Property
Simple but comfortable apartments renovated by British expats Sandy and Barrie. Located in a rural area of northern Brittany, the apartments contain kitchens and laundry facilities. Our children enjoyed running around on the grounds (and watching the cows grazing in the pastures); there is a small above-ground pool and a trampoline for kids. Reasonable prices.

Location
Located inland in northern Brittany, just outside the town of Mellé. Comfortable base for day trips around northern and central Brittany : Fougères, Rennes, Cancale, Mont Saint Michel, Dinan, St. Malo.

Sleeps
Four apartments, sleeping 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Highlights
Exploring the beautiful region – watching the tides from dramatic Mont Saint Michel, eating oysters in Cancale, visiting the aquarium (and the walled town) at St Malo and exploring the beautiful castle town of Fougères.

Good to know
Brittany’s weather is – well – unpredictable. Pack accordingly. Better yet, stop by the nearby town of St. James and pick up the beautiful sweaters for which they are famous. In the summertime, weekly rental Saturday to Saturday. Sheets and towels are included.

Contact
http://www.brittanyfarmhouse.net

Written by Kimberly Sullivan

Property
A nine-acre property of mature forest and grassland with six 2-bedroom gîtes, three 3-bedroom gîtes, and a detached 3-bedroom chalet in rural Brittany. Each of these is light, bright, and clean and has a fully equipped kitchen and its own patio barbecue area. Additionally management provides travel cribs, highchairs, and stair gates. Free laundry facilities are available on site. A very stress-free set up for parents of young children (and a perfect complement to a longer French vacation with lots of smallish hotel rooms on the itinerary).

Location
The charming Breton village of Riec sur Belon is ½ mile away, and has supermarkets, boulangeries, newsagents, restaurants, and an English-speaking doctor. Beautiful beaches and harbors are no more than a 30 minutes drive away, many are much closer.

Sleeps
4-7.

Highlights
La Villeneuve has a securely fenced heated pool (kept around 80°F), a children’s play area (including swings, slides, forts, sandboxes), bikes for borrowing, a boule pitch, table tennis, and plenty of room for kite flying, running, and ball play. Weekly barbecues and chocolate hunts (think Easter, but in a French forest). There are also horses and ponies on the property (in a nearby meadow, separate from the complex). While the hosts do not offer riding, younger guests are welcome to groom and pet the smaller ponies during their stay.

Good to know
English hosts David and Judith Ross live on site and are always available to help. La Villeneuve has a one-week minimum in high season, but can offer flexible stays at other times of year.

Contact
www.brittany-gites-la-villeneuve-france.com

Written by Jamie Pearson