La Cachette is a detached stone cottage, set in its own private garden with beautiful panaramic views of the beautiful Sienne river valley. Located about 300 metres along a country lane (recently resurfaced) which leads directly to a footpath beside the river, the gite is in the middle of a conservation area renowned for its stunning scenery. A wonderful riverside walk meanders its way to Gavray and many other superb walks are accessible direct from the house. Fishing is available in the river within 200 yards of the gite and the area is teeming with wildlife such as deer, badgers, hare, buzzards, owls, and even the occasional otter. The local town of Gavray, which is just 5 minutes by car, has a supermarket as well as a choice of restaurants, banks, shops etc. A very popular market is held in the town every Saturday morning. The pristine sandy beaches of the west coast are a mere 20 minutes drive away. The port of Granville, the famous 'copper' town of Villedieu les Poeles, and Countance with its Cathedral, are all within 20 minutes or so, and Mont St Michel, Bayeux, and the D-D beaches are all within easy reach.
Lovely detached cottage set in its own garden with stunning panoramic views
- Cottage430 sq. ft.
- Bedrooms1
- Sleeps3
- Bathrooms0
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay4 - 7 nights
Gite in La Baleine near Gavray, Manche - Superb Countryside, Close to Beach And Major Normandy Places Of Interest. Discount with Brittany Ferries.
Owner
Patricia Hawkey
- Response rate:
- 90%
- Response time:
- within a few hours
- Speaks:
- english, Little French.
- Calendar last updated:
- Jun 15, 2018
About Patricia Hawkey
Dave and I are both from Surrey. We met at a dance when I was 16 and Dave was 17. Both of us are from large familes, I am the eldest of 5 and Dave was one of 5 boys. We have one daughter, two sons and 7 grandchildren ages ranging from 2 to 24 and we are all very close. Never a day goes by that I have not spoken to one member of the family. We lived at Tattenham Corner on Epsom Downs for 33 years until we moved to France. This was a result of Dave suddenly being made redundant aged 56. Our intention was always to move to Cornwal but this was not really feasible financially, so we had to rethink. It was either Spain or France, but as we already had an apartment in Spain we decided on France, mainly because it was so much easier for the family to visit. One car on the ferry with the family and dogs, instead of lots of flights and worrying about the dogs. We travelled extensively before we moved to France, our favourites places being India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand to name a few. So in 2017 we are hoping to visit one or two of these places again to celebrate out Golden Wedding. We still enjoy getting out and people say they do not know how we manage being always on the go, but, why not? While we are able we will continue to go from France, to the UK to visit the family and friends and then fly over to our home in Spain and just relax.. I hope this gives you a bit of an insight to both of us and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our little bit of paradise
Patricia Hawkey purchased this Cottage in 2005
Why Patricia Hawkey chose La Baleine
We viewed several properties over a week's visit, but on arriving at La Baleine we immediately fell in love with the area. The house and location reminded us very much of Fownhope, a village on the river Wye near Hereford where Dave's grandparents had lived. It was because of this that we named our house 'Fownhope'. On entering, we realised this was our dream home. I still cannot believe we live here. Our 3 bed semi turned into a 7 bedroomed house full of character with a cottage. This was the bonus, we never feel lonely as we meet people from all different countries and different walks of life so there is never a dull moment. The separate gite (La Cachette) was a bonus. It is on the other side of the lane from our main house and about fifty metres towards La Baleine. Apart from running the gite we also do occasional B&B in the main house so if you want to arrive midweek this is an option for accommodation until the gite is available.
What makes this Cottage unique
Laval, the lane that runs between our house 'Fownhope' and our gite 'La Cachette' is part of a randonee - an official French rambling route. Very often, when walkers pass by, they stop outside our house, to take photographs, or simply to take in the stunning view. The comment we here most often is 'C'est magnifique', whether they are facing our house, or directly away from it, down towards the river. Guests staying in La Cachette frequently describe the area around it as 'a little piece of paradise'.There is little more we can add.
Amenities
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Heater
- Internet
- No Smoking
- Parking
- Pets Welcome
- TV
Bedrooms
- 1 Bedrooms, Sleeps 3
- Bedroom 11 baby crib
- Description of sleeping capacity: Sleeps 1 Bedroom + 1 cot and or fold up childs bed. Notes on bedrooms: Light and airy large bedroom with double bed, sofa bed suitable for a child and ample room for a travel cot. There are bedside lamps, two chest of drawers and matching wardrobe. All bedding is Egyptian cotton with choice of feather or polyester pillows.
Bathrooms
- 0 Bathrooms
- Shower room 1shower
- Downstairs shower room with wash basin and toilet.
Location Type
- River
- Rural
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Hair Dryer
- HeatingThis can be provided.
- Internet
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Living RoomOpen plan kitchen / lounge/diner.
- Parking
- Towels Provided
- Washing MachineAvailable in the Owners house opposite.
Kitchen
- Coffee Maker
- Dishes & Utensils
- KitchenNew 2016.
