Charmed by Brittany on their first visit, British couple the Warrens are now proud owners of a delightful gîte there. As lockdown eases, the grand plan is to max out rentals for a few years before making a permanent move across the Channel…
After holidaying in France for 15 years, it was only when Michelle and Graeme Warren decided to buy a holiday home that
in 2017 they ventured into Brittany for the first time. They fell in love with the place immediately and today are owners of
a quirky three-bedroom character home on the edge of Dinan, a medieval town in the Côtes d’Armor area.
“In early 2017 we went to The France Show in London,” recounted Michelle. “On one of the stands, we spotted a beautiful mill house for sale in Brittany, somewhere we’d never been. So we booked a long weekend there, basing ourselves in Dinard. It turned out that while the property was beautiful, it wasn’t right for us. But we loved the area and decided that was where we wanted to be, specifically somewhere between St Malo, Dinan and Dinard.”
Fast forward to September 2018 and the couple took ownership of a beautifully converted boathouse, which once belonged to the local rowing team. An idyllic bolt-hole for the Newcastle couple to enjoy time away from running their business, they chose the property as much for
its potential as a gîte to earn them rental income.
If all goes according to plan, the couple would like to move to Brittany permanently, where they could continue to work remotely and run a gîte or two.
From boathouse to gîte!
The Warrens are just the second owners of
their property, which they’ve named Quai du Val, since it was converted into a dwelling. Its stunning riverside location in Léhon, a designated ‘Little Town of Character’ on the edge of Dinan, and former life as the village boathouse make it a one-of-a-kind character home.
The downstairs is largely open-plan and includes a conservatory, utility room and second bathroom, added by the Warrens during lockdown. Upstairs there are three large bedrooms, all with vaulted ceilings, and a family bathroom. It sleeps up to seven people.
“The terraced area off the kitchen receives the
early morning sun, so it is an ideal spot for breakfast ‘al fresco’ and enjoys the sun until mid-afternoon,” said Michelle. “The front terrace is south-facing and enjoys the sun from late morning until sunset. The house is flooded with sunlight all day and you can enjoy evenings in the conservatory whilst the sun goes down!”
Like most new homeowners, the couple have added their own touches to the property and
are keen to make it stand out in the rental market.
“I wanted it to be special and took time getting every bedroom just right,” continued Michelle, who has experience in interior design. “We redecorated throughout and where there were carpets replaced them with wooden flooring. We also upgraded most of the furniture, including the sofa and the bed in the master bedroom, and bought new bedding. We updated
the kitchen too, but replacing it completely is on our to-do list!”
The improvements weren’t in vain. Their first year of rentals in 2019 went well, before Covid-19 brought everything
to a standstill in 2020. When BricksAbroad spoke to them in May 2021, things were beginning to get back on track.
“We’ve started to get bookings again for this year (2021),” said 49-year-old Michelle. “These are predominantly French people, with a few Dutch as well. Obviously, the British market hasn’t come back yet due to travel restrictions.”
An unlikely sale!
Quirky conversions like the Warrens’ house
can be hard to come by and it was thanks to
a serendipitous chain of events that they found theirs. Continuing their property search after
their first trip to Brittany, they responded to an interesting on-line advert selling a character property near Dinan. It was at least a month before they heard back, after which fate took its course.
“The owners, who lived in Jersey, were surprised
to receive our email,” said Michelle. “Having decided not to sell, they thought the property was no longer advertised anywhere. Anyway, sensing our strong interest, they said we were welcome to look at it the next time we went to Brittany. Sure enough, we ended up viewing it in July 2017 and knew immediately that we wanted it. So we opened discussions with the owners, who came round to the idea of selling again and we agreed a purchase price.”
Permanent move
Wowed by Brittany, with its rich history and culture, pretty scenery and medieval towns, the Warrens are keen to make
it a more permanent part of their life. Their goal is to have moved over within the next five years.
“We’ll keep the boathouse as a gîte for holiday lets and find somewhere more suitable nearby for year-round living,” continued Michelle. “Remote working means we should be able to carry on running our business in the UK while enjoy living in Brittany!”
Léhon itself has basic amenities, including
a baker’s, butcher’s, grocer’s and restaurant,
but there’s a choice of supermarkets within
10 minutes’ drive.
There is also an open-air pool, which is overlooked by the village’s impressive abbey. A 25-minute riverside walk from the house takes you into Dinan, regarded as one of France’s prettiest small towns and complete with timber-framed buildings and historic riverfront.
“There is so much to do outdoors,” said Michelle. “From walks and cycle trails, to boat trips and water sports. We are half an hour from stunning beaches around St Malo, Dinard and Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer.”
For more information on Quai du Val, click here.
The Warrens also featured on Rightmove Overseas
