This is a really lovely ride through the unspoilt heartland of Brittany to the West Coast. Much of the route is on bypassed mainroads which gives pretty direct routes with good surfaces but very little traffic. The distances are pretty short although the route is generally one of the more hilly ones, but don't let that put you off!
Route plan.
First night (Saturday) spent at a tiny Chambre D'Hotes - Mme Drapeau is a superb cook, and they've even made a walk through their farmland - really special...
Day 1 (sunday)- 45 kms
After breakfast an easy and very quiet ride to take you to the town of Huelgoat. This is in the heart of the Park Armoric and the Hotel du Lac is situated right in the middle of this pretty little market town.
Day 2 - 37 kms
This day takes you through several little villages (with lunchtime restaurants) and on to the market town or Chateaulin, near the coast and right on the canal/river. The hotel is where all the top Tour de France riders stay when they do the famous Chateaulin criterium and there are photo's in the bar of LeMond, Hinauld etc with the owner.
Day 3 - Free day
Lots of choice - hit the coast, wander round town, cycle up the 330m Menez Hom (fantastic views) - up to you.
Day 4 - 41 kms
Off again into the wilderness, sprinkled with villages and tiny towns for the essential watering holes. Finally you reach Rosporden, another little town with a lovely hotel - Kate and I stayed there and had a great meal last year so we know how good it is...
Day 5 - 35 kms
Again a day 'lost in France' - nothing spectacular, just the most perfect cycling country. The Hotel at Le Faouet is right next to one of the few remaining covered marketplaces - a beautiful slate roofed building with the most amazing roof timbers. The hotel is like something out of the '50's - in the nicest sense, and several people said last year that it had the best Restaurant of the week...
Day 6 - 30 kms
More lovely countryside (you'll be longing to see a power station by now) that brings you all the way back to the canal to stay just outside Glomel - another lovely Chabre D'Hotes where you can sit in the lounge and watch the birds in the marshes by the canal as you wait for dinner.
Day 7 (Saturday) - 20kms
A wander down the canal towpath for about an hour or so to bring you back to base.