This is a secret hideaway in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The old farmhouse is approached down a long drive between fields, from where you can just see the spire of Mont St Michel. It is so tranquil, you can hear a butterfly land ! The house is set in three acres in the middle of open farmland, lying in its own little valley, 2 miles from the village. In the garden, there is the old boulangerie, still in working order, overlooking a pond fed by a spring, with a brook running down to a small river at the bottom of the adjacent field. It is a pastoral setting, with a few cows usually quietly grazing in the garden to keep the grass down - except for the main lawn with its rose-beds which we tend ourselves. There are sheep in the field and everything from buzzards, kestrels, owls, woodcock and kingfishers to deer and wild boar abound !

Our holiday home for much of the year, we let it out for a few weeks just to pay for our ferry crossings from Dorset, where we live the rest of the time. In fact, it is home from home : if you are fond of the rolling landscape and the coast of Dorset, then you will be at home in this part of Normandy - it's just a little bit warmer. We are not far from Avranches, where you can walk across the sandy bay to Mont St Michel, and the picturesque towns of Fougères, Villedieu-les-Poelles, Granville, Domfront and St Malo are all close at hand. The Loire valley, the Brittany coast and the Suisse Normande are easy day excursions, or for the historically minded, there are the D-Day Landing beaches and the Bayeux tapestry. You can relax on the most spectacular sandy beaches only 15 miles away, from where you can take a boat trip to the Iles Chaussey. If it's golf you want, there are several excellent golf clubs locally. One of the major equestrian centres in France is St Lô, so it is not surprising there are many riding stables in the neighbourhood, and of course, you can cross the bay from Avranches to Mont St Michel on horseback as well.

The house is a typical Normandy granite farmhouse, more than 250 years old, a little larger than the usual gite. It has been completely renovated to the highest standard with oil fired central heating and all mod cons. It has four double bedrooms and three bathrooms, one with bath, the other two with showers. The living room is magnificent, with a chestnut hardwood floor, and dominated by a huge granite fireplace in the Norman tradition. The kitchen is fully fitted, with double sink, cooker, hob, fridge, dishwasher, bread maker, microwave, telephone, integrated oak units, table and chairs. There is a separate utility room with sink, freezer, second fridge, washing machine and dryer. There is also a boiler room with sink and clothes airer. We normally sleep seven, but have enough beds for eight by arrangement. In addition, the living room downstairs has a double bed underneath the sofa. In the garage, there are two bicycles, a barbeque, sun loungers, hammock, garden chairs, workbench and everything else you need to enjoy the wonderful views and the peace.

Completely hidden from view, this is a private estate and a little piece of heaven. It is still a family home, and we are there every month. But it looks so sad when we leave, because it loves to be occupied !

And to add a personal touch, the people who look after everything when we are not there will also serve you food right there in the house - home made cooking at its best, a first class restaurant at home and at very reasonable cost. If you would like to see some typical menus, just click

Below, you will see links to more photographs of the house and garden and information on the region. Or please contact us by emailing f4f@shermans.co.uk, and we will help in any way we can.