Accéder à la version française
Contact: ​john@sanssacados.fr 
Itinerary south Finistère
​Itinerary west Finistère - new for 2019 season
Itinerary Crozon

sanssacados.fr

 Walking holidays on the GR34, Brittany coast path, North-West France.

  Sanssacados is a "micro-entreprise" based in Brittany, NW France, operated by Sarah and John a wife and husband team. We offer a new style of bespoke walking holiday using a fully equipped caravan moved between coastal campsites for your accommodation. This opens up sections of Brittany's coast path where traditional accommodation is limited and allows for individually tailored walking breaks. You benefit from a private, permanent yet mobile base, so no constant packing and unpacking, with all the logistics looked after by us.  Our preference is for small, quiet and clean campsites. We aim to provide fully-equipped accommodation for backpackers and walkers on Brittany's coast path that is comfortable and suitable for those who would not normally contemplate camping.
  We are concentrating on Brittany's coast path, or sentier côtier, a real gem for hikers. It follows much of Brittany's 1700kms of coastline on an old path originally established for customs officers. Referred to as the sentier des douaniers, recalling its origin, the coast path gives walkers unique access to a dramatic coastline renowned throughout France for its beauty, variety and  unforgettable colour.
  Brittany enjoys a mild, maritime climate near perfect for  comfortable walking holidays; and it's quiet. The sheer length of the GR34, the huge number of excellent beaches to choose from and a very low population density make crowding scarce.  

Plage de la Palue, Cap de la Chèvre, Crozon

Andrew Eames: novelist, travel writer and journalist sampling the sanssacados experience. Article published 22/06/18 in the FT

Walking holidays for singles, couples or 2 friends

  We can accommodate up to 2 people in our caravan, but the Brittany coast path is the ideal place for a singles walking holiday. A safe, tranquil place to walk, with us looking after the logistics. Walking alone is a great way to experience a landscape. But come with a friend, walk as a couple; all are welcome and we'll be in the background to help.
  We can cater for larger parties, but extra guests would be under canvas.

South Finistère's rias provide quiet moorings in a landscape constantly changing with the tides.

Hidden away beaches and beautifully coloured sea characterize much of the Bretagne coast.

Anse de Rospico, Nevez

Base camp, sanssacados at Port Manec'h.

Inside the caravan

Accommodation for walkers on Brittany's coast path

  Our solution to the thin spread of accommodation on the Brittany coast path is a well equipped caravan with a king sized, double mattress using coastal campsites. We provide everything you'd expect in an established camp: windbreaks, awning, outside furniture, wifi, electric hook up, bikes, barbecue and full kitchen facilities. All set up for you with your shopping in the fridge.
  Campsites offer perhaps the best accommodation solution for walking the Breton coast, with enviable locations often bordering the GR34 coast path.
​  Using our caravan and the coastal campsites eliminates the need for unpacking every day and the ferrying inland to B&Bs, maintaining that special enchantment of being right by the sea. In the evenings you'll be able to take a stroll on the beach, watch the sun set over the sea,  explore further on the bikes we provide, or have a dip. There will be no need for you to use vehicles for the entire break.

If the definition of glamping is a genuine mattress, you'll be glamping. All bedding is provided.

With us, you won't miss the magic of evenings on the beach

Approaching L'ile Vierge on the Crozon. Beyond the headland is one of the most photographed beaches in Brittany.

Where to walk on the Brittany coast path

  We have three itineraries at present. These allow a continuous walk with planned stops from Quimperlé to Landévennec on the Crozon peninsula. The first is for one of our favourite stretches, the often overlooked, south coast of Finistère with its beautiful, wooded rias, turquoise seas and sandy beaches and the second for the colourful Crozon Peninsula. The third, joining the two, is for west Finistère which we have just finished walking and planning this September. 
  Our itineraries are suggestions which can  be tailored to suit you. We will introduce additional itineraries with accurate distances and suitable campsites as we complete them ourselves. But don't wait for us.  The Brittany Walks website, the two books "Walking the Brittany Coast" published by Red Dog books and the Topo-guides will all prove invaluable if you wish to plan your own adventure.

---

Plage du Kérou, day 2, south Finistère itinerary

  Navigation

  Following the coast path is generally easy, but it's nice to know where you are and what you are passing. So we provide the relevant IGN 1:25000  Série Bleue maps (France's equivalent of the OS Pathfinder maps) which you can carry with you. If you wish to purchase them, we list which ones are needed at the start of each itinerary's page and they can be found at the  IGN website.  
​  Alternatively, each daily description of an itinerary has a link, "See the walk on a map" this takes you to the relevant map's page on our site. Or find each day's map listed under Maps/Les cartes in the top menu bar. These maps can be zoomed in and out. Better still, at the bottom of each map is a link inviting you to "View or open the route in Viewranger's website". If you have downloaded the free app. Viewranger , which we use to make our maps and measure the walks, you will be able to follow the route and your phone's GPS will show you exactly where you are on the map. No internet connection is required after the map has been downloaded.
  A further enhancement to the digital wizardry is to purchase the right to download all the IGN Série Bleue maps (and others) for France for about 22€ a year. This can be done through the Viewranger app, or from the Apple or Google play store where it's called iphiGéNie. You can then see exactly where you are and where the route goes on the best walkers' maps in France.

