Countryside Gite in Calvados

This gite is one of three in the grounds and the oldest building on the site. Dating from before the French Revolution, previously, it has been used as stables, cattle sheds and store rooms. In 2000 it was completely renovated by the owners (except for the walls which are almost two feet thick!), staying faithful to the ambience and also to get the best out of the space available.

The gite is wheelchair accessible with a delightful en-suite twin bedroom on the ground floor and with a further three bedrooms on the first floor. A spacious kitchen, dining room and lounge occupy the rest of the ground floor and the paved patio and garden are easily accessed from the french windows at the rear of the gite.

The ground floor is tiled throughout and has a wood burning fire in the lounge. The dining room can accommodate up to 12 seated for dinner and an additional table can be provided for larger groups. The kitchen has all the equipment you would expect including a washing machine and dishwasher. A combi boiler provides instant hot water and central heating throughout the gite.

The property is fully equipped with garden furniture and BBQ equipment. The patio and garden overlook the duck pond (safely fenced from roaming infants). The first floor, with exposed original A-framed oak beams, has three bedrooms - one of which is en-suite, and the family room can sleep up to 4 people.

There is no television in the accommodation and the Wi-Fi connection can be poor due to the location.

The gite has access to a shared swimming pool with a pool hoist.

Specifications:

• Front door 85cm wide
• French window style doors: 118cm wide.
• The bedroom and bathroom doors are 78 and 80 cm wide respectively. The beds have fixed bars attached to the wall.
• The toilet seat is 42cm from the floor, and has two levered support bars on either side.
• The sink is 87cm from the floor.

A wheelchair can be wheeled directly into the shower which has a levered drop down bar for support.. An armless plastic chair, a chair with arms and a non-self propelled shower chair can also be provided.

Pet-friendly information - £100 per week per dog.

Ground floor: Fully accessible twin bedroom with ensuite shower room.

1st Floor: Twin bedroom, triple bedroom (4th bed also available), family room - double bed and single bed plus ensuite shower room.

Ground floor: Kitchen / Dining room with washing machine, dishwasher, large gas cooker, microwave, fridge freezer, kettle, toaster, coffee maker and iron.

Salon: Comfortable sofas and chairs, double futon, woodburning fire. French windows with access to private garden and barbecue area.

In Falaise, the local town, (5 mins away) there are a couple of great tourist destinations. Primarily the castle of William the Conqueror's birthplace is a great venue, but not all that accessible for wheelchairs.

This area is rich in the history of World War 2. A museum focusing on the civilian role is based in Falaise, which is very interesting. Mont Ormel is about 20 minutes away and marks the end of the Falaise Pocket - a brutal part of the war following the Normandy landings which documents the German retreat to Paris. It's not a widely known story but really interesting and very accessible.

Chateaux Vendeure is a lovely example of a French grand house and is about 15 minutes away. It has some beautiful gardens too.

Swiss Normandy is 20 mins to the west and has some breathtaking walks, as well as Canoeing and Accrobranch (Ziplines) in the trees. In Clecy ( possibly 25 mins away) there is a lovely miniature railway too.

Throughout this area there are multiple opportunities to see the distinctive cuisine of this area being manufactured. The the main ones are Cheese ( Camembert, Livarot and Pont l'Eveque) , as well as the heart and soul of Normandy - Cider and Calvados.

The beaches of Normandy are mostly accessible and there are several specific museums and experiences related to the Normandy Landings.

There are a couple of great Zoos within about 1 hour of the farm, both worth a visit, offering different types of experiences.

Within Falaise, there is an aquatic centre with slides and pools as well as a fitness centre, and we also have 3 amazing churches, one of which holds one of the largest Church Organ in Europe.