Recommend me; Brittany and "stuff"

[Ogmios]

though a fairly well seasoned Francophile (salt, pepper AND garlic )
any suggestions as to how to get the best
twisties,
towns,
food
sightseeing
would be appreciated.

unusually for us, we'll be doing less miles and more than one night in some hotels this year.

i'd just hate to come home and then read up some ride report telling how i just missed the Best Thing in North West France .

to give an idea....stuff wot i like;
Logis De France hotels and restaraunts
e.g; Roquefort en Terre - lovely little town, good hotel (Le Pelican), good food
the coast - thats it - just being there
Breton culture - Celtic Couzins - they're mad - i like that
walled towns / medieval towns.

not into...
cities
motorways
gites and camping at all.

Ta muchly in advance.
~~
Og

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Og, that's helped me out no end

I've got a crossing booked at the begining of Sept but nowhere to go; was thinking of Brittany but not sure where.

'Subject to consultation' with the lovely Amanda tonight I shall be giving Le Pelican a ring - what a lovely looking place

I'll be watching this thread with interest

Andres

 

[shuck raider]

Og, didn't find too many twisties on my last visit, although I didn't venture too far inland. Got off the Rosslare ferry in Roscoff and meandered west along the coast. Some nice restaurants in Brignogan-Plages, lots of little inlets and beaches to explore around Lannilis and Ploudalmezeau and I'd recommend a night or two in Le Conquet, lovely little fishing village west of Brest. Stayed in Hotel La Pointe Ste. Barbe

which overlooks the harbour and has a brilliant seafood menu. Hotel room rates quite cheap too. They have a lock-up just over the road for the bike as well. If they're booked out, there's a little tourist office on your left as you come into the town, they speak good English and are very helpful. The ferry to Ile D'Ouissant (Ushant Island) leaves from Le Conquet, and they do day trips out there.

Lots of little beaches and places to nosey around near Le Conquet, I found a little place called Plougonvelin just along the road from there:

There's a big lighthouse at Pointe St. Mathieu in the grounds of an old monastery which is kind of weird, but interesting nonetheless:

I found Brest itself rather uninteresting although there are museums etc if that's your thing. I nipped down to the docks to see the U-boat pens
Of course, the city was knocked almost flat by Bomber Command and consequently most of the buildings are newish.

Also went south to Lorient to look at the big U-boat base there, mainly because me old Dad was there in 1945 but didn't stop as he was at 12,000 ft at the time. Might as well have been dropping dried peas on it as there was (still is) 3.5 metres on concrete on the roof and they didn't make a dent on it in 4 trips. Once I was there I could understand why that was

Lorient is about as uninteresting as Brest but there's a nice seaside resort just to the west called Larmor Plage where I stayed in a B&B recommended by the local tourist office who were again most helpful. There's a marina which has a good restaurant, open to the public, just beside Admiral Doenitz's Chateau HQ where the U-boat war was coordinated.

I didn't get much further south, but then went cross-country to Normandy, so maybe someone else can advise you on what's down there. I enjoyed Brittany, just take your time and keep off the N roads. Michelin map 512 was very handy, as a back up to Betty

 

[Ogmios]

Thank you Shuck Raider for taking the time to post that!
Excellent info - just what i need

Outtomunch,
this could be handy for us both

WooHoo!
not long now

 

[Wapping]

Hi Og,

My tuppence worth.

Get yourself the Michelin 1:200,000 scale map book (ring bound). I think they are about EUR 12. Money well spent.

Not so many up hill-down hill, sweeping, twisties but plenty of narrow lanes through the 'boccage'. From the map you will be able to see the mass of little yellow D roads, often lined green for scenic.

A big chunk of them between roughly a line, Quimper (to the west) and Rennes (to the east) Reddon (south east). Another chunk of them to the west of Vire. You will spot them, for sure.

Quiberon peninsula is OK for a look and the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire are worth a gander too, if you like concrete.

When it rains it pees it down.....spend the day eating sea food....

 

[oblertone]

Handy ...

... for me too, land in Roscoff on the 13th July

 

[muzvmc]

Me too, Plymouth Roscoff thurs night. Going over to watch the Tour de france
Agree with the Brest comments, all too new!
Morlaix is worth a wander round as is Houlgat (spelling?)with its trembling rock (ooh)
It's a nice area for just bumbling around, lots of quiet roads. The coast has plenty of nice little beaches especially N/W of Roscoff.

 

[richie]

Og, try the Presque iles de Crozon, very nice...

 

[Aidan1150]

St Malo is a nice old walled town Og. Whilst there you just have to try the local crepes and very nice they are too.

This site may give you (and Andres) some ideas.

HTH chaps.

 

[Ogmios]

... been perusing the 'Net after looking at your ideas folks.

Thank youz All . some really good stuff here .

got more time to look now as our tour has been postponed.

