Brittany - Benodet
Discussion
It’s been a few years since I’ve been but agree with visiting Concarneau, the Ville Close is interesting. If you’re there in the middle of August the Fete des Filets Blu is spectacular, particularly if you can stay for the fireworks in the evening.
L’Amiral cafe on the corner of the market place is a good place to watch the world go by.
If it rains, Pont-Aven is interesting for the artists that used to congregate there.
L’Amiral cafe on the corner of the market place is a good place to watch the world go by.
If it rains, Pont-Aven is interesting for the artists that used to congregate there.
The bay Sunday morning June 2024. The whole area is great on sunny days, less so, if it rains. We thought that good restaurants were thin on the ground, but as we were staying in a holiday let on the seafront, we enjoyed buying food from the the market and elsewhere locally, and eating there.
It is one of France’s nicest locations, where you would struggle to go wrong.
We went a about 7 years ago to benodet after doing numerous other eurocamp style holidays across europe which we love.
Whilst it wasnt a bad holiday we really didnt think much of the area, it wasnt so much that it wasnt nice but there really wasnt much to do and found it pretty dull. Thankfully the site we were on was reasonable enough though.
Quimper and Concarnou were nice enough but we wouldnt be in any rush to go back to benodet or the surrounding area.
Whilst it wasnt a bad holiday we really didnt think much of the area, it wasnt so much that it wasnt nice but there really wasnt much to do and found it pretty dull. Thankfully the site we were on was reasonable enough though.
Quimper and Concarnou were nice enough but we wouldnt be in any rush to go back to benodet or the surrounding area.
By contrast, I went 3 or 4 times as a young teen to a eurocamp in la foret fousenant. i remember the area very fondly, lovely beaches, crepes, lots of kids I made friends with on the site, I loved it, and so did the rest of my family. Benodet, Beg Meil (sp?) Concarneau, Carnac Plage.... pushing 30 years ago now, and they are all still names i can recall with a fondness. enjoy your trip!
We went about 3 years ago, staying in between Benodet and Beg Meil in a holiday cottage. Loved it, massive beach on the door step (that did turn into a nudist beach a bit further along...), loads of footpaths and cycle tracks through the trees etc.
We had days out to Quimper, Concarnaeu, Benodet and Beg Meil, plus probably some others I've forgotten. Very relaxing, lovely scenery and great for people watching, I remember stumbling across a local French festival of some kind and just happily people watching for half an hour.
Would quite happily go again, we also went to Carnac a bit further down the coast the following year and loved that as well.
We had days out to Quimper, Concarnaeu, Benodet and Beg Meil, plus probably some others I've forgotten. Very relaxing, lovely scenery and great for people watching, I remember stumbling across a local French festival of some kind and just happily people watching for half an hour.
Would quite happily go again, we also went to Carnac a bit further down the coast the following year and loved that as well.
Thanks for all the info and thoughts - it's a new area to us so we are excited regardless. Staying in Normandy with a friend for one night, taking the children to Colleville-sur-Mer to the US cemetery in the morning before a gentle drive down to Benodet.
Weather forecast actually looks quite good thankfully - if all else fails, the campsite has one of the biggest indoor heated pools in Europe apparently. And yes, we are very much looking forward to plenty of good seafood.
Weather forecast actually looks quite good thankfully - if all else fails, the campsite has one of the biggest indoor heated pools in Europe apparently. And yes, we are very much looking forward to plenty of good seafood.
Concarneau is...ok. But not a vast amount to see.
As above, main attraction is the Ville Close walled town.
Just inside the entrance is the fishing museum if you want to know about the various ways we f
k up the ocean. Old trawler moored outside that you can clamber over.
Over at the west side of the town is a marinaerium, which I assume has lots of sea-life exhibits.
Just outside of town is a gothic mansion, Chateau de Keriolet. Check the opening times.
The local food is crepes. Local cake is Gateau Breton.
The most well known creperie is Le Petit Chaperon Rouge. You need to book a table.(Frankly, they're all the same to me)
An insider tip used to be to park at Le Passage, and get a ferry the 200 metres across the harbour mouth to the back of the Ville Close, but I think it's not so secret anymore.
The industrial part of the port can be surprisingly interesting, depending what boats are in for repairs.
