A Year at Titchmouse Farmhouse 

The Titchmouse is cute isn't she? Don't worry - you will not find her or her friends living inside any of our properties!  She prefers being outside in the countryside. 

There are many advantages to taking off-season holidays.  Apart from the low travel costs, the towns that are so bustling with people in the summer months are easily accessible.

The Seasons at Titchmouse

All our properties are snug and warm with central heating and our larger cottage has a log burning stove.  Titchmouse Farm is a perfect place to which to retreat, relax and enjoy the real France.  Walk on  the beautiful beaches onto which the waves crash, wander along the river banks, visit the pretty towns and then return to your holiday home, light the fire and relax by candlelight with perhaps a glass of wine.

Autumn

Autumn is  spectacular and the forests that surround Titchmouse a mass of rich coloured leaves. Halloween is celebrated increasingly in France and many people dress up for the occasion and the enthusiasm for the event encourages people to place carved pumpkins holding candles outside their homes.  This is the time when the supermarkets and markets sell an abundance of autumn produce.  A variety of orange, yellow, white and striped pumpkins and squashes are on display as well as all sorts of field mushrooms such as Cèpes, Chanterelle, Pleurotte appear.  The markets are very busy and full of bargains. 

There are a variety of autumn festivals  and there is the excitement of the famous Route du Rhum transatlantic sailing race which leaves from Saint Malo for Guadalope.  In October the Festival du Film Britannique is held in Dinard.  This is a film festival where some of the latest British films are shown and judged by a jury from the media.  Films are shown at regular intervals in the town is alive with the media, actors and actresses. 

Winter

Brittany winters are relatively mild and when snow arrives it usually only remains long enough to delight the onlooker. The farmhouse and cottages at Titchmouse are fully centrally heated.  The reception rooms in the main farmhouse and the larger cottage have log burning stoves and an atmospheric and cosy  winter evening can be spent relaxing in front of the fire. 

Christmas and New Year in France is a  magical time and each town or village, no matter what the size, is decorated with lights and greenery.  Prior to Christmas there are many Christmas Markets which specialise in selling gifts and decorations.  The moving image above right illustrates the lights in one of Rennes' main streets and a brief interlude of snow at Titchmouse Farm. New Year's Eve  is celebrated fully and the fun goes on all night!  Five in the morning sees the serving of Onion Soup to revive any flagging revellers.  Restaurants have special menus for the event. 

Even the Williams family pet Snauzzers celebrate Christmas in their own style!

February sees the Winter Route du Rock in St. Malo and in May there is a big garden festival.  In Rennes the Foire de Rennes is held which is a huge exhibition rather like a French Ideal Homes Exhibition. 

Spring and Early Summer

The year starts with the French sales which are a real dream for bargain hunters,  When the first Pierce-Neige (Snowdrop) appears this heralds in the season.  Primroses and daffodils appear on the roadside banks and the streams and rivers bubble with life.  Spring is a most lovely time in Brittany.  May Day sees people at the roadsides and in the towns with baskets of Lillies of the Valley bunches for sale as it is believed that having this flower in the house on May Day brings good luck. 

Just Some of the many places to visit off season

The historic Mont Saint Michel is open year round.  This is jam packed with people during the height of the summer but much more accessible out of season.

Close to Mont Saint Michel you will find Alligator Bay, which is a great place to visit for both adults and particularly families.

The drive to Mont Saint Michel can either be by the Route National or you can take the beautiful Route de la Baie which stretches there from Cancale.

Take a drive to the historic city of Rennes which is ablaze with lights in December and January.  Rennes is full of shops and restaurants.  The River Vilaine flows through its centre with bridges that take the visitor through the city.  The huge Foire de Rennes, which is a massive home and garden exhibition is held in Spring - usually in February. 

Rennes is certainaly a fabulous shopping centre with attractions such as Galerie Lafayette and the shopping centres of Satellite and Le Colombier.

On the Rennes outskirts, you can visit Ikea and the shopping boutiques of Cap Malo which is a fabulous new shopping park.  The shops there include Casa, Maison du Monde, Sud Hemisphere, Esprit among many others and you will also be able to visit the huge home and garden store Alinea.  The Route du Meuble runs to Rennes - kilometres of huge home stores

Ploubalay  is a pretty little town close to the beaches of Lancieux and Titchmouse Farmhouse.   Each year a Pony and Donkey  Fair is held in September.  This is great fun and the children love it as there are rides in little pony drawn carts and donkey rides for them, a variety of animals for sale and on view, roundabouts, boules, foods on sales such as galette sausice, candy floss and crepes.  There are a variety of entertainments such as the Breton dancers, pictured right, who danced through the street.

Not to be forgotten -  there is the atmospheric Corsaire city of Saint Malo. Once the haunt of the infamous pirates, who sailed out to attack foreign ships, the town comprises several areas: Intra Muros - the walled town area, Saint Servan and Paramé.  Intra Muros is most atmospheric with cobbled streets running through the tall old buildings which had to be accurately rebuilt after the town was bombed by the allies during WW2.  Even off season the town has many attractions and its bars and shops are open. 

Dinard - the belle epoque town, so favoured by the rich British at the turn of the century has excellent shopping, restaurants and bars. 

There is a coastal walk around the beaches of Dinard and a big park. 

The Casino overlooks the Ecluse beach.