One of the best things to do in Morlaix

I have already commented briefly on the local all day trip from Morlaix called “A fer et a flots”  Look at a my previous blogs dated 18 April and 1 May 2011.  The trip has been documented by the French TV channel TF1 and is well worth looking at.  If you cannot speak any French, please do not worry as I am sure you will get the gist of the whole thing, the pictures and the happy faces tell the story very well.  Really it is a fabulous day out ~ to be recommended ~ It is rated with the Taylor’s **** stars!

Chateau de Taureau

Click here to see the video

Roscoff

To recap on the day’s adventure:

You will leave Morlaix either by boat or by train, dependant upon the time and state of the tides.

You will go to Roscoff, a charming little town and well worth the visit on its own.  Do not think this is just a ferry port and ignore it.

You will go to the Isle de Batz, a great place to walk around, to hire bicycles, to enjoy the eating places or just go to the beach.

You will pass the island bird sanctuaries, the super little light house called Isle Louet and the Chateau du Taureau.  The chateau is a formidable fortress built especially to keep the English out !  Again this is a great visit in its own right. It has been renovated to a high standard.

You will come home after a very interesting, entertaining and super family day out, and maybe even a little tired.

The must haves are ~ warm clothes to wear on the boat (just in case) and sun tan cream.

Isle de Batz

Food is not included on the trip so be prepared with your own picnic or choose somewhere to eat on the Isle de Batz.

Click here for more info and to book.

Tour de Bretagne ~ Classic Car Rally June 2011

A small fleet of about 30 classic cars from England began their Tour de Bretagne this morning Friday 24 June from the centre of  St Pol de Leon in Finistere.  The cars were all post second world war and varied in condition and type.  I noted two early short wheel base Land Rovers, some MGA 1600s, a couple of Austin Healey 3000s, a Nissan Pau, a Volvo P1800, a more modern Aston Martin, A very unusual Royale Sabre (one of only 78 built). a Triumph Spitfire, and a lovely TR3.  They were accompanied by a Brit Assist breakdown van ~ I hope that it is not needed.

Our guests with their immaculate TR3

A Royale Sabre

The event will be a fantastic way of taking your classic car on a little tour with like minded people and with some interesting cars .  I was curious to see the tulip map routing used by the entrants.  I guess that this is a standard method of rapid map reading on a rally of this sort.  I have to say that I am a bit old fashioned and like a good old map!  What happens when you get lost?  Where do you stay on these little jaunts?

The tour will take in some lovely parts of Brittany and end up each day in Treguier, itself a great place to go.  I must get switched onto events like this.  It would be fun to join in with my Citroen 2CV.  See more photos

MG A 1600 & Triumph Spitfire

Bienvenue dans mon Jardin

Magnolia

Reportage par Le Telegramme ~ Morlaix 

Jardins. Les trésors du patrimoine naturel

6 juin 2011

Du côté du manoir de Coat Amour, les curieux venus arpenter les cinq hectares du parc ont pu découvrir un espace magnifique jalonné de bouleaux, de pins, de hêtres. Ils ont été accueillis par le charmant couple britannique, propriétaire du domaine depuis 2004, Jenny et Stafford Taylor. Avec un délicieux accent «so british», Jenny nous confie qu’elle est «très heureuse de recevoir les Morlaisiens» dans ses jardins. Stafford estime qu’il y a eu «près de 200 personnes à être passées depuis ce matin». Très fiers de leur parc qu’ils entretiennent eux-mêmes, ils reconnaissent que les conditions climatiques exceptionnelles ont assuré une floraison très précoce, magnifiant ainsi les lieux pour le plus grand plaisir des visiteurs.

Photos

Le Telegramme Tresco Trophy ~ part 1

Queuing to go in the lock in Morlaix

Jazz Band

The second lock is full

The Telegramme Tresco Trophy, organised by the Yacht Club de Morlaix,is now en route for Gurnesey.  At about 16:30 this afternoon 1May 113 boats queued up for the lock in Morlaix harbour.  About five locks worth of boats later they were all on route for the open sea and the start of the race.  They were seen off by hundreds of well wishers and a fantastic Jazz band.  For more photos click here.

The safety boat

They are off

The first yachts started their race at about 18:30.  The bigger class of boats were still coming down the river as I returned home to make sure my guests were still content.

www.gites-morlaix.com

Two More Walks and places of interest

PLOUMANACH

I love to go to Ploumanac’h.  The little port is beautiful and for a sailor, the entrance into the harbour looks awesome.  If you decide to go and have a look for your yourselves, I suggest trying to park in the port area, as there are plenty of spaces to park.  Then follow the road (anti-clockwise round the port) and then right up the foot path near the Bureau du Port. You will then have a super little walk around the headland and back into the centre of Ploumanac’h.  There is a lovely little statue near the top of the beach.  It will attract you with its round shape … As you approach, you notice there is a small monument: the oratory of Saint-Guirec. This curious edifice, built on a pile of rocks and submerged by the waves at high tide, originated in the 12th century.

