Maison La Criere - Normandy farmhouse sleeps 10+

Maison La Criere is a big, beautiful country house set in Calvados in Normandy. The house has 5 large bedrooms and sleeps up to 14 people. La Criere is situated in a peaceful secluded setting but is within very easy reach of many local attractions and amenities. A warm welcome awaits you at Maison La Criere. A spacious and very well-presented country house set in large gardens in a rural and tranquil area surrounded by quiet lanes and fields. With the peace and quiet of the rolling countryside it is an idyllic place to enjoy a relaxing and stress-free holiday yet within easy reach of Maison La Criere, you will find many local attractions and activities suitable for all ages and interests. Maison La Criere is absolutely perfect for large families and groups of friends and is suitable for all ages to enjoy. The local market town of Aunay sur Odon is located just 8 minutes away and offers a range of restaurants, bars and shops and several supermarkets with a lively French market every Saturday morning. Another 5 minutes on from Aunay sur Odon is Villers Bocage with a local market every Thursday and a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars. There are numerous hypermarkets within a 20 minute drive, some of which are open on Sunday morning which is rare in rural France! Very conveniently located for ferry ports at Caen (45 minute drive), Le Havre (90 minute drive) and Cherbourg (90 minute drive) and Caen-Carpiquet airport (30 minute drive). Paris is 3 hours away by train (direct) and car. PROPERTY DETAILS IN MORE DETAIL Kitchen and dining The large bright kitchen and dining area features a very large oak dining table which can easily seat 14. Two large windows and big French doors offer beautiful views of the grounds as you dine! A high chair is available for younger diners. French doors from the kitchen lead directly into the garden. The kitchen is very well equipped with a 5-ring gas range cooker, tall larder fridge, separate freezer, microwave as well as a dishwasher, washing machine, iron, ironing board and airer. Period fireplace with wood burning stove for those colder months. Tea towels and hand towels are provided. Games room Leading off of the kitchen is a large games room with pool table, table tennis table and table football. Hours of fun to be had by all! Living room For your relaxation is a comfortable spacious lounge with feature wood burning stove for cosy winter evenings. Three leather three-seater sofas plus armchairs gives seating for 11 guests with additional seating available if needed. Bookcases filled with books for your use as well as a selection of family games. TV with Freeview UK TV and French TV. DVD player and a range of family DVDs for your enjoyment. A good wifi connection is available throughout the property. Bedrooms Upstairs on the first floor are 4 large bedrooms. The Green Room, Red Room and Yellow Rooms have king-size beds (the Yellow bedroom has its own en suite shower room). In addition to this, the Teal Room has two 3-foot single beds which can be put together to make one large bed. Up on the second floor is a very large suite with its own living area with seating and TV. A bedroom with king-size bed is located at the end of the attic living room with its own large en suite shower and bath. We have provided plenty of storage in each of the bedrooms. Additional beds can be provided in the large attic living room area if required. There is plenty of space for another 4 roll out beds if needed. There are also two travel cots available if required. High quality bed linen is supplied and all beds will be made up and ready for your arrival. Bathrooms The main bathroom on the first floor has a shower and a bath under the large window giving incredible views over the surrounding countryside as you soak. 2 of the 5 bedrooms have their own en suite bathrooms. The Yellow Room on the first floor has en suite facilities with a large shower. The attic room on the second floor has a generous en suite bathroom with large shower and bath. Lots of good quality fluffy white towels are provided plus hand towels in all bathrooms. There is a toilet located at the end of the entrance hallway on the ground floor. The garden The grounds offer lots of space for fun and games for all ages. There are garden chairs and tables for 14+ guests in the lawned garden area plus a big barbecue for those looking for relaxation while enjoying the views and watching the local wildlife. There are lots of local birds and deer are often roaming in our field in front of the house. The secluded location lends for clear skies at night and great star gazing. There is plenty of parking for multiple vehicles within the grounds. The owners accommodation is on site. The house and gardens as shown in the photos are for your exclusive use. LOCAL SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES Beautiful Suisse Normand is just 20 minutes away and offers a wealth of activities. From a gentle stroll along the river at Clecy or Pont-d’Ouilly (with their many restaurants and picnic spots) to hiking, cycling, mountain-biking, rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding and zip-wiring. There really is something for everyone to enjoy. The viaduct at Souleuvre offers a wide range of activities for the most adventurous including bungee jumping, zip-wires, bridge swinging across the stunning valley, luge, space challenge and barefoot garden. For family excursions, Jurques Zoo is just 15 minutes away and makes for a great day out as does Festyland amusement park (30 minutes) with its rides and amusements. Both have special events on throughout the year. For those interested in history, the D-Day landing beaches are a 45-minute drive away. There are many fascinating and informative museums including those at Arromanche (the location of Gold Beach in the D-Day landings and site of the incredible Mulberry Harbours of World War Two), The Pegasus Bridge Museum and the World War Two Memorial Museum in Caen. Falais, the birth place of William The Conquer, with its Chateau offering tours and special events, is less than 30 minutes away. Bayeaux is 40 minutes away and is a great place for a stroll around, taking in the Tapestry, and then enjoying lunch at one of the many restaurants and cafes. There are plenty of tours for foodies, including tours of cheese producers, biscuit factories, chocolate makers, caramel makers and Calvados producers. Sampling the wares is a must! The property is surrounded on all sides by picturesque villages, great for wandering around and sampling the local drinks and food. Most have their own market days which are a great way to see the local produce. Details of local market days are available for guests at the house. Mont Saint Michel makes for another great day out and the Abbey, best seen in the early evening, it a spectacle which just has to be seen. For art lovers Claude Monet’s house and gardens make for a great day out too. The beaches out on the east are less than an hour away as are the picture postcard coastal towns of Deauville and Honfleur with their beautiful settings and wide range of shops and eateries. There really is so much to do in the area, you really can do as little or as much as you choose. THE OWNERS RECOMMEND The D-Day landing beaches and the numerous museums and cemeteries in the area are remarkable and thought provoking. Each offers a perspective on different moments in the Allied landings of World War Two. Villedieu-les-Poles is an ancient village which has been making copper goods since at least the 14th century and is the location of Europe’s only remaining working bell-foundry. It is a lovely place to wander around and see the local wares which are still being produced now. It is a hard place to leave without buying something! There is also a lovely weekly market and some great little places to eat.