Beaches

Portbail is the closest beach and is ideal for walks or for swimming. Carteret is a little further away (15 minutes) but is, in our opinion, a better beach experience with it’s soft white sand, creperie and restaurants.

Walking / Cycling

Manches countryside is a rich and varied mix of rocky highlands and low-lying plains. The famous Norman bocage of deciduous woods, hedges and it’s heavy earthen-banked fields contradict the flat captivating fenland of the marshes. Hedgerows teeming with wildlife provide a timeless continuity between the great forests and the modest woodlands that break up the land-locked horizon.

Any of the country lanes around the area are ideal for walking, but there are also dedicated paths for you to follow, unhindered by cars.

  • An old railway line, minutes from our gite, has been converted into a foot / cycle path which will take you to Bricquebec and beyond
  • The Foret de St Sauveur le Vicomte is a forest just on the edge of the town. It has dedicated pathways of differing lengths which are colour coded and signposted and range from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Shopping

For wine:

SuperU on the road towards Portbail has a good selection of wines. For good wines, with good advice, we recommend ‘Le Panier Gourmand’ facing the castle on the corner of the main street. Emmanuel has a good range of wines, which you will not find in the supermarkets or wine warehouses, and will be happy to advise you. This is also the shop to go to for authentic French cheeses.

For Clothes:

Cherbourg has a good selection of shops either in the shopping mall at Auchan la Glacerie or in the city centre. A trip to Cherbourg takes about 40 minutes. Caen has a number of large department stores (Les Galeries Lafayette and Printemps), in addition to lots of designer boutiques.

Markets:

No holiday to France would be complete without a stroll around one of the many local markets.

  • Monday – Bricquebec
  • Tuesday – Portbail
  • Wednesday -La haye du Puis
  • Thursday – Cherbourg Friday – Valognes
  • Saturday – Cateret

Places to eat

Le Rideau Cramoisi, Main street, St Sauveur le Vicomte: Lunchtimes only. Local food, well prepared and reasonably priced

Auberge du Vieux Chateau facing the castle, Saint Sauveur le Vicomte: Good quality reteraunt food. Lots of fish and seafood on the menu. A reservation is advised on 0233 41 60 15

Pourquoi Pas, Main street, St Sauveur le Vicomte: Pizza, pasta, steak and salads are all available. reservations and take aways possible on 0233 95 15 99

Le Ferme des Mielles, Portbail: Equestrian centre resteraunt all in one. No nonsense, good quality food in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. reservation recommended on 0233 04 85 96

The Batle of Normandy:

The D-day beaches are easily reachable for day trips.