Le Moulin de Sommesnil is a large flour mill dating from the early 19th century, framed in timber with a brick and flint facade and external walls a metre thick. The two-storey mill has four bedrooms accommodating ten guests. The Moulin is situated on the edge of the little hamlet of Oherville, on a Grande Randonnée, one of a network of walking trails which criss-cross France.

The mill appears detached, but a neighbouring house is built onto the mill following the bend of the river. The house is situated on a minor road with parking space for up to four cars. The owners have their own separate self contained annexe at one end of the property.

At the back is the garden and the River Durdent, with attractive views of a wildflower meadow and marsh across the river.

The millstream flows under and outside the back door. The large peninsular garden is surrounded by water, with a wooden jetty leading out over the river. (For this reason, the property is unsuitable for very young children who would need constant supervision.)

An outdoor dining table provides a great spot to dine and enjoy the view and peaceful atmosphere. The garden also has two hammocks and a magnificent tree platform in a wild cherry tree.

The house is simply but comfortably furnished with exposed beams throughout the property. Floors are wooden upstairs and traditionally tiled downstairs, with rustic rugs and unfitted carpets for warmth and colour. All rooms have electric heaters for the winter.

The entrance hall leads into a large open-plan kitchen/dining/living area. The well equipped farmhouse kitchen has an electric stove, a large fridge, a dishwasher, a microwave, and some French cookbooks.

The large living area has a brick and stone inglenook fireplace, surrounded by sofas and armchairs. A sound system has speakers in both downstairs rooms, and there’s a large collection of modern and classical music. Also on the ground floor is a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower.

The layout upstairs is ideal for two families sharing, as there are two semi-self contained sides to the house. Each side contains two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with three single beds. This gives a total of four bedrooms with two double beds and six singles, and a cot for a baby.

Off the landing is the first double bedroom which has a wardrobe and a chest of drawers, and overlooks the river. Another large bedroom has a pair of twin beds and a single futon bed, with a chest of drawers, wardrobe, sink and en-suite shower and toilet. A doorway connects to the other side of the house, where there is a large landing housing a library of books.

The first bedroom on this side has three single beds and a wardrobe. Also off this landing is a bathroom with a bath, shower, and sink, a separate toilet, and a master bedroom with original cupboards surrounding a fireplace, a curtained clothes storage area, and a cot for a baby.

Special features:

• Pets welcomed

The nearest village is Hericourt-en-Caux, three kilometres away, which has an excellent general store, a baker, a pharmacy, a butcher, a charcuterie, a tabac, a bar, and a restaurant. The restaurant,Auberge de la Durdent, serves excellent Norman cuisine with a very good value lunchtime menu.

There is another restaurant within walking distance in the neighbouring hamlet of Le Hanouard, about a twenty minute walk from the mill.

The nearest larger town is Cany Barville, which has a traditional market every Monday, and a shopping centre with a good selection of food shops, including a boulangerie and fishmongers.

The nearest sports facilities are at the Lac de Caniel in Cany Barville. This is an artificial lake with a beach and swimming area, offering waterskiing, pedalos, playgrounds, skateboarding areas, a bowling alley, cafés, bars, and two restaurants. The Chateau de Cany at Cany-Barville is also open during July and August for guided tours.

The Durdent Valley is in the Seine Maritime area of Upper Normandy, which is a high flat chalk plateau with many small river valleys threading north towards the sea. The nearby coastline, about 20 kilometres north of Le Moulin de Sommesnil, features dramatic white chalk cliffs and pebbly beaches, which are excellent for rock-pooling. 40 minutes’ drive away at Fecamp is a Benedictine abbey; visitors can see how the liqueur is made. 30 minutes to the south is the densely wooded Seine valley with bluebell forests still populated with wild boar. In this area is the famous ruined Jumieges Abbey. The abbey of St Wandrille, which is still in use, has a fine shop selling products made by the monks; visitors can hear them singing plainchant at Sunday services.

Day trips from the house include visiting Rouen (45 minutes’ drive), which has a spectacular cathedral famously painted by Monet, and a beautifully restored medieval town centre, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Another fascinating place to visit is the medieval port of Honfleur, famous for its picturesque harbour, its seafood restaurants and its art galleries. It also has a superb salon du thé.

Also worth visiting are the beaches of the Normandy landing in World War 2, the chic seaside towns of Deauville and Trouville, which have fine sandy beaches, and Monet's garden at Giverney. Bayeux, home of the medieval Bayeux tapestry, is a couple of hours' drive, but well worth a day trip. Paris is a 90-minute train journey from Yvetot. The weather is changeable but mild, with summer temperatures around 20-25 degrees centigrade.

The front of the Le Moulin de Sommesnil	The island garden from down-river
Tree platforms	The garden and mill race
The dining area	The front triple bedroom
The rear triple bedroom	The library on the upstairs landing
The fireplace in the living area	The living room