Secluded Cottage retreat by a river, woods, hillside with extensive grounds

Top rated by guests
House viewed from the river bank.
Autumn- getting the wood burner lit
Lovely in the winter too! Outbuilding alongside for wood storage for cosy fire
view of house from river and near plunge spot
paddle and play
review stars
9.5Outstanding
(39 Ratings)
Guests had an amazing time at the house, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, spacious rooms, and excellent communication with the owner. The property had everything needed for a peaceful and relaxing stay, with an ideal garden by the river for outdo...
From real guest reviews summarized by AI
Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
9.5 / 10.0
Outstanding(39 Ratings)

House in Normandy

8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 2 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
High-end valueWell priced for this area
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental

About this house rental

Stone cottage sleeps 7/8 in a secluded valley, alongside the river Noireau, with views of rocky cliff on one side (covered in wild flowers in spring and summer), river and wooded hills on the other with riverside garden which runs for 0.5 km.

There are extensive grounds to walk and play in - a wilderness of fun or tranquillity. Come any season and enjoy the grounds and the cosy house. From sunbathing to cold plunges in the winter.

The stone cottage dates back to 1860. We bought it in 2002 and had it totally renovated so it still holds the beauty of an old building but a modern conversion inside to provide comfort! Bathroom updated and outdoor kitchen area added in 2025.

3 lawned gardens- first in front of river by the house and barn, great for sunbathing, paddling, swimming (bring croc shoes!) and enjoying tranquillity while listening to the river. The river is easily accessible for paddling and play. A plunge spot adjacent to the house has a place to put robe and towels.

Second garden is to the side of the house with easy access inside and covered outdoor kitchen/BBQ and food prep facilities with sink and large fridge, drinks island and stools. Infrared heater and raised fire pit available. Ideal for drinks and night time dining. Great for ball games and table tennis.

The third runs the length of the grounds alongside the burbling river - lovely for walks, painting, birdwatching. Wildflowers in the long grass and shaded by tees. Regular sightings of otters, red kites, kingfishers and red squirrels. Alive with bird and insect sounds. Record was 12 birds at once on Merlin app! Picnic bench located for last sun and hammock under the trees.

Various outdoor furniture sets.

Ideal for families wanting to kick back and relax or walkers & painters. Walks through the local woods to the top of Mont de Cerisy -look our for wild boor and deer!

Local village with general store/post office/boulangerie 1km. 6km to the town of Flers. 40 mins from beaches.

Free WiFi.

There are 4 bedrooms-a double with en-suite shower room on the ground floor, and 3 bedrooms upstairs (a double, a bunk bed room and a single bedroom) and bathroom with corner bath/ shower.
Plus double sofa bed on mezzanine sitting area with TV which has internet access for your Netflix/Amazon Prime account etc and TV which plays DVDs.

There is a large open plan living room, kitchen diner with cosy log burner and sofa seating. The large French oak dining table seats up to 10 (with additional leaves stored underneath). Perfect for sharing stories and catching up at the end of the day whilst preparing food or relaxing.

Recently refitted Kitchen has fridge/freezer, induction hob and electric oven, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, mixer, microwave, air-fryer, Nespresso coffee machine, pasta machine. Another large fridge in basement and washing machine. Wireless speaker.

Note: All duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, bed throws, towels, bath mats provided.

Amenities at Secluded Cottage retreat by a river, woods, hillside with extensive grounds

Non-smoking
No pets allowed

Map of Normandy


Things to know


Additional fees to expect

Cleaning & other feesWe include all stay related fees in the Cleaning Fee line, which may include cleaning, property manager, resort, tourism and other stay related fees. All Vrbo properties are professionally cleaned after each stay.
Booking feeNo booking fees, easy credit card payments.
Service feeThis helps Vrbo provide a safer and more secure booking experience.
TaxesTaxes on accommodation such as Occupancy Tax, VAT, or GST. May also include tourism fees.

