14350 St Charles de Percy, Calvados, France. Telephone no. 0033 2 31 68 91 77

From the Chanel Ports, you should eventually fetch up on the A84/E401 motorway from Caen southwestward towards Rennes. Current tolls are 9.10€ from Le Havre to Caen, or 22.70€ from Boulogne or Calais, both including 5€ for the Pont de Normandie, over the Seine at Le Havre. It’s toll-free from Caen/Ouistreham.

On the A84, continue as far as Junction 42 where you exit via a complicated little double roundabout onto the D577 to Vire. Continue on the D577.

The road bypasses Le Mesnil Auzouf, then shortly afterwards you will come to the village of Montamy, famous mostly for the most notorious radar speed trap in Normandy! Be warned, they do target British numberplates, and they are not particularly tolerant. The good news is that you are only 6.5 miles from Le Maizeret.

About 2 miles south of Montamy, the road twists and turns for a bit as it drops into and climbs out of a valley. 4 miles south, after the village of La Vautelliere you arrive at La Ferronniere.

In La Ferronniere, turn left at the D56, signposted for St Charles de Percy, Montchamp and Vassy. Immediately go straight across another junction, it's the old main road.

The British Military Cemetary is on your right, then continue for 1.0 miles to the village of St Charles de Percy. On your right you'll see the church spire: turn right immediately after the church.

It's not signposted as such, but this is the D290a. Follow it for about 1.2 miles bearing left-ish at a slight fork after about 0.5 mile) and Le Maizeret is on your left just after you've gone up a hill and wiggled left then right through some trees.

The Gate is not locked. Simply press down on it a little and slide the bar back. There is a large stone on the ground near the gate which can be used to wedge it open. We normally close the gate at night, but leave it open all day.

The Front Door: The door handle mechanism is still quite new and stiff, and a bit of a trial of strength. Turn the key 360" clockwise ( ) and push down hard on handle to open.

To lock the door from the outside, insert the key, push the handle up as far as it will go: then push it further, until it's vertical! Then turn the key anticlockwise ( ) 360" to lock, and remove key. (NB The other doors/windows are much, much easier!)

Once inside the house, see the "Arrival quick list" on the counter between the kitchen and the front door. NB On the reverse is the "Departure check list". (Both these also in this book).