Boulogne (4 - 4½ hrs )

Exit the port and follow the signs for A16 to Paris , Rouen and Amiens . The newly opened dual carriageway makes life much easier.

Once on the A16 you will start to encounter the Toll Stations. It will cost around 25 euros for the journey, made up either of collecting a ticket for later payment or a fixed amount. It is a good idea to keep some loose euro coins for the automatic machines. Remember the police can fine you for speeding just by checking the times on your toll ticket.

Continue on this motorway until Abbeville where you take the A28, marked for Rouen and Le Havre . Continue on this motorway to the junction with the A29. Take the A29 to Le Havre and Caen – still good quality motorway. Stay on the A29 as it goes past Le Havre and you will go over the spectacular Pont de Normandie bridge. You now follow signs to Caen . At the next junction take the A13 to Caen .

As you approach Caen you want to take the southern Peripherique marked for
Peripherique Sud, Rennes, and Cherbourg. Once on the Peripherique, you are looking for Exit 9, marked for Rennes and St Lo – the A84.

On the A84 take Exit 40 marked for St Lo and the second exit on the roundabout to St Lo - a new dual-carriageway. Continue on this road.

Exit at Junction 5, marked for Percy. At the roundabout, take the fifth exit marked for Percy, past the impressive Council offices on the right and down the steep hill into Candol, past the Petit Auberge restaurant on the right. After Candol and over the railway track, take the first right towards Canisy and Cerisy la Salle, D38.

Go straight through Canisy, Quibou and Dangy following the signs to Cerisy La Salle. After Dangy look out for a right turn marked to Cerisy la Salle, D73 (about half a mile) and take this road. You now want to take the second road on the left – just past a house, on the left, with a rusty corrugated iron roof – the D273 marked for Pont Brocard. This is a narrow, windy lane, so please take care. Go past the farm and other houses that are part of the Le Deshayes settlement and at the end of the lane turn right.

Immediately past the first house on the right, turn right and the Gite is the next building on the right. Please drive through the gated entrance and onto the drive. Our house is next door so please ring the doorbell and we’ll put the kettle on! The whole journey takes approximately 4 hours - but please don’t hesitate to ring us if you get lost or stuck anywhere – Tel: 0033 233 478735 (if ringing from an English mobile).

** Never driven in France before? Don't forget to have a look at our 'Rules of the Road section'

We look forward to welcoming you to Le Deshayes and wish you a safe journey.