For simple/fast food, Chez Gustave is good and really quick service if you want to be in and out fast.
As above, main attraction is the Ville Close walled town.
Just inside the entrance is the fishing museum if you want to know about the various ways we f
k up the ocean. Old trawler moored outside that you can clamber over.Over at the west side of the town is a marinaerium, which I assume has lots of sea-life exhibits.
Just outside of town is a gothic mansion, Chateau de Keriolet. Check the opening times.
The local food is crepes. Local cake is Gateau Breton.
The most well known creperie is Le Petit Chaperon Rouge. You need to book a table.(Frankly, they're all the same to me)
An insider tip used to be to park at Le Passage, and get a ferry the 200 metres across the harbour mouth to the back of the Ville Close, but I think it's not so secret anymore.
The industrial part of the port can be surprisingly interesting, depending what boats are in for repairs.
For simple/fast food, Chez Gustave is good and really quick service if you want to be in and out fast.
Edited by BOR on Tuesday 29th July 21:54
We ve just returned from a trip to Lavor between Loctudy and Lesconil. We ve been doing the same trip for 11 years and love it because it’s off the tourist trail and we generally go there for the beach - Plage des Sables Blancs, and simply to relax.
When the weather is not so good we ve ventured out to many of the places mentioned but also Montagne St Micheal, set up in moorland, near where there are some nice scenic drives to be had. This year we also decided to venture out over to https://www.manoir-automobile.fr/accueil/ to explore a wide automotive collection.
One of the great things of being here is with being an hour ahead and further west, it doesn t get dark until after 10pm.
When the weather is not so good we ve ventured out to many of the places mentioned but also Montagne St Micheal, set up in moorland, near where there are some nice scenic drives to be had. This year we also decided to venture out over to https://www.manoir-automobile.fr/accueil/ to explore a wide automotive collection.
One of the great things of being here is with being an hour ahead and further west, it doesn t get dark until after 10pm.
You’ll be leaving just as we get there 
Went as a kid several times and went last year too. Lovely peaceful place, great food and chilled atmosphere.
Highly recommend La Boulangerie next door (get there early as they sell out of everything by 11:30)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6CNEEvfBm7QmE6e9A?g_st=ipc
Also next door on the other side is Experia Park which is pretty good for the young folk (and us too)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DWHWpGUeZjEDgk627?g_st=ipc
Beg Meil is a nice little place for a change of scenery.
Just the other side of the Odet is La Pointe de Combrit with cannons, an art gallery in the fort and other interesting historical battlements.
I’m counting down the hours!
Went as a kid several times and went last year too. Lovely peaceful place, great food and chilled atmosphere.
Highly recommend La Boulangerie next door (get there early as they sell out of everything by 11:30)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6CNEEvfBm7QmE6e9A?g_st=ipc
Also next door on the other side is Experia Park which is pretty good for the young folk (and us too)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DWHWpGUeZjEDgk627?g_st=ipc
Beg Meil is a nice little place for a change of scenery.
Just the other side of the Odet is La Pointe de Combrit with cannons, an art gallery in the fort and other interesting historical battlements.
I’m counting down the hours!
We got home last night (late as we missed our tunnel crossing and it was utter carnage) - we loved Brittany and Benodet! It helped the weather was fantastic.
Port de Pleasance is a decent campsite that caters mainly for smaller kids - it's quite compact and the facilities are "small" e.g. don't expect a big football pitch or games rooms or large open green spaces. We panicked at first as you arrive and realise the entrance is right on the main road which is hardly a relaxing welcome. However we had paid a bit extra for an "ultimate" cabin which was much further back in the site - no road noise and minimal noise from the nightly "entertainment". (Overall I would say the "ultimate" isn't worth the extra.
Pool area was brilliant and kept our kids pretty much entertained all week. Only downside was no drinks allowed while you are roasting yourself on the sun-loungers. Shop and snack bar just ok - but a fantastic bakery just 2 minutes outside the camp.
Benodet was just a 20 minute walk along a very pleasant cycle path / walk way. Not the prettiest town but quite charming and some great food - we ate at both Le Voiles and L'Hemisphere, the latter being a French/Thai blend that was simply delicious (my Thai-style monkfish tail being the stand out).
