Best walking wishes for 2012

Happy New Year, Brittany Walkers!
2012 programme is now on our website - www.brittanywalks.com
Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

Walk today

We had a good walk in the forest at Huelgoat today, in perfect weather conditions. Afterwards we enjoyed Phil and Rosie's kind hospitality, with mulled wine, mince pies and cake. Many thanks to them and everyone who turned out for a bit of fresh air after all the festivities.

Happy Christmas and 2012

Merry Christmas to all Brittany Walkers, with thanks for your support in the last year, and best wishes for lots more happy walking in 2012. Have a great weekend, and join us for a walk on Boxing Day in Huelgoat. Details below.

Join us for a Boxing Day stroll

We have a walk on Boxing Day this year, that is Monday 26th December, to work off some of that indulgent eating and sitting about doing nothing! The venue is Huelgoat, meeting for a 2pm start in the large forest parking area just outside the town (direction Poullaouen)on the D769. (From the town, it is on the left shortly after a bridge with a sharp right bend. From the other direction it is just after signs and parking for the Goufre, on the right.)
The route is not too demanding, and there will be an option to return to the car-park on a single easy path if you want to cut the walk short. Optional apres-walk - after the walk we are all kindly invited to the House of the Menhir just outside Huelgoat for refreshments.

Xmas Day walking

For those who are alone at Xmas and would maybe like to combine a walk with being 'around' other people if not actually with them, BWs has thse suggestions. The Chateau of Trévarez (near Chateauneuf-du-Faou) with its magnificent gardens is open on Christmas Day. You pay an entrance fee but then have acres of varied grounds (pictured above) to explore (the wilder bit is off to the left on approach to the chateau) and also a café and shop for a bit of social contact.
The forest of Huelgoat has numerous options for walking. For a change from the famous Chaos area, follow the canal out to the old mine, or stroll down the Argent river from the Gouffre. The café/bookshop L'Autre Rive (signed off the D769 on the left when leaving the town) with its warm ambience (and great hot chocolate) is open on the 25th, hot food and drinks available all day.
Finally Quimper is always a good place to be alone among people, and you'll be able to find a friendly bar open - try the Café des Arts on the quay by the Prefecture. It's the kind of place you can sit for hours, after enjoying a climb up Mont Frugy behind the tourist office or a gentle stroll along the Odet to picturesque Locmaria.
If none of those ideas appeal, join BWs on Boxing Day for a short or medium length walk at Huelgoat (2pm). Details here next week.

Walking in the sun, just walking in the sun ...

Amazingly we enjoyed a fine, dry walk today at Locmaria-Berrien, despite sitting in cars at 1.50 watching the rain. By 2pm the sun was out and not another drop fell until soon after our return. By that time we were ensconced in the café L'Autre Rive drinking coffee and hot chocolate (with cognac in some cases...). Congratulations to our well-behaved dog companions, including newcome Bentley and his equally well-behaved owner Chris.
Thanks to all, it was a great afternoon.
Next walk - Boxing Day, 2pm at Huelgoat.

Walk on Tuesday, 6 December

We have a walk on Tuesday afternoon, starting from the car-park by the church in Locmaria-Berrien at 2pm. This is an attractive route of medium length, covering a Green Way, rural tracks and quiet hamlets. In the event of the weather being awful, we'll go to the forest café at Huelgoat for hot chocolate and maybe a short walk in the wood after. All welcome.

Eat Brittany

Our sister site Eat Brittany has some Christmas gift ideas. Contributions on restaurants and Breton food welcome for this blog. www.eat-brittany.blogspot.com or click on link opposite.