La Ferme Bretonne

About this property

A Brittany farmhouse for all seasons whether snuggled up by the woodburning fire or playing rounders in the garden, La Ferme Bretonne is such a peaceful holiday home close to the Loudéac Forest and only half an hour from the coast. It’s the perfect base for cycling, horse-riding and other rural and beachside adventures as well as pottering around old villages and historic towns.

The owners have created such a welcoming home, having sensitively retained the character of an old Breton farmhouse and furnishing it so warmly with cosy sofas, works of art and personal touches contrasting the exposed wood beams and stone walls. A welcome pack with organic wine, bread and cheese awaits in the traditional French kitchen, such a charming spot for a morning coffee as the light shines through the south-facing windows.

Upstairs you will find five comfortable bedrooms - three doubles and two twins alongside three modern bathrooms (two of them en suite). At the very top of the house beneath the characterful beams, discover another inviting space for relaxing with a glass of wine and music, playing board games and puzzles with family or peeking through the windows to the rural landscapes around you.  

Across the three hectares of grounds, where horses graze on the organically managed land, look out for an abundance of wildlife from hares and deer to the occasional wild boar and listen for the nesting owls in the barn. Enjoy a barbecue in the outdoor barn, play table tennis and badminton or have fun with the rugby ball and rounders set. As the night draws in, the stars light up the clear skies above you in this idyllic countryside setting.

Cycle to the local village to pick up your morning bread or venture a little further to an excellent boulangerie, small supermarket and Thursday morning market around 4km away. There’s summer canoeing in another nearby village, not to mention some incredible walking, biking and horse-riding trails across the vast Loudéac Forest so close to La Ferme Bretonne.

Gaze at pretty vistas from a café terrace in medieval Moncontour, only 13km away, and visit the stables, blacksmith’s forge and horses of the National Stud in Lamballe, a beautiful town also famous for its Breton arts and crafts.

Within a 30 to 45-minute drive you could be admiring the beauty of the Brittany coastline with stunning walks, rocky coves and vast sandy beaches such as the much-loved Plage du Val André, perfect for families with its attractive promenade and amenities. Further inland, Lac Guerlédan is offers seasonal watersports, lakeside activities and tree-top adventures in the wonderful surroundings of Brittany’s largest lake.

Just over an hour’s drive from St Malo’s ferry terminal, La Ferme Bretonne is located in rural Brittany on the edge of the beautiful Loudéac Forest, yet within easy reach to historic towns and some fantastic beaches.

Just off a country lane, surrounded by three hectares of grounds where the neighbours’ horses graze, keep an eye out for hares, deer, maybe even wild boar and birds of prey as well as the resident owls nesting in the barn. With only a handful of farms and other houses dotted across the landscape, the lack of light pollution results in starry nights on clear evenings.

This is a great location for keen cyclists who can cycle to local villages or try off-road trails on their mountain bikes across the vast Loudéac Forest, also a wonderful place for horse-riding and walking across its 2500 hectares.

The nearest village is a 5-minute drive away (or follow country paths on foot) where there’s a little bar that also sells bread as well as a historic church and a small lake for fishing, walks and picnics. There is an excellent boulangerie around 4km away in Plessala, alongside a small supermarket, pharmacy, bar, Thursday morning market and an artisan food producer just outside the village that sells French specialities ready to cook at home. Plouguenast (6km) has restaurants, a petrol station, bank and further shops as well as canoeing opportunities in July and August.

Admire the hilltop views from the small medieval town of Moncontour (13km), the setting for many historic battles. Nowadays you can wander around the narrow lanes, discover the remains of its ramparts and head to the 16th century stained glass window in Saint-Mathurin church, followed perhaps by lunch on a pretty café terrace with vistas.

The gorgeous town of Lamballe (29km) is home to the 19th century National Stud – look out for live displays and exhibitions as well as the opportunity to visit some of the stables and the blacksmith’s forge. The town is also known for its Breton arts and crafts which you can appreciate as you come across artisan studios and workshops. The Museum Mathurin Méheut is especially worthy of a visit to view the artwork of this early 20th century painter.

For a brilliant day out, there is a great range of beaches from vast stretches of sand to rocky coves. Find some amazing coastal walks around Hillion and Plage de la Grandville, around 30 minutes by car, whilst Plage du Val André (45km) is a popular spot for families with its sandy shores, summer lifeguard, attractive promenade and nearby cafes and restaurants.

Away from the sea, spend the day at Lake Guerlédan (35km), Brittany’s largest lake with so many seasonal activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sailing, pedaloes, fishing, lakeside beach picnics and walking as well as mountain biking, horse-riding, hiking and more. Guerlédan Parc Aventure offers tree-top adventure courses for varying abilities.

Accommodation

House Interiors
Ground Floor

-    Entrance hallway
-    Lounge with sofas and chairs, wood-burning stobe, TV with Freeview and DVD player, Door leads to garden
-    Kitchen and walk-in pantry, fully-equipped including range cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle, bean to cup coffee machine, dishwasher, double sink, two under-counter fridges, 3/4 -size freezer, TV with freeview and large table (for up to 12 guests). Doors lead to south-facing terrace
-    Utility room
-    WC with sink

First Floor

-    Main bedroom with double bed, countryside views and separate dressing room
-    Bedroom with twin beds
-    Bedroom with twin beds
-    Bedroom with double bed and en suite bathroom with walk-in shower, sink, WC and heated towel rail
-    Bedroom with double bed and en suite bathroom with walk-in shower, sink, WC and heated towel rail
-    Family bathroom with walk-in shower, spa bath, two sinks, WC and heated towel rail

Top Floor (open-plan loft space, low ceilings/beams, via open-tread stairs)

-    3 x sofas and music system
-    Desk with monitor and printer 
-    Games table and chairs (x8)
-    Curtained off area with large mirror and exercise bike

Outside Grounds

-    Gas barbecue
-    Barn for under cover barbecues
-    Table tennis (in barn or outside)
-    Badminton (in barn or outside)
-    Rounders
-    Rugby
-    Croquet
-    Adult road bikes (x4)
-    3 hectares of land with the neighbours’ grazing horses

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    2 x TVs with Freeview
-    DVD player and DVD library
-    Music system (in loft) for radio, CDs and vinyl
-    Music library
-    Printer and monitor (for connecting to laptop)
-    Board games and puzzles
-    Outdoor games
-    Road bikes (x4)
-    Table tennis
-    Dog bed
-    Washing machine