Lots to do on a Brittany Holiday!
Luxury gites near to Guemene-sur-Scorff & Pontivy Located deep in the heart of the Scorff River Valley, our cottages offer the perfect base to explore & discover this stunning Celtic corner of France. Of course the 750 miles of magnificent coastline is one of Brittany’s major attractions; whether you prefer wide, white sandy beaches, secret coves, pretty ports or jaw dropping dramatic cliffs, Brittany has it all!
But Brittany is just as beautiful and varied inland, with many lakes, rivers, historic towns, châteaux, magical forests, mysterious megalithes and fabulous French markets to explore.
For those seeking an active holiday you will not be disappointed! Here are some of the many activities Brittany has on offer:
Sailing, fishing, golf, horse riding, cycling & mountain biking, walking & hiking, boat cruises, scuba diving, quad biking, water sports, canoeing & so much more!!
Markets and food & restaurants
French markets are world famous for their excellent, fresh, interesting & varied produce. Here in Brittany with its mild climate, fertile land and the sea on all sides it’s a food lovers paradise! Specialities of Brittany include; oysters, crab, clams, mussels, lobster & varieties of fish, Goats cheese, cider, biscuits and of course crepes! Details of the weekly markets can be found in your information pack in you cottage.
As well as food markets there are also antique fairs, flea markets & car boot sales (vide grenier) that take place throughout the year.
Restaurants
There are plenty of good restaurants in the area offering a wide range of cuisine from Michelin star restaurants in Rostrenan, Lorient & Port Louis to the cosy Kumquat in Rostrenen, serving fantastic pizzas cooked in a wood oven and reputedly the best pizzas in Brittany! The nearest restaurants are only a few minutes drive in Langoelan village, where you will find the classy, family run L' Atelier Bistro serving high quality local cuisine at very reasonable prices and a friendly pizzeria serving pizzas & other local fare. Guemene-sur-Scorff is only 10 minutes drive and has a variety of restaurants from traditional French to fabulous gastro pub fish 'n' chips at Aux Sabots Rouges
Pontivy, a 25 minute drive has a very wide variety of restaurants & cafes to choose from, to suit all tastes, ages & budgets.
For a truly Rustic French lunch, visit the Trios Marchand in Guemene-sur-Scorff, a 4 course lunch with wine for 11.50€
Cycling holidays Brittany France
Our luxury gites are the perfect base for a Walking or cycling holiday in Brittany! With 100’s of excellent way marked trails to explore, taking in huge lakes, magical forests, serene rivers & stunning coastline, the scenery is as diverse as it is beautiful. Cycling is a real pleasure in Brittany, with its well maintained quiet roads, gently rolling landscape and some big hills here and there for the serious cyclists! There are also long flat tow paths along the Blavet River & the Nantes-Brest canal for those who like a more leisurely ride. Here at Brittany Spa cottages we have 4 adult bikes for use free of charge but of course you are more than welcome to bring your own special one with you!
Follow this link Station VTT to view some of many cycle route possibilities in the area. Many guests take the 30 minute cycle route from their cottage to the pretty lake at le Pont Samuel. Here you will find a quirky pub & restaurant serving excellent local fare and great beer! You can buy the official cycle maps VTT from the base at Guerledan or at the bar at Pont Samuel.
Walking holidays in Brittany
The tourist office in Guemene-sur-Scorff provides handy Randonnes cards with detailed maps & information on the various hiking circuits. You will find a selection of these cards in your cottage. Right from the front door of your luxury gite, you can start with the leisurely 5.3 km walk ‘Boucle du Paradis’ which takes in the nature reserve of the nearby Etang du Dordu at Langoelan.
Brittany has the most fabulous coastline, most of which can be discovered on foot by the cote sentier. One of our favorite places to walk is from Larmor Baden where you can park at the pretty port and then enjoy the stunning scenery of the Golfe Du Morbihan on foot.
At low tide you can even cross the narrow causeway to the isle de Berder and walk right around this pretty island, but make sure that you read the tide timetable notice a the entrance before setting off as you may have to swim back!
