IF SQUISHING A week’s worth of clothes into hand luggage and trailing through two airports (possibly with little ones in tow) is not your idea of relaxing time off, it’s time to discover the freedom of a self-drive holiday.
In fact, travelling by boat means that you can just park onboard, head to bed and wake up when you’re pulling into your destination. All you’ll need to do is wander out onto deck, enjoy your view of the sea glistening in the sunshine and plan your day.
What’s more, one of Europe’s best kept secrets is easily accessible by ferry. Brittany is home to some of the world’s oldest architecture, buckwheat pancakes (galettes) and Breton cider, delicious fresh seafood and so many beautiful castles. And while you get there, you may even have access to a cinema, shopping and a pool.
Here are all the incredible places you need to explore there…
Stretching more than 30 kilometres, the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) has become a must-see for those who travel to Brittany because of its unusual pink sands and rock formations that have been carved by centuries of waves and weather.
If you’d like to explore more than just one beach, wander along the Sentier des Douaniers (Trail of Customs). It’s a coastal pedestrian path that was used by customs to fight against smuggling and it’s filled with breathtaking beaches. Find out more here.
Originally a historic port that was mistakenly bombarded by the Allies in 1944, Saint-Malo is one of the most visited places in Brittany. It contains a walled city, a château, the tomb of French writer Chateaubriand, a cathedral and an attractions park called Labyrinthe du Corsaire that is perfect for young families.
Wander around the two kilometre long walls surrounding the city for breathtaking sea views and sights of wealthy shipowners’ homes and houses that once belonged to pirates. Or if you’d like to see what might be the prettiest grounds of a zoo anywhere in Europe, take a trip to Château de la Bourbansais to see 400 different species of animals, just half an hour’s drive from the port.
No trip to Brittany would be complete without a stroll in its capital, Rennes which was founded more than 2,000 years ago. It’s packed full of beautiful landscaped gardens, delightful markets, sun-filled terraces and often, culture-packed festivals.
Rennes is also known for its traditional half-timbered houses (seen above). When you’re there, be sure to stroll through the rose gardens at the 19th century Parc du Thabor and check out some of the many festivities that take place each year in the city.
Famous around the world for being Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement, Carnac is home to three fields that contain around 3,000 megaliths.
The town is also known for Carnac-Plage, five sheltered sandy beaches bordered by pine trees and its delicious shellfish, produced by 80 farmers in the town that you can buy directly from. Find out more here.
Located in the heart of the historic city of Rennes is the Place des Lices which hosts a Saturday morning market filled with Breton specialties such as locally-produced cider, sausage galettes and Reinette apples. As the second largest market in France, it’s been going for four centuries and is the busy site of 300 products, craftspeople and vendors.
The square also has a fascinating past – it used to be the site of jousting tournaments where knights clashed with spears. It was also used for executions of criminals in the 18th century in the years leading up to the French Revolution, so it’s steeped in important French history.
Only 15 minutes from the mainland of the port of Roscoff, Île de Batz has its own microclimate that allows plants such as palm trees to grow, thanks to the impact of the Gulf Stream. The island is accessed via a pedestrian-only boat, meaning the island is almost completely free of vehicles (a few locals have tractors).
The first settlers arrived here 5,000 years ago and the island was often a haven for pirates. It boasts over eight miles of coastal hiking and cycling routes that never stray far from the beach. It’s also a hot spot for delicious local produce, thanks to its 30 or so farms. Find out more here.
Situated between Saint-Malo and Dinard, Domaine du Montmarin is a 400-hectare, 15th-century estate that contains an impressive 80-hectare vineyard, 80 hectares of cereals and two hectares of olive plantations, along with an oak forest and bee hives to pollinate the cereals and almond trees.
The impressive gardens were a favourite of the writer Chateaubriand and stretch over six hectares. They include a vegetable garden dating back to the 18th century and magnolia trees that are over two centuries old, along with four terraces that lead to the Rance river.
If beautiful views are what you’re after on holidays, then Le Pointe du Grouin is an absolute must. It encompasses a seven kilometre walk above sheltered coves and beside gorse and pine trees. It’s also a nature reserve for birds so keep your eyes peeled for cormorants, herring gulls and oystercatchers dipping in and out of the waves below.
Sound like somewhere you’d like to explore in 2019? Brittany Ferries offer two return sailings a week from Cork to Roscoff, with both their luxury cruise ferry and économie service sailing overnight, to make the most of your time off. Avoid the stress of the airport with a self-drive holiday to France’s best kept secret – Brittany. To find out more about visiting Brittany with Brittany Ferries and to see their latest offers click here.
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