The Village of Gouarec - home of Breton Bikes Cycling Holidays

Below you'll see an interactive map courtesy of Google maps

Since we first started Breton Bikes in 1989, this village has been the base for all our tours, just 3 kms from our house. It's also the base for our gite, caravan and camping fixed centre tours (tent below is only for these fixed tours) I'd like to be able to say that we arrived at such a wonderful base after many months of searching but in fact it was down to pure chance:-) We were lucky...
The fixed centre hotel tours are based from the Hotel Jardin de L'Abbay at Bon Repos, just 3 km down the towpath from the centre of Gouarec

The Campsite

Gouarec campsite is 'Camping Tost Aven'. The campsite was taken over by an old family friend a couple of years ago (David and Marion Baxter) which is even better for our campers. This is a big campsite in terms of area, it covers about 6 acres, and yet there are rarely more than 100 campers. That means there are (literally) acres of grass for children to play and you are never hedged in by caravans all around. The facilities comprise an excellent toilet block, a huge sandpit and a play area with slides, swings and climbing frame - parents know that a big sandpit will keep an under 6 occupied all day especially if there are other children there... There's also no 'through road' on the site, just a lane in which means traffic is slow and safe. For those without kids who are starting to shudder, the sheer size and openness of the site mean you're not in the centre of some 'Lord of the Flies' scenario and you'll have no problem finding a quiet corner. The campsite is bordered on one side by the Nante-Brest Canal, and on the other by the River Dore (d'ore - the river of gold, the river still contains enough gold to attract the odd prospector...). These two waterways teem with fish and if fact a large number of the campers will be there simply for the fishing. The canal runs for 172 miles and has a cyclepath along it - one of the main attractions for cyclists staying there because the canal, and it's scenery are stunning.

What the campsite doesn't have is a late night disco, bar or similar, essentially it's quiet, friendly and homely - those looking for nightlife will be disappointed...

The Hotel

All our fixed centre hotel tours, and some of our other itineraries use the Hotel Jardin de L'Abbay - for their website see go here.. This hotel is set in the grounds of the Ruined abbay at Bon Repos, there may be better settings in Brittany, but we don't know of them....

The hotel is over 200 years old, stone built and so expect small cosy rooms with polished wood rather than formica. But the best bit of the hotel is the restaurant. The cuisine comes from the classical tradition meaning that the excesses of 'neuvelle cuisine' - peeled prawn, a sprig of dill and a dash of red sauce, are absent. Instead the portions are generous, fit for hungry cyclists, ah! but the taste. For variety there are two other restaurants and a creperie within 500m and another just 1 km distant so you are really spoiled for choice. Of course all the amenities of Gouarec are just 20 minutes ride away. As for children the hotel is well away from roads and has acres of grounds (and ruined abbay!) to hurtle around in safely.

The Jardins is where we go for birthdays and celebratory dinners - need I say more? Of course campers staying at Gouarec can partake as the hotel/restaurant is only 3 kms from the campsite and a three course meal can be had for 15€/$ (under £10). On the other hand a last night blow-out might cost a little more!

As with the campsite the hotel is set right by the canal, and is only 500m from the old railway track/cyclepath so once again the choice of easy rides in the area are extensive.

The Village

Gouarec has every amenity you could want. A medium sized and a small supermarket, two bakers, a lunchtime restaurant (4 courses for 9€/$ (£6) including wine), a superb pizzaria, a creperie, six bars and of course bars and restaurants at Bon Repos are a 20 minute cycleride away along the canal towpath ... The village itself has a main road running through the centre, one reason for the amenities, but most of the village, our gite and the campsite is tucked away from this. The centre is Napoleonic and a real picture with several magnificent houses. Late night activities are limited to bars, the pizzaria and creperie and in the week most will shut after 10-11 pm leaving it the sleepy little village that it is.

And The Cycling?

As already mentioned the jewel in the crown of Gouarec is the Nantes-Brest canal. The towpath is obviously pretty flat and the surface 'cinder', our bikes ride over it very well. It gives you the chance to cycle either way, East to the stunning 'Bon Repos' - the perfect picnic spot with a ruined abbey, restaurants, bar and play area, and a lovely little Sunday morning market. A short climb up from Bon Repos takes you to some of the best preserved megalithic tombs in Europe. Then on to the 'Lac de Guerledan', a large 'estuary like' lake where at Beaux Rivage you'll find a beach where even small children can play in safety and there are bars, restaurants and Creperies.

Going West takes you through forgotten countryside that has to be seem to be believed - ultimately all the way to the town of Carhaix if you feel like a longer ride (20 miles each way).

As if that isn't enough there's a cyclepath from Gouarec that follows the old railway line. This is an easy ride to the town of Rostrenen where on Tuesday there is a wonderful street market, then on the lake at Mael Carhaix.

Besides this totally car free cycling there are a mass of little quiet lanes where you can meander for hours and arrive at tiny Creperies hidden in the wood, or cycle to another little market town - there really is too much to do...

So please don't see our 'fixed centre' routes as a poor relation to the 'real thing':-)