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La Belle Maison | 
Detached country cottage |
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Dining area | 
Sitting room |
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Double bedroom | 
Twin bedroom |
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Barbecue | 
Kayaks for hire nearby |
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Beside the River Lie | 
Medieval market towns |
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Beautiful scenery | 
Picturesque coastline |
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 Click here to see offer details
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Property |
Location |
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La Belle Maison |
Plessala, Brittany, France |
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One-off feature |
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A charming, detached Breton cottage with an enclosed garden, located in an extremely tranquil area near a river and forest.
This is ideal for nature lovers, bird watchers, walkers and cyclists, or anyone seeking a peaceful retreat, off the beaten track, that has the feel of a home away from home. |
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Property Info |
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Accommodation Type:
| House / Villa |
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Property Setting:
| Village / Rural |
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Holiday Type:
| Relaxing / Family / Sports & activity / Culture |
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Bedrooms:
| 2 |
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Guests:
| 4 |
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Catering:
| self-catering |
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General Info |
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La Belle Maison is a picture-postcard country cottage in central Brittany, near the friendly market village of Plessala.
Our gîte is especially popular with couples seeking a retreat from busy lives, but with two bedrooms and a garden it is also suitable for small families.
The house is fully equipped for year round self-catering holidays and we try to ensure it feels like a home from home rather than a faceless holiday let.
All the main rooms have working shutters, there are panel radiators throughout and duvets are provided in weights appropriate to the season. The plumbing and wiring was renewed in 2009 and the shower room refitted in 2010.
An up-to-date collection of large scale local maps, restaurant recommendations, details of nearby events and tourist information is maintained to help guests make the most of their stay.
We are completely flexible about change-over days (subject only to existing bookings) and offer short breaks out of high season.
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Details on the area surrounding the property/accommodation |
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This is a beautiful place with far-reaching views that change with the seasons.
The River Lie is just a short walk and has marked trails beside it and into the forest on the opposite bank. Activities available in the immediate area include kayaking, angling, cycling, rambling and pony trekking.
There are several medieval towns within an easy drive; street festivals, fest-noz, brocantes and farmers markets are regular events.
For days out, within 40 minutes there are large inland lakes with a variety of water sports, international standard golf courses, historic chateaux and walled cities, and of course the stunning north coast beaches.
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Getting there & away/local amenities |
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Getting There:
| La Belle Maison is an easy to reach holiday destination, just an hour from the nearest ferry and air ports and within three hours of all the western channel ports.
Main roads throughout Brittany are a pleasure to drive on; well signed, remarkably empty and toll free!
We offer our guests use of our 20% Brittany Ferries discount code. |
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Nearest airports:
| Dinard or Rennes 80 km |
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Nearest train station:
| Lamballe 25 km |
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Nearest ferry terminal:
| St Malo 90 km |
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Car Hire:
| Essential |
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Nearest restaurant:
| Plemet |
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Nearest beach:
| Hillion |
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Nearest shop:
| Plessala |
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Nearest market:
| Plessala |
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More Info |
Owner Info |
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Name |
Penny McClure |
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Contact Phone No. |
+33 (0) 296672807 / +44 (0) 7708596802 |
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Accommodation details |
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Activities Nearby |
Birdwatching / Canoeing / Cycling / Fishing / Golf within 30km / Horse Riding / Tennis / Walking / Watersports
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Interior Facilities |
Cot / Highchair / DVD player / Linen provided / Log Fire / Television / Washing Machine
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Interior Details |
Entrance hall : six shallow steps to front door, traditional Breton porch, original terracotta floor tiles, coat hooks, full length mirror, stocked bookcase.
Kitchen-diner : dual aspect, built-in electric over, gas hob, fridge-freezer, washing machine, microwave, kettle, toaster, coffee-maker, radio. Good quality dining suite, views south and east over garden and adjacent country lane.
Sitting room : chestnut parquet, very comfy sofa and armchairs, woodburner, TV receiving english language channels, DVD player, views south over barbecue area.
Double bedroom : large wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside tables and lamps, mirror, chair, west facing views to distant forest.
