Other places in Brittany

Cotes-d'Armor Finistere Ille-et-Vilaine Morbihan

Brittany, France vs Cornwall, England

Cornwall is enjoying a renaissance. Surfing has never been more popular, explaining the boom in popularity of resorts such as Newquay and Sennen.
The county that used to be a place of soggy chips and dubious pasties is now awash with trendy bars and beach cafes serving food that holds its own against the best London has to offer.
But for some people, only Abroad will do. You want the beaches, the bracing walks, the scenery and the culture, but can't face the long haul down the M5 or the endless train ride from Paddington. And you want some better weather.
Happily, there is another Cornwall you can visit. A little farther away perhaps, but strangely familiar, with strong links to the British region from which it derives its name.
The old kingdom of Cornouaille in southern Brittany is one of France's most popular seaside destinations.
It lacks the glamour and the weather of the Cote d'Azur, but it lacks the crowds, too.
So how do they compare? I have had a family home in Cornwall for 20 years and know its attractions well.
This was my first visit to the delights of Sud Cornouaille and I was keen to see how it shaped up.
We rented a cottage near the village of Tregunc, which is five miles from Concarneau, a fishing port similar in atmosphere to (and twinned with) Penzance.
We checked the brochures and internet, and went for a chaumiere (thatched cottage) by the sea (a must), which had an enclosed garden and accepted dogs.
First impressions of this part of Brittany are all about space. Cornouaille's beaches are less dramatic than the surf-pounded shores of Newquay and Perranporth, say, but are much emptier, with outlandishly blue (and clean) water and miles of silver sand.

Read more in our destination guide to Brittany.