Unspoilt ‘French Cotswolds’ holiday region with world-famous cider and cheese that can be reached without flying

A PICTURESQUE French holiday region, that can be reached without a plane from the UK, has remained relatively undiscovered by Brits, despite its world-famous booze, cheese and countryside.

The region of Orne in Normandy, France, has been compared to the Cotswolds, due to its peaceful nature and surroundings, described as "unspoilt" by Choose Normandy.

It's a favourite place to go on holiday for the locals, who flock there for long weekends, exploring its many quaint villages, like Belleme, Mortagne-au-Perche and, of course, Camembert.

The latter is the home of the popular soft cheese, which is made throughout its many farmyards, after it was invented there during the French revolution by a a farmer’s wife, called Marie Harel.

describe it as a village that "ticks all the boxes" for tourists with its fruit, its warm weather and its many culinary offerings.

They said: "The village of Camembert ticks all the boxes. The pastures where contented cows may ruminate upon their lot, the apple orchards in blossom or in fruit, the soft, dappled light and mild climate.

"If you can tear yourself away, head off and explore all the surrounding countryside has to offer, its hidden valleys, beautiful churches and its delicious beef and chicken dishes, served with lashings of butter and cream-based sauces."

Away from cheese and other popular French dishes, they also recommend trying the local alcohol, which surprisingly isn't wine.

Instead, the people of Orne are known to brew both apple and pear cider, as one might expect to find in parts of the Cotswolds, providing further reason for the comparison.

One of the most popular producers in the region is Bagnoles de Pom, who happily take visitors for tours around their orchard, while letting them sample their products too.

even claim that one of its local producers was rated the best cider in the world only last year.

They said: "Normandy has never shone so brightly in the cider world.

"Le Pressoir d’Or make a wide variety of cider such as brut, extra brut, ice, rosé, dry and medium-dry that often win prizes."

Those ciders, along with the camembert, can be found in many of the small markets laid on throughout the Orne region, with food, antiques and of course booze all up for grabs.