People want different things from holidays. You may want complete relaxation, time on the beach, a touch of culture, the chance to explore the history of an area or lots of activities.

Rarely do you get the chance to have all on your doorstep.

But just a quick hop across the Channel lies the wonderful rolling countryside and beaches of Normandy, dotted with historic towns and offering all of the above and more.

Having two teenagers and a baby to cater for proves a challenge in itself. But a short drive to Poole, a relaxing cruise aboard Brittany Ferries Barfleur to Cherbourg and an easy 90 minute drive the other side brought us to a little corner of heaven.

La Cidrerie is a collection of renovated cider barns, built in the traditional stone of the area, close to the beautiful Abbaye de La Lucerne, and a few minutes from child-friendly beaches of Jullouville and Carolles.

Having settled in the spacious accommodation and enjoyed a peaceful first night we headed for the iconic Mont Saint-Michel the next day.

The architectural wonder that is the Mont Saint-Michel rises majestically out of the sea. Completed in 1521, the medieval monastery was once an important site of pilgrimage.

Today, it has UNESCO world heritage status and is France’s most visited tourist attraction outside of Paris.

The bay is currently undergoing a long-term operation to restore its maritime character.

A short drive from La Cidrerie lies Granville, a lively fishing and commercial port, with a busy marina, and plenty of seafood restaurants fronting the harbour.

It also has a casino, and is the birthplace of Christian Dior, whose former home, set on the cliffs above the town, is now a museum and gardens open to the public.

Known as the ‘Monaco of the north’, the town has an old part – the ‘haute ville’ – with museums and art galleries, and views over the beaches below.

The islands of Chausey are a short boat trip from Granville. The main island is the only one that’s inhabited – by local fishermen – and it has some lovely beaches. It is a nature reserve and only cycling is available.

Avranches is also a lovely old city, with a fine cathedral and commanding views over the bay of Mont Saint-Michel and Le Mont itself. It was Patton’s headquarters after D-Day and has many reminders of that period. There is a fine scriptorium with many historical documents.

We took a day out to visit Festyland, a theme park near Caen that offers something for all ages but is more suited to younger children. The greatest asset is that there were few queues and we could try as many rides as we liked and also enjoy a decent meal at reasonable prices.

Interspersed with days of exploration were quiet days in the garden – all the more welcoming as the sun shone during the entire week of the stay.

The cottage is well equipped with a table tennis table, boules, games and books and most importantly several bikes which were used every day.

There are some excellent restaurants within a few miles and both shops and lively markets to get fresh food and essential supplies.

Nowhere is the memory of the Second World War more alive than along Normandy’s northern coastline. It was here on the wide sandy beaches that, on June 6, 1944, the Allied forces launched the largest amphibian attack in history, broke through Nazi defences and made the first steps in the liberation of Europe.

It should be beholden on everyone visiting Normandy or just passing through on the say to the ferry ports to make some time in their schedule to visit the beaches or cemeteries of the fallen.

On our way back to Cherbourg we headed to Bayeux and spent a few contemplative hours at the War Cemetery before visiting ‘Bloody’ Omaha Beach. Many of the US forces who perished on the beach left from Weymouth and Portland on that fateful day.

Last stop on the poignant trail was Points Du Hoc, a fortified a cliff-top position captured by US Rangers who scaled the cliffs after practising on the cliffs of West Dorset in the lead up to the invasion.

We made time for one last stop-off at Cite de la Mer, a giant family attraction yards from the ferry port in Cherbourg.

A giant former cruise ship terminal, it’s all about man’s adventures under the sea. You can spend the whole day here and go round “Titanic, return to Cherbourg”, an exhibition on the theme of the celebrated liner, but also on emigration. You climb on board Le Redoutable, the largest submarine open to the public in the world. There are also several stunning aquariums and an exhibition of weird and wonderful machines.

Factfile

We stayed at Cider Cottage, reference 186980 found at www.cheznous.com All three cottages are child-friendly, and have plenty of safety items fitted and the complex is ideal for families or larger groups. In addition to offering comfortable holiday accommodation, the owners set aside two blocks of two weeks each to run art courses for a maximum of 10 people, on a full-board basis.

Chez Nous is a book-direct website for French holiday properties with 30 years’ experience. There are now over 3,000 holiday properties offered of all sizes and types. New properties are added every season.

Brittany Ferries has a daily service from Poole to Cherbourg which operates largely year round. With a crossing time of just 4¼ hrs it offers Brittany Ferries’ shortest route to France although during the summer months they have a high-speed service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg taking only 3 hours. Fares start at £23 per person for a day trip and this autumn they have a wide range of special offers on hotel breaks from just £89 pp with your car See See www.brittanyferries.com/offers or call 0871 244 1400.