Guestbook

Please see a few of the lovely reviews provided by past guests about their stay. If you've stayed at La Drutière Farmhouse & Gables, we'd love to hear from you too! Please leave your comments by clicking the Add Guestbook Entry button below. Thank you.

We hope to welcome you back again soon.

Pip & Gary

July/August 2019.
Excellent farmhouse in a fantastic location. Easy driving.
Pippa and Gary made 3 generations of my family very welcome. The farmhouse accommodation is spot on. The hub of the home (kitchen) was well used by all of us as it seated 12. The pool is a superb asset which was well used after our days out. Very peaceful at night. Parking was more than adequate (we had 3 cars). There is all sorts of activities provided, from table tennis to croquet, badminton and football nets. We had great barbecues within a designated area which was safe for the kids.
We will definitely be back to this wonderful farmhouse and superb hosts.
Thank you Pippa and Gary.

— Trevor Brown, 12 Aug 2019
Just to say a huge thank you again to you and Gary for our wonderful break. We've returned really refreshed after just five days, ready for action again.
Thank you again for all the hard work that goes into providing such an immaculate standard of cleanliness and thoughtfulness, and the beautiful garden which we spent a lot of time sitting and reading in!
Very best wishes to you both.

— Sheila & Bryan, 26 May 2019
An amazing, beautiful property. Would highly recommend. Ideal if you want to relax but also plenty in the area to do. Incredibly clean and very well equipped. Every last detail thought of so everything you need is there. The owners, Pip and Gary, are lovely, available if you need them but at the same time very discrete. Would definitely visit again.

— Amanda G, 03 Sep 2018
Three generations enjoyed a week long stay at La Drutière. Pip and Gary live next door but we rarely saw them, so this did not feel intrusive at all but they were there in any emergency which we had when our teens managed to lock themselves in a bedroom ! We had perfect weather so although we planned to explore more we spent most of the week enjoying the splendid views across the apple orchards from the huge garden and pool area. The younger children enjoyed the various games on offer as well as the table tennis, football goal and trampoline whilst the adults enjoyed barbecues and French wine in the dell. The place is huge so despite there being eleven of us we were certainly never in each other’s way, this was assisted by the great weather as we never once sat indoors. The bedrooms and bathrooms were tastefully decorated and spotlessly clean, we gave the grandparents the gables room with the amazing floor to ceiling windows but were all very jealous! There is a large supermarket nearby and there is every cooking and serving utensil you could wish for, so we cooked and ate outdoors every night. We enjoyed sitting out and watching the birds swoop into the pool in the evening to catch bugs. Two very small suggestions I would have would be to provide more sun loungers as all of us would have liked one and to have an extra rack in the oven, although neither of these issues would be big enough to prevent me from highly recommending to friends or returning ourselves. A perfect holiday in a perfect location.

— Emma L, 16 Aug 2018
This is a truly perfect place to stay for those who are looking for peace, beauty and tranquility. Although Pip and Gary are on site, they are completely unobtrusive but on hand if (like us) you want to know more about what is going on in the area. The farmhouse is a really beautiful old building, and is furnished tastefully with a mix of vintage, modern and shabby chic pieces that give it it's own special style. The bedrooms are all a good size, with clean, fresh linen and comfortable mattresses. The Gables is particularly stunning and I could happily have lived upstairs there for the week! The garden is absolutely perfect for groups or large families as there is room for everyone to do their own thing without feeling crowded. It also allows you different dining options as both the table by the pool and the picnic benches down in Dingley Dell are large enough for the whole group to share meals together. The pool was a huge hit with everyone in the party - from those wanting to keep up their fitness levels by swimming unending lengths, to those of us who just wanted a quick dip to cool off. I would readily recommend this property and hope that one day, we will get the opportunity to visit again. Thank you so much Pip and Gary for being such friendly, welcoming hosts.

— Suzanne C, 12 Aug 2018
Great welcome from Pip and Gary, a bonus being English as it does help when you need anything. We felt totally relaxed and it was the best holiday we have had. The Farmhouse and Gite, have kept there French feel, but are modern light and Airy. The pool was amazing, as the weather was so hot, and we did scrump a few cherries from the tree in the lovely Large garden. A great place for couples and Familys, plenty of space and the local village is great for supplies. A perfect perfect holiday.

— Simone W, 27 Jul 2018
What a marvelous spot in the country! We thoroughly enjoyed staying here. Pippa & Gary couldn’t have been nicer. The House was spotless and everything was perfect. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a peaceful getaway in a central location in Normandy!

— Thomas C., 01 Jun 2018
Nous nous sommes retrouvés avec 10 amis musiciens pour le week end de la pentecôte, Gary et Pip nous ont merveilleusement reçu dans leur cottage .... vraiment conforme aux photos.

— elizabete d., 01 May 2018
Une belle maison avec un très beau jardin. C'est confortable et bien aménagé. Les propriétaires sont accueillants. La propriété est tout à fait conforme à la description.

— Emilie L., 01 Oct 2017
This is a fabulous property that caters for large groups or families. Our group of 11 people (6 adults and 5 children) thoroughly enjoyed the property. The garden provided endless enjoyment for the children. The hosts were exceptionally kind keeping the swimming pool open for us at the end of October. It will certainly be a long term memory for us swimming in the pool on a beautiful autumn day. The football goals, trampoline and ping pong table all provided entertainment for our children (and adults!). The Gables bedroom provided a perfect get away from it all atmosphere for the grandparents - waking up to beautiful views over the garden and Normandy countryside. Pip and Gary are extremely friendly hosts and go the extra mile to make your stay enjoyable. We would certainly recommend this property.