Chateau Coastaeres a Ploumanach

The statue of Saint Guirec was very popular with sailors’ wives who came to pray for the return of their husbands, and he was admired as much by the girls.
A caption read,  that if they were able to stick a needle in the nose of the saint who sat there, they would be married within the year.  The original wooden statue became so damaged that the parish eventually replaced this with a copy statue made of granite.

Admire the chateau on the island off the beach.  Enjoy a fantastic ‘fruit de mer’ in the cafe overlooking the beach.  Walk a little further around the footpath (Sentier des Douarniers) towards Perros Guirec and have a close look at the little lighthouse and the fantastic lifeboat station in the cove around the corner.  If you are exhausted, there is a shortcut back to your car using the roads via the centre of the village.

Les Sept Iles, or the seven islands, are one of the most important bird sancturies in Brittany. These islands lie just off the coast and you will see them on this walk.  Half – day boat trips leave from Perros Guirec and Ploumanac’h. The islands are home to many species including puffins and petrels. www.armor-decouverte.fr

See more photos here

ISLE DE BATZ

This little island is just offshore from the town of Roscoff.  If you came to Brittany via Roscoff ferry terminal you will have passed it by on the way in.  From the centre of the town take a water taxi from the port to the island. It is a 10 ~ 15 minute trip.  On the island you will find bicycles for hire, or in less than a full day you can walk around the island and soak up the atmosphere of the sea and land together.  It is a super place to go with some nice restaurants and you can climb up the lighthouse tower and enjoy the view.

Next weekend, 29 May 2011,  is the local festival of the pommes de terres (potatoes).  These are early spuds and they are small but delicious.  Look at these websites:-

Porz Kernok ~ Isle de Batz

www.iledebatz.net

http://www.aferaflots.org/

Dimanche 29 mai, a fer a flots  sera sur l’île de Batz pour la fête de la pomme de terre. Apéro paysan, expositions, ventes de légumes.. Il reste des places.  On Sunday 29 May a Feraflot trip will be going to the festival of the first crop of potatoes.  There will be an exhibition and sale of vegetables.

There are still some places remaining on this trip ~ hurry now!

See more photos here

Our web site ~ www.gites-morlaix.com

Mon Jardin ~ Everything in the garden is ROSY!

Des Roses

The weather that most of us are enjoying in northern Europe has brought everything in the garden forward by about a month.  All our roses are out, including all of the lovely old French perfumed roses that we cut for the house.  These are even better this year as we managed to spray them sufficiently often at the beginning of the year with “repulsif” that deters the visiting chevreuil from eating the buds and soft shoots.

Perhaps the only, and rather minor, complaint about the weather, that I have, is that everything seemed to flower at once earlier on this year.  We had snowdrops, primroses, daffs, wood anenomes, wild orchids, azalias, magnolias and the rhodos all at the same time. It was a shame that we did not have more clients to enjoy the spectacle.

Tulipier fleures

Normally our four huge tulip trees flower on about 3 June (Precisely!). They are beginning to flower now and will be an absolute sight in a few days time.  They are huge trees and covered in what seems like thousands of beautiful creamy yellow and orange tulips.  Our red squirrels used to love them and spent hours chattering away in the tree tops and throwing the debris all over the drive.  Alas the cold winter seems to have killed the squirrels off, or perhaps they chose to move on to pastures new, we shall never know.

Poires

Figues

We are taking part again this year in the  garden open scheme “Bienvenue dans mon Jardin”on the 5 June, organised by les Jardiniers de France.  I rather fear that all the flowering trees and shrubs normally out at that time will be over.  Our garden does tend to have a biase towards spring and autumn. We have lots of flowers in the spring and a wonderful array of autumn colours in September and October.  Still the garden should be varying shades of green and the grass should be cut.

Despite the dry weather the weeds continue to grow and the brambles continue to flourish despite all our hard work.  Our large garden mower refused to start yesterday and I thought that I could manage for now with a smaller one.  I had hoped to wait for another day to repair it.  Then this afternoon I ran over a projecting tree root with the smaller lawn mower and bent something underneath, turning the mower into a rather effective plough ~ aargh!.  Perhaps everything in the garden is not quite so rosy as I first thought!

Cassis

Jenny picked a huge bowl of strawberries this afternoon, so roll on breakfast, they are yummy with cereals.  Our guests should enjoy them too.  The figs are bigger than I can ever remember at this time of year, and the pears and apples look promising too.  We have planted two female and one male kiwi plants this year and look forward to seeing how these will flourish at Coat Amour.  They take up quite a bit of space, but the experiment should prove worthwhile.  Our friend Barry and Heather Cummings have Kiwis in their garden and gave us the plants as a Christmas present ~ so thanks to both.

Potager

Rhodos

We have not had much rain really for a few weeks now.  The veg patch is starting to cry out for water.  The plants that were put in several weeks ago are pretty well established.  I fear more for the recently planted leeks, cucumbers, and lettuce.  There is supposed to be a bit of a water shortage and watering the garden is soon to be prohibited.  We do have an underground cistern that holds about 125 cu metres of water, that is collected off the roof of the manor house. I can see that I shall have to invest in a pump and run hoses all over the garden.

Épreuves de voile à Morlaix – Sailing Events in Morlaix

Stripping varnish

Jenny and I moved to Morlaix for many reasons, the house was beautiful, the location ideal for a B&B and Gite business and a marina in which to moor our boat “Silent Flight”, and to go sailing.The business has occupied more time than originally envisaged, and sailing has been seriously curtailed.  Jenny did tell me so!!!  Every year I prepare the boat for the season and watch as boats are taken out of the water and put back in all ready to go sailing.

THE TELEGRAMME TRESCO TROPHY    ~  1 – 5 Juin 2011
L’atmosphère festive qui entoure le TELEGRAMME TRESCO TROPHEE commencera le week-end du 28 mai  avec l’arrivée de très nombreux voiliers qui viennent participer à la course et qui vont rejoindre tous ceux qui sont déjà dans le port.

Le depart ~ Chateau de Taurau

Dès 16 heures, le mercredi 1er juin, les concurrents rejoindront les écluses, remonteront la magnifique rivière de Morlaix  pour se présenter  sur  la ligne de départ, à proximité du Château du Taureau. N’hésitez pas à venir encourager les équipages qui vont prendre le départ d’une longue navigation de nuit pour rallier Guernesey. Les différents sas seront animés par une fanfare de Carantec qui sera là également au retour.

Le depart

St Peter Port

Vous pouvez également suivre la remontée de la rivière sur le parking du château de Lannuguy (le château blanc), le long de la corniche jusqu’à Locquénolé  et évidemment à Carantec à la Pointe de Pen al Lann.
Mais vous pouvez également aller à la Pointe de Barnenez en passant par Plouézoc,h. Vous aurez un merveilleux point de vue sur la flotte qui s’élance vers le large.
La flottille du TELEGRAMME TRESCO TROPHEE représente environ 650 équipiers qui vont donc naviguer de nuit pour atteindre Guernesey, y séjourner 48 heures, pour les plus rapides, et revenir, le samedi matin vers PERROS-GUIREC et reprendre la mer le dimanche 5 juin pour rallier Morlaix et remonter jusqu’au port. Le dimanche soir la fête se termine à Langolvas par un buffet au cours duquel les résultats sont proclamés et les récompenses attribuées.

Le dimanche 5 juin les écluses s’ouvriront dès 19 heures.

THE TELEGRAMME TRESCO TROPHY    ~  1 – 5 June 2100

The carnival festival that surrounds the Telegramme Tresco Trophy commences on the weekend of 28 May with the arrival of many yachts, to join those that have their home in the port of Morlaix.

At about 16 :00 on Wednesday 1 June the competing yachts will squeeze into the lock before running down the magnifcent estuary to the start line close to the Château de Taureau.  Do not hesitate to come and cheer the boats and crew off on their first long trip to Guernesey, a distance of about 73 miles.  There are a number of really good viewing places from which to do this, both at the start and on their return on Sunday 5 June.

Dawn

You can try the parking space opposite the château de Lannuguy ( white château ), or along the corniche at Locquenole, in Carantec at the Pointe de Pen al Lann, or even at the Point de Barnenez near to Plouezoch (opposite side of the estuary).

There will be approximately 650 members of crew participating in the race.  The course will take them direct to Guernsey, followed by a 48 hours rest and then a race to Perros-Guirec, and the following day a race back to Morlaix.  The lock at Morlaix will open at about 19 :00 on Sunday 5 June.  The event will be rounded off by a party, with buffet and a prizegiving.

