We spent a week at the cottage in Boufflers in July, 2003. We were there for our own holiday, of course, but another reason for being there was to see if the cottage would make a good base for those who wanted to visit the battlefields but while also meeting the holiday needs of a family.  We can say without any reservation that the cottage is ideal for this kind of visit.

The accommodation itself is excellent, converted and furnished to a very high standard and far more spacious than it looks.  The two bedrooms are large and there's plenty of room for an extra single bed if required, giving the cottage a maximum sleeping capacity of five (or six if you include the further option of a cot.) The accommodation is all on one level, too, which makes things easier for those with mobility problems and for those who visit when the weather is on the cool side, there are plenty of wall heaters to keep the place warm.

When you look around, you soon realise that the cottage contains everything you could need.  There's a fridge/freezer, a full sized cooker, a microwave oven (though if cooking isn't something you do on holiday there are some good inexpensive restaurants nearby) and also a washing-machine, an iron and ironing-board! To keep younger members of the family occupied there's a TV and video (with a selection of videos) a CD/radio/tape player and even a cupboardful of games.

Outside is a huge garden with a hedge all round it - a large and safe area for children to play.  There's a gas barbecue and garden furniture, too.

The village of Boufflers is a delightful, quiet place, and this helps make  the cottage a place to stay in and enjoy for its own sake.

 However, there is quite a choice of places to visit not too far away.  For a start, there's the seaside.  The resorts of  Le Touquet, Berck Plage, Fort Mahon Plage and St. Valery-sur-Somme are all within easy reach, giving a choice of seaside towns ranging from the stylish to the garish, all with excellent, clean beaches. (We actually saw men with sacks and pick-up sticks, picking up small items of rubbish from the beach.  They don't even do that in the street where we live!)

Inland there are some real treasures.  The Abbey and gardens at Valloires are well worth a visit, as is Amiens with its cathedral (the biggest in France) and its excellent shopping. While there, don't miss the boat trips around the Hortillonages - the floating gardens - which must be among the best value for money you'll get anywhere.

Nearby Hesdin is a tiny ancient place which has the most colossal market on Thursday mornings.

And battlefields?  For Great War interest, the Somme is about 45 minutes away.  Arras slightly longer, and Ypres just under an hour and a half.  More locally you can visit the huge Etaples Military Cemetery (Etaples is right next door to Le Touquet) and Montreuil-sur-Mer, where there is a famous equestrian statue of Sir Douglas Haig.

New battlefield experiences for us were two famous sites within a few miles of the cottage - Agincourt and Crecy. Agincourt has a stunning new visitor centre and museum which has something for everyone and which we rate very highly - another exceptional example of real value for money. And the battlefield itself is really easy to understand, for a change!

All in all - an excellent base for a quiet holiday in a beatiful part of France, giving "Dad" a chance to indulge himself and visit the Great War battlefields without feeling guilty.  And all this within a 90-minute motorway drive from Calais, at a very reasonable price and with a warm welcome waiting for you when you arrive. This certainly won't be our only stay here.

The Cottage, Boufflers

The Courtyard

The kitchen/dining area

The garden

The living area