What a wonderful little treasure hidden in the quiet beauty of the French countryside. Throw into the mix two fantastic and warm hosts, Jane and Dave, who really were spectacular. They were present when needed for impromptu fresh pizza making lessons or for the emergency pasta sauce request, and somehow invisible, making it feel like we were the only ones there. It was like having our very own house elfs leaving out crafting supplies for gregarious kids and honestly adding that little touch of magic to an already stunning break.
The Gîtes were clean, smart, homely, comfortable and the little extras by both Jane and Dave were all so unexpected they were little cherries on top. We arrived to a welcome basket of local treats from the Marché des Lices which was so thoughtful. The well thought out building conversations blended the old historical vibes with the contrast of modern convenience seamlessly. They were well equipped, the bathrooms modern and cooking options numerous. The multiple outdoor spaces were like little bubbles of choice, there were secluded and private areas and warm community congregation spaces, offering a large outdoor dining area with lighting to keep the conversations going well past nightfall. My favourite was the rocking sun chair overlooking the fields in the hidden sun trap behind the pool. Did I mention the heated pool? This was a must have that I didn't know I needed. It meant the kids were able to play endlessly even on the cloudy windy days. With pool floats, comfy deck lounges, and poolside fridge, both young and old were happy to just spend hours outside. Relaxation set to max!
The grounds were secure and fenced, enabling us to actually relax for a change whilst we let the children explore with freedom they wouldn't have experienced at a mainstream hotel. They adopted the resident animals as their own, played endless fetch with Nelson the border collie, collected the morning eggs for breakfast from the chickens and snuggled with the resident feline Casanova, Martin. This furry heartthrob would have been a stow away if not for airport security! They also explored the emerging gardens picking fresh tomatoes for salad making and herbs for dinner. Watching the teamwork as they picked pears from the tree to snack on was a delight. It was lovely to not feel the need to lower the kids excited max volume level, being so secluded they experienced joy without being shushed!
A hire car is a must, the secluded location was easy to find but with that comes the need of independent travel options. The Gîtes are an hour's drive from the small Rennes airport and a similar drive to beaches. With many closer historical French landmarks to explore, and larger towns we found everything close by we needed.
The kids are already asking to go back, just for Jane and Dave, the Gîtes and Martin the cat, not because they want to see more of France! That is the best seal of approval in my mind.
La Grande Martinière Gîtes are on our return to list and should be on yours too!
Response from the owner:Aliina, thank you for this really lovely review. We are so pleased you were able to relax and delighted the children enjoyed themselves. It was so lovely to hear them exploring and playing games. The animals are all missing you. I think Nelson met his match with the boys and four year old twins. He's been putting his paws up for the last few hours 😂. Martin sends his love and is very cross at the lack of kitty treats since you left! We would love to see you here again! Jane and Dave
FOLLOW US: