Around and about in Brittany

DVD or Video Rental in Dinan

2008-11-08T20:50:00.000+01:00

We didn't go very far this weekend. It was raining and Ian's children seemed to prefer to hire a film rather than go to the cinema so that's what we did.

There is a "hole in the wall" next door to the Italian Deli (near the station) in Dinan where, once you have fathomed out the procedure you can rent DVDs or Video's. It advertised that the films cost E1.50 / 6hours but I seem to have been charge E4.40. Still, I'm not moaning, it was cheaper than the Cinema and we could choose our own film.

We decided on "The Golden Compass" which is an adaption of the novel "Northern Lights" in the Philip Pullman trilogy "His Dark Materials". The film was beautiful although they did leave out what amounted to chapters in the book. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the film, pancakes and fire blazing.

Ian and are on a bit of a budget drive at the moment because we have booked to take the children to Futuroscope at the end of November. They have a special offer at the moment: 2 nights in a hotel room for four, breakky and free entry to Furturocope for two days only costs 288 euros. Super, so we're going. I can't wait.

Glass blowing and exhibition at St. Meloir des Ondes

2008-10-31T21:06:00.004+01:00

Ian and I took his children to the gallery and glass blowing studio in St. Meloir des Ondes (between St. Malo and Cancale) today. It was cold so the warmth of the furnaces was welcome.

We had to wait about an hour before they started working the glass but once the process began we all enjoyed watching the manipulation and blowing of the hot molten Cristal glass. One piece took about 30 minutes and was achieved by layering hot coloured glass on an already molten bulb of glass constantly blowing and turning.

Ian's children are always interested in learning new things and the artisan, Martin Durand, did include them and ask them if they had any questions at the end.

I have to confess to being a bit rigid with fear as enthusiastic spellbound kids looked around the glittering gallery, sleeves and dangling gloves just missing 300 euro objects of art but we did, thankfully, escape without any damage.

The gallery also offers workshops for adults and children for those of you who fancy having a go.

Another good idea on a cold, wet day.

The web address is http://www.idverre.net/durand-gasselin/creations.html

Tidal power station (hydroelectrical dam) between St. Malo and Dinard

2008-10-30T19:03:00.007+01:00

The tidal power station on the Rance Estuary between St. Malo and Dinard was the first of it's kind ever to be built. It was started in 1961. The turbines were renovated in 2002.

It was pretty cold today so outdoor activities were not on the agenda. In the end we thought a quick jaunt to the tidal power station at the Barrage de la Rance might be interesting.

The entrance was FREE ! and although the tour was very short the kids enjoyed it. There was a short film (headphones for English and German speakers) which explained the basic workings, development and the running of the tidal power station. After the film there was a small exhibition hall with interactive models showing the workings of the turbines which have been there for over 30 years now. The tidal power station can supply enough electricity for a town of up to 300,000 inhabitants.

If you are crossing the Barrage at any time, try to take 30 minutes to stop and look around.

Go-Karting in Brittany

2008-10-20T18:14:00.006+02:00

A few weeks back Ian and I headed out to have a look at the Karting tracks north of Dinan.

We went to the track which is advertised as being in St. Malo http://www.karting-saint-malo.com/ but is in fact quite a way outside on the way to Cancale. The track looked good and well kept the atmosphere seemed friendly. It was outdoor and had two different types of go-kart that you could hire; a 9 HP(50mph) and a 22HP (70mph). These types of kart are limited to kids over 12 years of age. For under 12's there are mini quads and mini karts and a training circuit but it is very slow. If you have kids over 7 it's better to go to the outdoor karting at Le Meziere near Rennes http://www.royalkart.com/ (cheaper than the indoor one at Cap Malo on the opposite side of the motorway).

The St. Malo karting also does Quad hikes which look like fun and not too costly at 2 hours across all types of terrain for 2 hours 65 euros.

Later that afternoon we went to find the karting in Dinard which was not a scratch on the one at St. Malo but a lot closer to get to for a quick whizz round we thought. However, on closer inspection it transpired that the karts were electric and the kids karts were fixed to go at nearly walking pace which took the fun out of it for them. I don't think it was the best choice.

Both had more or less the same tariffs (approx) 15 euros for 10 minutes.

So, to summarise. If you are looking for some adult fun go to St. Malo http://www.karting-saint-malo.com/ but for kids go to Rennes: http://www.royalkart.com/

Happy karting !

