a barbecue, dancing and even fireworks!

Vide Greniers happen every weekend during the Summer and full details of these can be found in our farmhouses.

There are also many local markets and extra ones by the sea in the summer:

Gavray                  Wednesday                Calf Market and a few stalls

                                 Saturday                     ‘Pannier’  Market

Brehal                    Tuesday                       Has a street market with lots of local produce

Roncey                  Friday                          Village market

Villedieu               Tuesday                       Quite a big Street market

Cerences               Thursday                     Small village market

 Coutances            Thursday                     Street market in roads below Cathedral

Hambye                 Tuesday & Friday     Small village market

St Pair Sur Mer    Thursday                     Attractive seaside town south of Granville

We love it and if you do you’re in for a real treat! With the largest mussel beds in Europe, acres of oysters, crabs, palourdes and praires (clams), boulots (whelks), bigorneaux (winkles), ormeaux (ormers) huge prawns and shrimps, this is the area to come to enjoy some of the best seafood in the world.

We frequently order a large platter of fruits de mer (shellfish) from the local supermarket. It is a huge treat and so reasonable. None of us can afford to buy oysters etc. at home, but here they are a starter on many menus and are always so fresh. Delicious!

Come and join the locals hunting for shell fish, crabs and flatfish at low tide – a great and popular Normandy pastime. Why not go to the Centre Nature at St Martin de Brehal to learn all the traditions of this very French pastime.

It’s lovely to come home with a full bucket of shellfish to cook, with perhaps garlic and cream, for supper.

All you need is a bucket and rake. Children will love it!

Full details in our farmhouses.