The Area Around Us
All year round, bustling market towns, village goings-on and the glorious countryside are here for you to explore on foot, by bike, on horseback - there is a good stables nearby - or by “motorised transport” (we used to say “by car” until we were gently admonished by a guest who preferred two wheels to four).

Other guests have commented on just how much there is to see and do. And being just about slap-bang in the centre of Brittany, (click map to enlarge) we are close to a lot of it and within two hours of the rest.

Cléguérec church.

Cléguérec’s pretty central square is home to a large and unusual church, an impressive War Memorial (designed by the brother of someone famous) and one of only sixteen Statues of Liberty in France. Fortunately, it is a little smaller than the one across the Atlantic!

It also has a sports centre offering various amenities including tennis courts – which are free. Crazy golf and a boulodrome are also available. During high season, a Tourist Information Office is open.

Cléguérec central square.

Grande Randonnée marker post.

Within the Forêt de Quénécan lies the large Lac de Guerlédan. About 15 minutes drive from us, this man-made lake has three small sandy beaches which provide safe bathing.

Many previous guests with younger children have preferred the lake to the coast – there are no tides or currents in the lake.

Boats, canoes and pedaloes can be hired and boat trips are available. Being in France, these include a meal. Unsurprisingly, many watersports take place on the lake and include water-skiing and sailing. At one end is a dam, or “barrage”.

This has had a mixed reaction from our guests. OK, it’s not exactly the Aswan, but EDF are proud of it! (EDF – the French electricity board). Closer than the lake is the Nantes-Brest Canal. About 4 kilometres to its nearest point by road, it has proved popular with previous guests. Many, after a late breakfast, have cycled gently down the towpath to Pontivy. Then, after a swim in the open-air pool and a leisurely lunch in one of the many restaurants, they have had a wander around the town exploring the shops or the Chateau. The bike ride back to Kermavio has been followed by a barbecue to round off a wonderful day.

Nantes-Brest canal.

The canal was built by Napoleon, who also rebuilt much of Pontivy – although probably not personally! Constructed on a grid pattern, Pontivy was intended to be the major town in Brittany and was, for a time, known as Napoleonville.

It was originally founded by St. Ivy. The literal translation of Pontivy is Ivybridge – as in the town near Plymouth. St. Ivy was English. It’s tempting to make connections.

Towns further afield are medieval Josselin with its Saturday market and magnificent chateau (pictured), Plouay, where the world cycle championships were held; Vannes with its magnificent walled Old Town; ancient Quimper and its “after lunch” church (it bends); and the historic harbour at Auray. Rural places to visit include Bon Repos (pictured), les Forges-des-Salles – once a steel producing village; Poul Fétan – a “working” 18th century village (our photo shows a cottage interior) and the Forêt de Brocéliande which was the setting for Brittany’s part in the Arthurian Legends.

Bon Repos.

Poul Fétan.

Near Quimper.

Wherever you are in Brittany, you are not far from water. What with the Canal, various rivers and streams plus loads of lakes and ponds, Brittany is littered with fishing opportunities. The nearest one to us is halfway between Kermavio and Cléguérec. It has an abundance of waterfowl, fitness stations around the perimeter path and a children’s playground at one end. Ideal for the non-fishers whilst the fisher himself is slaving over a hot rod.

There is a huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ shop in Pontivy that sells all the paraphernalia which fishermen always seem to lose, break or forget. Permits for wider afield can also be bought here, although local permits are available at the Mairie in Cléguérec.

For golfers, there are over a dozen good 18-hole courses within an hour of us and a 9-hole course within half an hour. Séné, near Vannes, has a waterfowl reserve with a host of waders, gulls and ducks. Birds without webbed feet, such as stonechats, kestrels and buzzards can be seen over the fields and lanes around Kermavio as can other forms of the abundant wildlife such as rabbits, hares, foxes, martens, stoats and badgers. For those who prefer wildlife to come to them, then thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches, robins, wrens and many others will entertain you (loudly) as you relax in our award-winning gardens.

Should you start to feel a little guilty about your lack of activity, then a visit to our gym may salve your conscience!

Our gardens looking up from outside The Shippern,