Prolong summer on the islands of Brittany

What better season to explore the islands than in the warmth of September or an Indian summer? Whether you opt for a nautical, musical, botanical or gastronomic break, these moments stolen from your everyday life are irresistibly delicious on one of the islands along the Breton coast.

In the blink of an eye

1. Botanical curiosities and discovery of the Bay of Morlaix by boat, in Batz

Why not start with a tour of the island or an exploration of the Bay of Morlaix in a speedboat, with a stopover at Château du Taureau? Once you arrive on Batz, head for the Georges Delaselle garden. This charming pocket of exoticism will take you to California, Australia, Chile and southern Africa through a collection of 2,000 species patiently brought together at the end of the 19th century by a businessman with a passion for plants. At La Cassonade, delight in lobster and crab stews, kig ha farz, buckwheat pancakes and organic vegetables. For accommodation, you could opt for the friendly youth hostel or the comfort of the Herbes Folles hotel, in a large bourgeois house close to the jetty.

Batz

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Ouessant - Phare du Stiff
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Justine Hern - Bobine Magazine

2. Ushant, its lighthouses and legends

Ushant does not need any introductions! It’s the last stop before America! The boat crossing to reach this incredible site, jealously guarded by a ring of formidable reefs, is already an adventure in itself. The two-hour trip will take you across the strong currents of the Fromveur Passage that marks the limit between the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. Once there, the best way to explore the island is by bicycle. Pedal as far as Pointe de Porz Doun or Pern, stopping off at the Lighthouse and Beacon Museum to learn all about maritime signalling. With the Kalon-Eusa association, dusk is a very particular experience with the “Tales and Legends” walk or observation of the ritual of lighting the 15 lighthouses that watch over the Iroise Sea. At Roc’h Ar Mor hotel, a haven of peace with eco-responsible values, make the most of a well-earned rest as you enjoy inventive cuisine and an exceptional view of the ocean on the restaurant’s terrace.

The lighthouse route

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. A convex beach that moves, and geological treasures in Groix

Once on the island, go to Grands Sables beach; with a rare convex shape, it projects outwards into the sea and moves dozens of metres every year due to the winds and currents. Another curiosity: the rocks. More than 60 minerals 400 million years old, including some that are very rare indeed, explain the presence in Groix of one of the largest geological nature reserves in France. You can visit the display in the village dedicated to this. After testing your agility in Le Parcabout adventure park, stay for a quirky night in a canvas nest hanging 10 metres above ground in the trees! And if you are intrigued by sea slugs or underwater ruins, go on an underwater safari with the Subagrec Club!

Groix

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Île-aux-Moines - Église Saint-Michel - Vélo en balade
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Noémie Lefèvre

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Île-aux-Moines - Restaurant - Chez Charlemagne - Barge flottante
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Noémie Lefèvre

4. A garden island within a stone’s throw of the continent

5 minutes. That’s all it takes to get from Baden, near Auray, to Île-aux-Moines (Monks’ Island) and a whole different world. Here, lush greenery, flower-filled hamlets and little stone houses create a picture-postcard setting. On foot or by bike, you follow one of the 4 signposted trails (between 5 and 18 km) to explore the island: to the north for Dréhen Beach (the “Grande Plage”), a gourmet break in the village and an excursion to the Pointe du Trec’h headland. To the south? Fine sandy coves, megalithic sites and breathtaking views of the Rhuys peninsula from Pointe de Nioul are yours to enjoy. A compendium of nature, mellowness and conviviality just a landing-stage away.

Visit Ile-aux-Moines

5. Escapade to Belle-Ile to soak up the Indian summer

The largest of the Breton islands has more than one trick up its sleeve! Calm and serene on the north-eastern side, wild and rugged on the west, the variety of its landscapes is surprising. Keep an eye on the tourist office website, every year in the autumn they offer 3 day/2 night packages with accommodation and sea crossing to enjoy the Indian summer. Stroll along the coastal paths, explore the Citadelle Vauban, follow in the footsteps of Sarah Bernhardt or climb to the top of the lighthouse… And then finish the day off peacefully on Sauzon or Le Palais port, enjoying fish, seafood or crêpes facing the ocean!

Belle-Île Tourist Information Office

6.Hoëdic, Houat…love at first sight!

From Quiberon, set sail for Houat. The island where summer lingers on. A 40-minute crossing and here you are: Saint-Gildas port’s fishermen’s carts and whitewashed houses appear. Sandy paths weave their way through the heathland, leading you down to the beaches. What a power of good it does you to explore them with the wind in your face… before a buckwheat pancake at Chez Loulou or dinner then beddy-byes at La Sirène, Ben and Léna’s hotel, open all year round. This evening or tomorrow, the sea will take you a little further on. To Hoëdic, the Breton for “duckling” – a tiny island in the midst of the waves. Fine sand galore, a stopover gite in the shelter of 19th-century fort… More than a getaway: a way of experiencing Brittany differently. Robinson Crusoe-style, borne by your senses and the winds.

Quiberon Bay Tourist Office

Let’s go!

Here you will find the ferry companies that operate services to the islands.