Golden beaches, roasted marshmallows and boys' own adventures at a Brittany campsite

By MARGARITA MADDEN

Beach bums: The boys loved exploring the long stretches of sand and little coves


As we beetled down the French motorways to Brittany I kept wondering why I hadn't done this before, so easy was the trip. It was August and during our drive from Cherbourg in Normandy to Nevez in southern Finistere, we never encountered any heavy traffic.

Best of all, we avoided the stress of airports. Our ferry from Portsmouth had been packed with families who had the same idea as us - a stress-free trip to a bucket-and-spade destination.

Along with my father-in-law, my husband and my sons Lucas and Theo, I was spending a week in a mobile home on the Brittany coast near Nevez.

As we drove into the Les Deux Fontaines campsite the first thing I noticed was that there were children of all ages everywhere, on bikes, playing tennis and table tennis, swimming or just having a good time. My five-year-old son Lucas was in heaven. He had also spotted the water slides and water chutes at the pools and was desperate to try them.

Our mobile home had two en suite bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, decking and a gas barbecue which we used every day. We also had a red toddler truck that the boys never tired of, with Lucas pulling young Theo endlessly up and down the path.

A family with a young daughter was staying next to us. The little girl became a friend for Lucas not least because of his sweet tooth - she toasted marshmallows in the evening. and Lucas soon had us all doing the same thing. He was in his element.

Our first morning was spent in the pools and on the chutes. We would never have heard the end of it if we had headed anywhere else. There were pools to suit all ages, including one that was covered.

The ideal pool for Theo, who is nearly two, had water up to his waist, a big clown and a slide.


Heads up: Lucas and Theo try to blend in


There are lots of outdoor activities for families to enjoy - just check the boards around the park. We signed up for archery. Lucas was given a trial to see if he could fire an arrow, and everyone ducked as he started pointing his loaded bow in every direction while chatting, completely unaware how dangerous it was.

When he finally let his arrow go, it sailed over his close target and into someone else's more distant target, but he eventually got the hang of it.


Easy does it: Margarita revels in a stress-free bucket-and-spade holiday


In the early evening most people seemed to be back from their day out. The boys played outside making friends with other children, while we got the barbecue going.

There are a any number of stunning b e a c h e s nearby, some long, some coved and all providing plenty of fine, golden sand and granite rock for climbing and rockpooling.

Just a ten-minute walk from our base was Raguenes beach. We approached it from a field that runs down to the long, sandy beach, and for a moment I could have sworn we were in Cornwall.

The nearby Rospico beach became a favourite. A sandy cove with a stream heading into the sea, it was fantastic for damming. Also at low tide the boys found steps carved into the rock.

Another popular one was Port Manech, backed by wooded slopes, with beach huts and a windsurf school.

For years I have been fascinated with dolmens and menhirs - ancient tombs and standing

stones - after being introduced to them as a child through Asterix.

Carnac, near the Morbihan Gulf, is the most important prehistoric site in Europe and was only an hour's drive away. I convinced the boys that leaving the park for the day would be well worth it.

On our way we stopped just outside Erdeven to see the Alignements de Kerzerho. You can walk freely around the menhirs. The size and quantity of them were impressive. Inevitably, we ended up playing hide-and-seek.

After a good lunch in Carnac we drove to the Alignements de Carnac, more than 2,800 menhirs dating back 6,000 years. The concentration of megaliths is phenomenal.


Browsing time: Margarita looks round the market at Concarneau
Everyone had seen plenty by then but I thought we cou


ldn't miss the biggest known menhir in Europe - the Grand Menhir Brise at Locmariaquer, a 20-minute drive from Carnac. Unfortunately this large monolith, which once stood nearly 650ft tall, is now in four pieces on the ground.

A short drive from the park is the fishing port of Concarneau. Friday was market day so we headed there early. I was also interested to see its fortified island, the Ville Close.

The men and boys went off to the Musee de la Peche on the island, while I lost myself in the market, checking out the fresh oysters, Breton cakes and salamis before meeting up again in the medieval walled town, eating crepes on the ramparts.

Though there was plenty more to see, we did not do much more sightseeing since we all wanted to spend our time on the beach. The children were never happier than when rockpooling, creating dams or making new friends.

Besides, Brittany is not somewhere to discover in one trip. I plan many happy returns.


Travel Facts
Keycamp (www.keycamp.co.uk, 0844 406 0319) offers seven nights for two adults and up to four children staying in Villanova mobile home at Les Deux Fontaines from £282, including a return Dover-Calais ferry crossing. Alternative ferry crossings or fly-drive packages can be arranged at a supplement.


source: dailymail