Brittany

Friday 24th October 2025 – an afternoon walk around the beaches of Carantec….

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The wind has pretty much gone but we are still getting some pretty heavy showers let’s see if we can dodge them a bit better today. Yesterday afternoon when I was booking our extended stay, I noticed that the information board mentioned showers, so this morning I went to look and sure enough a building that I hadn’t realised was linked to the Aire has showers and toilets and best of all a washing machine – so guess what I spent this morning doing? Yep my first proper shower in quite some time and doing the laundry – time well spent.

Naturally the mornings activities meant a slight change of plan to our day so we travelled directly to Carantec, parked up and set off to explore all the beaches around this seaside town – first up was a very disappointing Plage de Clouet – coarse sand and a lot of green weed…

But we persevered and followed the coastal path around the point to a viewing point for Ile Louet and the rather handsome Chateau du Taureau on its own little islet…

The tide is fairly low so I’m not sure that either of them are accessible on foot and the house on Louet sadly looks boarded up. As we rounded the rocky headland the small beach of Tahiti was being enjoyed by a couple of fishermen…

The beaches continued to improve as we carried on past firstly Plage de Cosmeur…..

And then Plage du Kelenn….

And then down onto the main beach – Plage de Carantec, which was lined with a few bars / restaurants and the main part of the village above….

We continued on around another headland to our favourite – Plage de la Greve Blanche, where we enjoyed a brief break in some nice sunshine before continuing on our way….

In the distance we watched people and the odd vehicle traversing the tidal causeway to Ile Callot but didn’t join them as the clouds were beginning to gather ominously….

Passing our final beach, Plage du Port, before making our way back through the village to the van, just making it back before the heavens opened…

Fortunately it was just a passing shower and it had moved on by the time we had travelled the short distance to our Aire for the night.

Thoughts of the day:

  • All these rocky little islets must be a navigators nightmare and in rough seas – well…. However they do seem to create beautiful, tranquil bays.
  • Unfortunately this showery weather does look as though it is going to malinger for awhile but hopefully we will continue to get little pockets of sunshine – beaches definitely look better in the sun…

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 30
  • Miles walked – 6
  • Beaches – 7
  • Aire – £11.29
  • Laundry – £6.98

Thursday 23rd October 2025 – Plestin-les-Greves….

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A very wet and wild night, in such that it kept us awake for a good while with the noise and sudden rocking of the van – nothing to worry about just annoying and so it continued pretty much for the rest of the day. Having made the decision to stay put we did venture out for a walk in the afternoon to see what the beaches of Plestin had to offer – first up was Plage des Cures which initially we saw in the rain but on our way back up looked a bit more cheerful in the brief window of sunshine….

A lovely fully tidal sandy beach as indeed was the main beach – Plage de la Roche d’Argent which appeared to stretch on almost indefinitely to Locquirec on the opposing peninsula….

Predictably the heavens opened on our way back up the hill to the van but we will soon dry out in the warmth of the van and at least we got out for a bit of a walk.

Thoughts of the day:

  • I have been battling with whether to continue at our normal pace and just see how far we get in the time remaining or whether to cut out a big chunk and head south to maybe catch the end of the warm weather and after doing some research studying maps and checking the locations of the best beaches I have decided that we shall just carry on at our normal pace so that we don’t feel like we’re missing out and may be pick up where we leave off this time next year.
  • I don’t plan too far ahead but I do need to do some research each evening to plan a rough route and our stops during the day as well as consider where we are going to spend the night add that to the time spent organising my photos (which usually entails culling about 80% of those taken), updating Instagram and writing this blog all takes approx 3-4 hours by which time I’m ready for bed! It’s a hard life but I love it.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 0
  • Miles walked – 4
  • Beaches – 2
  • Aire – £11.04

Wednesday 22nd October 2025 – from Ploumanac’h to Pleatin-les-Greves….

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A grey and slightly damp start, an amazing middle and a very damp end – pretty much sums up our day but if you are stuck for somewhere in Brittany to visit then Tregastel would be a brilliant option – assuming you are into your beaches. Before heading off we took a walk into the little coastal village of Ploumanc’h, to take a look at the tranquil pink beach of St Guirec…

Heading back along the coastal path via Mean Ruz Lighthouse….

And Plage de Pors Rolland….

These stunning somewhat unreal looking big boulders of pink granite just create a landscape unlike I have ever seen before. Moving on a few short miles up the road to Tregastel and we are in for a real treat after the not so inspiring Plage de St Anne….

