Option 3: France - Brittany
Overview
Destination: Brittany (Bretagne), northwest France
Duration: 15 nights (18 July - 2 August 2026)
Travel Method: Self-drive via ferry from Plymouth
Best For: Coastal scenery, beaches, Celtic culture, crepes, easy reach from UK
Why This Works
✅ No mosquito issues - Atlantic coastal climate, breezy, low mosquito population
✅ Self-catering excellent - Many gîtes and cottages available
✅ Vegetarian-friendly - Crêpes, galettes, fresh seafood alternative, markets
✅ Great for kids - Sandy beaches, rock pools, aquariums, castles
✅ Short ferry crossing - Less travel time than Spain
✅ Good value - Generally more affordable than southern France
✅ Easy driving - Shorter distances than other options
Travel: Ferry from Plymouth
Route: Plymouth ↔ Roscoff (Brittany Ferries)
| Detail |
Information |
| Crossing time |
~6 hours (day) or overnight |
| Frequency |
Daily in summer |
| Departs Plymouth |
Morning or overnight |
| Arrives Roscoff |
Morning or afternoon |
Estimated Ferry Cost
| Item |
Low |
High |
| Car + 2 adults + 1 child (return) |
£300 |
£450 |
| Cabin (if overnight) |
£40-60 each way |
|
| Meals on board |
£30-50 each way |
|
| Total Ferry |
£340 |
£560 |
Driving
| Leg |
Distance |
Time |
| Wigan → Plymouth |
270 miles |
4.5 hrs |
| Plymouth → Roscoff (ferry) |
- |
6 hrs |
| Roscoff → Central Brittany |
50-100 miles |
1-2 hrs |
| Total each way |
~350 miles |
~6 hrs road + ferry |
Much shorter driving than Dordogne or Spain!
Accommodation: Gîtes & Cottages
Recommended Areas
| Area |
Vibe |
Best For |
| Côte de Granit Rose (Perros-Guirec) |
Pink granite rocks, beaches |
Scenic coast, easy beaches |
| Côtes-d'Armor (Ploumanac'h, Tréguier) |
Charming coastal towns |
Families, rock pooling |
| Finistère (Crozon, Camaret) |
Wilder, dramatic coast |
Adventure, older kids |
| Morbihan (Vannes, Carnac) |
Gulf, megaliths, gentler |
Mix of coast and history |
| Inland Brittany (Josselin, Rochefort-en-Terre) |
Countryside, forests |
Peaceful, budget-friendly |
Gîte Price Guide (July - High Season)
| Type |
Per Week |
2 Weeks |
Notes |
| Basic gîte/cottage |
£350-500 |
£700-1,000 |
Simple, may not have pool |
| Family gîte near coast |
£500-800 |
£1,000-1,600 |
Good location, often with garden |
| Gîte with pool |
£700-1,200 |
£1,400-2,400 |
Premium, books early |
💡 Tip: Inland Brittany (20-30 min from coast) offers much better value than coastal properties. You can drive to beaches daily.
Child-Friendly Activities
Beaches & Coast
| Beach/Area |
What Makes It Special |
Distance from Central Brittany |
| Ploumanac'h |
Pink granite rocks, safe beach, walk on sentier des douaniers |
1-1.5 hrs |
| Perros-Guirec |
Sandy beach, boat trips |
1-1.5 hrs |
| Saint-Cast-le-Guildo |
Large sandy beach, great for kids |
45 min - 1 hr |
| Plage du Moulin (near La Baule) |
Huge sandy beach |
1 hr |
| Locquirec |
Pretty beach, rock pools |
45 min |
Castles & Attractions
| Attraction |
Description |
Cost (family) |
| Château de Josselin |
Fairytale castle, doll museum |
€25-30 |
| Château de Fougères |
Massive medieval fortress |
€25-30 |
| Château de Suscinio |
Castle on coast, nice grounds |
€20-25 |
| Oceanopolis (Brest) |
Massive aquarium, 3 pavilions |
€60-70 |
| Parc du Reynou |
Animal park, adventure playground |
€40-50 |
| La Vallée des Saints |
Giant stone statues |
€15-20 |
| Carnac stones |
Prehistoric standing stones |
Free viewing |
Other Activities
| Activity |
Description |
Cost |
| Boat trips |
Trips to islands (Bréhat, Batz) |
€30-50 family |
| Cycling |
Rent bikes, cycle paths |
€15-25/day |
| Crêperie visits |
Essential Brittany experience! |
€20-30 per meal |
| Market days |
Most towns have weekly markets |
