One shell of a holiday! Oysters galore in a fantastic foodie corner of Normandy… and a gem of a gite that comes with its own shucking kit

It turns out that shucking oysters is an art form.

Of course, the main goal in this high-stakes operation is to prevent gruesome, self-inflicted injuries – and for absolute beginners like me, that starts with scouring YouTube for tutorials from sensible-looking chefs.

Luckily, at the beautifully renovated farmhouse La Reverie, near the village of Gouville-sur-Mer in Normandy's Manche department, you'll find everything you need for a safe introduction to this risky but rewarding activity – including a medieval-looking chainmail glove. and paring knife and, if you need it, some safety instructions from the owner, James, on how to pry open these luscious local delicacies.

Fortunately, there are also plenty of restaurant and market experts who will do the work for you in this seafood-heavy corner of France: the ideal place for a family beach holiday.

One of the great advantages of La Reverie is that it is easily accessible from the ports of Caen and Cherbourg. Our party of four adults and two children crossed on the Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth early on Saturday morning.

The gite is just a short distance from long stretches of west-facing sandy beaches with endless sand and rock pools – and a coastline dotted with pop-up restaurants and beach bars. In the photo: Les Cabanes on the beach of Gouville-sur-Mer

The house has all the tools you need to try local oysters. And there are plenty of experts in restaurants and markets who will do the work for you

From La Reverie and its sister hotel opposite it is a gentle 10-minute cycle past orchards, fields and charming hamlets to Gouville-sur-Mer with its weekly market and bakeries.

And from there it's just a short distance to expansive, west-facing beaches with endless sand and rock pools – and a coastline dotted with pop-up restaurants and beach bars.

A must visit is La Cale, a rustic wooden hut where – in a somewhat chaotic manner – oysters, huge piles of moules frites and pieces of lamb or sausage are prepared, cooked over a roaring wood fire.

It's the perfect place to watch the sun set with a fresh Muscadet or local cider, while tractors bring in huge loads of freshly harvested shellfish.

Back at La Reverie there is everything you need to cook up a storm in a fantastic kitchen.

The property, carefully renovated by the owner himself and awarded five stars by the French Tourist Board, is located on a quiet country lane with a swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue and outdoor furniture in a charming landscaped garden.

At La Reverie you have everything you need to cook yourself in a real chef's kitchen

Inside there are modern appliances throughout, luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms and plenty of bicycles, games, books and guides to keep you busy

One of the great advantages of La Reverie is that it is easily accessible from the ports of Caen and Cherbourg, notes Julian.

Inside there are modern appliances throughout, luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms and plenty of bicycles, games, books and guides to keep you busy.

The interior is also filled with works of art and quirky antiques.

If the weather doesn't cooperate or for out-of-season visits, there's even a projector to watch films – or just head out for trips to even more markets in nearby Blainville and Coutainville, the old town of Granville, the beautiful Maison du Biscuit (a big hit with the kids because of the tasty free samples) and the local antique center La Clé des Temps.

In our case we enjoyed beautiful weather with trips to the beach, lazy days by the pool, horseback riding in the sand dunes and of course enjoying the region's heavenly gastronomic delights.

The La Manche Tourism Office proudly declares on its website: 'for a stay or forever'.

As our week came to an end, we wished it was the last.