Traditional Normandy Cottage

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Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Fireplace
Kitchen
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

La Bellière, Normandie

Sassy Castle
‪6 min drive‬
Carrouges Château
‪17 min drive‬
Le Pin National Stud Farm
‪23 min drive‬
Alencon (XAN)
‪29 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Toilet 1

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

An attractive, tastefully converted Normandy barn, located in a half-acre field, in a tranquil, unspoiled area of Orne, near to the medieval towns of Argentan and Sees. Access to the cottage is via a quiet track, usually only used by local farmers and horse riders. It offers a peaceful country hideaway, and is ideally situated to explore the local countryside by car, cycle or on foot, to read, fish or just to relax!

Property manager

John STIVEN

Premier Host

Languages

English, French

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Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed GBP 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

La Bellière

Located in La Bellière, this cottage is in a rural area. Sassy Castle and Medavy Castle are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Haras Golf and Le Bois Parcours Nature. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

La Bellière, Normandie

What's nearby

Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Sassy Castle - 6 min drive - 4.1 km
Medavy Castle - 13 min drive - 11.8 km
Carrouges Château - 17 min drive - 15.6 km
Le Pin National Stud Farm - 23 min drive - 20.4 km

Getting around

Le Chateau-d'Almeneches Surdon Station - 16 min drive

Restaurants

‪Maison Jean - ‬8 min drive
‪Restaurant de Fleure - ‬12 min drive
‪Au Bon Accueil - ‬8 min drive
‪P2l - ‬9 min drive
‪Chez Mimi la Bonne Frite - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Traditional Normandy Cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Traditional Normandy Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Traditional Normandy Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Traditional Normandy Cottage located?

This family-friendly La Bellière cottage is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park and Sassy Castle. House of Dentelles d'Argentan and Fernand Léger Museum are also within 9 miles (15 km).

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Nikki M.

8 Nov 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah J.

7 Jul 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Typically rural Normandy location

Lovely and very quiet location but within good reach of some interesting towns and Cities. Farmhouse has some great walks close by. Locals friendly. We BBQ most evenings - kitchen well equipped.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David H.

23 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely rural house

Lovely house in a quiet location but close to villages. Our dogs loved the garden and walks

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

2/10 Terrible

Diane M.

3 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in

Disliked: Location

Disappointed

There were a number of issues which we discussed with the Manager who looked after the gite. If you take your dogs you need to watch them as they could easily escape. We left 5 days early and came home. The furnishings in the living room are very old and tired and well past their sell by date. No tv channels in English which was in this day and age is unusual, albeit it was in the advert, but I did not see that. Beds needed attention due to very bad quality, whereby the springs were so compressed you virtually laid on the bed frame. My lads bed fell apart in the night, plus it turned out some of the slats were broken. After sleepless nights, we could no longer endure the discomfort, so we came home early, so hopefully these will be replaced. However location was beautiful, but quite a distance from supermarkets. The kitchen was well equipped. But we will not return to France as over the years we have endured deteriorating accommodations which is not really acceptable as the travel from uk to France is now expensive. However in fairness the owner did contact me with a contribution but it was not satisfactory as our holiday was already ruined.

Stayed 10 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

27 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Normandy Gite

We had a lovely week at St Iven. The rural location meant the peace and quiet was wonderful and was much needed! The gite is spacious and well equipped and within easy reach of some very attractive towns, some stunning scenery and all the humbling history that is associated with the Normandy D-Day Landings.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Damian J.

9 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely spot

A wonderful location and a lovely house. Near enough to local towns/shops/restaurants (~ 15 min drive).

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda D.

8 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful and calm

This is the second time we have stopped here. The hosts have made a few improvements to add to the general ambience since the last time, but we just love it anyway. It’s peaceful, has all you need and the huge garden is our happy place for the dogs. We will be booking again for next year and can’t wait to come back.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul Z.

27 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very relaxing cottage

Our stay was very relaxing in this charming old cottage. It was clean and had all the amenities you could want. Quiet rural location and because the walls are so thick it was nice and cool inside when it was 30 degrees outside.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H.

9 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Country getaway

Very peaceful stay. Rain couldn't be helped. Well equipped kitchen and everything we required at the property. Wonderful wildlife both at the property and in the surrounding area. Shops are a short drive but plenty of choice. Owners are really helpful and good at communication. The whole family enjoyed their stay.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda D.