Twin bedroom : dressing table, wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside lamp, chair, room for travel cot, east facing views of surrounding fields.
Shower room : enclosed shower cubicle, sink with cupboard under and mirror over, WC, towel radiator, chair.
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Exterior Facilities |
BBQ / Garden / Parking / Terrace
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Exterior Details |
La Belle Maison has mature south-west facing grounds with many flowering shrubs; there are also cherry, apple, greengage and oak trees.
A built-in barbecue and hardwood garden furniture provide a lovely outdoor dining area. A bench seat and two sun loungers are also provided.
Guests are welcome to help themselves to fruit from the trees, and to herbs from the planter beside the bbq.
This is a perfect place for relaxing with a glass of wine, or the local cider, to watch the sun go down over the forest, or to star gaze at clear night skies.
Many varieties of birds can be seen without even leaving the cottage garden, and butterflies are everywhere. Deer, hare and even boar have been spotted crossing the neighbouring fields.
If required there is a secure cellar beneath the cottage where guests can store cycles.
A rotary dryer is located to one side of the garden.
There is plenty of off road parking.
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Further Details |
The English owner's French home along with their other gîte are situated a short distance behind the cottage; due to the lie of the land and orientation of the buildings these other properties do not overlook the cottage, nor share an entrance or grounds with it. We are on hand to assist or give advice if requested but do not intrude on guests' privacy.
The nearest small town, Plessala, is 3km. This a thriving friendly community with individual shops and a weekly market; there is a very good Creperie, two bars, boules and tennis courts and a trout lake surrounded by parkland where firework displays take place during fetes. The mayors office actively encourages walkers, cyclists and riders by publishing route maps and maintaining well marked trails around the area, that take in beautiful vistas, historic buildings and the Celtic stone crosses for which this commune is renown.
Moncontour, 10km, should not be missed. Designated a Petite Cite de Caractère, it is a wonderfully preserved medieval hilltop town with lovely old buildings amongst winding streets; the church square is a good place to stop for and drink at a cafe and watch the world go by. The regular Fetes des Ramparts is held in full medieval costume, and several other festivals take place throughout the year. There is a selection of restaurants in the town.
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Conditions of
Rental |
A £150 booking deposit is required to secure a reservation.
The balance is due 6 weeks before arrival.
Payment is accepted in euros or sterling by bank transfer.
Card payment is possible via PayPal.
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Other Information |
Child Friendly / Other rental properties on site / Short breaks available
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What visitors have said about La Belle Maison |
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Very peaceful location.
Friendly and informative owner; bread, milk, etc. thoughtfully left for us by her.
Facilities, Setting, Local Amenities and Value for Money all 10 out of 10 !
Maureen, UK, Nov 2011 
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We received a warm welcome from Penny and enjoyed a house that had all the facilities to ensure a great holiday.
Great weather, peace & comfort; we couldn't have wished for more.
Colm & Carla, Rotterdam, Sep 2011
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The property was exactly as shown in the pictures. It was fully equipped with good quality utensils in the kitchen. The bathroom was immaculate. Both bedrooms were presented with fresh bed linen, and the lounge was delightful. The grounds were well maintained, with patio furniture, sun loungers and BBQ. The gite was positioned in a beautiful tranquil setting which made for a perfect relaxing holiday.
Ramage family, UK, Aug 2011
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La Belle Maison is a wonderful little house where we spent a really nice and relaxing week. The cottage is extremely well equipped and maintained, the welcome pack was a really pleasant surprise, and the garden is nice and secluded. We
especially appreciated the hiking maps present in the cottage, since they are always hard to track down when you've
just touched down in an unknown area.
The area is really inviting, people are friendly and there are plenty of things to do. Our recommendations:
- Spend some time diving into Stone Age history, plenty of menhirs and dolmens around (we spent a fortune on books at
the visitors' centre in Carnac). We missed the museum in Carnac, but regret not visiting it now.
- The walk north of La Roche au Cerf along the Grande Randonnee is lovely, along the stream up to Plessala.
- For bird lovers: Cap Frehel for cliff birds, and the nature reserve near Sene (near Vannes) - lots of stilts there!
