Advertising walkers accommodation

To advertise walker-friendly accommodation on the Brittany Walks website costs only 10 euros a year. For this you get text, two photos, a location map and a link to your site. Brittany Walks has many enquiries about walking holidays in Brittany and about suitable places to stay. All our advertisers know about walkers' requirements and can offer help and advice about walking to their guests. For current advertisers, see www.brittanywalks.com

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.

An all-weather walk/day out suggestion

For an autumn or winter day out, BWs recommends a visit to the town of Guingamp. Not only is it a particularly attractive little place with good shops, many medieval buildings and an interesting church (famous 'Black Madonna'), but there is also a 7.5km circuit for a walk including the town centre, a pretty riverside path, and a lofty chapel with good views. There should be no problems with the paths at less salubrious times of year.
And if you want to combine walking, shopping and admiring gorgeous architecture with a good meal, book ahead for a real fine dining treat at La Boissière (www.restaurant-la-boissière.com) or enjoy a quality crepe or two at Creperie St-Yves in rue St-Yves or Creperie du Roy near the tourist office. (The TO is closed on Mon, Wed, Sun.)
Make a day of it where the weather is unlikely to spoil things. Sports' fans could maybe plan a visit to watch the giant-killing Guingamp football team!

BWs Top Ten Walks in Brittany

There's a new article on the Brittany Walks website front page (link opposite) listing BWs' ten favourite walks in the region, covering country, coast and town and four departments.

Walkers and other animals

We had a lovely walk at Carhaix today, with dry weather, perfect temperature, great scenery and ancient buildings galore. There was also a large variety of two and four-footed animals waiting to enliven our route along the way, from geese to goats, and gorgeous horses to a glamorous kingfisher on the river Hyères.

Thanks to all for a really enjoyable afternoon.

Extremely nice day!

The weather was very kind to us for yesterday's outing, with only a few spots of rain whilst we were travelling from one 'extreme' to another, and even a little sunshine. We sampled local delicacy the Molène sausage in a wonderful restaurant in St-Renan (La Maison d'Autrefois) before visiting the tallest menhir in France and then the very edge of France at the Pointe de Corsen. After a drive through the beautiful old fishing port of Le Conquet, we ended up at the Pointe St-Mathieu to see the ruined abbey on the cliffs, including an ancient fire-tower from pre-lighthouse days. It was a great trip and many thanks to all who participated.

Going to extremes - Tues, 4 October

We have an excursion (in cars) on Tuesday, 4th October, to see some fabulous and extreme sights: the tallest menhir in France, the westernmost point of France, etc. Meet in the centre of St-Renan (NW of Brest), Place du Vieux Marché 11.45-12 noon for a quick lunch (probably creperie).
If this weather holds, it'll be perfect for a trip to one of the best coastlines in Brittany.

Looking ahead - spring break

Brittany Walks hopes to organise a spring break (1/2 nights) in the magical Foret de Paimpont (claimed by some to be the Brocéliande of Arthurian legend). Apart from Merlin's tomb, the lake under which Lancelot grew up and the Valley of No Return, there is much stunning walking in the forest, numerous megaliths and many other interesting things to see. The area is situated in Ille-et-Vilaine, NW of Rennes. The programme will depend on numbers, and may combine group walks with time for individual exploration. April is the probable month.
Anyone potentially interested should please let BWs know by email (brittanywalks@orange.fr).

(Red stream in the Val sans Retour, where the fairy Morgane trapped faithless lovers.)

Douarnenez - Tuesday September 20th

On Tuesday, September 20th we have a stroll around Douarnenez and the quiet rural paths of the Plomarc'h. Spectacular sea views and easy walking on pavement/surfaced paths throughout. This is a town with a remarkable history and much of interest to see, including one of the most important Roman remains in Brittany.
We meet on the quay by the boat museum at Port Rhu (just down the hill behind the tourist office, via rue de Port Rhu, where there is a useful car-park) for a 2pm start. At last I am able to say it - Look forward to seeing you all there!

Wet ...

The location was fantastic, but heavy rain prevented the scenic picnic (thank you Denise for a nice dry house to eat in!) and in the afternoon we opted for a visit to Taden manoir and then the port at Dinan, where the weather improved. The energetic strode up the cobbled streets to the famous town, whilst others visited the Maison de la Rance to get a well-presented overview of what we'd missed. We all enjoyed the après-non-walk overlooking the river. Thanks to Lesley for our revised programme, and definitely whetting our appetites for the Rance nature walk at another time.

