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.

As mentioned in...

• This charming Breton farmhouse is spread over three floors – there are stairgates at the top of each level but care should be taken as the stairs are slightly steeper than normal.