- We spent a great day in Dinan, go on Thursday morning, sample the market, then have a Breton-style lunch and get
lost afterwards in the old town.
We will certainly keep this place in mind and we'll be recommending this cottage to friends when they are looking
for a week away from it all. Thanks for a great week!
Stef & Eva, Netherlands, Jun 2011
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We had a brilliant holiday at La Belle Maison. We fell in love with the cottage when we saw it advertised on the website and the real thing did not disappoint.
It was the perfect location for us - so peaceful. In terms of suggestions for future guests we really can't think of anything that was not included or explained before we arrived. The cottage had so many touches that made it a home away from home. It is in a truly beautiful place.
A holiday that won't be forgotten.
Williams family, Wales, May 2011
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On arrival at La Belle Maison about 7.00 on a very warm April evening the birds were singing, it was sunny and the cottage appeared very inviting. We were not disappointed - the cottage was very well equipped and a complimentary pack of milk, butter, cider, pate, bread etc was very welcome.
We have stayed in many parts of France but this was the first for Brittany but it certainly will not be our last, delightful walks just outside of the cottage and beyond, medieval towns to explore and very frendly people.
We are usually, even after an enjoyable holiday, looking forward to going home but this time both of us could have stayed a little longer. The cottage with its beautiful vista was awesome. We would recommend this holiday home to all.
Danita & Peter, Worstead, Apr 2011
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Everything was perfect!
We immediately felt at home and just had such a relaxing time.
Penny and Ray are such lovely people and we were made to feel so welcome.
Cannot recommend more highly!
Will be visiting again and again!
Bridget & Mike, Sussex, Mar 2011
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We had a wonderful time at the cottage La Belle Maison. The cottage is situated in a quiet surrounding with a lovely garden with fireplace. The cottage is very well equipped. In the neigbourhood there are lot of trips to make. Also it is very nice that you can reserve the cottage for short stays.
Penny is a good hostess. She knows what holiday people need!
Alie & Dik, Holland, Oct 2010
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After a warm welcome by Penny, surrounded by the nice garden, we felt at home immediately. The home itself has everything a great vacation place needs: easy beds, plenty of space, a fully installed kitchen, a washing machine... but most of all cosy and clean. Our kids liked the garden for playing hide and seek and finding "new species" they never saw before. The great little villages that surround "La Belle Maison" are neverending. We had all we could wish for!
Barbara & Christof, Belgium, Sep 2010
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We would just like to say that our stay at your cottage in September 2009 for our honeymoon was very enjoyable. The cottage was very well equiped and really comfortable. To come home after a busy day sightseeing to a comfy sofa is very much appreciated. The area is peaceful and lovely for short or long walks and also a good base to explore the pretty medieval villages of Brittany. Thank you for your help with booking and directions and your warm welcome. We have friends that live in Brittany about 60 miles from your cottage, they have lived there for 4 years and are now keen to explore the Brittany coastline in your area, we have no hesitation in recommending your cottage to them. We ourselves love France and look forward to many more holidays there and would certainly book your cottage again, maybe in the spring or summer next time, it would be nice to take advantage of the warm nights and have a few BBQs. Thankyou again.
Julie and Tilley, UK, Sep 2009
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We had a wonderful time at La Belle Maison. Your directions from St Malo to the cottage were great and gave us an easy drive.
The Cottage is in a very peaceful location and we loved the quietness. Just walking round the local roads was great – everyone seems to have apple trees and were harvesting the apples – the smell was lovely.
The kitchen is very well equipped which is great because we like to spend ages choosing food at the supermarket and cooking ourselves. Leclerc in Loudeac is a great supermarket and has a great selection of food and of wine ready packed in 6’s in boxes to bring home. Just opposite is Mr Bricolage where you can buy wood for the wood burning stove in the lounge. If it is cold enough do try the wood burner it's great - we got far too hot after a couple of hours but loved it. It is easy to light and keep going.
Lots of places are within easy reach of the cottage - we went to Pontivy, Carnac and Dinan all of which are lovely.
Le Vaublanc bakery is a must (you need to turn left over the bridge to find it) and has fantastic bread and chocolate brioche. And don’t forget the bakery in Plessala for fantastic cakes.
