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Brittany's Land's End
Our undulating coastal route leads you from bustling fishing ports to traditional whitewashed farming communities, past menhirs and dolmens of an ancient bygone culture, and on to charming small hotels and restaurants where you will savour delightful local cuisine. Nights: 7
Day 1: The day begins with an uphill section out of this colourful seaside town, after which the terrain soon levels off and you enjoy a splendid ride along the northern coast of the Finistère Peninsula, always within easy reach of rocky bays, rugged cliffs and the occasional solitary lighthouse. You then head inland past pretty villages to Audierne. (up to 35km) Accommodation: Hotel Le Goyen (3*), Audierne. Le Goyen is a beautiful hotel with balconies and window terraces overlooking the pretty bay and harbour from where local fruits de mer are bought for the hotel’s restaurant. Tastefully decorated rooms offer comfort after a day’s cycling, while the lounge bar provides the perfect setting from which to relax with a cocktail as the sun sets over the port.
Accommodation: Hotel Le Goyen, as above. Day 3: Head south from Audierne along the sweeping sandy bay, meandering through timeless villages and narrow lanes. This is a relatively short day, so spend your morning in Audierne, stop off at a quiet sandy beach, or head inland to the magnificent chapel at Kerinec. (up to 25km) Accommodation: Hotel Ker Ansquer (3*), near Pouldreuzic. The hotel is housed in a beautiful granite building, set in an idyllic location within a few miles of the coast. The restaurant serves traditional Breton cuisine, prepared from fresh local produce and presented in Quimper earthenware. Elsewhere, traditional Breton furniture and décor complements the local cuisine. If travelling in April, May or October, you cycle to Plonéour Lanvern and stay at the historic Manoir de Kerhuel.
Accommodation: Hotel Cornouaille (2*), Bénodet. This modern hotel is located in the heart of this charming seaside town, with its many seafood restaurants and crêperies along the harbour (you stay at the hotel on a bed and breakfast basis). A light and airy lounge bar overlooks the pretty patio garden, while the 30 guestrooms are simply decorated in modern style with wooden floors and colourful furnishings. Guests are entitled to discounted rates at the nearby Thalassotherapy spa centre.
Accommodation: Le Domaine de Lesvaniel (3*), Landudec. A quaint farmhouse of imposing granite with a traditional slate-roof. In the small dining room, breakfast is served on a large farm table and includes crêpes and Breton specialities, while in the evenings informal dinners are enjoyed with other guests. The rooms are each decorated in a different theme and you can even relax in the libraray with a good book. Day 6: You return to Douarnenez, your starting point, and we recommend visiting Locronan, a beautiful medieval hill-top village on the edge of the Fôret du Duc, on the way. Enjoy a final stroll on the waterfront, admiring the same views that once inspired Auguste Renoir. Accommodation: Clos de Vallombreuse, as above. Similar holidays: Timeless Tarn (grade 1-2), Catalan Coast & Villages (grade 1-2), Southern Beaches to Central Plain (grade 1-2), Menorca's Cliffs, Coves & Seafood (grade 1-2) Prices & travel 2008:
Alternative option - Manoir de Kerhuel. In April, May and from 27 September: the itinerary varies slightly - from Audierne, cycle to Ploneour Lanvern (an extra 10km) and stay for one night at the 2-star Manoir de Kerhuel. From there, rejoin the main itinerary at Benodet.
Recommended destination airports: Paris CDG, Brest & Nantes > Notes on prices > Any queries? Let us call you back > Booking |
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Finistère, literally 'land's end', is set on the rocky coast of north-west France, in the heart of Brittany. Its ancient Celtic culture has left the area rich in churches, calvaries and chapels, hewn out of the local granite rocks of this rugged landscape. Picturesque lighthouses stand sentinel on rocky cliffs that contrast with the broad sandy beaches at the southern end of the Bay of Audierne. This is the quiet side of Brittany and it is here you will enjoy the best of coastal cycling. 
Starting point: Le Clos de Vallombreuse (3*), Douarnenez. With old-time charm and sea views, this hotel boasts a pool and a wonderful restaurant serving locally caught seafood - the ideal place to begin your journey. 
Day 2: We suggest that you cycle to the Pointe du Raz, one of the most westerly points in France, and the wonderful sandy Baie des Trépassés. The villages you cycle through are all centred on medieval chapels, one of the most beautiful being in Plogonnec. Alternatively, you can leave the bikes behind and take a boat ride from Audierne to the picturesque Île de Sein for some bracing sea air. (up to 43km)
Day 4: Today’s route takes you south-east through undulating countryside to Pont l’Abbé, a pretty little town built around a 14th-century fortress. You continue over the River Odet into Bénodet. For longer cycling options, you can head south to the Pointe de Penmarc’h to wonder at the many menhirs and dolmens in the area. (up to 40km) 
Day 5: Today’s route takes you north across open countryside, through fields of grazing cattle and a green wooded landscape to the quaint village of Plogastel St Germain. (up to 40km)