Horse riding
We have recently taken the children to the equestrian centre at Trehorenteuc where you pay about €10 per hour. Here you groom the horse, go into the tack room, saddle it up then go out in the countryside where you are escorted round by your own guide or if you prefer, you can go alone). You can trot, canter or gallop depending on your ability. The horses are as good as gold and they have all sizes for both children and adults ! See below photos.

If you`d like to try another place then go to the Pony Club at Lizio where you can ride either horses or ponies.

They do like a bit of nosebag as well !!

A new horsey place for 2010 is a stables set in the grounds of a large chateau in Treal (a few minutes from each house). Although it's in a magnificent setting it's not posh ! Horse hire is about 40 Euros per half day. In June each year there's a fete to go to as well with dressage, parades and dog agility displays. Bizzarly there's also helicopter rides available !

More on the horse front is the `Man and Horse` chateau in Hennebont. The whole place is devoted to the horse and its relationship with man. The centre is laid out in the grounds of a mid-1600`s chateau. There`s an exhibition which traces the evolution of the horse and its different roles through history. The huge stables containing about sixty horses can be visited and you can see the local artisans at work, making and repairing tack and re-shodding the horses. Special shows are given so you can watch training techniques and equestrian skills (see below right photo).

Boat / Train Trips & Hire
Belle Ille en Mer
Take a boat trip to the beautiful island of Belle Ille, just off the coast at Vannes. The island is stunning and was once the home of the painter Matisse. Best bet is to make a day of it and have lunch there as well. If you fancy it you can go on a coach trip which guides you round the island and shows you all the best bits. The coaches are called Les Cars Bleues.

Ille aux Moines
Take the short boat trip over to the Isle Aux Moines and spend the day there. Once you`ve arrived you can rent out another boat and go on a tour of the bay. You can also hire bikes for the day or part day. Great restaurants for lunch as well.

Sloop Langoustier
You can book a day trip on this sailing boat built in 1931. Go round the stunning Golfe du Morbihan and learn all about the history of sail and in particular this old sloops significance during The Resistance's struggle in the Second World War.

Bateau Angelus
If you prefer to keep away from sails but would still like a tour of the Golfe then go to Locmariaquer and take a trip on the `Angelus` which has several departures throughout the day. The cruiser tours the Golfe and stops off at several islands along the way. There are a variety of cruises on offer varying from 32-50km in length. Prices are from six to twenty three Euros.

Canoe/ Motor Boat Hire
The place for this is Malestroit and the beautiful River Oust. Hire boats by the hour, day or even week. A Kayak for four people costs just €15 for an hour. Fancy a different river ? Try the River Villaine at La Gacilly– very scenic. Don't want to go on a large river ? Then opt for one of the small tributaries of the Oust (see below photos)... going over the weir is not necessary unless you`re particularly keen !

River Boat Hire
Go to La Gacilly and hire a boat on the river by the hour/ half day or day. It`s a great trip, quite, peaceful and very scenic. Everyone can take turns driving and the kids love it. We recommend taking a picnic and stopping off for a leisurely lunch.

Lac au Duc
Here there are catamarans, or pedalloes for hire by the hour or the day.

The Golfe de Morbihan is stunning if you like sailing and you can charter a boat and its captain for the day.

The Nautilus Centre in Sene is a great place for water sports. It`s set on a sandy beach on the edge of the Golfe du Morbihan and you can hire out all sorts of boats and windsurfing equipment for the day or even go on a course to learn more about it.

Trains
Steam Train Trip
You can go to Paimpol and take a trip on a genuine steam train.

The "Vapeur du Trieux" is hauled by the famous 231 K8 steam locomotive. Manufactured by Henschel and Sons (Germany) in 1912, the locomotive is 14 meters long and weighs 91 tonnes.

It was renovated in 1935 in Marseille, and has only borne the name 231 K8 since that time. It was used on the network in northern France until 1950 when it was transferred to the Boulogne depot. In 1971, it made its final "Golden Arrow" journey, in the rain, on 10 january after 59 years service and having covered over a million kilometres.