Le Galet Gris is a happy house. It sits astride a huge sandy beach and looks west across the rising and falling tides toward a vast sky of ever-changing hues and colour. It is a house whose inhabitants enjoy spectacular dawns and sunsets. At night the lights of Jersey can be seen twinkling 22 kilometers away and the beam from the Carteret lighthouse regularly and gently sweeps us with its comforting glow. The Galet Gris is decorated simply and stylishly reminding some guests of New England. Its colours reflect the surrounding sky, sand and sea. 2019 was the first year our family home was rented on a commercial site. We are sure you will love the house and its location as much as we (and our guests) do.
Accommodation:
Galet Gris was originally built in 1930s as one of four fisherman’s cottages, the first dwellings to populate this part of the long, sandy beach running south from Barneville. Subsequently, it has been extended, renovated and half clad in natural wood. In front of the house, across a beautiful newly-built boulevard is a garden nestled in the sand dunes above the beach. The back garden is fullyvenclosed and big enough to enjoy as a playground or as a practical shelter for eating outside and relaxing. The ground floor includes a large, 92m2, living space with picture windows which look out over a 180 degree panorama of the beach, sea, fishing and pleasure boats coming and going from Carteret harbour, the Ecrehou Islands, 5 miles away, Jersey and on clear days Guernsey, 30 miles away. The property is very well equipped and beautifully but simply decorated. Internet fibre optic reception. Every room has an independent electric radiator and efficient curtains or blinds. Linen and bath towels provided. Please bring your own beach towels.
Rooms:
Ground floor.
Kitchen having the following equipment; freezer, fridge, Bosch oven, Bosch microwave, Bosch dishwasher, Magimix, Tefal toaster and kettle, a Miele induction hob with instruction book if needed. You will find sufficient pots, pans, utensils, glassware and crockery for 10 guests. You’re also find picnic hamper, thermoses, placemats, etc. There are plenty of dishwasher tablets, dustbin bags and suchlike which we only ask you to replace if you have run out at the end of your stay. From the kitchen window you survey the beach and the the sea. Outside there’s a large brass Mariners bell to call people back from the beach.
Dining room. This room is also a living room with a fireplace a flight of stairs to the upper floors and a ground floor toilet. The house’s front and back doors are here. The dining room table the expands to sit from 2 to 16 people having removable extensions that are kept in another room.
Utility Room. Contains a large Nardi fridge freezer, trolley and larder area, Miele hoover, mops, brushes etc. Bosch washing machine with Bosch tumble drier, iron + board, double laundry sink and space for coats and shoes. As with the kitchen there should be an ample supply of household consumables which please replace if you reach the end of the packets before you leave.
Living room. Seating ten with magnificent views seawards this is a comfortable space with high fidelity audio and video equipment, TV and home cinema with ten foot screen which, it must be said, is used much more in winter than in summer! The coffee table contains books and maps about Barneville Carteret and the Cotentin region, its gastronomy, local markets fairs, ferries, sports activities, local walks, history and culture.
Bedroom with double bed ensuite basin, toilet and shower. Our elderly guests often enjoy this room as it is apart, self-contained and needs no staircase to reach.
First Floor. 50m2
Master bedroom. Enjoy views south west to Jersey and north to Carteret and the lighthouse whilst lying back in wide double bed. Attached is an ensuite bathroom and large dressing room with sofabed.
Principal guestroom. King size bed in beautifully appointed room looking straight out to sea.
Large bathroom with tub and walkin shower, double basin and toilet.
Second floor. 43m2
The roof has been opened out to give two further bedrooms both having double beds and sea views. There is also a well-lit sitting area with family books and games. In a corner are two wooden bunk beds for independent minded kids who prefer their own living space to the more formal bedrooms.
Garden:
Cabin. Firewood, kindling, dustbin, recycling bins, hose, charcoal barbecue.
Toolshed. Contains bicycles, half set of male adult golf clubs, deckchairs, boogie boards, extra outside dining table, football, cricket, badminton.
Outside: locked parking for two vehicles, the Garden, large wooden back deck with table and benches for 8 to 10 wooden front deck with table and chairs. Depending on the sun, wind and time of day, one can eat outside in front of the sea or in the back garden. There is an outside hot shower for de-sanding after a visit to the beach.
Amenities:
Galet Gris is 2km from Barneville Centre and its excellent small shops and Saturday market also a large Carrefour supermarket, 4km from Carteret and its smart shops and restaurants, cape, ferry and marina. Here one can rent motor or sail boats or beginners can sign up to the excellent sailing school. A well known and busy riding school is a five minute walk behind the house five minutes more and you arrive at the 18 hole links golf course in the dunes of St Jean. Our coastal waters are teaming with life and are warmed by the passing Gulfstream. We swim from June to October but our neighbours, with wetsuits, go wind and kite surfing throughout the year. Cherbourg is about 35 mins away by car and Caen/Ouistreham 90 mins. Mont St Michel, D-day beaches, wonderful cathedrals, Bayeux tapestry and regular local events and celebrations provide great day trips.
