La Martiniere Bed and Breakfast. David and Helen Wootton

06/09/2026

So, I’ve spoken to a few people staying this year about my sponsored walk round the d-day beaches. So we start tomorrow, all our te is on Ralph’s page. If you would like to sponsor me, this is the link.
Thank you, Helen

Help Ralph Clarke raise money to support SSAFA

05/09/2026

As summer is coming to an end and we move into autumn. We are open for Christmas and New Year. Our 2x 4* gîtes for couples only are available either self-catered or with the option of breakfast. Relax in a peaceful rural location (Pet friendly) enjoying country walks, food markets, historical towns and villages coming back to relax in front of your wood burner. Our website details our accommodation, location on the Normandy/Loire and Brittany border, our many reviews, our menus plus a page recommending Places to visit / restaurants etc. www.gitesmayenne.fr

25/08/2026

Another Continental breakfast order from our guests, which we deliver to the gîtes. At the moment we have a returning French couple here for 9 nights in L’Hirondelle and a Dutch couple in La Huppe for 5 nights.
We have had both gîtes full over August, with now just a few nights available in September, but certain these nights will be filled by people touring the region and book last minute via AirBnB or booking .com
We have availability in October, I think with the very hot weather we have had this years autumn colours will be fantastic. So if you fancy a break please contact us direct. www.gitesmayenne.fr SIRET: 891 639 643 00016

13/08/2026

A real pleasure to have Doug, Ann and Jean from Louisiana USA stay with us at La Martinière. Here for their Grandsons wedding near Laval, they visited Pointe du Hoc, Omaha beach cemetery and were very moved to have walked on Omaha beach. Seeing it brought home the gallant effort that US troops had to make to cross the sand on June 6th 1944. After a picnic lunch, we visited the Standing with Giants silhouettes. Though a British memorial they were pleased to have seen them, seeing the sacrifice so many made on that day 82 years ago. Finally we stopped at the Memorial to my God-father at St.Croix-sur-Mer where he and his Canadian Wing brought in the first Spitfires on D-Day+3. They asked a lot of questions about D-Day and the Battle for Normandy, I hope I answered them to the best of my knowledge. www.gitesmayenne.fr

13/08/2026

2 photos of our barn gîtes. April 2026 and August 2026.
No significant rain since the 1st week of May. Ashamed of how my lawns now look, but nothing I can do about it.
My bet is when rain does come it will be a deluge and non stop for a couple of weeks. Our garden needs it, so do the farmers.
www.gitesmayenne.fr

13/08/2026

Summer is not over yet, but we have had our first reservation for New Year, Christmas week available in both gîtes. Plus reservations made for 2027.
We are open over winter. So relaxing or even working away from home may interest you. Relax in front of the wood burner after a countryside walk or after visiting one of the excellent food markets in the area. Both our gîtes are for couples only, pet friendly plus with 500Mbs fibre broadband.
Full details of our accommodation, location, our menus and recommended places to visit can be seen on our website www.gitesmayenne.fr SIRET 891 639 643 00016 Any questions or requests please do ask.

05/08/2026

We have had fibre internet in our house for over 2 years. Orange said then they couldn’t put fibre into the gîtes, then when our analog internet went down locally due to copper cables being stolen, they miraculously could now fit fibre.
Fibre cables and router fitted today. I have just done a speed test and we have 500Mbps download and over 600Mbps upload now in both gîtes.
Ideal for any of our guests needing to do any online work from here or wishing to watch Netflix etc.
We welcome guests over winter who wish to escape but perhaps need to work whilst away. Our website gives you full details. www.gitesmayenne.fr

01/08/2026

You are never too old for playing about on the river. A very enjoyable afternoon yesterday paddling along the River Varenne at Ambrières-les-Vallées with Helen’s running friends. We would highly recommend this gentle adventure to our guests who would like a paddle along the tree lined river. Kayak rental is available for 1 or 2 hours. We can also recommend lunch at the Bistro de La Varenne which has a terrace over looking the river.
www.gitesmayenne.fr www.canoekayak-ambrieres.fr
Thank you Lara Norris for the photos.

31/07/2026

Another double change over with Dutch guests leaving La Huppe.
Plus our Chilean and Spanish couple departing L’Hirondelle.
We have now reached guests from 54 countries with Manuel being from Chile. British guests arriving in both gîtes this weekend. August is busy with guests coming from USA, UK, France, Netherlands and Italy.
We have just 5 nights available from the 25th September if you would like a late summer break. Details on our website www.gitesmayenne.fr

23/07/2026

Another glorious morning here in the Mayenne. Both Gîtes full with Belgian and French guests until the weekend when French and Dutch guests arrive.
This week we have had more pleasant temperatures but forecast is for 30c+ again from the weekend. Unfortunately having had very little rain for weeks now my lawns are like a desert will need a week of rain to bring them back to their lush green. www.gitesmayenne.fr