Peaceful three bedroom home with large garden

La Charpenterie is our simple, rustic three-bedroom second home, surrounded by a large garden in a tranquil corner of Basse Normandy. It’s a place that we love to visit with our family and close friends to escape busy city life. While we are not there, we love to invite guests on Airbnb to let themselves in and stay. We think it’s a fantastic getaway for independently-minded travellers who are looking for some peace and quiet, in the middle of the French countryside without distractions. The space La Charpenterie is no more than 10 minutes’ drive from the A84 autoroute but within seconds, you are transported to a rural countryside idyll immediately. The nearest town is a 5-10 minute drive away and turning off the lane and along a small track, you reach the house. Parking on the driveway, there is plenty of space for two cars and you see the house, which has a rustic individual charm, that has been developed over a couple of centuries. The house is centrally heated in the colder months - we do not have a working fireplace at the moment but hope we will do one day in the future. In the front door you reach the kitchen. It has a basic yet cosy gite-like feel with all the utensils you need to get by, from a coffee machine, dishwasher, plates and cutlery to cake tins and salad spinners. Sit at my grandparents’ dining table or on the small armchair. Through a small arch you reach the living room with two big sofas and wooden beams on the ceiling. We have a stash of board games for you to play and we have a TV but only ever use it to watch DVDs now and again (feel free to watch them too, we have a trunk full of them). We don’t like the idea of satellite or terrestrial TV interrupting our R&R time, but of course inclusive Wi-Fi is available and the username and (long) password is posted on the kitchen shelf if you need to stay connected. The signal is fine in most of the house but doesn’t extend far into the garden. There are three bedrooms, one double en-suite downstairs and a spacious gabled double room with balcony overlooking the garden upstairs and a smaller twin room upstairs too. We can push the beds together to make it into a double too. The bathroom is downstairs, and there isn’t a loo or washing facilities upstairs… we like to make that clear! We love the decor, we have decorated it over the years with items that we have salvaged or had passed on to us. Like many old rural houses, there are a few cracks and flaky bits but we keep it clean with the help of our lovely housekeeper Sally. The garden is a passion and a work in progress. Roughly two acres surrounding the house, it was a complete jungle when we arrived and after years of work, we have plenty of grassed area, views of the beautiful countryside views across the valley, a lovely deck to sit out on, space to eat on the terrace and room to play pétanque, giant Jenga or other games that we can provide. We love sitting out in the evening, watching the sun set followed by the night sky, free from light pollution. Guest access La Charpenterie is a small collection of buildings. From the A84, Ste Mairie Outre L'Eau, as you come down the hill after a quarry you will see a house called La Bergerie to your right. Our driveway is immediately opposite on the left. Apart from one small room where I store household bits and pieces and the storage barn, you can access the whole property, the gardens. Once booked we will explain how to enter the house yourselves, at whatever time of day or night you arrive. We leave a tray of washing powder and liquid, tea towels, bin bags, a fresh scourer. There is coffee, tea, milk and usually biscuits on hand for when you arrive. If you need anything else on your arrival, we can usually arrange it for you if you give us some notice. Other things to note Getting to us is easy. From London, sail to Caen, St Malo or Cherbourg via Portsmouth or Poole and take a short drive. Around three and a half hours’ drive from Calais. Driving from Paris couldn't be easier and takes under three hours. Trains are quicker and take you to Caen via Saint Lazare or Vire from Montparnasse. Relax at home or in the garden, or take day trips to Mont St Michel, D Day Beaches, English & French Channel Islands, Deauville, St Malo, Caen and lots more.