Rural calm in a cottage for 2

The cottage is beautifully renovated in a clean modern style that conserves original features, such as the huge stone fireplace, ancient elm beams and limestone and cob walls. Ideal for a couple, there is spacious living accommodation for two people, well-equipped with modern comforts and conveniences. It is an ideal base for a peaceful and relaxing holiday cycling, walking, exploring wildlife, beaches, Norman cuisine and the history of World War II and the D-Day Normandy landings. Brecourt Manor and Carentan, sites of the famous battles, are close by. The spacious sitting room (4.5mx5.5m) has a vaulted ceiling, large stone fireplace with woodburning stove and ancient, elm beams. The separate, good-sized dining kitchen (3mx5.5m) is well-equipped. The double bedroom has a ensuite shower-room with toilet and handbasin, shaver point and heated towel rail. There are a laundry and further toilet and washbasin off the kitchen. Equipment includes full-size gas cooker, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer, kettle, filter coffee-maker, toaster, blender, iron, ironing board, hairdryer, 32” flatscreen TV with UK satellite channels, DVD player and broadband WIFI. Within 5 minutes drive are sandy beaches, including the famous Utah Beach, wetlands nature reserves, long walks, cycle paths on the flat, fishing, museums and historic sites, restaurants, shops, chateaux and ancient churches. Busy weekly markets, harbours, marinas and more shops and museums are in the nearby towns of Carentan and Ste Mère Eglise and the charming fishing villages, St Vaast La Houge and Barfleur. Omaha, Juno and Gold beaches, Mont Saint Michel, Barneville-Carteret, Bayeux, Cherbourg, Rouen and Caen and the American, British and German WWII cemeteries are all in easy driving distance. Le Marronnier is next door to a small, traditional, working dairy farm with horses, chickens and ducks. The (English) owners are next door and on-hand to help and advise as required. French is also spoken. The village of Ste Marie du Mont is 2 miles away and has two bakers, a butchery/charcuterie selling local produce (prize-winning artisanal pates and sausages), wet fish shops selling locally caught fish and seafood including the local moules and oysters, restaurants (where one can eat moules frites), a mediaeval church (with extraordinary renaissance tower), bar tabacs, post office, hairdressers and a doctor's. Car ferries are available from Portsmouth and Poole to Cherbourg, Caen-Ouistreham and Le Havre.The cottage is easily accessible by car from the ferry ports by fast, dual carriageways: * 38 minutes from Cherbourg car ferry * 70 minutes from Caen-Ouistreham car ferry * 2 hrs from Le Havre car ferry * 10 minutes from Carentan Railway Station * 2.5 hours from Paris via Gard du Nord and Carentan Railway Station