La Rivière de Belon, famous for its oysters

Leaving Port Manec'h heading for l'Anse de Rospico

Whilst you hike Brittany's coast path, what do we do?

  We only cater for one group at a time. We tow the caravan with our Eriba campervan, which also provides our accommodation. We stay on the same campsite as you, but you have your own pitch and privacy.
  We set up your camp at the next campsite each day. This includes a classic Dutch caravan, full kitchen facilities, an awning, outside furniture, a  barbecue (including the charcoal) and all the equipment you'd expect in a well-planned camp.
   We provide all bedding and towels, including beach towels.
  We will do food shopping for you as well as laundry and collecting items from the pharmacy. Campsites are often in beautiful locations not necessarily convenient for shops. We can source organic and gluten free products.
  We can help with reservations for restaurants and taxis, if required.
​   If you would feel happier knowing that someone knows exactly where you are and have a smart phone with GPS we recommend downloading the free app Viewranger. Using the "buddy beacon" feature will allow us to pinpoint your location.
  We provide WIFI, via a device which gives you a secure, portable WIFI hotspot for up to 10 devices. This uses the provider with the best local coverage and, included in our pricing, comes with 1GB of data allowance (about sufficent for 2000 emails). Should you require more capacity an additional 1GB costs €10.
  We provide 2 bicycles (plus helmets, lock and high viz) for exploring or fetching bagettes. Please note bicycles are not allowed on much of the GR34 coast path. If you prefer, we can transport your own bikes (2 bikes maximum).

Cycling is not allowed on most of the GR34 coast path

What's the coast path like underfoot?

  The GR34 is a well maintained decent path, but there are ups and downs. There are brief sections where you have to negotiate rocks, rough steps and there are often tripping hazards in the form of roots and rocks. ​

Between Le Pouldu and Doëlan

View towards Pointe de St Hernot, Crozon

Le Cap de la Chèvre, Crozon Peninsula

Cost

Caravan accommodation 2018*:
One person    €100 per night
Two people    €120 per night ...€60 per person/night
Rest day (extra days at same campsite) deduct €40.
Extra guests, under canvas, email us for quote.
Prices based on a minimum of 3 nights. We have no standard start day.
​Under cover, private parking is included if you are doing our itinerary.
*2019 prices will be posted at the start of January. Bookings for 2019 received before 31st December will be charged at 2018 prices.
The campsites' and therefore our season is short in Brittany, usually 1st May to mid-September.

  Camping costs are included in the costs quoted for caravan accommodation. 
​  The 1 night in B&B, if you are doing our south Finistère itinerary, costs the same as a normal camping day.
  Food, laundry costs and taxis you may choose to use are not included.
  If entitled, you should ensure your European health insurance card (EHIC) is up to date. This gives you the same reimbursements as a French citizen, in some cases only 70% of the costs; you must, therefore, ensure you have separate, personal travel insurance cover.
A 10% deposit will secure the dates you want. Payment can be in pounds or Euros. If you pay in pounds we will apply the current exchange rate. 
​We will email you a PayPal invoice, or you can pay by bank transfer.

Gorse, heather and pine seem more vividly coloured with the backdrop of the milky sea on the Crozon peninsula

Getting to Finistère's coast path

   Our south Finistère itinerary is conveniently accessed by the TGV. Trains from Rennes to Quimperlé run regularly and take about 1 hour and 45 minutes. At the end of our itinerary, in Concarneau, you are a brief taxi ride from Rosporden which is on the same TGV line. The journey to Rennes taking about 2 hours. The Crozon has no stations, but SNCF run buses from Quimper which is on the same line. If you are a foot passenger on the St Malo ferries, trains from there connect at Rennes.
  Rennes has flights from many international destinations, including many from the UK. Flights are also available to Dinard in the north of Brittany, near St Malo, from London Stanstead. A limited summer service may be available to Brest in Finistère from Birmingham or Southampton.
   If you come by car to walk our itineraries, we arrange covered, private parking; the cost of which is included in the daily price. Crozon is 50 miles from Roscoff and 150 from St Malo. Le Pouldu is 100 miles from Roscoff and 130 from St Malo.
  Fuel is most often sold at supermarkets with service stations something of a rarity.
  Please be aware that from 1st July the speed limit is being reduced from 80 to 90 km/hr on roads with no central reservation.

  ryanair flights to Dinard
​
​   TGV bookings 

   Map of flights from Rennes 

The brooding Breton coast in November

 south Finistère itinerary     west Finistère itinerary   Crozon itinerary

Ask a question; email from here

mentions légales