For Francophiles who don’t want the hassle of travelling down to the beautiful Riviera region of the South of France, Brittany makes an ideal destination for a self-drive touring holiday. Located on France’s north-west coast, the Breton peninsula has the Channel coast to the north and Atlantic shores to the west. It is a rather lengthy 600 kilometre drive from the channel tunnel port of Calais but a shorter journey from the ports of Cherbourg, St Malo or Roscoff.
Brittany is just as beautiful as the Riviera but it has a completely different and unique character. Beautiful stretches of rocky coastline, which appear to battle to hold back the Atlantic Ocean, is mixed with long, sandy beaches safe for families to enjoy. Brittany is steeped in tradition and, whenever you visit, you are likely to come across some small Breton festival or celebration of Breton life in even the smallest of towns and large villages.
It’s a perfect destination for cyclists, golfers and walkers and for anyone who enjoys French seafood cuisine. Don’t miss the megalithic and mysterious standing stones and dolmens around Carnac, take a boat trip around the small islands in the Gulf of Morbihan and explore historic towns like Vannes and Quimper with their city walls and half timbered houses. There’s so much to see and so many corners to explore that you will need to come back and visit a second, third or fourth time!