2 weeks camping in Brittany?

Spent two blissful weeks camping in Quiberon last August, although we pretty much just ride to different beaches and lounge about most days. Super-broadly, north Brittany is rocky coves like Cornwall, south Brittany long golden beaches - lots to do, Mont St Michel might be a bit of a stretch from Roscoff, great aquarium at St Malo, there's one at Brest we haven't managed to visit (went there on a rainy day years ago, they were turning cars away from the queue to get in), standing stones at Carnac, markets and festivals, castles and chateux, amazing coastline, lots of cycle paths, great food, fine wine, town squares and people-watching, and possibly the least Anglophobic people in France. I like Brittany a LOT. 🙂

We discovered municipal campsites a few years ago, great value, great sites, and mostly French campers - avoids overpriced tourist traps full of foreigners like us. 🙂

I can't believe you haven't been inundated with responses to this!

2 weeks is nowhere near long enough 😉

We used to holiday on the south coast in the Qiberon / Carnac area - 'twas brilliant. Loads of megalithic stuff around if you're into that - the Carnac 'Alignments' are fascinating.

The whole coast between Vannes and Quimper has got lovely beaches and plenty of campsites. (And some great cycling.)

Highly recommended and you won't go wrong. North coast really nice. Carnac coast all great and that Carnac, Vannes part has a nice mix of nice towns and beaches. It gets warmer the further south you go (obvs) but a big thing when camping. We did 3 years in Brittany then started going further south to Le Tranche Sur Mer and Isle de Re. c4hours south from St Malo/Roscoff but noticeably better weather. Possibly the happiest years of our family life.

We stopped at Houlgate a couple of years on the trot. Lovely seaside town, fabulous beaches, lot's to see and do in the area. Visit the Grand Bunker outside Caen for a bit of history. Festyland not too far for a bit of cheap theme park entertainment. Wonderful place. We're going back to Picardy again this year at Easter, but we might be going back to Brittany next year.

Camped in Douarnenez this year. Glamping type place but more basic places around. Lovely lanes for cycling, interesting towns and great beaches (especially the Baie de Trepasses, massive waves).

Used to work there in the 90's.

I'd steer clear of the far west as its a bit bleak but as others have said the Cote de Granite Rose (Perros Guirec area) and the Quiberon/Benodet coast is very nice. All very very touristy though - massive traffic in July/August

If you go inland a bit Dinan is worth a visit.

Been to Dinan a long time ago.

Which is the best ferry port? was thinking Roscoff as its furthest West, but St. Malo is more expensive, is that cos its the fastest way to get to France (i.e. it sails from nearer London and is a shorter crossing, and closer drive to Carnac / better roads)?

We go by Euro-tunnel and drive down to Dinard, some of my Wife's family are from that area so we usually stay with them. The last time time we were there we stayed at a glamping site just outside of Dinard.

Taking the ferry to Roscoff is not a quick crossing 5 plus hours from Plymouth. Have you thought about Portsmouth to Cherbourg? Ultimately it depends where you are travelling From, you mentioned London. I'd use the Euro-tunnel if I were near London.
Going the way we do it,coming from Leicester the most difficult part of the journey is getting to the Folkestone terminal. Once in France, while a long drive it's really easy.

We offset the cost using tesco vouchers which usually pays for the outward bound crossing.

Thanks, we're travelling from Sheffield, I mentioned London as that's the biggest population area so could inlfuence prices.

I've always been swayed towards the idea of spending more driving time in France than England, but driving to Portsmouth from Sheffield may be better than to Folkestone, but Eurotunnel appears much cheaper than the ferry on the face of it.

I ran the numbers a few years ago and when you accounted for tolls and fuel, Portsmouth ferry direct was on par with Dover ferry plus drive, with the benefit of having much less driving (but maybe not travel) time.

As a first timer I found it quite tough choosing a campsite amongst all the very french websites. I ended up with https://www.campingdeschevrets.fr/ which was a good choice. Good beach, although fair warning one end was nudist (positive or negative up to you!)

Think we did Poole - Cherbourg, weren't bothered enough about cost to work it out, we just wanted to get there ASAP. Overnighted at a random pub outside Poole, caught an early ferry, were putting up the tent in Quiberon that evening.

I've said it before and until the cows come home I'll keep saying it, but you'll struggle to beat a municipal for both quality and value. 🙂 If you go to the sites the big camping companies are on (Eurocamp, Canvas, etc), you'll find sites with bigger pools and waterparks and entertainment, but they'll cost a fortune, be full of foreigners and broadly a bit noisier. Find a place that looks interesting, find a local municipal, book a place - job jobbed. Municipals FTW! 🙂

We’re going in Sept. From Leicester we prefer the drive to Portsmouth rather than Folkestone so we’re going out to St Malo and back from Caen, just because of pricing and crossing times. Anywhere down the middle or Alps and we’ll go to Folkestone and get the tunnel.

We did eurocamp and following year Camping du Letty, in Benodet must be 10 years ago, great campsites with decent pools, straight on the beach.

Benodet has a great town festival celebrating the region end of July, as tourists we were made to feel really welcome and part of the activities. Town has a nice friendly feel to it.

The only downside was the sea there are 2 rivers that feed in and in was full of smashed up mussel shells so the kids thought it was a bit stingy, they were young though. Ferry to Roscof then about an hour drive the other side.

I would go back again.

We always use municipals to,and completely agree with your reasoning. In France they often seem to put the municipals in the best places, perhaps being a bit more egalitarian than us.
It's nice that they are also the most economical option too

Really interesting thread that has rekindled my interest for some of the places mentionned. I loved Vannes and Carnac. But the Golfe du Morbihan and its micro climate remains my favourite place in Bretagne.

I note however from some of the comments that the Normandy / Brittany border has shifted by quite a few miles while I wasn't looking... 🙂

Done many 2 weekers in Benodet….love that place. Learnt to windsurf there a a kid too. Camping du Letty.

Never found the traffic bad, but tended to only use the car to drive to Quimper for a supermarket shop occasionally.
It’s been a few years since I last went, but well overdue a visit now.

I note however from some of the comments that the Normandy / Brittany border has shifted by quite a few miles while I wasn’t looking… 🙂

Haha if that comment was aimed at me guilty as charged! We took Brittany Ferries and yes we were in Normandy, equally as lovely as Brittany I'm led to believe. either way, Normandy or Brittany, there's lots to do for everyone. I'd also reccomend not going with Eurocamp. Either book with a site directly or use one of the EU firms, such as Roan for a) some bargains and b) great service.

I don't know how accurate this is.
Tole rate calculator

It gives the toll charges for my journey from Leicester to Dinard as just over €30.

It’s probably about right. Depending upon n where you land I think there’s only a short section of Peage as you pass Le Havre.

Many French municipal sites are no longer municipal, they were sold off because they were no longer viable , for some the 35 hour week tipped the balance, the local authoirites were losing money. The new site owners are quite happy to works over 70 hours a week in season to make them viable and worth investing in. They are no longer municipal but remain well situated, often still good value and are often now better maintained.

viamichelin to calculate journey costs with or without tolls

Haha if that comment was aimed at me guilty as charged! We took Brittany Ferries and yes we were in Normandy, equally as lovely as Brittany I’m led to believe. either way, Normandy or Brittany, there’s lots to do for everyone

You're not wrong there Benji and I guess the added benefit of Normandy is that you Brits are possibly visiting your ancestors in the process!