“Entre Terre et Mer”~ 28 – 31 Juillet 2011 

http://www.asvaurien.fr/documentsasvaurien/pdf_sportingevents/BaieMorlaix2011-Fichebateaux-1.pdf

Ballades nautiques, courses, animations autour du patrimoine culturel et naturel… Le Trégor et le Léon prendront des airs de fête du 28 au 31 juillet prochains avec le nouveau festival “Entre Terre et Mer”.

Mettre en avant une complémentarité historique entre marins et terriens. Renouer avec les traditions ancestrales qui ont permis aux hommes et aux femmes de la baie de Morlaix d’y vivre et d’y travailler. S’appuyer sur le ballet entraînant de voiliers cabotant de ports en mouillages pour redécouvrir les trésors cachés d’une région rare. C’est ce que propose “Entre Terre et Mer”, nouvel événement maritime lancé sous l’impulsion du Télégramme et de l’Association Terre et Mer en Baie de Morlaix.

Cette manifestation, qui se déroulera du 28 au 31 juillet 2011, est née de la volonté de mettre en lumière toute la diversité du patrimoine culturel et naturel de la Baie de Morlaix.

De Roscoff au Diben, en passant par Saint-Pol de Léon, Carantec, Térénez, Le Dourduff et Morlaix, de nombreuses animations ludiques et pédagogiques seront proposées au public à terre et en mer. Elles permettront de découvrir l’éventail des activités humaines de ce territoire, de l’agriculture à l’ostréiculture, en passant par les chantiers navals, le ramassage du goémon, …

Les bateaux de la Baie au cœur de la fête

Répartis en différentes flottilles, les bateaux participeront également à l’événement. Ils évolueront d’escale en escale pendant ces 4 jours et navigueront en baie, à la journée, à l’occasion de courses, de randonnées ou de balades nautiques, sur des parcours différents.

Si les grands voiliers, les bateaux de travail, de la belle plaisance ou les voile-avirons seront à l’honneur, un soin tout particulier sera apporté à la mise en avant des bateaux originaires de la Baie de Morlaix : cotres de Carantec, Cormorans, goémoniers…

“Entre Terre et Mer”.  Between Land and Sea.

This a new event proposed for the period between 28 ~ 31 July 2011.  The proposal is to combine in one festival a mix of maritime and land based events representing the history of sail , boat building, fishing, collection and farming of Oysters, moules, seaweed, and the land based based farming traditions of the areas both sides of the Bay of Morlaix, namely Le Trégor et le Léon.  If the superb events, of a similar nature, held at Douarnenez and in the Gulf de Morbihan are anything to go by this should prove to be something really spectacular.  There will be sailing events for many different types and size of older style of boat.  At different times these boats will be in Roscoff, St Pol de Leon, Carantec, Morlaix, Le Dorduff, Terenez and Le Diben.  I can’t wait!  I am very tempted to enter Silent Flight.

Small Walks and Things to do and see

New knee bits

You know, I find that getting on a bit in years does make life a bit difficult sometimes. It is especially so when you still think like a 21 year old ~ well nearly !!  Well I have had to have a new knee, Jenny has had her toes done and so for us walking long distances is just not on.  So I thought that those readers with sympathetic traits might like some ideas for a gentle day out.

A gentle walk near Carentec

We can lend you some detailed maps to help you with your enjoyment.

Isle de Louet ~ lighthouse

It takes about 15 minutes to drive to Carentec along the beautiful coast road via Loquenole.  On approaching the centre of Carantec turn right at the second round about towards the Point de Penlan.  You will drive through a lovely suburban part of Carantec, straight across a mini roundabout until you reach the tennis club on the left.  Park just beyond this on the right and retrace your steps until you are opposite the tennis club.  Here you will find a rather overgrown Arboretum.  Entrance is free and you can walk down through the arboretum to the coast.  You will arrive at the bottom of the hill on a road/coastal path.  Here there is an Oyster farm shop selling delicious oysters and other crustaceans.  If that is not for you, walk east along the footpath (turn left at the base of the hill).  After some while you will pass the end of the promontary with amazing views across the Baie de Morlaix toward the Château du Taureau and the little lighthouse on the Isle de Louet.  In the distance, across the bay, is Terenez and Le Diben, whilst on the horizon you can just see Treburden.  If this is enough walking for you, follow the footpath directly up the hill to your car.  If not continue on the coastal path.  At the next headland it is again possible to return directly to your car.  Continue on the coastal path and you will find yourselves on the lovely main beach at Carantec and a selection of beach side cafes where you can  quench your thirst and or hunger.

