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          View of local village Madré on one of our country walks
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          Tree lined avenue about 1km from the gites - ideal for nature lovers
                                                                                                              Local walks / bike rides / availability of bikes:- 
          Once away from the bustle of the large towns and cities, most of France appears to be deserted which is wonderful from the point of view of walkers and cyclists. From La Maison Neuve, there are pretty walks through the countryside. You can take a simple walk through the fields at the back of your gite, then through an avenue of trees and see if you can spot the tawny owl nesting in the nearby derelict barn at Le Tenet. The route takes you back to your gite and should take around 45 minutes. If you wish to walk a little further, you can take a more circuitous route to the village of Madré and maybe call in for a drink at “Don’s Bar”before meandering back to your gite. Should take around an hour but could be considerably longer if you linger at Don’s Bar!
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          Two intrepid cyclists en-route to a restaurant in early autumn
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          View of the gites and owners house from the end of the field which can be used for various ball games
          There are many other walks for the more adventurous, some taking several hours – you can choose what suits you and either take it easy or go for something a little more challenging. The choice is yours. Details of the walks can be given to you by the owners along with maps of the immediate vicinity highlighting the walks. 

          If you wish to go cycling and have brought your own bicycles, there are some dedicated cycle routes nearby that extend for up to 32 km. However, you may perhaps be here for a holiday rather than a marathon and as mentioned above, most of the nearby roads are deserted and a cyclists paradise. You can cycle to nearby restaurants such as the St. Aignan at St. Aignan de Couptrain or take a slight uphill gradient to Le Bienvenue bar and restaurant at Charchigne, enjoy your lunch then cycle back. Fortunately, downhill on the return journey. Or just meander gently through the Normandy / Mayenne countryside at your leisure. It can be great to just stop for a few minutes and hear nothing but the sound of the birds and the gentle breeze in the trees, such is the tranquillity of the region. 

          If you haven’t brought your own bicycles, don’t worry, we can provide. We have a selection of bicycles that should suit a range of ages and you are it liberty to borrow them as and when you like. All we ask is that you take care of them and treat them as your own. 
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