Falmouth - La Rochelle with a month to get back

[Tim Good]

Take time to cruise up some of the rivers particularly when the forecast at sea is bad. Odet is very nice.

 

[cherod]

Lorient has a submarine museum you can visit ( thumbs up from the 13 yr old boy we had with us ) and an Eric Tabarley museum and one of his Pen Duick yachts to visit, which got thumbs up from me. Also there is a great xmas/new year funfair/circus in the centre, (which is assessible by yachts.) Fantastic hi-tech yacht service tradesmen in the old docks

Benodet is a very pleasant little place with lovely forest walks by the river, a friendly well run marina, chandlery and a huge supermarket in walking distance. ( Hot tip:.The marina is the only one (in Europe?) with very large washing machines to take double duvets etc )

Neville Featherstone's Cruising Companion to West France is a charming slightly eccentric pilot/guide book.

L'Aber Benoit has been visited ( by a small gaff cutter in fog) this year and she recommends it, as an interesting change from L'Aber Wrach (which many of us have seen one time too many waiting for wx/tides..)

Rochefort is highly spoken of by a forumite who works there, it looks beautiful and I am trying to hop down there myself, as I have to paint and varnish my boat and am heading down south until I meet the sunshine comiing the other way!

might get a thumbs up from a 13 y o for the submarine which was involved in the nuclear environmental nightmare in the pacific islands ,, i bet there is po mention of that , there was even a postet of a Pacific island beach in the captains office ,,, oh the irony !!

 

[TiggerToo]

Take time to cruise up some of the rivers particularly when the forecast at sea is bad. Odet is very nice.

All of the suggestions in the post are great. In fact, I would venture to say: just go, and decide as you go along. There is so much to see, to do, so many places to hide away in if bad weather passes by. It's a sailing heaven.

As far as bolt holes go, we went (twice) into Belon and loved it (and its seafood)...

Guilvenec was also well-placed to set off round La Raz de Sein: a "real" fishing harbour, no marina, but somewhere to raft up....I liked it.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Love all the above but you have missed Belle Isle but avoid the crowd at La Palais. Suazon best if you can dry but don't miss this jewel out.

We loved venturing up all areas of Morbihan . Tides no worse than our home ground!

We also explored the Villaine above the locked barrage at Arzal. La Roche interesting. Plenty of good eateries there and in more rustic locations. Free to visit all marinas for water and electricity and go shopping during day. Plenty of free anchorages and Riverside pontoons for nightime.

This was a river break and ideal during an extended period of unsettled weather. When it was hot it was very hot!

We are hoping to return this year with an extended Celtic Cruise from Wales taking in Eire, the Cork 300 year anniversary, the Scillies, The Glenans and on down to Morbihan.

Don't worry about it being crowded we never found it a problem despite having to visit at main holiday time. I think a lot of French boats do the opposite cruise now and make enough space for us!

Friendliest visits and people were at Audierne, La Trinite and Foleux. The welcome from fellow Celts made much better by flying the Breton flag higher than the National visiting flag!

I still have a card and hear from a French guy we met . He was a marine engineer. He presented a business card after a long evening chatting in each others cockpits drinking best French wine and the best part of a bottle of Islay Malt.
He left us to carry on with our holiday saying that we would be in easy driving distance if we had any emergency on board or needed to get home in a rush.

Amazing generosity of spirit and friendship.

Parisians are a separate breed.

Steve

Yes can't think why I skipped Belle Ile, I think it was there that I hired a little buggy powered by a 1000CC motor bike engine for the day to explore the island, great fun.

 

[cherod]

mmmmm,, interesting post

 

[alexincornwall]

Morning all,

Thanks again for such informative posts on this, really pleased that our planned route looks to be a popular one. I only wish we had more than 5 weeks...