10 Jun 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing traditional French property

This house was lovely. Three bedrooms upstairs and a family bathroom. The largest bedroom has an en-suite shower and sink. The ground floor is open plan and very functional. The best was the amazing huge garden and terrace. We had many a breakfast and evening meal on the patio furniture under the parasol. Listening to the peace and quiet, sound of the birds and nature. Whilst not totally dog proof, it’s almost. Kept our 2 dogs in anyway. There is every piece of equipment you could possibly need in the house. Very well equipped. And very comfortable. Could do with a lock on the ground floor toilet. But other than that the property was fab. The hosts were lovely and accommodating and couldn’t be nicer. All in all we are so glad we have rebooked to come back in early September and enjoy the same lovely forest walks with the dogs that we did last week.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

John D.

29 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely short break

A very quiet cottage in a small hamlet with the nearest shops about 15 minutes away. It is a little tired in places, the bathroom could do with a freshen up, but overall it had everything that we needed and we had a relaxing time during our stay. We visited the D Day landing beaches which were just over an hours drive so ideally located for places of interest. It is not however on the tourist circuit so if you are looking for a true French experience this is the place for you. The locals were all friendly and welcoming

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

heather n.

17 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little piece of heaven

What a beautiful part of France. The house was so quaint and garden a massive bonus for our dog being as the weather was so hot so limited to what we could do. The house had everything we needed. Beautiful area to explore.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

24 Aug 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

what a find. beautiful cottage. .Owners have provided all your essentials. Really thoughtful.

We had a 5 night stay in this beautiful cottage in the middle of August 2020. We found the cottage location peaceful and private with lots of outdoor space . We would definitely return if we were passing through France and needed somewhere to stay

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

lisa h.

30 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great winter get away

We loved it here as a little ore Christmas get away!

10/10 Excellent

Alyson C., Southwell, Nottingham, UK

28 Jun 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

Everything was perfect and we have never been to such a well equipped holiday home. The area was so tranquil and we took advantage of the location to visit the Chateau de Sassy, The castle st Falaise - brilliantly depicted , the landing beaches, Bagnoles sur l'Orne (somewhat disappointing), and of course we had the opportunity to watch the Lionesses in action at Le Havre in their match against Argentina. Thank you John and Helen and also the delightful M and MmeCuvelier for all your help!

8/10 Good

niall m.

8 Jun 2019

Normandy 2019

Very nice countryside location, with only birds, crickets and cows to break the silence

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay D.

30 Sept 2018

Amazing stay, higly recommended

It was such a breath of fresh air to stay in this cottage! It was the 5 of us, in two cars, thorougly took advantage of the area, from going for a wonder around the country lanes and feeding the ducks to taking the car for a spin to the nearby villages and towns, exploring the nearby culture and adjusting to the french way of living very easily.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan F.

23 Sept 2018

A comfortable well-equipped gite with a large garden in a tranquil rural location

We enjoyed our stay and thought this area of Normandy was interesting. Transport is easy because the roads are good and there is little traffic. I would recommend the parc animalier "les ecoutes" near Sees especially for small children. You can stroke and feed a number of the animals. The Argentan market on a Tuesday is OK but quite small. There is also a bric-a-brac market on a Sunday which is quite interesting. William the Conqueror's castle at Falaise is worth a visit but the displays are a bit interactive you take a tablet round with you. Les Baignolles and Ferte Mace are nice small towns to stroll round. With regard to the gite it is very well-equipped with a washing machine and dishwasher, 2 showers and 2 toilets. Sheets and towels are provided. The garden is great and safe for small children. The only things I would point out are:- - it was generally quite clean but there were some cobwebs and it was a bit dusty - the stairgate is useful but it is coming loose from its fixings and almost came off the wall a couple of times - we could not get the DVD player to work. The open button did not open the machine so you could not insert a DVD. I am sure this can be easily fixed. Overall I would recommend the gite.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

Charles G.

6 Sept 2018

Relax in the countryside

Had a very peaceful and relaxing time at this well-equipped cottage deep in the Normandy countryside. Large terrace and garden mostly laid to grass.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Bill C.

17 Aug 2018

Quiet rustic cottage in the middle of nowhere !

We all enjoyed our stay, and found it so quiet and relaxing. Together with the large garden which we used every day for Badminton, Boules etc. Within half an hour were places such as Falaise, Argentan and Sees. Further afield Bayeaux and Caen. A very enjoyable start to our French holiday.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

W B.

