Formerly the creperie of the little fishing village of Le Vieil, Father Pancake, our comfortable, newly modernised and decorated French beach house looks like a cottage from the front. Inside there's a really spacious loft-style living area, with lots of outside space for eating and a separate building with a further bedroom and large comfortable double sofa bed for a family unit or even Granny. There's a well equipped cook's kitchen with 2 ovens, 2 fridges and 2 sinks.
The house can sleep up to 11 people and now has fibre broadband throughout.
OUT OF HIGH SEASON (so all months except July & August), it is possible to rent just a part of the house, sleeping up to 6 people. For attractive prices for this option, please send a message through this website and I will quote individually by return.
Father Pancake is REALLY close to the sandy beach of Le Vieil, just 30 metres away, with safe access from both the front and back doors down tracks with no traffic.
There's a large roof terrace with lovely sea views for private sun bathing, relaxing with your book or enjoying an evening aperitif. In the sheltered central courtyard through french doors from the kitchen, there's a large extendable dining table and a huge barbecue that can cook food for 14. There's enough room to also read your book and relax in the sunshine. Additionally, there is a separate building with a Games Room with small Pool table....and beyond that there is a further courtyard leading to a lane to the sea, just a few steps away.
Noirmoutier is an "almost island" joined to the mainland near Nantes by a bridge and a causeway that is passable just 2 hours either side of low tide.
There's a sign as you enter the main town, saying Ile Gourmand- and it's true. The island is famous for its potatoes and salt - but also for the fish and seafood that are so readily available. There are markets in the main town 3 times a week in season selling the most wonderful fresh produce - vegetables, meat, fish, charcuterie and cheese. There are also lots of things to buy from textiles, to bags and baskets, salt and other local delicacies and guests find they can happily spend at least 2 happy mornings exploring all the stalls and tasting the wonderful food. And then there's the restaurants - the most famous of which, La Marine in L'Herbaudiere, now has been awarded its third Michelin star.
All around the island there are expanses of sandy beach with very safe swimming. There are lots of rock pools at low tide and a favourite local pass-time is clam digging and seafood foraging. Noirmoutier's a big water sports area with lots of sailing, sailing schools and big annual regattas. Windsurfing, kite-surfing, paddle barding and all other waters sports are very popular.
The main method of transportation on the island is the bicycle - and whole families can be seen setting off "à velo." For the more serious cyclist, it's part of very extensive Vendee cycle area with miles of tracks and bike lanes.
Noirmoutier is a very well kept secret - as yet largely undiscovered by British holidaymakers. It offers a traditional seaside holiday not found in many places - a little bit similar to the Witterings, and Aldeburgh.
Noirmoutier is very accessible from the UK. Easyjet, Ryanair and others fly into Nantes airport from London and most regional airports. From there it's a mere 50 miles across the Breton marshes either by car or on the very good local bus run by French railways which leaves from the main railway station in Nantes regularly. The nearest ferry port is St. Malo (approx 3 hours) but the Normandy ferry ports of Caen (4.5 hrs) and Cherbourg (5 hours) are all very easy.
