Camping in Carnac

We travelled over Easter by ferry from Ringaskiddy with Brittany Ferries, arriving early Sunday morning into Roscoff. From there, it was a comfortable 1 ½ hour drive to Carnac. Arriving shortly after 9am, we headed for the local town and stumbled on the weekly farmer’s market. It was a feast of local specialities such as Crepes (sweet) and Galettes (savoury), Moules, and of course their local cider, which they drink out of oversized tea cups! It was a lovely culinary experience.

The campsite is within walking distance of a long sandy beach, called Grande Plage. This beach stretches for 2 ½ km, is very clean and popular with families. We spent several hours collecting sea shells and paddling in the water. Carnac is famous for its standing stones, also known as Menhirs – hence the name of the campsite. They are spread over several fields in the outskirts of the town. There are thousands of them, dating back over 7,000 years! We also visited a Dolmen a few miles further out – Dolmens de Mane Karioned. It took us a while to find them, but they were worth the effort. There are 3 dolmens side by side. You can walk down into one of them and see the original carvings on the stones.

We spent an afternoon at Foret Adrenaline, a tree top ziplining adventure. Some of the trails were quite challenging, but it’s a great workout. The staff were on hand to assist anyone experiencing difficulties. Everyone was equipped with a whistle to blow if you need to be rescued! There is also a nice café for those that prefer to stay at ground level.

The medieval town of Vannes is a 40-minute drive from Carnac. It is a charming, historic town. The town centre with its cobble stone streets and old timbered buildings is amazing. We spent a relaxing few hours ambling around, marvelling at the buildings and wandering in and out of the huge variety of shops.

The peninsula of Quiberon is only a half hour drive away from Carnac. It is an area of stunning natural beauty. We spent an afternoon in the area and stopped at Pointe du Percho, which is a natural stone arch that sits between the beach and the cliff. It’s a great opportunity for photos! Continuing along the rugged coastline you reach the town, which is also charming and has lots of nice outdoor cafes.

We stayed with Crystal Al Fresco in one of their 2 bed 1 bath Rossini Lounge. The location of the campsite is probably it’s best selling feature, being so close to the beach and town. Even though we didn’t have great weather during our visit, as it was early April, we still were able to get out and about and enjoy many of the attractions and activities on offer in this charming area of Southern Brittany.