Charming, rustic cottage in peaceful hamlet

Unwind, enjoy a slower pace of life and spend time with the people who matter in this beautiful cottage in the peaceful Normandy countryside. Perfect for a creative retreat or family gathering, it's full of rustic charm, whether you're cosying up by the fire or sharing a big meal with your favourite people. It's comfy and characterful, set in a friendly hamlet with bigger towns, swimming lakes and picturesque villages nearby. The space The front door of the cottage opens onto a large sitting room with beautiful tiled floor, two sofas, a woodburner, and stereo that plays vinyl, radio and connects via bluetooth. There is a spacious dining table with two benches and two chairs, comfortably seating 8. The kitchen has a smaller table and chair, so you can chat while you're cooking or have a quiet breakfast looking out onto the garden. There's an electric range, Smeg fridge, sink, and cupboards equipped with all the cooking essentials. The water heater and fuse box are also in the kitchen. Off the kitchen is the 'cave' - this is a storage space for the owners only, and not for guest use. Upstairs there's a spacious double bedroom with window shutters, desk, chair, bureau and armchair; a bathroom with basin, loo and electric shower; and a sweet twin room with window shutters. On the landing there's a linen cupboard in case you need spare bedding. On the next floor up there's a light-filled attic room with two single beds and a double bed, plus a dressing table and desk. All bedrooms have infrared radiators, mattress toppers and comfy bedding. Outside, there's a sunny front gravel garden with small table and chairs for al fresco meals with the sound of the church bells in the background. The back garden has newly planted fruit trees and hedge (though this is still very young), a herb bed, and gravelled area with a larger table and chairs. The hamlet is small and quiet, and there's a lovely walk from the cottage down to a mill stream and beyond to an old farm. A three-minute drive away in the next village there's a baguette vending machine with delicious fresh bread, and a bar/ restaurant. Nearby is a small village with shop and nice restaurant. Ten minutes away is Gorron, with a market, supermarkets, launderette, and brocante. Domfront is a beautiful medieval town about 15 minutes' drive away, with antique shops, bars and restaurants. Mayenne is around 30 minutes away and has a bigger market, castle, hypermarket and excellent restaurants. Information about local food markets is available upon request. There are swimming lakes at La Ferté Macé, Fougères and Ambrières. You can also kayak at Ambrières, and Fougeres has a zip wire over the lake. There's a heated outdoor swimming pool and tennis court at Ambrières camp site. Our neighbours are extremely helpful, and will be your point of contact during your stay if you need anything immediate. There are two bikes in the shed at the front right of the cottage which you're welcome to use. Guest access You can access the entire house, apart from the 'cave'. Other things to note Please don't park outside the house as tractors sometimes need to come past and my neighbours need access. Instead, drive down the lane just past the house and park on the verge alongside the field to the right. The cottage isn't suitable for very young children as the garden isn't fully enclosed and has a small pond. There are also steps without rails on the ground floor. The steps from the kitchen out to the garden are steep. You can access the garden from the right side of the house or via the lane behind the house if this is a problem. The window in the twin room has warped and doesn't close fully - we use the shutters and close it as much as possible at night and it's never been an issue. There's no Wi-Fi but you can get 4G reception in parts of the house. The shower is very slow to drain and leaks if the base is too full, so please keep showers short or stop halfway and let the water drain. Please also shut the door as soon as you’re out. There’s a very friendly cat who lives next door and usually pops round, but please try to keep her out of the house as she steals food! Please don't use the outhouse (next to the kitchen) as there's an unsafe floor above. Everything you need for your stay is accessible in the house or garden so there's no need to go in there. There’s a chest of drawers in the main bedroom, an the ottoman in the twin room and small cupboard in the attic. It's a house for lovers of historic places full of stories – it's 350 years old, with uneven floors and bumpy walls. If modern perfection is your thing, this probably isn't the place for you.