Summer Holiday 2010; France

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France; Summer Holiday 2010; Normandy, Brittany and the Somme Bay area
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Aire de Falaise de Wideham
We stayed on 3 camping sites this holiday; an one night stay (450km from Utrecht) on 'Ferme de la Mottellette'. We revisited this family managed camping on our return trip for a worthwhile visit to the Somme Bay area (pictures down below). In Normandy we enjoyed our stay at 'Des Trois Rivières' in Creully in the Calvados district and in Brittany we camped in Matignon on the Côtes-d'Armor on camping 'Le Vallon aux Merlettes'. All sites recommended!
	Normandy

Des Trois Rivières' in Creully in the Calvados district, nice camping site, park-like atmosphere. Ideally located for a visit to the WWII memorials, museums and beaches... I did my (early) morning runs in the parc adjacent to the Creully castle... opposite the camping.	Our home base during the 2nd week of the holiday in Matignon on the Côtes-d'Armor; camping 'Le Vallon aux Merlettes'. Even more 'park - like' than Des Trois Rivieres in Creully. Fine campsite; but for my jogging I went to the beach of Saint Cast Le Guildo...	Ferme de la Mottellette where the whole family is making an effort to make you feel comfortable... even if this includes dragging a a television outside to watch the Dutch in the World Championship Football (soccer) 2010getting trough the semi finals! They even provided wine an beer after 'we' won!

	Left: Le Pont Normandy

Juno Beach Centre (pictures above)		Courseulles-sur-Mer




Arromanches Musée du Débarquement en Arromaches360



Important information: the final stretch along the beach can only be completed approximately 2 to 3 hours after high tide. Only then the beach is accessible as the sea has withdrawn itself enough... this is also the best time to search for fossils carried by the sea from Falaises des Vaches Noires. They are beautiful and can be found easily...	A great and varied 13 kilometer hike, start and finish near the stairs in Houlgate (www.gpstracks.nl; 'fossielenroute'). Approximately 3 kilomers from the start, in the direction of Falaises des Vaches Noires, is an excellent picnic and viewing point. Note: no catering available en route so bring your own... and wear good hiking boots...


A visit to the Microlight 'airfield' Base Ulm in Courseulles sur Mer... We had never seen so many gyrocopters / autogyro's at once!		A Rotax engine.. that looks and sounds familiar...


	Le Tumulus (grave hill) near Columbiers-sur-Seulles


Picture above: The impressive monument Les Braves in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer	Another one which makes you stop and wonder... Point du Hoc between Omaha and Utah beach...


	Normandy American Cemetry, Colleville-s/mer


	Sallenelles Bay hike; 15 km (www.gpstracks.nl), Normandië basse; Departement Calvados. Nice, varied trail, a must for birdwatchers! The track leads your aloing the bay to the river Orne and along the canal followed by a passage through a swamp like area. Subsequently you pass Bocage landscapes through the village of Oger and Franceville. Then you pass the remains of the famous battery of Merville in the dunes followed by a trail next to the Bay, depending of the tide.

	Batteries de Longues s/mer

Déjeuner! Lunch!
	Batterie Grandcamp-Maisy

	Bayeux


	Chateau Creully


	Brittany	(and a day trip back to Normandy (Mont St. Michel)

	Point du Bay


(Almost) daily jogging run at the beach of St Cast le Guildo (above and right...)



	Le Mont Saint Michel; unconquerable!

	Le Mont Saint Michel Monastry


	Point du Grouin (Mont Saint Michel in the distance)


	Above: Point du Grouin continued after lunch: crevettes roses!


	Ausse du Gueslin




	Citadel (walled city) St. Malo + cathedral




From a hiking perspective, THE highlight of this holiday. The 16 kilometer track originates from www.gpstracks.nl (again) and we started in Plévenon. Following the passage of Saint-Guireuc there are some - probably challenging if wet - kilometers. From Saint-Guireuc the route takes you to the coast and from then on you are surprised with stunning views during steep climbs and descents tracking the GR to Pointe La Latte. Fort La Latte can be visited. It is a 14 century castle and a real gem. Subsequently you follow the GR34, quite popular during the weekends... After an hour you arrive at the lighthouse of Cap Fréhel. Fine restaurant there; La Fauconniere and cooled drinks are for sale as well. Leaving this birdwatchers paradise following the spectacular cost you turn inland for a relaxing - but somewhat boring - 30 minutes to the parking in Plévenon.


	The charming and beautiful medieval city of Dinan



Pointe de St.Cast

	Somme

	Crotoy (Baie De La Somme)


	Saint Valery sur Somme


	Rue

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France; Summer Holiday 2010; Normandy, Brittany and the Somme Bay area