We are only 30 minutes from the coast at Vannes. There are so many places to visit the beach we can't show them all. Below are some shots from Carnac, Damgan and a few others. Brittany has the longest coastline of any department in France so there`s a huge choice
Carnac -about 45 mins drive
There are a lot of beaches around the coast at Carnac and all are pale yellow soft sand. They are clean and well looked after and the children love them. There's a nice promenade if you fancy a stroll and loads of places to eat and drink in the pretty town. You can also take the fifty minute tour on the little train that takes you round the mysterious neolithic megaliths that make Carnac world famous. Also check out the Megalithic Museum which is packed full of fascinating artifacts
Damgan -about 40 mins drive
There's a big selection of beaches around Damgan, which is where the French tend to holiday, the English are a rarer breed there. Damgan’s main beach is stunning and there’s plenty of places to buy food, ice creams etc. The main town and its numerous restaurants is just yards from the beach. There’s also a large play area just off the beach with swings, slides and roundabouts -photo's below
One great advantage of Damgan is that its choice of beaches are all close together. There are the busier beaches and also those that are very quiet. Most of the photos taken below were taken in the second week of July so you have some idea about what it`s like in the summer. The beaches here are very gently sloping which means an adult can walk out half a kilometre on some of them and still not be submerged when the tide's in- the tide does come in quite quickly though.
There`s a photo below showing the beach with the tide out. It takes ages to walk out to the sea but it`s a great place for the kids to play. On one of the beaches there`s an area of rock pools. See the locals scratching around for their dinner -mussels, whelks and oysters are abundant and free to anyone who wants to collect them
Below - rock pooling at one of Damgan`s beaches !
The photo above was taken at 2pm on the 18th August . It was 27 degrees, the beach was deserted !!!
A recommended restaurant in Damgan is the creperie,which is about 200 yards from the beach
There`s also a fantastic artisanal ice cream maker with more flavours than you can imagine
Click on the triangular arrow in the centre of the picture below & see a short movie of Damgan. Don't forget to turn your speakers on !
Below are a few shots of the town itself, less than a hundred yards from the beach !
Whilst you are in Damgan why not drive up the road a mile to Penerf and go and eat in Le Pecher or The Bistro de la Mer?
Alternatively, stop
off in Ambon on the way and go to the Escale Saveurs -we go there a lot -see the restaurant page
Penerf as well as offering two great restaurants is truly scenic in its own right. The quiet bay is tranquil and calm and you can just sit there, relax and watch the locals busy fishing. There`s a sandy beach as well and also an oyster fishery. Take a trip across the bay on the river taxi and stroll round the commercial oyster farms. It's very interesting
Ambon -near Damgan- has three or four beaches- all of which have loads of sand and great views across the bay. Our favourite is shown below as it has a grass strip running along the back which is flat and nice to sit on
La Baule has massive bay with sandy beach. Very clean and scenic. Loads to do : water sports, bars, restaurants and shops plus a really nice town to walk around and there`s a market most days in the summer. La Baule is known as the Monaco of the North and is pretty smart !
Sarzeau is on the southern side of the Golfe du Morbihan. The coastline here has a mixture of dramatic granite cliff tops and sheltered sandy coves. You can take a great walk along the cliffs then climb down to a hidden beach, relax and go for a swim. Have a picnic !!!
Larmor Baden and surroundings. Along the Northern edge of the Golfe are numerous sandy beaches. Lots and lots of them in fact, and all generally deserted. Take a trip along the coast towards Lamor Baden and turn left towards the sea. Dozens of lanes wind down to the beaches. They pop out right on the sand so just stop and you 're on the beach. There's so many hidden coves you'll never have time to find them all
Try some of the others………
La Trinité sur Mer is about 15 minutes drive from Auray and is one of France's biggest yachting centres. The immediate vicinity of La Trinité has some beautiful, stunning beaches, a large marina and some excellent shops and galleries
The Quiberon Peninsulastretches fourteen kilometres into the sea and boasts twelve sandy beaches and more than 2,500 hours of sunlight a year. The main town of Quiberon is one of Morbihan's liveliest and most popular resorts with a large sandy beach, promenade and plenty of beach side bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. Departing twice a day from Quiberon is the ferry to the island of Belle-Ile
Belle Ile is Brittany's largest island, fifteen Kilometres offshore and has attractive beaches, beautiful and varied scenery and plenty of historical sites. There are guided coach tours, which are an ideal way for day trippers to explore the island. Monet painted numerous pictures on the ile
Ile aux Moines is just off the coast at Port Blanc near Vannes. Pay three Euros for the boat trip to the island (boats leave every half an hour) and test out the beaches there. Have lunch in one of the many restaurants. Hire a bike or a boat, or just go for a walk
Port Louis has a large sandy beach near the town with easy parking. It's a port that is rich in history with impressive ramparts, a large museum and traditional town centre full of character. The fortified citadel dating from 1591 was used as a prison, barracks and arsenal and is now a complex of several interesting museums
Batz-sur-Mer is a really nice small town further along the coast from La Baule. The town square is traditional in every way, packed with flowers and cafes with tables and chairs filling every space. Not only that but there`s a great sandy beach which is perfect for sunbathers and walkers. It is a bit busier than the other beaches above
There are things for the children to do (trampolines etc) and loads and loads of rock pools to explore. Plus there`s a fantastic cliff-top walk along a rough sandy track which winds its way around the rocky headlands and coves. The views are stunning and well worth the trek !
Don`t forget to eat in one of the restaurants in the town square. The pizzeria is great
Gavres is ten minutes further along the coast, miles of unspoilt sandy beaches, no crowds, no rushing. Ample parking is right next to the beach
Penn Lann is so quiet that if you`d like your own `personal beach` then head here. It's just south of Damgan on the other side of Billiers. Park up at the end of the headland in the car park and instead of opting for the main beach by the restaurant walk to the left along the cliff top path. In just a few hundred yards you`ll come across various little routes down the cliffs to tiny secluded beaches just a few hundred yards long. There are plenty to choose from and most are completely deserted
Aurayhas a beach, but we recommend a trip down to the estuary and port. It is absolutely stunning. You can go for a really nice walk along the river and then have lunch in one of the numerous quay side restaurants. Eat mussels, scallops or oysters if you like seafood. Alternatively try a French pizza, some pasta, or perhaps something more traditional in an auberge
Finally if you'd like to see more of Brittany's beaches you can click on the arrow in the centre of the box below and see a movie showing some of the best beaches from above...............
!! Beach tip !!
The French go to the beach from about 2.30 pm so if you want to go when it`s quietest (although it never gets busy) then arrive before lunch
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