Brittany’s Wild West
The rumble of the Atlantic ocean as it beats against the rocks on the Ile d’Ouessant is deafening, even on a clear, bright day, and it’s one of the most intoxicating places I’ve ever been in France. The Pointe de Pern is the island’s (and so France’s) westernmost spot and I covered it in a […]
My favourite finds in 2019
What were France travel expert Carolyn Boyd’s favourite finds in 2019 – ranked 1 to 10! From beaches to hotels to food trails, add them to your list for 2020.
Local’s guide to Biarritz
This story for National Geographic Traveller included a foodie guide to the town which you can read here: Local’s Guide to Biarritz Besides the brilliant offerings for food-lovers, though, there are myriad ways to enjoy the sea, whether you want to take a dip in it or not. Besides the seaside If the town’s surf scene […]
A weekend in Marseille
What to see and do in Marseille, France. Explore its different neighbourhoods, museums, shops and restaurants
Brittany’s beautiful Emerald Coast
Desert Island Discs, Robinson Crusoe, Castaway, they all have a lot to answer for when it comes to finding the perfect beach; the ideal is that there should be nobody there, and you can stroll along on the soft white/yellow sand enjoying the turquoise sea all by yourself. There are plenty such beaches in France, […]
The Cotentin’s secret beaches
Where to find the best beaches in Normandy, the secret beaches, the hidden beaches, the best beaches for families, hikers and picnics
Best places to stay in Brittany
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 […]
A weekend in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Many of the locals I met in the French Basque country said you were either a lover of Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and while I can see what they mean (the former is loved by chic fashionistas, surfers and spa-goers, the latter is certainly more ‘Basque’ in character) I really love both – perhaps it’s because […]
Road trip from Collioure
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s 2017 Total Guide to France, I wrote several pieces, among them this road trip along the Vermilion Coast from Collioure to Banyuls-sur-Mer and back. Collioure road trip A jazz band is blocking the street in Collioure. The four hipster dudes with pork pie hats strum, bang and bop to the […]
Total Guide: Seaside France
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s August 2017 issue, I wrote more than 4000 words about Seaside France in a variety of different formats. This included: Two longer pieces on the Roussillon coast and Roscoff (including the Ile de Batz), Top tens on best seaside hotels, secret coastal towns, sun-drenched beaches, lazy seaside meals, ways to […]