Meals included at this gite-petite cottage in Northern France

Just a 1-hour drive from Calais, this sweet gite nestling in the gardens of a 17th century farm is truly a house for all seasons, so you can either perfect the Scandi art of hygge with blankets and marshmallow-toasting in winter, or take to a sunlounger with an aperitif in the summer months ? before barbecuing and eating al fresco on your terrace. Whatever the season, with just the soft chirrup of birds, and grazing cows in the pastures beyond, you’re guaranteed a good dose of tranquillity and togetherness at this particular gite in Northern France.

Now, come on inside. There’s an art to perfecting a sense of curl-up comfort, and owner Nathalie has the skill ? in spades! Powdery shades, an open plan layout and a Scandi-meets-French décor all make this living space the perfect rural retreat, all helped along by the woodburner, hotel-standard shower room (with robes!) and beautifully laid table in anticipation of that seafood supper coming later!

Whether or not you manage to prise yourself away from your rural retreat remains to be seen, but you must try to dip into some of the region’s highlights while you’re here! All within a 30-minute drive you have the romantic Hesdin forest, the cobbled, characterful and foodie walled-town of Montreuil sur Mer (runner up in ‘France’s favourite village’ competition, no less), Merlimont beach for sand-yachting, spectacular dunes and awe-inspiring coastal views, and the Opal Coast’s undisputable pièce de resistance… Le Touquet ? an elegant resort best known for its white sands, iconic villas, boutique shops, seafood restaurants and spas.
So it turns out you don’t always have to choose between a country location and a coastal one when you’re after the perfect romantic weekend break in Northern France. Le Clos de Marenla… is both!