The salt marshes here are a haven for all kinds of bird life, so a great place for bird watching too.
The Lac de Guerledan & surrounding area
This enormous lake, the largest in Brittany, was created as the valley was flooded following the construction of a massive hydroelectric damn in the 1930’s. Beginning & ending with Nante-Brest canal, it stretches for 12km and is the centre for many outdoor activities & water sports, such as;
Canoeing, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, boat cruises, fishing and of course swimming; there is a small beach with slides etc. for little ones.
The 7000 acre foret de Quenecan surrounding the Lac de Guerledan has many walking & hiking & mountain biking trails of various distances & difficulties. Along the way there are many breath-taking view points over the stunning lake. Please click here for more info on the Lac de Guerledan activities and attractions
The Abbaye de Bon Repos is at the far westerly end of the Lac de Guerledan and is not to be missed! The origins of this partially ruined abbey date back to the 12th century and the later editions from the 18th century, which are gradually being restored. But for now the glassless windows stare out hauntingly over the still water. It is the most spectacular backdrop for the outdoor theatre/laser light shows that take place during the month of August; a truly stunning re-enactment of the history of the site going right back to the stone age. Battles, fires, horses, lights, music & hundreds of actors. We take a late night picnic and a bottle of wine – it’s just fab!
A small Sunday market is held here too from early May - October. A lovely morning out.
There is also a good restaurant at the Abby & a cute café just across the pretty stone bridge.
Our luxury cottages in Brittany are just a 30 minute drive from the Lac de Guerledan and 15 minutes to the Abbaye de Bon Repos.
Pontivy is a large attractive town is 25 minutes drive from Brittany Spa Cottages. Click here to see a more detailed description of historic Pontivy. As well as many shops & restaurants, Pontivy also has a beautiful chateau, river activities and 2 swimming pools - one fantastic heated outdoor pool and an indoor pool & Spa with fun slides, Spa treatment centre, gym & sauna etc. Click here for more details Spadium Pontivy
Around Vannes & the Golfe du Morbihan
Just over an hours drive south east is the large, medieval cathedral city of Vannes. Pass through the busy modern town to discover the walled old quarter, full of ancient half timbered buildings, narrow streets & elegant shops & restaurants. The Saturday and Wednesday morning market stretches throughout the old town and has two fabulous food halls, one full of cheese and deli produce and the other full of the most varied and fresh selection of fish; it's one of the best markets in the region and an absolute must!!!
Vannes has a large attractive marina and is a great base to begin your tour of the Golfe de Morbihan either by car, boat or on foot!
The Golfe De Morbihan, is the jewel in the crown of Southern Brittany. Literally meaning ‘little sea’ in Breton, this landlocked lagoon is dotted with 100’s of picturesque islands, most of which are only inhabited by wildlife. The best way to see the Golfe is by boat; take an organized cruise, or hire a motor boat or sailing dingy and discover deserted beaches & hidden coves for a bit of skinny dipping!
For walking enthusiasts the well marked coastal path is a great way to explore the Golfe, where you can stop off at one of the picturesque ports en route for a fabulous seafood lunch!
Auray is quaint small town with lots of little shops and an excellent market on Monday mornings. Walk down the steep streets to the picturesque old port of St Goustan and here you will find many good restaurants along the water’s edge.
Carnac, just to the south of Auray, is world famous for its excellent collection of prehistoric mysterious stone monuments. These megalithic Alignement sites are home to some 3000 menhirs (standing stones) Dolmens & Tumulus.
Carnac also has a small up market village & resort with an excellent pure white long sandy beach.
Beaches & Islands
Brittany has some of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in all of Europe and a coastline as varied as it is long. From sheltered little coves & bays to huge stretches of windswept sand, Southern Brittany has a great choice for both families & water sports enthusiasts. The nearest sandy beaches are to be found at Le Pouldu (our favourite) Port-Louis, Guidel and Larmor Plage, all just an hours drive from Brittany Spa Cottages.
