Écurie Leseigneur

The Cotentin Peninsula has more than its fair share of outdoor leisure ops. Mont Castré (10 minutes’ drive) is home to a lake with well-marked footpaths and pedalos for hire, while Forest Adventure (10 minutes) has a high-ropes course for treetop thrills. For more open-air time, head to nearby Denneville (15 minutes), where there's plenty of sandy beach. If you've come here, there's a fair chance you're curious about the past. Walk in the footsteps of monks of yore at Lessay Abbey (10 minutes), or head to the Château de Bricquebec (25 minutes) and survey the townsfolk from its medieval ramparts. The beaches around these parts may be peaceful nowadays, but in the not so distant past they were the site of epoch-making battles. If modern history piques your fancy, head to the excellent D-Day Experience and Normandy Victory Museum (half an hour from base). Further afield, Bayeux (with its far-famed tapestry, cathedral and museums) is an hour's drive away, while the spectacular citadel of Mont Saint-Michel is an hour and 40 minutes. Pilgrims to this spiritual spot should wear sturdy footwear: there are a good amount of steps to climb for those venturing uphill to the Abbey.