Zoo at Tregomeur

2008-10-04T16:52:00.003+02:00

I enjoyed this zoo because all the animals seemed to have lots of space and were presented in their natural environement.

There was a good variation of animals the best of all being the lovely freindly bear which we all became attached to.

The zoo is in a beautiful valley and is brand new. A great effort has been made with the layout and access to all areas is easy. We were even able to walk amongst the pelicans. Times were given so we could be at the right place at the right time to see the animals being fed and the zoo keepers were very freindly and available to answer all the children's questions which made it much more interesting for them.

There is a nice cafe and it wasn't too expensive but, unusually for France, no picnic tables so if you don't fancy the usual snack bar food, eat before you go.

Morning opening times are limited to certain days so better to hit it in the afternoon between 14 and 19h. The web address is http://www.zoo-tregomeur.com/

Beaches in Brittany

2008-09-23T14:38:00.010+02:00

All of Brittany's beaches are free and even better, uncrowded. The Brittany Coastline is over 750 miles long and is blessed with a variety of sheltered sandy coves on the north coast to long sunny stretches on the south coast.

The north coast of Brittany has fairytale like beaches which are made more interesing by the eb and flow of the tides replenishing rock pools and keeping the beaches clean and fresh.

If you are following the GR34 (see blog entry) you will be given access to most of these lovely bays.

My favorite beaches in Brittany are:

St. Jacut de la mer - There are several beaches at St. Jacut. There is one for families with easy access, dingy hire and a small beach cafe where there are no dogs allowed and some other beaches on the right hand side of the penisula where it is a bit more dog friendly for those with pets. When the tide goes out you can walk to the l’île des Ébihen along a causeway and although it's quite a hike it's a beutiful place to visit and dogs love the walk. You do have to check the tide times if you are thinking about making this trip. It's best to walk out with an outgoing tide to get enough time on the island. Many people get caught out and the tides are very strong.

Erquy :

Erquy boasts 10 beaches most of which are easily accessable and perfect for families. Erquy is the main fishing port for the most delicious scallops or "Coquilles Saint-Jacques " in the region so there are plenty of lovely bistro's, cafés and restaurants lining the sea front and tempting you with delicious seafood dishes. The scallop fishing is highly regulated in Erquy and they are only harvested between October and April.

If you follow the GR34 that leads you up to the cliffs on the left hand side of the village you will arive at the Cap d'Erquy which is spectacular, especially in September when this protected national park is awash with heather. There at some wonderful little bays to enjoy here but it's not for young children as the walk down to them is quite challenging (and a word of warning for the modest amongst you, one of the bays is a local nudist beach). The cliff path leads you towards the Cap Frehel which you can see in the distance.

Brittany's Beaches

2008-09-22T20:30:00.005+02:00

This weekend we had real sun for what feels like the first time this summer and we took profit of the lovely weather to enjoy our local beach (La Briantais near Lancieux) with my partner's children.

The coastline here is littered with tiny bays and sandy coves. The best part about the beaches in Brittany is that they have everything, sand, sea, rocks and rockpools, cliffpaths and at our local beach a nature reserve on dunes which has some great little paths and hideaways in it.

Our mission though, was to build two giant sand castles, and we did, here they are. with armies included. We all had great fun and were hungry and exhausted when we got home. After tea we all crashed on the sofa and watched Star Wars. Fab.

Nothing makes you feel better (and nothing is cheaper) than a day at the beach.

Motorbiking and Motorbike blessing in Brittany

2008-09-03T17:49:00.004+02:00

Motorbike clubs and motorbike blessing in Brittany

A couple of friends of mine joined a local Motorcycle Touring Club (Moto Touring Club de Plerin) in Brittany. They wanted to improve their command of the French language as well as expanding their knowledge of this part of France, so they selected this Club which had only French members, they found friendship and a general welcoming attitude. The Club specialises in group ride-outs, generally lasting for a day, discovering rural Brittany with its virtually empty roads (compared with the UK!) and also has many other social events during the year.

For example this year, 14 members of the club visited Belgium at Easter (yes it did snow!!) where they were hosted by the Du Panne Moto Club who showed them their region and lavished hospitality (and Belgian beer) on their group. The favour was returned in May when 8 members of Du Panne came to Brittany, along with 10 riders from N. Ireland and a further 8 riders from Germany to celebrate the MTC 30th anniversary, a weekend of festivities. A great time was had by all and MTC will be visiting both Belgium and N Ireland next year.

