France is our nearest European neighbour so it is an obvious destination for many UK families. Brittany is a beautiful part of North-West France, showing the historic, scenic and peaceful nature of the country. If you‘ve ever been to Cornwall then there is an air of familiarity with its countryside, beaches, rocky headlands and estuaries, although on a grander scale. The coastline, for example, is three times the size of Cornwall’s!
As specialists in family friendly travel in the South West of England, it will probably come as no surprise that we are great fans of hopping on the ferry to the North of France with our kids in tow!
Getting to Brittany via Ferry
When travelling with children, you want to make sure your journey is fun and easy. You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of things for all to see and do.
While the Channel Tunnel is one of the most popular ways to get to France, you might want to avoid that part of the country as there is a more direct route thanks to Brittany Ferries. Sailing from Plymouth to Roscoff takes just six to eight hours, depending on daytime or overnight crossing, cutting off a major chunk of travel time compared to sailing to Calais! There are two ferries every day to choose between, giving you a relaxed start to your journey. You can even hire a cabin (highly recommended!), giving your children somewhere to sleep and a place to crash out as a family.
On board there are shops, restaurants and entertainment specifically for children so there is plenty for all to do. Young children have access to soft play areas as well as children’s entertainers. Teenagers also have access to games rooms, along with free Wi-Fi for all so there’s no need to worry about racking up a huge phone bill during the ferry journey! The cruise ships even have a cinema onboard with the latest movies which is great for whiling away a couple of hours of journey time.
There are typically two eating options on the ferries to suit all needs. There is a restaurant that offers children’s menus for the under 12s. The costs are kept low, so you don’t have to panic when the kids start to complain about being hungry! You can also ask for smaller portions of the adult meals if kids find that they want to try something more adventurous.
If you don’t want a restaurant meal, you can opt for one of the self-service locations. The costs are the same as the kids meals in the restaurants, so you don’t need to feel like you don’t really have a choice. The difference between the two will be the food on offer, which may sway your decision.
Don’t forget to include the city of Plymouth and the village of Roscoff into part of your holiday. Both offer rich history of their countries, along with plenty of attractions, botanical gardens, and restaurants to make the most of your travel time.
Disembarking at Roscoff will give you direct routes into Brittany, reducing your travel time considerably if you are visiting this part of France. As parents living in the South West, this is clearly one of the easiest holidays abroad for us as it typically involves only an hour’s driving to Plymouth, the 6 to 8 hours ferry journey followed by an hour or two driving on the French side. Your children (and you!) will love not being cooped up in the car for longer than necessary. Once you get to Brittany, you will be more refreshed and ready to take in all the beautiful sights.
How much does the ferry cost?
At the time of writing, a car carrying four passengers travelling on the Armorique ferry on the Plymouth to Roscoff crossing with a four person cabin each way would cost £464 in March 2019. Bearing in mind that a lot of accommodation can get you at least 20% off the crossing using a code (that can typically be applied retrospectively), this brings a crossing down to a respectable £371.20.
Opt for self-catering instead of hotel
Before you organise your activities, you’ll need accommodation. There are many quiet and well-maintained cottages in the area, many of them run by British families. The term often used for these cottages is ‘Gite’, which has typically come to mean a rural cottage, but in reality gites can mean any type of property that is rented.
French gites will give you many advantages compared to hotels, especially when it comes to family friendly travel. You’ll typically have a garden area to run around, free rein of the property to explore and the added benefit of not having to worry about other holiday-goers around you.
Your children will love having more freedom on their holiday and you’ll enjoy having more control. A gite will give you a self-catering option that allows you to save significantly over a hotel. If you really want to eat at restaurants you can, but of course, that isn’t a necessity. Great food can be had shopping in nearby supermarkets for local produce so as to enjoy in the comfort of your accommodation. BBQs and dining al fresco can create some great family holiday memories during the spring and summer seasons. You can create packed lunches for your day trips out, keeping the costs down when you visit various attractions.
Many gites also have access to private swimming pools. You and the kids will definitely want them in warmer seasons.
Look out for accommodation in the Crozon Peninsula and Le Cote D’Armor regions of Brittany. They are the most family friendly areas and will offer everything you could possibly need. If you choose Crozon Peninsula, be sure to book your accommodation early. This is one of the most popular locations for the French to visit on their vacations.
Places to visit in Brittany
Now that you’re set up with accommodation, it’s time to look for things to do. Everything you could possibly want or need to do is right on your doorstep. This is one holiday where you won’t need to worry about hours being cooped up in the car trying to find ‘ somewhere nice’!
There are the beaches of Dinard to pay special attention to. You’ll be able to spend time relaxing on the beach, enjoy a swim in the sea, and build sandcastles with the kids. There is a rich history to the town, including numerous name changes throughout the years. Watch out for celebrities, as many pay a visit to the exotic area.
A trip to the Gulf of Morbihan is definitely worth adding to your list, especially if you enjoy hiking as a family. You’ll see around 40 islands in the location, depending on the tide, with many of them private locations. Keep an eye out for the stepped pyramids, giant menhirs, and stone circles. The whole family will be in awe of the sights and sounds in the area.
The Crozon Peninsula is the home of some of the best beaches and sailing opportunities. The water is among the warmest around the region, and the sand is a beautiful golden colour, perfect for relaxing. There are also excellent spots for fishing, which will help to add some relaxation to your holiday. At first glance it can look like villages are deserted. The area is rural and quiet, with handwritten signposts everywhere.
Make Brittany your next family holiday destination
It’s time to get your family holiday in order. Brittany is the place that you definitely want to visit. You’ll be in awe of the beautiful landscape, native French feel, and rich history. It’s one of the easiest parts of France to get to, especially from the South West. Less time in the car will mean happier children throughout your holiday!
Be sure to check out our up and coming Brittany based family friendly reviews.