NOT cancelled / just delayed a little.

so *bump* keep it up!

Thanks again.
~~

 

[Ogmios]

Og, try the Presque iles de Crozon, very nice...

richie,

i been googling and such for more info on the above.
i'm assuming it's the Crozon penninsula you're referring to?
looks right up our street anyhow

shuck raider,

i have "been in the vicinity" you speak of / but you've given me the incentive to spend more time investigating the locale .

more time to peruse now - early Sept. is our time slot.
dont mention weather!

outtomunch,

did you book the Pelican?

TheLotOfYiz ,

if in Carhaix Plougeur (sp?)
the "Noz Vad" hotel lives up to its name (Good Night, in Breton). quiet, peaceful, decent brekkie, a locals bar too. no restaraunt, but a good creperie 5 minutes away - and if you're there around Bastille Day (14th July) the Breton music and dance festival is incredible!.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Spent a week in Brittany last summer, in a town called Audiernes. We had great weather. As I was in the car with the family I didn't really take to much notice of the roads, but there were a few times I really wished I was on the bike.

Two non-biking hints: 1. Forget you're not a kid anymore, and go rock-pooling. Excellent fun! 2. Buy some real traditional pastry stuff called Kouign Amann. If you stunble across a market you may be able to buy it fresh and still warm. It's not cheap, but it is gorgeous.

 

[Ogmios]

my head is there already

wont be long now

sorry - am boasting aren't i?

bollox - i been waiting long enough

Andre,

keep an eye out for an Irl. reg. Guzzi

*clears throat and.......... Yipppeeeeeeeeeee!!!

 

[Pathologic]

Southern brittany

We had several bike free holidays Near Benodet. That coast line gets better as you go south. Concarneau is worth a gander and so is Pont Aven. Skip Lorient its boring. I would also recommend the Quiberon peninsula and Vanne as places to spend time.

We took bicycles out to Belle Isle on the Ferry. It was a brilliant day and lived up to its reputation as the Cote sauvage. The ferry was interesting as cars has to reverse down a slipway and then turn sideways onto the cardeck. Our bikes were soaked in sea water on the way back so you may not want to take the GS

Enjoy even if it rains. And boy does it rain. Ride safe,


Path.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Great thread
The wife and I have a long weekend booked in St Malo in September,we've visited before as a family but only for the day,this time we have 3 days & nights and no kids,only downside is she's insisted we take 4 wheels not 2! Can't win 'em all

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Be interested to hear about the Oscar Wilde ?
Bin

 

[Alan1963]

We had a 4 day weekend in these parts in July ... much of it covered in the posts below, but if you like Walled Medieval villages they don't come better than Guerande (about 20km from St Nazaire) and also famed for its sea salt. You can google as much info as you'll need.

If you're venturing another 125km East from here then the Chateau d'Anger (at Anjou) was remarkable - its looks nothing from the outside but once inside ....

http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/France/france11.htm

It also houses the Apocalypse tapestry, apparently the largest of its age still in existence.

I'd post some pictures but as I'm at my desk in the office , they aren't to hand! Sorry.

 

[Ogmios]

St Malo,

yep - been there (it's where my avatar came from - a characature artist did it!) but want to spend more time there.

Bin,
yes.... the Oscar Wilde and "irish" ferries.
we are giving that shower this one chance. gave up using and complaining about them a few years ago. apologies and freebie vouchers were not enough to convince us to trust them.

but.... that new ferry looks ..... adequate (aint i a snob! )

however - sailing under a Cypriot (i think) flag and most staff are East European with poor English - it's hardly Irish ferries anymore.

This is not a dig at the staff they DO work feckin hard for a wage no Irish would accept - remember all the strikes a few years ago?

oh - and when we had to reschedule the hol and rebook the tickets;
irish ferries charged us an extra €25 admin fee.
Brittany (our return ferry - at least we'll be SURE of a nice trip ) refunded us €125!

thats me lot for tourism - i'm off

 

[Ogmios]

the Oscar Wilde - "Irish" Ferries new boat.

just dont bother.

o.k - it's a short report. but i really wouldn't bother. it's (superficially) shiny and bright.
but the experience is way short of the standard you get on Brittany Ferries.

food, shop, staff, cabins and cleanliness - just nowhere near as good - and the fares are near enough the same.

the sailing times and the Rosslare departure may suit some better - but thats it.

we went out on the Oscar and came home by the Pont Aven (Brittany Ferries), so a fair comparison was made, i think.
........................................

Outtomunch,
did you ever get to Rochefort en Terre?

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

Probably too late but Air Bus factory tour in St Nazaire

Try this http://www.saint-nazaire-tourisme.com/index.php?Ids=hMgprqpiwraCvBebaotV&Menu=Mcpid&Action=2&dr1=16&dr2=45