An annual international gathering of Bikers takes place at Porcano in Department 56 (Morbihan) on August 15th ( Assomption - public holiday) each year. The event is called ' The Madone des Motards' and MTC attended with 18 riders. This event started in about 1975 when the local vicar, who was a biker, blessed about 5 members of his congegation and their bikes. The event has been repeated annually thereafter and this year over 20,000 riders were present (see photos)- all who wished to have their bikes blessed did so (there is no compunction for this and all are welcome whatever their religion), those who just came 'for the ride' enjoyed an 85km ride out through surrounding villages when the local populace turn out with flags etc to welcome the riders, the procession through each village takes about 2 hours to pass!

Nick has just changed his bike and replaced his ageing BMW 1100cc tourer with a new BMW 1200cc sport tourer - he says that his partner Lin has got much closer to him since the change (she has to hang on to him as the bike is so fast!!!!)

When not roaring around the French countryside on his BMW, Nick runs a Surveying firm who carry out pre-purchase building surveys for 'Brits' who buy houses here in France http://www.french-property-survey.com/ why not contact him if you think he can advise you on your house purchase?

First Post

2008-08-28T18:16:00.000+02:00

My first post.

I'm sure i'm not the first (and won't be the last) person to sit in front of their first post and wonder where to start and why on earth they decided to do this. Do I write a page for everyday of my life until now ? No, it would bore you to tears. I'll try to stick to the things I have done in Brittany and the places I have visited and felt were worth sharing with you. I'm also hoping that some of you will write to me with idea's that you feel deserve mentioning.

The Pirate's Maze

2008-08-18T06:09:00.000+02:00

The Pirate's Maze is only a short step from Dinan, St. Malo and Dinard on the Rance Valley.

I had a lovely afternoon out at this maze with some friends and their children. The mazes were excellent, there were four in all. Each maze had a set of 10 questions to be answered by finding the question boards in the right order. These questions added interest at the same time as guiding you through the maze. We split into teams so it got a bit torrid rushing from board to board. When you finally reach the centre of the maze there is seating and snacks for the exhausted adults and great outdoor games for the younger ones which kept them entertained for at least another 30 minutes whilst we caught our breath and got ready for the next maze.

The kids had a lovely time and were kept busy for the whole afternoon.

It was very good value for money (entrance fee approx 7 euros each). There were also pic-nic tables near to the car park and we were allowed to go out, have our lunch and then return leaving all the pic-nic stuff in the cars.

Indoor Pool in Dol de Bretagne "Dolibulle"

2007-12-17T20:52:00.001+01:00

The indoor swimming pool at Dol de Bretagne is lovely. It has three different swimming pools and a big fun slide which the kids loved (after a little coaxing because it is high).

Dolibulle is open every afternoon (even Sunday) between 14.00 and 18.00 and the standard prices are about 5 euros per person. There is no time limit.

The thing I most liked is that the whole area was nicely done, clean and warm so when you had had enough of swimming you could go and sit on the side, dry off and relax so you get that warm summer feeling in the middle of winter.

In the summer months the large glass doors are drawn back and you can sit outside on the grass and sunbathe.

Perfect.

Indoor Playground - Whopi at Cap Malo near Rennes and in St. Brieuc.

2007-12-14T11:53:00.001+01:00

Woupi is a great solution when it's raining outside and the children need to get rid of some energy. Cost: 6 euro/hour

Woupi is a Wakey Warehouse type indoor playground for children up to 12 years of age. The best thing about it is that the adults get in for free and there is a seating area (with wi-fi so take your laptop) where you can read or work whilst the children are playing. It has limited opening during the French term times but during school holidays it is open all day.
website: http://www.woupi.fr/

They also cater for children's birthday parties with special booths set aside, animators and cake.

The Woupi we have been to is at Cap Malo just outside Rennes, Cap malo has a variety of other entertainment facilities such as bowling, golf, karting, indoor football, cinema and restaurants. Almost all age groups can find something to do at Cap Malo. Website: http://www.cap-malo.com/ . There are also DIY/Homebase type shops and garden centres at cap malo.

There is also a Woupi in St. Brieuc www.woupi.fr

Ice Skating in Brittany

2007-11-20T14:23:00.002+01:00

I'm always amazed at how cheap a good afternoons' entertainment is in Brittany. Again, I thought this ice skating rink "Le Blizz" near Rennes was great value for money.

We arrived at 2.pm and were surprised to find the boot hire was also included in the price. Once inside, the rink was not too busy and the children were able to "find their feet" without being in too much danger from the whiz kids There was also a children and toddlers rink with supports and a kind of skating push chair supplied for free.

