Regional Park:
Our house is set in Cotentin and Bessin Marshlands Regional Natural Park which covers 145,000 hectare with 144 villages and towns within the Park.
Utah Beach is located on the eastern side of the peninsular is set in a significantly important coastal protected area of 12,000 acres with the Beauguillot Nature Reserve/Bird Sanctuary of 1,200 acres 500 meters from our house.
The area is in stunning countryside and completely different each season. For example in the winter the marshlands flood to create a beautiful watery scenery with the big skies reflected, then in the summer it becomes pasture with cows peacefully grazing.
The East coast being slightly wilder than the west coast is very unspoilt especially with the government owning vast tracts of the coast line to preserve the natural beauty.
This area in Normandy is also famous for its horses with numerous stud farms and training stables. Here on Utah Beach Trotting Horses are trained everyday on the beach.
The beaches and seafood:
There is something for everyone, bird watchers, beach lovers, gourmets, wine lovers, walkers, bike riders, horse riders, wind surfers, sand yachters, sailing, diving, horse racing, interest in the 2nd world war or just generally exploring.
The problem here is that there is too much to do! Yet in the summer the beaches are paradise, miles and miles of golden sands a perfect spot for a peaceful read, a sun bathe or beach combing, shell fish gathering for your supper when the tide is out, it's safe to swim and it's not crowded.
With the bird sanctuary on Utah Beach there is an amazing number of different species of sea birds and ducks. If it is particularly quiet on the beach you may be able to spot the colony of seals.
Huge mussels and oysters beds with the produce destined for the finest restaurants and tables in Paris and other gourmet destinations. It is possible to purchase shellfish direct from the farm shops locally.
Plant a tree and or play golf: Offset some guilt about your carbon footprint and plant a tree in our park...you have the option - go to our local nursery choose one, buy one, organize the deer/rabbit guard and plant it yourself ... or give us 50 Euros and we will do it all for you, all you then have to do is admire it!
Golf courses including Links courses nearby for you keen golfers.
Ladies, plenty of shopping in Caen and Bayeux.
If you like local produce then there are many farms open to the general public, where you can see the produce being made and buy some to take home. It's even possible to have tours round the Camembert factories and Calvados distilleries.
Other Activities:
Cycling holidays...1,000 kms of trails for cycling with one of the routes starting outside our gate! For those that want a gentle day 20 & 27 km routes from our house all mapped out - for those that want to go further on the harder more demanding routes we can drop you off and pick you up later. Come across with your bike on the Ferry to Cherbourg - either cycle down or we will pick you up. Package available to include pick ups maps etc. please just ask. Bird watching, dolphin & seal watching, boat trips round the invasion beaches, sand yachting, para wind surfing, beach combing. Local to us to name a few...Ste Mere Eglise, Utah Beach, Point du Hoc, Grandcamp Maisy, Bayeux, Caen, Cherbourg, St Lo, Coutances, Mont St Michel, Avarranches, WW2 Invasion Beaches, American Cemetery, Mulberry Harbour, Carentan, Ferry ports, motorway, railway line to Paris.
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