As we wander along the coastal path in an anticlockwise direction from the Aquarium first we arrive at Plage de Petit Port de Tregastel….

Closely followed by the stunning Plage de Coz-Pors….

A little further around the path lies the completely different but equally stunning Plage de Greve Blanche….

Around the next corner, different again is Plage de Greve Rose….

And finally the large expanse of Plage de Tregastel more rocky than the others but carrying on for miles around the bay….

Such a beautiful walk and to be fair as an area it will take some beating. We make our way back to the van and continue our journey as the weather starts to cloud over and bobbing in and out of the coastline we visit Plage de Keryvon….

Cross over a short bridge to Grande Ile and visit Plage du Dourlin and Plage des Dames….

As the sky is closing in on us we make a brief stop at Plage de Goas Triez….

And as the heavens start to open a quick photo stop at Plage St Michel-en-Greve and Plage de St Efflam…..

Before parking up for the night at an Aire in the small village of Kerallic near Plestin-les-Greves and hunker down for the night as along with the rain the wind is picking up too.

Thoughts of the day:

  • How do you find these little gems – short of driving around? I do research the best beaches in the area and try and make sure that they are on my radar but Tregastel with the pink rocks and alternate pink and white beaches was quite a show stopper and nature at its finest.
  • It is taking me longer than I thought and I had hoped to be enjoying some warmer weather a bit further south by now but which bits do I miss?

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 31
  • Miles walked – 7
  • Beaches – 14 (a record)
  • Aire – £11.01

Tuesday 21st October 2025 – Nantouar to Perros-Guirec….

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A damp start to the day but by the time we were on our way it had dried up and did improve as the day went on. Our first stop was only a couple of miles up the coast but not a very exciting stop at Plage de Nantouar….

We didn’t linger and were soon driving through Perros-Guirec and pulling up at our next overnight stop in Ploumanach. Once settled we joined the coastal path to wander the couple of miles back to take a proper look at it’s main beach – Plage de Trestraou – a beautiful white sand tidal beach – unfortunately no dogs until 1st November so we had to make do with a wander along the promenade…

After we hah had our fill we walked back the way we had come and a bit further on to catch the little coarse sandy cove nestled in amongst these fabulous rocks of Plage Pors Rolland…

From pristine white sand to boulder strewn rocky cove within a couple of miles….

Thoughts of the day:

  • How quickly the nights seem to draw in once you get to October.
  • I think may be it is half term here in France as there seemed to be a lot of school aged children out walking with their families

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 11
  • Miles walked – 6
  • Beaches – 3
  • Aire – £15.06
  • Groceries – £37.53

Monday 20th October 2025 – Trevou-Treguignec….

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A wet and wild one for us today, so we stayed put until early afternoon when the rain was coming in sporadic showers blown along the coast by 40-50 mph winds before venturing out – we did get wet several times but the wind did a grand job of drying us out!! Plage de Trestal looking equally stunning but very different today and being enjoyed by local surfers rather than Sunday amblers…

Next we walked or more accurately got blown along Plage de Royau – here we were treated to an amazing double rainbow….

And then along the pebbly coastal path (a bit tricky in the high winds) to Plage des Dunes….

The next section was very wild as the path covered the slightly higher ground above a very rocky shoreline to reach the slightly sheltered Plage de Rocher de Voleur…..

With a beautiful shrine on the rock at the end of the beach – loosely translated it means ‘Rock of the Thief’…..

Then came the small (though of course the tide is well on its way in) Plage de Rochanic….

And lastly just around the corner – Plage de Port Blanc….

The scenery was stunning when we were not trying to keep one foot in front of the other – the wind really is that strong….

The return journey was a little tedious as we tried to return by footpaths and roads inland rather than walk into the strong winds on the way back but the myriad of footpaths and minor roads seemed to meander up and down and roundabout forever always with the wind in our face (though not as strongly as on the coast) and a final downpour to ensure we were thoroughly soaked by the time we got back to the van – still we are on electric so the heating will soon dry us and warm us up – an exhilarating walk….

Thoughts of the day:

  • Either this is not a very popular park up (though I don’t understand why as it is only 50m from the fabulous Trestal Beach) or the amount of vanners out there travelling around is diminishing – time will tell
  • As per I appear to have underestimated the amount of time it would take to travel along the coast – though I had no fixed idea I did kind of assume that I would complete this west coast with time to spare – I know realise that is not going to happen – though my aim is to complete this coast on this trip.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 0
  • Miles walked – 7
  • Beaches – 5
  • Aire – £11.63