Picture a charming 1768 stone-built Norman farmhouse, with white wooden  shutters, a secret walled garden, orchard and views of the sea on three
 sides. This is what we are lucky enough to have bought - as you may have  heard - and are very keen that when we can't be there, others are enjoying
 it.

 We're not letting it out commercially, only to friends or friends of friends like  you! This means we're really not charging very much, just enough to help  keep it ticking over. So let us know if you're interested and we'll fix a price  depending on time of year, number of people etc. This little stretch of  undiscovered Norman coast (known as the Val de Saire), with its wonderful  coves and famously good rock pools, has an extraordinary micro-climate with  the same summer sunshine quota as parts of the south of France - although  thankfully not the 40 degrees temperatures! Its winters are also mild (it's
 not unusual to lunch outside in December and palm trees are commonplace)  but it is sometimes dramatically stormy. It would be perfect for Christmas or  New Year. It's also incredibly easy and quick to get to.

 Just behind the square in Gatteville-le-Phare, only 25 minutes along a  spectacular coastal drive from Cherbourg (2 1/2 hours from Portsmouth or  Poole on fast ferries running from April to October, or just under five hours
 on the slow ferry.)

 It has three big bedrooms. One is huge, with doubled-height ceiling, polished  wooden floor, vintage mirrored dressing table, divan, and lovely en-suite  bathroom with beautiful antique basin and chandelier - and glimpses of the  sea and church at Barfleur.

 There's another big double room and a third good-sized room with full-size  bunk-beds and built like a ship's cabin. Both doubles have beautiful antique  French beds.Overall sleeps 6 to 9 without a problem, but also cosy enough
 for just a couple.

 Downstairs, there is a spacious, beamed sitting room with a huge open
 stone fireplace, walnut daybed with chrome angle-poise lamp, sofa bed,  vintage leather armchair and lovely garden views. There is also a good-sized  shower room with vintage, but highly efficient walk-in black marble shower.  The white and blue wood-panelled kitchen is also big, with another giant
 open stone fire and a very sexy and large Lacanche two-oven, six-ring
 cooker.
 All equipment is of a very high quality and includes a new Magimix and smart  set of stainless steel saucepans. The large oak table can sit up to 12, or
 there are plenty of chairs and tables for eating outside - where there is also
 a built-in stone barbeque/fireplace. There is a dishwasher, washing machine  and fridge with a large freezer in the barn.

 There is wonderful walled garden with fruit trees, roses, agapanthus, lilacs,  lilies, daisies, fig tree etc etc, and a large stone barn with loads of holiday  paraphenalia to borrow such as bikes, surf boards, buckets, spades and  fishing nets.
 The front of the house has a beautiful wisteria, olive tree, lavender hedge
 and herb garden.

 On the other side of the house is a south facing courtyard, a large grassy
 area suitable for football etc and orchard with apples and pears (and  sometimes next door's chickens.)

 Gatteville is a beautiful village with two award-winning shops - a fantastic  butchers/deli and a boulangerie/general store, both within two minutes walk.

 There is an amazing lighthouse 20 minutes walk away, a nature reserve,  empty, unspoilt and sometime wild beaches all within easy walking distance.

 Ten minutes in the car gets you to another fantastic swimming beach
 recently named as one of the top ten in France and in the other direction  there's a gorgeous cove with good surf.

 Historic Barfleur is 2km away - less by coastal path - and is a small and  picturesque fishing port with a great selection of restaurants, antique shops  and markets. There are also excellent walks nearby, wildlife reserves,  windsurfing, golf courses, beautiful chateaux, flea markets, food markets,  loads of history from the Norman Conquest to the Normandy landings all  within easy reach.

 There's also a sailing school for four to eighty-year olds and three riding  stables. St Vaast is an increasingly trendy yachty hang-out just down the  coast, with two top-notch restaurants.

 Le Vaast has a pretty river, rolling countryside and reputedly the two best  patisseries in France. Food generally is ridiculously good - especially if you
 like fresh fish or anything involving either apples or cream!

 The whole thing is magical both for children and grown ups, and everyone  who's stayed so far has raved about the place.

 Hope you can make it there too.
 Sonia and Jon