A leisurely drive to Roscoff via Poitou-Charente

This short story is of my trip as a lone motorhomer from SW France to Roscoff in early July last year.   Rather than just rush for the ferry I decided to take my time and visit a couple of places I had always wanted to see on the way.

From our base in South West France I travelled up to Poitou-Charente to spend a few days around the Marais Poitevin, or La Venise Verte as the French refer to it.  It is an area of canals around Niort that drain the marshes in that area and really come to life with wildlife (and tourists)  in the summer months.  My base was the village of Coulon and I stayed on the Municipal campsite there.  There is also a very nice luxurious campsite called Camping La Venise Verte which has won a prestigious ‘Eco’ award if you want something a little less basic and don’t mind being a short drive away rather than a walk away.    Although basic, the municipal site was in a superb location just a short walk from the centre of the village of Coulon and the canal.  There are boat trips from the quay and several restaurants and cafes where you can just sit and watch the world go by.  There are also canalside walks and cycle rides for the more energetic.

In the height of the French holiday season this can be a busy area but out of season it is peaceful and relaxing.

From the Marais Poitevin I headed for Brittany to spend my last two days before catching the ferry.  To avoid a farmers’ protest I turned off the road for Roscoff and visited Paimpol.  On the approach to the town I spotted tourist signs to the Abbaye Maritime de Beauport and decided to have a look.  What a beautiful location and tranquil spot.  A very pleasant place to sit for lunch and forget about the blockages on the main road for a while. 

Before catching the overnight ferry I had a half day in Roscoff itself.  A lovely old French seaside town with everything one would expect to find.  Fish restaurants, seaside stalls, a small children’s fairground and a wonderful coastal setting. 

My wanderings turned what could have been a long boring drive to the ferry port into a mini-adventure and the opportunity to see things that I often pass by rushing north or south.