Château de la Carrière Guesthouse

Climb a flight of stairs to reach the living spaces of this converted 19th-century farmhouse, which includes an open-plan living and dining room and bedrooms with luxurious king-sized beds.

Find books and games for rainy days, a superbly equipped kitchen fit for a chef and a basket on arrival of local and homemade treats; cook up a feast with produce from the potager. There’s a private patio for sunny days, and you’re welcome to use the swimming pool, pool house and entertainment area too.

The château is surrounded by gardens (re-designed by landscape gardener Paul Bangay), 25 acres of parkland with long vistas and mature woodland and beyond it, picturesque countryside. Solesmes Abbey was built in 1010 and is the home of the Gregorian Chant; the fortified town of Sainte-Suzanne is one of the oldest and loveliest medieval villages in the region (both 30 minutes’ drive). This is a great base to explore the delights of Brittany, Normandy and the Loire Valley.