We had a great afternoon and could stay as long as we wanted. There are lockers inside the rink area for handbags and valuable so we were able to smuggle some water in and a small snack to keep the energy levels up. Water is a must as we all got very thirsty for some reason. There is a bar area accessible from the rink so that you can take a rest, eat and drink before continuing on your new ice skating career or, your bottom.

Reptilarium, Alligator Bay

2007-10-02T09:48:00.004+02:00

Eew. But the kids loved Alligator Bay (the reptilarium). This is a perfect activity for a rainy day as most of the reptiles are indoors in the warm. Good for the winter too.

It's worth mentioning that Alligator Bay is in the shadow of the Mont St. Michel so the more phobic members of the family could go off and see that whilst the others are enjoying a more tropical experience.

Outside, depending on the time of year, children and adults can get touchy-feely with some enormous turtles which is a nice experience.

In the first section, The reptilarium there is a massive selection of snakes and slimy creatures of all kinds. The display area is well organised and there are all sorts of passages and tunnels for the children to use to get closer to the animals.

Once you leave the smaller reptiles behind you can go to the Alligator park which is indoors. You will probably smell the alligators before you see them but you get used to that quite quickly and you look down into pits where there are ponds with beaches for the alligators to languish on. Try to get there at feeding time to make it more exciting for the kids.

It won't take a whole day but for the entrance fee (approx 7 euros each) a good afternoon's entertainment.

Bowling in Brittany

2007-09-07T17:04:00.000+02:00

Le Belem Bowling in Dinan

This has not be a good sunny summer and many of us have been searching for something to do in the dry and out of the wind. The ten pin bowling ally in Dinan "Le Belem" is great fun for kids and adults. It is open from 15h in the afternoon until the early hours of the morning, even on a Sunday which is unusual here in Brittany. The price ranges from 4.50 - 6.00 euros per person for a game depending on what time of day it is and shoe hire is 1.00 p.p. which isn't at all bad.

We also found that because you don't have to pay to get into the complex it is a great stop for an hour or two with the kids to have a game of table football, air hockey, basketball, darts or pool so you don't have to go to the added expence of bowling. We went there with some children the other day and passed a good 2 hours playing pool and table football for a little as 5 euros. It's really good place to go to if you need to get out for a couple of hours or if you want to make a night of it.

There is a bar and I think they do light snacks at mealtimes. Try it, it's a nice place.

Treetop assult course - riplining in brittany

2007-09-02T10:57:00.004+02:00

Treetop assult course - Zip lining in Brittany.

Le Park de grandes chenes not far from Mont St. Michel is a beautiful place. The park has various activities for children and adults. There is a big lake with small electric boat rides, various walks, pony rides, cycle paths and seven levels of treetop assult courses.

Everybody gets a thorough training session before being allowed to go up and by the time they are finished you feel ready to take it on.

For children under 8 the first course is only a few feet off the ground but exciting enough for their first go. They always want to get onto the bigger one once they have completed the junior course.

Don't look down !

The adult courses start at 6 meters and goes on to the Purple course which is 30 metres off the ground. I haven't done this yet but would love to give it a go if I can tempt anyone up with me. I did wimp out a couple of times but a freindly French block behind me gave a shove which you need sometimes when your nerve fails. For the adult courses you would need a full day so pack a picnic, plenty to drink and put on your trainers, loose trousers and be ready to ache all over. It's really a thrill. I loved it.

For the less sporty, there is a cafe on site and nice views. There are also plenty of picnic areas where you can stop for lunch.

A great day out with children, adolecents, or friends.

Cobac Park near Dinan

2007-08-30T16:00:00.000+02:00

Although Cobac Park near Dinan seems expensive at first once you are in there is a massive array of things to do and the children can be amused the whole day long so you do get value for money.
Once inside all the rides are free and the wait relatively short. Because Cobac Park is in a wooded area they have maintained some trees which provide shade during the hot summer months. There is a variety of rides and activities for children of all ages from small merry-go-rounds to tree climbing and quad biking. When the kids are hot and flustered they can cool of in the pool or on the water slide so don't forget to bring swimming gear.
Hint - It is often the case in France that men cannot go into swimming pools in loose fitting shorts so men and boys will need speedo's or similar.

It's worth packing a picnic to save some pennies and you are allowed to picnic inside Cobac Park. You can also go out to the car park to put the picnic back into the car to save carrying bags around all day.

