Brittany pilot/guide

[roly_voya]

Hi - Off to S Brittany next month for the first time from Milford haven via Scillies can anyone recomend a guide, preferably one that gives good info on what to see when there as well as sailing info. Any sugestions for 'must see' places?

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[Robin]

The best Pilots are the French 'Pilotes Cotiers', inexpensive and readable with schoolboy French, cost <£20 and sold in all French chandlers. Peter Cumberlidge 'Secret anchorages' is good (much of it comes from the French pilots I think!).

Must sees are probably far too numerous for one visit, depending how long you have and if you want marinas or anchorages but:-

Camaret is a good first stop (good supermarket nearby)
Morgat (cliff walks, sea caves)
Benodet River (the town itself is not that interesting IMO)
Concarneau (the old town 'Ville Close')
Isles de Glenan (the islands off Benodet/Concarneau) absolute must IMO
Morbihan - Vannes, Auray.
The Islands in Quiberon Bay - Houat, Hoedic, Belle Isle (anchorages, don't use the harbours)
Isle de Yeu




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[Robih]

Agree with all Robin says - except don't miss the River Villaine and La Roche Bernard, Piriac and finally Belle Isle (Sauzon). All in Baie de Quiberon. A wonderful cruising ground. I was there all last summer, lucky you this summer.

rob

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[Robin]

We'll be there again in August...

The Villaine & Roche Bernard make a change (great for a bad weather excursion) though avoid the Arzal Dam (aptly named!) at busy times! We made the mistake of going through the last lock opening on an August Sunday, it took well over an hour as it was done in 2 stages, they pile everyone in and then when you think it's full, open the bridge, move all forward and bring in the second half, finally they open the lock! When we left we made sure and took the first lock in the morning and had just one yacht for company.

I didn't mention the Avon & Belon Rivers either, bit lower on my priority list as are La Trinite, Etel, Lorient and Isle De Groix. That is not to say there is anything wrong with them. Then of course there is Pornic, Pornichet, La Turballe oh and (no longer S Brittany La Rochelle and the islands outside there..

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