Just 20 miles east of Dieppe the three communes at the mouth of the Bresle river are heaven for a francophile. Known locally as the Three Sisters each offers a distinct flavour of France.
Eu, a pleasant short walk along the river, is atmospheric with history including the 12th century Collegiale and the Renaissance château where Queen Victoria twice met Louis-Philippe.
The promenade of Mers-les-Bains is a stroll into La Belle Époque then a climb to the top of the striking cliffs painted by Turner.
Across the Bresle, Le Tréport is the largest and liveliest of the Three Sisters. A busy port for fishing and leisure it has a funicular, museums, a classic carousel, fantastic fish market and a casino.
From the stylishly modernised coaching inn, the Hotel de Calais, to the modest restaurant Aux Saint Jacques (skate with roquefort sauce, chitterlings sausage) everyone is welcoming, helpful and conversational.
So close to home yet over four days not another GB plate was spotted.

www.hoteldecalais.fr/
1, rue de la commune de Paris
+33 (0) 227280909
Google map: bit.ly/MrxbVG

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Located in the national park at the base of the Cotentin Peninsular near Isigny sur Mer is the delightful Chateau de Monfreville.
Home to Paul & Zoe and their family who look after all visitors with an informal enthusiasm, kindness and unremitting good humour.
The grounds, populated by ducks, geese, hens a variety of wildlife and chickens, plus the ever hungry Labrador Hector, provide organic vegetables for one and all.
You can stay in the Chateau itself or in one of their gites, roulettes or camp in it’s grounds overlooking the national park all within easy reach of Bayeux, the D Day beaches, Mont St Michel and the Normandy coast and countryside.
Staying at the chateau is a unique and totally relaxed experience – just how holidays used to be – families will love it.

Chateau de Monfreville, 14230 Monfréville, France
+33 (0) 231 21 35 42

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A chance to stay in the safari park. From the balcony watch the exotic animals and sunset over the lake (with a glass of wine) while the children/friends interact with free-roaming deer and wallabies. The gibbons, rhinos and antelope enclosures are just a few meters away and for an extra 69euro per group of six you can get a behind-the-scenes tour to get a bit closer to the animals. You can also book workshops and outings (children 5/adults 10 euro), going though the Cerza woods at night which is particularly scary.
All materials used to make the lodges are eco-friendly and they are equipped with the usual mod-cons.
A couple of nights here was a great way to break up the visits to the castles, cheese farms and galleries.

www.cerzasafarilodge.com/
Manoir Saint Laurent, 14100 Hermival-les-Vaux, France
+33 2 31 62 17 22
Google map: bit.ly/P0v65K

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Ferries from Granville. This fabulous archipelago of islands is barely populated, car free, breezy, sunny, a timeless place of great beauty. There are a couple of gites and little shops and a fair few yachting visitors. Weathered rocks, deserted shorelines, beaches, pools teeming with life all abound. Great for kids.

www.ville-granville.fr/en/iles_chausey.asp
Google map: bit.ly/MekN8W

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Located in the national park at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula near Isigny sur Mer is the delightful Chateau de Monfreville.
The Chateau is home to Paul and Zoe and their family, who look after all visitors with an informal enthusiasm, kindness and unremitting good humour.
The grounds are populated by ducks, geese, hens, a variety of wildlife and chickens, plus the ever-hungry labrador Hector. The chateau gardens also provide organic vegetables for one and all.
You can stay in the chateau itself or in one of their gites or roulettes (gipsy caravans), or alternatively camp in the grounds overlooking the national park. All this is within easy reach of Bayeux, the D-Day beaches, Mont St Michel and the Normandy coast and countryside.
Staying at the chateau is a unique and totally relaxed experience – just how holidays used to be – families will love it.

chateaumonfreville.com
Chateau de Monfreville, 14230 Monfréville, France
+33 (0) 231 21 35 42
Google map: bit.ly/NTU01Q

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Pop your bike on the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, head east onto the 35km Avenue Verte for awesome tracks, villages, local food and cider, stay in a chateau, canoe chalk streams past watermills under trees full of mistletoe, an ultimate weekend get away.

Info: bit.ly/pErUVu

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A French friend recommended this village when I needed somewhere to overnight before sailing from Dieppe. I arrived in time for the night market and bought delicious local foods and bread to die for. In the morning I wandered the miles of beach; there was a yoga class beneath the Dover-style white cliffs, and in the sea oyster beds and people shrimp fishing, apparently oblivious to being fully dressed as they pushed their nets through chest deep water. Colonised by Russian artists in the late nineteenth century, there's a fantastic range of galleries wherever you turn. Much of the ancient architecture has survived fires, storms and WWII bombardment. La Veule is France's shortest river, with cress beds and flowers galore. I wish I'd given myself longer in this little gem.

Off the D925, 30 mins south-west of Dieppe. www.veules-les-roses.fr/
Google map: bit.ly/niEMEt

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West of Rouen to the coast, follow the meanders of the Seine, crossing on the free ferries, and see the varying scenery from orchards to craggy rocks. We visited the Manoir of Agnes Sorel, mistress of St. Joan's Dauphin, which is being restored.

www.normandie-tourisme.fr/normandy-tourism-109-2.html

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