8 Aug 2018

Lovely peaceful traditional cottage

This is a really lovely traditional Normandy cottage set in a peaceful field in the countryside. The local town is about 6km away but has very good butcher and bakers and greengrocer on Sunday morning. As previous reviews have commented, the cottage is spidery and cobwebby and could use a deep clean but this did not impede our stay. The cootage itself has been sympathetically restored and is easy to navigate. It is very well equipped and has everything you need. The kitchen area is well laid out and everything was easy to find, access and use. It was great to have sharp knives! Sports equipment is provided and (unlike other places which boast 'games room') nothing was broken or unusable. Our children loved the badminton/ tennis/ cricket stuff provided. We would have loved to use the log fire but it was too hot! As it was so hot, it would have been nice to have a beach nearby but we had deliberately chosen an inland cottage. Beaches are accessible but about an hour,s drive away. Plenty of hot water, great cycling around the forest, an hour or so drive to the D Day historical areas and to Honfleur, quiet roads, friendly locals and peace and quiet - it was an ideal relaxing break for all of us. The town of Argentan was a revelation and we very much enjoyed exploring it as well as the tour of Sassy. Balognes de l'Ornes is also within easy reach - in fact we could have spent a lot longer here exploring the local area. The owners have the property next door and were welcoming and friendly without imposing on our holiday. We were able to have an extra day and it was good to have the flexibility of stay rather than a fixed Saturday to Saturday let.

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Michael R.

19 Jul 2018

Lovely cottage

Enjoyed a peaceful few days

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sheila B.

27 May 2017

A beautiful holiday home in rural Normandy, brilliant for cycling, bird watching and chilling.

We had a really refreshing time - whether watching the abundance of birds in the garden or cycling round the local lanes and into the beautiful Foret d'Ecouves. The house is very well equipped and comfortable (if a little spidery!). We found the layout user-friendly and the owners very responsive to any queries. The beautiful town of Sees is a short drive away. We've stayed in quite a few places before and this is the best yet. Best bit: dusk in the garden, listening to cuckoos and turtle doves and the other beautiful birdsong. We've returned super-chilled. Our thanks to Helen and John.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anna F.

5 Apr 2016

lovely home away from home

Had wonderful two nights here. It was a perfect stay for two families with very young children and we will definitely come back (and stay for longer!). Lovely location, very homely feel...

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anna F.

5 Apr 2016

wonderful home away from home

We had two nights in this wonderful cottage, drinking wine, eating cheese, sitting by the fire and feeling very much at home. It was a perfect stay for two families with very young children. Will definitely come back and stay for longer.

About the host

Hosted by John STIVEN

We are a British couple who first moved to Paris in 1976 with our work, enjoying eight years there in teaching and human resources roles. We fell in love with France, and spent much of our free time playing sport and making the most of living in the fantastic city of Paris, and France generally. Our daughter was born in Paris and as a family we returned to the UK in 1984. Since then, we have spent a lot of time back in France, having bought an old farmhouse in 1979, spending many weekends and holidays renovating this derelict acquisition. In 1989, we acquired a dilapidated barn in the adjoining field to our home, and have been renting it out all the year round since 2006. We know how important it is to be comfortable. We have endeavoured to provide quality, comfort and style.

Why they chose this property

We were attracted to the Orne area by its rural environment and tranquillity. Family and friends were puzzled by our enthusiasm for our home there, until they visited when they became total converts and understood completely our fascination for the area. Why do we like it so much?
It is very private and quiet; we have helpful but unobtrusive neighbours within 400 metres who have applauded our hard work; the village, which has no shops, is sparsely populated (about ten houses). However, within about eight kilometres, there are towns with markets, restaurants, shops, riding stables, chateaux. Also,the Normandy beaches are about an hour away by car, and Paris is about 2 hours by train.
It is easy to reach the cottage from coastal ports, airports and stations.

What makes this property unique

The garden (a field, in truth) has ample space for children and adults to play and relax, with very little passing traffic other than the odd tractor and horses in the nearby lane. Comments made by our visitors – some of whom have returned 2 or 3 times, include: What a wonderful location, far from the crowd and quiet enough to hear yourself think. Had a fantastic time in this gorgeous cottage – visited the chateaux and local markets and chilled – will definitely return again. We have all enjoyed our week here. The children love playing in the garden, we love the wonderful birdsong and fire in the evening. The local area is beautiful to walk around. A delightful and very comfortable gite in a tranquil setting, with a huge range of fascinating places to visit within easy reach.

Languages:

English, French

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Traditional Normandy Cottage

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Toilet 1

Spaces

About this property