Chris & Andrea Masters - Tel: (00 33) 243 08 00 20 - E-Mail Candylion@orange.fr.
Special Deal for 2011: Prices for 3rd September to 1st October are reduced to our Low Season Rates this year!
La Cretouffière is an exceptionally charming and picturesque hamlet in a secluded and self-contained setting. It consists of a number of houses, barns, porcheries and bread ovens, built of local multi-coloured granite, which we have been actively and imaginatively restoring to provide a variety of accommodation. There is evidence that there have been buildings on this site for at least eight hundred years. Located in the quiet rural department of Mayenne (Southern Normandy/Eastern Brittany) known as Pays de la Loire, we are within easy driving distance of Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre or St. Malo. We have three cottages available; one is at the opposite end of the long-barn in which we live, and two are detached. There is also a shared 4m x 6m x 1m outdoor swimming pool generally available from June to mid-September.
The Units
Some Nearby Major Places of Interest
More Local Places to Visit
Activities
Local Villages and Towns
Prices
Contacts
These two units may be booked together, or “Clement” can be taken alone, when the Annexe will be closed off. “Clement” is a renovated turn-of-the-century farm cottage at one end of the long-barn, which has been thoroughly modernised but is externally virtually unchanged. It has a large living/dining room with exposed oak beams, comfortable seating, a woodburner, electric night-storage heater, and English Satellite TV with video/DVD player and CD/cassette player. The modern kitchen has a gas cooker, refrigerator with freezer compartment, microwave oven, kettle, toaster and all basic amenities, and leading off it is the downstairs shower room with toilet and basin. From the kitchen, the stairs lead up to a large attractive landing with clothes-hanging recess, which services three carpeted bedrooms: one double, one small double (restricted head-height on one side due to beams) and one with bunk beds (upper bunk fairly high). Each bedroom has a Velux rooflight, oak beams, chest of drawers and electric bar heating.
The attached Annexe to Maison Clement is much older (late 17th Century), and provides supplementary 2-person accommodation. This is an ideal self-contained unit for grandparents, friends etc. It is of open-plan design with huge oak beams and stonework; the kitchenette forms part of the dining/living room, with gas cooker, microwave, refrigerator, kettle, toaster and basic amenities. There is a two-seater sofa. Leading off there is the downstairs shower room with toilet and basin, and the staircase leads directly up into the well-lit upper level. This is a charming use of space with built-in double bed (slightly restricted access one side), and a sitting area at the other end with two easy chairs and cane table. There is an electric convector panel heater downstairs and portable heaters are available if required.
These properties have pastoral views over fields to the rear beyond the pool, and face onto the picturesque original bread oven, renovated to provide a BBQ and tree-shaded area. Garden furniture and parasols are provided for each unit.
This detached cottage, with its own garden area and outdoor furniture, is probably the oldest building on site and has demanded the greatest amount of restoration, with several unique external features including a half-spire topped with mosaics on the gable end. Owing to the nature of this conversion upstairs, it is not really suitable for children of less than around 9 years old. There is a large open-plan ground floor with chestnut flooring, an eclectic kitchen (full cooker, refrigerator, toaster, kettle, microwave), a large woodburner, and English Satellite TV, a DVD unit and a CD/tape player. From the corner of this room, a winding staircase leads to the extraordinary upper floor with two carpeted double bedrooms, accessed by stairs down from a landing ‘bridge’ that spans two of the major roof beams. The bathroom has a corner bath, toilet and mosaiked basin built into a tiled curved surface, and stained glass panels. There is a more conventional third twin bedroom with en-suite shower room/toilet.
This was our own house for many years and is spacious and well-equipped. It has a large open-plan kitchen/dining/living area, comfortable seating, central heating, and a woodburner, and is provided with English Satellite TV and a DVD player. The kitchen has a combination gas hob/electric oven, refrigerator with freezer compartment, microwave oven, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, and all amenities. Also on the ground floor is a utility room with washing machine, a separate toilet and a shower cubicle. There are two bedrooms on the first floor, a double and a small twin-bedded room with access to the rear garden, while at the next level is the main bathroom (bath, shower over, toilet and basin). On the top level is a large gallery-landing with a convertible sofa, and next door is a large twin bedroom.
This house overlooks the site and is south-facing, with outdoor seating shaded by planting. There is a large garden area to the sides and rear.
In 1999 we completed the outdoor 6m x 4m x 1m deep tiled pool, contained within its own enclosure well away from the cottages, with attractive views over the surrounding countryside. To one side is a traditionally constructed building in the style of a riverside village wash-house with broad steps giving easy access down into the pool itself. Depending on the weather, it is generally available from June to mid-September.
We have Septic Tanks at La Cretouffière, so we respectfully request our visitors to act sensibly with regard to sewage disposal, water consumption and use of the washing machine (shared by “Clement” and “Kayte”) situated in the building behind the pool. Guidance notes are displayed in the shower rooms. One initial set of cotton bed linen per bed is supplied (unless you request otherwise), but not towels/tea towels (these may be provided by prior arrangement)/
Arrivals: Not earlier than 4.00 pm local time, enabling us to ensure the property is how you would wish to find it. If you anticipate arriving after 10.30 pm at night please advise us beforehand.
