A beautiful cottage for hire in the hamlet of Le Pradigo
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From your base at Ty Pradigo there are many activities to enjoy. As well as golf, fishing, kayaking, walking, and cycling, there are plenty of beaches not too far away. The Blavet valley provides the local location for the fishing, kayaking and more information can be found by clicking here: www.blavet.com/. In addition to the usual sunbathing and swimming activities, you will find opportunities for a whole variety of water sports on the Southern Brittany coast such as canoeing, sailing, diving and surfing.
In Pontivy you will find an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool.There is also swimming and a sanded beach area on a lake in Noyal Pontivy, about 15 minutes from the cottage and just north of Pontivy, it’s called le Valvert. It is very pleasant and I hope to include some photgraphs soon.
About 20 minutes away is Lake Guerlédan, here you can go fishing, bathing, canoeing, water skiing and hire pedallos. To the north east is the Forest of Quénécan, the “Swiss Brittany”. As the peaks only rise to 287 metres, the description is a little overblown, but there are three lakes and some good marked walking trails.
The Brittany coastline is breathtaking and is the southern part just under an hour from the cottage. There are excellent sandy beaches at Larmor Plage near Lorient which are popular with surfboarders. Carnac is very popular with family holiday makers; there are 5 long sandy beaches stretching along 4 kilometres of coastline and there is a pretty coastal path for you to follow.
If you like golf you'll find plenty of excellent courses in the Morbihan.
For more information on each course just click on the name of the golf course.
There is a beautiful 9-hole course just 10 minutes away at Rimaison in Bieuzy-les-Eaux
The following 18 hole courses are all within easy driving from Ty Pradigo:
Le Val Queven (40 mins/ 37 miles) is an 18 hole 6100m course with a Standard Scratch par of 72. Gently undulating, it mixes open spaces, water hazards with great views. Not quite as difficult as some of the other courses in the area, it remains, nonetheless, a good test for the thoughtful golfer. The excellent facilities include, friendly staff, good lunch- time food, covered range and pitch and putt.
Ploemeur Ocean (45 mins/ 40 miles) 18 holes par 72. The nearest thing to a links course on the southern Brittany coast, with undulating fairways, gorse and heather. This is quite a challenge, even for the accurate golfer. There are fabulous seaside views.
St Laurent (45 mins/ 45 miles) 18 hole & 9 hole courses. A championship style challenge. The par 4s are quite long and many of the drives are through a narrow corridor. There are water hazards and many varieties of trees ready for the wayward hitter. A tough, but thoroughly enjoyable test of golf. St Laurent was a chosen venue for the French Professional Championships in 1988 & 1989, and the National Open in 1995.
Baden (1 hour/ 54 miles) 18 holes par 72. Set on an inlet of the inland sea of the Morbihan, it offers super views. The last inward holes are through forested land, whilst gorse and heather and water hazards make up the first 2/3 of the course. Not as easy as Val Queven, nor as difficult as St Laurent.
Rhuys Kerver (1 1/4 hour / 60 miles) 18 holes par 73. This will give you a real challenge. You really have to think your way around this course. It is set in a bird reserve and these are mainly water fowl! There are blind drives, narrow approaches, ditches, water course and heather. This in no way detracts from ones enjoyment of playing this unique course.
Visit www.formule-golf.com to find out how you can play at different courses throughout the week at very reasonable rates, all the courses are pay and play.
The rivers Blavet and Evel and provide excellent fishing. The Blavet is famous for its trout, salmon, zander, pike, perch, carp, bream and tench. The ease of riverside access and the lack of river traffic make the Blavet an excellent river for fishing.
There are also numerous lakes with good fishing- and there are 3 small lakes in Guern itself and a lake in nearby Melrand with some sizeable tench.
In the river l'Evel there are trout and salmon and there are trout in the Tarn, Sarre or Brandfort.
The 30 fishing rivers and streams and lakes in the area are all available to fish for anyone with a permit. These can be bought locally in the Bar des Sports in Guern; they are valid for one day (10€), a fortnight (30€) or a year (68€), which run from the first of January.
