Glamping in Brittany

Glamping or luxury camping covers a huge range of different accommodation types - from simple bell tents to cabins which are kitted out like cottages and even quirky options like treehouses that have to be seen to be believed. Brittany itself has a great selection with pre-erected tents at the canvas end of the scale. And it's not just bell tents either. There are yurts and safari tents too. Then there are cabins, roulottes (or shepherd’s huts) and gypsy caravans occupying the more solid end of the glamping scale. If you want an experience that’s as close to camping as glamping gets - then look for a simply furnished bell tent. The classic French safari tent is a step up as it offers more space and usually has separated bedrooms which can be handy for families. If you’re travelling in a cooler season and are worried about inclement weather you might like to try a solid-roofed glamping cabin of some sort - a cosy hideaway for if it rains. And if you’re a luxury lover who is not yet sure that camping is for you - choose carefully. The most glam of glamping options have hot tubs, made-up beds and all sorts of things you’d usually associate with a hotel - so you won’t have to live without. We predict you’ll be converted soon!

The enduring symbol of Brittany is the lighthouse - and it’s no surprise when you realise that Brittany has a coast of 1,700 miles with the highest concentration of lighthouses anywhere in the world. Some of the lighthouses are open as tourist attractions, but even those which are not are sites to behold in themselves and a good way to tour them is on bike or on foot. On Brittany’s Channel-facing coast the walled city of St Malo is a popular place with visitors and a wander around its cobbled streets is a nice way to spend a day. It’s not far from Mont St Michel, a UNESCO World-Heritage listed site in neighbouring Normandy which is well worth the short detour. This tidal island, linked to the mainland by a causeway, looks like something out of a fairy tale with the spires of a medieval abbey crowning the island’s narrow streets. The Breton town of Cancale, on the same wide bay, is known for its oysters so if you’re on a romantic glamping trip you might like to take a trip here to buy a dozen. Brittany’s Atlantic Coast offers both windswept beaches which are good for watersports and some more family-friendly sands which are perfect for swimming. If that sounds like your kind of coast check out the glamping sites near Southern Brittany’s Gulf of Morbihan.

The Armorique Regional Natural Park links the coast and countryside as it meets the sea between Brest and Cornouaille - and stretches inland to the Monts des Arrée. This protected natural park covers more than 450 square miles and offers visitors hundreds of miles of signposted trails and footpaths so it’s perfect for walking, running, horseriding and cycling. It's a combination of heather moorland, sand dunes and forests and is where you’ll find Roc’h Ruz. At 385 metres it’s Brittany’s highest peak - a hike but a manageable one for most people with panoramic views from the summit.

It’s impossible not to draw comparisons between the countryside of Brittany and it’s English twin on the other side of the Channel: Cornwall and the south west. Both were once forested and have myths and legends associated with the woodland. In Brittany, you can visit Paimpont to find out more about the area’s past. There are still 25 square miles of woodland and there are many sites associated with the legends of King Arthur - as well as Neolithic monuments and standing stones which are reminiscent of those found in England. And like Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, a lot of apples are grown in Brittany with cider one of the regional specialities. It’d be rude not to try one. For more ideas on things to do in the area visit the Tourisme Bretagne website.

Brittany is a fantastic destination for a no-fly holiday abroad. Ferries from Plymouth or Portsmouth can transport you straight to the region’s shores so you can start your holiday from the moment you arrive on French soil. You can pack up the car (or your backpack) at home and unpack it when you reach your destination - rather than having the awkward slog through the airports on either side. Catch the ferry in Portsmouth and you can disembark in the ancient walled city of St Malo. From Plymouth you arrive further west in Roscoff. Alternatively, for a shorter crossing and a longer drive, you could cross the Channel from Dover to Calais or Bolougne on the ferry or Channel Tunnel. If you prefer to fly, there are flights from various UK airports to Brest or Dinard in Brittany.

Catch the ferry to France and go glamping in Brittany with this expertly chosen collection of glamping sites, all picked by the authors of the best-selling Hipcamp France guidebook.