Four micro-adventures to disconnect in Brittany

Two or three days in the fresh Breton air: There’s nothing like it to clear the head and charge your batteries. Take the train and hop on a bike to enjoy these four little trips in nature. The feeling of escape is guaranteed!

In the blink of an eye

1. A calm adventure in the Oust valley

By bike and canoe between Ile aux Pies and Questembert

This section of the Nantes-Brest Canal is ideal for a little escapade. On the programme: locks, cycling and paddling, unspoilt nature and a little bit of effort. Shall we go? From Redon train station, hop on a rental bike and set off in the direction of Île Aux Pies, a rock-climbing hot spot. Then, against a backdrop of granite and schist cliffs that plunge into the river, you’ll paddle away in a tandem canoe. As the river widens, it begins to look like a Louisiana bayou. Three hours later, cheered on by the herons and kingfishers, welcome to the camp site! The following day, hop back on the bike for a cool 40 km ride to Questembert.

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2. Kayaking and bivouacking in Groix

The tour of Ile de Groix, off the coast of Larmor-Plage

Kayaking is suitable for everyone. At Larmor-Plage port, Vincent, your guide, will teach you the basics before setting off to Groix, which you can see “just” opposite. A few waves and a 90-minute calm crossing later, you’ll be enjoying a lunch break on Grands Sables beach, the longest convex beach in Europe, reminiscent of the Seychelles… Back in the boats, you’ll sail the waves along the wild coast in the company of hundreds of birds and dolphins. After a night’s bivouacking, watch the sun rise as you enjoy your breakfast. You might think that the return trip on the ocean would be enough to finish off the few remaining working muscles, but oddly enough, a huge seafood platter later seems to numb all pain!

Ideas

The inratables of the summer, the place to be to treat yourself to a seafood platter, the best views on the GR®34, the best spots to start surfing… in short, all the good...

3. Discover coasteering in the Côtes d’Armor

From Saint-Brieuc to Lannion on a bike and coastal canyoning

What’s coasteering? A mix of swimming, climbing and jumping, made for Brittany. Derived from canyoning, it takes place on seaside cliffs and is kind of the highlight of this micro-adventure. But before you start, there’s a little bike ride along Saint-Brieuc bay. You’ll soon understand why so many cycling champions come from the area: it’s a great calf-muscle work-out! When you get to Plouha cliffs, together with your guides Pierre-Yves and Gérard, you’ll climb, jump 2 to 8 metres into the water, discover caves and you might even come face-to-face with a seal. The cliffs reward anyone who defies them, with amazing views and the little sea-facing restaurant. But there’s no room for complacency: in sight, the view of Bréhat, the Pink Granite Coast, and above all, a three-scoop ice cream in Paimpol harbour!

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4. Trail running by the Rance

Three days of running and kayaking between Dinan and Saint-Malo

You don’t need to aim for the Mont-Blanc Ultra Trail to have fun! Running on the Breton trails is the ideal way to discover new hidden corners. One such example is this portion of the Rance, which flows into the Channel between Dinard and Saint-Malo. On the programme: 54 km through forests and along tow paths to the estuary. On the way you’ll experience the best of Brittany: seafood platters, savoury crêpes, kouign amann, heritage delights, the hospitality of your hosts, and even a kayak trip to cool off and admire the fishermen’s huts on stilts. On the finish line, you’ll be rewarded with Dinard and its chic seafront villas on the one side, and Saint-Malo and its mythical ramparts on the other. What a welcome!