About the Gite
Gite La Meriennerie is part of a 350 year old property, now operating as a private stud and sport horse stable, Haras de la Losquette. Nestled in a vale in Normandy, it is a small slice of rural peace. There is no ambient light, no neighbours and no traffic noise – a perfect getaway. There are, however, a plethora of nature’s neighbours – a wide range of bird life, including swallows, owls, woodpeckers and sparrow hawks; many, many deer; five resident dogs and a number of horses from foals to competition horses.
The gite has been carefully renovated to provide comfort with a luxurious touch. Spacious bedrooms, with lots of light, and modern bathrooms with walk in showers cater for all guests. The downstairs en suite is suitable for those with limited mobility. The open plan living area incorporates a kitchen, living area and dining area, with a private south facing terrace to enjoy a summer evening.
WiFi is provided, and the hosts live in an adjacent house and are always available for recommendations or ideas.
About the Area
Gite La Meriennerie is 10 minutes from J7 of the N174, equidistant from the east and west coast of the Cotentin Peninsular, Normandy. The ports of Caen and Cherbourg are each an hour away, and from Lison station (20 minutes by car), Paris St Lazare can be reached in 2.5 hours in a direct train and Rennes airport is reachable in under 2 hours by car.
To the east, you can quickly reach all D-Day sites, including Omaha and Utah beaches, Pointe du Hoc, Grandcamp Maisy, St Mere Eglise and many more. Further north east, there is the lovely town of Valognes with its stunning architecture and townhouses to visit. If you continue to the coast, Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue is a sunny port village with access to the Unesco world heritage site of the island of Tatihou – perfect for a lazy lunch and garden stroll.
The west coast of the Cotentin Peninsular is characterised by long quiet sandy beaches, turquoise sea, views of the Channel Islands and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. For the more adventurous, there are surf schools and tree top adventures, or a 12th century castle to explore in Pirou. The Chausey Islands and the Mont St Michel are easily accessible, together with historic St Malo and chic Dinard.
The stunning town of Bayeux is a short drive away, through the historic Cerisy forest, with boutiques and brasseries aplenty. Caen, Cherbourg and Deauville are also easily reachable for day trips.
All amenities are available close by, with supermarkets and bakeries within a 15 minute drive. Saint Lo also has a range of restaurants.
About the Hosts
Atte de Jong and Jodie Seddon moved to France from the UK in December 2021, to renovate the property and develop their private equestrian business. Between them, English, Dutch, German and French are spoken. They have both travelled widely, and aim to bring the best of a wide range of cultures and tastes into this tranquil corner of the Normandy countryside.
There are five resident dogs, all of whom are friendly, and a professional equestrian facility also operates on site.