If you don't want to picnic there are plenty of snack and drink places inside Cobac Park..

Walking in Brittany (2)

2006-09-21T21:08:00.001+02:00

The Cote d'Emeraude (the Emerald Coast) and the GR34 (Grand Randonnée 34).

The Grand Randonnée 34 runs along the north coast of Brittany from Morlais in Finistere, to Mont St. Michel in Ille et Villaine. This path is more than 580km (360 miles) long. So not something to undertake on a weeks holiday. I have, over the years, acheived a good part of it and have loved every minute. Below I have included some of the highlights and hope you will have the time to walk them too. I used a great little book by Alan Castle called "The Brittany Coastal Path" as my guide.
Perros Guirec and the "Cote Granite Rose" (pink granit coast). The drive up to this area will take you about 2 hours. The most popular part of this walk is between the lighthouse at Ploumanac'h and Perros Guirec. The huge pink granit boulders have been softened into sculpted boulders which teter on top of one another. It's irresistable to not climb about. The route is about 10 km but there is not much in the way of refreshements until you arrive in the seaside resort of Perros Guirec.

Perros Guirec to Port Blanc.

Walking further towards Port Blanc the granit boulders give way to rugged flattened seascape of long sandy beaches speckled with rocks. This part of the coast is off the main tourist drag and feels baren and wild. A seascape I particulary loved.

Around the Pointe du Chateau.

A friend and I spent a day walking a round trip on this remote peninsula. Not many visitors to Brittany come up to this point but almost all have seen the famous postcard of the little Breton cottage between two boulders (see photo) We started at the "Point du Chateau and walked down the coast and inland to Plougrescant.

By the time the reached this tiny village we were ready for lunch and headed to the only restaurant that was open in this quiet village in late September, a Pizzarea. The meal was fab and with full legs we headed back to the "Point du Chateau via Bugueles.

Walking in Brittany

1995-08-28T20:40:00.000+02:00

Brittany has everything to offer walkers and ramblers. Walking is one of my favourite hobbies.

Before I tell you about my favorite walks I think it might be helpful to explain the system of paths in France and the way marking.

There are three different types of trail in France "GR's" (Grande Randonnee) which are long hiking paths along many miles of tracks and guide you from one destination to another (not circular walks). There are nearly 100 of these paths all over France. Grande Randonee paths are way marked with a red stripe over a white stripe.

The GR paths are interspersed with GRP's (Grand Randonnee Pays) These are diversions from their longer trails (GR's) and are intended to take you on a more cultural local walk. GRP's are way marked with a Yellow strip over a Red stripe.

The smaller, more local trails are called PR's (Promenade et Randonne) which are walks for levels of walker and can be completed in one day. The way markers are generally of one single stripe of colour they should be yellow but this can vary.

You will often find that the local Mairie or tourist office has a map for any PR walks in their locality.

An "IGN" map is the French equivalent of an ordanence survey map. These maps can be puchased on-line at www.ign.fr or in most local supermarkets or newsagents (sometimes you will need to get to the area before local shops will stock the IGN map for the locality)

Brittany is the perfect location for walkers. With miles of rambling tracks along waterways, the Brittany coastline and national parks.

Grande Randonnee GR37

At first I stuck pretty close to home. La Tarais is only 700 metres from the GR37 which follows the Rance river from Dinard right down to Rennes and back up to Mont St. Michel via Fougeres.

I join the path between Dinan and Evran. From the old port in Dinan take the tow path southwards. After 30 minutes you will arrive in a breathtaking village called Lehon. Take a detour around Lehon because the Abbey is beautiful and the cobble streets are worth a visit so too is the ruined chateau on top of the hill which awards lovely views. There is nice little restarant here too, "la Marmite d l'abbey" where you can get a reasonable lunch before heading on. However, be warned, for some odd reason they don't take credit cards only cash or cheques.Leaving Lehon and continuing along the tow path for another hour passed fairytale lock and mill houses the next town is Evran, a small pretty village with a couple of bars and restaurants for refreshments. There is also a lovely lake here called Betineuc with a small beach for children, and obviously some great fishing as there never seems to be a shortage of families relaxing on the banks, rods at the ready. It's a pretty place to picnic the tables are provided.Next stop, Treverian a picturesque place to pass through and, luckily for an ex-pat, there is a local woman who produces the best organic cheddar cheese to be found in France http://www.chapellecheddar.com/ There is even an order form on her new website for those too far away to get to the outlet shops.