Other highlights:
- The Experian tree-top place next to the campsite was excellent and good value at €90 for 4 of us for 3 hours non stop zip-lining and climbing walls.
- Concarneau was great we loved it. Close Ville was very interesting and the wife ended up being picked out for Basto's Show...
- Quimper was very charming and we ate crepes in Rue de Salle
- We visited the Star Market in Locronan which was absolutely fantastic - like a town straight of our of Puy du Fou.
- Beaches at Plage de Kermor (other side of Benodet), Plage de Kerleven and Beg Meil were wonderful. Flat, calm, clean and perfect for the kids.
Some things not to do:
- Don't bother with Douarnenez - we popped there for dinner after Locronan and wished we hadn't and stayed put. The meal was nice to be fair, but the town was a dive.
- Do not under any circumstances think it's a good idea to book a stop over AirBnB in Fecamp - particular one that is on a main road behind an industrial estate...on a Sunday when the (completely decrepit) town is dead. I went on strength of reviews...let's just say divorce was close on that one!
Thankfully we finished on a high with a nice lunch in Le Touquet (what I thought Fecamp would be like) followed by finding my wife's great great uncle buried at Terlincthun cemetary and laying some flowers - he was killed in 1918 just before the war ended by a stray shell, just 20 years old.
Thanks for all the tips and comments - we would recommend it!
Port de Pleasance is a decent campsite that caters mainly for smaller kids - it's quite compact and the facilities are "small" e.g. don't expect a big football pitch or games rooms or large open green spaces. We panicked at first as you arrive and realise the entrance is right on the main road which is hardly a relaxing welcome. However we had paid a bit extra for an "ultimate" cabin which was much further back in the site - no road noise and minimal noise from the nightly "entertainment". (Overall I would say the "ultimate" isn't worth the extra.
Pool area was brilliant and kept our kids pretty much entertained all week. Only downside was no drinks allowed while you are roasting yourself on the sun-loungers. Shop and snack bar just ok - but a fantastic bakery just 2 minutes outside the camp.
Benodet was just a 20 minute walk along a very pleasant cycle path / walk way. Not the prettiest town but quite charming and some great food - we ate at both Le Voiles and L'Hemisphere, the latter being a French/Thai blend that was simply delicious (my Thai-style monkfish tail being the stand out).
Other highlights:
- The Experian tree-top place next to the campsite was excellent and good value at €90 for 4 of us for 3 hours non stop zip-lining and climbing walls.
- Concarneau was great we loved it. Close Ville was very interesting and the wife ended up being picked out for Basto's Show...
- Quimper was very charming and we ate crepes in Rue de Salle
- We visited the Star Market in Locronan which was absolutely fantastic - like a town straight of our of Puy du Fou.
- Beaches at Plage de Kermor (other side of Benodet), Plage de Kerleven and Beg Meil were wonderful. Flat, calm, clean and perfect for the kids.
Some things not to do:
- Don't bother with Douarnenez - we popped there for dinner after Locronan and wished we hadn't and stayed put. The meal was nice to be fair, but the town was a dive.
- Do not under any circumstances think it's a good idea to book a stop over AirBnB in Fecamp - particular one that is on a main road behind an industrial estate...on a Sunday when the (completely decrepit) town is dead. I went on strength of reviews...let's just say divorce was close on that one!
Thankfully we finished on a high with a nice lunch in Le Touquet (what I thought Fecamp would be like) followed by finding my wife's great great uncle buried at Terlincthun cemetary and laying some flowers - he was killed in 1918 just before the war ended by a stray shell, just 20 years old.
Thanks for all the tips and comments - we would recommend it!
chip* said:
Lots of useful stuff, thanks for your update Legend!
What happened on the tunnel? Thought it would be quiet being a Monday?
Ha! Well, we only have ourselves to blame really for enjoying the Le Touquet lunch too long and messing up timings. We dashed to the cemetary then up to Calais and arrived 10 minutes late for our train - normally when this has happened in the past due to traffic they have just chucked us on the next one, but it was chaos as some trains were down and we ended up being kicked 3 hours along...which turned into 4 as the queues were so slow.What happened on the tunnel? Thought it would be quiet being a Monday?
Knackered, but the moules frites and glass of rose was worth it...
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