We want to come again and explore more of the local area especially the deer crossing down the lane.
David & Wendy, Leeds, Oct 2009
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Looking for a home away from home? Look no further, "La Belle Maison" in Plessala is for you to enjoy and to relax. In a quiet environment, you will stay in a well-equipped cottage, a good starting point when exploring the Cote d'Armor and the Brittany coast.
Tourist attraction? Who will miss the changing of the guard in London or Monaco, if you see the neighboring cow population stroll right past the house from one field to another: The daily Parade of the Cattle.
Fancy a game of golf ? No problem for you, the following three courses are more than worth a visit. At the golf course le Pléneuf Val-Andre, hole 11 offers you a breathtaking view over the sea and in Saint-Cast Le Guildo you will find the golf course Saint Cast Pen-Guen, which also offers great ocean views. More inland, a challenging golf course in Bruz, near Rennes, is Golf Resort Cice Blossac .
Dinan, a Medeival village, where you imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages when you walk on the ramparts.
All in all: Brittany offers so much more than Galettes, Gauffres and Plateau Fruit de Mer
and not to forget ….your hosts Penny and Ray will help to ensure you an enjoyable stay in La Belle Maison.
Jan & Reny, Netherlands, Apr 2010
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We have just spent 5 wonderful days in La Belle Maison. Penny and Ray the owners, who live nearby, were so helpful and the house was equiped with every item you would require and more !!
You have to spare some time to visit the ancient City of Dinan, an hour's drive from the house, where there are great sites and some super places to dine.
A must for eating is La Mulette in Moncontour, specializing in seafood. We had one of the best meals we can remember in this restaurant.
Just a few miles from the house is Plemet which has a great supermarket (good wine prices) and a lovely choice of food outlets.
We will certainly book again.
Jerry & Carol, Exeter, Jun 2010
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We visited La Belle Maison-Plessala for one week, the house is very comfortable, clean and has many nice details. Especially in the kitchen there is more than enough equipment. The bedrooms are large and bright with good beds and a bathroom with shower is fine. On arrival a bottle of cider, butter, cake and coffee are there, as a warm welcome to the quests.
There is also a large garden with a beautiful view and if the temperature rises too high, you can shelter in a romantic shady spot under the cherry trees.
In short this is definitely a must for people who like the countryside!
Theo, Netherlands, Jul 2010
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The cottage lived up to our expectations and even more. The immediate area is beautiful to explore, very restful and calm. We also enjoyed seeing much of Brittany as the cottage is so centrally located. Not too far away was the Pink Granite Coast walk, Mont St. Michel, the great aquarium in Brest, Oceanopolis, which our kids loved. Lovers of history, good food, beautiful countryside won't be disappointed. Ray and Penny were very welcoming and helpful. We've stayed in about 5 other gite homes and this had the best kitchen by far, along with comfortable living and sleeping spaces. Our
three weeks in the Belle Maison were unforgettable.
Tim & Heidi, USA, May 2010
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Booking a holiday ‘on line’ is a gamble but the offer of flexible start days in high season is the beginning of the high standard of the La Fontaine Rouilee experience.
La Belle Maison is really a home from home, the accommodation and furnishings are far superior to that of a typical holiday rental.
The peace and tranquillity of La Fontaine Rouillee is unbelievable – yes all you can hear is the birdsong.
The boulangerie in Plessa supplies excellent daily pain (closed Mondays). We found the best supermarket to be Leclerc in Loudeac - take the road through the forest and stop for a walk along the well marked paths. For a real retail experience Hyper U in Yffiniac is the place to visit.
A visit to the traditional bakery Tuesday and Friday is a must; the bread and brioche is amazing. The baker and his cat are very friendly and enjoy a chat.
An evening meal at La Bisquine in the central square Loudeac is to be recommended.
Your days can be as varied as you wish – a short drive takes you to most of what Brittany can offer the visitor, be it coast, town or countryside. A walk or cycle in the beautiful local area gives you the rare opportunity to enjoy nature at its best. Or just relax with a book and a glass of wine enjoying the quiet calm of La Belle Maison garden.
