= La Fresnaie - Wheelchair accessible accommodation at its best.

Reviewer: Tony And Beverley from Lancashire, England

Review

From the moment we pulled up in the large carport with its covered access to the front door, and saw the sun trap of a patio extending along two sides of this impressive detached house, we knew we had made the right holiday choice. The ground floor is designed to be fully wheelchair accessible without it appearing to be so adapted. It is an added bonus that this spacious and comfortable property is in such a pretty area of France with so much to see and do. Nigel and Pauline are the perfect hosts. They are attentive and helpful without being intrusive. They are aware that that the needs of those of us with mobility problems vary greatly, and are prepared to 'go the extra mile' to meet these needs. We had a very enjoyable week, and our first job on returning home was to book again for next year - this time for a fortnight.

25th October 2009

= La Fresnaie

Reviewer: Lyn & Dave from Hampshire, England

Review

We stayed for 3 weeks at La Fresnaie and found it to be a first class holiday let. Our hosts made us feel very welcome and were available whenever needed without being obtrusive. The property is well laid out for wheelchair users and other members of the party. The undercover garage is most useful on any rainy days as everyone can remain under cover from the car to inside. The property is in a tranquil surrounding and is great for lazy days, when you just want to sit and read under the porch. Most unusual to find a property with such disabled friendly facilities.

3rd August 2009

= Le Fresnaie

Reviewer: Midge from Northamptonshire, England

Review

Tim and I stayed at this excellent accommodation for two weeks in June 2009. This was our first experience of a self catering cottage as we have had motor caravan holidays for nearly 40 years. We booked with much trepidation. However Le Fresnaie met all our requirements and surpassed our wildest expectations. Pauline and Nigel were welcoming from their first email and ensured we had everything we needed on arrival and throughout our stay. Tim is confined to a wheelchair but found the entire ground floor easily accessible. He did have difficulty tansferring from the easy chairs and settee as they were all too low. The bed was comfortable and accessible from either side. Pauline and Nigel had provided information about the area, commenting on the ease of access. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and found local roads suitable for walks and 'cycle' rides. We did not miss our van as we had feared but are now worried about finding future accommodation which will live up to this standard.

12th July 2009

= La Fresnaie for the Able or Disabled

Reviewer: Richard Castle from North Yorkshire, England

Review

My wife and I recently returned from a week holiday at La Fresnaie having watched it being built during previous visits to Le Haut Fresnay. Although the house has been designed to meet the needs of those who are disabled, it nevertheless is also a superb base for the able bodied. Whilst the downstairs has been particularly designed with wheelchair users in mind, the bathroom and the kitchen have been especially designed for access by wheelchair users and the able bodied. The bathroom was suitable for general use and the low work surfaces in the kitchen failed to detract in any way from being well thought out and proved to be most useable. The weather was excellent during our visit and we were able to sit out under the front porch which extends the whole length of the front of the house and gives totally covered access to the car port which is well sized to take 2 large cars comfortably. During inclement weather this feature would be a real asset. All rooms are very well proportioned and give a real sense of space. They are light and airy and a pleasure to be in. The design of the whole house is, we believe, superb, be it for able bodied or disabled holiday makers. We have stayed at Le Haut Fresnay on many occasions and look forward to future visits.

20th May 2009

= A family holiday during August 2008

Reviewer: Angela Gilmour from Hampshire, England

Review

To say that we were impressed with La Fresnay would be a complete understatement. Well thought out adaptations incorporated into the design of this beautiful house meant that our holiday in August 2008 with our electric wheelchair 21 year old son and his two teenage sisters, was hassle free and easy. Without doubt this is the best 'accessible' house that we have ever stayed in. The tiled floors, wide doorways and the uncluttered rooms suited his needs perfectly and the inclusion of beds with legs (rather than divans) in the downstairs bedrooms meant that using a hoist was straightforward. A spacious, adapted bathroom with a large level access shower was wonderful and being able to make a choice beforehand about which bedrooms to use during our stay was a bonus. Attention has even been given to the dining area which allows a wheelchair user to sit at the table without the need to rearrange a single piece of furniture! Large patios and well landscaped gardens made the house even more special. Set in a tranquil area of the Normandy countryside we were little concerned before the start of our holiday that we would find enough to occupy our 3 ‘older’ children but our worries were unfounded. The many markets and chateaux in the local area, and day trips to Mt St Michel, the medieval bell foundry at Villedieu-les-Poêles, as well as Bayeux and Le Mans kept everybody happy. Nigel and Pauline were extremely attentive hosts during our stay. It can sometimes be a little daunting when you go on holiday to know that the owners live on site, but in this case, so warm was their welcome that we actually felt that we were staying with family. Nothing was too much trouble. Le Haut Fresnay is indeed a vey rare gem in the world of accessible holiday accommodation.w

3rd November 2008

= Le Fresnaie Gite

Reviewer: Andrew Peat from Glasgow, Scotland

Review

My wife, daughter & I stayed at Le Haut Fresnay for two weeks in July of this year. After seeing it on the website while searching for accessible holiday accommodation our expectations were high. The reality on arriving at Le Haut Fresnay outweighed our greatest hopes. We were warmly welcomed by Nigel & Pauline who are fantastic hosts with nothing being too much trouble if assistance or advice on local activities is needed. A great deal of effort and planning in making Le Haut Fresnay accessible is apparent. It is spacious giving clear passage and wide turning circles for wheelchair users. The shower room/ toilet has been adapted with a large flat floor shower which includes a pull-down shower chair. The kitchen benefits from having a lowered worktop section and lowered cooking hob. We enjoyed dining al-fresco on the patio soaking up the tranquil surroundings.Overall Le Haut Fresnay is a very comfortable family holiday Gite finished to a high standard which beckons a return.

13th October 2008

= The owners are fantastically welcoming hosts

Reviewer: Barbara Boyle from Nottinghamshire , England

Review

I have just returned from a week at La Fresnaie and am delighted to say that it is very accessible. Our party consisted of myself (wheelchair user), my husband and our one year old daughter and the access within the gite really took the pressure off my husband who only had to run around after our daughter instead of having to do everything for me as he usually does in many places that are 'accessible'. The shower room is spacious with a completely level access shower, although some people may require a shower chair. Floors are tiled throughout and light doors really are helpful. Even the kitchen has a lowered work surface and hob. This is the first place where I have been able to transfer on and off the bed by myself for 10 years!! The weather was not particularly great while we were there, but it was such a relief to know that we had somewhere comfortable to come back to. It's a fantastic place for getting away from it all and weather permitting, we spent a few nights sitting on the patio enjoying the peace and quiet and spotting red squirrels. The owners are fantastically welcoming hosts who take access serioulsy. We hope to return in a few years when our daughter is a little older...and we can have a real holiday!

22nd September 2008