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There is a fishing tackle shop in Le Sourn outside Pontivy where bait is available, but maggots (asticots) are expensive and usually very poor quality. If you bring your own you can keep them fresh in the fridge in the shed at Ty Pradigo.
Sea fishing from the rocks or beach casting does not require a permit.
There is also a good selection of places along the coast where you can go sea-fishing for the day.
THE SEASIDE
There is a wide choice of sandy beaches within driving distance of Ty Pradigo where you can also enjoy a variety of water sports: swimming, snorkelling, surfing, body boarding, windsurfing, waterskiing, sand yachting, kitesurfing and sailing.
With children in mind, Port Louis is the nearest safe sandy beach and is about 40 minutes from Ty Pradigo. Other popular beach areas safe for children include Carnac, La Trinité sur Mer, Larmor Plage, and St Pierre-Quiberon.
Quieter beaches, where you will find nature reserves, big sand dunes and wide open spaces include the long dune belt from Gavres to Penthièvre. All around the Golf du Morbihan there are tiny beaches and rocky coves where you can find a spot all to yourself.
Apart from busy areas, such as Carnac and the Quiberon peninsular in the height of the season, the beaches seldom get crowded and are clean and unspoilt.
For windsurfing and kite surfing head for the Penthievre area and the beaches east of Port Louis. If you want to try sand yachting there are a couple of centre in Penthievre yachting centres.
Brittany’s 3,500 kilometres of coastline, with its bays, estuaries and inlets, offers ample opportunity for sailing as do some of the bigger lakes in the area such as lake Guerlédan.
About an hour south is theGolfe du Morbihan from which the area gets its name- from the Breton Mor- sea and bihan- small. It is in effect a huge “inland” sea, with hundreds of islands to explore.
There are over 300 sailing schools and water sports centres in Brittany and throughout the year, they offer a vast range of activities: dinghy sailing, catamarans, sail boarding, fun boarding and pleasure trip boats.
The area is well supplied with approved centres for windsurfing, jetskiing, kite surfing, sea kayaking, canoeing, body boarding, sand yachting, waterskiing, parascending and scuba diving. The diving centres around the coast awarded the "Plongée Label Bretagne" offer taster sessions, photographic and ecology courses and guided visits to shipwrecks.
Surfing
Surfing on the Cote Sauvage, 45 minutes away. Some of the best surf in Brittany is found along this rugged coastline with big Atlantic rollers sweeping in from the west.
The Quiberon Penisula is popular for all types of surfing: body surfing, kite surfing and windsurfing. Equipment and tuition is available at a variety of centres.
Sailing
La Trinité sur Mer is home to many of the world’s top racing sailors and Ellen MacArthur is a popular and frequent visitor. There are regattas and sailing events taking place throughout the year. There are many decent restaurants on the quay where you can enjoy a meal and soak up the sun and ambiance.
Boat Trips
Brittany's largest island, Belle Ille, lies 8½ miles offshore, and is reached by ferry from the port of Quiberon. The island is very popular for day excursions and well worth a visit. You can also take a cruise around some of the islands in the Morbihan, getting on and off as you please. Hire bikes are available on some islands.
There are more signposted paths in Brittany than any other region of France and there are many beautiful walks and footpaths in the area. Guern is no exception, the local Mairie has produced 4 signposted and colour-coded walks in the area which are all worth walking. We can provide footpath maps, local IGN walking maps and guide books to help you get the best out of your walk.
CYCLING
There are many kilometers of cycling along the level towpaths along the well maintained River Blavet and the Nantes-Brest canal.
For the more energetic ride, try exploring the local country lanes and cycle routes- it’s a great way to discover the area. Cycling is very popular in Brittany; the roads are uncrowded and well maintained and there are many off-road cycle routes.
French drivers are normally very courteous to cyclists, making cycling on the roads safe and pleasurable.
