Luxury holidays in Normandy

When to go

As you’d expect of a northwesterly, coastal area, Normandy can be wet and windy. July and August are the sunniest months, June and September quieter. Whenever you go, take rainy-day gear. As you’d expect of a northwesterly, coastal area, Normandy can be wet and windy. July and August are the sunniest months, June and September quieter. Whenever you go, take rainy-day gear.

Getting there

• Planes

  Catch a domestic flight from Lyon to Rouen (www.airfrance.com) if you’re coming from the Midi. Paris Charles de Gaulle is the nearest access point for passengers from the UK and elsewhere.

• Boats

  Channel-side Normandy is served by a glut of ports providing easy access by ferry from the UK. For Honfleur, Le Havre is nearest, though Dieppe will do nicely (www.ldlines.com). Alençon is a two-hour drive from Le Havre.

• Trains

  From Paris, it’s a swift two hours between the Gare Saint-Lazare and central Caen (www.sncf.com). For Lower Normandy, take the TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans (one hour). Marseille to Rennes is a six-hour schlep (www.tgv.com).

• Automobiles

  From Paris | the A13 and A11 motorways take you to the north and south of the region respectively. Rouen is a two-hour drive from Calais | 90 minutes from Paris | or one hour from Le Havre.

• Taxis

  There are few Norman towns big enough to warrant cabbing it. In Rouen, you’ll find taxi stands on both sides of the river. Caen’s pick-up points include the train station. In remoter areas, ask your hotel to book a car for you.