- MicrowaveCombi Oven, Grill, Microwave. New 2016
- Refrigerator
- Toaster
Dining
- Child's Highchair
- DiningTable and chairs.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 4 people
Entertainment
- Books
- DVD PlayerPlus a selection of DVDs
- Music LibraryA large celection of CDs.
- Satellite / Cable
- Television
Outside
- BicyclesThese are available to be used but we take no responsibility for any accident. Its at your own risk.
- Deck / Patio
- GolfSeveral golf courses nearby
- Lawn / Garden
- Outdoor Grill
- TennisSeveral outdoor tennis courts available to book.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessible
Attractions
- arboretum
- autumn foliage
- churches
- forests
- restaurants
- zoo
Leisure Activities
- bird watching
- gambling casinos
- horseback riding
- scenic drives
- sight seeing
- walking
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
- hospital
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- cycling
- fishing
- fly fishing
- golf
- hiking
- ice skating
- swimming
- tennis
Notes
- Notes on accommodation: An iron and ironing board and cleaning products supplied in La Cachette. Rotary line in the garden. Calor gas living flame fire in the lounge for heating. We are happy to arrange a basket of fresh salad and/or vegetables from our local Saturday market. Fresh flowers/champagne can be organised for that special occasion. The restaurant at the beginning of our lane is superb if you would like to book a table there for your day of arrival please let us know. We regret no dogs except under exceptional circumstances. Please contact us to discuss. Strictly no smoking in the property. Outside: The gite has a large private garden with patio table and chairs, set under the pergola. There are sun loungers and umbrella. There is a stone barbecue for cooking al fresco while you enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings. Rotary washing line in the garden. Usual cleaning equipment polish, dusters, broom, dustpan and brush. Ironing board and iron. Cleaning / Towels / Linen All bed linen is cotton, lovely Egyptian cotton bath and hand towels provided. There is a choice of feather or polyester pillows. All linen is renewed every year so that its fresh and crisp. New pillows bought for every new season. Other: La Cachette has been fully booked for the last 10 years. We live opposite and in our house we have 3 double b&b rooms a private bathroom and wc. Photographs are shown. For details please contact me.
House Rules
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
Canceled bookings will not receive a refund
16 Reviews
Beautiful, peaceful setting, set in it's own little suntrap.
Booking was really easy and Pat responded to our emails very promptly.
We didn't expect such fantastic weather at the beginning of April and were incredibly lucky to have sunshine for the full 3 weeks. We went for rest and relaxation and got it in spades and managed to fully recharge our batteries.
The cottage is clean and tidy and has everything we needed. It is comfortable in the sitting area and the bed is incredibly comfortable with very good quality bedding. I slept better than I have in years. There is plenty of storage in the bedroom and there was always lots of hot water.
There are many different kind of birds who came onto the patio to eat the food that the owners had placed there for them and it was lovely to watch them and to listen to them singing. The place is very quiet and surrounded by wild flowers and trees.
My partner fished in the nearby river and even caught a trout!
We were sad to leave and could have stayed the whole summer. If you've booked you will love it and if you're considering booking I would recommend that you go ahead and do so, you'll definitely not regret it.
I also recommend the Le Krill restaurant which is a few minutes walk away down the lane. Amazing food and drink at reasonable prices (some of the best we have ever had in France). We went on Friday lunchtime and it was very busy with local diners. I bet it's difficult to get a table in the height of the season.
The big supermarket on the way into Granville is the place to get excellent groceries and great wine.
For those that are wondering.....there is phone reception and the wifi works ok. Believe me though you'll want to put your phone onto silent!!
I also must mention the amazing night sky, there is no light pollution and the stars are fantastic, just mesmerising!
We would be very happy to go again, it's such a little tranquil oasis.
Dear Diane and Martin, Thank you so very much for this wonderful feedback. Dave and I are both so happy you enjoyed your stay in La Cachette and that you found everything as you expected or better. This is what makes it all worthwhile for us.
This is the reason we love living in this little piece of paradise, and the sun is still shining!
We do hope we will see you again. Once again, thank you for booking your holiday with us in La Cachette. it truly lives up to its name we think.
All the very best from us both.
We loved it!
My husband and I have sadly just arrived home after spending a fantastic week at this little piece of heaven and were very sad to leave.
The Gite is kitted out to an extremely high spec with the addition of a welcome pack to ease you in after a long journey including a bottle of their friend's home made cider which was extremely welcome. We wish we had had space to bring a few bottles home on our motorbikes.
If you are after peace, quiet and tranquillity in the fantastic French countryside after a day out exploring this amazing region look no further.
Pat and Dave are a delight to have as hosts.
Thank you folks. xx
A relaxing stay in beautiful surroundings
This lovely detached cottage in beautiful countryside is the perfect place to relax, read and rewind. Peaceful private garden where the sun shone all day.The only real noise was that of birds singing. Birds of prey fly by. Perfect spot to explore surrounding area. Dave and Pat are perfect hosts, we really enjoyed our stay.
The cottage was lovely ; it was very comfortable and had everything you needed.
We stayed for 2 weeks and had a very relaxing and enjoyable time. The cottage and garden are both great and such a peaceful setting within the beautiful Normandy countryside. Pat and Dave, who own the property, are very friendly and helpful which contributed to us having such an enjoyable stay.
