👶👧 Things to Do with Children Under 5 in Normandy (Without Overplanning or Losing Your Mind)

✔ Short, easy drives · ✔ Calm beaches · ✔ Animals everywhere
✔ Pushchair-friendly days · ✔ Space for naps · ✔ Very little rushing

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First published: July 2025

Last updated: January 2026

If you’re travelling with children under five, you already know this truth: you don’t need dozens of activities. You need a few good ones, close together, forgiving if plans unravel, and flexible enough to survive snacks, naps, and the occasional emotional collapse over the wrong colour cup.

Normandy is quietly excellent for this stage of family life. Not because it’s packed with attractions, but because days here unfold gently. Distances are short. Places aren’t frantic. And nobody seems remotely shocked when a toddler decides to lie down in the middle of a path for no visible reason.

This isn’t a “do everything” guide. It’s a collection of days that actually work with babies, toddlers and preschoolers — especially if you’re staying with us at our gîte in Nicorps, right in the heart of La Manche.

This guide is especially suited to families with babies, toddlers and children up to around five, when shorter days, flexible plans and gentle pacing matter most.

🦙 The Llama Encounter (Very Much on Their Terms) - Yes, We’re Starting Here

One important thing to know about our llamas: they are not circus animals, performers, or guaranteed cuddle machines.

They live here as animals first, and any interaction always happens on their terms. A couple of them are naturally quite human-shy, others are curious but cautious, and moods can change — just like with small children, really.

When the timing is right, children can help offer carrots, which the llamas may or may not accept depending on how they’re feeling that day. Sometimes they’ll step forward confidently. Sometimes they’ll decide that today is a “watch from a distance” kind of day.

That’s all part of the experience — and often a surprisingly good lesson in patience, gentleness and respect.

If you’re staying with us, there’s always tomorrow. One of the lovely things about being here for more than a night is that children don’t feel rushed. A llama that wasn’t interested today might be much more open after a night’s sleep.

All llama encounters take place with supervision from Lee and/or me. With a little notice, one or both of us can be available to guide the visit, keep everyone safe, and help children read the llamas’ signals properly.

When it works — and often it does — it becomes one of those quiet, grounding moments that stays with children far longer than anything loud or staged ever could.

Camera strongly recommended. Llama expressions are unintentionally hilarious.

🏖️ Beaches That Actually Work with Small Children

The beaches around Coutances are wide, flat and forgiving — which is exactly what you want when someone suddenly develops the urge to sprint away at speed.

Hauteville-sur-Mer is wonderfully practical. Fine sand, summer lifeguards, toilets, showers and parking close enough that you’re not hauling half your house across dunes.

Gouville-sur-Mer is calmer and instantly recognisable thanks to its colourful beach huts. The sand is flat, tides are gentle, and it’s ideal for sandcastles, shell collecting and long, meandering walks with tiny legs.

Agon-Coutainville is a little livelier, but still very family-friendly. Cafés, ice creams and shops sit right behind the beach, which makes a huge difference when energy levels dip.

These are beaches where a “quick visit” often turns into a happy half-day without anyone feeling overwhelmed.

🚂 Things With Wheels, Whistles and Gentle Movement

Young children love movement, especially when it’s predictable, slow and slightly silly.

The Little Tourist Train of Granville is a favourite for a reason. It lasts about 30 minutes, includes gentle commentary, and lets everyone see the port, old town and sea views without covering long distances on foot.

The Tourist Train of the Cotentin offers relaxed routes designed for families, with no pressure to keep up or concentrate for too long.

For something a bit different, the Vélorail de Normandie lets families pedal gently along old railway tracks, with young children seated safely. It’s peaceful, oddly satisfying, and far calmer than it sounds.

🐐 “Can We See More Animals?” (Yes. Always Yes.)

Once children have met the llamas, this question is almost guaranteed.

La Chèvre Rit, near Gavray, is a lovely teaching farm where children can meet goats, hens and rabbits. Many activities are covered, which makes this a lifesaver on drizzly days.

The Mini Ferme du Taillais is small, friendly and perfectly sized for toddlers who want to get close without feeling overwhelmed.

Ferme de la Pommeraie and La Ferme aux 5 Saisons offer relaxed, hands-on farm experiences where children can explore, watch and learn at their own pace.

These places work because they don’t rush children or overstimulate them — and that makes a huge difference.

🦁 Gentle “Wow” Days: Zoos and Enchanted Places

If you’re planning one slightly bigger outing, these are worth doing — best enjoyed as half-day trips.

The Zoo de Champrepus is beautifully laid out, with shaded paths, picnic areas and animals spaced just right for short attention spans.

Le Village Enchanté and La Forêt des Elfes lean into imagination rather than adrenaline. Fairy-tale scenes, woodland paths and just enough magic to feel special without tipping into sensory overload.

These are the kinds of days children talk about long after the holiday ends.

🌿 Calm Walks, Gardens and Picnic Stops

The Jardin des plantes in Coutances (Botanical Garden) is one of those places parents instantly relax in. Flat paths, shade, and space to wander without rules (with free toilets open all year round, always handy with children in tow!).

Picnic spots along the River Sienne, near Château de Gratot or in village parks are ideal for letting children stretch their legs between activities.

Most of the places mentioned here are flat, pushchair-friendly and forgiving if plans change — which, with small children, they often do.

🌧️ Rainy Days (Because This Is Normandy)

When the weather changes its mind, there are still excellent options for under-5s.

Le Roc des Harmonies in Granville combines aquariums, butterflies, shells and minerals in one visit — colourful, compact and genuinely fascinating.

La Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg works well with young children thanks to its open spaces and large-scale exhibits.

The Coutances Media Library is perfect for a quiet reset, with a children’s corner, books, cushions and regular free activities.

Local advice: keep wellies in the car. Puddle-jumping is not optional in Normandy.

☕ Eating Out With Small Children

Family-friendly cafés and restaurants are easy to find. Places around Coutances and the coast are relaxed about children, high chairs and short attention spans.

There’s something reassuring about knowing nobody is judging when food is eaten in the wrong order.

🛌 Back at the Gîte

After a day out, many families are happiest simply coming back. There’s space to play, quiet evenings, the splash pool (in season) with picnic benches and sun loungers nearby so supervision can be done in comfort, and one last llama visit. There's a full-sized bath (with complementary bubble bath) if the children prefer this over the shower for a lovely bath before bedtime.

It’s a rhythm young children settle into quickly — and parents appreciate even more.

If you’re travelling with older children or a mix of ages, we’ve written separate guides to help plan days that work for everyone — without trying to force one type of holiday to fit all.

🌟 In Summary

Normandy with children under five doesn’t need big plans or packed schedules. Gentle days, animals, beaches, short journeys and time to pause are more than enough.

From our gîte in Nicorps, everything here is close, calm and genuinely family-friendly — exactly what early-years holidays should feel like. 🌿

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