Brittany E-books finally available!

Remarkable value Brittany E-books are now available on www.brittanyexpert.com.
These cover specifc topics or places in Brittany in depth, with lots of photos and suggestions for visits. Currently on offer are Megaliths, the Nantes-Brest Canal, Food and Drink, Walking in Brittany, History Essentials and Parish Closes. Those to come shortly include Rennes and Quimper town guides and the Monts d'Arrée. Many others planned. You can buy via PayPal without a Paypal account, cost £2.50 or 3€. All books are well-illustrated.
To get the flavour, download the FREE E-book Brittany Basics directly from the site. This gives a general overview of what Brittany has to offer. It can be used freely as a marketing tool by businesses and B&Bs. Links enable clients to buy specific topic books later.
Comments and suggestions for future titles welcome. Please send the link to anyone you think might be interested: www.brittanyexpert.com

Perfect Walking Weather

Perfect weather for walking in the Monts d'Arrée. 16 kms will take you right round Lac St-Michel, with wonderful views of the highest hills in Brittany - but there's no need to go all the way.....

Autumnal forest

We enjoyed perfect walking weather for our beautiful stroll in the forest yesterday, including a visit to the menhir at Kerampeulven. Thanks to Judith for the photo. We were pleased to welcome new people and dogs to the group, and a great après-walk was had by all. Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a good afternoon.

Huelgoat walk

We have a walk at 2pm on Tuesday 26th October in Huelgoat. This is mostly a new route (unless you are a very old-time Brittany Walker ;-)) and the meeting place is the large forest parking area on the left on the D769 as you leave the town in the direction of Poullaouen. Good forest paths, but one short section may be muddy in/after bad weather. The forest is spectacularly beautiful at this time of year! The après-walk will be at L'autre rive café/bookshop. All welcome.

Lesley's Nature Watch

For the last few years Brittany Walks has benefited greatly from Lesley's wide knowledge of all aspects of the natural world. She tirelessly answers all our questions about birds, butterflies and flowers, as well as illuminating our coastal walking holidays with her astute observations.

We are very grateful for all her contributions, and now Lesley has kindly agreed to post a regular nature watch series on this blog, so keep a look out for her entries in this space.

Outing - Pays Bigouden

We have a day out in Pays Bigouden on Tuesday 21st, meeting at 11 in Pont l'Abbe on the waterfront near the Bigouden memorial (photo). After an easy walk down the estuary and back, we'll move on (by car) to various significant spots, especially the magnificent Atlantic coast. Chaucer wrote about the 'black rocks of Penmarc'h' - here's your chance to see them. Bring food to share for picnic lunch. All welcome.

Cliffs of Plouha

If you enjoy coastal walking, have a go at the cliffs of Plouha (north of St-Brieuc), said to be the highest in Brittany (although they don't feel as vertiginous as the Crozon peninsula's steepest). Start from the delightful Palus Plage (in picture) and head north up the Cote de Goelo. Highly recommended.

Coastal Walk from Plouezoc'h

A group of us aged 8 to .....!, old and new members, left the bourg of Plouezoc'h for a walk along the beautiful Dourduff estuary. In spite of forecasts of showers, the sun shone throughout as we walked alongside the banks of the estuary. The walk was further enhanced by the lovely variety of spring flowers dotted in the woodland alongside the mud flats. We were well rewarded for our efforts in negotiating the undulating river bank when we arrived at Le Dourduff en Mer, where we stopped for juice and homemade cakes. We then continued to follow the estuary into the Rade de Morlaix spotting the Chateau du Taureau in the distance.

On leaving the coast, we began a gentle climb via pretty woodland paths taking us back to our starting point. A perfect walk for a spring day!

Walk on Tuesday at Plouezoc'h

We have a beautiful (whatever the weather) walk in countryside around the bourg of Plouezoc'h, just north of Morlaix, including the Dorduff estuary and the Bay of Morlaix with views out to the Chateau du Taureau. It's just over 8 kms, with a lot of up and down on narrow paths, so a Level 3 walk - some agility needed and faster paced than a stroll - but a very rewarding route. Everyone welcome - 2pm start by church.