Baie de Morlaix ~ from Roscoff

Château du Taureau

I think that this is a must see if you are going to stay at Coat Amour for any time.  In the medaeval times the English and French sailors of a piratical disposition spent some of their time raiding each other’s ports.  The Château du Taureau was built in XVI century to keep the English out of Morlaix.  It is a very special place, well restored, and a superb example of a defensive castle.  You should go and see it,  children and adults alike will enjoy the experience.  Parts of the château are subtly annotated  in English as well as French and you will understand the history of the place.  Boat trips go to the château from  Carentec, Roscoff and Plougasnou (Port du Deben).   See www.chateaudutaureau.com for further info.

Chateau du Taureau

Loquirec

This is a super seaside town with a little port, and excellent sandy safe beach and some good cafes/restaurants.  In fact something for most relaxed holiday makers.  It is only twenty minutes by car from Coat Amour.  For a good post lunch walk we suggest leaving the port and following the road past the church and the post office out toward the point.  The views towards St Michel en Greve and Treburden are marvellous and the going easy.  This little walk takes you anti clockwise around the coast and brings you back to the large north facing beach on the far side of the town.  It is a short walk back to the port via the church.

A few wonderful ideas for your Holiday

Ahead of the holiday season I thought that I would set out some great ideas for readers to consider ahead of their holiday here at Coat Amour.  They are in no particular order and just a few of  the possibilities.  Perhaps in another blog I shall give you some other ideas!

Le Viaduc ~ Morlaix

I hope that you are stimulated by these and that they give you something extra to look forward to.

Fer et Flot pres du Le Dorduff

Fer et Flot ~ http://www.aferaflots.org/ ~  This is a great experience for the whole family.  The format changes a little dependent upon the tides and time of year.  Essentially the programme contains a guided tour around the mediaeval town of Morlaix, a train ride to Roscoff, maybe a boat ride to the Isle de Batz, and finally a return boat trip to Morlaix.  The journey home threads through the islands in the middle of the Baie de Morlaix and passes the Chateau de Taureau.  You need to allow the whole day and take warm/waterproof clothing for the boat trip home. These trips can be booked by telephone or at the Tourist Board Information centre.

Lighthouse ~ Pointe de Penlan ~ Baie de Morlaix

La Maison a Pondalez ~ This XV century half-timbered house situated in the Grande Rue contains a feature unique to Morlaix.  The rooms at the front and back of the house are situated either side of a vast central atrium and connected by bridges at each floor level.  There is an impressive granite chimney place, a spiral staircase with wooden passageways all built around the central core. Over the 4 levels of the house there are displays of works of art and some that illustrate  daily household life in Morlaix, together with the architecture and history of the town.

Cairn de Barnenez~   Explore one of the largest Megalithic mausoleum’s in Europe, lying at the top of a steeply sloping peninsula just north of Morlaix near Plouezoch.  There is a good visitor centre and well worth the effort of going.  Cairn de Barnenez,  29252 Plouezoc’h  T 33 / (0)2 98 67 24 73  F 33 / (0)2 98 79 51 58       Latitude : 48.6676   Longitude : -3.8584

Chateau de Rosanbo ~ http://www.rosanbo.net/rosanbo%20castle/pages/presentation2.htm

A marvelous chateau, not far from Coat Amour, that has been gradually developed and enlarged over six centuries or so.  The tour around the house is well done, informative and the grounds superb.

Les Enclos Paroissiaux ~ http://www.infobretagne.com/enclos-paroissiaux.htm

These impressive local churches are a must see, not all of them at the same I hasten to add, but choose any number (say 3-5 of them) and you cannot help but be amazed by the devotion to God and the wealth and skills invested in them.

Chateau Coastaeres a Ploumanach

Sentier des Douaniers at Ploumanach  ~ This is one of my favorite walks.  The little harbour at Ploumanach, the pink rocks and cedar trees, the seemingly impossible entry to the harbour from the sea, and the delightful houses are a joy.  I especially like to leave the car in the car park overlooking the harbour and walk around the coast towards Perros Guirec. The scenery is superb, the little lighthouse very picturesque, with a very small cove near the lifeboat station ~ just imagine launching the lifeboat in rough weather!  There is also a great little restaurant on the beach overlooking the Chateau de Costaerers in the centre of the village of Ploumanach.

Huelgoat ~ Le Chaos Take a wonderful walk through the woods at Huelgoat, and begin by passing beneath, over and under the huge granite rocks that form the Chaos.  http://www.huelgoat.net/sites_chaos.html  This is the unofficial site for Huelgoat, but is also in English, simpler and easier to navigate.

Local fishing boat

Pink Granite coast near Ploumanach