Le Pouldu has 3 beautiful sandy beaches which are very popular with families. The small coastal town of Le Pouldu which has a good selection of restaurants and cafes, is within walking distance of the beach!
Port-Louis retains much of its charm and character with an imposing Citadel guarding the mouth of the rivers Scorff & Blavet.
Larmor Plage and Guidel plage close to the commercial town of Lorient, offer huge expanses of golden sand which and are popular with both families and kind surfers. The Morbihan department of Southern Brittany has some stunning off shore Islands – Belle Ille, Ile de Groix, Ile d’Houat & Ile de Hoedic - which can be reached via ferryboat from Lorient or the Isle de Quiberon.
Our location in the Scorff valley means that we are able to easily reach many other fabulous beaches on both the north and south coastlines; here are some of our favourite spots: Benodet, near to Concarneau southern Finstere: Le Pouldu, just south of Quimperle & Guidel plage, near to Lorient: (Our nearest 1 hours drive) Further afield on the pink granite coast, and well worth the picturesque drive of 1 hr 30 mins, you can visit one of the many stunning scenes like this one near to Perros Guirec.
Picturesque towns, villages & chateaux
Brittany Spa cottages are very centrally located for visiting many interesting & historic towns, Manors & chateaux. Some of our favorites are; Pontivy, Josselin, (pictured) a pretty small town with enormous imposing châteaux mirrored in the river Oust. Vannes & Auray
Pont Aven a gorgeous village where the river rushes down over huge boulders into the harbour. Pont Aven has many interesting shops, art galleries & restaurants and is famous for its yummy biscuits! But it’s probably best know for its association with the post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin and today many artist still live and work in Pont Aven.
Concarneau This is the 3rd largest fishing port in France and is well worth a visit. Jutting out into the sea is the Ville Close, a walled city built on a small island in the port and tightly packed with historic buildings which are now mostly occupied by flower decked shops & cafes. Take the small town train around the town to enjoy the views.
Water Sports in Brittany
With its 3,500 kilometres of coastline, huge lakes and many rivers, Water sports enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice in Brittany! Here are some of the activities on offer: Dingy sailing, sand yachting, sea kayaking, river canoeing, scuba diving, kite surfing, water skiing, windsurfing & motor boat cruising.
The nearest centre for water sports is just 20 minutes away at the Lac de Guerledan with wide range of activities on offer. Most of the nearby rivers have a centre for canoe hire and the nearest is 20 minutes away at St Nicholas des Eaux; a pretty village on the banks Blavet river, with calm waters suitable for beginners. For the more experienced canoeist there are sites like les Roches des Diable (the devil’s rocks) where the fast flowing river Elle rushes down through giant boulders.
Horse Riding and other activites in Brittany
From tranquil forest treks to thrilling beach gallops, the Morbihan has it all! Brittany has over 2000km of marked bridle paths to explore and a good choice of equestrian centres offering a range of horsey activities. Brittany also has a number of zoos parks aquariums, tree-top adventure parks, quad biking and Segway etc. For an example of a centre for outdoor activities which is 45 minutes from Brittany Spa Cottages please click here
Fishing and golfing in Brittany
Brittany Spa Cottages is well situated in the Scorff valley to enjoy a French fishing holiday; catching Pike, trout, carp, roach, bream & zander at nearby lakes and of course the river Scorff itself, which is a class A trout river. The River Blavet is only 20 minutes away, a wide slow moving river/canal with very little river traffic. Daily, weekly or annual Fishing permits can be purchased in the local village bar.
Here in the Morbihan there is a good choice of excellent golf courses, some with smart club houses and all uncrowded. There are five 18 hole courses within about an hours drive from our luxury holiday gites and a 9 hole course, Golf de Rimaison, just 20 minutes away at Bieuzy les Eaux.
You will find both of our luxury cottages in Brittany equipped with plenty of tourist info - with plenty of tips and personal recommendations, tourist booklets and a Brittany guide book. You can also visit this page for many useful links