— Jane P, 01 Oct 2017
We consisted of 4 couples aged from mid fifties to seventy and had a wonderful holiday together in this property from 19/8/17 - 26/8/17. The hamlet of La Drutiere is off a quiet D road with the house at the bottom end overlooking countryside and we loved the fact that there was no traffic noise. The house was beautifully presented on our arrival with fresh cut flowers in a couple of the rooms and a french stick, marmalade, a bottle pear cider and cheese awaiting us in the kitchen. We were lucky with the weather so spent a lot of time outside. The pool area was delightful and we made use of it every day. We also enjoyed the separate BBQ area and had fun with the table tennis and trampoline. At one point a game of penalty shoot out was going on in the children's size goal! There were six bedrooms but we chose to stick to our usual group of four holiday couples which worked very well as when we weren't eating outside we could all be easily seated round the farmhouse table in the kitchen. Each day we did a bit of exploring of the surrounding area and, on request, Pippa and Gary kindly supplied bikes when a couple of us went cycling. The large gable room had the most fabulous view and the couple using it described it as being 'great for the soul' as they looked out on the star filled sky at night. Pippa, Gary and their daughter were very friendly, as was their little dog which frequently found a way to visit us but as he was well behaved we enjoyed his company. Thank you for a wonderful holiday, much fun and laughter was had by all.

— Gill G., 01 Aug 2017
We recently had a week long stay in this fantastic property. We took our 2 young children (6 year old and 8 months old) and both sets of grandparents also came (8 people in total) and we were spoilt for space and choice of rooms. The house itself was spacious and well equipped whilst maintaining its farmhouse character. The outside space was the part we loved the most as it was perfect for our 6 year old, there was so much space for him to let off steam and plenty of things to do (trampoline, climbing frame, table tennis, swimming, football)...he absolutely loved it. The owners were very helpful and friendly and had good knowledge of the local area - they provided a very helpful handbook with suggestions for places to eat and visit. Overall we had a fantastic stay and have already discussed a potential return...we loved this place!!

— Thomas D., 01 Aug 2017
There are no words to express how relaxing and peaceful our stay was in this beautiful setting. The tasteful decor and layout met every need. The family favorite was the pool, badminton, and picnic area beneath the trees. We were so close to everything in Normandy, and our hosts were so gracious and helpful. We will definitely share this hidden gem with friends and family. Thank you, Pip & Gary!

— Jeanne N., 01 Jul 2017
Thanks Pip and Gary for a restful week at La Drutiere. We chose it for its isolation from the modern world. No nearby motorways or main roads or towns. The result was a glorious tranquility, especially at night when nothing moved. The lack of light pollution meant glorious views of the Milky Way and the sighting of several shooting stars. Everyone enjoyed the large grounds and the room to find individual space while still being in visual touch. We had wonderful lunches in the picnic/barbecue area and even better barbecues every night, even though the weather was a little cool for the time of year. The kitchen was a great meeting place each morning for staggered breakfasts as different parts of the family rolled out of bed at different times. Everyone enjoyed their rooms but especially Shelley and I. As the bank of mom and dad were funding the whole exercise we thought it reasonable to sit up in the gables with its floor to ceiling Windows and doors. Wonderful views over the countryside by day and the moon and stars by night. Thanks again Pip and Gary, our amiable hosts

— Shelley W., 01 Aug 2016
We (5 adults and 2 children) had a lovely week. We all made full use of the pool and the barbecues and the children made full use of the trampoline and climbing frame. Very friendly and accommodating owners, with a surprise welcome food (and drink) parcel. The property was very well equipped - no shortage of crocks or cutlery - with an extensive collection of board and other games, for both in and outdoors, and satellite TV and Wifi. The quiet was total - and coming from the SE of England, a significant change for the better. Local facilities were limited, although Carrouges has a lovely boulangerie/patisserie and a small supermarket; the limited facilities were not a problem as we were very self-contained and not looking for bright lights or theme parks. We might have eaten out more but many restaurants were still closed for the owners' holidays. However, we would recommend Le Bistro near the cathedral in Sees. Travelling to Caen and some WW2 sites was very simple with virtually no traffic. (In fact, most of the traffic encountered on the journeys to/from La Drutiere was British, with much of the rest Dutch or Belgian - the lighter traffic being a major advantage of not heading too far south in France.) We would certainly recommend La Drutiere, Pippa and Gary are lovely people and are very interested in their clients' needs. They have only been there a short time and have many unfulfilled plans but are certainly doing all the right things. Overall, though, a very successful week's holiday for all of us and we would happily go again.

— -, 01 Aug 2016

Guestbook

— Trevor Brown, 12 Aug 2019

— Sheila & Bryan, 26 May 2019

— Amanda G, 03 Sep 2018

— Emma L, 16 Aug 2018

— Suzanne C, 12 Aug 2018

— Simone W, 27 Jul 2018

— Thomas C., 01 Jun 2018

— elizabete d., 01 May 2018

— Emilie L., 01 Oct 2017

— Jane P, 01 Oct 2017

— Gill G., 01 Aug 2017

— Thomas D., 01 Aug 2017

— Jeanne N., 01 Jul 2017

— Shelley W., 01 Aug 2016

— -, 01 Aug 2016