Well done Penny and Ray for providing the perfect holiday.
We hope to return soon.
Roe family, Derbyshire, Aug 2009
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Excellent hosts, excellent facilities, excellent location. For someone who wants to holiday in Brittany this is a must stay. Especially this lovely cottage. No matter what weather conditions are it is a great home for short or long stay and we have no hesitation in recommending this to any one.
Ros, Sydney, Sep 2009
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Maison parfaite, propriétaires charmants, dans un environnement de campagne très repausant.
Celine, Clichy, Feb 2009
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Thanks again for such a lovely stay, apologies for not writing earlier but, since we got back things were really hectic unlike the the calm and tranquillity we experienced at La Belle Maison. Whilst we were there spotted woodpeckers and green woodpeckers were caught dancing around your cherry trees and lots of sparrows (don't have these in the UK or at least not where we are living) and starlings, a buzzard down the road and a startled heron on our walk! The breeze through the trees surrounding the cottage was simply restful.
Must also mention that we appreciated the 'starter' pack of goodies and information folder about surrounding towns and market days etc was really useful too. We miss it and hope that we can be back.
The Lunns, Reading, Jul 2009
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Many thanks for the excellent hospitality and the opportunity to stay in such a beautiful, tranquil and relaxing part of the world.
A particular recommendation is to go Kayaking at Le Prenessaye. An excellent value and fun way to spend an afternoon.
In addition the local food is wonderful and a trip to the lakes is a must.
Thanks again for our lovely stay in beautiful Brittany!
James, Cardiff, Jun 2009
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Many thanks for your help during our tour of Brittany. The area you are in is lovely and we cannot speak highly enough of your recommended restaurant La Bisquine in Loudeac and of Plessala which is especially good on market day - Thursday, unfortunately we didn't try the crepe house but took some home with us. We were pleased to discover free wi-fi locally which allowed us to keep up to date with our business. Our favourite places to visit were Moncontour and Josselin - lovely medieval towns.
Good luck for the coming season.
Anne & Steve, Conwy, Apr 2009
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Great weather, delightfully quiet, and a beautiful part of France, charming and informative hosts, a relaxing and recuperative holiday.
Christine & Graham, Lincs, May 2009
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We had two weeks at La Belle Maison in May 2009 as it is a fairly central point from which to explore beautiful Brittany. The house is set in a tranquil rural location in the middle of corn and wheat fields and has a garden in the front which catches the sun with a barbecue to enjoy in the evening. The outlook over the neighbouring fields from kitchen and bedroom was lovely. The house is very homely and seems to have one of everything that you think you might need. It was warm with very comfortable lounge furniture, everything worked and we always looked forward to returning there after a long day out sightseeing.
Fred & Chris, Australia, May 2009
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Karen & I would like to express our thanks to Penny & Ray for providing excellent accommodation at the La Belle Maison.
Its quaint settings and relaxing environment make for a very relaxing holiday.
Thanks for making our holiday a most enjoyable one, we will certainly come back again and also recommend both properties to our friends & family.
The Richards, Derby, Feb 2009
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Spent a wonderful 10 day holiday in the cottage with our 3 children (aged 6 months, 5 years and 8 years old) in August 2008. We found the area beautiful and the cottage well equipped. Our children often talk about our adventures and cannot wait to return. Penny and Ray were on hand to offer advice and guidance on places to visit etc. We have already booked again for July 2010 to spend 2 weeks in the cottage.
Lisa & Chris, Wales, Aug 2008
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Had a wonderful and relaxing time in this beautiful peaceful setting. The moules were delicious as was the medieval feast at Moncontour and we so enjoyed our day on the shores of the lake at Bosmeleac. The kayaking down the river was great fun, even for a first timer! There are good fishing spots nearby as well. We can recommend the area to anyone looking for a relaxing holiday, thank you and we would love to come again.
Angharad, Wales, Jun 2007
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Just a few words to say how great our stay was. The area and all the places we have been to were fabulous. The cottage has everything you could possibly need and you could not wish to meet nicer people than Penny & Ray who are most helpful and have endless patience - we will return - many times.
Oultrams, UK, Jul 2007
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