Our final farewell to France

Well I can’t believe it is here, the time to write my final post!  I do so aboard the ferry looking out to the overcast grey clouds of the English Channel hoping this is not a sign of things to come!  

We decided to spend our last few days in France exploring the coastline of northern Brittany.  This was a last minute addition to the trip, due to a change of heart about our ferry journey home, meaning we’d had little time to research the area. 

First stop St-Malo with its fortified walled city to one side and huge flat sands of Grand Plage to the other.  The enormous tidal ranges mean that at low tide, you could do with a pair of wheels to take you for a paddle.  

With a hotel right on the sand (well almost) we were in the heart of the sea side holiday resort. Mike could hardly contain his excitement when he noticed our next door neighbour - A Chippy!!!!  I couldn’t believe it but yes, on french soil (and run by a french couple) the sign outside read “Fish and Chips avec Malt vinegar comme en Angleterre.... mushy peas sur demande” - Unbelievable but after 16 weeks away I had to let him have his way.  

After a drive through the pretty port-side town of Paimpol we headed to the northernmost tip of Brittany at Pointe de l’Acrouest.  Our delightful hotel (only opened in June) overlooked the craggy bay.  

A boat to the Isle of Brehat docked at the end of the pontoon so we hopped aboard.  The five minute journey across the water transported you to an entirely different world.  One were cars are banned and the only modes of transport are bicycles or donkeys.   

This truly idyllic, flower filled island had secluded beaches, hill top views across the whole bay and the perfect little creperie to sit an soak up the afternoon sunshine. 

Back at the hotel we decided to indulge in an extraordinary evening meal involving all this Bretan. The Lobster had been caught in the waters that we sat overlooking! 

So what to do on our last day in France - well naturally we sat on a beach, enjoying the sunshine and trying not to think about returning to reality!  The beach was Santec, just north of Roscoff but with its powdery white sand, and complete desolation it could be mistaken for something from the Whitsunday's or Caribbean.  

For our final meal, a true french classic, Moules Marinieres followed by a traditional Bretan Far, coupled with local Breton Cider (from a cup as is custom here) - delicious.