Normandy Farmhouse, Le Grand Pont

There is plenty of accommodation in, around and within reasonable distance of Villers-Bocage – but it’s not very often you can get away from the formulaic hotel or B&B and stay at a quiet place with its own resident military historian and expert. In essence, the perfect location for anyone wanting to embark on the DIY “Michael Wittmann” tour.

Le Grand Pont, located near the village of Estry, is a large nineteenth century farmhouse where you will be guaranteed a warm British welcome in the middle of the Normandy countryside. As well as the fantastic location where the only noises to be heard are the honking of the geese in the back yard during the day and the hooting of owls at night, Tony and Jill Stansfield will offer you the perfect stay in a location close to Villers-Bocage, Cintheaux and La Cambe.

We stayed at Le Grand Pont for three nights and will definitely return again. Tony and Jill are entertaining company – there is even scope for extensive discussions about the movement of the 2nd SS Panzerkorps around the area in late 1944 over a shot or two of locally distilled Calvados. Recommended is the four-course evening meal costing just eighteen Euros, the perfect antidote to being on the road for the best part of a day. (If the wonderful beef bourguignon and rhubarb tart is on the menu, better still!)

Le Grand Pont is a working farm with a number of resident animals, but by far the most entertaining are household pets Biggles the Labrador and Nessa the tabby kitten – who has a purr as loud as a Tiger 1!

Link to the Normandy Farmhouse website

Distances

Eurotunnel/Ferry, Calais: 401km via A 16 / A 29 (approx. 3.5 to 4 hours inc. tolls)
Ferry, Caen-Ouistreham: 75km via A84 and local roads (approx. 1 hour)

Villers-Bocage: 28.5km NNE via local roads (approx. 30 minutes)
Cintheaux: 52.5km ENE via local roads (approx. 55 minutes)
La Cambe: 91.5km NNW via local roads (approx. 1 hour 5 minutes)