Customer support

Customer support is handled by our partner Vrbo

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    Ratings and reviews

    9.5 / 10.0
    Outstanding(39 Ratings)
    review starsSummary of reviews
    Guests had an amazing time at the house, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, spacious rooms, and excellent communication with the owner. The property had everything needed for a peaceful and relaxing stay, with an ideal garden by the river for outdoor activities and privacy. Ideal for exploring Normandy.
    From real guest reviews summarized by AI
    10.0 / 10.0
    Beautiful property, tranquil setting with everything you need, short drive to a town with shops and restaurants. Lots of versatile outside and inside seating. Outside lighting was lovely. Very spacious even with 7 adults. We had a wonderful holiday. Short (but steep!) walk to Mont Cerisy with a cafe, crazy golf, children's play area and small ruined castle.perfect setting
    10.0 / 10.0
    We had an amazing time at this gorgeous house. The communication with the owner was great. The house had everything we needed present. The garden with river was amazing and we loved every second we spend here!
    8.0 / 10.0
    We had a lovely stay at Les Vaux. We found the place well equiped and spacious for our company. The location was first rate, rather secluded but close enough to baker and shops to be practical.
    10.0 / 10.0
    Les Vaux was wonderful, such a peaceful and relaxing place. The grounds are beautiful, and it was a joy to wake up listening to the river alongside the property. In the heart of the French countryside, it is a great place to explore Normandy. Thank you to Suzanne for all her help, we hope to be back soon!
    10.0 / 10.0
    Peaceful
    Peaceful
    We had a lovely time! Can't wait to go back.
    10.0 / 10.0
    A Fabulous Home From Home.
    A Fabulous Home From Home.
    The house is all as described, plenty of room for everyone to relax. All mod cons are there, there is a TV, but as its up on the mezzanine floor out of the way it wasn't viewed much, I think it only got used by our 16 Yr old to watch YouTube. All bedding and towels were included too which is the bonus. Your hidden away in a secluded valley, there is a neighbour who acts as the local liason, and will help with any problems you have, but you'd never know they were there otherwise. The gardens that run by the river are more like meadows, plenty of area for the kids to run around, you can enjoy fishing in the river, plenty of minnows to catch, other larger silver fish, and if you're lucky (like I was) trout (only one though). Make sure you use the bbq it's so nice to sit outside and eat and drink in the peaceful garden. You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, but you're only 20 minutes from a supermarket. All in all, all I can say is that it's a lovely place to stay, and an ideal base for exploring the Normandy countryside.
    10.0 / 10.0
    Wonderful location, peaceful ambience.
    Wonderful location, peaceful ambience.
    We had an amazing time at Les Vaux, treasured memories. Suzanne the owner is an absolute star! The house is large, comfortable and well kitted out. Fantastic wood stove, lovely comfy sofas, lots of hot water, good showers (and a bath). The land that goes with the property is an experience in itself, the river, the birds, the smells.... ahh fantastique! We didnt feel the need to go very far as you can do some lovely walking right from the door and we were looking for peace and quiet, which we got in spades. Wonderful! Thanks again Suzanne x
    10.0 / 10.0
    Le Vaux is an idyllic place to stay even at XMAS!
    Le Vaux is an idyllic place to stay even at XMAS!
    We stayed at Le Vaux for Christmas last year - us, our 3 children and the grandparents. We arrived to a warm welcome and a fully decorated Christmas tree and house! The owners Susan & Mark had given up lots of infomration before we arrived so we had a plan of where we were going to do the shopping etc. We had a discount with Brittany Ferries through the owners too which was handy. The house was warm from the radiators, but we lit the fire and settled in quickly. The house is spacious and cosy too. The kids enjoyed their own time away from us (!) up in the mezanine with the TV and DVD player, games, books etc. while we were downstairs in the living room. Wifi throughout the house kept them happy too! We also played lots of board games and cards that were in the games cupboard- and also played snooker. > We had a great christmas and had some lovely walks up the very quiet lane, also up the mountain to one side of the house- and through the forest on the other side of the river (pretty river goes all alongside the gardens stretching far). DONT walk in the forest on sunday mornings- as its hunting time -apparently for wild boar- we steered clear! We walked through the forest to 'Mont des Cerisy' which has great outdoor activities- huge playground area, castle, mini golf. Theres a cafe but it wasnt open when we went up there. > Kitchen had everything we needed (except for a huge oven tray for the turkey!). Grandparents had the double bedroom with en suite downstairs which suited them -and kids had the 2 rooms upstairs (bunk and single) and we were in the double bedroom upstairs- and we shared the big bathroom. > Le Vaux is an idyllic place to stay- I'd love to see it in the summer. Owners were flexible with arrival time and departure time (we couldnt get the earlier ferry we wanted so had to go later.) Loads of outdoor space- although we didnt venture out beyond very brisk walks! It was nice to wake up and hear the river flowing outside. Really nice break. Thankyou Susan & Mark.

    FAQs

    Is parking included with this house?

    Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Secluded Cottage retreat by a river, woods, hillside with extensive grounds. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

    Is there a pool at this house?

    We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

    Is Secluded Cottage retreat by a river, woods, hillside with extensive grounds pet friendly?

    Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

    What amenities are available at Secluded Cottage retreat by a river, woods, hillside with extensive grounds?

    We found 2 amenities for this rental. This includes non-smoking, and no pets allowed.


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