Hello @JaneJones - unfortunately water will become scarce in the next few decades and unless action is taken now there will be major shortages in the future. Sadly I agree this is not agreeable in such a beautiful area but one worth taking for the longer term success of France to manage its economy.
Obviously my own opinion 
I entirely agree that water will be an increasing problem, but am horrified that the bassines are seen to be a solution. The benefits, if there are any as may already not be enough water to fill them, mainly serve industrial-scale irrigation (e.g., corn production) rather than small, diversified farms, and entrench water-intensive practices rather than encouraging sustainable alternatives. This wetland is nationally precious.
Don’t worry the rising sea levels will help, just need some large desalination plant.
A lovely part of the country that I only relatively recently discovered when staying in Vendée for a short break. The boat trip we took on the Marais Poitevin was excellent.
Hi Lee, France is a mosaic of landscapes and climates, there is something for everyone, the most reasonable would be to explore before moving.
Normandy is more charming than Brittany, take a look at the Pays d’Auge for example… The apple trees in bloom in spring… A mild climate all around the year.
Hi Juliet, welcome to the forum.
Please tell us about your connections with France and what appeals to you about the country.
Hi, I am simply a certified French woman and here to modestly provide my help if needed 
You’re certified? I’m not sure what that is.
Fixed it.
*born and raised in France !
Most replies have focussed on the business side of the deal - though I will just add that my limited understanding is in line with everyone else. Working in France and paying tax in the UK is not how it works.
Brittany is a lot like Cornwall (the south coast of the peninsula is even “La côte de Cornouaille”) but with some Wales and some Ireland thrown in. It is verdant with mild winters and not overly hot summers but it is wet, very wet at times and when it is not being wet it is very often foggy.
It’s easy to get to/from the UK though, especially the Côtes-d’Amour and northern Ille-et-Vilaine.
Do you - there advantages both ways. I assume from your moniker that you are a Yorkshireman, whereabouts? I’m originally from Doncaster myself though haven’t lived there for more that 40 years so am a bit out of date with developments back home.
Rural France can be exceedingly rural, and often quite poor. Especially in Brittany.
If you don’t mind me asking - what do you do? As others have mentioned you might need to get your qualifications recognised, or even re-do them in France as it’s much harder to transfer post Brexit. And France loves to require qualifications before they let you do anything (even the the guy in the pizza van had his certificates on display).
PS - I do actually quite like Brittany
Hi Juliet
We have had our house in the pays d’auge for some time now. We have had summers of 30C plus and winters of -10C including everything in between. But these are the extremes and usually the temperature is just right. However, we are getting the tail ends of more winter storms coming across the Atlantic which cause havoc and bring down ancient trees too.
Sill one of the nicest areas in France to be.
Thank you, Billy, for your very thorough reply. I’m in Hull, East Yorkshire, so not far from Donny.
For qualifications, my work will all be back in Britain and the English-writing other parts of the world, as I work as a book editor. There’s no transference of qualifications necessary, as I won’t be working with French clients.
I’m not particularly moving over for the weather, but thanks for the heads-up on the climate. Also, as a northerner, I’m not fussed about it being a prosperous region. In fact, with the low cost of properties being a factor, ‘poor’ is better.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll be checking out Normandy too, now.
Many thanks for your input, Chidders. Yes, an initial rent and the chance it offers to look at leisure for something to buy definitely seems sensible.
Poor is not better if you want medical services, or indeed any services nearby. Few people in a large area means it isn’t economic for businesses, and even when businesses exist you can end up paying large fees for “ deplacement”. When we first mover to where we are now mainstream shops like Darty just wouldn’t deliver at all.
And your work may be back in Britain but will your backside be there too? If you are physically in France when you do your work you need a French registered business. France does not have a digital nomad visa, so if that’s what you want to do you’d be best going to Portugal. No doubt people will tell you that it’s possible and they’re read of X doing this - but it is not legal. Might be ok for a year of so but since you have to declare worldwide income here eventually someone will notice. And the penalties are significant.
I was going to make the same point - we live (well have a house in) in a village of 750 - which is just too small. The last time I was over the restaurant/bar was in the throes of closing, again; the family that had been trying to make it pay for the last four years having decided that they couldn’t. We have VDSL (but mine died and Orange were useless at fixing it so I’m relying on 4G at the moment - no 5G in the village) and no fibre, though it is planned - central Brittany in particular is poorly served by fibre though overall France is pretty good.
I don’t know how the little épicerie is doing - we don’t use it that much because it’s an easy run to the nearest supermarket. It’s probably a lifeline for the older folks who don’t drive but then they pay for it in terms of higher prices and less fresh produce.
Property is cheap here though, I agree.
Hi Selles,
I am delighted that you feel good there.
It is a region without intensive agriculture, hilly and full of lively hedges and streams… David Hockney did not make a mistake by moving there!
The increasing violence of the storms will affect all the territory, but the Pays d’Auge will be relatively preserved.
Whereabouts in France are you, Juliet?
Cotentin, Virois, Pays d’Auge, Côte fleurie… The choice is vast. For quick access to Britain, don’t be too far from the coast. Paris is two hours from the Pays d’Auge and the Côte Fleurie via the A13.