Cost of shopping |
| Festivals |
Summer festivals, Breton music |
Many free |
Food & Self-Catering
Brittany Specialities (Vegetarian-Friendly)
| Dish |
Description |
Vegetarian? |
| Galette de sarrasin |
Buckwheat crêpe (savory) |
Yes (check fillings) |
| Crêpe de froment |
Sweet wheat crêpe |
Yes |
| Cidre |
Apple cider (alcoholic) |
Yes |
| Kouign-amann |
Butter cake pastry |
Yes |
| Far breton |
Flan with prunes |
Yes |
| Salted caramel |
Brittany speciality |
Yes |
Shopping
- Supermarkets: Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché, Lidl
- Markets: Weekly in every town - excellent produce
- Boulangeries: Daily fresh bread
- Crêperies: Affordable eating out option
Food Costs
| Item |
Cost/Day |
15 Days |
| Self-catering |
£28-35 |
£420-525 |
| Crêperie meals out (4x) |
£25-30 each |
£100-120 |
| Markets/treats |
£50 total |
£50 |
| Total Food |
|
£570-695 |
Full Budget Breakdown
| Category |
Low Estimate |
High Estimate |
| Ferry (Plymouth-Roscoff return) |
£340 |
£450 |
| Accommodation (14 nights gîte) |
£700 |
£1,200 |
| Food (self-catering + crêperies) |
£500 |
£650 |
| Fuel (UK + France) |
£180 |
£220 |
| Activities |
£150 |
£250 |
| Contingency |
£100 |
£150 |
| TOTAL |
£1,970 |
£2,920 |
✅ Budget Achievement
This is your most realistic option for hitting £2,000!
Budget Breakdown:
- Ferry: £350
- Accommodation: £750 (inland gîte, 14 nights)
- Food: £500
- Fuel: £180
- Activities: £150
- Contingency: £70
- Total: £2,000 ✅
Two-Base Option: Inland + Coastal
If you want variety, split into two locations:
Option: Central Brittany + Coast
Base 1 (7 nights): Near Josselin/Ploërmel (inland)
- Cheaper accommodation
- Central for exploring
- Château de Josselin, forest walks
Base 2 (7 nights): Near Perros-Guirec or Saint-Cast (coast)
- Beach days
- Pink Granite Coast
- Boat trips
| Accommodation |
Cost (14 nights) |
| 2x budget gîtes |
£700-1,000 |
| 1 gîte with pool + 1 coastal |
£1,200-1,800 |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✅ Most affordable option - best chance of staying under £2,000
- ✅ Shorter travel - less driving, shorter ferry
- ✅ Great beaches - sandy, safe, rock pools
- ✅ Low mosquito risk - Atlantic coast, breezy
- ✅ Vegetarian-friendly - galettes, crêpes, markets
- ✅ Kid-friendly - castles, aquariums, beaches
- ✅ Easy driving - shorter distances than other options
Cons
- Weather can be changeable (pack layers!)
- Less "exotic" than Spain or southern France
- Similar to UK coastal holidays in some ways
- Crowded in July/August (peak season)
Sample Itinerary
Week 1: Inland Brittany Base
- Days 1-2: Ferry, arrive Roscoff, drive to gîte, explore village
- Day 3: Market day in local town, crêperie lunch
- Day 4: Château de Josselin - fairytale castle day
- Day 5: Forest walks, lac de Guerlédan (swimming)
- Day 6: Day trip to Vannes (medieval town) + Carnac stones
- Day 7: Local exploration, relax at gîte
Week 2: Move to Coast (or day trips)
- Day 8: Relocate to coastal gîte or first coastal day trip
- Day 9: Ploumanac'h - pink rocks + beach
- Day 10: Beach day - Saint-Cast or similar
- Day 11: Oceanopolis aquarium (Brest)
- Day 12: Boat trip to Île de Bréhat
- Day 13: Beach day + rock pooling
- Day 14: Final crêperie meal, pack up
- Day 15: Ferry home
Weather in July
| Aspect |
Typical July in Brittany |
| Temperature |
18-24°C (can reach 28°C) |
| Rainfall |
Some rain likely - pack layers |
| Sea temperature |
16-19°C (cool but swimmable) |
| Sunshine |
Mix of sunny and cloudy days |
🌦️ Pack: Layers, light raincoat, sun hat, sunscreen - all weather possible!
Booking Checklist
Created: 15 March 2026
Last updated: 15 March 2026
Sean C
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