Departures: Not later than 10.00 am. We would emphasize that we expect you to leave the property in a clean and tidy condition, as you will have found it.
Le Mont St. Michel – is among the most visited places in the world, and for good reason, so go early in the day or after dark when there are fewer visitors. We are near enough to make this practical and the journey there of just over an hour is an easy one.
If you find you have a taste for the architecture, you’ll find more at Vitré or Fougères, and you’ll have no trouble with the crowds here off the beaten track.
Not far beyond Le Mont is the fortress town of St. Malo, located on the beautiful rocky Emerald Coast where the clean sandy beaches and sparkling water can hardly fail to delight you, while inland from St. Malo is the bustling historic town of Dinan with its cobbled streets and timbered houses. Another favourite with our visitors is Bayeux, a pretty cathedral town where you will find the famous tapestry, and not far beyond are the Landing beaches of Normandy, to remind you of darker times.
Mayenne is an attractive riverside town 12 miles to the east and worth exploring. The Department, the River and the Town all share the same name. The nearby cloth manufacturing village of Fontaine Daniel with a lake set in the woods is particularly picturesque.
Gorron is 3 miles away and has all the facilities one expects in a small French town, i.e. boulangeries/patisseries, supermarkets, post office, bars, restaurants/pizzeria, swimming pool, recreational facilities, pharmacies and doctors' surgery. Ernee is 7 miles south-west and has the same facilities on a slightly grander scale.
Visit Domfront, a medieval town set on a hill with fine views and a ruined castle, or Pontmain, with beautiful stained glass in two very different churches inspired by 19th Century visionaries.
Weekly Markets are held in most local towns; the Wednesday morning market at St. Hilaire du Harcouet is recommended.
We are always happy to offer help and advice on making the best of the area, and ensuring your holiday is a memorable one.
There are many other places of interest; we can advise you once you are here. One exceptional attraction on our doorstep which is within walking distance is Les Jardins des Renaudies Parc Floral, open from May to September, where you’ll find an astonishing variety of plants arranged in what the French claim is ‘the English style’, together with a collection of ancient agricultural tools.
Many people find our site so charming they don’t leave it much. In the heat of the day the pool is welcome, and if the kids want to kick or knock a ball about we have a levelled playing area adaptable to the game of your choice, while the youngest will enjoy watching from the swings.
Off-site activities include swimming in a selection of local indoor and outdoor pools and lakes with designated beaches, cycling (bring your own or use one of our many bikes), or walking on the quiet roads and tracks nearby. If you are feeling energetic, try the Vélo Rail at St. Loup du Gast.
Wine-chasing – head for the vineyards of the Loire or simply stay here with a bottle from the local supermarket.
Tennis or Fishing – courts and permits available locally.
Colombiers du Plessis, a mile distant, is a quiet rural village with a bar/tabac where bread may be bought and fishing permits obtained. Gorron is a further two miles, and has all the facilities that one expects in a small French town, i.e. two supermarkets, bars, restaurants and pizzeria, post office, swimming pool, recreational facilities, pharmacies, and a doctors' surgery. Morning village markets are held locally. Ernee is seven miles to the south-west and has the same facilities on a grander scale.
Changeover Day is normally Saturday, but flexibility is sometimes possible, and we will do all we can to meet your requirements.
Charges per week:
| “MAISON KAYTE” (sleeps 2-6) or “MAISON CLEMENT” + ANNEXE (sleeps 2-7) | “MAISON CLEMENT” without ANNEXE (sleeps 2-5) | 2 people only in “CLEMENT” (or ANNEXE in High Season) | LA FERME (sleeps up to 6) | |
| Arrival Date: | ||||
| LOW SEASON: 1st April to 25th May and 22nd September to 12th October | £350 | £300 | £200 | £395 |
| MID SEASON: 26th May to 20th July and 25th August to 21st September | £395 | £345 | £285 | £495 |
| HIGH SEASON: 21st July to 24th August | £540 | £410 | £230 (annexe only if available) | £595 |
Included in the above WEEKLY costs per cottage is the provision of one initial set of bed linen per bed, bottled gas for cooking, and sufficient electricity & hot water for normal domestic use. If fresh linen is required during your visit, costs are 7 euros per person. We do not normally supply towels or tea-towels (unless by prior arrangement). We also have available one traditional wooden drop-sided baby cot (no linen) and a baby bath.
Security Deposit: The Client has a liability to the Owner for the cost incurred by any damage, breakages or extra cleaning. However, we do not ask for a Security Deposit as we prefer to work on trust. We would emphasize however that we expect you to leave the property as you will find it, in a clean and tidy condition. If you are unable to meet this requirement please advise us beforehand.
Short or Long Breaks Out of Season: We are happy to quote for longer lets as well as shorter low-season breaks.
E-mail: Candylion@orange.fr.
Telephone: France (00 33) 243.08.00.20
Or write to the resident owners:
Chris and Andrea Masters
La Cretouffière
Colombiers du Plessis
53120 Gorron
FRANCE
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