We had some nice weather during our stay and just sitting in the garden (with a glass or wine or two !) is a great way to relax and unwind. There are however plenty of nice places to see without having to travel too far, e.g. Granville, Coutances, Brehal (lovely beach) ; further afield you have Bayeux and the D-Day landing beaches which are well worth seeing. The roads in Normandy are generally quiet (and toll-free which is an added bonus).
There are plenty of lovely cafes and restauarants to try ; the one closest to the cottage is called "Le Krill" and only a short walk away and the food is excellent.
The cottage is definitely one we would like to return to and hopefully do so in the near future.
Hello Stuart, Thank you for your lovely comments. We are delighted that La Cachette lived up to your expectations and you therefore had a great holiday. We certainly hope to see you again. kind regards Pat and Dave
Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings
We had a great holiday at La Cachette! It's a lovelly well equiped cottage in beautiful surroundings with a large tree to sit in the shade when the weather was hot. There was a welcoming packet of grocery's when we arrived which was very kind of Pat and Dave. And when I had really bad sunburn of my feet, Pat helped to cure it with aloe vera. Really kind owners. We visit the beach a lot who are in easy reach. Made also a lot of daytrips to the D-day beaches and musea, went to Cite de la Mer in Cherbourg (which is a must see!), the zoo in Champrepus, Caen, Granville and all the other places around La baleine. There's a lot to see. The weather was beautiful and so was our holiday.
Petit but perfectly formed
This was the perfect place to relax and get away from it all. Very well equipped including a lovely 'welcome' pack and all that was needed to chill in comfort. A shame that our hosts were away and that both recommended restaurants were closed. We may well have to return if only to say 'hello' and sample the local cuisine. Do hope the cats are still thriving.
Thank you for the lovely comments regarding your holiday in La Cachette. We are so happy that you found everything as you hoped it would be and were able to relax and make the most of your stay.
We are sorry we were not there to meet you on this occassion but hopefully if you return as planned we will see you then. Thank you again for booking with us. best wishes Pat & Dave
Location
Coast/Beach:
Of all the Normandy coast, the department of Manche boasts the greatest number of European blue flag beaches ideal for swimming or sunbathing. Its an easy 20 minutes drive to west coast beaches where you can walk for miles along the sandy beaches such as that at Coudeville sur Mer. Another resort, Gouville sur mer, situated just 10 kilometres from Coutances, is famous for oyster and sea urchin farming. It has a fine sandy beach bounded by sand dunes stretching over six kilometres.
Travel:
We have a Brittany Ferries Club membership which will enable you to get a discount on your ferry booking. The code is on the booking form. Airports at Cherbourg, Dinard and Rennes all around 1.15 minutes. Port of Caan, Cherbourg 1.15 minutes. Port of Le Havre 2 hours. Channel Tunnel 4 hours. Port of Granville 25 minutes. Daily ferry crossing to Jersey. Direct rail link to Paris from Villedieu Les Poeles which is 20 minutes drive.
Distances:
Gavray, 5 minutes.
Hambye and the Abbey, 10 minutes.
Port of Granville, 25 minutes.
The famous Copper town of Villedieu Les Poeles, 20 minutes.
Coutances and cathedral and gardens, 20 minutes.
Mont St. Michel, 45 minutes.
D Day landing beaches and WW2 memorial sites 1.25 hours.
Bayeux Tapestry and Cathedral 1.25 hours.
Further Details:
In Gavray there is an English speaking doctor, a pharmacy with English speaking chemist. Banks, butchers, bakers, supermarket with petrol station. English speaking veterinary. Hardware shop, hairdressers. Coutances is 20 minutes away. Here you will find new indoor bowling, ice skating and ice go karting. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor pool, squash courts. The wonderful Cathedral is worth a visit. The museum and it's superb gardens is opposite the cathedral and has exhibitions through the year. Jazz sous les Pommiers (Jazz Under The Apple Trees) the Annual Jazz festival takes place in Coutances in May. Music takes over the streets, churches, cafes and additional activities include plenty of oyster eating. Although events in the street are free except for the Fanfare on the Sunday, a fee is charged for the theatre and a few other indoor venues. At Villedieu les Poeles you will find an indoor pool with saunas. The large Tuesday morning market is very popular, selling fruit, vegetables, fish, clothes, furniture and much more. You can visit a number of museums and the bell foundry. The zoo at Villedieu les Poeles is fantastic. At St. Lo, there is a new indoor swimming complex with chutes and rides. The port and busy seaside town of Granville has many fish restaurants and shops to choose from. There is the old cobbled town looking out towards the channel isles. Daily excursions from the port to Jersey. The cliff top house and gardens and Museum of Christian Dior are situated here as well. We have internet available in our house opposite and everyone is welcome to use it. A friend of ours is a keen cyclist and was a member of the British cycling team. He can recommend where to go cycling for those that enjoy this hobby. We do have some cycles for those that would like to use them, but this would of course be at your own risk. Paris takes 2 hours 50 minutes by train and goes direct from Villedieu les Poeles. A daily ferry runs from Granville to Jersey.