Rennes and Nantes
Wanderlust magazine has a neat little feature called Double Bill, where they cover two different destinations as a suggestion for a two-centre trip. And for those heading to west France, you can’t beat both Rennes and Nantes. Set in the north-west of France, the cities of Rennes and Nantes are fiercely proud of their Breton […]
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 […]
Weekender in Northern Finistere
For Britain, it’s Land’s End. In Spain, it’s Finisterra. And where France swirls its Breton arm into the wild Atlantic, it’s Finistère. The end of the earth. On parts of this most north-western coast of France the waves can be ferocious, but so too can this coastline be temperate, gentle and exotic thanks to the […]
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 […]
Reasons to love Roscoff
When we Brits think of ferry ports, we tend to imagine Dover, Portsmouth or Plymouth. While each have their merits, they’re not exactly the kinds of places you would spend a holiday. Over the Channel, however, it’s a different case. Many of the ferry ports, such as Saint Malo, Le Havre and Dieppe are lovely […]
Cycling and island-hopping in Brittany’s inland sea
The Times, May 12, 2018. No need to go far for an island-hopping holiday, the islands in the Gulf of Morbihan in southern Brittany each have a character of their own. This is one of the best trips we’ve done in Brittany – such a fascinating place. Read the feature here
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 […]
The best French hotels for foodies
Being a bit of a foodie, I already knew some of the best hotels in France for a gourmet experience but during the course of researching and writing Lonely Planet’s France From the Source I stayed in some excellent hotels that offer a superb gastronomic experience for a variety of budgets. It was great, therefore, to pull […]
French city breaks by train
Two new high-speed train lines opening in July 2017 will mean several cities in the west of France will be much easier to get to. This piece for The Times revealed the best ways to enjoy each place: Rennes Saint Malo Poitiers Toulouse Bordeaux Nantes Angouleme Read it here.
City breaks for kids: Nantes
Without doubt, Nantes is the best city break for families, so I was delighted to write an entry in The Guardian’s ‘City breaks with kids’ series about all the best ways to enjoy it. And even if you don’t have children, it makes a great weekend or short break destination. Read the feature here.