Howard  and Catherine Parkinson

Cathy is French, originally from Paris, and I am English, originally from Formby. Prior to moving to France in 2004, we were both teaching full-time in the UK - I was teaching Psychology in a 6th Form, and Cathy was a Modern Languages teacher.

In 2002 we bought a very run down three bedroom house in France, which we took-on to restore into a practical holiday home. Two years later we purchased the property next door, which comprised of a house with three 1950s gites within the same 1.5 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, in the shadow of a 12th century church. The properties were very run-down, and in need of complete restoration. 

In 2004 we ended our teaching careers in the UK and moved to France with our 3 children,  to restore the property and conceive Dolphin Gites. Over the past 8 years, we have installed a beautiful in-ground swimming pool, restored the gites and main house (ongoing), created two additional cottages (gites 5 and 6) from old stone outbuildings. 

Dolphin Gites is now a successful family run gîte business located near the coast, in Vendée, in the village of La Chaize Giraud.

We are easy to find being next to the historic 12th century church in the village of La Chiaze Giraud.