There are four bikes (two adult and two childrens) available which you are welcome to borrow (free of charge) plus there is a bike hire shop nearby.
The French Cycling Federation, and the French Cycle Touring Federation have given the Blavet Valley offically recognition and are actively promoting newly formed tracks and circuits. To date, there are 100 km of way-marked routes laid out in 9 trails.
CANOEING
The River Blavet is ideal for canoeing and kayaking. Canoes can be hired nearby at St Nicholas-des-Eaux which is about ten minutes drive away. There are other places to hire at Pontivy, Plumeliau, Pont Augen or Lochrist where the centre has a mini rapids section and slalom course. The centres cater for beginners and experienced canoeists alike. It is also possible to hire a qualified instructor.
Sea kayaking is available at various places in the area. One or two-person kayaks can be rented by the hour, half day or day. This is a great way to explore the rivers, inlets and estuaries of the Morbihan, as well as to see more of the fabulous coastline. The kayaks are suitable for all ages, they are extremely comfortable with back rests and are very stable.
Boating on the River Blavet – pedaloes are available for hire at St Nicholas.
DAYS OUT
Boat cruises on the River Blavet start at St Nicholas-des-Eaux or Pont Augen. The cruises last about 1½ hours with running commentary.
Village de l'An Mil- this is a working reconstruction of a medieval village discovered in 1902 just 5 minutes away in Melrand. Open first week in March to end of October.
Poul Fetan about 15 minutes away near Quistinic.This is a working museum with a traditional baker, potter and farm. The thatched buildings from the 14th to 16th Centuaries have been lovingly restored. The “villagers” are dressed in traditional costumes and you can watch them dying and spinning wool, butter-making, washing linen in the river Blavet and carrying out other tasks of yesteryear. You can also try the delicious breads and cakes cooked in the traditional community bread oven. There's a nice review here: travel.ciao.co.uk/Poul_Fetan_Quistinic__Review_5525163
Carnac. Around here you will find thousands of prehistoric megalithic stones cut from local granite and set in the ground over six thousand years ago. This is real Asterix country! www.megalithia.com/brittany/carnac/
Camors Forest Adventure Park. Where you can go on well planned forest tree-top walks and other forest activities all within the beautiful and extensive forest of Camors. This is only suitable for active people but have a look at the website: www.camors-adventure-forest.com/
Baud - The Cartopole is a museum housing a fascinating collection of old Breton Postcards - an intersting place to while away an hour or two. www.cartolis.org/
Malansac. Brittany’s prehistorical park a nice place for a picnic with the kids. There are 25 hectares of landscaped gardens containing five lakes.Open between April and October 9 € adults, 5 € children.There are days during school holidays where they put on exhibitions and events that are aimed at youngsters to get involved in.www.prehistoire.com/
Hennebont- the location of the National Horse Stud.
Aquarium, Vannes
Open every day, all of the year:
June, July, August - 9h - 20h
April, May, Sept & school holidays - 9h-12h30/13h30-19h
Oct, March - 10h - 12h30/13h30-18h30
Adults ( + over 12’s) : 9,50 €
Children (from 4 to 11) : 6,50 €
Free for under 4’s
http://www.aquarium-du-golfe.com/
Butterfly Garden, Vannes
Adults ( + over 12’s) : 8 €
Children (from 4 to 11) : 6 €
Free for under 4’s
http://www.jardinauxpapillons.com/
Open every day between 1st April - 30th September
July - Aug - 10h - 18h
April, May, June, Sept - 10.00/12.30 - 13.30/18.00
Joint Entry for the Aquarium and Butterfly Park
Adults : 14 €
Children : 10 €
Insectarium, Lizio
Open from 1st April - 30th September
10h - 12.30/13.30 - 18.00 http://www.insectariumdelizio.com/
Pont Scorff Zoo
http://www.zoo-pont-scorff.com/
The Zoo is open all year round.
April, May, September: 9.30 to 18.00.
June, July, August: 9.00 to 19.00.
Other months : 9.30 to 17.00.