Truly in the heart of Brittany, we are also at the centre of a wide range of activities and interests for all age groups an abilities. We regret that we are unable to provide detailed information for every activity on this page due to the diversity of available recreational, historic and sporting pursuits. However we visit the Tourist Information Offices regularly, keeping our houses well stocked with local information leaflets, and our Visitors Books provide excellent first-hand recommendations. We also endeavour to seek out details of specific events that may be of interest to our guests, such as local Markets, Fest Noz, Religious Pardons, Son et Lumiere, Fetes and other traditional and local events. (If you have never witnessed "Combine-Harvester racing" then you haven't lived!).
Only ten minutes drive away is the stunning Lac de Guerledan pictured left, providing a full range of water sports and safe, sandy, swimming beaches, as well as beautiful walking, riding and cycling routes. Canoes, kayaks, pedalos, rowing boats and motor boats can be hired by the hour, day or week at the lake at very reasonable prices, and a cruise "vedette" makes regular tours around this magnificent 14 km long man-made valley lake. Another vedette cruises part of the Napoleonic Nantes/Brest canal, travelling west from the embarkation point at the Abbey de Bon Repos through remarkable scenery and a series of interesting and picturesque locks. An evening dining cruise is also available on the Lac de Guerledan, with a first class menu at very reasonable prices. |
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Subject to availability we can arrange bookings for specific water sport activities on your behalf, although there is seldom a need to book leisure boats or kayaks in advance. There are several free public slip-ways at the lake for those wishing to bring their own boat.
Golf courses, some well known for their stunning scenery and challenging holes, are located mainly around the coasts of Brittany. However our central position may enable you to visit several during your holiday since virtually all of them are within 90 minutes drive. Generally they are all open and most welcoming to the casual golfer and have very reasonably priced fees. We have detailed information regarding all of Brittany's courses, including booking information, course details and green fees, which we will provide on request. For budding golfers (or some light hearted putting practice?) Mur de Bretagne has its own very challenging "crazy golf" course, which is open every day during July and August and at other notified times between May and October.
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Both coarse fishing and sea-angling are readily available throughout Brittany, but of particular note is the Lac de Geurledan which offers the chance to fish for Pike, Zander, Carp and Trout. A local holiday fishing permit can be purchased quite cheaply for 10 days, allowing the holder to fish in virtually all the rivers, lakes and streams in the area, some of which are also well known for salmon. The permit also allows the holder to keep any fish caught!
Pony Trekking and riding are very popular pursuits in this area of Brittany. There are several "poney clubs" (the French spelling!) in our vicinity, all offering excellent rates for "promenades" or riding instruction on an hourly or daily basis. Prices start at around 15 Euros for an hour, or 75 Euros for a one day trek. For the novice or enthusiast, there can be no better way to enjoy the scenery with minimum personal effort! Other equestrian related activities include the Horse Museum at Corlay, and also the Hippodrome at Petit Paris (15 mins from us) which holds regular race meets throughout the year.
As with the rest of France, cycling is a major pastime in Brittany. Cycles for all ages and child buggy trailers can be hired nearby. The area is particularly well suited to VTT (Velo Toutes Terrain or mountain biking to us!) with many specially marked and cleared VTT routes, suited to all ages and abilities. Locally these include a gentle path following the canal and lake along a disused railway track with beautiful and dramatic scenery en route. The Tour de France passes through Brittany in the first week of July each year. This and the spectacle of numerous other local VTT and road races, which are taken very seriously, can be seen throughout the year.
This part of Brittany is dotted with areas of historical interest, including many reminders of previous inhabitants and invaders, such as menhirs, megaliths, tumulii and carved stones. Largely unspoilt by commercial development, the area also has many fine original examples of chateaux, watermills and houses of architectural interest, including a nearby preserved foundry village at Les Forges des Salles which can be reached by car, or by a scenic walk through the historic Forêt de Quénécan. The tranquillity of a walk to seek out the standing stones or visit an historical monument, is perhaps the perfect way to enjoy the Breton countryside at any time of the year. This is particularly the case in the Autumn when the variety of colours and often clear skies are most photogenic. Ornithologists can delight in the variety of species found in this area, with the Lac de Guerledan providing a winter shelter for numerous breeds of both sea and inland birds. Around the rivers, lakes and etangs of this region herons, egrets, kingfishers and other water birds are a common sight as they swoop to poach from the well stocked waterways, as are the birds of prey throughout the region. |
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For shopping and bargain hunting, our hamlet is ten minutes walk away from the village of St Mayeux, where there is a Post Office, small supermarket, friendly village shop and a Bar. As well as our local town of Mur de Bretagne, we are only 15 minutes away from the larger towns of Pontivy, Loudeac and Rostrenen, and about an hour away from the towns of the south coast, including Vannes, Carnac and Quiberon. The city of St Brieuc, 35 minutes to the north, has excellent shopping facilities including one of the largest hypermarkets in Brittany and a bustling cobbled shopping area.
Local street markets are well organised, most being either once or twice weekly but staggered throughout the week. These offer excellent value for locally produced vegetables, cheeses, bread, wine and honey (most of which tempt visitors with free tasters!), and often include stalls selling local craft items. In the summer months Mur de Bretagne also has an excellent evening market every Friday, with local entertainment and usually a gastronomic theme (again with free tasting!). The area is also dotted liberally with antique shops and "Depot Vente" where treasures may often be found at exceedingly good prices, particularly for pottery, bric a brac and oak furniture. The many "Vide Grenier" (literally translates as "Attic Emptying") sales are also a rich source of cheap local treasures and great fun to visit if you wish to try and haggle with the locals.
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For the lovers of French Cuisine, there is an incredible choice, ranging from local crepes and cider or traditional country fare in the local village restaurants, to exquisite à la carte meals for that special occasion at the prestigious restaurants by the lake or in the bigger towns. We are less than hour away from the sea, so the the seafood that Brittany is famous for is readily available, both in the shops and in the restaurants, and is always beautifully fresh. |
Many local restaurants specialise in seafood dishes, including a broad selection of fish dishes in their daily menu, and the famous "fruits de mer" dish of shellfish can be found in almost any town near to the coast.
The mild weather of Brittany, particularly inland, makes this area most suitable for a late or early holiday. Often the early Spring and the late Summer/early Autumn weather allows a full range of outdoor pursuits to be enjoyed, and of course the shops and restaurants are that much quieter at that time of year!
Other activities in the area include Tennis, Diving, Sea Kayaking and Paragliding, to name but a few. Please telephone or e-mail us if you wish to know more about specific activities. We very much look forward to sharing some of the treasures of Brittany with you