LA CHARRETTERIE (THE OLD WAGGON SHED)
What to do and see
Dieppe - the port area
For shops and excursions, Dieppe is 35 minutes' drive away. The Château Museum is always worth a visit with an excellent collection of paintings of the area and one of the best ivory collections in the country, as Dieppe was once a big importer of ivory. The centre is fully pedestrianised and there are lots of good restaurants. It's wise to try those where the locals go rather than the tourists.
Rouen is the capital of Normandy. Steeped in history (think Joan of Arc!), the centre is fully pedestrianised with excellent shops, restaurants, museums, cafés and, of course, the world-famous Cathedral. It's best to park on the south bank of the River Seine (where there's plenty of free parking and then walk into the centre where it is much harder to find parking spaces).
Nearer to Houdetot, at Veules-les-Roses, there are sailing lessons and hire of boats, wind-surfing, good tennis courts and horse-riding can be arranged locally. There is a good golf course at Dieppe. You can even do parachuting at Dieppe airfield.
For the historically minded, there are many abbeys or abbey ruins, which can be visited. The D-Day Beaches are just within reach (roughly 2 hours' drive away) for a long day out or Bayeux with the Tapestry.
Beach scene at Veules-les-Roses in high summer
The famous cliffs at Etretat. Beautiful walks all round and, as always, excellent restaurants and beach cafés.
Typical scene in Veules-les-Roses, where it is almost too picturesque to be true. It's a pretty little resort, however and we love it being so near. It even has a small cinema, which is surprisingly comfortable and shows up-to-date films.
Benedictine Abbey at Fécamp.
For cycling enthusiasts there are now good cycle paths from near us to Dieppe and towards Paris using reclaimed railways.
There are great walking possibilities, horse riding opportunities, golf at Dieppe, tennis at Veules-les-Roses and sailing, canoeing, windsurfing lessons and hire locally.