Riverside cottage with sauna- Orne, Normandy.

Secluded Cottage retreat with exclusive access to the river, with extensive grounds and surrounded by rocky cliffs and woodland of the Mont de Cerisy. We love the peace and beauty of the location immersed in nature. To fully enjoy the outdoors, nature and wellness opportunities of the place we have recently added a 3 person traditional sauna, an outdoor BBQ kitchen/dining area and Petanque court.

Formerly an industrial valley, with mills driven by the river, it is now a recognised nature area where the land has reverted to wildlife and peace. Buildings have been repurposed-our stone house has been lovingly brought back to life and the nearby water mill is becoming a cultural space for theatre creatives- performers and technicians: Le Moulin de l'Hydre. This adds further character to the valley when a community performance is held in the theatre and surrounding woods and countryside once a year.

Step out of the private sauna and cold plunge into the Noireau river. That's the rhythm of a stay here: heat, then cold water, then quiet. Peaceful with a focus on wellbeing.

This 1860s stone cottage sits in a river valley close to Suisse Normande or Little Switzerland, with a rocky, wildflower-covered cliff on one side and wooded hills on the other. Half a kilometre of riverside garden is yours to wander — for early cold plunges, slow afternoons in the hammock, or evenings by the fire once the light starts to fade. The stone cottage is cool in summer, cosy in winter.

Well-behaved dogs are warmly welcome — the riverside garden and woodland walks were practically made for them.

The sauna is close to the river, so you can move between cold water and heat in a minute- please treat this as you would your own. Bring a robe and towels down to the all season plunge spot right by the house, or take the short walk along the garden to a quieter stretch of water.

Days here tend to slow down. Watch the stars from the bath in the eves by candlelight. Read on the sofa in front of the log burner. Walk the woodland path up the Mont - deer and wild boar are regular sightings, and the wildlife along the river is remarkable: otters, red kites, kingfishers, woodpeckers, and red squirrels are all seen from the garden. Tawny owls squabble for territory. We regularly count twenty species at once using the Merlin app and so a haven for birdwatchers. There are some binoculars for your use.

Ideal for those who want to create-sketch or paint in the garden, journal under a tree or by the river or play games or do puzzles by the fire.

By the house is a new crushed granite covered courtyard ideal for games and activities with a Petanque court.

There are also lawn areas for activates (try croquet?) relaxing in the sun or watching the stars (the milky way feels very near with no light pollution). Beyond the house the extensive grounds become wilder under the trees, by the water, with meadow grass and a table for sundowners.

For the active there are forest trails and quiet roads to walk, run or cycle. Mountain biking on marked trails or cycling the many Velo Vert routes more sedately. Following activities cool off in the river or head for a hot shower in the garden side wellbeing room before heading up to the fire side or into the sauna.

Cook and eat outside at the covered outdoor kitchen —large fridge, drinks island, outdoor table. Or use the indoor fully equipped kitchen in the open planned living and dining area, then gather at the large French oak table to share food and stories of the day.

The cottage sleeps 7 across four bedrooms — a ground-floor double with en-suite shower room, plus a double, a bunk room, and a single upstairs (with additional mattress available to make 8). There is also a further sofa bed on the mezzanine.

A recently refitted kitchen (induction hob, dishwasher, air-fryer, Nespresso with milk frother), and a corner bath upstairs in the spacious bathroom, mezzanine with TV for your Netflix etc accounts, board games and books, wireless speaker and free fast WiFi throughout, round out the comforts.

This is a place for people who want to properly switch off — couples after a reset, small groups who'd rather sit by a fire than sightsee, or families happy to let the woods and the river do the entertaining. The village store, post office, and boulangerie are a kilometre away.

Enjoy the local cheese and taste cider and calvados in the nearby village of Cerisy Belle Etoile.

If you do want to go further, Flers is 6km and many Normandy sites can be visited for a day trip: the D-day beaches of the Normandy coast, Mont St Michel, Granville (one of our favourites for beach and lunch), Monet's garden at Giverny, Bayeux, Les Mans, the stylish north coast towns of Cabourg or Honfleur, the bungee and zipline at the Skypark or, a recent discovery of ours, the Pays d'Auge area beloved by David Hockney.

Near by the sites of Suisse Normade and Calvados including the beautiful village of Clecy with its activities on the river and rock climbing in the gorge at the Rochers des Parcs and spectacular look out at the La Roche d'Oetre. The national Parc Normandie-Maine and the art deco resort at Bagnoles de l'Orne (we cycled there with the children when they were young on the Velo Vert) are also near by.

Minimum stay: 3 nights.