Riverside Cottage

Unplug and just relax, at your own personal retreat, our holiday cottage here on the river Villaine towpath adjacent to the Malon lock. Close to the picturesque town of Guipry/Messac. Its all calm - just you and the distant rush of an unhurried weir. 25 miles from Rennes. 1 hr from St Malo. A million miles from your office desk and Brexit.

The accommodation

Catering for four persons and consisting of an spacious open plan tiled lounge with sofa and chairs, dining area and kitchen plus two double bedrooms, bathroom suite and toilet.

The kitchen has a large fridge/freezer, microwave, gas cooker, Foreman grill, coffee maker, stovepot and all other modern essentials.

Heating is provided via a large electric convection radiator and cast iron wood burning grate. Large shuttered windows overlook the river to the front with another set to the rear overlooking farmland.

Bedroom 1 - large double bed with side lighting, full length mirror, wardrobe, chest of drawers and two bedside cabinets. Wooden shuttered windows, with river views.

Bedroom 2 - two comfortable single beds, wardrobe, dressing table and bedside table and with views of the countryside. A spare camp bed is provided for additional flexibility.

Bathroom - full length bath with overhead shower and mirrored wash basin. An electric hairdryer is provided. Separate wc.

32" TV/dvd/cd player and free-to-air satellite tv (BBC and ITV channels) and also a selection of books, videos, dvds and games (indoor and outdoor) to suit all ages. Nintento gamecube and games. Birds abound, so there are binoculars for bird watching - buzzard, nuthatch, green woodpecker, heron, tree creeper, kingfisher and cormorant all recently seen from garden, coypus in the river too. Finally saw a red squirrel this year 2017.

Outside

The chalet has a large private garden of fruit trees and mature roses enclosed by tall laurel hedges. The orchard has a large traditional brick 'Breton' barbecue and copper fire pit with a large picnic bench for 'al fresco' dining under the shade.

The garden is child friendly with hammocks, climbing ladder, paddling pool and tree swings. There are three adult and two childrens' bikes for use including helmets and locks. Large secure garage, with washing machine and private parking for 4 cars off the drive.

The location

The villages of Guipry and Messac are only 2km away, a 30 minute walk (15 mins by bike). The villages have bars, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and acies. These can be accessed via the tow path, a scenic bike ride (15 mins) which is as flat as it gets and passes a notable riverside chapel.

Many other walks are close at hand signposted by the local tourist organisations varying in length to suit all needs.

Our area

Rennes - The ancient capital of Brittany is a short car/train ride away and well worth keeping a day free for. A city blending an old town steeped in history with many buildings of historical / cultural interest. A modern vibrant university city teeming with bars, restaurants and shops.

Josselin - (66km) a historical town with a magnificent Chateau. St. Anne de Auray has massive outdoor altars and in July you can witness the Spectacular 'Pardon' festival. 'Son et Lumiere' productions are staged during the summer in the grounds of the Chateau. The castle town of Vitre offers an alternative medieval destination.

Loheac - (5km) A perfect rainy day option. This nearby village is the home of the largest motor museum in France with over 300 vehicles of all ages from the 19th century up to modern day formula one racing cars. The centre of the village has some beautiful period bars and highly recommended restaurants. National MotoCross Rally first week in September.

Bain de Bretagne - (10 km) Hypermarket , Large activity lake, dinghy/canoe courses, indoor swimming pool, lakeside cafe, bouncy castle, pedalos.

La Gacilly - (30km) pretty arts and craft town, with many galleries situated upon a river with dramatic weirs and waterfalls.

Markets - Guipry has its own small farmers' market on Thursday mornings and the surrounding towns have markets on various days of the week. The market at Roche Bernard (Thu) being notable, or for the big trip, Vannes on a Saturday.

Activities

Swimming - There is an open air pool in the nearby village of Guipry, open in the summer months and an indoor pool in Bain de Bretagne (10kms away).

Tennis - courts are available in nearby Guipry, by the open air swimming pool, also basketball riding - Available at nearby stables.

Boat Hire - Canoes and larger pleasure craft can be hired locally. The river flows at a leisurely pace during the Summer months. Dinghy sailing/ pedalo hire at Bain de Bretagne.

Walking - An extensive network of footpaths means that walkers can experience the natural beauty of the area.

Fishing - Fishing rights exist for you along the house front, your only competition is the local heron/cormorant. To take advantage of the prime fishing station (on the adjacent island) you'll need an inexpensive weekly fishing permit from the local tabac in Guipry. There is a basic 4m pole and rigs available in the chalet, with plenty of cheap tackle available locally. Cycling - Quiet country lanes and level paths along the river provide easy and safe cycling ways.

Golf - Rennes has three golf courses, the nearest of which and most recently opened is on the road to Rennes some 15 kilometres from Malon.

Beaches - The 'nearest' being Penestin (80kms) Morbihan , surrounded by the ocean, offers its 25km of coastline to sea lovers. La Boule, is within striking distance a bit futher on. Mine d'Or With its golden cliffs (listed site), numerous beaches, wild creeks and Trehiguier fishing port are varied natural settings.

Zoos and Parks. The zoological gardens at Branfere are 30 minutes away, a great trip for the kids. The Prehistoric Park (40 minutes) has large life size displays of the said era, and is close to a Tropical Garden Park. The 'Ferme de la Monde' at Carentoir offers a closer trip and has a great goat enclosure.

Wineries. You are only 40 minutes from Nantes. The Nantais is Muscadet country. This is the Western most stretch of Loire vineyards, accompanying the river along its last fifty or so miles before it s into the Atlantic, and the region also marks the most northwestern point of all France's vineyards. Centred around the city of Nantes, the vineyards are only part of a sandy landscape which includes industry, fishing ports, tourism and parades of French bikers. From the Nantais, it is a short journey east to reach the vineyards of Anjou and Saumur.

Rallies. If you are especially lucky you may hit upon one of the Loheac motor rally weekends. Its the French National Rally Cross championships early September normally. Enough said.

Guest comments

"All in all, a wonderful relaxing holiday - we will be back"

"Very enjoyable holiday, a nice part of the country"

"Super cottage and garden, just right for unwinding"

"Going home very relaxed and hope to return next year"

"We have had a great time. This is a wonderful part of the world and the surroundings are beautiful"

Travel info

Travelling here - Contact for 10% discount on Brittany Ferries. Time to drive from ferry terminals: St Malo 1hr 15mins. Cherbourg 3hrs Caen 3 hrs. Le Havre 3 hrs.

By air: 30 mins from Rennes airport, 40 mins from Nantes airport.

Car Hire: Note that many airport desks (bar Hertz - opens at 1100) are closed most of Sunday.

Notes

Pets: Well behaved dogs are welcomed, and love the towpath walks and river dips, but owners are reminded of their responsibilities to following guests who may have small children.

Changeovers: Guests to arrive after 1500 and vacate by 1000, please.

Our Promise: We aim to make your stay at our family holiday home as enjoyable as possible, but cannot forsee all eventualities. Please let us know directly of any matters that may require our attention and we will deal with them promptly.