If you clicked onto this post from the map, you might have noticed there are a lot of stories about Brittany… I’m rather in love with it at the moment. And if you’re going, you’ll need somewhere lovely to stay. There are 20 in the article – click here to read it – to cover all budgets and areas, but these are my favourites:
Hôtel Brittany, Roscoff
A luxurious first port of call for anyone rolling off the ferry in the enchanting town of Roscoff, the beautiful Hôtel Brittany is set on the waterfront in a manor house that was moved stone by stone by the hotel owners’ ancestors from farther along the coast. Among the 22 comfortable rooms are the newer sea-view suites, which overlook the pebbly cove and the Sainte-Barbe chapel. The Michelin-starred restaurant also has superb views of the town, the Île de Batz and other islets in the bay. There’s an indoor pool and spa to boot, making this hotel much more than a stopover.
Details Room-only doubles cost from €155 (£135; 00 33 298 69 70 78, hotel-brittany.com)
Hôtel Le Manoir Saint Michel, Emerald Coast
On the peaceful Cap Fréhel peninsula, this hotel makes a great base for exploring the Emerald Coast, with its golden beaches, coastal walks and clifftop medieval fortress. The 400-year-old manor has 22 rooms with neutral tones and natural stone walls; larger cottages have a kitchenette. Sunloungers are set out on the lawns overlooking the pond and Sables d’Or Les Pins beach, with jaw-dropping views.
Details Room-only doubles cost from €85 a night (00 33 296 41 48 87, sawdays.co.uk)
Le Lodge Kerisper, Trinité-sur-Mer
Just a short walk from the harbour in Trinité-sur-Mer, this cosy boutique hotel is used by those exploring the south coast of Morbihan. That said, welcoming communal areas give you a reason to linger: sip an aperitif at the cocktail bar, eat breakfast in the sun-drenched conservatory, or sit in a deckchair in the small enclosed garden before taking a dip in the pool. Room decor is light, neutral, shabby chic with white wooden wall panels and upcycled furniture.
Details Room-only doubles cost from €89 (00 33 297 52 88 56, lodgekerisper.com)
Hostellerie Pointe Saint Mathieu, Finistère
Set on the coast, opposite a ruined abbey and under the gaze of the Pointe-Saint Mathieu lighthouse, which guides ships safely past the treacherous rocks on this stretch of Finistère’s far west, the Hostellerie Pointe Saint Mathieu has a yachty vibe, with its décor themed around sailing. There is a bar, and lively bistrot restaurant, popular with locals, and a small indoor pool and spa.Details Room-only doubles from €95 (00 33 2 98 89 00 19, pointe-saint-mathieu.com). Ferry to Roscoff or fly to Brest.
Miramar La Cigale, Port Crouesty
On the Arzon peninsula, Port Crouesty is a popular spot for yachties and for French families and visitors coming to enjoy beach coves and the islands in the gulf. The Miramar La Cigale is a modern hotel with art deco-inspired architecture that looks like a cruise liner jutting out into its own lake and 137 rooms and suites, each with a private terrace. Inside there is a large spa (for which the French come for week-long stays for thalassotherapy treatments), an indoor pool, two restaurants, a bar and breakfast room. It’s also a short stroll to the beach.
Details Room-only doubles cost from €165 (00 33 297 53 49 13,miramar-lacigale.com).
Hotel Chateau de Sable, Porspoder
Typical that I find an absolutely brilliant hotel *after* this article was published – so I’m glad to give it the thumbs up here. The rooms and the restaurant of this superb eco-friendly hotel look out over the rocky outcrops close to the coast. The rooms are decorated in neutral tones, natural wood floors and fresh linen, and the restaurant served us (kids included) one of the best meals I’ve ever had, with local seafood and fish, all cleverly combined with other enticing flavours. After dark, we stared out into the darkness where the lighthouses from the Ile d’Ouessant and the Iroise strait gave a light-show under the milky way.
Details Room-only doubles cost from €150 (/www.lechateaudesablehotel.fr)